Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Just a quick wish for a safe and happy New Year! Stay warm, be healthy - do something good for yourself. And then do something good for someone else!

Oh, and if you're in New York, Westerly Market (on 54th St. and 8th Ave.) has a delicious crop of Blackberries and Raspberries in. They are juicy and sweet. Yum!

Peace and Joy!

Is Chevy "Fuel Solutions" Just a Smoke Screen?

Can it be? Is the electric car really making a comeback? Apparently, among other "fuel solutions" Chevrolet is touting its new Concept Chevy Volt EV.

The Volt uses only electricity for the first 40 miles, then switches to gasoline, ethanol (E85) or biodiesel to address the issue of range. Which in my vocabulary makes it more a "plug-in hybrid" than a truly "Electric" vehicle.

But the real question is, will it get out of the Concept phase and into production?

See for yourself. Let me know what you think...

Reverse Evolution?

Do you believe, like so many scientists that humans are superior to chimpanzees in all cognitive functions?

Japanese researchers pitted young chimps against human adults in two tests of short-term memory, and overall, the chimps won. So much for evolution...

Here's the link to this interesting article.

Staying Healthy and Raw for the Holidays

The next meeting of the Raw Health and Happiness Society is tonight - Monday, December 3rd at 7pm.

Topic: Staying Healthy and Raw for the Holidays

West 72nd Street Studios
131 W 72nd Street, 2nd Floor (Room 2)
(between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues)
New York, NY 10023

Nearest subways: 1,2,3,B,or C to 72nd Street.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Today's Wisdom: "Winners take control by accepting responsibility." - Donald Trump

Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish you Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for all my past learning experiences, my supportive family and my loving friends and of course, everyone who reads this blog. (that means you!) Thank you!

In a quirky turn of fate, today's wisdom comes from a physician - if you are traveling for the holidays, please take note:

"Flying makes you incredibly dehydrated, so pick snacks that are wet or have high water content. Apples and pears are great because they pack well." Dr. Amy Lanou, senior nutrition scientist, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

"The Myth of the Cure" at the Raw Health and Happiness Society

The next Raw Health and Happiness Society meeting is tonight - Monday, November 12th from 7pm-8:30pm.

We'll talk about:

* "Healing" vs. "Curing"

* Are there foods that heal?

* Superfoods - friend or foe?

* Anything else you'd like to talk about...

West 72nd Street Studios
131 W 72nd Street, 2nd Floor (Room 2)
(between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues)
New York, NY 10023

Nearest subways: 1,2,3,B,or C to 72nd Street.
Suggested donation only $3 (to help cover the room cost)

I look forward to seeing you there!

PS: Save the Dates - Our December Schedule is as
follows... Dec. 3rd and December 17th and we'll focus
on staying raw and healthy through the holidays!

Peak Oil and the Global Climate Crisis

I went to a wonderfully thought-provoking seminar last night on Peak oil and the global climate crisis, sponsored by Post Carbon Institute and The Sierra Club as well as some other local organizations. The main focus was to demonstrate how the limited supply of oil will soon create astronomical prices in addition to the devastating environmental impact of such heavy reliance on fossil fuel.

The speaker, Daniel Lerch, proposed that the solution would require strengthening of our economy at a local level to produce an immediate reduction of our dependence on carbon based energy sources. He strongly recommended increasing our sense of community as not only an absolutely essential element of survival - but also the key to creating a nation that thrives in the coming years.

He spoke about other means including zero energy housing as well as alternative fuel sources such as solar, hydrogen, and biodiesel. And discussed the need to organize civil leadership to assist the governmental agencies in moving these initiatives forward.

But I thought he was missing something, so I asked a question: Are you saying that the transportation and supply chains are the major factor in both our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) production and our dependence on carbon-based fuel? He said that while he hadn't specifically researched the data, he believed so.

So then I asked, "Wouldn't a shift to All-Electric Vehicles massively reduce both our dependence on oil and our impact on the planet?" He said "Yes." There it is. That simple.

Now he did go on to say that it would be a large undertaking to convert the entire shipping infrastructure to electric power and he questioned the effectiveness of an all-electric engine to replace the diesel power used to haul tons of cargo in 18 wheelers, but I never said we had to make the shift all at once and from what I've seen, hauling power isn't a real concern - the electric engine technology should meet the demand.

Lerch's point of view is that there won't be one "silver bullet" that solves both of these issues. He believes it will take many "silver BBs" - in other words many different smaller initiatives that add up to a solution. But quite frankly, from what I see, the switch to electric power could take care of both issues. The only problem is the resistance from the oil companies and other corporations whose profits seem to be threatened by a shift in energy consumption.

Just like NYC's hybrid taxi plan, a gradual shift toward a zero emissions fleet of shipping vehicles over the next 3-5 years should allow companies the time to adjust. And that could easily extend to consumer vehicles as well. So then the next question is how do we get the manufacturers to begin producing afforable electric vehicles on a large scale? What do you think?

Check out "Who Killed The Electric Car", Plug In America and Post Carbon Cities

It's Here - The NYC Rawfood Meetup Group visits Gorzynski Farm - The Video

This Video includes photos from The NYC Rawfood Meetup Group's trip to Gorzynski Ornery Farm - a farm that's "Beyond Organic" We learned a lot about how it's all done (and why) and had a great time, too. Enjoy!



Here's a link to a brief article about John Gorzynski

The NYC Rawfood Meetup Group Visits Gorzynski Ornery Farm Video - The Director's Cut

Here's a "Director's Cut" version of the video with some new images, but the same happy music! And the good news is you don't have to wait till the 25th Anniversary to see it. Plus, it still has the same great ending. Enjoy!

Raw Health and Happiness Society

The next Raw Health and Happiness Society meeting will be tonight - Monday, October 29th at 7pm.

West 72nd Street Studios
131 W 72nd Street, 2nd Floor (Room 2)
(between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues)
New York, NY 10023

Nearest subways: 1,2,3,B,or C to 72nd Street.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Sometimes you win and sometimes you...

How would you finish that sentence?

I came across this valuable piece of insight from Robert Kiyosaki. It's definitely one of my new favorites.

Today's wisdom: Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.

A Beautiful New Raw Human Being

Another being has come into our world to proud parents who sent me this message:

The past two weeks have probably been some of the most intense of our lives and we are finally finding the time to share it all with you.

August 20th was the big day - a beautiful little baby girl. The birth was unassisted and completely natural. No bright lights, no rough handling and no medications - just the way we intended it. Only the two of us were present and we made sure the atmosphere was right to well receive this little being into our world. The pregnancy itself also was natural and of course, entirely raw. No supplements were necessary as blood tests showed excellent results all along.

The labor phase coincided with the passage of hurricane Dean just 100 miles North of us. Between the strong winds, heavy rain and thunder outside from Dean's outskirts and inside, the delivering mother entering into a phase of intense movement while standing resembling an african dance, the entire scene became quite surreal. The more the energy inside and outside became intense, the faster was the progression of labor. By 5:05PM our baby was born with one big push. She was able to nurse right after birth with her umbilical cord still attached allowing for a smooth transition from life in the womb into the world.

I love hearing how magical and beautiful the experience of childbirth can be - when it isn't interfered with by "modern" methods. I send my love to the new parents and child and wish them all the best on this new phase of their journey.

Do you have any personal experience with natural childbirth? I'd love to hear your story.

Equity Eyes YouTube - Protecting Artistic and Financial Viability of Live Theater

This is an important message from the Actors' Equity Association. If you watch video on YouTube, please read:

If You See Something, Forward the Link!

Members Encouraged to Report Illegal Footage to: taping@actorsequity.org

By James Ludwig
Chair, Equity New Technology Committee

I do it. My friends do it. Lots and lots of Equity members do it.

We watch videos on YouTube. Skateboarding dogs, cats falling off of couches, homemade music videos, video blogs - I'll finish this list in a minute.

So what is YouTube? YouTube is an extremely popular video sharing website where users can share, watch, and rate video clips. Anyone can become a user, and YouTube, which was started in 2005, has grown into an entire universe of video content, which is available for anyone with a computer and a decent internet connection to see.

But there's a sticky problem; users can, and often do, upload copyrighted content. Content that is owned by someone who hasn't given permission for it to be there. In Equity's case, clips from Regional, Off-Broadway and Broadway shows appear on YouTube with disturbing regularity. For example, recently I watched five minutes of the play "Little Dog Laughed" which had been captured on a cellphone camera. So how do we, as Union members, protect ourselves, and our property?

The Digital Millenium Copyright Act was signed into law in 1998. The DMCA states that if copyrighted material appears on the internet without permission, the person who placed it there is responsible. Thus, in the case of YouTube, whoever placed the video on YouTube, not YouTube itself, is to blame. So, under this law, we have two options: 1) Ask YouTube to reveal the identity of who uploaded the video, and/or 2) Ask YouTube to take the video down.

Here's where you as an Equity member, come in. Let's say you're surfing through YouTube (or ANYWHERE on the internet) and you see a clip from a show that you are certain is an Equity production. You can try to get it taken down yourself (which can be a long process) or you can simply copy the link in your web browser into an email and sent it to this address: taping@actorsequity.org. Equity has a direct line to YouTube; if we say, "Take it down," YouTube just does it. No questions asked.

Here in New York, the MTA has a safety campaign entitled, "If you see something, say something." From now on, as far as copyrighted material on the internet goes, here's our version: "If you see something, FORWARD THE LINK to taping@actorsequity.org."

AEA's Filming and Taping Dept Equity's Filming and Taping Department monitors the broadcasting, taping, and filming provisions under every Equity Agreement and Code. The Taping department also considers requests for tapings that are not provided for within an Agreement or Code and, if approved, negotiates the terms and conditions under which these tapings may occur. Equity maintains strict prohibitions concerning the broadcasting, filming or taping of theatrical productions, in order to protect the artistic and financial viability of the live medium. With the advent of digital technology and mobile recording devices, Actors' performances have become even more vulnerable to exploitation. Equity continues to monitor the internet and develop new strategies to protect Actors' images and artistry.

For more information, call Dwane Upp (212-869-8530 x341) or email taping@actorsequity.org.

Personally, I like this solution. No punative action. Just results. What's your opinion?

Gorgeous Heirloom Tomatoes and Magically appearing Organic Produce

First, I just want to say that last week there was an amazing crop of Organic Heirloom tomatoes last week. I had a yellow tomato that was actually spicy and bursting with flavor! Yum!!

I picked them up at Whole Foods Market in Columbus Circle. While I don't frequent this particular store, I know that this is one of the items they get in the summer when few others do.

Also, they had a nice crop of Calmyrna figs. And speaking of figs, It's Fig Season! And both the black missions and the green figs are doing extremely well right now - Go get some!!! You'll be glad you did.

As I was walking through Rockefeller Plaza yesterday, I found myself transported to a beautiful market - surrounded by fresh fruit! Apparently this is one of the many outdoor markets that NYC boasts throughout the summer. The even better news is that there was an organic farm represented (All the way from near Albany! and it was the first time they'd come to NYC - what great timing!).

I picked up a gigantic bag of tender leafy greens for a buck. When I offered to pay more, they wouldn't accept, so I just bought 3 big red tomatoes and a pint of sungold cherry tomatoes, to help support them more (and they looked good, too).

The reds were excellent, though no comparison to the heirlooms... And the greens and the cherry tomatoes rocked! So fresh and tasty!! I'm so glad I wondered that way.

Today's wisdom: A beacon of light shines brightest on the darkest of days

Raw Food Fun For Kids

A good friend of mine who's an expert on raising children in the Healthy Rawfood lifestyle is presenting a workshop that I highly recommend to all who have children or even those who are thinking of having children. Karen is a wealth of information. Bring the kids and enjoy!

Raw Food Fun For Kids
BY
KAREN RANZI

Saturday, September 8, 2007 --- 2:00 PM TO 5:00 PM
$30.00 children under age 5
$40 children age 5 and older, and adults
ADVANCE RESERVATION REQUIRED // SPACE IS LIMITED

In this workshop, Karen will share the fun of natural food preparation and the delicious taste of whole, organic ripe fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds through making simple, easy-to-prepare live food recipes with children. Karen feels that it is extremely important to provide adult and peer support for children and their families desiring to live a healthy lifestyle. We will prepare quick simple recipes such as BAT cereal, banana splits, cashew lasagna, zucchini spaghetti and sweet marinara, Emerald green smoothie, and Brazil pancakes with mango and blueberry sauce, and more! Many of these recipes contain only 2 or 3 ingredients. In addition to preparing raw food recipes together, Karen will read books and poetry focused on obtaining the best possible nourishment and explain "why." Discussion on exercise, sunshine and connection to our animal friends will all be included as part of a pleasurable experience for children and parents. Does your child suffer from the "normal" childhood illnesses, such as colds, ear and throat infections, asthma, allergies and other complications? These sicknesses are not necessary. No child has to grow up with chronic illness. Come and learn together with your child in the first children's health class of its kind! Karen reveals terrific tips for children of all ages in how to improve their diet and lifestyle in a fun and effortless way.

Karen is a live food support group leader for Accent on Wellness in New York City, a speaker and consultant. She has been interviewed on TV and radio on the topics of vegetarian and raw food parenting, most recently being interviewed by Rhio on TribeccaRadio.net. She has presented on "Creating Healthy Children" at numerous seminars and festivals, including the Portland International Raw Food Festival in 2003, and the Creative Health Institute in Michigan, Living Now Festival in Buffalo and Raw Passion Seminar in Philadelphia in 2004. She is currently the Director of the children's program at The Raw Spirit Festival in Sedona, Arizona which will be held in October 2007. Karen has been teaching her class "Creating Healthy Children" for many years in the NY, CT, NJ, PA area and has written articles for Living Nutrition Magazine, Vegetarian Baby and Child Online Magazine, Health Science Magazine, Raw Foods News Magazine, and The Raw Dish. Her first book on the topic is due out in early 2008.

Karen was able to heal her son from asthma, chronic ear infections and allergies, and herself from digestive problems and cystic acne through dietary and lifestyle changes. She has maintained a 100% raw vegan diet for over 12 years.

LOCATION: 42 New England Drive, RAMSEY, NJ 07446
(North of Paramus, 40 minutes from New York City)
RESERVATIONS: KHRANZI (at) AOL.COM - PHONE (201) 934-6778

Do we really need to stop the USDA from allowing conventional hops in "Organic" Beer?

Here's a copy of a message I posted on the Raw Food Meetup Group Discussion Board. Please feel free to comment:

I got an email from a friend with this very dramatic warning:

YOUR HELP IS STILL NEEDED

We need to put a lot more pressure on the USDA, demanding they re-open the public comment period on this issue. Industry was given two years, and the public was only given 7 days. Through that process, it appears the organic standards will be significantly weakened unless we can generate enough comments to force the USDA to reconsider its proposal to weaken organic standards.

Please inform all interested friends and colleagues and send a letter to the USDA here: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5225.cfm
___________________________________________________________

Looks pretty serious, right?

I went to the website to check it out and the subtitle there is: USDA & INDUSTRY TRY TO SNEAK BANNED CONVENTIONAL INGREDIENTS INTO ORGANIC BEER, SAUSAGE, & PROCESSED FOODS

And I laughed. And when I stopped, I thought this might make an interesting debate.

So here's a question for you - would you join in this protest, thinking maybe someday soon they will attempt to change the requirements for organic produce, or would you let it happen in hopes that it might actually help people stop eating those unhealthful things?

What's your opinion?

Is there still a question about Protein?

A recent post to the forum on the New York City Raw Food Meetup Website had the title, "Can we talk about protein?" and the body of the message was, "I'm lazy in the kitchen and I find myself depending on tahini much of the time. Anyone have protein ideas for a raw enthusiast stuck in a rut?"

Now, I was surprised, as I believe the question came from a person who's been on the raw-path for some time now. And I thought, maybe other people are still concerned about this issue. So I posted a response. To see the full version and other people's responses, you can go to the Meetup website message board. Here is a slightly edited version:

OK. There’s two really big misconceptions here that I’d like to address. First, calling Tahini a “protein” food and second, the idea that we’re in danger of not getting enough protein so we need to spend a lot of time and energy focused on getting it (more than any other nutrient).

How would you like to clear up these protein myths once and for all? Great! I’ll start with the second myth first (just for fun!) Here we go…

De-Myth-tifying Protein

What can happen to the body when it is subjected to excessive amounts of protein? Health expert Dr. Douglas Graham gives this perspective in his amazing book, The 80/10/10 Diet (italics and bold are my additions):

“The Dangers of Eating More Than 10% Protein”

“To listen to the proponents of the meat industry, one would think we are in imminent danger of disease and death if we fail to eat meat three times a day. The truth is that eating meat this often causes the very conditions we're taught to fear. This is a surprise to most people, who have been taught, incorrectly, that they need large amounts of protein to be healthy. Actually, the reverse is true: Most people suffer from an overdose of protein each day, and this accounts for a great deal of our ill health.

“Too much protein in our diets is associated with all manner of health impairments, including such symptoms as constipation and other digestive disorders that often lead to toxemia (toxic blood and tissues) and, eventually, cancer. Autoimmune dysfunction, arthritis, and all other autoimmune conditions, premature aging, impaired liver function, kidney failure, osteoporosis, and many other degenerative and pathogenic conditions result from eating more protein than we need.

“In general, protein-based foods are highly acid forming in the human body (even the high-protein plants, such as legumes). This is because their predominant minerals are the acidic minerals - chlorine, phosphorus, and sulfur. To maintain homeostasis, the body must counterbalance the acidity caused by excess protein consumption. Unfortunately, it does so in part by taking a precious alkaline mineral - calcium - from our bloodstream. The body replaces calcium into the bloodstream, where calcium levels must remain relatively constant, by removing it from our bones and teeth, setting the stage from osteoporosis and tooth decay.

“It is no coincidence that fruits and vegetables contain just the right amounts of protein to build and maintain the human body. Nor is it a coincidence that the minerals they supply are predominantly the alkaline ones: calcium, sodium, magnesium, and potassium.”

You’ll find these facts are easily confirmed by other experts. Here’s one:

“The recent Western obsession with protein diets is turning out to have potentially fatal results, namely osteoporosis and kidney failure. During protein metabolism… the kidneys neutralize the acids by binding them to calcium, which in turn, depletes your body's store of this essential mineral.

“The rate in the U.S. of osteoporosis is strikingly higher than China, where almost everyone eats a lower protein vegetarian diet. Evidence has also been found that excess protein weakens the kidney function.”

-Dr. Maoshing Ni (Doctor of Chinese Medicine, and author of Secrets of Longevity, and The Tao of Nutrition)

Now of course, if we remember the Goldilocks story – first it was too hot, then too cold, then too hard then too soft. What did she want? “Just right.” She found that too much or too little in either direction were both undesirable. But in this case, getting too little is actually a real challenge and in fact protein deficiencies simply don’t exist in our western culture – or anywhere else where a person is eating a sufficient number of calories overall. Plus, our protein needs may be a lot lower than we've been lead to believe. Let’s go back to Dr. Graham:

“Despite the advertising hype of the meat and dairy industries, humans require an extraordinarily low amount of protein in their diets. Many official groups, including the World Health Organization, the U.S. National Academies’ Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council suggest that eating a mere 10% of our total calories as protein is sufficient.

“In his book The China Study, renowned Cornell University professor emeritus of nutritional biochemistry T. Colin Campbell states that we require only 5-6% of our total calories to come from protein in order to replace the protein we routinely lose, and that “About 9-10% protein has been recommended for the past fifty years to be assured that most people at least get their 5-6% ‘requirement.’”

“In addition to the safety margin, this recommendation assumes that people eat their protein cooked. Given that cooking substantially deranges protein and other nutrients, we can safely consume far less raw plant protein and still be assured of sufficient nourishment. Thus, you can see that 10% protein (maximum) is both sufficient and reasonable.“

Here’s a portion of a chart from Dr. Graham’s book:


Protein Content of Common Foods (percentage of calories)


Apricots 10%
Bananas 4%
Cherries 6%
Cucumbers 11%
Dates 2%
Oranges, Valencia 7%
Peaches 8%
Strawberries 7%
Tomatoes, red 12%
Watermelon 7%
Cabbage 15%
Lettuce, green leaf 22%
Spinach 30%
Avocado 4%
Coconut (mature) 3%
Sesame seed 11%

“You will see that fruits generally contain 4-8% protein, and a few contain more. Surprisingly, the vegetables we commonly eat raw range from about 10 to 30% protein. (Vegetables are so low in calories, however, that even huge quantities add very little overall to one’s daily protein percentage.) Nonetheless, when I calculate the caloronutrient ratio of a day’s worth of food consisting strictly of a variety of raw fruits and vegetables without the addition of concentrated proteins, they generally weigh in at approximately 5 to 8% of calories as protein – an adequate and healthful amount of top-quality protein.

And here’s where it gets exciting. Take a look at the number for Sesame seed. Only 11%! As it turns out, Sesame seed, like most seeds and nuts, is mostly Fat (73% Fat). And based on its percentage of calories, not very much higher in protein at all!

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, average U.S. protein consumption was 15.5% for men and 15.1% for women in 2000. In 1970 they were 16.5% and 16.9%.

“How can it be that as a nation we gorge on “high-protein” foods, yet we end up with less than 20% of our calories from protein? The answer is that the vast majority of our commonly consumed “protein” foods – meat, egg, and dairy products, as well as all nuts and seeds, contain such an overwhelming amount of fat that the protein numbers go way down as a percentage of total calories consumed.”

So, the tahini is actually a Fatty food, and from that perspective, most nuts or seeds have similar Carb/Protein/Fat percentages so if you're looking for a different type of fat, you can certainly just choose a different nut or seed. However, you can easily maintain your protein at a healthy level (10% or less), with the bulk of your calories coming from fruits and vegetables, not nuts and seeds. And then you can choose from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables indeed!

Do you know how much protein you eat on a daily basis? You can calculate it at www.Fitday.com.

To learn more about Carbohydrate, Protein and Fat in fruits and vegetables and to get tasty recipes and menu plans to help you attain superior health – with the confidence to know that you are getting the nutrients you need in an amount that’s “Just Right,” check out The 80/10/10 Diet. You’ll be glad you did.

The Summer Heats up with Fun!

Summer Fun in NYC is HOT! Over the last few weeks, I've enjoyed several of the city's 'funnest'. Central Park offers lots of cool events and on Friday night I went to SummerStage sponsored by Comedy Central which was a free event featuring 4 up and coming comedians and hosted by Dave Attell.

Hysterical! I can't recall another evening of stand-up comedy where every performer had such great material. I laughed myself silly. Plus it was outdoors and on a beautiful night.

Last week I was also in Central Park for another outdoor performance - Shakespeare in the Park. This NYC institution is still going strong and boy, do they have a great offering!

The classic (and tragic) love story of Romeo & Juliet is retold with power and grace by a strong cast of performers with excellent direction. Although there were a few hiccups (a Friar Lawrence who forgot lines and a unit set that looked cool, but didn't quite work for the entire show) overall the evening was fantastic.

In fact, one performer, Michael Cristofer, was so fantastic as Lord Capulet that he received a spontaneous round of applause as he made an exit after his scene with Juliet. He brought such clarity to the role. It was a revelation and very inspiring. His performance alone is worth all the time it takes to wait on line for tickets.

The show runs until the 8th of July. Definitely check it out.

I also kicked off my shoes and did some "Barefoot Boogie"-ing on Saturday night. The motto is "No shoes, no booze." Apparently this group has locations in a couple of cities where they host substance-free dance parties twice a month.

A number of folks from the Raw Food and vegetarian communities came together there and we danced the night away (on our bare feet). The music was good and the company even better!

Today's wisdom: Is there something you've been putting off? Do it today.

Boycott California Almonds

It is clear that the Almond Board of California has only its own financial interests in mind regarding its decision to pasteurize all California almonds. No consideration is being shown for the health of its customers as they continue to ignore the public outcry.

It is also clear that the Almond Board of California (with the help of the FDA) intends to move forward deceptively by mislabeling these pasteurized almonds as raw – a fraud that can only be described as criminal.

We must send a message they cannot ignore. Words alone are not enough. Action is required.

Therefore, I call for an immediate Boycott of all California almonds and California almond products.

Since money is all they are concerned with, a Boycott is the most effective way to send a message that we will not stick our heads in the sand while they proceed with this atrocity and deception. We will not accept an inferior product. We must show them now what the future holds for them should they choose to go ahead with their plan.

Moreover, we will not allow the FDA to look the other way while any company blatantly lies to its consumers.

Act now! Take a stand and Keep Raw Almonds Truly Raw.

This Boycott – effective immediately – affects all California almonds and products made with California almonds and will only be lifted when the Almond Board of California repeals its decision to go forward with its misguided plan.

Please forward this message to as many people as you can and spread the word:
Do NOT buy any more California almonds or almond products until you hear the Almond Board of California has changed its decision.

Together we can save ourselves from this attack on our health and attempted violation of our rights.

Be bold. Be resolute.

Be well.

Today's wisdom: Summer time is a great time to vector your diet away from dependence on nuts. With all the beautiful summer fruits and veggies available, what a fantastic opportunity to begin discovering delicious and healthy alternatives! Check out The 80/10/10 Diet for lots of great (non-almond) recipes.

Hybrid cars have been around longer than you might think

If you think Hybrid technology is new, here's an interesting fact I read on Yahoo! yesterday, it may surprise you:

In 1900, American car companies produced steam, electric, and gasoline cars in almost equal numbers. It wasn't long before enterprising engineers figured out that multiple sources of power could be combined. In 1905 an American engineer named H. Piper filed the first patent for a gas-electric hybrid vehicle.

With the advent of the electric self-starter in 1913-making gasoline engines much easier to turn over and get started-steamers, electrics, and hybrids were almost completely wiped out. The following 80 years, characterized by cheap oil, created little incentive for auto engineers to play with alternatives.

The oil price shocks of the 1970s, and a growing awareness of environmental problems related to automobile emissions, sent engineers back to the drawing board. Research and experimentation by governments and car companies in the 1980s and 1990s led to the reemergence of hybrids in the U.S. in 2000.

Free Play Reading

Well, I'm back from sunny Florida - it was wonderful! And I do have lots to share soon. For now, I just got word about a play reading that the Roundabout Theater is doing (for free) this coming Monday, so I thought I'd share the details. Check it out and then let me know what you think. (Post a reply to this blog with your review!) Enjoy!!

Free Reading of We Three by Charles Grodin this Monday!
Don't Miss this free reading at The Laura Pels Theatre, this Monday, April 30 at 4 PM!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We Three
A serious comedy about human relations.
A new play by Charles Grodin.

Starring
Charles Grodin, Larry Bryggman, Mitch Greenberg,
and Alfred Molina

MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2007
4:00 p.m.

Laura Pels Theatre
111 West 46th Street


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets will not be distributed for this reading. Seating is general admission beginning at 3:30 p.m.

RSVP by calling 212-719-9393, ext. 9371#, or email playreadings@roundabouttheatre.org by Sunday, April 29.

Eating Properly Ripe Fruit

Lately after expressing dismay at the selection of ripe fruit that is available in stores, several people have asked me about how to tell when a fruit is ripe and one even said, "How do you always get such perfectly ripe fruit?"

Well, it's not magic. There's a simple answer. And I've recorded the first of a series of videos on choosing and eating properly ripe fruit. In it we tackle Bananas - a fruit widely available in its unripe state!

I will post it here very soon.

Oh, and by the way, since it works well for the stores to carry hard, unripe bananas, a little advanced planning goes a long way. Buy a few extra bunches (or a whole case) and store them in a warm place to ripen safely and without bruising! Yum!!

Study shows too few eating fruits and vegetables

Here are some excerpts from an article I read recently. My brief comments are in italics:

Source: Daniel Yee, Associated Press (Full article)

Fewer than a third of American adults eat the amount of fruits and vegetables the government recommends, a trend that's remained steady for more than a decade, health officials said Thursday.

That's "well below" the government's goal of getting 75 percent of Americans to eat two servings of fruits and having half of the population consume three servings of vegetables each day by 2010, said Dr. Larry Cohen of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although the rate of fruit and vegetable consumption has remained unchanged since 1994, health officials said the goal is still within reach.

Ok, is it just me, or does that seem a little unrealistic? Unless there's a radical shift in the thinking of most Americans, how in the world do they think that they can possibly reach this goal?

"We have more work to do over the next few years," said spokeswoman Rachel Ciccarone.

I think she wins the award for the understatement of the year...

Specifically the survey showed that 27 percent of adults ate vegetables three times a day, and about 33 percent ate fruit twice a day. A serving size is a half-cup for most fruits and vegetables, one cup for leafy greens.

The federal agency said it doesn't know why people aren't eating more veggies or fruits.

Susan Krause, a clinical dietitian at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, said people are eating more refined sugars or choosing protein instead of fruits and vegetables.

"There's so much information out there and people get very confused. When they're looking at protein, they feel that's the solution when they're not looking at long-term health benefits," she said. "There's so many fabricated foods now and people are looking at convenience."

I'd say there's so much mis-information out there, deliberately designed to get people very confused. There's a number of folks who stand to profit from selling unhealthy items to the public and there's even more who will profit from the ill-health of the population that results.

If you need help cutting through the clutter and improving your food choices - send me an email at info@actingconsciously.com to set up a free exploratory coaching session.

Today's wisdom: Not only are fruits and vegetables lower-calorie, they also have minerals and fiber that help guard against chronic diseases and cancer, the CDC says. So I say, "Eat more fruits and vegetables!" Enjoy!

How long will Internet Radio last?

A friend of mine just sent me an email regarding a new copyright royalty structure for internet radio stations that apparently could put most of the stations out of business. As strange as it sounds, the new regulations would have the stations paying more than 100% of their revenues!

Although I don't listen to internet radio stations that play music, here's a few links in case you'd like to check out this issue.



http://www.kurthanson.com/archive/news/030...207/index.shtml

What's your opinion? Write a comment here.

An Inconvenient Truth

Just watched the film, "An Inconvenient Truth." Bravo! Very well presented. Perhaps now this long ignored issue will be given a higher priority.

I was intrigued by what he said about the need to change the habit when the technology changes, and cited the example of war. Could this inspire an end to the war mentality?

And I enjoyed the candor of the quote (of Aldous Huxley, I believe) that it's hard to make a man understand when his job depends on him not understanding.

Cheers to all the CEOs, entrepreneurs and others who do understand and are making it profitable to care about our environment!

If you haven't yet seen the film, pick up the DVD. And if you saw it in the theaters, get the DVD anyway, because there's a great interview with Al Gore - an update on the Crisis.

Let me know what kinds of things you are doing to positively affect the environment.

Today's wisdom: You're probably aware of how detrimental the greenhouse gases from cars are, but the cooking of food accounts for an even higher percent! Specifically, more pollution is created by cooking food than from driving to and from work. Eating more raw foods and not only helps save yourself - you also help save the planet! Awesome.

Fairies, Fauns and Titans - Lacrosse, that is...

Fairies and Fauns

I went to see the Academy Award winning film Pan's Labyrinth yesterday. My friend suggested it and also treated (I've got some great friends!) And Wow!! What an incredible film. Granted there were 3 times when I had to turn away from the screen because of very graphic violence, but unlike The Departed, this film had a beautiful story and many other redeeming qualities. This one should have won Best Picture! Hands-down it is a better film. If you haven't seen it yet, go. Now, while it's still on the big screen.

And Titans, oh my!

I also got a couple of free tickets to see the New York Titans Lacrosse game. Although I played a few games of high school phys ed lacrosse, I'd never seen a pro game before.

It was pretty exciting (lots of energy and goal-scoring, plus an enthusiastic cheering squad) and the Titans won, so we were able to celebrate a New York victory.

There were plenty of available seats and their final game of the season is the 17th, so if you'd like to see an out-of-the-ordinary sporting event - check it out. nytitanslacrosse.com

"A safe and supportive community for people who wish to succeed at the 811 raw lifestyle"

On Monday night, I led my fourth Raw Health and Happiness Society meeting and it was awesome. The trust level of the group is extremely high and as a result, the breakthroughs are amazing. Here's some of the comments from the members:

“I attended your first [Raw Health and Happiness Society] meeting, and I wanted to let you know how well I felt after the meeting. I came in tired, just wanting to listen, but you gave such energy and thought provoking ideas that I had to get into the meeting! You are just a find. I look forward to hearing you again.” Carol Pessin

"You've created a safe and supportive community for people who wish to succeed at the 811 raw lifestyle. The atmosphere is compassionate and your leadership is gentle yet persuasive. Your own experience and evolution make you a great role model and facilitator for the growth of others. You have attracted a mix of people on a spiritual path which is based on raw food but extends beyond it." - Robert Spector

Lane Lynn describes how she's grown through her association with the group and her rawfood lifestyle as "having personal power, which actually might better be described as functionality... things are just not in my way any more. I can move more freely in the directions I choose."

She goes on to say, "You have something else. I'm going to call it strength. Non-flappable steady strength. I find it an inspiration and I thank you for sharing yourself the way you do. What really amazes me, is that you do all this at such a young age."

I'm grateful for all your kind words and thrilled by your successes and will continue to offer support to all who attend these sessions.

If you'd like to join the group, visit rawfoodny.com for meeting times and location.

The group also has a monthly potluck! Just send an me an email for the address and directions.

I feel fantastic!

As I was sitting and enjoying my lunch (a large supply of satsuma tangerines), a curious woman approached and began a conversation. She was attracted to the bright orange color of the tangerines, but was wondering if citrus was truly in season. So I mentioned a few varieties that I'd found to be nice and sweet (the tangerines were one, and red navels as well) and what would be up and coming very soon (honey tangerines and the traditional navels). She asked, as many people do, about the seemingly large quantity I was eating - compared to most others. And when I told her that I only eat fruits and vegetables, she appeared to understand. In fact, she remarked that she had heard the body wasn't designed for things like dairy and meat... of course, with a simple nod and a 'yep,' I agreed. And off she went, saying she was glad to hear she could get some sweet oranges now, because she had been wanting some...

I rewound my mp3 player and returned to listening to the audiobook of "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior."

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

Yahoo has provided video/audio of MLK's famous speech. Here's to a world of peace and love. Enjoy:

A Must See!

Last night I went to see the new film "Dreamgirls" - and it is Awesome! The performances are spectacular (I believe Eddie Murphy could win Best Supporting Actor oscar), the voices are phenomenal - Jennifer Hudson's voice soars!! - the costumes/sets, well, everything is right on.

It's a wonderful story, with triumph and heartbreak and overcoming obstacles and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. And did I mention the fantastic music???

This is an absolute Must See! And I highly recommend seeing it while it's still in the theaters.

Today's wisdom: "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved." - W.J. Bryant