My confession by Ben Stein

The  following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS  Sunday  Morning  Commentary.

My confession: 

I don't like getting pushed around for being a  Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for  being Christians.  I think people who believe in God are  sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.  I have no  idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly  atheist country.  I can't find it in the Constitution and I  don't like it being shoved down my throat...

Or maybe I  can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we  should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God  as we understand Him?  I guess that's a sign that I'm  getting old, too.  But there are a lot of us who are  wondering where these celebrities came from and where the  America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we  send to one another for a laugh, this is a little  different:  This is not intended to be a joke; it's not  funny, it's intended to get you thinking.      In  light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings,  etc..  I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she  was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she  didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.  Then  someone said you better not read the Bible in school...   The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and  love your neighbor as yourself.  And we said  OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our  children when they misbehave, because their little personalities  would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr.  Spock's son committed suicide).  We said an expert should  know what he's talking about..  And we said  okay..

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have  no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it  doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and  themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard  enough, we can figure it out.  I think it has a great deal  to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is  for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to  hell.  Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but  question what the Bible says.  Funny how you can send  'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when  you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think  twice about sharing.  Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and  obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public  discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. 

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward  this message, you will not send it to many on your address list  because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will  think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more  worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks  of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.
  
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you  did.  But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit  back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.  



My Best Regards,  Honestly and  respectfully,

Ben  Stein

12 Ways to Fail in Goal Setting

12 Ways to Fail in Goal Setting

Do you have something you really want to have in your life?

Is there an ultimate thing that would make you the happiest person in the world?

I think we all have at least one thing we badly want to get.

It could be popularity, power, friends, love,money, lasting marriage, children, or health.

But unfortunately, not all of us successfully obtain even just that one thing though we may live up to 85 years.

Why?

Well, it is simply because most people do not set goals.

However, even if we do, it does not guarantee achievement and success. You have to do things the right way.

You need to pay the price. Anything great necessitates hard work.

But in this article, we will discuss the not-so ideal things that make you fail and not reach your goals.

1. Setting goals that are too big. 
   
   Goals bigger than you may just leave you exhausted but not victorious. Goals that are too big are those beyond your skills, knowledge, and capabilities, or even beyond your control and influence. You need to assess yourself, the things you know, the things you are good at and base your goals from them. Measure your capabilities. Do not set goals that seem impossible to achieve.


2. Setting goals that are too small. 
   
   Setting goals that are too small does not challenge you enough which consequently makes you think those goals are not worth pursuing. Make sure your goals are not too easy otherwise you will not feel a sense of fulfillment and not be proud of reaching them.


3. Setting goals that are vague. 
   
   Describe your goals. Be specific. Do not settle with goals that are too general. Detailed goals make you half-way there since they create a map for your subconscious mind; and you just need follow that map. This also helps you achieve your goals significantly easier and faster.


4. Not having a good action plan. 
   
   Great things come from equally great planning. A mansion will not come out as grand and as breathtaking as it is unless there’s a good plan behind its construction. Same goes with the great and amazing things you want to obtain in your life. Plan, and plan well. Make sure your plan is feasible, doable, and effective. Also, it pays to think and plot an alternative plan or a plan B, in case your initial plan does not work.


5. Not taking good and enough actions. 
   
   Even if you have a good plan, if you do not take action, do not expect to get what you want. Step up and act. Perform daily activities that will bring you a step closer to the realization of your goals. And when it’s daily, it means daily. Taking daily actions is not enough, though. You must make sure your actions are right, appropriate, effective, and enough to get you there.


6. Not taking time to develop and gain new skills. 
   
   Skills are necessary to achieve your goals. List down the skills you need to accomplish a certain goal, identify the skills you are confident about and spot those that need improvement. Think of ways you can enhance those that require honing. Also, think of other skills you need but presently do not have and find ways to gain those skills.


7. Not identifying the consequences of not reaching your goals.
   
   Sometimes, the bad things that may happen when we fail to do something can motivate us. We do not want our family to starve, which is why we work hard to earn money. We do not want to fail in our exams, get scolded, and not graduate, so we study hard. We do not want to acquire cancer and die early, which is why we strive to live a healthy life.
   
   Identify the not-so good consequences if you fail in achieving your goals. List as many as you can. The longer your list, the more motivated you will be. Remember to be specific as possible.


8. Not identifying the rewards you can get from reaching your goals. 
   
   It also pays to identify and list all the good things you can have the moment you reach your goals. This list is also a good source of inspiration and motivation. Write down as many as you can.


9. Refusing help from other people. 
   
   I cannot think of a single person who has successfully reached his goals and done it all by himself. You need other people’s help, however small it is and in whatever form.
   
   Without the love, support, inspiration, motivation, encouragement, guidance, or assistance from the people around you, especially your family and friends, you may never accomplish your goals. Learn to seek and accept help, especially when things get rough.


10. Not having the ability to brush off discouragement and criticisms. 
    
    A single discouraging statement or an ugly and harsh criticism is capable of tearing your entire heart and determination down. When this happens, you would not be able to have the emotional strength to move on. You can “die” emotionally if you succumb.
    
    Learn how to be emotionally strong because people who tend to criticize and discourage can be anywhere. You cannot completely avoid them. Learn to see criticism as constructive. Learn to convert discouraging words to stepping stones, or learn how to be “deaf” when you hear words that do not uplift your spirit.


11. Not identifying all possible obstacles. 
    
    Knowing the road you are taking allows you to avoid an ugly and fatal crash because you know where the possible obstacles are. If you are not prepared the moment you encounter a roadblock, you can get stuck. You need to pin point and understand all possible challenges that may arise.
    
    This will prepare you and either help you avoid the problem or give you time to think of how to solve the problem. It can also give you time to gain or improve skills and gain more knowledge needed to get rid of the obstacles you will meet on the way.


12. Not willing to give up something in order to achieve your goals. 
    
    Sacrifice and compromise are important ingredients for success. Be willing to give up something, especially if it is something “bad.” It can get tougher because sometimes you will be required to give up something “good” for something “better.”

These 12 ways to fail should help you spot where you may be going wrong with your goal-setting.

I Believe in Santa Claus

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012

I Believe in Santa Claus

I believe in Santa Claus, do you?

Yes, I may be a 42 year old man and a God fearing Christian, but I still believe in Santa Claus; and I think everyone should. When Saint Nicholas made a choice to help out those in need by giving them food to eat or a piece of coal for heating their houses, he wasn't thinking about changing the world, just helping out a small piece of it where he lived. I believe that his sense of love and compassion for others in need came from a special spirit that made Saint Nicholas find hope in all of human kind, but it had to flow from within him first.

Christmas seems to have a unique ability to bring wonder, amazement, hope and love; while at the same time causing frustration, arguments, conflict and even hopelessness. However, I don't believe it comes from the meaning of Christmas itself or the story of Jesus' birth; but as a result of our own personal outlook and expectations of life itself. For example, whether we are wealthy or not, if we are more concerned with the type of food we eat rather than being thankful for the food we eat, we will always be ungrateful for whatever food is put before us. I'm not saying we have to be super excited about the food, just thankful.

Even at my poorest moment in life where I had no idea how to feed my family as I had decided to pay for the cancer treatments and medications for my 2 year old son instead, I still had to make the choice to be thankful for the little bit we did have and teach my sons to believe the same. Christmas was difficult for many years while dealing with the cancer, my own heart attack, much sickness and no money, but we still always found something to be thankful for and made an effort to help someone else every Christmas to remind ourselves what the true meaning really is. The result has created two very compassionate, loving children that believe anything is possible if you just believe and don't give up.

Through it all I taught my sons that the spirit of Santa Claus really does exist and it is up to each of us whether we choose to believe in it or not. If you have read any of my other blogs or my book "The Gift", you will understand how much I believe in the spiritual world around us. For me, Christmas is no different, there are many spirits that influence people for good and bad, and it is up to us to choose which to listen to. I believe Saint Nicholas was also influenced by a spirit, one that brought hope and love for those in need. His actions then inspired countless others to help those in need as the stories of him grew and spread throughout the world. And, if you take the time to research our human history even before the time of Jesus birth, you will discover many people like Saint Nicholas throughout every culture and time period. This goes to show that there is a greater spirit at work within the human race, trying hard to remind us of all the joy, hope, love and good we are capable of, if first we will just believe.

So the way I see it, there is a spirit itself influencing people such as Saint Nicholas and the many others like him, to create a desire within them to help others and spread the message of hope and love. As well, God then presented this message in the simple form of joy through the birth of Jesus. And, even though Christmas day is not celebrated on the actual day of Jesus birth, God has allowed us the opportunity to celebrate His son's birth, not because it has any real importance to God Himself, but because it allows this spirit of hope and love a chance to create some good in this world. Even if it has to come through a heavy set, white haired, jolly old Santa Claus, who doesn't care about his own image or self, just others in need; God has allowed it to show us how we should be. However, it is ultimately our own choice to believe in this spirit of hope and love or not.

For some Christmas can be a time of happiness and joy. For others it is a time of sadness and regret. However, whether we choose to believe in Jesus or Santa Claus, the spirit of Christmas is about the Hope for something greater than what we understand at this moment; and the knowledge of a Love that surpasses all understanding, regardless of who I believe I am or how good or bad I think I am; the truth is I am Loved by God. But I must choose to believe it if I want this spirit of Christmas to be with me.

So whether or not those around me are wrapped up in their own Christmas desires, church gatherings, traditions, beliefs, or even Santa bashing; or perhaps they are living the true meaning of giving and loving others, I need to be aware of my own choices and if I am living the true meaning myself. As I choose this, the spirit of Christmas lives through me and I will find the hope, joy and love that Christmas is really about. I can then clearly see that the spirit of God is what has been influencing humankind to find hope and love from our beginnings, through His Gift of Jesus; through the actions of Saint Nicholas; through the image of Santa Claus; and even through me if I'll let Him.

This is why I believe in Santa Claus, because I know the spirit that he believes in too.

Marijuana Use Causes Brain Damage Confirmed

Marijuana Use Causes Brain Damage 

Confirmed

Scientists have confirmed the long-held suspicion 

that frequent heavy marijuana use damage the 

brain's memory and learning capacity.

BY CHRISTINE HSU | AUG 09, 2012 04:23 PM EDT

Scientists have confirmed the long-held suspicion that frequent heavy marijuana use damages the brain's memory and learning capacity.

"Our results suggest that long-term cannabis use is hazardous to white matter in the developing brain.  This was especially true for those who had started in adolescence, as we know the brain is still developing during this time," Lead researcher Dr. Marc Seal, from Melbourne’s Murdoch Children's Research Institute said in a university release.

Scientists from MCRI, Melbourne University and Wollongong University compared MRI scans of the brain for 59 people who had been using marijuana for an average of 15 years to 33 healthy people who had never used the drug.

After measuring changes to the volume, strength and integrity of white matter in the brains of all participants, researchers found that long-term heavy cannabis users had disruptions in their white matter fibers.

The brain's white matter is responsible for information passed between different areas of grey matter within the nervous system, and unlike grey matter, which are the brain's thinking areas that peaks at age eight, white matter continues to develop as people age.

Seal and his team found that there was more than 80 percent reduction of white matter in the brains of users.

Additionally, researchers found that the average age of participants in the study started using cannabis when they were 16 years old, participants who started using the drug at a younger age like 10 or 11 had even more severe brain damage.

"This is the first study to demonstrate the age at which regular cannabis use begins is a key factor in determining the severity of the brain damage," Seal said, according to AAP.

He explained that marijuana interferes with naturally occurring cannabinoid receptors in the brain and by introducing external cannabinoids into a person's system it stops their white matter from maturing.

Researchers linked the significant changes in the white matter in the brain's hippocampus and commissural fibers, suggesting that long-term marijuana use may lead to memory impairment and deficits in learning and concentration ability.

"These people can have trouble learning new things and they are going to have trouble remembering things," Seal said.

"We don't know if the changes are irreversible but we do know that these changes are quite significant," he added.

Researchers said that the findings could not be explained by recreational drug and alcohol use. Researchers will monitor participants for the next two years to detect any further changes.

The latest findings add to results from previous smaller studies that showed that the brain's memory center, the hippocampus, shrunk in heavy marijuana users.

Read more at http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/11417/20120809/marijuana-brain-damage-memory-learning-drug-habit-addiction.htm#0vYjBwBKBHzlHRBv.99 

19 Signs You’re Doing Better than You Think

POST WRITTEN BY: MARC

19 Signs You’re Doing Better than You Think

Even in uncertain times, it’s always important to keep things in perspective.

True wealth is the ability to fully experience life.
- Henry David Thoreau

1. You are alive.
2. You are able to see the sunrise and the sunset.
3. You are able to hear birds sing and waves crash.
4. You can walk outside and feel the breeze through your hair and the sun’s warmth on your skin.
5. You have tasted the sweetness of chocolate cake.
6. You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.
7. You awoke this morning with a roof over your head.
8. You had a choice of what clothes to wear.
9. You haven’t feared for your life today.
10. You have overcome some considerable obstacles, and you have learnedand survived.
11. You often worry about what you’re going to do with your life – your career, your family, the next step, etc. – which means you have ambition, passion, drive, and the freedom to make your own decisions.
12. You live in a country that protects your basic human rights and civil liberties.
13. You are reasonably strong and healthy – if you got sick today, you could recover.
14. You have a friend or relative who misses you and looks forward to your next visit.
15. You have someone with whom to reminisce about ‘the good old days.’
16. You have access to clean drinking water.
17. You have access to medical care.
18. You have access to the Internet.
19. You can read.

The truth is, you’re doing better than a lot of people in this world.  So remember to be grateful for all the things you do have.  (Read The Happiness Project.)

Road-Paver Concept Lays Asphalt Underneath Traffic

• By Alexander George
• Email Author
 
• July 27, 2012

A recent design school grad has come up with a machine that can pave roads without shutting down lanes or stopping traffic. Too good to be true? Yes. It’s pure, unadulterated vaporware, but the concept is sound even if the chances of production are nil.

Gosha Galitsky, a graduate of the Umeâ Institute of Design in Sweden, conceived a machine that would re-pave the road beneath while vehicles drive up and over. The Dynapac Red Carpet allows cars to pass over, while the machine re-heats and shapes the road surface using microwaves, a process known as Hot-in-Place Recycling. Microwaves heat the upper road layer and the asphalt binding agent, returning the pavement to its original soft state. Rotating brushes scoop the soft asphalt into a tank where it’s mixed with a small amount of fresh binder. The mixture gets paved back onto the road while a set of rollers at the rear compress the new pavement.

Since the Red Carpet moves so slowly, the recycled pavement has time to cool. By the time the machine passes over, the surface is ready to handle traffic. But its berth only allows for cars narrower than 78.7 inches to pass through. Sorry, Hummers.

Galitsky says that road paving is a process that’s overdue for an evolution: “The machines, materials and processes we use to construct and maintain our roads today have not changed significantly since as far as the 1940’s. Since only one basic configuration of paver exists today, road maintenance has to be done using machines which were originally constructed for paving new road surfaces.”

As a bike commuter in New York City, Galitsky has learned to loathe pot holes and love the feel of fresh asphalt, but, he explains, the incentive to keep shoddy roads is high. “Maintaining the streets generally requires shutting traffic down,” he says, “so there is constant pressure on the road working agencies to delay minor repairs until the road condition becomes so bad that the road needs to be torn down completely and paved again using new materials.”

Skeptic raises an alarm about HPV vaccinations

November 29, 2012

By what Orwellian logic can health officials promote the human-papillomavirus vaccine as “safe and effective” given: Gardasil trials used a noninert aluminum placebo, skewing the results; the product monograph itself states “Gardasil has not been evaluated for potential to cause carcinogenicity or genotoxicity”; and numerous reports of serious reactions and fatalities have flooded the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System following the administration of Gardasil [Letters, November 22-29].
To dismiss the transformation of far too many healthy young women into HPV-vaccine victims is to victimize the voiceless twice. Cervical cancer, which primarily affects middle-aged, not younger, women, is not the result of a vaccine deficiency. As critics have pointed out, addressing certain precancerous lesions is not proof that the vaccine will actually prevent cervical cancer itself.
Cancer Monthly reported that in Food and Drug Administration discussions, Dr. Elizabeth Unger of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated, “It’s believed that (HPV) infection alone is insufficient to cause cancer and additional factors are required.” Preventive measures, including a diet rich in folic acid and selenium, make far more sense than injecting toxic ingredients that may have serious long-term implications. Even key HPV-vaccine researcher Diane Harper once made the startling admission, “Giving it to 11-year-old girls is a great big public experiment.”
> Rukshana Enjjineer / Vancouver