Kiyoshi Serendipity Diary

Jacob Harish, a young scientist, happened to bite into a grapefruit seed one
morning while eating breakfast, and wondered, “what makes a grapefruit seed
so bitter?”
Most people would not follow through to find an answer to that question.
However, Jacob’s inquisitive mind got him started in a direction that would take
him through a lifetime of new discoveries about grapefruit.
Many years later, Jacob approached Dr Steven Otwell and Dr. Wayne Marshal,
both of whom were leading researchers on how microbes affect food. They were
skeptical, but eventually Jacob convinced them of how Grapefruit Seed Extract
could protect produce, fish, poultry and other foods from various bacteria,
fungi and parasites.
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) is a substance derived from the seeds,
membranes, and the pulp of grapefruit. Used as a broad-spectrum, non-toxic,
antimicrobial product, it is known to be highly effective for fighting infection and
promoting health. GSE is used as a purifier, antiseptic, and preservative.
Even in studies comparing its effectiveness to chlorine bleach, isopropyl
alcohol, and colloidal silver, GSE has been found to be superior as an
antimicrobial.
By 1990, holistic health practitioners in the United States began to
understand how GSE could benefit the health of their patients. This accelerated Dr.
Harich’s scientific credibility. In 1995, Dr Harich was the guest of honor at
Europe’s leading AIDS research center, the Pasteur Institute of France, due
to research showing the effectiveness of GSE against AIDS. Farmers in Europe,
due to GSE’s effectiveness against Salmonella and E.Coli in animals, also
honored Dr. Harich.
All over the world, GSE has been used for killing a wide variety of bacteria
(such as: Salmonella, E.Coli, Staph and Strep germs), viruses, herpes,
parasites, and fungi, including Candida. It is effective against more than 800
bacterial and viral strains, 100 strains of fungus, as well as a large number of
single-cell and multi-celled parasites. It has also proven to be effective
against food poisoning and diarrhea. Many professionals, such as doctors,
veterinarians, farmers and consumers praise its value and effectiveness.
GSE has no harmful side effects, along with being economical. Whereas most
germ inhibiting components found in seeds can be toxic to humans and animals,
the grapefruit seed has compounds that convert into a form that not only
retains its antimicrobial properties, but also is non-toxic.
The seed and pulp of the grapefruit are used for making GSE. Forming a very
acidic liquid, it is also bitter to the taste. Chinese and Ayurvedic health
practitioners consider that both acidic and bitter properties are important to
the healing process. Vegetable glycerin is added to help make the taste
slightly more tolerable, and helps reduce some of the irritation to the skin or
mucous membranes. Not only is GSE found in liquid form, there are capsules or
tablets available for those who find the liquid taste too bitter.
Sometimes, prescription drugs are known to interact with each other,
possibly causing anaphylactic shock (an extreme reaction to antibiotics leading to
circulatory failure). GSE will rarely produce any kind of allergic reaction,
even when taken regularly. However, if the stomach or intestinal lining is
irritated already, GSE liquid may cause a little stomach upset due to its acidic
quality.
GSE can be combined with many herbs without creating adverse interactions.
In fact, the antimicrobial properties of GSE helps the herbs remain more
stable and potent for a longer period of time.
Inexpensive compared to prescription antibiotics, GSE is so effective that
typically only a small amount is necessary. With the increase of antibiotic
use has also come the increase of more antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However,
there is no evidence that microorganisms build up a tolerance to GSE.
Antibiotics are non-discriminating when it comes to killing bacteria.
Unfortunately, the “good” bacteria necessary for proper digestion and health are
also destroyed. This can lead to an overgrowth of Candida, which encourages a
wide variety of health problems and disease GSE is able to discriminate
between the harmful bacteria and the healthy bacteria. In fact, GSE can actually
encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria by inhibiting the growth of
destructive microbes.
Allan Sachs D.C., C.C.N., Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Chiropractor,
in his book “The Authoritative Guide to Grapefruit Seed Extract” states:

“Many holistic physicians, myself included, consider Candida Albicans one of
the greatest health challenges to people of the industrialized nations. The
broad spectrum, antifungal properties of GSE have made it an important part
of successful anti-Candida programs - a fact that has linked the names Candida
and Grapefruit Seed Extract. With the help of GSE, thousands of individuals
have overcome the multiple effects of Candida”. (also known as “candidiasis”)
Dr. Leo Galland, M.D., has used GSE extensively in his practice for
intestinal parasitism and chronic candidiasis. He has commented that:

“I have several patients in whom this product alone helped control chronic
candidiasis when no other medication was tolerated or effective. In the
treatment of intestinal protozoan infections . . . drugs are generally so toxic
that they cannot be administered for prolonged periods of time, whereas GSE can
be administered for weeks or months; prolonged treatment being essential for
the cure of chronic protozoan infections . . . I have had some
immunosuppressed patients taking the preparation for over a year with no apparent
development of side effects or drug resistance.”
For those with candidiasis, it is best to begin GSE therapy with a one week
cleansing diet. This means to avoid sugar- rich or fermented foods, coffee,
cigarettes, and alcohol. For a more detailed explanation of candidiasis and
the appropriate foods to eat, refer to AHSJ articles on Candida
_October 2000_ (http://www.appliedhealth.com/ahs_digest/digest100100.html)
and
_November 2000_ (http://www.appliedhealth.com/ahs_digest/digest110100.html)
Appropriate dietary restrictions help lessen the “Herxheimer reaction”,
which is the reaction caused by the release of toxins when pathogenic microbes
“die-off”. These symptoms may result in increased fatigue, nausea, headache,
etc. These common reactions usually occur only in the first few days of
treatment, depending on the toxicity level of the person’s body.
To aid in the anti-Candida treatment, Dr. Sachs recommends:

“. . . six to eight capsules of a high potency, high quality probiotic
containing Lactobaccillus and Bifidobacterium, etc. Garlic and Aloe Vera assist
the detoxification process . . . diet and the GSE treatment can begin
simultaneously, and continue for at least three to four weeks.
“GSE should be taken between meals. If irritating to the digestive tract, it
may be taken with meals or in powder (capsule, tablet) form. Dosages given
are for a person of approximately 150 lbs; adjust dosage according to weight.
“Days 1 - 3:
ú 10 drops (50/50 dilution) twice daily in vegetable or
diluted fruit juice, or one 125-mg. capsule twice daily

“Days 4 - 10:
ú 15 drops, twice daily
or one capsule three times daily

“Days 11 - 28:
ú 15 drops, three times daily
or two capsules, two to three times daily

“. . . a four week treatment may not be sufficient
- longstanding chronic cases may require four to
six months of constant vigilance.”

Whether in liquid or capsule/tablet form, GSE can be effective for both
internal and external use. Check the milligram count on the side of the bottle,
based on the number of capsules per dose.
A typical capsule of GSE may have a concentration of 100mg or 125mg. This
would mean that one capsule is equal approximately to ten drops of the 50/50
liquid concentrate. This is a good “rule of thumb” to follow when converting
the dosage between liquid and capsule/tablet. As always, if you have any
questions, it is best to consult with your alternative health care practitioner.
According to Dr. Sachs’ book “The Authoritative Guide to Grapefruit Seed
Extract”, a variety of other ailments can be helped by GSE, such as:
ú Acne - Add a concentration of 1% to 3% to skin care
products. Avoid contact with eyes. After cleansing
the face, apply 2 to 3 drops of GSE to moistened
fingertips, and massage gently in circular motions for
one minute. Rinse with cool water. The bacteria-killing
properties and cleansing action may cause a tingling
sensation.

For internal cleansing, add 10 - 15 drops of GSE to
juice, three times a day.

ú AIDS - An increasing number of HIV positive people are
able to improve their immune system by using GSE to
fight viruses, bacteria, fungi, Candida, or parasites.
For these patients, however, it may be best to start
with a more diluted concentration, so the body can
adjust more easily to the detoxification process.
Be sure to check with your health care provider.

ú Athlete’s foot - The commercially prepared foot powders,
creams, and sprays that contain GSE have been shown to
be beneficial for athlete’s foot.

ú Colds, flus, viruses - Take 10 - 15 drops, or 1 - 2
capsules/tablets, 3 times a day, at the first signs of
cold or flu. Or mix 50 drops in 1 quart of juice, and
sip throughout the day.

ú Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - To generally build up
immune system, gradually increase GSE amount to the
recommended dosage for colds, flus, and viruses.

ú Cold sores, cuts, wounds - Use 1 - 5 drops in 50 drops
of water. Frequent application of solution to wound
will promote faster healing.

ú Gums (Gingivitis) - Dilute 5 to 10 drops of GSE in 6
to 8 ounces of water, and rinse mouth with solution
thoroughly.

ú Dandruff - Add a few drops of GSE to each application
of shampoo. Wait five minutes before rinsing.
DO NOT get in eyes. Remember, GSE is acidic.

ú Diarrhea - Use 15 to 20 drops in juice every four hours;
no more than 60 drops per day. For parasites, higher
doses may be necessary.

ú Earaches - There are commercially prepared eardrops,
which can be found at the health food store, containing GSE.
Do not use GSE concentrate directly in ears.

ú Parasites - Parasites affect the majority of people.
They become more of a health problem as travel and
contamination of food, and water, increase. Stay
disciplined, with 3 to 5 doses per day. Parasite
infections that have occurred for a long period of
time will take more time to cure. Be patient.

ú Sinusitis - Using a spray atomizer, add a pinch of
salt, and no more than two drops of GSE. Shake and
spray into nose. Repeat every four hours. If the
solution is too mild, add one or two more drops of
GSE and shake. Do not use this treatment with young
children.

ú Sore throats - Dilute a few drops in water and use as
a gargle. This will fight even Strep germs. Use
approximately 2 to 3 drops in 5 ounces of water for
the gargle.

ú Traveler’s Diarrhea (Montezuma’s Revenge) - Use
1 - 2 drops of GSE in a glass of water each day as a
preventative.

ú Ulcers - Use 1 capsule dissolved in 12 ounces of juice
or water, and take with one meal per day. If no
stomach irritation occurs, increase dose to two, and
then three meals per day. Maximum dose can be
increased to 6 tablets (dissolved in liquid) per day.

ú Water purification - Add 10 to 25 drops of GSE, per
gallon of water. Shake and let stand for several
minutes. The water will have a bitter taste to it,
due to the GSE.

ú Cleansing produce - Add a few drops to the water used
for washing produce. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly. This will help destroy any Salmonella
or E.Coli bacteria.

ú Pets - GSE is an excellent remedy for skin disease,
external injuries, fungal infections, parasites,
bacteria, and viruses. Also, helps bad breath when
added to drinking water.

Use 1 drop of liquid, or 10 milligrams of powder,
per 10 pounds of body weight. Frequency of dosage can
be increased by 2 or 3 times, without side effects.

GSE is also used as a disinfectant. Many believe it is one of the most
powerful germ killers and deep cleansers available. Fortunately, though Grapefruit
Seed Extract is great at killing germs, when it is mixed in soap and
cleansing products, it will not harm the skin or the environment.
Dr. J.A. Botino, from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, tested GSE
against alcohol and found GSE to be 100% effective (at 100ppm) for disinfecting
skin before surgery. That was compared to the 72% effectiveness of alcohol,
and the 98% effectiveness of surgical soap, when used as a scrub for one
minute.
Other Uses of Grapefruit Seed Extract -
* Used in the laundry, it kills fungi and bacteria.
Add 10 - 15 drops in final rinse.

* Used in carpet cleaners, it is effective in killing
Staph, Strep, Salmonella and other pathogenic organisms.

* Used for sterilizing and disinfecting operating rooms.

* Used in nebulizers (1 drop GSE to one ounce saline water)
for control of respiratory infections.

Also, used in humidifiers (3 - 4 drops per gallon of water).
This works for preventing algae growth in any stagnant water.

* Better preservative than most chemical preservatives
currently on the market

* When mixed with water in a spray bottle, it is great
for disinfecting cutting boards and other kitchen
(or bathroom) surface areas.

* Used in hot tubs and swimming pools to lessen the
need for high levels of chlorine.

* Farmers use it to add to animal feed and water, in
the attempt to reduce the incidence of infectious
diseases.

Other positive points to note about GSE:
ú GSE can be taken without worrying about toxicity levels.
Reports tell of people who have taken GSE for years
without any side effects.

ú Though, there does not seem to be any drug interactions
with GSE, be aware that some medications react with
grapefruit juice by increasing the absorption rate of
certain pharmaceuticals. Check with a pharmacist or
medical practitioner, if you are on medications.

ú GSE has a very long shelf life. Even batches of GSE
that are six years old still test as potent as a fresh
batch. Most GSE products do not carry an expiration
date, because it is very stable and remains so unless
contaminated in some way.
GSE’s extensive list of healing and disinfecting properties, makes this
product an important addition to everyone’s medicine cabinet, vitamin shelf, and
assortment of disinfectants, whether traveling or at home. Rather remarkable
that all these known benefits were discovered as a result of one very
inquisitive young scientist asking “what makes a grapefruit seed so bitter?”

No information in this letter should be construed as medical advice.
This information is for educational purposes only.

Jeff Frankel
10360 Pine Lakes Blvd
North Fort Myers, Fl 33903
239-731-2655
http://www.msprotocols.com/

Introduction

Manufacturing systems are as unique as the products that they create. A manufacturing system is the key to the method of operation for a company. Therefore incorporating different systems into one manufacturing system is essential if you are to create the perfect operational formula for your niche in the market. There are many different types of manufacturing systems that each provides unique benefits and solutions to a manufacturing company. One such manufacturing system that can be incorporated into your plant’s unique management techniques is rapid manufacturing.

What is rapid manufacturing?

Rapid manufacturing is designed to shorten the production cycle by using prototypes of products to allow for demonstration, evaluation and testing of a product. This process of creating prototypes to test a product’s function before that product is made on the large scale is called rapid prototyping. Rapid manufacturing relies on rapid prototyping as an essential part in the process of the creation and development of products. With the use of computer technology, digital models follow the process of the building of a product to ensure that all parts are in working order. Often times, products are broken down into layers that are viewed on these computers so that they can be closely evaluated. The parts produced in processes of rapid manufacturing have been of steadily increasing size and durability as digital imaging have improved and as the quality has improved layer manufacturing is being used more and more frequently to fabricate not only working prototypes for products that are designed to be on the production line but also for the making of production tools to aid in the manufacturing process.

How to incorporate rapid manufacturing into your existing system

Incorporating rapid manufacturing into your existing system is useful mainly if you are in a manufacturing business that is constantly experimenting with new technology. Below are some general guidelines for how your management team can incorporate rapid manufacturing into your existing system.

1. Gather your management team together to explore different options available in rapid prototyping technology. The technologies now available include a variety of different processes, such as Stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering, Shape Deposition Manufacturing, and Laminated Object Manufacturing.
2. Work with the technological provider of the system that you choose to create a computer representation of the product that you are choosing to evaluate. The program should be able to create a prototype that consists of many layers of detailed images.
3. Once the imaging process is completed skilled workers begin building the new products or pieces of products to be used as models for mass production.
4. If your manufacturing plant is using rapid manufacturing in an effort to create machinery that will then be used for production, similar implementation processes will occur. Some examples of tools that rapid manufacturing techniques include are specially-shaped molds, dies, and jigs.

General tips and warnings

Rapid manufacturing techniques are designed to be used on large products. For example, companies that utilize rapid manufacturing include the military and those in aerospace science. Unless an object needs to be broken down into thin layers for limited and large scale production, rapid manufacturing may not be appropriate for all sectors of the manufacturing market. Rapid manufacturing can be used on small scale products, but the demand for such products is less simply because the costs associated with prototyping and digital imaging is higher. Reasons for using rapid manufacturing on items of a smaller scale include the creation of collectible materials and jewelry. Not all manufacturing systems will be right for all companies. It is important to evaluate the need to incorporating a system before investing the time and resources to do so.

Kevin Vanhoozer, The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology (Louisville: WJKP, 2005), 488 pp.

A guest-review by Byron Smith

What is the place of doctrine in following Jesus? Is it a human construction that distorts the Bible? Or a luxury of decadent, introspective Christianity substituting for practical action? Neither, claims Vanhoozer in The Drama of Doctrine; doctrine is precisely what relates the Scriptures to our individual and corporate obedience. In doing so, he aims to reclaim doctrine as energetic, energising and ecumenical in an age that sees it as dull, distracting and divisive.

Taking his cue from the world of theatre, he proceeds at some length to develop the metaphor of drama in four directions: drama, script, dramaturge and performance. First, adopting and adapting work by Balthasar, he recasts salvation history as a divine comedy, a “theo-drama” in which God is protagonist and Jesus the pivotal climax. Of course, like all good plays, this one has five acts: Creation, Israel, Jesus, Church, and Eschaton

Second, having oriented us to the (theo-)drama, we meet the authoritative script: the Bible. Vanhoozer agrees with Lindbeck’s desire to move beyond a narrow pre-critical cognitive theology of fundamentalism and an equally reductionist liberal experiential-expressivism. For Lindbeck, the cultural-linguistic turn in twentieth century western thought means that biblical hermeneutics (and thus theology) must be grounded in the practices of the ecclesial interpretive community. Yet there is a dangerous circularity in which the Bible read through the lens of contemporary church life can only affirm that very life; the church becomes unreformable and the externality, the potentially critical otherness of God’s voice in Scripture, is silenced. Therefore, while loath to lose the hermeneutical insight linking reading to community praxis, Vanhoozer argues for authorised canonical practices that guide our reading and help avoid the solipsism of fundamentalism. Thus, he retrieves the possibility and actuality of error in and by the church (p. 233), yet without thereby cutting loose hermeneutics from tradition. And so, instead of Lindbeck’s postliberal cultural-linguistic theology, Vanhoozer introduces a postconservative canonical-linguistic one.

Third: enter playwright, stage left. Just as in the larger theo-drama, the climactic third act of the book sees the author join the action. Unlike the primary performance, however, this is no divine hero-saviour come to set all things right, but merely a theologian. The function of the theologian is instead that of the little-known dramaturge, mediator between script and director. The theologian as dramaturge is a resource for the company, helping the director in ensuring the script is understood and applied with creative faithfulness, neither parroting nor forgetting previous acts and scenes of the theo-drama.

Fourth, the contemporary performance itself takes the spotlight. Again, Vanhoozer shares Lindbeck’s concern for the regulative function of doctrine but wants to base this primarily on canon, not church. More than a collection of true statements about God, doctrine orients performers towards apt action. Here, his ubiquitous (and by this stage more than slightly stretched) metaphor comes into its own in foregrounding the instrumental rather than intrinsic value of the Bible and theology. The goal of both script and direction is to serve the drama: “script and performance are equally necessary, though not equally authoritative. Biblical script without ecclesial performance is empty; ecclesial performance without biblical script is blind” (p. 362). The authority lies with script (Bible); the teleology with performance (praxis); the mediation with direction (theology).

These insights and benefits notwithstanding, apprehension remains concerning Vanhoozer’s almost allegorical application of a single metaphor to explain a whole company of concepts. Has theatre become the master key to all theology? Like a Shakespearean company with more roles than players, the same faces appear in different guises. God is the playwright, the executive director, and the protagonist (pp. 64, 243). While a robust trinitarian theology may take this in its three-legged stride, the Bible also (somewhat disconcertingly) makes three appearances: as the authorised memory of the original theo-drama, as an actor in the ongoing performance (pp. 35, 48), and as script for that performance (pp. 115-241). Christians are alternatively audience then actors, mirroring God’s move from actor to audience (p. 37). Part of the confusion is comprehensible when one keeps in mind that there are two performances: the primary theo-drama in five Acts, and a multiplicity of secondary local shows that comprise Act Four (p. 252).

Even so, the characterisation of the Bible remains unresolved. The Bible as “script” works well in discussions of authority in Part Two, yet becomes cumbersome and is virtually denied by the idea of “improvisation” in Part Three (pp. 307, 335). The “script” doesn’t have all the lines for Act Four (the life of the church) and so its authority is of a particular kind: setting the dramatis personae, plot line, and ultimate resolution in Act Five, as well as exemplifying previous faithful improvisations (p. 344). The Bible as actor also seems to be a category error (p. 48), unless it is always understood as a shorthand for God’s agency through Scripture as instrument.

Although it may seem masochistic to accuse such a voluminous volume of sins of omission, the treatment of Scripture’s relationship to Christ also lacks much recognition of the theo-dramatically relative role of Scripture: “The only Christ we have is the Christ of the Scriptures” (p. 46, emphasis added). Although it is true that even the apostles had “the Christ of the [OT] Scriptures,” they also had the Christ of the flesh. Vanhoozer’s reluctance to get his hands too dirty in the history of canonical formation (pp. 142-43) is echoed in the lack of a detailed theo-dramatic account of how God communicated prior to the completion of the canon.

Those criticisms aside, his theological treatment of Scripture remains a highlight of this approach. Central to Vanhoozer’s project in Part Two is the claim that sola scriptura is not so much principle as practice (pp. 115, 141, 153). Crucially, this Reformation battle cry was not answering “how many sources should one use in doing theology?” but “where can we find the supreme norm by which to measure Christian deeds and Christian doctrine?” (p. 232). The sufficiency of Scripture is material, rather than formal (p. 156). Vanhoozer’s rich and nuanced account is thus able to acknowledge that tradition and church are valuable, even indispensable aids in the interpretive process, without compromising the irreplaceable and unaugmentable centrality of the Bible in our knowledge of and obedience towards God.

Similarly, his recognition of the dangers of generic reductionism is refreshing. Each genre has its own voice, its own factual precisions, its own irreducible input to the diverse unity of God’s scriptural communicative act. The canon has “an eschatological completeness, differentiated wholeness and plural unity” (p. 275). As with canon, so with theology: what no single genre can assert (a unique and exclusive possession of the entire truth), no tradition can demand; what each genre can enjoy (a unique and necessary contribution to the apprehension of God’s being and acts), each truly Christian tradition must be granted.

Of course, Vanhoozer is not the first theorist to earn an intellectual living making a spectacle of the dramatic metaphor in our mise en scène. His novelty lies in attiring the task of doctrine in this fashionable dress. His eclectic and multi-disciplinary interlocutors enrich his contribution to each of the many academic conversations he joins. However, as already noted, this breadth can occasionally leave him looking sloppy or naïve. For instance, in his epistemological discussion (pp. 265-305), he mistakenly assumes that foundationalism entails infallibilism, and he misapprehends the purpose of the web metaphor and so commits a category error in comparing it to his map metaphor (p. 297). Unfortunately, even his specifically theological epistemology confuses the effects of sin with (good) creaturely limitations on our knowledge, and, in doing so, obscures the hermeneutics of suspicion behind the hermeneutics of finitude. Human fallenness does not lead to fallibilism as he claims, but to a healthy suspicion of our ability to hide selfish motives, even from our own consciousness.

When all’s said and done, Vanhoozer’s (over)long performance is sometimes sloppy, often inspiring, always stimulating. The stars that shine most brightly are the indispensability of canonical authority, the urgency of contemporary obedience, the responsibility of conceptual creativity, and the possibility of dogmatic relevancy. Four stars.

Note: Byron has also posted a longer version of this review on his own blog.

Parents often wonder what type of medicine to give their children when a child is ill. Concerns often arise when a doctor prescribes a medicine for a child. Is the medicine safe? Are there any side effects? Will my child be able to cope with such a strong medicine? All of these concerns are more than legitimate since many medicines prescribed by traditional doctors can have harmful side effects. Perhaps there is another way to ease your child’s pain. Many homeopathic remedies alleviate the pain of a child without causing them to swallow a potentially harmful cocktail of chemically compounded drugs. If you child is experiencing bed wetting, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough or measles, the following homeopathic remedies will help to ease their pain. No child likes to admit to their parents that they have wet the bed. This type of incident can be damaging to self esteem, and can cause large amounts of embarrassment if it happens while your child is at a sleep over. Try belladonna, Sepia officinalis, Pulsatilla, Ferrum phosphoricum, or cantharis. As with any homeopathic medicine it is best to consult your homeopath for exact dosage amounts and directions for application, but these remedies are sure to help your child sleep through the night without incident. If you catch mumps in its early stage, Aconitum napellus may help to alleviate pain and fever. For any child that contracts chicken pox (and most children do), try pulsatilla or Rhus toxicondendron. For the rare disease that is whooping cough, your child will find ease in either Drosera rotundifolia, Ipecacuanha,Cuprum metallicum, or Hepar sulphurus. A child afflicted with the measles may find that the illness is lessened with the use of Aconitum napellus, Belladonna, or pulsatilla. If you are desperately seeking an alternative to modern medicine, give a local homeopath a try. Most parents want to alleviate their child’s suffering, but they also do not want their child to be the victim of pharmaceutical side effects. Your child’s pain can be alleviated with the use of natural, homeopathic remedies. Why not give it a try?

“The reason there weren’t as many Yankee fans (usually pretty much split down the middle for subway series games) is the fact that it was much harder to get tickets to the game unless you were a Met fan. I have gone every year and had no problem but this year you had to either enter a lottery (which I did but fat chance with an SN like My Yanks…haha) or buy a Met ticket package to get tickets. You couldn’t buy them outright for the games at Shea. I went to the game Friday and I am
going today but only through the generosity of my cousin who has a Met Sunday package. I talked to other Yankee fans that night and they too had to get their tickets through either family or friends who were Met fans.”

Okay, that makes sense. I didn’t even try to get tickets this year at Shea, as I demanded dibs on Jon’s extra ticket months ago!

Kevin Sharer apparently likens himself to a pair of iconoclastic military men. His office sports portraits of General George Custer and Horatio Nelson, the English admiral. One was known for making a last stand and the other for defying orders. Call them independent thinkers. No doubt, the 59-year-old Sharer does. But is he approaching his own last stand?

Consider his latest challengers. Investors have pushed his stock to nearly a two-year low. Congress is investigating marketing and safety of his two biggest drugs, Aranesp and Epogen. The Securities and Exchange Commission is probing his failure to tell Wall Street that a key clinical trial ended over safety concerns, an embarassment laid bare by an industry newsletter. To top it off, cfo Richard Nanual resigned last week.

“We are certainly facing some unprecedented challenges right now,” Sharer tells The Los Angeles Times. But “we believe several of our pipeline products will be significant breakthroughs for patients and Amgen.”

Sharer is known for doing things his own way. As the paper recounts, he alienated GE’s Jack Welch by leaving when he felt his latest assignment was beneath him and then ticked off his new MCI colleagues by suggesting an overhaul shortly after arriving as the presumed heir apparent. A few years ago, he had an affair with a married Amgen vp and ignored senior execs who implored him to break it off. He didn’t do so until the employee left Amgen in 2001.

Sharer (he’s the one without the hat) says he isn’t fazed by any of this, but prefers not to talk about himself or the $24 million in compensation his received last year. “I think the era of the celebrity CEO of a few years ago is over,” he says. “I’d rather people concentrate on Amgen…The best is in front of us”

Well, Kevin, they are concentrating on Amgen, but perhaps not in the way you intended. You are right, however, no one is celebrating your tenure.

The full story in The LA Times here.

Hat tip to PharmaGossip.

Let’s start with Dominic James. The always insightful Mike DeCourcy offers fresh perspective on James’ draft status in his latest blog — and makes a strong case for DJ to stick around for at least another year: Worrying about draft position — and relying on draft websites to dictate what that position might be — is a huge mistake for a young prospect. It’s the same silliness being pitched at Marquette’s Dominic James now, that if he doesn’t enter the draft this year there’ll be lots of talented point guards in the next draft to make him less coveted. It’s ridiculous. James’ sophomore season was below what he’s capable of producing. Given his extraordinary athleticism and skills, there is no reason to believe he would not be a more valuable prospect if he were to return and perform to his standards. Being the first point guard last year did not get Rajon Rondo off the board until the 21st pick. A dearth of point guard talent is not going to make James desirable; improved performance is. I somewhat get DeCourcy’s point on Rondo - - but if the goal was to be a first round pick and secure that guaranteed contract, its hard to argue with Rondo’s decision. And for what its worth, at UK Rondo struggled to shoot the ball far more than James ever has, though the Celtics rookie had other advantages to his game (ie: he’s 6′1 and was a near-lockdown defender collegiately).
In other news, Todd Rosiak wraps up his updates on the incoming 2007 freshman class with a look at Trevor Mbakwe. I can’t wait to see what this kid can do on the floor this fall.
CollegeHoops.net takes a very early look at best teams for 2008, and slots MU in at #12.

Right before your eyes, your cell phone has morphed into a portable computer. Whether you’re searching Google via text messages, using Short Message Service (SMS) to make international calls, or e-mailing a voice message, these tips will help jump-start your cell phone’s inner PC–and make your life easier to boot. Text Your Google SearchFor the price of sending a text message, you can unleash the power of Google without having to open a Web browser. Just text GOOGL (46645) to get access to much of the search giant’s most useful information, including addresses and phone numbers, word definitions, numeric and other conversions, weather, and even sports scores.For example, if you want to look up the phone number of a pizza joint to place a take-out order, text-message the name of the business and its city and state to GOOGL, such as zachary’s oakland, ca. A minute or so later, Google will send you a text message similar to this: ‘Local Listings: Zachary’s Chicago Pizza 5801 College Ave Oakland, 94618 510-655-6385′. To save time, enter the zip code instead of the city and state.To look for more-general information, text something like pizza 94618 to receive the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all the pizzerias in that area. (This is especially handy when you’re in a city or neighborhood you’re unfamiliar with and you’re jonesing for a double espresso.)Google’s ability to text you word definitions helps you compose just the right message to send with that bouquet of flowers you’re ordering, and it also can adjudicate tense games of Scrabble. To get a definition, text GOOGL with the command define: followed by the word (with no space between), such as define:qindarka. How else will you ever find out that there are precisely 100 qindarkas in a single Albanian lek (which, oddly enough, is also the name of that country’s national vegetable). You can text Google for all sorts of conversions, too. For example, if you want to convert pounds to kilograms, or liters to quarts, or even find out the number of miles in a light-year, text GOOGL and enter 2 liters in quarts. You’ll receive a text back with the answer faster than you can say ‘2.1133764188651876′. To convert foreign currency at the current exchange rate, text: $100 in euros (the three-letter abbreviation for different currencies also works, such as 100 usd in eur).Google has many other options for fast lookups from your phone. To find out the forecast for a region, text weather and the city name, such as weather Peoria, IL. During last summer’s pennant races, I almost wore out my phone’s dial pad using Google to check scores. To find out how your team is doing, simply text its name, such as Dodgers to see how things are going in Chavez Ravine. Depending on your cell-phone plan, sending a lot of text messages to Google may launch your monthly bill into the stratosphere. Check to see if your service provider offers any special deals for high-volume texting before you start punching those buttons.SMS: Get Google Calendar Alerts, Make CallsIf you use Google Calendar to keep track of your appointments, you can send yourself SMS reminders of the events you have listed. Once you’ve signed up with Google and logged in, you can add your upcoming activities to your online calendar, too. To set alerts for the events, click Settings at the top right of the page, choose Notifications, scroll to the bottom of the page, and enter your country, phone number, and cell provider. Google will then text you a verification code to enter on this page. After you enter the code, check the boxes for event reminders at the top of the page. Once you have events in your Google Calendar, the service will send you a text-message reminder for each upcoming event. Alternatively, you can ask to be sent a daily agenda, which includes all of that day’s events. Call Via SMSAnyone who makes a lot of international calls can use SMS to take advantage of cheaper rates. Two of my favorite SMS services are Call2.com and U.K. ISP Telecomplete’s MyWebCalls.com. Both allow you to send an SMS message to their servers, which then either place the call (if you have previously registered the number you’re calling) or call you back with a dial-tone allowing you to enter the number manually.Call2.com uses standard phone lines, while MyWebCalls.com is VoIP-based, which is cheaper but may be less reliable. Calling France on MyWebCalls.com is 1.4 cents per minute, while on Call2.com it’s nearly 6 cents per minute. After you register for the service, you text the number that the service assigns you (you may also need to enter a password). You could use this service to place domestic calls as well, but the real savings come when placing calls from outside the United States. Read our reviews of three other VoIP-based services for cell phones.Take Notes Via a Camera Phone; Call 411 for FreeThe next time you’re heading to a meeting, leave your notepad (or your laptop) behind and let your camera phone record the meeting notes. The Qipit service lets you convert the text in an image captured by a cell-phone camera (or any other digital camera) into a PDF file (it will also be available as a JPEG). After you register for the service by providing your name, country, and e-mail address, you enter your cell number, service provider, and phone model. The service indicates the quality of text scans you can expect. For example, my Motorola Razr V3c rated only one out of three stars. After you photograph, say, the whiteboard or your own handwritten notes, you e-mail the image file to the service (copy@qipit.com for black-and-white images, and color@qipit.com for color), and it is added to your list of files. As we went to press, the service is free, but it’s limited to 25 documents per account, and it supports only JPEGs with a minimum resolution of 1.3 megapixels. You pay only the cost of an MMS message. (Note that you can also send the service images to be scanned and converted via e-mail.) Make 411 Calls for FreeA more traditional way to find information about a business than texting Google (see the first tip) is to use your phone company’s directory-assistance service, aka 411. However, most cell phone providers charge $1 or more for each 411 call. Fortunately, there’s a free alternative: 1-800-FREE-411. Just like the name implies, a quick call to the number puts you through to an automated voice-recognition program (similar to the old-fashioned 411) that asks for the city, state, and name of your listing. The catch is that before the service gives you the number, you have to listen to a short ad. I tested the service by asking for “Mughlai,” an Indian restaurant in New York City. While the service didn’t at first understand “Mughlai” (pronounced MOOG-lie), it understood my second attempt, “Mughlai Restaurant,” without any difficulty.Connect With Friends; Send Voice Mail via E-MailExtend your social network to your cell phone via Dodgeball, a free online service–with 15,000 members and growing–that allows you to broadcast your location to friends by sending a text message to the service. Instead of calling or texting each of your friends individually to say that you’re at the local pub cheering for your March Madness picks, or commiserating over your alma mater’s early exit, you can send a single message and let Dodgeball do the heavy lifting. After you sign up for the service using your Google login, you set up a profile that asks for your home city and gender (you can choose not to specify gender), as well as your cell phone number and service provider, and the number or e-mail address you want your messages sent to (you can also choose to receive photos, though this option is turned off by default).Once your friends sign up, you add them as “friends” in your profile. The next time you’re out and about, you send Dodgeball a text with the message ‘@Joe’s Bar and Spa’ to let your buddies know that you’re grabbing a beer and a rubdown. The message they receive will include the address of the location you checked in at. Plus, your friends’ friends will automatically be notified if they’re within 10 blocks of your vicinity. Send Voice Messages via E-MailNow you can send voice messages to anyone without ever dialing their number. The free Pinger service lets you record audio messages that are delivered as e-mail attachments. After you sign up for the service, you set up your address book on the site (you can import your existing contacts from Gmail, Outlook, and most other large e-mail services). Pinger provides you with your own local voice-mail number that you can use to send and receive messages. Call your number, say the name of the person you wish to leave a message for, speak the message, and you’re done. The recipient can listen to the message without having to sit through long and annoying canned greetings. Further, you can send the same message (such as a party invitation) to a group of people at one time. Each person on the other end will receive a text message alerting them to a new voice message they can retrieve by calling the number it lists. Recipients can reply to the voice message simply by pressing 1, or they can forward the message to someone else. Another neat feature: All of the voice messages you send and receive are archived at Pinger.com and are accessible from any computer–great for leaving voice notes to yourself. Cyrus Farivar

Last night S and R took us to a Besh O Drom concert. The music was described to us as “sort of balkan funk”. I’m incredibly interested in learning about and listening to Balkan Music, but I wasn’t sure about the sound of balkan funk. However, the concert was happening on “The Boat”, a club/bar/restaurant located on…wait for it…a boat. We’d head much of this boat, and I wanted to check it out, so we put on our dancing shoes (read: same shoes we wear every day) and headed out towards the Danube.

Opening for Besh O Drom were two very drunk Hungarian Rappers. Needless to say, they didn’t translate too well. I understood about 4 things: “Justin Timberlake”, “I’m going to Washington”, “Ben Affleck” (What could they possibly saying about Ben Affleck?! Tippin back 40s with my boy, Ben Affleck?), and “Hollywood”. I struggled uselessly to understand what they were saying. I decided that they were rapping about gormet desserts, and I’d like to present my imagined Hungarian Rapper dialogue for you here on Curious Expeditions.

Rapper #1: After a nice meal, son, I want a treat,
something sexy fo sho, and something sweet,
Panna Cotta, Petit Fours and Tiramisu
Sticky Toffee Pudding yo, I love that too.

Rapper #2: Nah, those desserts are whack, you know it’s true,
only fools waste their time on Tiramisu.
If you want to do it thug style, There’s only one way
Yo you gotta crack the top of that CREME BRULEE!

After the rappers finished arguing about their favorite dessert, Besh O Drom came out and the minute they started playing I could see I wasn’t going to be able to get away with just standing still (my favorite kind of dancing). The beat was hard and fast. It felt more like a balkan answer to techno than to funk. The energy was so high, I kept expecting a slower song, but one never came. There are a bunch of members in the band, and on stage was a sax (who often opted for his electric sax instead), tenor sax, two drumers (one on electric bongos), a female singer, a guitar, a bass guitar and a cimbalom. You probably don’t know what a cimbalom is, do you? It’s basically a piano without a top, the player banging on the strings with two little beater mallets, and is fast becoming one of my favorite instruments. They’re usually much smaller than a full piano and can be worn around the player’s neck, but Hungarians tend to use the “concert cimbalom”, which stands on four legs and is about the size of a small piano (and just as heavy). This big cimbalon is very popular in Gypsy music, who call it ţambal mare (”great cymbalum”). In fact, the instrument is called something different in every country. The American version is called the Hammered dulcimer (which is slightly different from the cimbalom).

The sound of the cimbalom is a lot like…someone beating on piano strings. The sound of each beat doesn’t sustain very well, so the player must beat the strings very rapidly. It’s a lot of fun to watch someone really going at it, and the sound is like a soundtrack to a Dario Argento film…if the film was a comedy. (Yeah, I don’t get it either…I guess what I mean is creepy and merry at the same time).

The electric saxaphone was a strange addition to the group, as it sounded like, “the band from the Star Wars bar on the planet Tatooine,” (according to Dylan…I can’t back up this statement, as I’m still resisting the Star Wars.) It really did sound like he was calling in the mothership, but I loved it. I thought he totally owned that tweety little recorder with a chord looking thing, and somewhow, it worked with the balkan techno sound. It almost served as a bridge between the two styles.

Against my better judgement and restraint, I was forced by Besh O Drom to dance the night away (by dancing I mean I sort of hopped happily from foot to foot). They can really bring in the crowd, and the Boat was aswayin’.

Thanks to a unique algorithm that produces most relevant results to any given query, Google has become, indisputably, the best search engine on the Internet. On the last count, Google has indexed over 4 billion pages and tackles around 200 million searches a day! A cluster of 100 thousand servers are used to store, crunch and spew out the query results with lightning speed that you are so accustomed to see.This phenomenal growth has made Google from a garage startup to an Internet behemoth faster than any company has done before. The prodigies behind this unique search engine, Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the process already got enlisted themselves in billionaire club.Google is no longer a mere search engine! It is increasingly broadening its offerings to include great new services and excellent tools. Among these services, most notables are News - a news aggregation and searching service, Blogger - an online journal-keeping solution, Froogle - a marketplace for comparison shopping, Groups - online discussion groups, Answers - a place to get hard-to-find information for a price, etc.Google also recently unveiled two more programs. Orkut - a social networking service and Gmail - a free web mail service. Orkut is an online community, where a person can participate in it by invitation from a member only.If you constantly frown over limited space of your hotmail or Yahoo accounts because they get filled up with junk mails and force you to delete old messages frequently, you will love Gmail with its 1 GB of storage capacity. There are several great features available in Gmail system too. One of them, dubbed as Conversations, allow you to view all exchange mails with somebody, once you select one of the mails. Sorting and searching emails also become much easier with Gmail. The only catch is Gmail displays relevant ads - based on the keywords found in your email - on the right side of the screen when you view an email, much like Google displays ads when you view search results.Although, Google is constantly adding new and extremely useful features, most of us unfortunately do not use all the capacities of the search engine itself. The following tips will make your Internet browsing more effective if even you are an avid net user.Choose most specific search wordsGoogle returns web pages that contain all the words in your query. If you would like to see the most relevant pages on the first page of your search result, be very specific with your choice of words. For example: if you would like to research on former NHL hockey player Makarov, you should start your search with Makarov not hockey player. Even better if you search for the words: hockey player Makarov. Because just the word Makarov will show web pages on “Makarov” a Russian-made handgun and numerous other people and products with the name Makarov. Refining your query in Google means adding more specific words to your initial search. In this example you will hit the right web pages if your search contains: NHL hockey player Makarov.Sets - a new featureWhat if you are looking for a pair of Valentino designer jeans but can’t recall the name of the designer? Query on Italian designer jeans may bring you the right result; however, there is a better tool that Google is planning to implement soon, called “Sets”.Fill up the names of some designers that you remember in the given form such as Levis, Wrangler, Versace and click either of the two buttons and voila! You will get a list of designers name and probably, Valentino will be there. But bear in mind that this feature is still at Beta stage.CalculatorThe other day, I was sitting in a colleague’s office. She needed to calculate some basic stuffs and looking for her calculator on her desk. Much to her dismay, she could not find the calculator and started to fumble through her computer programs in her attempt to find Microsoft calculator. I noticed that she was online and the browser was open. I, politely, asked her whether she knew that Google could actually calculate most common mathematical expressions. It came out to be, she did not! She was just amazed after trying it herself. Google is even capable of unit conversion! Give it a try!DefinitionIf you are looking for a definition of a particular word or a phrase, Google is the best place to get it. In Google search box, write “define: the word or phrase” without the quotation marks and click search button. If there is a definition available for your search term you will, most certainly, get it. It’s a very useful feature for students and people, those who write research papers.SynonymsYou may think that search engines are too dumb to show query results of the synonyms of your search term. It’s not so! At least, in the case of Google! If you use tilde “~” in front of a keyword in your search term, Google will bring results on the synonyms of that word as well.Searching within a websiteAnother great feature of Google search engine allows you to make your query within a specific website. First you write your search term in the Google search box and then write “site: the website or domain name”. For example: if you are looking for word “Microsoft” within the websitewww.micromedia.com you will write: Microsoft site: micromedia.com.Check backward links to your websiteIf you have a website, Google search engine also has a nice feature to show you which web pages are linking to yours. In the search box, write: Link: you website address.Other important tips to remember are:There is no need to use “AND”. Google always relate all the words in a search term with Boolean “and”.However, if you would like to make your query for two words - one or another - you can use “OR”. You have to write “or” in capital letters to give it Boolean value.Google is not case sensitive. You can write your search terms either in capital or in small letters. You can even mix them up.Google omits most of the very common words, such as the, in, etc. If you, indeed, need to add a specific word forcefully, use plus (+) sign in front of that particular word. Same way, you can exclude a word from your search expression by putting minus (-) sign in front it.If you would like to make a search on an exact phrase or expression, put the words within quotation marks. That way, your search result will show only those pages where the exact expression was found. In order to search the phrase: For whom the bell tolls, write “For whom the bell tolls” in the search box. I’ll also suggest you to download the Google Toolbar. Apart from the search box and its ability to block pop-ups, Google Toolbar also shows the pagerank of the website you are visiting now. Pagerank is a system of evaluating web pages - developed by Google founders and used as the core of Google’s search engine algorithm. The Toolbar also includes feature with the ability to fill up online forms from stored information automatically. You can also keep your daily journal or blog right from the toolbar.Much to net users delight, Google, in accordance with its ambitious mission statement to organize world’s information and make it universally useful and accessible, so far doing a great job by providing us the best search engine and extremely handy features and services. 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