Tag Archives: Us.

24Jul 2014

Age Better #51 – The Power of Fiber!

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With all the news coverage of the US government “shutdown” you would think the sky is falling. In truth about 85% of the US Federal government is still operating normally. I think we would do well to remember that private citizens are what keep everything going, and that government should serve our needs, not the other way around.

We still have to get up and go to work in the morning, pay our bills, take care of our families, and all the other things that life involves on a daily basis. So it goes with health as well. We are the stewards of our own health, and if we do not take care of ourselves, no “healthcare plan” whether private or government run will matter.

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Our health is in OUR hands. Always remember that, and you will go a long way towards making sure that you have the health to enjoy your life fully and for a long time! One of the most important aspects of health is how your colon (also called the gut) functions.

Since certain neurotransmitters are actually made in your intestinal tract, “gut health” can affect your emotions, and thinking as well as how you physically feel. So as you can see it’s vitally important to have it functioning optimally!

There are several things we need to get this right. One is the right type and amount of fiber, and the other is probiotic bacteria.  Click on the links below to check out my web pages on these two topics.

Fiber:

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/dietary-fiber.html

Soluble Fiber and Cholesterol

http://www.cholesteroltutor.com/soluble-fiber-for-cholesterol/

Probiotics:

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/probiotics.html

Health of your stomach and colon is the key to overall health for several reasons. You need to absorb and assimilate your food for the nutrients your body needs. If your GI tract isn’t healthy, you can get needed nutrients from your foods.

The longer the “transit time” it takes for waste to exit the colon, the longer you are exposed to toxins that can create cancerous conditions in the body. Think about it, you wouldn’t keep your garbage in your kitchen for months, you would throw it out as soon as possible, because keeping it around is unsanitary.

The same can be said for eliminating waste from your body. It needs to happen every day, and be as complete as possible. An adequate amount of both soluble and insoluble fiber is essential to this process.

An example of insoluble fiber is Psyllium seed husks. These absorb water and provide a “bulking” effect to waste in the colon.

An example of soluble fiber is fruit like apples which also assist in elimination though stimulation of peristalsis (the process of moving the bowels). By the way, the bowels should be moved at least once per day if not more.

I have heard doctors tell their patients that this is not important. In the case of one gentleman I know, his doctor told him that a bowel movement every few days was “normal” for him. This is incredibly bad medical advice.

I have had good luck with just plain Psyllium husks in water, but of course your experience may be different. Whole grains like oat groats, quinoa, or ground flaxseeds can help provide the fiber that’s beneficial to the colon.

Another factor that’s important is the bacteria that is found in the colon. If it’s the normal beneficial bacteria then you will have normal bowel function, and neither be constipated or suffer from diarrhea.

You can get this beneficial bacteria either from probiotic supplements or dairy products like yogurt or kefir. Commercial yogurts and kefirs lose much of their benefit from pasteurization.  While I think the dangers of unpasteurized products are overblown, I can’t advise you to consume them for reasons of liability.

It’s safest to use a probiotic supplement or fermented dairy products as your probiotic source. Those of you who get my newsletter know that I am an advocate of the blood type diet.

When you buy these fermented dairy products, look for ones that advertise that they contain “live cultures.” This indicates they will have sufficient bacteria to be of help to you. Avoid products that contain a lot of sugar, or artificial sweeteners for obvious reasons.

Look for a live-cultured plain yogurt, preferably made from goat milk or a pasture raised cow’s milk. For kefir, the same rules follow. Plain and unsweetened is best, and you can add some berries for natural sweetening to the yogurt or kefir.

Probiotic bacteria is specific to blood type and in the near future I will be delving int that with some specific recommendations. Let’s suffice it to say that for all intents and purposes, the right probiotic foods and supplements for your blood type will result in a normally functioning colon and regular bowel movements.

So if what you are doing results in normal function, then you pretty much have it right!

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Now I have something very cool to share with all of you…

Barbara Streisand is possibly the most talented performer that ever graced a stage in any time period. Yes I know that is quite an accolade, but I believe it is well earned.

There is a full concert by the incomparable Barbara Streisand on Youtube, and here is the link:

Enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upFtYYpgb3A

I had forgotten how gorgeous her voice is and how romantic her delivery is. She is truly a once in a lifetime performer, and I’m glad I live in a time when I get to hear her perform.

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“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

Plato

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“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God’s handwriting.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

24Jul 2014

Age Better #52 – Ease into Exercise and Thrive!

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The Boston Red Sox have won the World Series! I guess that’s about the most popular news story in these parts.  My father was a huge Red Sox fan and I only wish he could be here to savor this victory by his beloved baseball team!

Part of the reason they won the World Series is that they kept injuries to a minimum and went in to the post season will a physically intact team. Speaking of physically intact, I could use a lesson in remaining so.

I don’t quite know what I did, but it appears to have been a deep strain of the abdominal muscles due to doing an exercise I have not done in ages. Naturally I went too heavy on it and paid the price.

I have yet to figure out if it’s just a bad pull or worse, like a breach of the abdominal wall. In any case, it precludes any direct work to that area as I let it heal. With this news in mind, I would make a case for easing into ANY exercise program.

As I have mentioned many times, the real value of exercise is in the quality of the exercise NOT the quantity. It’s easy to overdo things, and the result is never positive when you do that, as evidenced by my latest injury issue.

Don’t get me wrong, exercise is one of the most important components in staying healthy, but understand that there is good exercise and not so good exercise. Always start very conservatively and don’t push too fast too soon.

Professional athletes and movies stars often embark on rigorous exercise routines because they have a limited amount of time to get into shape and millions of dollars are invested in what they are doing.

We however, being ordinary people are not forced by circumstance to rush this process and so should go slow and easy. If you are middle aged and don’t have a history of intense exercise, you should get checked out by a doctor prior to starting an exercise program.

Stress tests can indicate cardiac abnormalities that might give you a problem, and so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even people with heart conditions can and should exercise, BUT they should also start very conservatively and build up their duration and intensity slowly.

Your beginning routine might be so easy that you doubt it’s helping you at all, but in truth you are being smart and setting the stage for future improvements. Even simple stretches to start and end your day might be all you need for a beginning routine until you feel that you want to bring things up a notch. At that point you can begin to build on a solid foundation.

Click on the link below to check out my page on “antiaging exercise”

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/antiaging-exercise.html

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For those of you who may be fibromyalgia sufferers or know someone who is, you might like to know that there are several products that can be of help. These products do not address the root cause of Fibro, BUT they can potentially offer some relief from the symptoms.

The first is called “methylfolate” and is a form of folic acid that can be absorbed and utilized by people with the MTHFR gene defect. Since 55% of the North American population carries that gene, lots of people out there cannot properly absorb folic acid.

Without the ability to properly absorb folic acid, the toxic amino acid homocysteine can build up in the blood causing increased inflammation which exacerbates Fibromyalgia. Using methylfolate can help lower homocystiene levels and thus help Fibro, not to mention lowering your risk of heart disease as well!

Here is a link to Jarrow Formula’s production

http://www.age-better.info/methylfolate

If you try this nutritional supplement, please let me know how it works for you. Dosage requirements would vary from person to person, but the rule of thumb I go by is to start with the smallest dose, and see how that works for you.

Start with one capsule (400 mcg) and you can take this 3-4 times per week or every other day. If you have the MTHFR gene defect, you should notice a feeling of calmness and well being.

You can tell if you have this defect by eating asparagus and noticing of yoiur urine has a strong odor afterward. If the odor is present, this is an indication that you have this gene defect, and would benefit by taking methyl donors like methylfolate, SAM-E, or trimethylglicine.

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The other two items I will mention are magnesium, and malic acid. It’s quite possible that you could combine the two in the form of magnesium malate, and although I have never used this form of magnesium it would be logical that it might be effective.

Malic acid is low in Fibromyalgia sufferers and so it makes logical sense to try supplementing these two nutrients to see if they offer relief. You can read an interesting paper about malic acid and Fibromyalgia at the link below:

http://healingpoints.com/Fibromyalgia.PDF

If you try this approach please write and tell me about your experiences with it, as well as asking any questions you have, and I will try my best to find the answers for you.

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I am half Armenian, well actually since I was adopted it’s more accurate to say that my father was of Armenian extraction, and I find that after his passing, I have an interest in learning more about the language and culture. It makes me feel closer to my father.

There is an instrument, a very ancient instrument from Armenia called the “Duduk.” It’s a wind instrument played with a reed that is appearing more often in Hollywood and other venues due to it’s mystical and enchanting sound.

The Armenians make this instrument from apricot wood and the legend is that this wood originally grew in the Garden of Eden which some scholars say was adjacent to Ancient Armenia, in the valley of the Zagros mountains in what is now Iran.

The Duduk has been described by some as sounding almost like a human voice and is not played all over the world by musicians, many of whom are not Armenian but were drawn to the instrument because of it’s soulful sound.

Here is a clip that I hope will enchant all who listen to it… The song is called “Nostalgia” and it is masterfully played by Kamil Radzimowski.

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This newsletter is read by people all over the world, so if you have something that you would like me to share such as music from your country or culture with the other readers, please let me know.

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Being a huge Star Trek fan, this clip is a favorite of mine. In it, the character of Spock explains to fellow Vulcan Lt. Valeris, that there is much more to wisdom than just logic. It is interesting because it is an example of the way the character of Spock evolved in the films and learns to come to terms with his human half.

He learns that his Vulcan logic needs to be complimented by his human feelings and perspective. He understand the shortcomings of denying his true self and knows that he cannot achieve wisdom without fully embracing who and what he is.

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“True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united.”

Wilhelm von Humboldt

 

21Jul 2014

Age Better #50 – An Ancient Exercise for Modern Results

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There’s no time like the present! I know you have heard that before, but until something really hits you you don’t fully understand the meaning of that phrase. I recently got word that a friend of mine who was 52 years of age died suddenly of a heart attack.

The was someone I had not seen for some years, but from the pictures I have seen he looked to be in good health and good spirits. He leaves behind a wife and daughter and many friends who are I am sure just as perplexed as I am by this turn of events.

Life is short, and sometimes unfairly short. It reminds us that we should not let time go by without doing the things we want to do, and making the most of the time we have. This applies in all areas of life, from your work, to your family and social life.

It is always the right time to make positive changes in your health and well being. There are many new tools available to help you, some of which I will be reviewing here.
However don’t be afraid to get out there and start, because you will never learn until you take the first steps. You have to make mistakes before you can correct them and learn from them.

Success if nothing more than a process of doing things, learning, and making corrections when needed. You continually refine the processes you use until you get to the point where you are producing consistent results time after time. Promoting good health is a series of corrections you make to your diet, exercise and approach to stress.

Eventually you will learn exactly what your body and mind need to be in optimal health. You can be moving toward better health even as you age, if you are willing to learn and apply what you learn in real time.

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Every weightlifter, bodybuilder, and powerlifter knows and understands the value of squats. The squat exercise is hundreds and perhaps even thousands of years old. Humans have been squatting both as exercise and as a functional movement pattern as long as there have been humans on the Earth.

The exercise is probably the single most effective for building strength and health. Why would this be? Well, it’s partly because the legs are the foundation of the body and of our overall body strength.

The other reason is that squats positively affect the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of our nervous system that is involved with digestion, elimination, rest, and regeneration. This is probably the reason they are such effective muscle builders.

But they have benefits for everyone young and old alike. I began doing squats when I was 14 years old and still continue to do them to this day! As a result, I can maintain a stable weight and flat stomach at age 58 with very little effort.

The muscle I have built using squats and other functional exercises allows me to easily keep excess weight off and maintain a foundation of strength without long or frequent workouts.

Hindu wrestlers in India did hundreds of squats a day which they called Hindu squats or “bethaks.” The tremendous conditioning effect of this exercise allowed the Hindu wrestlers to easily defeat the best wrestlers in Europe and the world over.

This video clip will show you how to do “freehand” squats (without weights).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDdSZmWNYQI

I would suggest that you do this exercise 2-3 times per week to start, and perform 3 sets of 5-10 repetitions. Always start very conservatively with these because they are VERY demanding on your system.

As you go along, you will get a feel for how often you can do them and how much is too much.  I can tell you from experience that no other exercise will give you the benefits that the Hindu squat will.

They will help everything from weight control to health enhancement. You may even find they are helpful if you have a problem with regularity because again, they affect the “parasympathetic nervous system” which controls the bowels.

As you progress, you can add weight in the form of a light kettlebell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af_N4T7wtMM

or even a dumbbell or barbell plate held in your hands. There are lots of variations of the basic squat movement that you can explore but start with the simple basic squat first and master that.

Then you can improvise and be as creative as you want with how often you do them, how many repetitions, ect. You can even combine them with other exercises in a circuit type routine because they will make ANY exercise routine more demanding and effective.

Add squats in some form to your exercise routine and you will be amazed at the benefits you will get from this simple and ancient exercise!

Lee Haney

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OK…on a more relaxing note…

This weeks musical clip features Lea Salonga in a medley of songs”

“Something Wonderful”  and  “Being Alive”

Lea Salonga is a Filipina singer that I just discovered. Honestly, I had not heard of her before, but I am absolutely blown away by her beauty and artistic talent!

Enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04Mq-YuCVyE

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This quote about exercise is from 8 time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney:

“Exercise to stimulate, not to annihilate. The world wasn’t formed in a day, and neither were we. Set small goals and build upon them.”

 

 

17Jul 2014

Age Better #48 – Want to Be Healthy…Then Trust Yourself!

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I got a message from a young woman who had written to me years ago after visiting my antiaging website and asking me for advice for a health problem she was having. She was told she had a thyroid problem but through her own research found out she was misdiagnosed!

She had been put on Omprazole, which is a “proton pump inhibitor” which decreases stomach acid. This can cause malabsorption of food, and she had to fight her doctor to get the tests that indicated that she had vitamin deficiencies.

She was on Omeprazoe for years, and she learned this drug should only be taken for several weeks. She was misdiagnosed and improperly prescribed medication. It was only  through her own research and efforts that she is now on the road to recovery.

It’s a sad state of affairs when you have to do your own medical research to make sure your doctors diagnosis and advice is valid, but in many cases that’s what it comes down to. Nobody has as much interest in your health as YOU do!

Don’t assume that you are incapable of understanding things about your health. That’s the biggest mistake you can make! This is how the pharmaceutical industry has become so powerful and abusive. You can and MUST take an active role in protecting your health!

Ordinary people don’t trust in their own intelligence and intuitive wisdom to take control of their own health decisions. It’s always about the newest wonder drug or prescription they see peddled on TV , and they mistakenly assume this is the way to be healthier.

There are a few prescription drugs that are actually helpful in the short term because they control symptoms and allow people to function on a day to day basis. However the vast majority of these drugs are both dangerous and unnecessary, and more and more practicing physicians are coming to the same conclusion.

If your doctor refuses to listen to your concerns or chastises you for trying to learn more about your body and how it functions, then it’s time to find another physician. A good doctor will welcome a patient that is actively engaged in their own health decisions!

The Internet can be a great place to find information, but of course you have to use your head and sort out the bad information from the good. There are a number of good websites where you can find accurate and up to date information. I will list a few of these below:

http://www.age-better.com

http://www.lef.org

http://www.charlespoliquin.com

http://www.pubmed.com

These are just a few sites that provide useful information about a range of health topics, but of course there are others out there. At some point I will be doing a review of online information sources that I will post a link to in this newsletter.

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I was about to say that fall is approaching, but in fact, it’s already here! Temperatures are dropping and it’s that time of year when people often get colds because they forget to dress warmly enough.

Yes I know about all the “scientific evidence” that supposedly disproves the idea that people “catch cold” because they don’t dress warmly enough, but my own personal experience seems to suggest otherwise.

The body is very sensitive to changes in it’s environment and this can have effects that you are not aware of. Take some time to evaluate your clothing going into fall and winter. Make sure you dress warmly and comfortably at all times.

Body heat is body energy…remember that! When you lose body heat you lose the energy your body needs for vital functions like your immune system and your hormonal system. Energy in the form of ATP is the “currency” of your day to day health. Preserve it!

Remember, ALWAYS dress warmly, preserve your precious energy for needed body functions, not warming the outside environment! The Earth has plenty of energy, it doesn’t need more from your body!

I can’t give a specific recommendation for thermal and cold weather wear because I am not an expert, but from what I have found online rial polypropylene is considered the best for outdoors.

Do some research on the web and get some good quality winter wear for both outside and inside. You will feel better and stay healthier!

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For people who are into musical theater, Steven Sondheim is a magical name! This is one of Sonheim’s best songs sung by none other than Bernadette Peters. She becomes emotionally overwhelmed during the performance.

I believe this is because some years ago she lost her husband in a helicopter accident. It almost seemed like the orchestra kind of marked time a bit to allow her to recover her composure and finish the song. This is truly a heartfelt performance.

Here’s the Youtube link to her touching performance of “Not a Day Goes By”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kMlQgyz834

For those of you who are Sondheim aficionados here’s the link to “Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnagie Hall”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E9CwofuHTk
If you are a lover of musical theater you will relish this performance!  ENJOY!!!

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This newsletter is read by people all over the world, so if you have something that you would like me to share such as music from your country or culture with the other readers, please let me know.

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“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”

Buddha

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“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”

Helen Keller

14Jul 2014

Age Better #47 – 5 Steps to A Healthy Heart

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For some reason the aftermath of Labor Day seems to be a time when we get back to work (metaphorically speaking) after the lazy days of summer. Yeah I know, most of us work year round, but there is a sense of “getting back to normal” that characterizes the end of summer.

With that said, I have vowed to resurrect two of my blogs which were decimated by Google’s Panda and Penguin algorithms. My cholesterol blog will need a major re-write because new information about cholesterol and heart disease needs to be incorporated into the blog.

The simplistic “cholesterol causes heart disease” story just does not wash anymore and thus I have to change things to reflect this new knowledge. To be honest, the topic of human lipid biochemistry is very complex and beyond my understanding on a deep level.

I am going to try and boil it down to it’s essence and present simple strategies to cut the risk of heart disease across the board. This will involve a lot of research and rethinking what I thought I knew, but of course it is well worth it.

I always want to give people the read my articles the best most up to date information I can. I can however give you a few simple rules of thumb that will always be valid and effective, even as new information about cholesterol makes it’s way to the public.

These five things will reduce your risk of heart disease:

Limit sugar intake: (this includes simple sugars, alcoholic beverages, AND processed carbohydrates from grains)

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/sugar-addiction.html

Do not cook with or otherwise consume poly unsaturated oils like canola, corn, ect. The only oils safe for cooking are olive oil (for low heat) and coconut oil (for high heat)

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/healthy-cooking.html

Get some kind of regular exercise at least three times per week. This can be “power walking”, pushups or situps, circuit resistance training ect. This is because building and maintain lean muscle mass helps blood sugar control which protects against heart disease.

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/antiaging-exercise.html

Get a grounding pad and use it!
http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/body-grounding.html

Try making your diet more alkaline by including more vegetables, a little bit of fruit, and plenty of clean pure water.

http://www.longevity-and-antiaging-secrets.com/alkaline-foods.html

Doing these five things will go a long way toward protect you from heart disease, because they address all the underlying causes. Notice that I didn’t suggest avoiding foods that are high in cholesterol.

That’s because cholesterol does not “cause” heart disease, and the amount of cholesterol in your diet is really not an important factor in heart health. Besides, cholesterol is a vital substance that your body cannot do without.

Too low a cholesterol level leaves you vulnerable to heart disease, cancer, strokes, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s Disease to mention a few!

So the bottom line is, don’t restrict cholesterol, DO eat healthy foods, reduce stress, and lower your blood sugar and you will be doing 80% of the things that are needed to prevent heart disease!

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I just watched the new Tom Cruise sci-fi film called “Oblivion” and don’t quite know why it didn’t do that well at the box office. While I thought the plot had more than it’s share of twists and was a bit convoluted, it was (to me) an enjoyable film and delivered in the action and “coolness” department.

I admit that I love sci-fi, and so found it enjoyable. If there was one thing that I could fault in this film it was that you never quite find yourself emotionally invested in the characters and storyline.

Contrast that with “Avatar” which for me WAS an emotionally engaging story! In any case, I think you will find “Oblivion” enjoyable to watch if not compelling. I think this is the look and feel of sci-fi films to come.

However what I am really looking forward to is the network TV series “Agents of Shield,” as the characters and concept are familiar to me because I read Marvel Comics as a kid!

The first episode is September 24th and I will be critiquing it at that time. Bear McCreary the man behind Battlestar Gallactica’s soundtrack will be doing the music for the show which is exciting. Well have to wait and see how it all turns out…

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This week’s clip is called “Diaspora Oratorio” from the popular TV series “Battlestar Gallactica.” Hauntingly sad and foreboding it is none the less beautiful and captivating. It captures the essence of the show which tells the story of the “diaspora” of humanity in escaping from a genocide at the hands of the artificial lifeforms they created.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UgXIf9jhF4

Bear McCreary in writing the sountrack for the show featured an instrument called the “Duduk” which is a 3000 year old Armenian wind instrument constructed of apricot wood, which according to legend grew in the Garden of Eden.

As you know I am a sci-fi fan, but truthfully the show was during it’s run one of the most acclaimed dramatic series on television, and one of the few things I watched on a regular basis.

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This newsletter is read by people all over the world, so if you have something that you would like me to share such as music from your country or culture with the other readers, please let me know.

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Don’t Make Assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Miguel Angel Ruiz

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“Sadness is but a wall between two gardens.”

Khalil Gibran

10Jul 2014

Age Better #46 The Magic Of Foam Rolling

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Where did our summer go? Seems like we are in the fall already! While I won’t complain about the mild weather, I remember that years ago it stayed hot through the first couple of weeks in September. We called it “Indian Summer, but it seems we don’t get that anymore.

I spent the weekend helping my young cousin Remy Anne move into her new student apartment in Boston. She will be taking courses at Northeastern University (my Alma Mater). Time passes very quickly these days. It seems like only yesterday when she arrived in Boston with her folks for the first time, ready to begin studying dance at Boston Ballet!

Now I get prime seats along with her parents to watch her perform on the stage, which is
Very cool!

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After one of her performances at the Boston Ballet, I noticed my cousin Remy had this long plastic cylinder under her arm. When I asked her what it was, she told me it was a “foam roller.”

I know what they are, in fact I have one myself, but her’s was hollow unlike my own. I hadn’t seen the newer ones so it kinda threw me off a bit. Anyway…seeing her reminded me that I needed to use mine more often. Foam rollers are cylinders made of hard plastic foam that you literately roll over to loosen tight muscles.

For those of you who cannot afford frequent massage therapy treatments,  foam roller can be just the thing to keep you more flexible and supple. You can get them online and they are relatively cheap.

I would recommend them highly as one of the most cost effective therapies available to the average person. The link below is to the model that I bought, and one I found works really well for me.

http://www.age-better.info/foam-roller

Nothing special about this one, pretty plain, but as I say relatively inexpensive for the benefits you can get from it. You don’t have to purchase any particular model, just so long as it is hard foam.

There are newer designs with knobs and protrusions on the surface. I can’t say whether these are better, because I have never used them, but they might be worth a shot. The idea is to put pressure on the tender areas because those are where the adhesions in the muscle are.

Adhesions are the result of scar tissue from what we call “micro traumas.” These are little tears in the muscle that when they heal, they often adhere to what’s called the “fascia.” Fascia is the protective sleeve or sheath around your muscles.

The muscles need to move smoothly beneath the fascia, and if they don’t because if these adhesions, then you get pain and restriction of movement. The foam roller tends to break up this scar tissue and free the adhesions, thus making you more supple.

You just basically get on the floor with the muscle you want to work resting on the foam roller. You roll over the roller until you find a spot that really hurts when you roll over it. At that point you just keep rolling back and forth across that sore spot until the pain subsides. When the pain subsides, that would be an indication that the adhesion has been freed.

Please keep in mind that this is NOT a substitute for proper medical care! If you have acute (really sharp) pain in an area that does not go away, your safest bet is to see a doctor, such as an orthopedic practitioner. They can either confirm or rule out anything serious.

The foam roller is really for long term stiffness or tenderness in an area that is the result of accumulated micro trauma from sports or exercise that happens over time. As far as learning HOW to use the foam roller, go to Youtube and search on foam roller, or foam roller exercise and you can choose any one of a number of instructional video clips.

Use of a foam roller is one of THE BEST things you can do to feel more flexible, supple, and lose that constant tightness that you may be feeling as a result of age, exercise, or trauma!

Here is the Amazon link again:    http://www.age-better.info/foam-roller

Happy rolling!

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For my money, Tori Amos is one of THE most electrifying performers in popular music. Her vocal performances are always captivating. I think for many people, including myself, her music is an acquired taste, but well worth trying.

Combine her darkly beautiful piano playing with the wonderful backing of the Metropole Orchestra of Amsterdam Holland and you have one truly magical performance as this Youtube video will attest!

The song is “Winter Winter”

Enjoy…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvUlPozYhg8

This concert was apparently videotaped in Rotterdam Netherlands. There’s a whole lot of wonderful pop music being made all over the world, not just in the USA.

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This newsletter is read by people all over the world, so if you have something that you would like me to share such as music from your country or culture with the other readers, please let me know.

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“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

Audrey Hepburn

07Jul 2014

Age Better #45 – Fight Diabetes With The Blood Type Diet!

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Last issue I talked about how I “rediscovered” hydration and how important it was to how your body functions. Upon further research I found that it can take weeks to fully rehydrate yourself if you are chronically dehydrated.

I can’t believe how much of a difference it makes as I am still feeling the benefits of drinking more water. What are the benefits I notice? More fullness to the muscles, more energy, clearer thinking and less stress.

Those of you who are concerned about the health and appearance of your skin (and who isn’t) take note as well. Water is critical for skin health, in terms of maintaining the firmness and elasticity of your skin. Drinking more clean water will help your skin more than any other single thing!

Not bad for something as simple and available as clean water!

The summer is flying by and it’s hard to believe that Labor Day is just around the corner. My newest project will be to investigate ionic air cleaners. I had a positive experience with one many years ago, and want to see if I get the same result again.

I visited a friend and she had one in her home. I remembered thinking that it couldn’t be all that effective and was kind of a gimmick that “health nuts” were into, but lo and behold, when I got home I slept like a log that night!

It made me feel the same way as I do when I use a grounding pad. I had no way of knowing at that time about the benefits of negative ions, so I did not make the connection. However when I look back on it now, it makes perfect sense.

My thinking is that if you can create an environment in your home that is abundant in negative ions, you would have a less stressful more health supporting living space. I am looking at ionizers now and in the coming weeks will hopefully have a recommendation for a unit that is reasonable priced and of course is a good quality one, so stay tuned.

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Diabetes is a disease that is reaching epidemic proportions especially in the US. We are now seeing it in children, something that was unheard of years ago. There is no question that all of the processed foods we eat are a factor in this disease.

Now you may be asking what diabetes has to do with antiaging. Well, keep in mind that inflammation is a huge factor in aging, and insulin is the most PRO-INFLAMMATORY hormone in the human body! Use of insulin will cause you to age faster, so you will want to minimize it by keeping blood sugar under control.

Even though insulin is necessary for life, chronically high levels of insulin can wreak havoc with your body, and contribute to all kinds of health problems. Insulin dependent diabetics thus have additional health problems due to their use if insulin.

Even if you are not a diabetic, you should try and keep your fasting blood sugar reading no higher than 70! Fasting glucose test measures your blood sugar when you arise in the morning. For every point above 70 your risk of heart disease goes up!

If you have diabetes or know anyone that does, I would recommend that you read this excellent book by Dr. Peter D’Adamo on using the blood type diet to treat diabetes. The book is called:

“Diabetes – Fight It With The Blood Type diet”

http://www.age-better.info/Diabetes-Blood-Type-Diet

Written by the doctor who developed the concept of blood typing in nutrition, it is packed with valuable information that will help you make better food choices and help you keep blood sugar under control more effectively.

Most diabetes education programs emphasize low glycemic eating, but do not differentiate between the different blood types and their specific responses to certain foods.

Dr. D’Adamo addresses this critical factor and presents a plan for preventing and treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes that is specific to each blood type. If you or a loved one is dealing with diabetes, you can’t afford to pass up the information in this book!

Check it out:   http://www.age-better.info/Diabetes-Blood-Type-Diet

The link that I have posted is to the Kindle version for people who don’t live in the US.  It is very easy to use Kindle books on your computer. All you need to do is to download the Kindle application.

Here is the link: http://www.age-better.info/Kindle-Desktop-Reading-Application

The software installs on your computer and then you can buy and read Amazon Kindle books immediately. It’s very easy and convenient, and of course it saves you shipping charges, and having to wait for your book to arrive.

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“He who knows nothing is closer to the truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors.”

Thomas Jefferson

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Loreena McKennitt is one of my favorite performers of what you would call “Celtic” music. Here she performs a musical adaptation of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s poem “The Lady of Shalott.”  The poem was based on the legend of Camelot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i52e-BKgrYk

If you ever get the chance to see this amazing artist perform live, don’t miss it!

03Jul 2014

Age Better #44 – Dehydration is Self Sabotage!

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Dehydration is self sabotage! Yeah I know that’s a strong statement to make, but it’s very true. Let me explain…

Sometimes when it comes to health, the simple things are THE most profound! I have been dealing with some issue around energy and strength levels for many weeks. I tried everything to fix this, but to no avail.

The problems I have been having in the gym with muscle soreness and lack of strength seemed intractable. I don’t wish to use age as an excuse because that becomes self defeating, but the idea seeps into your mind that maybe this is just age related decline.

What I didn’t realize was that I was “chronically” dehydrated, and once I started drinking more water throughout the day, things began to change for the better. Hydration is one of those things we pay lip service to but often don’t take as seriously as we should.

I am as guilty of this as anyone! Part of the problem is that when we don’t understand the reasons for doing certain things, we don’t attach as much importance to them. This was certainly the case with my hydration issues.

I do pay attention to it when I am out in the heat, but when I am home, (and I have access to whatever beverages I want) I tend to forget that I need to be drinking water on an ongoing basis. Just having access to water is not enough…you actually have to drink it!

As my understanding of the electrical nature of the body increases, I begin to connect the dots and realize not just that proper hydration is important, but also WHY it’s important! Getting enough water is critical to your health, and here is why.

We are electrical beings, that depend on having the right balance of electrical energy for our organs and tissues to function properly. Let’s call this “cell capacitance.” In order for electrical energy to flow smoothly through the body we need to have enough water.

Water and minerals in our bodies conduct electricity. The minerals involved in this are called “electrolytes.” These electrolytes require water to function properly and efficiently conduct electrical energy throughout your body.

Cells communicate with each other via the watery medium of the body. When we are lacking in water, our body cells can’t communicate properly and the body can’t work as it should. The nervous system especially needs water to function properly.

This is more of an issue during the summer months because of the heat, but you can also be dehydrated in the winter. You tend not to be as thirsty in winter, and thus can become dehydrated without knowing it.

My suggestion is to keep water that is the ideal temperature for drinking with you at all times. Sip it throughout the day, and make sure it’s not too cold, because you can drink and absorb more water if it is not uncomfortably cold to drink.

How much water should you drink? I’m not convinced there is an absolute rule on this. When you are properly hydrated, your urine should be pretty much clear and not have a yellow color to it.

But I would also say you should gauge it by how you feel. When you are well hydrated you should feel energetic and relaxed. Avoid drinking so much water at one time that you feel bloated. A little at a time is best.

I like bottled water because tap water is often contaminated with chemicals and even prescription drugs. This is something you want to avoid if possible. Chlorine and fluoride are toxins that are not healthy. Avoid them if you possibly can.

There are products that you can add to water that contain nutrients and flavorings. If this is what it takes to get you to drink more water than that’s fine. There is one product that I have tried and really liked. I wrote about it in another newsletter, but I will mention it again.

The product is called “Nuun Optimal Hydration” tablets. These are effervescent tablets added to 16 ounces of water to make a flavored hydrating drink. These tablets contain the necessary electrolytes to replace those that are lost when you sweat.

Here is the link:

http://nuun.com/products

I recommend it because I have used it and it seems to work well for me. There is no affiliate program so I don’t get a commission for doing so, but I do like to share what I find that works well.

Remember that water has a “ph” level and should be slightly alkaline. PH stand for potential hydrogen. When you drink water you are putting more electrons into your body. This is a good thing, because once again… your body is electrical by nature.

Water is used by the body for so many critical biochemical and electrochemical processes that you can’t afford to be dehydrated. So keep this in mind and make sure you drink enough clean pure water during the course of your day.

So…remember that water is liquid energy. I consider good hydration to be one of the keys to “performance enhancement.” By keeping yourself hydrated you will be at your physical and mental best. It really IS that simple!

Read the article at this link for more information:

http://kokopellisearcandling.com/DehydrationHiddenSymptoms.pdf

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I recently ran into one of my readers who was visiting colleges in the area with her daughter trying to help her decide which university she will be attending next year. She asked me to write about the cholesterol test that measures particle size.

When it comes to having your cholesterol tested, here are the two tests that are the most valuable:

This test is called “LP(a)” or Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) test. This test breaks down your LDL and tells you if it is made up of mostly small, dangerous particles, or the larger, less dangerous ones.

It also indicates how much Lp(a) is circulating in your bloodstream. The test also analyzes your HDL cholesterol subtypes, and tells you if you have more of the HDL2 subtype, which is the beneficial form of HDL.

You can find out more about this test at:  http://www.atherotech.com

The LPP test also called the Lipoprotein Particle Profile also breaks down cholesterol into its sub fraction particles, but can also measure something called (RLP) or “remnant lipoprotein,” which is a dangerous particle that is not measured by other types of cholesterol tests.

You can find out more at:  http://www.sprectracell.com

Either of these tests is a vast improvement over the older cholesterol tests and will really zero in on your actual risk. Remember it’s not the cholesterol numbers that matter, but the actual particle size and type, and the level of inflammation in your blood stream.

An integrative cardiologist will help you reduce your risk of heart disease without the use of drugs that have dangerous side effects.

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Whatever your health issues, music is something that will bring positive energy to you. There is so much great stuff out there to be discovered around the world and so it is with the Metripole Orchestra in Amsterdam Holland, under the direction of Vince Mendoza!

This orchestra is a Dutch national treasure and you will see why in this wonderful clip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNEMKoE5cIY

Vince Mendoza worked with Joni Mitchell on two cds “Travelogue” and “Both Sides Now.” If you are a Joni Mitchell fan or just love great music, you owe it to yourself to check out these wonderful cds.

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This newsletter is read by people all over the world, so if you have something that you would like me to share such as music from your country or culture with the other readers, please let me know.

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“Yesterday we obeyed kings and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to truth, follow only beauty, and obey only love.”

Khalil Gibran

29Jun 2014

Age Better #43 – Stop the MTHFR gene In It’s Tracks!

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There are things that remind you that time is passing and seemingly quicker than it used to. My niece just turned 23 and is a married mom of 2. I remember babysitting her one evening many years ago so her mom and dad could get a rare night out.

She was months old and pretty much cried all of the evening until her mom came home, and then she was perfectly content again. Now she she has a 4 year old and a months old infant son of her own to care for. It’s hard to believe those years passed so quickly.

Fortunately for me, I keep learning and discovering new things that I believe can retain the quality of our health and give us many more years of enjoyable life. I promised that in this newsletter I would share cutting edge stuff with you and here’s an interesting item I just discovered.

I think I talked about the MTHFR gene defect in one of my past newsletters. It’s pretty common in North Americans. About 55% of the population have some variant of this gene, and it can cause a lot of health problems.

The cheap and easy way to tell if you have this gene defect is to eat asparagus and note whether your urine has a strong odor after about an hour or so. If it does, then you have the gene defect.

The MTHFR gene is responsible for converting folic acid into a form that the human body can actually use called “Methylenetetrahydrofolate” This is known as the “reduced” or “methylated” form of folic acid.

Since your body cannot use ordinary folic acid, this gene must be working correctly in order to convert folic acid into the methylated form. What happens when the gene is defective?

Well…your risk for things like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke, depression, migraines, birth defects, miscarriage, mental illness, ect. Are greatly increased! Methylation is also how your body repairs your DNA (and protects you from cancer).

That’s the bad news!  The “good news” is that I have stumbled on a cheap nutritional supplement that can help anyone with this gene defect. That may sound like quite a claim, but it has a very sound basis in science.

Here are some abstracts from Pubmed:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22102928

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23212058

By using the “reduced” or “methylated” form of folic acid, you can bypass the problems these gene defect causes. This product is called “methylfolate.”  It’s probably made by a number of companies, but I like Jarrow Formulas for both quality and price.

I just picked up a bottle and do notice quite a difference, mainly the mental aspects of this gene problem being alleviated. I feel more relaxed, less tense and anxious. That is the outward sign that the product is working.

Now please understand that I am not claiming that this supplement cures or prevents any disease. I am only saying that since the MTHFR defect causes you not to be able to utilize folic acid, you can take a form of folic acid that your body CAN utilize.

You will be hearing more about this as time goes on, but right now I believe that “methylfolate” is one of THE most valuable nutritional supplements you can take. Here is a link to it on Amazon:

http://www.age-better.info/methylfolate

If you try this nutritional supplement, please let me know how it works for you. Dosage requirements would vary from person to person, but the rule of thumb I go by is to start with the smallest dose, and see how that works for you.

Start with one capsule (400 mcg) and you can take this 3-4 times per week or every other day. If you have the MTHFR gene defect, you should notice a feeling of calmness and well being.

You can tell if you have this defect by eating asparagus and noticing of yoiur urine has a strong odor afterward. If the odor is present, this is an indication that you have this gene defect, and would benefit by taking methyl donors like methylfolate, SAM-E, or trimethylglicine.

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Do you have a disease, or other medical condition that you or someone close to you is suffering from that you would like me to research and write about? Then please let me know. I can’t give medical advice because I am not a doctor.

But I CAN research things for you and look for the most cutting edge information on that topic and present it to you and everyone who reads this newsletter. Our knowledge is advancing rapidly, and I am here to report on the very latest on health, wellness, and anti-aging for everyone who reads “Age Better.”

So if you have questions, or comments, please share them with me. I love hearing from you!

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Call me infantile…BUT I ‘ve always been a comic book aficionado. I grew up reading Marvel Comics and to a lesser extent DC as well. With that said, it’s way cool to see the characters I read so many years ago, being recreated on the big screen.

Thor 2 “The Dark World” will be out in November, as will Captain America “The Winter Soldier.” Captain America is played by actor Chris Evans who grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, about 30 minutes from where I live.

I can’t wait for these films and will review them when they are out. “Agents of Shield” is coming to television in the fall, I believe the first episode will be September 24th.  Due to demand by fans, Agent Phil Coulson will be resurrected from the dead (he died in The Avengers). He plays “director Fury’s” right hand man.

This series should be great fun!

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This weeks musical clip is a Bruce Hornsby number called “White Wheeled Limousine”
that features one of my favorite guitarists Pat Metheny, who incidentally attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston (about 3 miles from my house!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqNdp1SLC4g

There is also an excellent trumpet solo by John D’Earth as well. Hornsby’s piano meshes well with Matheny’s guitar, and I wish the clip did not end when it did, but it’s still a treat!

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This newsletter is read by people all over the world, so if you have something that you would like me to share such as music from your country or culture with the other readers, please let me know.

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“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

Benjamin Franklin

23Jun 2014

Age Better #40 – The Broken Promise of American Medicine

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Follow the money! That’s the advice my lawyer used to give me for trying to make sense out of the actions of government and politicians. Always question the policies that are being advocated, and try to find who benefits and why.

You can apply this to everything that happens in society, but in our case we need to apply it to  an understanding of public health policy and what really drives it. I see thing almost daily in the media that I know instinctively are wrong.

For instance that fish oil is supposedly dangerous, vitamin supplements are worthless, vaccines are safe, cholesterol drugs make you healthier ect.  There is an agenda that underlies all these statements, that involves powerful corporate interests and money.

Usually these issues are brought to light by what we call “muckrakers” which are people who expose corporate wrongdoing and public malfeasance. There is always an element of doubt in their claims because they are usually outsiders who are not part of the industries they are criticizing.

Every once in a while someone comes along who has inside knowledge of an industry and it’s abuses, and steps up to blow the whistle on the corruption they witness around them. Such an individual is Dr. John Abramson M.D.

Dr. Abramson estimates that approximately 80% of prescription drug use in the United States is unnecessary! Yes…that’s right…80%! Dr. Abramson took a year off from his medical practice to research and write a book about this.

The book is called:   “Overdosed America – The Broken Promise of American Medicine.”

Here is the link to the Amazon Kindle version:

http://www.age-better.info/Overdosed-America

This book was rated 5 stars over 82 reader reviews, some of those five star reviews were from other doctors! Pretty impressive. It lays bare the dirty secrets of the pharmaceutical industry, how it unduly influences medicine, misinforms doctors, and needlessly puts patients at risk.

In this book you will learn how drug companies hid some of the facts about the side effects of their drugs as “trade secrets.” This means that your doctor could potentially prescribe a drug to you that has side effects that he or she does not even know about!

You will also learn how the drug industry funds the very research being done to determine whether their products are safe and effective. This is a clear conflict of interest that Dr. Abramson exposes in his book!

Doctor Abramson is a family practice physician from Massachusetts, who is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and has solid mainstream medical credentials. This fact makes the revelations in the book all the more convincing.

You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to read this book. Armed with facts and the truth, you can make better decisions about your health care and the role of prescription medications in it.

Don’t be a victim of the drug industry’s deception and dangerous products, read “Overdosed America.”

http://www.age-better.info/Overdosed-America

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Do you have a disease, or other medical condition that you or someone close to you is suffering from that you would like me to research and write about? Then please let me know. I can’t give medical advice because I am not a doctor.

But I CAN research things for you and look for the most cutting edge information on that topic and present it to you and everyone who reads this newsletter. Our knowledge is advancing rapidly, and I am here to report on the very latest on health, wellness, and anti-aging for everyone who reads “Age Better.”

So if you have questions, or comments, please share them with me. I love hearing from you!

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Now to share something a bit lighter and more pleasant with you. Music never fails to illicit enjoyment and happiness with people. I really enjoy sharing some of the unique artists I have found over the years with you.

I have been a fan of American rocker Tod Rundgren for many years, but I was not aware of this amazing concert he did with the Metropole Orchestra in Amsterdam. This is a duet he did with Dutch singer Mathilde Santing (who is new to me).

The two songs are “Love in Disguise” and “Wailing Wall.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_Zb9S7f3_0

Todd described Mathilde as a Dutch national treasure, and you will see why in this wonderful clip from Youtube! The entire concert is available on Youtube at the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS-64ce_bqE

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This newsletter is read by people all over the world, so if you have something that you would like me to share such as music from your country or culture with the other readers, please let me know.

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“Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.”

Thomas Jefferson