Month: January 2007

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Cure for ‘tired old brain’

Jack LalanneAnyone who is or has been an athlete knows the value and superstition surrounding ‘supplements’. I seem to remember that famous ol’ Jack LaLane takes around 180 supplements a day… that’s what I heard… who knows? it may be more!

As a Type 2 diabetic, I am always interested in learning about any new supplement that would keep me from having to do what I am doing now… lose weight. Alpha lapoic Acid, Primrose oil, milkweed extract and various anti-oxidents with obvious magical or charmed properties have made it into my daily list.

Here’s something new from New Scientist magazine…. so it’s gotta be the truth …. riiiight!

Well,at least there is a study to back up their claims … and I will provide a link to the article. Here’s a brief quote from the article:

“Folic acid supplements can improve mental performance and memory in people over 50, according to a new study.

Also known as vitamin B9, folic acid is naturally present in foods such as liver, spinach and beans, and is taken as a supplement by pregnant women to prevent the birth defect spina bifida in their babies.”

Here are a few things that naturally contain Folic Acid… but… sheesh, you have to eat a ton of it…soooo,  I think I’ll stick to supplements:

Nice chart on the food products that contain Folic Acid

Many multi-vitamins contain Folic Acid at 400 mcg ( micrograms) , however the article quotes the study at 800 mcg… so, we’re going to add some extra Folic Acid… if it helps me better remember birthdays…. then it is worth it!

Roger Freberg

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Travel & Tourism a Key to Economic Development

For many people, it may come as a surprise that tourism is one of the foundations for economic developement — not only in America — but throughout the world. And as they say, tourism has been booming!

My daughters are becoming far better traveled than I could ever hope to be… and it is fun to listen to their stories. Kristin documented her experiences in Iraq for which I am grateful. Karen passed along some data from the ‘World Tourism Organization’ that is amazing! International tourism has increased 166% since 1990 with over 806 million folks visiting somewhere in 2005. The world is indeed becoming a smaller place. Here’s how the world tourism market share divides up:
world Tourism by Geographical Region in 2005

Although African Tourism has doubled since 1990 it has only slightly exceeded the world growth trend. Most of the Tourism to Africa lands in Egypt and South Africa. Hard-to-get-to-regions like Australia are still growing in tourism… but still occupy a very small share of the market.

Top 12 Countries attracting International Tourism

It is not surprising that the top spot in international tourism is France with Paris easily the top city. After all, Paris has often been referred to as a living museum. What is interesting has been the growth in tourism to China and Hong Kong. Although the top 12 countries represent nearly 400 million visitors, this only represents roughly half of all international tourism.

The world is getting to be a smaller place… so, where would you like to go?

Travel to Australia?
Travel To South Africa?
Travel to Japan?

Roger Freberg

 

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Abraham Lincoln… what did he know? … and when did he know it?

Captain Riley 1817

Contrary to some revisionist historians, many of the books before and during the Civil War depicted slavery as a central issue from which everything else sprang… so, how did the abolition of slavery become so central a theme to Abraham Lincoln’s vision of a new America? Here is one book that had an influence.

Captain James Riley was the subject of a documentary presented on the History Channel and available for purchase for roughly $24.95. The feature is called “Skeletons on the Sahara.” And there is a book out by the same name.

Here’s how the History Channel refers to Captain Rileys adventures:

“In 1815, a Connecticut merchant ship is run aground off the west coast of Africa. Captured by Arab nomads, Captain James Riley and his crew are sold into brutal slavery and marched across the Sahara Desert, where skin boils, lips blacken and men shrivel to less than 90 pounds. Along the way the Americans will encounter everything that could possibly test them, but Riley and his men will also discover ancient cities, secret oases and a culture largely unknown to the modern world. We’ll take viewers inside the adventure, with realistic recreations shot on location and compelling interviews with descendants of Riley, his crew and the Arabs who held them captive. Includes expert commentary from Dean King, author of the bestselling book of the same name.”

Now, the History Channel did a wonderful job in presenting Captain James Riley’s story… part of the title page of Captain james Riley's Narrativehowever, there is something very special and rare in reading from original work from which the presentation was based.

Originally published in 1817, I was able to obtain an 1836 copy of his revised edition…. or what folks refer to as a ‘working copy’ ( useful for study… but broken in some way). In any event, I was very very grateful to obtain one. However, you can buy a recent printing on Amazon.com.

Just for you, I have set up a page with selected pictures from my copy along with a couple of memorable passages… one passage is on the ritual of circumcision among Jews and Arabs in North Africa… and another passage by the author calling for the ending of slavery in the United States.

Interestingly enough, I found several accounts that Abraham Lincoln had read Riley’s Narrative … and a reference stating that Lincoln held the book in high regard… listing Riley’s narrative among some of his favorites… Pilgrim’s Progress and the Bible.

I have always enjoyed reading history through the eyes of those who lived it.. be it Herodotus or Captain Riley. An amazingly easy read.

Roger Freberg

 

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Jenny Craig and remembering Art Buchwald….

Yummmmmmy.... Jenny Craig meals are a bit different in Australia... but it's all good!

It’s a date with Jenny Craig today… and I dropped another 3.0 lbs … not to bad… this makes 33 lbs so far for me and 108 for our family!

I don’t know what the late and great Art Buchwald would say about this… maybe he’d tell me to just sit back and enjoy my ‘turducken.’ But dieting is what I do now-a-days.

I decided to look around the internet and see what else Jenny was offering for meals… and their Australian program looks like a lot more ‘rice bowls’ but it still looks very yummy as you can see above!

It does bother my daughter ( now down 45 lbs from her Trojan Athlete weight) and my wife ( with 30 lbs less from her ‘Professor’ size) that I still get an end of the day ‘snack’ that actually is one of their major meals… but I think… I deserve it! ha! I still have to drop another 60 lbs and I wonder… what that is going to feel like?

2 Trojans: Wolper & BuchwaldArt Buchwald — a Southern California Trojan alum — and prolific writer — passed away recently and wrote a ‘last column’ in newspapers around the country that talked about his final thoughts… his last words? He wasn’t philosophical, boring, bitter, judgemental,  or moralistic … it was all about the glories of food! Now, that’s my kinda guy! Here’s a glympse at what he wrote in his farewell column:

“For some reason my mind keeps turning to food. I know I have not eaten all the eclairs I always wanted. In recent months, I have found it hard to go past the Cheesecake Factory without at least having one profiterole and a banana split.

I know it’s a rather silly thing at this stage of the game to spend so much time on food. But then again, as life went on and there were fewer and fewer things I could eat, I am now punishing myself for having passed up so many good things earlier in the trip.”

Art Buchwald will be someone hard to forget. He was tough on the high and mighty… but he always brought me a smile or two…. and he loved food.

Fight On!, Art!

Roger Freberg

PS. it reminds me… “the secret of life?…. it’s butter!”

 

 

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YOU can’t be happy… IF she’s not HAPPY!

When Laura is happy... the world is a brighter and more wonderful place.... so I keep it that way!A wiser and much older man once gave me a piece of golden advice after reflecting on his happy and successful life… it didn’t mean much to me then… because I was only 10 years old, but I promised to file it away until such time as it may be of use.

He said,” You can never be happy , if she is not happy.” I won’t say that I have always remembered his advice… but it has kept me from falling into those mantraps that few marriages ever survive.

Now, I think most people realize that you really don’t make anyone happy in this world by giving them everything they ever wanted. You make them happy by creating an environment and providing the tools and resources that aid any person in achieving their personal goals.

Laura passed on an article entitled, “Spouse’s Personality May be Hazardous to your health.” As you will discover, the article deals with how the personality of a ‘patient’ recovering from a health issue directly affects the emotional happiness of the caregiving spouse. 

there is a little bright eyed 'BooThe most important lesson of this study is a simple one: “Optimism in one spouse appeared to have beneficial effects for the partner.” So, there are many things one can do to lighten the mood in a home… here are just a few:

1) Allow the sun into the home… keep the windows open.

2) Place fresh flowers in the most heavily used parts of your home.

3) Keep the environment pleasant… light music, ample reading material and a willingness to talk and listen.

4) Bake and cook what others enjoy. All homes feel better with fresh bread in the oven…. the smell is enticing and unmistakeable.

When a family member is down… it’s up to everyone — including the one afflicted — to keep the mood light.

Roger Freberg