Marilyn Monroe

1. A Star Is Born

When Norma Jeane Baker was a little girl her guardian Grace was obsessed with Hollywood and starlets. She repeatedly told Norma that one day she would grow up to be a movie star just like Jean Harlow. Tony Robbins was right, positive reinforcement can move mountains.

2. A Brief History Of Time

She was born in 1926 to Gladys Baker, an unmarried movie technician. Due to her mother's mental instability she was raised in foster homes amongst neglect and abuse. At 16, she married a defense worker named James E. Dougherty. During World War II she became a pin-up model and was eventually signed to a modeling agency. In 1946 she divorced Dougherty, bleached her hair, signed a contract with 20th Century-Fox and became Marilyn Monroe. Her first starring role was in "Don't Bother to Knock" in 1952. A year later in 1953 Marilyn received her star along Hollywood's Walk of Fame and was immortalized by her handprints in the famous forecourt of Grumman's Chinese Theatre. A year later she married Joe DiMaggio. Two years later she legally changed her name to Marilyn Monroe and then married Arthur Miller. Their marriage soon ended but he wrote her last film, "The Misfits" in 1960. On the night of August 4th, 1962 she died of what is still considered mysterious causes.

3. Her Very Own Cheshire Cat

Like Alice in Wonderland, Marilyn made her way through the maze of Hollywood, but instead of relying upon the replies of a Cheshire Cat in the forest, Marilyn decided to find the answers to whys and ways all on her own. Spurned by her feeling of lack of education as a child, she made it a personal goal to learn as much about everyone and everything she came in contact with, seeking out the advice of experts in all fields she had questions about. She was also a passionate reader, collecting more than 200 great books ranging from Tolstoy, Whitman, Steinbeck, and Milton to Flaubert.

4. The M&M Files

The FBI had more than 100 pages of files on Marilyn and her activities. Many incidents were documented on her connection with the Communist movement, no matter how slight it might have been. One full page is dedicated to her being seen poolside with certain members of the American Communist Group in Mexico, while she was on vacation. Geez, what's a girl to do? Because of her marriage to Arthur Miller and his leftist's views, she was further investigated. Considerable concern was expressed when she later met with Robert Kennedy and expressed her views and questions about Mr. Miller's ideas. Yeesh, politics were heavy handed back in those days. Now we have sitcoms ridiculing our president and current leaders. Perhaps those shows keep the FBI just as busy these days.

5. Unsolved Mysteries

Further files followed her mysterious death, one document contains a letter written on January 20th, 1965 from the Mothers of World War II, Inc. expressing concern about a document they had received with questions about the late superstar's murder or suicide, detailing information about her link with the Communist group and a certain Attorney General named Robert F. Kennedy, which the FBI has recorded she met alone on many occasions. The list goes on and on, rumors circulate to this day about her death, unfortunately it most likely will never be revealed one way or another.

6. Pigs Fly

One thing is certain; Marilyn did have an affair with President John F. Kennedy. Well at least there are witnesses to the fact they shared a hotel room in Tahoe. Further rumors suggested the Robert Kennedy was also having an affair with her. Many suggest the "right wing" FBI and CIA agents were motivated to murder Marilyn in order to embarrass and undermine the Kennedy family. Apparently, President Kennedy was taking actions to limit the power of these two agencies after the Bay of Pigs incident.

7. Enquiring Minds

In order to bring some of these rumors to light, Norman Mailer wrote a book about Marilyn's death. One of his allegations was that Marilyn had made repeated calls to the White House on the evening of her death. He goes further to say that the LAPD and the FBI removed, a "paper tape", of Marilyn's telephone calls from the phone company in Santa Monica. He then states he had no proof of any of this other than, "writer's instinct". Because of his book he coined the phrase, "factoid" which means an event, which has no existence other than it, has appeared in print.

8. A Legend

Marilyn Monroe was the quintessential Hollywood superstar, a sex goddess who yearned to be more. Whatever her criticisms as an actress, in most of her films she exuded a bold yet attractive sexuality that set her apart from her peers of the time. Although intelligent, hardworking, and determined, she could not escape her own self-made image. She was, as her friend and director Lee Strasberg noted in his eulogy, "a legend in her own lifetime."

Motorcycle Pre-Ride Inspections

Motorcycles by their nature are less forgiving than other vehicles when they encounter some type of mechanical malfunction. Because of this it's important that you perform a safety check before each ride. You should check the following eight things on the motorcycle. Remember this guide is not meant to supersede manufacturers recommendations.

1. Lights- Turn on all lights to ensure they're functioning correctly. This takes on a higher significance when you'll be riding at night. Check the high beam, the low beam, turn signals, running lights, and brake lights. Turn on the ignition and make sure that all the lights on the dash that are supposed to come on do come on. Of course if a bulb is blown replace it. You should keep the lights clean. 2. Horn- Honk the horn. Be sure that you're bike has a horn that commands attention. If the bike's horn is weak or ineffective, replace it with a horn that has more authority. 3. Mirrors- Make sure your mirrors are clean and properly adjusted. In a properly adjusted mirror you should see the very edge of your arm or shoulder. 4. Levers- Check the throttle, clutch and brake cables and levers for proper mechanical functioning. Check the action of the throttle, brake, and clutch levers as well as the action for the rear brake pedal. Be wary of worn throttle springs that don't return the throttle from open to closed. Be wary of a spongy feeling in the brakes or a brake lever that fully depresses with little or no resistance. 5. Wheels and Tires- Ensure that your tires are inflated to the manufacturer recommended pressure. Inspect the tires for damage and be sure that no foreign objects- nails, glass etc are imbedded in the tire. Inspect your wheels for damage. If you have a motorcycle that has spokes make sure they're not loose, broken or damaged. 6. Drive System- Motorcycles deliver power to the rear wheel by one of three systems. A chain. A belt. Or a shaft. Belts and pulleys should be inspected for worn or missing teeth. Ensure the belt is not damaged or frayed. Make sure that your chain is properly lubricated and that there are no worn or missing teeth. 7. Fluids- Ensure that all of your fluids are at their proper levels and look for leaks. 8. General once over- look over your bike from the front to rear to make sure that everything is fitting properly and nothing seems out of place.

These simple tips will make your rides safer and more enjoyable

Homeschooling In The 21st Century - The Smart Parenting Revolution - Take Part Today

I am thoroughly intrigued by the actual process that takes place in becoming parents. I am not talking about the scientific process! We all spring from a mother. We grow and become adults. Some of us then find a connection with a complete stranger whom we then make a commitment to - one way or another! This stranger then becomes part of a process that creates or receives beings who are blood or otherwise linked to both of the initial strangers.

Parents are a cohesive set of persons undertaking to raise their blood or otherwise linked counter parts. It is interesting that the fact that parents start out as strangers is often over looked and under rated. Just because you marry and pop out or adopt a few beings doesn't mean you suddenly are completely at one with your newly created existence. Of course two individuals raised by two other complete individuals are going to struggle with decisions in how to raise children!

That is when enlightening books such as Dawna Markovas 'The Smart Parenting Revolution' come in and serve as an incredibly human guide to raising newly created or received off spring! Her book is also a journey in finding success in all humans we are faced with. Parents coming together as individuals will benefit greatly from her emphasis in focusing on successful components of the individual person.

Section one shares her experience of finding the "spot of grace". We all are graced with space of pure potential that can be cultivated once it is brought to a place of recognition. She rather eloquently shows the"No Child Left Behind" as a questionable way to view the potential of our future population. We put the future of our children in a difficult space when we strive to generalize their potential and abilities.

Gems like:

"The law of flotation was not derived by studying that which sinks."

Wayne Dyer

illustrates her commitment to showing us that successful lessons in life often focus on the things that work!

As parents we are continually forced to look at the negative in regards to our children especially those who are in any way affiliated with public education. As parents we have the power to shift this paradigm and defeat the viscous negative cycle. Markovas work is a supportive guide to leading more of us in this direction.

The Smart Parenting Revolution is a conservative yet thoughtful approach to positive parenting and spousing! I realize spousing might not be a word but it works well in this context! Isn't that the way new words are created? To look at it positively, I might just be a great word maker upperer!

Consultative Selling: The Four "P's"

Most of you would be familiar with the four "P's" of Marketing:

Product Price Promotion Placement

What if we were trying to identify the four "P's" attributes of a successful consultative sales person?

This idea has been distilling itself in my head for some time and I recently came up with these four attributes that I am now ready to share with you.

I believe that, although useful in any sales situation, and probably in any situation in life, these qualities are particular important in a consultative, long sales process, as found in the Building Industry, which has been my specialty for the last 20 years or so.

Here they are:

Proactivity Persistence Performance Proficiency

Let's develop each of them now.

Proactivity

Well, you will agree with me that most business doesn't come to you on a platter...

If you are lucky enough to be in this situation, then move right away to the next 3 "P's"!

So, you need to look for projects and clients rather than waiting for them to come knocking on your door.

You hear people saying (specially during and after the GFC...) "there is not enough business out there", "where can I find new projects when nobody is building anything", "how can I find new clients when we have no money for advertising", and so on...

Let me tell you a true story:

I was hosting the President of one of my American supplier in Paris, whilst France was in the middle of a fairly strong depression in the mid 90s.

We were discussing this and he said to me: "When the economy is down 20%, there is still 80% of the business out there, you just have to go and find these 80%".

That is one of the most eye opening things that anybody has said to me.

And for sure, if you go looking, and you know the adequation of your products or services to a particular slice of the market, then suddenly doors than were hidden to you before suddenly become wide open and you find new business even in a slow economy.

My father, who recently passed away, used to say to me: "Il n'est pas necessaire d'esperer pour entreprendre, ni de reussir pour perseverer" which loosely translate as: "It is not necessary to be hopeful in order to try, nor to be successful in order to persevere" - This has been a great help for me throughout my life.

Which gives a nice transition to our next attribute:

Persistence

By the time somebody has the idea of creating a new building, and the time this building is finally ready for occupation, it can easily take five or six years.

Let me outline the process to you:

You need to organise the finance, buy the land, maybe demolish the existing building(s) on the site - and get approval for it - engage an Architect to prepare the design and get development

approval, then fine tune the design, appoint a builder and then start pouring concrete...

Even if you are selling concrete or brick or structural steel, it may 2 or 3 years before you are going to see any money moving into your pocket.

If you are in lighting, door hardware, signs, tiles and carpets or bathroom fittings, you will have to wait another 12 to 24 months.

So, if you are the type of person that needs instant gratification, then get into a retail business where money comes in everyday.

If not you will need a good dose of patience and good humour to keep going!

And you will need some tools to help you follow up these opportunities throughout this process.

By the way, this is what we teach at our "Unleash Your Specifications Sales" seminar.

Performance

Now, after all this hard work and this time, you finally got the job.

Well, you are not finished yet: you need to deliver!

You need to deliver a quality product, at the right price, on time and make sure that whoever is going to install your product on site will do it according to your and your client's expectations of quality.

As we say in the industry: "You are as good as your last job"

Architects and specifiers, builders and subcontractors will come back to you over and over if you help them along the way getting their project off the ground with the minimum amout of hassles and dramas.

Let other people and suppliers screw up!

Make sure your delivery is at the same level as the quality of the effort you put in to get your product specified in the first place.

If you do this consistently then you will reach the next level in the game and attain:

Proficiency

Here is a definition of the term from thesaurus.com

Main Entry: proficiency

Part of Speech: noun

Definition: ability, skillfulness

Synonyms: accomplishment, advance, advancement, aptitude, competence, dexterity, efficiency, expertise, expertness, facility, formula, headway, knack, know-how, knowledge, learning, mastery, progress, savvy, skill, talent, what it takes

Antonyms: clumsiness, inability, incompetence, ineptness

So, it is like a well maintained motor. I remember one of my clients near Paris was making diesel engines for boats, from very small to very big ones, in fact some so big that they were assembled in this huge hangar, fully tested for days or weeks (with the HP equipment I was selling them, obviously...) and then once satisfied the motor was working perfectly, it was dismantled, packed in crates, sent to the shipyard and reassembled in the ship it was destined for.

And guess what: these motors run 24/7 for many years in all the container ships and cargos criss-crossing the oceans.

That is proficiency!

So, when a consultative or specification sales person reach that level, it means he or she will have mastered the previous attributes of proactivity, persistence and performance.

I have met a few people over the years that had an innate ability to perform at that level, but I have also seen a lot more people embarking on this journey and mastering this process after training and coaching.

I have been fortunate to be taught these ropes along the way, and I have been lucky enough to be in the position to coach people to achieve their best performance.

I would welcome the opportunity to walk you and/or members of your sales team through this exhalirating journey.

Help With Debt Problems

Many reputable debt management companies can help you deal with your debt problems. You can work with a credit counselor to create your own plan to pay off bills. Companies can also help you reduce your debt through debt management plans, consolidation loans, or debt negotiations. While each program has its own benefits, they can all help you get out of debt sooner

Credit Counseling

Credit counselors work with you privately over the phone, email, or in person to develop a financial plan for you. They will identify areas of savings and create a debt payment plan.

They can also recommend services that might help you, such as debt management plans or debt consolidation loans. Services are explained, and specific companies might be recommended. You should still research other debt service companies before signing up with a recommended one.

Debt Management Plans

Debt management plans receive a monthly payment from you which they pay your unsecured debts with. They also negotiate lower rates and fees with your creditors. Most debt management plans can get you out of unsecured debt in less than five years and have a minimal impact on your credit score.

Debt Consolidation Loans

Debt consolidation loans are handled by you. Paying off your short term debt with a home equity loan or personal loan can lower your interest rates and monthly payments. You can further reduce monthly payments by picking longer terms for your loans. To minimize the affect on your credit score, close paid off accounts.

Debt Negotiations

Debt negotiation companies reduce your debt through agreements with your creditors. Not all of your lenders will agree to reduce your loan amount, but many will if they believe you might declare bankruptcy. With reduced debts, you can pay off your debt sooner.

However, debt negotiation will remain on your credit history for seven years. You will be able to get credit within a couple of years, but at subprime rates. Reduced debt also has to be declared on your federal and state taxes as income.

No matter which debt management option you choose, research several companies before you sign up. Make sure their rates and services are reasonable. If you have questions, request additional information, which is free from reputable companies.

Jet lag -- 4 Simple Steps To Avoid

First of all please notice that some explanations in my article are from a 'viewpoint' of European Times. You will know what I mean when you read my article.

AND I am German and have some misspelled words, grammar and phrases. I am still developing my skills, but just don't look at this, look at the content itself, and you will be happy. ;-)

So go ahead now, I just want you to recognize it. ;-)

1. Adjust your biological clock

The biological clock of the body needs a while after a journey into another time belt, in order to adjust itself to the new rhythm. Physical and mental symptoms can occur here such as headache, listlessness or nausea, but none jet lag must be helplessly delivered.

Daylight helps itself the cells, automatically to program on 'Day'. When you fly in direction to the east, for example to Thailand, it might be harder for you - you lose several hours. In order to prepare some days in advance for the new sleep rhythm, you should spend some time in the daylight in the early evening. During the flight it is advisable to sleep in advance. Then the adjustment goes faster.

When you travel toward the west, approximately to the USA, you'll have it easier. Nevertheless you should try to plan its arrival around noon time to get the brightest light of the day. Important appointments or activities at the arrival place you should plan at the time of day, at which you are most awake: After a flight in direction to the east in the evening, after a flight in direction to the west in the morning.

2. Sleep on board

Many humans have problems to fall asleep on the tiny seat in the airplane. Therefore in such a way some seizes to sleep pills or tranquilizers. This unnatural interference into the bio rhythm of the body affects negatively to your adjustment at recent time conditions.

It is healthier to create yourself in the airplane as good sleep conditions as possible: Take yourself an inflatable neck cushion and an eye mask in the airplane. Some airlines distribute themselves these implements on board, but you shouldn't rely on it however.

Since feet often swell on a flight, it is advisable to take your shoes off and to carry yourself on a warm cosy pair of socks. Even if you feel yourself it's not cold, you should cover yourselves before falling asleep with a light cover (you'll get one by all long distance flights), so that you do not wake up freezing and protect yourself from a cold! I for myself know what I'm talking about. I have seen many people who underestimated this point and had a cold at their additional days after their flight.

3. Avoid drinking alcohol as your 'falling-asleep-assistance'

Tiny alcohol bottles on board often used as a falling asleep assistance during the flight. In the airplane these affect however - exactly the same as tranquilizers - three times as strongly as down on the earth! If you are suffering from fear of flight you should avoid alcohol here, since psychological symptoms can occur such as aggression or depression (however, this is an extensive subject. I will post an article about this in the future. For now I focus on 'jet lag').

In addition alcohol supports the drainage of the body, which particularly begins fast on long distance flights. As consequence headache and listlessness appear. The air within an airplane is often drier than in the desert! While the air humidity of the Sahara amounts to about 20 per cent, it occurs at long distance flights that it falls below the ten-per cent border. Therefore you should drink much water during, before and after the flight.

Professionals take beverages themselves

In many cases the water on board isn't particularly good-tasting and is served in containers by the size of an egg cup. You won't to constantly trouble a flight attendant with your desires. Therefore take yourself also a large bottle of your preferential mineral water on board.

Last but not least: my most important advice:

4. Sleeping in advance to the trip

To the complete habituation time of your body the following rule of thumb applies: One day per hour time lag. With a difference of six hours that would be six days, until the biological clock of the body ticks in conformity with the time belt. When you then precautionary go to bed one our earlier/later per day, your body get used to the new daytime.

Enjoy your trip!

Marcus

Top Ten Ways of Moving Through Anger

Our culture makes anger a dirty word. Yet, it is an emotion that deserves attention. Because it has not received the proper attention, it is responsible for coming out "all wrong" and come out it will. The way to manage anger is by recognizing it as a valid emotion with a purpose. Next time you are angry, look at it as a form of information that has a message for you. Determine the message and act in a way that satisfies the message with self-respect and respect for others. Here are ten points to keep in mind as you move through anger:

1. Recognize that anger is a valid message that something is wrong.

2. Experience the sensations in the body: Where do you feel it? What does it feel like?

3. Determine the message in the emotion. What is the message? What is anger trying to tell you? Have one of your boundaries been violated? Is it a response to protect you from feeling hurt? Are your goals being frustrated? Are you responding to feeling threatened? Has your sense of justice been betrayed? Figure out the message. Your body and mind are trying to tell you something.

4. Understand the other person's point of view. Are you angry at someone? Have you thought about or talked about what may have provoked their behaviour? If you can truly understand, it will change your anger.

5. Understand your need for nourishing people in your life. Is your anger a pattern, a theme with the same kinds of problems with the same kinds of people? Is it time to respect yourself and choose friends and others who treat you better?

6. Recognize your beliefs. What beliefs about yourself and others are driving your anger. Use the ABC exercise on my site to excavate your beliefs. Are your beliefs adaptive or maladaptive? If they are adaptive, go ahead to action. If they are maladaptive, what new belief do you need to try that would work better or be more accurate?

7. Take action. Inherent in the message of anger is the need for non-violent action that is respectful of self and others. This is the tricky one. What action is required here that will satisfy the anger without causing damage to anyone including yourself.

8. Manage your anger. If you need to manage your anger, in what ways can you do that which would allow you to continue to function?

9. Acknowledge the anger. Suspend self-judgment. Are you truly acknowledging your anger, even if you know it is connected to a maladaptive belief that you haven't yet changed completely? Acknowledging and having compassion for yourself in a nurturing style will go a long way to having your anger feel heard.

10. Look for moderation. Remember, suppressed anger is linked to cancer and cathartic anger is linked to cardiovascular heart disease. Find the moderate point on the continuum for hearing and taking appropriate action and your anger will be attended to in a way that is befitting for all concerned.

Now that you have some new insight, what will you do today to bring it into consciousness and apply it. Every day we get angry but don't pay much attention to it. Today, notice a small thing you are angry at and apply any one of these principles or insights and see how it changes things for you. I would love to hear if it had any effect for you.

Copyright 2006 Johanna Vanderpol

Asbestos Floor Tiles And Asbestos Siding

Floor tiles that contain asbestos are very prevalent in homes that were constructed before the 1970's. Asbestos containing floor tiles became popular because of their low cost as compared to other types of floor covering such as wood and marble.

Asbestos floor tiles can be a health risk. If the tiles are worn, or damaged the asbestos fibers can become friable or air born. If the floor tiles are water damaged they are equally a problem. Foot traffic can cause mechanical damage to these floor tiles. Sanding or removal of the floor tiles can also cause the asbestos fibers to get into the air.

When asbestos fibers enter the air, they can cause a number of illnesses and health issues, including lung cancer, as well as other diseases. Asbestos-related illnesses are dangerous and can be fatal. These types of asbestos caused diseases may take several years or longer before presenting symptoms.

Asbestos floor tiles should be removed by a reputable asbestos abatement company. The contractor will take the steps necessary in order to avoid asbestos being released into the air.

Another less but less desirable method to deal with the asbestos is to cover it with another floor covering. This will not cure the underlying problem of having the asbestos tiles but is a way to protect the tiles from being damaged. Carpeting is a good choice because it is installed with a pad. The pad along with the carpeting will help keep the asbestos tiles from mechanical damage. Just be sure not to damage the floor tiles while installing the carpeting. Linoleum and vinyl are other options to cover asbestos containing tiles.

The existence of asbestos floor tiles should be disclosed to any potential purchasers of your home. It is not ethical not to disclose the presence because if the buyer decides to remove the floor covering installed over the asbestos, the asbestos floor tiles can become damaged. As home inspectors it is next to impossible for us to determine the type of materials that are under the new floor.

Another place that asbestos was used is on the siding of homes. Asbestos cement is a hard siding and is composed of a mixture of Portland cement and asbestos fibers. The siding was banned in the country in the mid 1970's.

Asbestos siding became popular because in 1920 a major fire prevention organization recommended the siding because of its fire resistant properties. The agency was recommending the replacement of highly flammable wood siding with the asbestos siding which is very fire resistant. The use of asbestos siding really became prominent in the 1940's and this is the decade in which many homes have this type of siding.

In 1970 the health risks associated with asbestos exposures grew and became more prominent. As the anti asbestos sentiments took hold the US federal government stepped in and banned asbestos from building products in 1973.

It has been well established that asbestos can cause serious health problems if it is inhaled. Asbestos can cause two major types of cancer asbestosis and Mesothlioma. Both of these cancers can be fatal in the majority of instances. However, asbestos siding if it is in good condition does not present a health hazard. This is due to the cement component that is in the shingle. The cement binds the asbestos fibers and prevents the fibers from becoming air born. The EPA has established that asbestos is a health hazard when it is in a friable or in an air born state. The only way that the asbestos fibers can get into the air is for them to be damaged mechanically.

Asbestos cement building products such as siding are not considered hazardous unless they are disturbed. If the siding is damaged by chipping, sawing, grinding or sanding this will allow fibers to enter the air. Then the asbestos is considered in a friable state and a health hazard. Deterioration or wearing of the siding can also lead to particles becoming airborne and potentially dangerous.

Proper care of asbestos cement siding is very important in order to avoid damage and deterioration. Asbestos cement siding is very brittle and cracks very easily which can cause asbestos particles to become airborne. A professional siding contractor can replace the damaged siding with fiber cement siding that does not contain asbestos. Specific fiber cement materials have been manufactured for repairs that are intended to look like asbestos cement siding. All asbestos containing materials must be discarded properly. In some states you can take the damaged siding to a landfill that can handle asbestos. In other states specific waste disposal facilities need to be used.

Asbestos cement exterior cladding has been in use for many years, Home inspectors in Middlesex County New Jersey are likely to encounter asbestos cement siding when inspecting exteriors. Knowing some of the health risks associated with this type of siding can be useful when answering questions about asbestos, although any specific concerns should be deferred to the appropriate healthcare professional.

Examining Gout Causes And Solutions - And Gout Foods To Avoid

Gout is a painful and debilitating condition involving inflammation in the joints. It starts with uric acid accumulating in the blood. Over time, deposits of uric crystals can form in the joints. The word 'gout' is derived from Latin meaning, gutta, "a drop." The word also has the same meaning in French, gote. Physicians in medieval days thought gout was caused by the congealing, viscous humors, in the blood that formed "sticky drops" of matter. Highly resistant to flow, this sticky matter would get caught in the joints. They weren't far off with their primeval assessment. Undischarged uric acid crystals in the joints is the cause for an episode of painful gout inflammation.

At the onset, gout sufferers will first discern a restriction in movement as the nodules or tophi accumulates in the hands, elbows or feet. Nature tries to send signals of disease at the level of the extremities first, preserving the more noble organs like the heart and brain. Gout is shockingly a little like the initial stage of rigamortus. At first, the sufferer will notice restricted movement in the limbs affected very much like arthritis. The inflammation can even be discerned as a low-grade fever or as worse, a very painful bursitis-like quality. It is not unusual for the joints in the affected area to appear red, scaly, puffy with much heat emanating from the source. The skin can even become purplish over time and begin to itch, flake and then peel away from the affected area. Men, and some menopausal women, tend to be the most prone as uric acid levels just tend to be naturally higher in men than women. At menopause, this changes to a degree in women.

Excess urate crystals deposited by the blood in and around the joints is the cause of Gout. The pain and inflammation can be severe. The fact is that the body can spend hours, or even days, trying to restore its equilibrium or homeostasis during a more extreme episode. Between attacks, the sufferer may not have symptoms at all. Purines found in certain foods can set off an attack of gout symptoms. Additionally, blood types O and A are further susceptible to gout, and need to be more careful.

Another way to look at the causes of gout can be through the eyes of Wilhelm Reich MD and orgone therapy. Reich was the first scientist to objectively measure waves of pulsating life energy that organically flow, in health, from the core to the outside surface of the body. By using sensors attached to a millivolt meter, Reich was able to discern that pleasurable sensations would produce expansive waves (parasympathetic) from the core of their being out to the level of the skin. In the opposite state of anxiety (fight or flight) the surface tension would contract causing feelings of fear (sympathetic). The flow, and release of toxins in the body will be subject to these tides of expansive and contractile tides in the body.

Expansion and contraction have a polaric relationship to one another, just as the autonomic nervous system can be measured by the parasympathetic and sympathetic activity. Through further examination, we can look at which stimulus cause us to react out of fight or flight, or conversely what prompts our capacity to completely let go to the loving embrace, or the orgasm reflex. Most modern folks, as Reich pointed out, live mostly in a sympathetic-dominant, anxiety-imbued state. The goals of treatment, then, include discerning how to flip the lifestyle to accommodate the more expansive parasympathetic state; also alleviating the blockages, both emotional and physical, by following the more natural four-beat cycle Reich called the Tension-Charge-Discharge-Relaxation phases. This is the orgasm function and can be indicative all how we let go both at the psychic level, as well as release our toxins, or even our urate crystals at the somatic level.

You see, Dr. Reich was the first Psychoanalyst to measure the emotional and physical aspects of disease and subsequently how to cure these states. You can read more in his depiction of successfully treating disease states, including cancer, in his book called The Cancer Biopathy. Uric acid crystals can be defined as a kind of stuck-ness. Gout results from toxicity that should otherwise follow the natural tide to the urogenital system where it can be processed, skimmed from the blood, and then naturally emitted with the urine out of the body. Logically, the Tension, Charge, Discharge and Relaxation should be respected in all aspects of our health, however, where there is stasis, contraction or a pooling of toxicity, including urate crystals, the first phase of gout called "asymptomatic hyperuricemia" can be detected in a simple blood test at your Doctor's. This phase is the easiest to reverse and can be done simply by creating enough of a pulsation from the core to the perimeter on both the physical and emotional level.

Things can become somewhat more complicated at the second phase ('charge') of gout as arthritic inflammation may be starting to be detected. In the charge phase, the hyperuricemia may be beginning to accumulate in the joints, depositing uric acid crystals in the spaces between the joints producing a sudden onset of pain and swelling in the joints. The chance of turning this around by producing enough of a charge to carry the inimical crystals to the surface, resolution can be obtained. However, if the contractive state is perpetuated, the symptoms will worsen over time, requiring addition medical attention. You may even qualify for suppressive or palliative drugs. The problem is that drug protocol may be required long term, causing further toxicity to the body, that can not be discharged either. Now, you may be suffering less of your gout symptoms, but more side effects from the drugs.

The interval/inter-critical phase is the third phase of gout symptoms and can appear a lot like the first. As mentioned prior, between the acute attacks, the individual may be fairly asymptomatic with a fairly normal range of motion in the joints. As long as the individual can manage the stimulus or cause of their gout attacks, or even better discharge the matter altogether, they may lead a relatively normal life with few inflammatory episodes.

The fourth stages for gout suffers is termed the chronic tophaceous phase. It is the most disabling of the phases, taking over 10 years or more of the body not allowing the full tension-charge-discharge and relaxation phase of Dr. Reich's four beat cycle to occur. Unfortunately, for the person's health, the result is a more permanent damage to the affected joints, as well as the kidneys, as the uric crystals start to form deposits that are less likely to be expelled with proper emotional or physical regimen. If the proper respect of the four beat cycle can be employed, with a knowledgeable Physician, the patient stands a better chance of circumventing the long-term effects of gout reaching the chronic fourth tophaceous phase.

If you are able to discharge the early hyperuricemia phase through proper regimen, you can also prevent your painful gout symptoms from arising at all through proper diet. Foods high in purine, including caffeine, adenine, guanine, uric acid, and theobromine and theophyline can be problematic. As mentioned above, these these nitrogen-rich foods are not an issue in health, however, with the onset of gout symptoms, the crystal shards that feel like little knitting needles don't need more reason to accumulate in inflame the joints.

While purines are found in the chemical structure of our genes, as well as in the animal and plant protein we consume. Certain foods can exacerbate the gout sufferer's symptoms. Organ meats, wild game and some fish can be a real problem. As you may quickly see, the foods above illustrate why this condition is termed the rich man's disease.

A gout sufferer would do well to avoid the following high purine foods as much as possible:

Sardines Liver Kidneys Gravies Brains Anchovies Yeast Herring Mackerel

The foods that are best consumed on a limited basis, but not completely avoided are:

Beer Oatmeal Beans (navy, lima, kidney and lentils) Vegetables (spinach, peas, mushrooms, cauliflower and asparagus) Fish and Seafood (bluefish, carp, codfish, crab, halibut, lobster, oysters, perch, salmon, shellfish, snapper, tripe, trout and tuna) Poultry (turkey, goose, chicken and duck) Meats (venison, turkey, veal, rabbit, lamb, pork, rabbit, tongue, ham, beef, bacon, mincemeat, gravy and bouillon)

If these are mainly your foods of choice, you may be asking yourself what there is left for you to eat, however, this is the reason you are reading this content in the first place and the best way to overthrow your diagnosis is to respect the polarity. Proper emotional and physical regimen inducing discharge, pleasure and an Asian-like diet might provide you with enough pain-free incentive from your gout symptoms that you may never want to go back. You may lose weight and feel so awesome that the heavy consumption of 600 - 1,000 milligrams of purine consumed on average per day in the "rich man's diet" is not worth it to you. If you can consistently get it to below 100-150 milligrams you will beat your condition out of existence, allowing your body the capacity to discharge the urate crystals held in abeyance.

Your new Asian-style diet, higher in complex carbohydrates such as quinoa, brown rice, millet, fruits and vegetables can be prepared in such a way, you may wonder why you chose those heavy, rich foods in the first place. Stir fries with olive and sesame oils, snacks of nuts, dark berries such as blueberries and raspberries can be employed to conquer gout symptoms and they taste great whipped into a shake with some unsweetened almond milk. If you use frozen berries, you've made a kind of gelato that will keep you coming back for more! Balance raw and whole cooked foods, with no more than 30% derived from animal protein and you may be teaching the next Tai Chi class at your local recreation center. Your life and health depends on it.

While you may be reluctant to eat sushi or fermented soy such as tempeh, you never know until you try. Hang out at more Asian restaurants and then Google for recipes that you fall in love with. This type of cooking can require more preparation time, but again, think about how long it took you to learn how to prepare the foods that caused you to become a gout sufferer.

Lots of pure water will also bear well on your efforts to become gout-free. An ideal body weight and plenty of exercise including aquafit classes, Tai Chi, recumbent cycling and yoga may have been on your list of "someday maybe." Why not pull that list up close and personal, making the call to the local studio or recreation center to register for a class. It can't hurt to try. You may find that it feels so good and complements your new life-style of self-pleasuring. Also look into boning up (pun intended) on how to take your loving embrace to the next level with your partner. Sex can be a great way to discharge accumulated toxicity and pooled energy in the body. It is free and the most highly valued function of pleasure man or woman can know during their lifetime. There are some great books, including the Multi-Orgasmic Couple by Abrams and Chia that might fit right into your new lifestyle. Also the books, The Pearl, or The Oyster by Anonymous can help enliven the imagination.