"111"

Okay, this is really weird and I do not know exactly the significant of it. Add your last two digits of the year you were born and your age this year (either last birthday or upcoming birthday). The total should add up to 111. For example, if someone was born on September 30, 1971 he will turn 40 years old this September 30th. If you add 71 + 40 the total is 111. Take another example, say someone was born January 3, 1969, so he turned 42 this year on January 3rd. Add 69 and 42 the total is 111. Try it on your dates and your friends and family members' dates. It works all the time. Those who are between the ages of 0 and 11 years, their total will add up to 11 instead of 111. For example if someone was born on April 4, 2000, he turned 11 on April 4th of this year. Add up (00 + 11) the total is eleven. If someone was born this year, he is not yet one year old, so add up (0 + 11) and the total is 11.  By the way, it only works for this year and this year only. Happy "111".

Christ the Conqueror

Despite all the bad news you probably are hearing coming from different countries, including ours, I am still very optimistic about the future of human kind. I have read the end of the book that tells it all, about all the suffering human beings will go through. At the very end, the Book of Revelation states that Jesus Christ shall be the victor. So, don't let your heart be troubled. Believe into the Lord because He will conquer at the end. Amen.

Cherries

One cup of cherries (about 140 g) provides 100 calories. It also provides 2% of the recommended daily values of Vitamin A, Calcium, and Iron. Eating one cup of cherries gives you 15% of the recommended daily values of Vitamin C. Cherries (140 g) also contain 26 g of total carbohydrates, 1 g dietary fiber, and 16 g of sugars. They also contain 1 g of protein. Enjoy!

Maamoul

My granddaddy Saleem (Abu Nassif) invented Maamoul. Yes, he did. He had a relatively medium size store in old Damascus (Syria) back in early 20th Century (I think he opened his store in early 1900s) where he sold hand-made Syrian cookies. The store was in Bab Touma (Thomas' Gate; one of the Gates surrounding the old city of Damascus). When I was growing up I used to go and "help" him decorate each piece of Maamoul by hand using cookies forceps with jagged edges. He would place them in big trays and then he will send them to the community oven to be baked. The community oven was about 3 minutes walking distance from his house down the old street Abarah (this street is about three blocks from the Straight Street mentioned in the Bible. Those days nobody bothered in trademarking their inventions. Of course my granddaddy never thought about patenting Maamoul. Well, Maamoul is now all over the places. You can even buy a box of them in Raleigh, North Carolina. My granddaddy also used to make marshmallow spread by hand. He had an old big mixer at the corner of his "production room" in his house where he mixed all the ingredients together to make the white fluff. My granddaddy is Saleem Nassif, a decent hard-worker christian man. (His granddady who lived in the same house as my grandaddy was killed by a revolt in Damascus because of his faith in Christ. Men came to his stepdoor and told him unless he denounced Christ they would kill him. He told them "go ahead and kill me, I will not sell my precious jewel to anyone." And they shot him dead.) Granddaddy passed away from lung cancer having smoked 4 packs a day. He lived on coffee and cigarettes and sometimes drinking black tea. He worked until the last day of his life he could stand up before cancer got him in bed that he hated it. Maamoul should have been called Abu Nassif's Cookies or Saleems' cookies, but he called them Maamoul and the name stuck. By the way the word "Maamoul" is specific only for pistachios filling. If dates are used instead, the name is "Ajweh", as my Grandpa Saleem called them. Unfortunately, nowadays Maamoul is a generic name regardless of the type of filling used (see picture above). God bless you grandpa, you made me a cookies monster. I miss you.  

Traffic to Your Website

If you are a small business owner, you probably dream of having a nice website for your business that attracts tons of traffic. So you go and build a nice one either through free services or you pay some monthly premium. Then, you get excited about the possibilities that your website will bring you. You keep changing things in it daily, even hourly. Perhaps you spend hours on the computer to get it perfect. And then...you wait. You wait for visitors to your site. You place a counter. It seems at first that you are the only one visiting your beautiful site. You wait some more. And then some. Finally, you start searching the web for someone to help you get traffic to your site. And believe me, there is no shortage of them. You begin reading their offers, their promises. You talk yourself of trying one of them. After all they are promising you thousands of hits. What are you going to loose? A couple of hundred dollars. It is worth it. It is your business. You go and pay your $200 for their traffic. Probably this promises you some 5000 hits. You go to your site and begin watching your counter. Well, it is moving, but not that fast. May be it is still early. May be in a couple of days. Then you wait...wait...wait. You check your account with the company that promised you the 5000 hits. You are told they were already delivered, Sir, or is it Zir? In fact, you are told, these were delivered the first hour after you had opened your account. But...But...But...Sir, my counter is showing 15 hits...not 5000? Oh...really? Yes...really. Well, you see Sir (Zir), some counters don't work properly. They don't reflect the actual count. You feel you are talking to someone who doesn't want to listen or somebody way way way away from you...perhaps in another country. Not only you lost your $200, but now somone who is calling you Zir is insulting your intelligence. And then what's next? You go back to your website, and of course the counter now is reading 21. Nice number is 21, but you are not playing Blackjack. It is your hard earned money. If you think this won't happen, think again. It happened to me ten years ago. I lost a few hundred of dollars on these crooks. I am writing this so that if you are in this situation just don't waste your money. May be there are some legitimate sites to drive traffic to your business site. I would love that you tell me about them. I am waiting. And, yes, no spam please. Good Day Friend.

Green

The United States Postal Service is introducing this pane of 16 stamps depicting ways to save the planet. Good for the US Postal Service.

Gregory Peck

Gregory Peck was a great American actor. One of the best ever. And, perhaps his role in To Kill A Mockingbird as Atticus Finch, the lawyer, made him a legend. The United States Postal Service is honoring this great actor by a stamp, a FOREVER stamp. Well deserved indeed.

The Eucharist: The Body of Christ

The Eucharist is the full presence of the Lord in flesh during the Catholic Mass.

Does Blood Triglycerides Level Explain LDL/HDL Ratio?

The answer to this question in "No". Based on the data presented above, triglycerides blood level does not correlate with the LDL/HDL ratio (low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein). The data above is from the same person collected over 17 years.

A Positive Linear Relationship Between LDL/HDL Ratio vs. Blood Cholesterol Level from the same Person Over Time (17-year Period)

LDL is low density lipoprotein (the bad cholesterol) whereas HDL is the good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein). It is desirable to keep this ratio low (below 3.6). The graph above illustrates the relationship between blood cholesterol concentration (mg/dL) vs. this ratio over 17 years taken from the same person. From this graph, it was determined that about 53% of the variability in the ratio could be explained by knowledge of cholesterol level. In other words, 47% of the variability is explainable by other factors.

Micro-Economy

The graph above is a reflection of the economy during the periods shown on the x-axis. Notice how the economy has improved since April 2009, albeit it is slowing down in its growth recently.

A Friend

I have had the privilege of having a few good friends in my life---so far. When I was growing up I remember having two very close friends. I don't see either one now. Actually I haven't seen them for a long time. My first friend I saw him last time some 40 years ago, the other one I saw him some 33 years ago. One of them is now in Germany, the other one lives in France. The last contact with both of them happened some 25 years ago via letters. And, that was it; puff---all gone. I developed a friendship with one of my coworkers in 1994. It lasted until 2003, when he left to another job. He was my best friend and I do miss him. He does not correspond with me anymore. I don't know why? He kind of suddenly stopped his correspondence, and for the life of me I cannot place any excuse for it. When I befriend someone and I become a friend with them, I mean it. A friend is somebody who accepts you regardless of who you are or how bad you mess up. A friend is someone is willing to give you the benefit of doubt. He/she should be your best advocate, defender, and brother/sister. He should not rush to judgement concerning you. Your attackers should be his/hers. A friend is for ever.

The Mustache

The mustache is a sign of masculinity, a sign of authority. Some like to have it distinguished by making its ends pointed upward. One of my friends used to role his mustache between his fingers while he was thinking deeply about something. The new generation rarely wear mustaches. You normally find it on older gentlemen. My dad never wore one of them. It can be messy if foods get tangled in its web. Well, a mustache is just a mustache. It is kind of an open statement to tell the others that the person who is wearing it cares about his masculinity, or it is a statement to get people notice you. Whatever it is, it is a man thing.

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest
And on earth peace to men of good will
We praise Thee
We bless Thee
We adore Thee
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty
O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son
Lord God, Lamb of God
Son of the Father
Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us
Who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer
Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us
For Thou alone art holy
Thou alone art Lord
Thou alone, O Jesus Christ, art most high
Together with the Holy Ghost, in the glory of God the Father
Amen

Food Lion, LLC

If you live in the South (of the USA) you probably shop for foods at Food Lion, LLC. Did you know that Food Lion, LLC's distribution center is located in Salisbury, NC? Also, did you know that the "mother" company of Food Lion is from Belgium? Yes, the European Belgium! Just look at its symbol, the "lion". The same symbol is found on many Belgium stamps.

Drinking Coffee

In some people, drinking a hot cup of coffee not only can be diuretic (increases the urge to urinate), but also it can be laxative (increases the urge to defecate). If you are constipated, try to drink a hot cup of coffee (with milk) in the morning on an empty stomach, and watch it do its magic (stay nearby a bathroom).

Dear Diary: July 9, 2011

Dear Diary, my smallest kids came back from camp today. I did miss them. They spent the whole week there. There are leaving to another summer camp tomorrow. I will miss them. It seems lately that I am getting perhaps too much emotional to situations. I got mad the other day at work for an issue it did not used to bother me before. My nerves are at an edge. I need to count to 10 the next time I feel the urge to explode. It wasn't bad, but I felt too much anger. I should've known better. I did apologize to one person after the meeting on Wednesday, July 6. He accepted my apologies. Oh, Dear Diary, I need to read you more often to remind myself with my past falls. It is good to know that I am still human.

When was Mother Teresa born?

Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, Albania. Her parents named her Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu.

Drawings

There is something about this drawing. Can you tell?

Walnuts

The Armenians have a delicious preserve made of young walnuts. My grandmother who is Armenian used to make it for us at home fresh when I was a child. Now, I find this preserve at Middle-Eastern shops (Armenians or Greek shops.) It is out of this world.

Wisdom: Look forward

"God put our eyes in front of our head so that we look forward, not backward."  Senator Joe Lieberman

A Business Advice

Mr. Ray Kroc, the first owner after the founders of the McDonald's chain said "To be successful in business you have to be daring, first, and different."  These were the three qualities that Mr. Kroc relied on when he bought the golden chain from the two brothers by offering $1 million to each of them.

Umami Taste

You probably heard of sour, sweet, salty, and bitter tastes.  Have you heard of the Umami taste?  It is a Japanese word for delicious.  Umami taste buds on the tongue respond to glutamate, which is normaly found in milk.  I guess the good Lord knew how to make us eat when we were infants.  He placed something "delicious" in milk so that we crave it and drink it so that we get nouriched.  There is nothing on this planet created without a reason or a purpose.  The Bible tells us that the good Lord has already counted the hair on your scalp.  And, you still think He does not love you?  Think again. 

Could it be you?

A man shouted at his wife from the kitchen asking her to raise the volume on the TV so she could hear better.  (He always blamed her of suffering from hearing impairement.)  He shouted one more time to get the volume up.  He walked toward the living room where the TV was and told his wife the third time to get the volume up on the TV set, thinking she could not hear him the previous two times.  His wife looked at him calmly and said I already did that twice, Dear.  I wonder who had the problem of not being able to hear?  Oftentime we blame the others, while the fault is in us and not in them.  If each one us questions himself (or herself) first, then there wouldn't be as much beakering in this world.

Honey Mangos

Mangos are extremely rich in Vitamin C.  One mango (208 g) provides 100% of daily requirement of this vitamin.  It also provides 30% of Vitamin A requirement.  It contains less than 2 g of protein and about 36 g of total carbohydrate.  Mangos do not contain fats, calcium, sodium, or iron.  One mango contains 4 g of dietary fiber and 30 g of sugars.  And, they are really delicious.  Enjoy.

Grammy's Paste

When I was in my late teens, my left foot got infected and swollen.  My Grammy said "I'll cure it for you".  She got sheep fat and made a paste out of it mixed with raw garlic.  She would apply the paste on my swollen foot daily and rapped it with a sterile gauze.  She did that for about a week.  By the time the doctor showed up my foot was already back to normal.  The doctor said you must have used a very strong antibiotic.  My Grammy laughed and told him it was the garlic that did it.  Garlic is an excellent antibacterial herb.  My foot is a witness.

Life Expectancy for Men Outpacing Women, Says New Study - ABC News

Life Expectancy for Men Outpacing Women, Says New Study - ABC News

Holistic Healing

Holistic healing embodies the soul, mind, spirit, and body.  All of these are essential for healing.  One cannot achieve healing by just eating the right foods, drinking the purest water, breathing the freshest air, and taking natural supplements.  These are simply not enough.  A pure spirit is also needed, as pure as gold and as clean as the snow.  When the spirit is pure, the mind becomes fully functional in a positive way.  Imagine having to deal with a teenager who is abusive to you, to his siblings, and to your spouse.  Not even the purest natural cleanest treatment on the planet can cure your illness when this abuse is affecting your mental, spiritual, and anatomical functions.  Holistic means all.  That is why so few of us can achieve complete health with natural means.  Yes, they do work, if everything around them is working too.  Otherwise, don't even bother.  

Carrot and Lung Cancer

Epidemiological studies reveal an interesting finding about eating carrots in the diet.   A daily consumption of an average carrot can cut the risk of lung cancer by half, among smokers.  It is the beta carotene in carrots that seems to do the trick.  To smokers, add a carrot a day to your salad.  You won't regret it!

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is antiviral and can also be useful for thyroid health.

Color Your Hair Naturally

For those who do not want to use harsh colorants on their hair, try this herbal formula:

Rosemary   6 teaspoonfuls fresh herb or 3 teaspoonfuls dry herb
Sage          3 teaspoonfuls of dry herb
Black Tea   2 bags
Water         3 Cups

Bring water to a boil, add the herbs, simmer at low heat for 30 minutes (+ 5 minutes for darker color).  Decant, and store in the refrigerator.  For gray hair, spray into hair and comb twice a day.  Let it naturally dry.  Repeat daily until you reach desired color.  The rosemary in this mixture adds an appealing odor to the spray.  American Indians used Sage for darkening and coloring hair for centuries.

Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington

ISBN 978-0-7679-1547-2

I read it, then read some more, and read it over and over.  It will keep you awake at night. Harriet A Washington wrote a masterpiece in "Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present."  You will never look at your doctor the same way again.

Colorful Front Doors ~ What Color is Yours

Colorful Front Doors ~ What Color is Yours

Where are Your Stones?

An interesting story in the Bible (See John 8:1-11; CEV) is told about Jesus encounter with the Pharisees.  This story is seldom mentioned nowadays in our society.  As a whole we tend we forget that first we are a Christian Nation.  The Bible tells us about a woman who was caught in adultery.  The Pharisees wanted to stone her to death according to the Old Testament's traditions.  "Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn't her husband.  The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?"  You probably think by now that Jesus, the Son of God, would tells them to go ahead and obey the Laws.  After all, He was a Rabbi who knew exactly what these Laws meant.  "...Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger."  This was an act for someone who didn't think what they were saying was that important.  He simply was trying to ignore them.  Don't we all do similar acts when we are not interested in the subject at hand.  I have papers with scribbles on them that can probably fill a thick three-ring folder just to prove my point.  "If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!"  "The people left one by one by one, beginning with the oldest."  I was listening to a radio talk show this morning on my way to work.  People were calling in throwing their "stones" (oops, I meant their jokes) about the story of the day from Capital Hill.  I wonder if anyone of them dare to expose their "skeletons in the closet" to everybody else, and let us see how "funny" they are.  Enough is enough.  Think first about your misdeeds and failures before you start throwing your stones at other people failures.  And, perhaps you can keep your stones to use them for something more useful, may be building a home for the homeless or stopping water from flooding people's houses.  Where are your stones?  I dare you to throw one now.

Calcium/Magnesium Ratio and Prostate Cancer

According to scientific clinical research, it appears that if the ratio of calcium to magnesium in the blood is too high or too little magnesium in the blood is present, this translates to a more severe and aggressive form of prostate cancer.  The idea is to keep this ratio low by taking in magnesium with foods or by dietary supplements.  Oftentimes people focus more on calcium intake due to its publicity related to bone health, and they totally ignore magnesium.  Magnesium supplements have an added benefit is that they soften the stool and prevent constipation.  As always, contact your health care provider before you make changes to your diet as this may interfere with medications you take or could also affect your health in a negative way.

BioTechniques - Three mice, no longer blind

BioTechniques - Three mice, no longer blind

June 3, 2011: Dear Diary

Dear Diary, today was a good day, at work and at home (so far).  No major issues, even the gas prices went down a bit.  It still costs an arm and a leg to fill-up my car, but I must say the gas price is going in the right direction.  The unemployment figures were depressing somewhat, as some are saying the actual figure is much higher than the stated 9%.  (Some people are saying it is near 17% because many unemployed persons gave up looking for a job.)  Some people are replacing their previous full-time job with two part-time jobs that do not pay benefits as their former full-time position.  If you add the abundance of houses on the market that are either bank-owned or still on the market for a long time, the picture becomes bleak.  However, this is the United States of America.  We can do it.  We can overcome this slow economical period.  With hard work and determination we shall win and succeed.

Is Doomsday Biblical?

The simple answer to this is "NO".  The Bible assures us that there is no end to the physical form that God created.  The Second Coming of Christ, however, is Biblical.  However, when Christ comes back will be a joyful event, a Halliluja event, a wedding, and a great feast.  Doomsday does not exit.  The good Lord promised us beautiful earth and beautiful heaven.  Remember, the Earth is where the good Lord walked, talked, preached, ate, drunk, and had a family (Mary and Joseph).  God would not destroy something he had built.  Next time you hear someone preaching about "the end is near", have a java and relax with a nice book in the park.  And, don't forget to "have a good day."

I Saw A White Horse

This was a dream I had on May 20th of this year.  Amongst all the talks that the end of the world was upon us on May 21, I saw a beautiful white horse in my dream.  The horse was majestic, strong, and all-white almost made of white clouds.  He was running fast across the sky.  His white beautiful hair was long at his neck.  The Bible tells us that Jesus will come back on a white horse during his second coming to Earth.  I think I was given a vision of that beautiful majestic horse.  I do not know why?  The vision was brief and lasted perhaps 10-15 seconds.  When Jesus comes back it will not be a "doomsday".  It will be a joyful day, a day when the Lord Jesus comes back riding his beautiful white horse.

Wisdom: The Bible

"A studious perusal of the sacred volume will make better citizens, better fathers, and better husbands." Thomas Jefferson

Vitamin B Complex

Vitamin B complex is a combination of vitamins known as B vitamins.  Vitamin B1 is known as Thiamine, Vitamin B2 is called Riboflavin, and Vitamin B6 which is useful for carpal tunnel syndrome and in diabetes neuropathy. Another important B vitamin is Vitamin B12 that is useful for anemia, cancer, canker sores, diabetes, shingles, and varicose veins, among many other applications. Perhaps one of its best actions of Vitamin B12 is on memory as it boosts the memory specially in the elderly.

Scelata: "The Challenge of November 27"

Scelata: "The Challenge of November 27"

BMP Code

You may have noticed it already, this code [S02H02Y3800040000A8RM2IAA] is posted in several areas on my blog.  Yes, it is a code and not an error.  I will reveal it one day.

Medicare Patients Need Not Show Up

Increasingly, I am finding an alarming trend among physicians.  Many of them are openly declaring their unwillingness to accept Medicare patients.  I guess they forgot the oath they took when they became physicians.  I wonder what else they forgot?  They probably forgot how to examine and treat patients too.  I, for one, would not go to see physicians like them.  Medical schools need to pay more attention to whom they admit to their programs.  Perhaps one of the questions they need to ask their candidates is: "Will you be willing to help Medicare patients when you become a physician?"  I wonder how many candidates would risk their admission to medical school by stating "No"?  I predict none of them would.  But, I've been wrong before.

May 21, 2011 is predicted as the last day for the Universe

By now everybody has heard about the prediction that Saturday, May 21, 2011 is the end of the Universe.  This is based on that this date conincides with the 7,000th anniversary of Noah's Ark, when the great flood destroyed the Earth.  It is interesting that the good God said afterward that He no longer would destroy the planet again.  Actually, I too believe that Saturday could be the end as is tomorrow, Friday or this Sunday, May 22.  I  believe that any day can be the end according to Jesus saying that 'be watchful as this day comes as a thief", thus it cannot be predicted.  Do I believe that this Saturday will be the last day for planet Earth?  Yes, it could be, but the probability for it to happen is as 'good' or 'bad' as any other day.  Moreover, this prediction has been around circulating for at least twelve years.  Also, it just happens that this month, the Federal government is planning a drill to practice safety and emergency readiness in case a major earthquacke occurs in Southeastern Central United States.   

Keeping in Touch

Nowadays, keeping in touch means by e-mail, FaceBook, texting, or others.  I remember the days when we used to talk to each other as friends.  One friend of mine, when I was 12 years old, lived opposite to our condo.  His balcony was literally in a looking and sounding distance from ours.  We used to spend hours on the balcony talking to each other.  In those days we talked, chatted, shouted, and screamed.  We use the organ that God gave us to communicate with, the mouth and vocal cord.  Fingers were not a means of communication.

One US Cent

MBTA MAP: Boston Subway Map

Dear Diary: May 15, 2011

Dear Diary, I was on a business trip last week (May 11 to May 14).  I got to see him.  He was back to the hospital due to elevated temperature.  The CT scan indicated abscesses at the incision.  They had to open up the area under general anesthesia and place a catherer to drain the abscess.  They are giving him antibiotics as well.  He is expected to go back home Tuesday or later.  Hope things will go well for him.

Jet Blue Airline

I must admit it, Jet Blue Airline is my favorite so far.  I have traveled on so many airlines in my lifetime, but this one tops them all.  Last week I traveled from Raleigh to Boston and I took a competitor airline.  The experience was the same as in the past, dull.  They charged me $25 for a small checked bag.  This week I traveled one more time to Boston, but I took Jet Blue.  What a difference!  First of all they do not charge you for one bag if it is within the acceptable weight.  So I paid $0 for checked luggage.  Second, the seats are so comfortable, I did not even feel I was traveling on an airplane (unlike my experience last week). Thirdly, there is so much legroom, you feel as if you are traveling first class.  They give you a free drink and a free snack.  For the first time in my lifetime, I enjoyed flying.  During my trip back to Raleigh from Boston, they gave me a bag of chips.  The potatoes in the bag were naturally blue in color.  It just happened that one piece looked like a heart (see above).  I am in love with Jet Blue.  Next time I am traveling anywhere, I will check first with Jet Blue.  They are from now on my first choice.  It was love from the first sight.  By the way, I do not have any personal financial benefits from Jet Blue nor any member of my family works for them.  From now on Jet Blue is my family's airline.  I am going to tell everybody I know how wonderful Jet Blue was.  You need to experience it yourself first hand to know what I am talking about.

Cimetidine Use With Colon Cancer

Cimetidine is a drug used to suppress histamine release.  Colon cancer is known to secrete massive amounts of histamine so that histamine suppresses the local immune defense of the host.  Taking Cimetidine after surgery of colon cancer can increase the chance of survival from this disease.  Consult with your doctor about its use following colorectal cancer surgery.

Antioxidants and Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is often given to cancer patients following surgery.  The purpose of it is to kill cancer cells that escaped the primary cancer site and went to other locations to establish new tumors.  Chemotherapy wipes out these migrating cells and stop tumor progression.  One of the methods by which chemotherapy acts is by releasing massive amounts of free radicals to kill the cancer cells. (Unfortunately, this too kills normal cells, but to a lesser extent.)  Taking antioxidants while receiving chemotherapy is contraindicated in most cases (unless a physician has prescribed it along with chemotherapy).  The reason is that antioxidants suppress and neutralize the free radicals generated by chemotherapy so that higher doses of the cancer drugs would be needed.

"T" Line Ticket

"T" Lines (Boston, MA)

The cost for riding the subway (known as the "T") in Boston, Massachusetts used to be 25 cents in 1979 when I lived there.  Last week, I visited Boston and one ticket was $2.  Not a bad increase in a period of 32 years.

Strawberries Nutritional Content

Strawberries are delicious and healthy.  One large strawberry (18 grams) contains 1.38 g of carbohydrates, 0.25 g of dietary fiber and 1 g of sugar.  It also contains 0.125 g of proteins.  Strawberries are rich in Vitamin C (20% of recommended daily values), and provide 0.125% of calcium and iron (based on recommended daily values).

Vaccines in Wake County, North Carolina

Colonoscopy for People Under 50

Usually, no routine colonoscopy is given to people under age 50 years old.  However, people with colorectal cancer family history should begin testing for this disease perhaps at age 40 or even younger.  Do yourself a favor and see a GI doctor today.  Colonoscopy is a very easy procedure and you won't feel a thing.  Go do it.

April 27, 2011: Dear Diary

Dear Diary, Easter this year was a sad one.  Bad news came on Easter Sunday with the "C" word.  Got better news today from the CT scan test.  Surgery is tomorrow, and I will be there with him this weekend and for the rest of next week.  Hope all goes well.

What Nutrients One Gets from Eating an Orange?

An orange (about 155 g) contains 19 g of carbohydrates, 3 g of dietary fiber, and 14 g sugars.  It also contains 1 g protein and provides 6% of calcium, 2% of Vitamin A, and 130% of Vitamin C (based on Percent Daily Values.)  Eating one orange provides 80 Calories. 

St. John's Wort and Hair Loss

A little known side effect of St. John's Wort is the possibility of hair loss with continued use.  St. John's Wort is used in the management of mild depression and anxiety.  It should not be taken with AIDS drugs nor with drugs used for organ rejection.

April 23, 2011: Dear Diary

Dear Diary, my feelings today have been mixed.  Some joyful, some hurtful, some forgetful, some amicable, some peaceful, and some regretful.  The hands in this pictures were made some 16 years ago, when my first son was 1 year old.  These two hands have some story to tell.  I found this "tablet" today when I was fishing in my drawers killing time.  It made me pose for a while; 16 years take more than a second to digest.  It is time for my antacid pill to be taken.  Talk to you later, dear diary.

Happy Easter

Easter 2011

This is Easter 2011.  Christ is Risen, Indeed He is Risen.  Christ is the Light of the World.  Christ is the Savior of the World.  Before Christ, the Earth was full of despair and darkness.  Before Christ, there was no hope.  Death concurred before Christ.  Christ has concurred death.  Christ is our hope and salvation.  After Christ, no more death.  Death is finished.  We shall see God and live.  Happy Easter.

What is the distance between Holly Springs, NC and Camden, South Carolina?

It is 210 miles.  Driving time is 3 hours and 20 minutes.

April 22, 2011: Dear Diary

Dear Diary, today was a busy day for me.  I traveled over 420 miles in the rain.  At a time, the rain was so heavy and I could hardly see the cars in front of me.  It rained, rained, rained the whole way, both ways.  My meeting went well.  I think they wanted me to start in May.  Finally someone showed some interest in hiring me.  We will see!

Good Friday

Easter is upon us.  It is Good Friday.  The greatest gift to human kind.  One man brought humanity to sin and one man took it away.  One man brought eternal death to humanity and one man shattered death in his Resurrection.  Death after Christ is just a matter of biological process.  Christ in his death and Resurrection gave back humanity its relationship with God the Father.  Before Christ and after Adam, God had to deal with human the harsh way.  Christ restored our true relationship with the Father.  He is our Father and we again became his children in Christ.  The only requirement is to find Christ in your own life.  Chris died for All, and All are saved. 

Tornado in Holly Springs, NC

Old news:  Holly Springs, North Carolina got hit by a tornado last Saturday (April 16, 2011).  Many houses were either partially or completely destroyed.  In my neighborhood we were lucky this time. Only tree branches were on the ground, nothing major.  Thank to God.

I am Puzzled?

I am puzzled?  I was told once by a wise person that everything happens for a reason.  I have a new path for me to take.  Something I have been working for since 2008.  I am puzzled now to see some hope in pursuing my dream to a fruitful outcome.  I am glad, anxious, and nervous.  I guess the three feelings got me puzzled.  I hope the first wins.

Wisdom for Today: Time and worries

"Today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday." Anonymous

April 12, 2011: Dear Diary

April 12, 2011. Dear Diary:  Today was a cloudy day.  Some rain, some drizzles, and some chilliness were all there.  Anticipations of a breakthrough in job hunting came to a halt.  I should remember from now on to keep my expectations down and embrace reality.  A friend of mine once told me that "you will find something one day, and it won't be what you think it is."  I hope she was right.  The problem with that sentence is "one day."  Is this "one day" near?  I don't think I have the time to wait for it.  For my age, every hour counts.  "One day" seems to be an eternity.  It is amazing how one person occupied most of my day today.  I did not mind it, however, I thought to myself I needed that time for myself.  I hope for a breakthrough soon.  Time will tell "one day."

Does Your Age Matter When You Are Looking for a Job?

Yes, it does.  And, it depends on what job you are seeking.  Let's say you are between the age of 45 and 55 years old, male, white, and seeking employment.  First of all, good luck.  Second of all, if you are seeking a job similar to the one you had before this could be an easier task, but don't count on it.  If you are seeking a change in career and doing something totally different from before, then your age would play a huge role.  I went last week for a job interview outside my area, but a new career that I've been trained for and earned a degree in, the manager looked at me and decided I was too old for it.  Of course it is illegal to discriminate based on age in the United States, but how could you prove it?  No one can read their mind, but I could tell from their eyes and the way they handled me when I was there.  Actually, I felt sorry for the manager because I could have been a very good employee and helped in advancing the company.  They tell us it takes 6 months on average to find a new job.  The 6 months for me is now, in April.  I applied this weekend to 10 different places on the Internet.  Wish me luck!

How Many Arab Countries are There? An Update

We reported previously that there were 22 Arab countries all together.  However, with the recent division in Sudan, a new country was created with the name of South Sudan.  Thus, the total number of Arab countries now is 23.  If Libya is divided into West and East, then we will update the number later.  With the Middle-East being in constant turmoil, I guess I will be updating this number often.

Botanical Extracts

There are three types of botanical extracts: Semi-liquid, Solid, and Powdered.  The main difference among them is the amount of solvent remaining in them.  The semi-liquid contains some amount of solvents and they resemble thick syrups in appearance.  The solid extracts almost all the solvent is removed from them, whereas the powdered extracts contain no solvent in them.

Cascara Sagrada

Cascara segrada extract is used as a cathartic (strong laxative).  It should be used under a physician's supervision as this extract can cause severe side effects.

TV Reception

I remember when I was growing up we often had TV troubles.  Those days TVs were very expensive and repairing TVs was a way of life.  My dad would call the TV repairman, and he would come always late to the appointment.  With a "walky-talky" between him and a helper, he would direct the antenna in certain direction to get the best reception.  He would spent several hours fixing the thing, and dad and mom would chat with him about life.  His visits were entertainment for me more than watching TV.  I need to call a TV repairman next time when one of my TVs goes blank.  I need some real entertainment! I don't know if there is a TV repairman anymore?  Where did that good old time go?  Sigh!

WiFi at Wake County Public Library

April 9, 2011: Dear Diary

Dear Diary, Saturday was wonderful.  A bit cloudy, a bit cold for spring season, and too much rain in the evening.  The movie with my kids was nice.  It was nice just to see them smiling and interacting with the movie.  Today was a good day.  Between Walmart, the movie theater, and another merchant to purchase soccer stuff, the day went pretty fast.  The food at the movie theater was good.  I had a "Carolina Burger" with chilly, tomatoes, onions, mustard, and pickles.  French fries were wonderful with a nice large diet soda.  Life is good.  I wish I could say the same thing on Monday.  Good buy Dear Diary. 

Who is watching you?

In the age of the Internet, the answer to this question is simple: Everybody is watching you. People can find a lot of information about you simply by "Googling" your name. If you have a blog, a Facebook page, or you are a Twitter, then expect more information is available to the person who is searching for you. A phone number here, an e-mail address there, your place of work, where you live, etc. can be found on different sites, and even some sites will provide details information if you pay them a fee. Google does not delete a search entry unless the original site delete the information from their site. Once this is done, then during the next time Google visits that site, it will update the information. If the information is totally deleted then the entry is removed from Google search query. Sometimes Google keeps a "Cache" of older versions of the page. These are also deleted once the main search site entry is gone. Deleting information on you can follow the following steps: 1) Contact the site listing your personal information first asking them to remove it from their site and 2) Once the information is completely deleted, then it will take a few days for Google to remove the entry from the search list. If the information is sensitive in nature, then request directly from Google to remove the search entry. Google can deny your request if there is not enough support for your claim. I am really surprise that by now we don't have too many court cases of this nature. A recent few examples from the news speak volume about this specific point. Someone has found out information from the Internet on someone else and the finding led to either job loss or other negative stuff. I am certain one day, if not already happened, that the Judicial System has to rule somehow on this point. The balance between public knowledge and privacy is very delicate. And, soon something is going to hit the fan.

How many miles between Holly Springs, NC and Myrtle Beach, SC?

The answer is 198 miles.

What is the distance between Holly Springs, NC and Columbia, SC?

The distance between these two towns is about 228 miles or about 3 hours and 30 minutes drive.

What is the distance between Holly Springs, NC and Greenville, SC?

The distance between Holly Springs, NC and Greenville, SC is 270 miles. Downtown to downtown, it is 4 hours and 25 minutes drive.

Seagulls

Why are so many Seagulls at Walmart parking lots? Does anyone know the answer to this phenomenon? The Walmart in Holly Springs, NC has a huge parking lot. When I passed by this lot today, there were perhaps over two hundred Seagulls, mainly standing and occasionally flying. I wonder about the association between Walmart and Seagulls. Holly Springs is not a coastal town. It is about 150 miles from the coast, but yet these Seagulls are inhabiting the parking lot of Walmart. It is a mystery indeed.

NATO is Acting too Civilized to Win this War

It is true that today was Friday. It is true that I went to work. It is true that the weather was on the cooler side today despite Spring is here. It is true that most likely the sun will shine again tomorrow. And, it is true that the Libyan Army is still massacring its people to protect three individuals who have been robbing, killing, torturing, lying, murdering, cheating, stealing, abusing, raping, destroying, etc the Libyan people for over four decades. I suggest that NATO gives its weapons to the Libyan rebels. The whole fiasco will end in a matter of a few days. The Libyan rebels know exactly who to target. NATO is acting too civilized to win this war. Why are they so scared to tell the truth. The truth is that the Al-Qaddafis are the core of the issue here. Stop dancing around the issue. It is embarrassing to hear the Western World stating that the Al-Qaddafis are not the target. Who is then the target? The man on the moon? Without the three individuals at the top, the Libyan Army will cease firing. It is time that the war ended the right way. It is time that the killing of innocent women, elderly, and children came to an end.

Libyan Army

An army that shoots and kills its own people does not deserve to fight for the country nor deserve any respect from its people. The Libyan Army is made of a bunch of cowards. These are not Libyans. These are hired thugs, murderers, and thieves. I wonder if they dare to fly a kite from now on! What a lousy bunch of human waste, the Libyan Army that is.

Trees

Trees are the source of oxygen on planet Earth. Without trees there is no life. They absorb carbon dioxide during the day and they produce oxygen for us all to breath. During the night they do the opposite. Trees are the source of many delicious fruits. Don't forget that the source of all sins was a tree. Its fruits were delicious. Eve gave Adam a fruit from the "tree of life" and everyone got in trouble. The Bible does not specify the type of fruit the woman gave her man, but folkloric rumors had it that it was an apple. (I don't think it was an apple.) But really it is not the fruit we are interested in, it is the act by which the woman seduced her man. It could have been a grapefruit, a watermelon, or a banana. God place an angel to guard that tree from any intruders after the fall. It was the tree of knowledge and life. Oftentimes I ask myself this question, if God knows everything then he would have known that the woman was going to violate his commandment. So, if He knew, why He placed that tree there anyway? Or, did God make himself "not knowing" about the outcome? In either case, the tree story is a mystery to me. But, it is so essential to everything else happened in this world. Without this tree Eve and Adam would not have sinned. All human would've lived for ever with no pain or suffering. There would've been no need to work; God would've provided. Jesus Christ would not have to die and suffer on the cross for our sins. There would've been no Christianity, no Islam, no Judaism. All other religions and philosophies would not have existed. Next time you have a bad day at work or at home blame it on the tree. And, thank the trees for the oxygen they give us.

Thanks Be to God

Today is a new day. It is the first day of the rest of my life. It is a new beginning. Thank God for today. Let's start. On your mark, get set, go.

It's Mother's Day Today

It is Mother's Day today in Syria. Happy Mother's Day mom. I love you.

It's All in Your Brain

You've heard this before "It's all in your brain." If you feel nauseated try not to "think" about it and it will go away. The ache in your shoulders is just an imaginary pain. Don't think about it and it will go away. Some people tell you if you think "wealthy" you become rich. If you think poor you will be starving. Think like a leader and you will become one. Think like a follower and you will never become a leader. In a circus a huge tiger was chained to a small peg with a rope around his neck. The peg was so weak so that a kitten would break it in two parts. Asked why the tiger does not break the peg and free himself, the answer was so obvious "it is all in his brain." You see, this tiger was chained to this peg since he was born, on and off. The peg was too strong for him to break when he was little. As he grew up his strength became stronger, but his brain tells him the peg is stronger than him. It's all in his brain. What "peg" is stopping you today from advancement, from finding a friend, a wife, a husband, a new job, or a new career? Who do you think is "superior" to you and you cannot confront him/her for issues you think are needed confrontations? Go break a "peg".

Conflicts Solver

Confronting Without Offending is an excellent read almost for everyone. (ISBN 9780736921497).

Grapefruits

Grapefruits are delicious when eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You can add them to your salad or to your favorite fruit cocktail. A large grapefruit (308 g) contains 2 g of protein, 4 g of dietary fibers, and 22 g of sugars. It provides 70% of your percent daily value of Vitamin A, 200% of Vitamin C, and 8% of calcium. Enjoy.

Unsure

Have you been unsure about something or someone in your life? Who hasn't? Words uttered by people may carry hidden messages to you that even if others heard them you are the only one who would understand them. A Middle-Eastern proverb says "that who has a sting he'll get the pain." Looks, words, gestures, hints, laughs, smiles, stares, etc. all carry hidden messages from people around you. This could be temporary or could last for a while. Unsureness often carries with it fear. Fear is destructive. Fear kills. Fear is a negative energy that needs to be balanced by a positive input. Pray for good positive input that God would sent to you in a moment of unsureness or fear. And hang-up there. It shall pass away. The LORD is your protector.

E.T.

Extraterrestrial beings are visiting our planet and they are abducting people all over the globe. This was the subject of a conference held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). You can read all about it in this book. It is an eye opener.

March

March is the third month of the year. It is 31 full days. In Arabic, March is called the month of "Azar". The 8th of Azar is the Baath Party Revolution Anniversary in Syria (occurred in 1963). My Dad (Papa) died on the 27th of Azar (last year). My best friend in college, Nadra El-Saadi, died in a car accident on the 28th of Azar (in 1978). I was studying for a final exam during my senior year when a friend called me over the phone and told me Nadra had died in a car accident. She was 22 years old. In the Arab World, Mother's Day is on 21th of Azar. And, of course, St. Patrick's Day is on the 17th of March. What can I say to Azar? Dear Azar, I know you have 31 days to do things to me. You've already done enough. Good and bad things are in you. Hurry up and and get it over with. I want to see April coming soon. And, yes, it is personal.

An Irish Prayer

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

God Speaks

Does God speak to us through different means? I once watched a movie by Steve Martin where he was married to a "playful" woman and he was asking God to send him a message whether to stay with her or leave her. He asked God for a "sign" if God wanted him to LEAVE her. The room he was at began to tremble, the walls shook, and the paintings on the walls began to drop off to the ground. When everything calmed down, Steve said "okay, I will stay with her." It is funny, but it is true. God somehow will give us a message through things, people, acts, events, etc. Keep your eyes open, your ears wide open, and your mind receptive. Oftentimes God's message to you will not come altogether in a coherent way. Do not expect it to be signed by God either. When God wants to protect you from something, he will guide you through it. You just have to listen. Shaking walls and trembling rooms only happen in movies. Watch for signs, words, happenings, unusual events despite your "perfect" plan, and unexpected turns. You've probably heard this before "if you want God to smile tell him your plan." Perhaps that's why God keeps smiling. There are so many plans out there.

Women and Heart Problems

Cardamom

This Indian spice from the same family as ginger is known in its native land as "alachi". It is often used to flavor coffee in the Middle-East. A very expensive spice, "alachi" spice is often mixed with less expensive powders for sale. Make sure to purchase your "alachi" spice from a reputed dealer.

The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure

Have you read this book? If not, you need to read it (ISBN 0-446-51862-X).

The Cost of Gas

I filled-up my car today with gas. The price was 3.46.90 a gallon. I figured, if I were making minimal wages and lived 20 miles away from where I worked, at 20 miles/gallon x 2 = 40 miles, it would cost me close to $7/day. That would have been approximately 1/8 of my income or about 12.5%. With everything else is rising in price, the minimal wage people have to find a second job (in some cases a third job) to keep up with the economy. But, no one is hiring. Gas prices need to come down....Now.