Satori LifeStyle Magazine

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Making Cents of It All-- A Legacy of Fear

Staying Healthy and Fit With Diona--The Importance of Cardiovascular Endurance

Birdie Nichols: A Teacher Remembered

2011 Spring Edition SatoriMagazine.com

Having Breast Cancer “A Man’s View”

SATORILifeStyle Magazine

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Bernice Carter McNeilEditor and Publisher Satori LifeStyle Magazine


Articles7 Turn The Everyday Into A Special Occasion

11 Know The Glow

16 Preemies At Risk

16 How To Make College Affordable

21 Honoring Young Volunteers

29 Free Health Texts for New and

Expectant Moms

Opinion9 Making Cents of It All A Legacy of Fear

Home Advisor12 Get Your House Ready for Summer

13 Freshen Your Look and Home This Spring

14 Cleaning Makes The Grade

14 Make Your Home Safer

15 Gardening With Charlie

Food5 Mix It Up With Jenny

5 Pantry Secrets for Easter Dinner

6 Spring Sweets

19 Get Healthy and Make This Your Best Year Yet

Fitness and Health18 Staying Healthy and Fit With Diona --The Importance of Cardiovascular Endurance

20 Do You Dare Shake Up Your Routine?

Feature23 Male Breast Cancer Awareness Part Two -- Having Breast Cancer “A Man’s View”

From The Editor26 Birdie Nichols: A Teacher Remembered

Beauty Tips24 10 Ways to Look Younger in an Instant!

Want That Luminous Look?

Making Cents of It All-- A Legacy of Fear

Staying Healthy and Fit With Diona--The Importance of Cardiovascular Endurance

Birdie Nichols: A Teacher Remembered

2011 Spring Edition SatoriMagazine.com

Having Breast Cancer “A Man’s View”



Cover Page: Photographer Eric Gevaet -- Colorful Flowers of Spring


It’s true – the kitchen is the heart of the home. Ever notice how people always gather there? Whether baking treats, making dinner or spending time with family and friends, the kitchen is

my favorite place to be. Since my day job is Consumer Test Kitchen Project Manager for the Nestlé Test Kitchens, you can bet I love to stir things up. This column lets me pass along to you some of my best recipes, tips and baking secrets.

A Mother’s Day Sunrise Surprise

Start Mother’s Day off right with a beautiful breakfast in bed. A pretty tray set with some of the good dishes and real linens, a fresh flower, and some delicious food will put a smile on mom’s face that will last all day.

Golden Sunrise French Toast is made extra special with evaporated milk and a splash of vanilla extract. Make sure you use firm bread so the toast doesn’t end up soggy.

If she loves eggs, making Scrambled Eggs with a little evaporated milk gives them such a creamy texture that she’ll want to eat them this way all the time. Add one tablespoon of evaporated milk for each egg used.

Pour her a Mock Mimosa by mixing sparkling lime juice or ginger ale to orange juice. Garnish with a fresh strawberry on the rim of the glass.

For more delicious ways to surprise mom on her special day, visit www.TheCookingMilk.com.

Golden Sunrise French Toast

Prep: 10 minutes

Cooking: 10 minutes

Makes 4 to 5 servings

2 large eggs

1 can (12 fluid ounces) Nestlé Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Pantry Secrets for Easter Dinner

You probably don’t know it, but you may have the secret ingre-dients for an exceptional Easter

dinner in your pantry right now. The holidays are a perfect opportunity to sprinkle creativity into special meals by using staples like pancake mix, syrup and instant mashed potatoes in unex-pected ways to craft new and delicious dishes the whole family will love.

Celebrity Chef Adam Gertler, host of Food Network’s “Kid in a Candy Store,” along with Hungry Jack®, have come up with original, easy-to-prepare recipes using everyday items to create a memorable Easter meal.

“Planning for a holiday meal can be stressful,” says Chef

Gertler. “But by looking to your pantry for inspiration, you will find ingredients to make a truly unique and special meal sure to delight your family and guests!”

FOOD

1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 to 10 slices (3/4-inch-thick) firm, day-old French bread

Unsalted butter

Maple syrup

Fresh seasonal berries or sliced fruit

HEAT large skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.

BEAT eggs in shallow pan or large pie plate; whisk in evaporated milk and vanilla extract. Whisk in sugar, flour and salt. Add several slices of bread; soak without over saturating. SWIRL 1 tablespoon butter in hot skillet. Remove bread from batter, allowing excess batter to drip off; transfer prepared bread to skillet in single layer. Cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Turn over; cook for an additional 2 minutes or until golden. Serve immediately with syrup and berries. Continue with remaining bread slices, adding 1 tablespoon butter to skillet for each new batch.

Nutrition Information per serving: 450 calories; 120 calories from fat; 14g total fat; 7g saturated fat; 0g trans fat; 140mg cholesterol; 680mg sodium; 67g carbohydrate; 3g fiber; 28g sugars; 15g protein; 15% DV vitamin A; 6% DV vitamin C; 30% DV calcium; 15% DV iron

Photo courtesy of Nestlé

Jenny Harper is Consumer Test Kitchen Project Manager for the Nestlé Test Kitchens and VeryBestBaking.com.

Continues on page 8

www.satorimagazine.com

SIMPLE

Spring SweetsCooking Channel and Univision star Ingrid Hoffmann, host of Simply De-licioso and Delicioso (on Telefutura / Univision) shares her ideas to liven up your springtime desserts! Ingrid suggests combining fresh, seasonal flavors with Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk to ensure perfect homemade and easy desserts year-round. Serve up a sweet surprise with these delicious new recipes and baking tips from Ingrid Hoffmann:

Ingrid Hoffmann’s Spring Dessert Tips ‘

Surprise guests with a new twist on the traditional Latin-American dessert with a Chocolate Flan Cake. A velvety-textured

flan custard is layered with a rich chocolate cake for a perfect marriage of sweet and creamy.

Dessert bars are a great solution for easy entertaining. Spice up any table by preparing Tropical Dessert Bars and then top with smooth and creamy Dulce de Leche, which can easily be made by heating Eagle Brand Sweetened Con-densed Milk on the stovetop or in the oven.

Exotic fruits paired with rich cream cheese create a delicious combination in this recipe for Passion Fruit Cheesecake. Find seasonal inspira-tion by visiting local farmers markets.

Homemade ice cream is easier than you think. Make Caribbean Pineapple-Lime Ice Cream in three simple steps with Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk. Or create an artisan inspired ice cream flavor at home by combining spices like chipotle or cinnamon with lime zest, fresh or frozen blueberries or raspberries and add to your ice cream mixture. Visit www.eaglebrand.com or www.marcaeagle.com for more recipes and helpful tips from Ingrid Hoffman.

Ingrid Hoffman

Passion Fruit Cheesecake

Caribbean Pineapple-Lime Ice Cream

Tropical Dessert Bars

Chocolate Flan Cake

FOOD

6

Caribbean Pineapple-Lime Ice Cream

Makes 12 servings Ready in 4 hours

1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple in pineapple juice, undrained 1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon grated lime peel 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 4 to 5 drops yellow food color-ing (optional) 1 cup heavy cream

1. COMBINE undrained pineapple, sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, lime peel, vanilla and food coloring, if desired, in a large bowl; mix well.

2. WHIP cream in medium bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into pine-apple mixture.

3. POUR into 9 x 5-inch loaf pan or 2-quart freezer-safe container. Cover; freeze until firm, about 3 hours.

Tropical Dessert Bars

Makes 3 dozen ready in 3 hours

Bottom Layer 1 (17.5-ounce) package sugar cookie mix 1/2 cup butter, melted

Cream Cheese Pineapple Layer 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 2 large eggs

1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained, reserving 2 tablespoons juice

Coconut Layer 1 1/2 cups flaked coconut 1/2 cup macadamia nuts, chopped 1/4 cup butter, melted

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Line 13 x 9inch baking pan with foil, extending foil over edges of pan.

2. STIR cookie mix and melted butter with fork until crumbs form. Press evenly in bottom of prepared pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

3. BEAT cream cheese in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed un-til smooth. Beat in eggs just until blended. Beat in sweet-ened condensed milk, vanilla and 2 table spoons pineapple


Turn the Everyday into a Special Occasion

With the hustle and bustle of every-day, you shouldn’t have to wait for a special occasion to have a party –

try turning the everyday into its own celebra-tion and adopting an up-for-anything attitude.

Planning a festive fete need not be a daunt-ing task. Jennifer Sbranti, otherwise known as Hostess with the Mostess, is the queen of bringing creative party planning ideas to light. Sbranti shares some tips to make any day an occasion for entertaining without a lot of fuss. Her expert advice will help take your celebration to the next level.

Pick a Theme. No matter how fancy or casual your occa-sion may be, choosing a theme will make the get-together more memorable and the planning process much easier. Themes can be as specific as you like – perhaps inspired by a movie your group will be watching or a book you’ve just read – or as simple as a favorite color palette, pattern or type of cuisine.

Make it Festive. Creating an atmosphere that’s a little different from the norm is one of the easiest ways to transform any gathering into a special occa-sion. There’s no need to spend a lot of time or money – simple efforts like hanging colorful paper lanterns or creating DIY napkin rings and place cards from stylish papers will go a long way. Use your theme as the inspiration for your party décor, and have fun with it.

Let There Be (Mood) Light. When you’re short on time or money for party decorations, white string lights and tea lights will always save the day (and night). Hang the lights around stair banis-ters, doorways, signature drink displays and anywhere else you can make them work, and use tea lights to dress up table and counter surfaces. Trust me, it will feel like a party.

Continues on page 17

juice. Pour over warm crust. Sprinkle drained pineapple evenly over top.

4. STIR coconut, macadamia nuts and but-ter in small bowl until evenly moistened. Sprinkle over pineapple layer.

5. BAKE 30 to 35 minutes or until filling is set and coconut is lightly browned. Cool 1 hour on wire rack. Chill 1 hour. Cut into bars.

Chocolate Flan Cake

Makes 18 to 20 servings ready in 8 hours

Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

Cake 1/2 cup Smucker’s® Caramel Flavored Topping 1 (18.25-ounce) box Pillsbury® Moist Supreme® Devil’s Food Premium Cake Mix 1/2 cup Crisco Pure Vegetable Oil 3 large eggs 1 1/4 cups water

Flan 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 4 large eggs, at room temperature 1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweet- ened Condensed Milk 1 (12-fluid ounce) can PET® Evapo- rated Milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Coat 12-cup fluted tube pan with no-stick cooking spray. Place piece of rolled up foil in tube opening of pan to prevent cake from baking over top. Pour caramel flavored topping into prepared pan.

2. PREPARE cake mix according to package directions using the oil, eggs and water. Pour evenly over caramel flavored topping.

3. COMBINE cream cheese, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla in blender container. Process until blended. Pour slowly over cake batter.

4. COAT piece of foil with no-stick cooking spray. Cover pan tightly with foil and place coated side down. Place pan in large roast-ing pan. Pour hot water into roasting pan to a depth of 2 inches.

5. BAKE 2 hours or until toothpick in center still has a few moist crumbs. Place cake on cooling rack. Cool 15 minutes. Remove foil and invert onto serving plate. Cool 1 hour at room temperature. Chill 4 hours or overnight.

TIP: Be careful when inverting hot cake onto serving plate. Place plate upside down on top of pan, place another cooling rack on top, then invert.

Passion Fruit Cheesecake

Makes 12 to 16 servings Ready in 11 hours

Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

Cheesecake 30 gingersnap cookies 3/4 cup pecans 6 tablespoons butter, melted 4 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature 1/2 cup sugar 1 (14-ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk 4 large eggs 1 cup frozen passion fruit pulp, thawed or 1 cup passion fruit puree

Passion Fruit Glaze

2/3 cup frozen passion fruit pulp, thawed or 2/3 cup passion fruit puree 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Coat 9 x 3-inch spring form pan with no-stick cooking spray.

2. PROCESS cookies and pecans in food processor until fine crumbs form. Place in small bowl. Stir in melted butter until evenly moistened. Press evenly onto bottom of prepared pan and 1-inch up sides. Bake 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Wrap foil around bottom and sides of pan.

3. BEAT cream cheese and sugar in large mixing bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Pour in sweetened condensed milk gradually, beating until blended. Beat in eggs just until combined.

4. MEASURE 2/3 cup of cheesecake and pour into small bowl. Whisk with 1 cup pas-sion fruit pulp until blended. Pour remaining cheesecake into cooled crust. Spoon small dollops of passion fruit mixture over top of batter. Swirl with knife to make marbled appearance.

5. BAKE 60 to 70 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool 1 hour on wire rack. Chill at least 8 hours or overnight.

6. To make glaze: COMBINE fruit pulp, sugar and water in small saucepan. Bring to a boil on medium high heat. Cook 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture begins to thicken and measures about 2/3 cup. Place in small bowl. Cool completely.

7. REMOVE cheesecake from pan. Place on large serving dish. Spread glaze over top.


Here are ways to use up what you already have to make a complete Easter menu, in-cluding savory Bacon and Cheese Appetizer Bites, Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dijon Vinaigrette, Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin, and a sweet Spiced Mocha Fudge Cake. You’ll create an Easter meal worth celebrat-ing and make your hungry family a happy one.

For more creative recipes and tips, visit www.useupthebox.com.

Adam Gertler’s Use Up the Box Pan-try Tips

—Punchy Potatoes: Add a teaspoon of prepared horseradish or Dijon mustard and a sprinkle of garlic powder to Hungry Jack Instant Mashed Potatoes for gourmet flavor ready in less than five minutes.

— Make dry spices last: Ground spices tend to lose pungency rather quickly. Buy spices like cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cumin, nutmeg, cloves and allspice whole and grind small batches as you need them. It’s a good idea to have a separate coffee grinder for your spices.

— Save room and keep dry goods fresh: When you get home from the grocery store, transfer flours, pastas, cereals and other dry grains into resealable storage bags or containers. Simply label and date them with a marker, and you’ll be surprised at how much extra room you’ll have in your pantry.

Spiced Mocha Fudge Cake

Makes: 12 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

CAKE:

Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

4 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate 3 tablespoons butter 1 cup hot brewed Folgers Classic Roast® Coffee 2/3 cup Hungry Jack Instant Mashed Potato Flakes

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 large eggs, separated 1/2 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose Flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon saltPowdered sugar

SPICED WHIPPED CREAM:

1/2 pint whipping cream 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Line bottom of a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Coat paper with no-stick cooking spray. Place chocolate and butter in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH power 45 to 60 seconds or until chocolate is melted and smooth when stirred.

2. COMBINE coffee, potato flakes, cin-namon and cayenne in large mixing bowl, stirring until moistened. Blend in sugar and vanilla. Blend in chocolate mixture and egg yolks. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually blend into chocolate mixture.

3. BEAT egg whites on medium speed of electric mixer until stiff. Add to chocolate mixture and blend on low speed until com-pletely blended, scraping sides and bottom of bowl frequently. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until set in center. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Remove from pan. Sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar.

4. COMBINE whipping cream, powdered sugar, cinnamon and vanilla in medium mix-ing bowl. Beat on medium speed of electric mixer until stiff. Serve with cake.

Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Makes: 4 servings


Cook Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves crushed 1 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves, crushed 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 pound pork tenderloin, cut into 1/2-inch slices 1 tablespoon butter 2 tablespoons Hungry Jack Original Regular Syrup

Directions

1. COMBINE thyme, marjoram, salt, onion powder and garlic powder in large resealable food storage bag. Seal bag and shake well. Add pork slices. Seal bag. Shake to coat.

2. MELT butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork mixture. Cook and stir 8 to 10 minutes or until pork is browned and no longer pink in center. Add syrup. Cook and stir until pork is glazed.

Spinach Salad with Warm Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

Makes: 4 servings


Cook Time: 1 minute

Ingredients

1/4 cup Hungry Jack Original Syrup 3 tablespoons cider vinegar 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, minced, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup Crisco 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Continued from page 7


1 (6 ounce) bag fresh baby spinach leaves1 small unpeeled red apple, cored and thinly sliced1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese2 tablespoons crumbled cooked bacon or real bacon bits


Making Cents of It AllA Legacy of FearBy N. Ronimus

Fear, according to Wikepedia, is a distressing emotion aroused by a perceived threat. It is a basic sur-

vival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. In short, fear is the ability to recognize danger and flee from it or fight, also known as the Fight or Flight response. So fear is a good things and part of nature’s survival strategy.

Remember back to a much simpler time when our greatest fears appear childish in these modern times. I can remember my mom warning of the danger of climbing, playing with sharp objects, putting sharp objects in the mouths, or getting in cars with strang-ers. Otherwise kids were able to play and explore without undue worry about dangers. It never entered my mom’s mind to escort us to school, accompany us on trick or treating treks or freaking with fear of child molesta-tion.

Today’s fears have grown up and become intellectualized and they now place more de-mands on our psyche and more demands on our treasure. Fears have migrated from the personal to the universal and in the process transcended reality. Now it’s not enough to contend with natural fears that are personal and real, the fear industry has fostered a whole new level that has introduced hypo-thetical fears. Fear of terrorism is one such.

You have to support the war on terror or you will be attacked by terrorists. This is the story line as your rights under the constitution are trampled upon. This theme is reflected in and reinforced by the entire marketing appara-tus of the U.S. It’s promoted by Hollywood with numerous terrorist movies and scores of video games where the object is to kill terrorist. Until the Bush Administration it was strictly verboten to use appropriated funds to promote and advertise the U.S. Military. Now there is a constant barrage of commercials promoting and glorifying the excitement of military life. It’s getting to the point where it’s difficult to discern where reality ends and fiction begins. The movies, video games and military propaganda all seem part of some weird admixture designed to milk the taxpayer to support military spending that is grossly out of proportion to our real defense needs.

Recently I wrote in Satori LifeStyle Maga-

zine: “The war on terrorism is a new con-struct and it’s perfect. We are told up front that it will last forever. So as long as the press is compliant and dutiful runs up the fear flag when expected, the American people like sheep, will roll over and sing the praise of war, as expected. There is a percentage of the populace that is by nature war like, easily led and whose solution is always to bomb. They form a ready group of supporters and front men when the government flies the fear flag. As long as the American people believe what they are told and not what they see with their own eyes this situation will continue to persist. If you add up the dollars in the budgets for the Defense Department, war on drugs, State Department and the Intelligence services you will start to understand just how expensive empire is.

It is my contention that there are no foresee-able threats on the horizon that justify the size of the defense budget. China because of its size and economic power can and proba-bly will rival the U.S. militarily and probably in the not too distant future. Yet, it would make no sense what so ever to war with China, especially since they seem amenable to agreements that reduce the likely hood of war. The Russians are formidable but don’t seem bent on war. Such a conclusion can be drawn from the restraint shown in Georgia and the economic direction taken in recent years.”

The anti-terrorism stance is a full-scale reactionary response to a hand full of people whose message seems simple enough but not one we want to hear. We look at them as if they are crazy when they demand that we get our troops out of the Muslim holy lands (Saudi Arabia, Balkans, Persian Gulf etc…)

also known as rich oil fields. Are you starting to get it? Oil oil oil oil oil. On the one hand there are folks (terrorist and nationalists) demanding religious purity and control of there own lands and especially their own oil. Most of the Bin Ladens of the world fit into this category. On the other hand, the world’s desperate thirst for oil sets up a constant tension between non-state actors and the oil needy industrial states.

To date non-state actors seem to prefer the excitement and expediency of bombs, rockets and fuel laden airplanes to express their geo-political view. Rarely, if ever, is there a record of terrorist using weapons of mass de-struction (WMD) such as biological, chemi-cal or nuclear. Yet, in the run up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq, it was widely proclaimed by Secretary Paul Wolfowitz that Iraq had enough ricin to kill a million people, enough botulism to kill tens of millions and enough anthrax “to kill hundreds of millions.” These claims were supported and amplified by nearly all elements of the military industrial complex of which the FEAR INDUSTRY and the NATIONAL MEDIA is a major part.

As a counterpoint, Allen Reynolds, senior fellow of the Cato Institute and syndicated columnist wrote a series of columns point-ing out the absurdity of such claims and the formidable obstacles to effectively deliver-ing biological weapons, often quoting Mr. Wolfowitz or the CIA as examples of extreme gullibility or deception. He revealed many holes in the WMD scare story even before the Iraq invasion. His columns: “The eco-nomics of war,” “Hazy WMD definitions” and “The duct tape economy,” followed by “Intelligence without brains” in June 2003,

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Continues on next page


“The CIA and WMD” in June 2004, “WMD Doomsday distractions” in April 2005 and “The cost of war in retrospect” in March 2006. Those columns can be found by sifting through archives under Allen Reynolds’s biography at cato.org.

The legacy of the 2002 WMD scam lives on today in “Operation Bioshield” and other federal programs designed to bankroll the multibillion-dollar fear industry. The fear industry is like a Keiretsu with every mem-ber doing its part to feed the head. It begins with the hiring of lobbyist who hand feeds congress who legislates, subsidize academ-ics who postulate and persuade the media to do scary stories about scary hypothetical weapons that don’t exist. Some of this stuff is right out of science fiction; however, this is no game, its serious business, and it’s about serious money. It involves what Dale Rose of the University of California at San Francisco described as, “A cottage industry of risk analysts, disaster preparedness experts, psy-chologists, and others [who] have produced an array of theoretical work and conceptual grids around the issue of low probability, high consequence events.”

A two-day bioterrorism exercise, code-named “Dark Winter”, was held at Andrews Air Force Base, Washington D.C., June, 22-23, 2001. Developed and produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Stud-ies, and ANSER Institute for Homeland Secu-rity. The McCormick Tribune Foundation and the Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute provided sponsorship for the Preven-tion of Terrorism (MIPT).

“Dark Winter” is a role-playing exercise based on a fictional bioterrorist attack on the U.S. Former senior government officials play the roles of National Security Council (NSC) members, with former Senator Sam Nunn as the U.S. President, former Central Intel-ligence Agency director R. James Woolsey as the head of CIA, Jerry Hauer as FEMA director, and Dr. Margaret Hamburg as Sec-retary of Health & Human Services. Medical experts included Dr. Tara O’Toole of Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Stud-ies.

This is a fictional scenario. The background to the story goes like this: six months earlier, the U.S. lifted sanctions against Iraq and ceased enforcement of the “no-fly zones.” Since then, Saddam Hussein has aggressively worked to strengthen his military forces, including imports of equipment and material that could be used to produce chemical and biological weapons. Several top scientists from the former Soviet bioweapons program have been recruited to Iraq. Al Daura,

a vaccine plant outside Baghdad, closed by U.N. inspectors after the Gulf War, is now back in full production. Officially it manufac-tures vaccines against Foot & Mouth disease, but western intelligence sources suspect that it’s actually weaponizing germs for warfare. And yada yada yada and so on.

Responding to the “Dark Winter” scenario and the pressure from academic centers, Pres-ident Bush warned of “the use of the small-pox virus as a weapon of terror” in December 2002. The administration then spent hundreds of millions of dollars on smallpox vaccine for first responders and the military, but both groups (notably, physicians) shunned the risky shots. That was the most costly fiasco of its type since the swine flu vaccination program of 1976, which killed more people than swine flu did. Just to be “safe” the U.S. is producing $100 million worth of avian flu vaccine. Its effectiveness against avian flu from birds is highly questionable and against hypothetical pandemic strains yet to appear, it’s even more dubious.

Some believe that any amount spent to save one life is worth the cost; however, this at-titude misses the point. “The point is the mil-lions spent. After most federal loot from re-search grants and vaccine stockpiles has been received, the mission is accomplished and the fear industry moves on to greener pastures. The scare stories about Danger A disappear, replaced with new stories about Danger B, then C and so on.” Prior to 9/11 Terrorists throughout the world have managed to kill only five people with anthrax, one with ricin and zero with botulism or aflatoxin. Let’s just focus on anthrax for the moment: In October 2001 five deaths were reported from inhaling anthrax. For the fear industry this has been a cash cow that keeps on giving.

For those in the business of providing high-cost solutions to minuscule risks, this has been an endless bonanza. To date the U.S. government has spent $877 million on anthrax vaccine, or 175.4 million per death from anthrax. Additionally, responding to new pressures, the Health and Human Ser-vices Department plans to spend over $100 million on anthrax and smallpox vaccines and another $100 million to deal with radiation poising. There are also plans to develop an-tibiotics for threats of plague and tularemia. So far there has been one unconfirmed case of plague in Texas in 1956 and one fatality from tularemia in the summer of 2000 in Martha’s Vineyard. Hereafter, anytime the fear industry starts cranking out bioterriorism alerts, remember Iraq WMD and then grab your wallet because it’s just another run on the treasury.

<end>

Directions

1. WHISK together syrup, vinegar, mustard, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper in a medium microwave-safe bowl until well blended. Gradually whisk in oil, stirring until thick-ened.

2. COMBINE spinach, apple, cheese and bacon in a large bowl. Just before serving, microwave vinaigrette on HIGH for 30 to 45 seconds or until warm. Drizzle salad with desired amount of vinaigrette; toss salad and serve immediately.

Bacon and Cheese Appetizer Bites

Makes: 24 appetizers


Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

1/2 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon water 1 cup Hungry Jack Buttermilk Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix Just Add Water) 1/2 cup (2 ozs) shredded cheddar cheeese 1/4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled 2 tablespoons butter, melted paprika

Directions

1. HEAT oven to 400°F. Spray cookie sheet with no-stick cooking spray.

2. MIX sour cream and water in medium bowl until well combined. Add pancake mix, cheese and bacon pieces. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheet.

3. BAKE 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with paprika. Serve warm.

©/® The J.M. Smucker Company. Folgers Classic Roast is a trademark of The Folgers Coffee Company. Pillsbury BEST is a trademark of The Pillsbury Company, LLC, used under license.

Pantry Secrets for Easter



When Megan Webber downloaded family photos off her digital camera, she found the usual problems that need touching up — some were

too dark, some were a little grainy, and some needed a little red-eye removal. Some of the pictures of her 5-year-old son, Benjamin, had a golden glow in his left eye.“Benjamin has always had a freckle in his left eye,” said Megan, “so I thought the flash was just a difference due to the coloring of his eye and ignored it — I even did red-eye correction to remove it from photos.” But when her sister noticed that same glow in some family vacation pictures she had taken, she gave Megan a concerned call.“She said it was probably nothing. But she had seen on a television show that this could be a sign of a tumor in the eye and recommended I have him seen,”

Clues to childhood eye diseases could be hiding in plain sight

Know the Facts 1 in 80 children are at risk of getting The Glow. 80 percent of childhoodblindness is preventable. 80 percent of Retino blastoma and Coats’ Disease cases are diagnosed initially by a parent through a photograph.

The Glow is an indicator of 15 eye diseases and cancers.

In some cases, The Glow can lead to the removal of the eye, blindness, and, in extreme cases, death.

Text GLOW to 90999 to donate $10.

Coats’ DiseaseCoats’ disease is a rare eye disorder involving abnormal development of the blood vessels of the retina, which line the interior chamber of the eye. As various components of blood leak into the retina, fluid accumulates under the retina. The result may be loss of vision, particularly central vision, and detachment of the retina from other layers of the eye.

Scan this code with your smartphone to watch a video with more of Benjamin’s story, or visit http://bit.ly/EyeGlow.

Benjamin with his father Brian Webber in The Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Disorders Related to the Glow Abnormalities perceived through the red reflex test can indicate several types of diseases, such as: Amblyopia Cataract Choroidal Coats’ Disease Congenital Cataract Coloboma Norrie’s Disease PHPV Refractive Error Retinal Detachment Retinal Dysplasia Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Retinoblastoma Strabismus Toxocariasis Trauma If you believe you have seen a glow, you should obtain a referral immediately to a pediatric ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images and Know The Glow

said Megan. Benjamin’s pediatrician didn’t find anything, but he sent them to a specialist who urged them to come in right away. They were stunned to learn he was legally blind in his left eye.“He’d never bumped into walls or rubbed his eyes — he’d even just passed the paddle eye test in the doctor’s office,” said Megan. “His left eye could not see a letter E the size of a full computer screen eight feet away.”Scans of his eye showed a white mass, which had been causing the reflection in the photograph. After testing and a tense few days, they discovered that Benjamin had Coats’ Disease, a life-long disease that can damage the eye to the point where eye removal is necessary. Fortunately, Benjamin’s problem was caught early enough for treatment. “While Benjamin has had three eye surgeries, we were very lucky to have caught his disease in time,” said Megan. “Had it been more advanced Ben could have immediately lost his eye. We are so grateful to Dr. Tom Lee and the doctors at The Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Without the work that they do so many families would not have access to the quality and caliber of care that is pro vided there.” Benjamin is doing well, and is a happy, thriving first-grader. “He wears protective Nike shatterproof glasses which the other kids think are pretty cool,” said Megan. “The glasses are primarily to keep his unaffected eye safe, for without that eye he would be blind.”

A vision to help other childrenMegan said that she doesn’t want any more parents to miss the signs of potentially life-threatening eye diseases. “We are amazed that something so simple, just the glow in a photo,

Benjamin wears a patch one hour a day to help strengthen his eye.


RetinoblastomaRetinoblastoma (reh-tin-oh-blast-oma) is a malignant cancer of early childhood that arises from immature retinal cells in one or both eyes. Retinoblas toma can start growing at any time before birth up until about 3 years of age. Occasionally, it is not detected until ages 7 or 8.


From yard work and pest control to cleaning and taking care of home systems, there’s a lot that goes into

maintaining a house. Everything Home offers practical tips and expert know-how to help anyone take good care of their home.

The dog days of summer can really put the heat on electricity bills and put even the best air conditioning systems to the test. “The Department of Energy says that almost 45 percent of a homeowner’s utility costs come from heating and cooling the house. For-tunately, there are some simple things you can do to help lower those costs, keep your system working as it should, and beat the summer heat,” says Dave Quandt, Senior VP of Field Services for American Home Shield, one of the nation’s leading providers of home warranty services.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when summer temperatures start to sizzle:

An air conditioner set at 70°F can •cost twice as much to operate as one set at 78°F. Raise the thermostat by 2 degrees above its normal setting. You’ll still be comfortable, and your pocketbook will thank you. Set the thermostat to 80°F when •you’ll be out of the house for several hours and lower it when you return. But don’t shut the air conditioner off; it’s less efficient to cool the house back down than to leave it set at a higher temperature.

A ceiling fan uses about as much •energy as a 100-watt bulb, but it can make a room feel up to eight degrees cooler. In summer, blades should turn counterclockwise, pushing air downward to create a cool breeze. Keeping windows closed and •curtains drawn during the day can reduce cooling costs by 30 percent. Lights, computers and televisions all •generate heat. Turn them off when they’re not in use.

Quandt believes your best protection, how-ever, lies in preventative maintenance.

“It’s important to have your air conditioning system professionally inspected and cleaned a least a month before you’ll need to start using it,” he says. “At a minimum, turn it on and make sure it’s still running like it should.

“Last summer, we responded to more than 550,000 requests for air conditioning repairs during the record-breaking heat wave. You don’t want to find out that your air condi-tioner needs repair or replacing just when you need it most. Now’s the time to be sure everything’s in good working order.”

Find out the manufacturer’s recommenda-tions for maintenance on your type of unit. You can usually find it online and in your owner’s manual. In addition:

Create shade for the unit, but •keep the area around the exterior condensing unit clear of leaves, bushes and other obstructions to ensure adequate airflow.Clean or replace the air filter. Clean •or replace the air conditioner filter monthly. Clogged, dirty filters block air flow and make a unit work much is bought or sold.

To get more summer home care tips, and to learn more about home warranties, visit www.ahs.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

was all that was needed to spot this disease,” she said. “If there is a way through our family’s experience we are able to get the message out about the glow, we are anxious to do so. We’ve created a campaign to raise aware ness.” The Know the Glow campaign is combining the efforts of con cerned individuals, corporations and physi cians who are pioneers in the field of pediatric diseases of the eye.

“I can’t tell you how many kids come in with advanced eye diseases; it’s a tragedy,” said Dr. Tom Lee, director of the Retina Institute in The Vision Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “Parents don’t realize they are an important part of the diagnosis. They will see this sign before doctors will. Every child has had this screen ing process — all it takes is for parents to open up the photo album.”

The website, www.KnowTheGlow.org, has information on the diseases that can be indicated by the glow. “Had I known about the glow earlier, Dr. Lee could have saved more of Ben’s vision,” said Megan. “Knowing what it felt like to possibly face a fatal outcome and knowing that I ignored such a huge red flag that was right there in front of me, I don’t want another parent to have to suffer through that or another child to needlessly lose their sight or their eyes due to a lack of awareness of the glow!”

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Get Your House Ready for Summer

Home Advisor


Giuliana Rancic is an entertainment journalist, televisionpersonality, producer and author. As the co-host of E! News alongside Ryan Seacrest and E!’s “Fashion Police” alongside Joan Rivers, Giuliana is always at the forefront of fashion and pop culture.Born in Naples, Italy, Giuliana and her family moved to the United States when she was a little girl. Her love affair with television journalism began before she could even speak English — she learned the language by watch-ing TV.She attended the University of Maryland, where shereceived a B.A. in Journalism and earned her Master’sDegree in Journalism from American University inWashington, D.C.Giuliana splits her time between Los Angeles andChicago. She resides in both cities with her husband,entrepreneur and talk show host, Bill Rancic.A true style aficionado, the accessories she can’t live without this spring are a long printed scarf and GladeSparkle of Spring Premium Room Spray.

With the cold lifting and new spring collections hitting the shelves, it’s the perfect time to change up your home and wardrobe with fresh new styles that reflect the joyful mood and bright colors of

spring. Glade has partnered with style expert Giuliana Rancic to help women transform their look and surroundings for the new season. Together they are sharing what’s in this season and introducing two new limited edition home fragrances — Bring on the Blossoms and Sparkle of Spring.

As an entertainment journalist and co-host of E!’s “Fashion Police,” Rancic is an expert in today’s fashion and aims to inspire women to celebrate the season by updating their look this spring. From home décor to wardrobe, Rancic shares firsthand how surroundings, especially in the home, can affect mood.

“Spring is my favorite time of year because it’s a new awakening in the fash-ion world. I love exploring all the new trends and updating my surroundings with bright, happy colors that lift my mood,” says Rancic. “With a few new accessories and the limited-edition fragrances from Glade, your home will look as fresh as it smells.”

In order to help other women rejuvenate their look and surroundings, Rancic shares her top five tips to stay on-trend and feel fresh and exhilarated in time for spring:

Reinforce Ruffles. Spring is all about feeling pretty and feminine, and de-signers are pumping up the volume with ruffles. Whether on a throw pillow, journal or jacket, this season we’ll be seeing gorgeous fabrics and textures draped and ruffled into fabulous creations.

Giuliana Rancic andthe two accessoriesshe can’t live without

freshenYour Look and Home This Spring



Cleaning Makes the Grade Cleaning Makes the Grade

Small efforts at home can make a big impact on children’s success at school. Parents send their children to school

with the hope that the knowledge they are acquiring in the classroom will set them up for future success. However, mom and dad may not recognize that routine activities they do at home also are helping kids make the grade.

A recent study of nearly 5,000 high school students, conducted by Dr. Alan Hirsh and the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, found top performing students

(those with grade averages of A and B) overwhelmingly—84 percent—used words like “lemony, minty or clean” to describe the smell of their childhood homes. More than one-third (34 percent) of lower performing students (average of C or below) associated negative smells—of urine, fecal matter or mold—with their homes.

While the study focused on scent, Dr. Hirsh said it’s unlikely there is something within those specific odors that causes academic success. Dr. Hirsh said a more likely expla-nation is that there is a positive connection between a well-cared-for home and the sort of stable family environment that promotes academic success.

“The good news for moms – and their kids – is that the hard work they put into everyday chores like scrubbing floors and washing

Home Advisor

windows results in more than just a home that looks, feels and smells clean,” said Jennifer James, founder of The Mom Bloggers Club. “It’s not about a clean house – it is about the powerful difference parents can make in the lives of their children.”

James shares a few of her favorite ideas on how to turn routine tasks into springboards for success:

Be a cheerleader:• Give your kids a “hooray” for all the hard work they are doing on their homework and chores. Remember to focus on the effort, not the achievement, to make them excited about facing future challenges. Celebrate their work in big and small ways – from buying a special treat after a big test to giving daily reminders that you love them.

Read to succeed:• Let children pick out their own books and help them develop a life-long love of reading. They’ll appreciate the freedom of choice, and reading engages the imagination and boosts memory. Reading is such a critical habit to develop that the makers of Pine-Sol brand cleaners have teamed up with Reading is Fundamental to ensure all kids are enjoying the benefits. You can participate by “Liking” the Pine-Sol Facebook page. For every two “Likes,” the brand will donate a book to RIF up to 5,000 books.

Make meals matter:• Sit down for dinner together. Studies show that if children experience regular meals with family, they are more likely to stay away from drugs and do better in school.

Encourage playtime: Your family’s •favorite card and board games are great opportunities to practice basic skills like spelling and counting. Make them a regular activity and watch your children improve their game while enjoying the education.

Photo Courtesy Getty Images

Make Your Home Safer

Did you know that preventable injuries rank among the top 10 causes of death for people of all ages? While

it’s not something that many people often think about, the American Public Health As-sociation (APHA) helps to bring injury and violence prevention messages through this year’s National Public Health Week (NPHW) and warns that everyone is at some risk of injury, even at home.

Home Injury Facts

Four out of five U.S. fire deaths in •2008 occurred in the home.Every day in the United States, •about 82 people die as a result of unintentional poisoning, and another 2,000 are treated in emergency departments.Falls are the leading cause of injury •death among those aged 65 and older. More than one-third of U.S. adults 65 years of age and older fall each year.Falls are the leading cause of •Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the United States. Falls cause half of the TBIs among children aged 0 to 14 years and 61 percent of TBIs among adults aged 65 years and older.

•A survey by the Home Safety Council (HSC) showed that while nearly 60 percent of Amer-ican parents feel there are steps they could take to reduce the risk of a home-related injury, a third of them just don’t know what actions to take. This checklist from APHA’s NPHW will help you make your home safer today.

General Safety Tips

Assess your home for potential •hazards such as poor lighting and uneven surfaces to prevent falls.Install and maintain smoke alarms •and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.Establish a plan for evacuating from •your home in the event of a fire.Make sure all electrical outlets are •covered and inaccessible to children.Program emergency numbers, such •

Cleaning Makes the Grade


as the Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222), into your phone to call in the event of a poisoning emergency. Also, make sure they are posted near all land line phones.Check your hot water heater to •make sure the thermostat is set to 120°F or lower to avoid burns. According to the HSC, nearly 4,000 home injuries occur annually due to scalding. It only takes one second for a child under the age of five to get third-degree burns from water that is 140°F or hotter.Install four-sided isolation fencing •at least five feet high and equipped with self-latching gates to prevent drownings in home swimming pools.

In the Kitchen

Supervise young children whenever •they’re near cooking surfaces and never leave food unattended on the stove. Keep things that can catch fire, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags at least three feet away from the cook top.While cooking, make sure pot •handles are turned inward to prevent the hot pan from being pulled or knocked down.

In the Bathroom

Store cleaning supplies and •medicines in locked cabinets out of the reach of children.Make sure child safety caps are •on all medications and cleaning products.Be cautious of cleaners or medicines •with fruit shown on the labels – small children may think they are okay to drink.

Making just one positive change a day can help prevent injuries and help your family start living a safer life. For more information about injury prevention, visit www.nphw.org.

Logo courtesy of the American Public Health Association


Home Advisor

By Charlie Nardozzi

Succession in the Garden

Spring in the garden is a dangerous time. The temptation is to go out on those warm, sunny days and plant ‘til you

drop. Not only is that strenuous on your body and mind, it can also lead to the proverbial glut of food in a few months.

A better solution is to plan out your annual edible garden so crops mature in a more orderly fashion. Succession planting re-quires a little knowledge of the type of plants you’re growing, a little planning to have room for them to grow, and the patience to plant each crop in turn. Also, other gardening techniques, such as crop rotation and inter-planting, can help maximize growing space and help your plants avoid many soil-borne diseases and insects.

Planting for SuccessSuccession planting is a simple concept: Plant small rows or beds of plants peri-odically during the growing season. As one planting’s harvest begins to fade, the next

planting’s harvest will be ready. The key is knowing what vegetables can be planted in succession, and the best time of year to do it.

To succession plant, start in spring with cool-season crops that can be planted early, such as lettuce, spinach, peas, broccoli, greens, pak choi, carrots, radishes, and beets. For example, instead of planting one long row or bed of lettuce, consider planting a short, 2-foot-long row or bed. Two weeks later, sow another 2-foot-long row, and so on until the weather gets too warm for lettuce. Since the plants mature in one to two months you’ll get a continuous harvest of lettuce.

For warm weather crops, such as bush beans, summer squash, or cucumbers, follow the same planting pattern. Plant one bed after the last frost date, and another three or four weeks later. Since these crops take at least 60 days to mature, in regions with short grow-ing seasons you may have time for just two successive crops before the weather gets too cold.

As late summer weather cools, you can start planting lettuce again for a fall or winter crop, depending on your location. Because the amount of daylight decreases in au-tumn, plants grow more slowly in fall than in spring, so allow more time for them to mature.

The other key to succession planting is leav-ing room to plant. The temptation is to plant everything all at once and fill the garden. It’s important to plan for subsequent plantings. Cover unused beds with straw or other mulch to deter weeds.

Pull out old crops as soon as they finish producing. Don’t let those peas hang on just because there are a few fruits on the vine. Pull old lettuce and spinach plants as soon as they show signs of bolting. By being a little hard-hearted, you’ll create lots of room to grow a second and third crop. It takes a little planning in advance, but you’ll be amazed at where you can tuck in a few broccoli or pak choi plants or a small row of beans.

For more tips and garden information, visit www.garden.org. Charlie Nardozzi, a nationally recognized garden writer, book author, speaker and radio and television personality, has appeared on HGTV, PBS and Discovery Channel televi-sion networks. He teaches and inspires home gardeners to grow the best vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees and shrubs in their yards.


Photos: Courtesy of Family Features

How to Make College More Affordable

There’s money out there if you know where to look

Millions of families each year face the question of how to pay for college. And it’s not one that’s eas-

ily answered without the help of some kind of financial aid. A survey by The Princeton Review found that 86 percent of college ap-plicants and parents of applicants said that financial aid would be “very necessary.”

In 2009-10, there was over $199 billion of financial aid distributed to undergraduate and graduate students in the form of grants, federal loans, work-study, and tax credits and deductions, according to “Trends in Student Aid 2010,” by The College Board. The same report said that full-time undergraduate students received an average of $11,461 in financial aid.

So the good news is that there is money for college out there – if you know where to look. Here are some resources to help you find ways to make college more affordable.

Take a look at affiliations and memberships – Past and present employers, unions, military service, memberships, activities and hobbies can all be sources for college funds. A parent or grandparent’s membership in an organization may get a student the aid they need. A good example of this is Foresters Competitive Scholarships. Eligible Foresters members and their families can apply for scholarships for community service as well as good grades.

“We take great pride in investing in our members, their families and the communi-ties where they live,” said Kasia Czarski, Chief Membership and Marketing Officer at Foresters, a life insurance provider commit-ted to the well-being of families. “Every year Foresters awards 350 Competitive Scholar-ships as part of its member benefits because a solid education only makes for a brighter future.” For more information on Foresters Competitive Scholarship program, visit www.foresters.com/scholarships.

Preemies at Risk: How to Protect Them

With state and federal budgets stretched thin, and cost-cutting a primary motivator for insurers,

programs providing healthcare services for our tiniest citizens – especially premature infants – are becoming more limited and restrictive. But, being armed with the right information can help parents best navigate what health issues to watch out for and how to best protect their family in this rationing environment and, in particular, during this time of year.

Parents of Preemies Take Note

Preemies are at increased risk for a variety of health complications, including respiratory illnesses and chronic lung disease – even if they’re born just a few weeks early. This is because they have underdeveloped lungs and immature immune systems in comparison with full-term babies.

As we approach the winter season, and seasonal viral activity escalates, it’s impor-tant that parents of preemies understand their baby’s health risks and ensure they have ac-cess to a variety of therapeutic options to help keep them healthy. For example, in addition to colds and the flu, there is another com-mon virus that can be especially serious for the premature infant population: respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is a common, seasonal and easily spread virus that infects nearly all children by their second birthday. Most kids just get moderate to severe cold-like symptoms, however high-risk infants may get severe RSV disease. RSV disease is the most common cause of death due to a virus in children under five years of age and is responsible for an estimated 125,000 infant hospitalizations annually in the United States.

There are simple ways to help protect your baby from viruses such as RSV, including washing hands and bedding frequently, and limiting your baby’s exposure to large groups and environmental tobacco smoke. And, of course, speak with your child’s healthcare provider about any concerns and other pre-vention options.

Preemies Now Face Added ChallengesWhile being diligent about monitoring the health needs of your little one greatly helps them live a healthy life, it’s also important to note how current economic pressures and their impact on the healthcare system can affect your baby’s access to services.

In particular, preemies and other vulnerable babies have been facing additional challenges because of healthcare system constraints, which are creating more restrictive reim-bursement policies and forcing program cuts that limit access to care. Across the coun-try, for example, 45 percent of local health departments experienced budget cuts in 2009, which led to nearly a quarter of these departments reducing funding for maternal and child health programs, such as Medic-aid’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.

Private and public insurers alike are also creating barriers to care by using increas-ingly restrictive care guidelines to drive their eligibility decisions. For example, in 2009 the American Academy of Pediatrics issued more restrictive guidelines for RSV emphasizing cost issues over new or existing clinical data.

“One of the biggest challenges to ensure infants have access to the proper care they need is that insurers are adopting guidelines without considering all available clinical evi-dence, rather than analyzing high-risk infants on a case-by-case basis under the direction of the child’s physician,” said Dr. Mitch Goldstein, president of the National Perinatal Association.

What Can Parents Do?

If you’re the parent of a preemie, talk with your child’s pediatrician about proper pre-vention for all illnesses, such as respiratory illnesses like RSV disease. “If healthcare coverage is denied, you can likely appeal the decision. Your doctor should be able to advise you on the appeals process and share additional resources that can help you,” said Dr. Goldstein. “When there is advocacy from both the parent and the physician, there is more likelihood of success.”

All babies deserve equal access to preven-tive care, and physicians, nurses, payers and parents must work together to protect them. Go to www.preemievoices.com or www.nationalperinatal.org for more information on preemies and infant health. To learn more about the signs, symptoms and risk factors of RSV disease, as well as additional prevention tips, visit www.rsvprotection.com.


Look at service and professional groups – Many service organizations such as the Scouts, VISTA and Teach for America offer scholarships. Corporate foundations are an excellent source of financial aid and often require a number of years of service to that organization in return. If you know what you want to study, look into professional associations affiliated with that career. Many, including associations for political science, nursing and physical therapy, offer scholarships to help attract students to their fields.

Start exploring financial options early and do your homework, because with some time, patience and perseverance, it is possible to make college more affordable.


Revitalize Home Fragrance. Glade Limited Edition Spring Collection fragrances refresh the home and wipe away the doldrums left behind when winter fades. The Glade Sparkle of Spring Premium Room Spray looks as good as it smells, and the hints of citrus help you create an energized vibe during the day.

Bright Colors, Fresh Look. What’s more perfect for spring than bright, cheerful col-ors? Take advantage of the season’s uplifting hues and make lips pop with orangey pink lipstick.

Wake Up Happy. Start the day with colors that awaken your senses. Make your bedroom environment happy with a bright, cheerful new duvet or throw.

Go for Geometric Jewels. Cool, geometric shapes are everywhere this spring. Clean, straight lines and bold color accents make a perfect pair. Added perk? You don’t have to spend a lot to achieve this look — Giuliana recently discovered a pair of bold emerald green earrings for just $8!


Your Look and Home This Spring

freshen

Lower the cost to attend – Try the community college route. Start at a less expensive school and then transfer to a four-year institution. It’s far less expensive and can cut time and money off the cost of a four-year program. You can also plan early by taking advanced placement classes while in high school. Take summer classes and an extra class per semester to get a leg up on college credit requirements.

Be a savvy scholarship searcher – Take advantage of the internet to search out the scholarship – or scholarships – right for you. Here are some resources to get you started:

Good, general starting places •include www.scholarships.com, www.fastweb.com, and www.collegeboard.org.Latino students can search for •scholarships at www.maldef.org or www.haceonline.org. For other minority scholarships, visit www.finaid.org.For out-of-the-box scholarships •– such as those for vegetarians, getting creative with duct tape, and even being left-handed - visit www.scholarships.com, and www.fastweb.com.

A word of caution as you’re searching for scholar-ships – be alert to scams. If you have to pay in order to compete for a scholarship, it may be a scam.

Learn more at www.ftc.gov.

anywhere else you can make them work, and use tea lights to dress up table and counter surfaces. Trust me, it will feel like a party.

Serve a Signature Drink. There’s something about the combination of good friends and wine that just instantly feels like a party. Serve up a signature drink that is both creative and delicious for guests, such as Arbor Mist’s unique blend of great tasting wine with a splash of fruit. For a festive presentation, add a simple fresh fruit garnish to the glass that complements each flavor of wine, such as colorful skewers of blackberries and kiwi for the Blackberry Merlot or playful fruit stars cut from pear slices for glasses of White Pear Pinot Grigio. See the additional flavors at www.ArborMist.com, and engage in fun conversation at www.Facebook.com/ArborMist.

Turn the Everyday into a Special Occasion

Continues from page 7

Meet. Socialize. Repeat. Whether it’s a brunch the first Monday of every month or dinner and a chick flick the third Tuesday, try to develop a regular habit of getting together with friends. Having a standing monthly date to keep in mind makes it easier for everyone to coordinate their schedules around – and it also gives everyone in the group an excuse to take turns playing hostess of the month.

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With such a large percentage of Americans over weight, it’s obvi-ous that many are not following

the latest exercise guidelines that prescribe an hour of exercise per day. How important are cardiovascular (cardio) exercises and what can be done to make them a part of daily activities?

Before we discuss how much cardio one should do, let’s first understand why it’s so important. Cardiovascular exercise, simply put, means that you’re involved in an activity that raises your heart rate to a level where you can still speak (aka in your Target Heart Rate Zone). The cardiovascular or circulatory system is a closed circuit composed of blood, blood vessels, and the heart. Blood continuously travels a circular route through the heart, arteries, capillaries, veins and back to the heart. Together with the respiratory system, the heart and the blood vessels deliver oxy-gen and nutrients to the body’s tissues while also removing waste such as carbon dioxide and metabolic b products. Cardiovascular exercise is important because it increases lung capacity and makes the heart strong so that it doesn’t have to work as hard to pump blood. In conjunction with proper diet, it’s also an effective way to burn calories and aid in weight lost.

Studies have shown that a consistent program of cardiovascular exercise helps to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, high blood pres-sure and some diabetes. Its also helps reduce stress and makes you feel better.

Before starting any cardiovascular exercise routine, ask your doctor if you are healthy enough. Once green lighted, there is a mul-titude of activities such as cycling, hiking, running or walking that will get the heart rate up. Just choose cardio activities that are the most enjoyable to you and get stared.

Cardiovascular exercises are such that you have a choice of going to the gym or staying at home. At the gym you will have access to treadmills, stair masters rowing machines, aerobics classes and much more. For the indoor home environs: aerobics, jogging in

Fitness and Health

The Importance of Cardiovascular EnduranceDiona Lynn Austin

Staying Healthy and Fit With Diona

place, running on a treadmill, riding a sta-tionary bike and doing jumping jacks, all of which can be performed while watching TV or listening to music, are but a few. If your home has stairs, using them repetitiously is great for exercising the heart and toning the legs. For the outdoor home environs: cycling, jogging, walking and running are effective.

So long as it gets your heart rate into your target rate zone, just about any cardiovascular or aerobic exercise will work. The key is to figure out what your likes and dislikes are when it comes to physical activity. Use this as the criteria for selecting the right activities for you and turn them into a life long habit that leads to better health.

Once you have chosen a cardio exercise rou-tine and gotten started, its important to track performance and quantitatively rate results. Duration, speed and number of repetitions can be quantified and used to measure results; however, duration, the ability to sustain an activity, is far more important than how fast or how hard you work. Beginners should start with a 10-20 minute workout and add a few minutes to each workout until 30 are

reached. A reasonable goal for cardio is 30 – 60 minutes 3 to 6 days a week. If you are not ready don’t feel like you have to start at that level. If necessary, split workouts into shorter sessions and schedule through out the day.

As with any exercise routine overdoing car-dio can backfire. There is a point of diminish-ing returns, so keep it reasonable at 3-6 days per week depending on your fitness level. Don’t hesitate to take rest days when needed.

Once your body has gotten used to exercise and can sustain up to 30 minutes of continu-ous movement, you can start working on your intensity levels. How hard you work during workouts is a crucial factor when it comes to burning calories. An individual’s intensity level is dependent on factors such as fitness level and fitness goals.

High intensity cardio is defined as 75-85% of your maximum heart rate (MHR.) This is where you exercise at a level that is challeng-ing and you are barely able to talk.

Moderate intensity cardio is defined as 60-70% of your MHR and is recommended in the exercise guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). This is the ideal level and typically this should be the target during workouts.

Low intensity cardio is considered to be below 50-55% of your MHR. This is a good level to work at during warm ups for ex-ample.

Cardiovascular and aerobic exercises are the best type of exercises for improving your mood. This is because vigorous exercise helps to release chemicals necessary for the mood raising high. Endorphins are hormone-like substances that are produced in the brain and functions as the body’s natural painkiller. During exercise endorphins are released and this can produce feelings of euphoria and a general state of wellbeing. People that are physically active recover from mild depres-sion faster than others’ and physical activity is strongly correlated with good mental health as people age.

There is no doubt that your heart and cardiovascular heath in general can benefit


immensely from regular cardio exercise. Aerobic activities ward off high blood pres-sure and help prevent heart disease. They can also improve the health of vessels and vascular functions, allowing the blood to flow efficiently throughout the body.

For those unfortunate enough to have had a heart attack, beginning a regular cardio exercise routine can reduce the risk of having another one, and according to the American Heart Association, it may lower the risk of death by 20-25%.

Keeping the body lean and trim can reduce the risk of developing certain chronic dis-eases and utilizing cardio exercises to do this provides many health benefits. It’s never too late to add cardiovascular exercise to your daily activities. It’s just a matter of having the desire and motivation to do it. Once a cardio exercise program is in place overall stamina will improve and this will benefit your daily activities and can help keep you active as you get older.

Remember; ALWAYS consult your physician before starting any exercise program. Use this opportunity to discuss any health concerns you may have as well as any known health conditions among your family that may cause concern. Advise your provider if you smoke, as this can be a determinant as to how much cardio you can safely perform.

Living a long and healthy life is something we all wish for; however, if we don’t take the time out of our busy schedules to take care of the body its just a wish.

There is a consensus of opinion among health officials that eating a balanced diet, some weight training weekly, and routine cardio-vascular exercise is the perfect regimen to keep the body strong and healthy and illness free. Drinking plenty of water, taking a multi-vitamin and getting at least 7 hours sleep, you too will have discovered the true fountain of youth.

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The start of the new year might have al-ready come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the resolutions you made need to

fall by the wayside. Research shows that one third of people who have made New Year’s resolutions will have broken them by the end of January. When it comes to sticking to your resolutions, especially those that will help to shrink your waistline, it’s the simple every-day tweaks to your routine that can make a big difference in how you look and feel, all year long.

According to a recent survey conducted by SPLENDA Sweetener Products, with the sup-port of SHAPE Magazine, more than a third of American women think about their weight three or more times per day, and 54 percent of them think that they will reach their ideal weight this year, but are unsure of the best way to do so.

“It’s important women know that it’s the simple changes that are not only crucial to the weight loss process, but are also the healthiest and most effective in the long run,” said Sharon Liao, SHAPE Magazine senior health and nutrition editor. “By incorporating healthy habits into their daily lives, women can start to see real results that will last well beyond the first few months of the year and quite possibly last for the rest of their lives.”

Make this year your best yet by getting back on the “resolution bandwagon” and following these healthy tips.

Know the Numbers

More than two thirds of American women surveyed didn’t know that it takes 3,500 calories to lose a pound. Simply being knowledgeable about the calories you’re consuming daily is the first step to smart and healthy weight management. This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy an occasional slice of birthday cake, but realize you might have to spend more time at the gym or compensate by choosing a lower calorie lunch.

Savvy Substitutions

By becoming savvy with healthy substitu-tions, you can swap out ingredients and still

enjoy your favorite foods for fewer calories. Instead of butter, use light margarine. You can also swap whole milk for skim and use applesauce instead of cream. According to the survey, more than 70 percent of women add sugar to foods and beverages. To cut back on the added calories, try using SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener Granulated instead of sugar in your favorite foods and beverages. It measures cup for cup like sugar. A cup of SPLENDA Granulated has 678 fewer calories than a cup of sugar, so you can have your cake and eat it too!

Eat Up

Women often tend to count calories and skimp on meals by nibbling too-small por-tions or skipping meals entirely throughout the day, leaving them hungry and more likely to reach for an unhealthy snack. Instead of skipping lunch, grab some greens and pair them with lean protein like chicken, or fiber like apples and nuts to ensure that you are not hungry throughout the day.

Mix It Up

Feeling uninspired by your workout sched-ule? Just because you’re breaking a sweat doesn’t mean that it has to be at the gym. Breathe some life into your physical activity by taking a class at the park, walking your dog with a friend, biking or walking to work or taking the stairs.

Reward Yourself

Stay on track with little rewards. Buy your-self a cute workout shirt to get excited about going to the gym. Go out to the movies or book that vacation you’ve been dreaming about taking. In fact, more than one third of women said that an upcoming vacation would inspire them to lose weight. By putting a vacation on the schedule, you may feel extra motivated to achieve your weight-loss goals.

For more information visit www.SPLENDA.com.

SPLENDA is a registered trademark of Mc-Neil Nutritionals, LLC

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Get Healthy and Make This Your Best Year Yet

[email protected] LifeStyle Magazinewww.satorimagazine.com


If you feel stuck in a rut, it may be time to shake things up. Finding new ways to approach exercise and diet can make your

efforts to improve your overall health more engaging and help you stay on track.

Pittsburgh Steelers dietitian and author Leslie J. Bonci, RD, advises athletes on how they can stay at the top of their game. Here, she offers some tips to help you find new ways to stay on top of yours.

Groove It: Get Moving to a New Beat. If you’ve never tried working out to music, now’s a good time to start. And if you do have an exercise playlist, try out some new tunes. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) has found that the faster the beat of the music, the higher the intensity of the workout. Your body naturally moves to whatever beat it’s listening to, so speeding up the beat can help you get more from your workout. The ACE research also showed that a faster tempo also makes intense exercise seem less stressful.

Change It: Take on a new workout. Doing the same kinds of exercises all the time can get boring – which makes it harder to keep doing them. Shake things up and dare your-self to get moving in a new way: try a dance-based workout such as Zumba, kickboxing, ballroom dancing, a spinning class or circuit training. Or if you really want to challenge yourself, join a local, high-intensity boot camp. Many gyms and fitness centers have low-cost, short-term “try-it” options that let you sample the different options before you commit to a long-term class. Some mem-berships also let you work with a personal trainer a few times for free. That’s a great way to get some tips and training customized for you.

Log It: Keep a Food Journal. Improving your overall health also means learning how to make better food choices. Keeping a food journal can help you take an honest look at your eating habits so that you can make healthy changes.

Record everything you eat and drink •right away.

Make a note of what you did while •

Fitness and Health

eating (watched TV, worked at com-puter, etc.)

Describe your feelings while you •ate. Understanding the emotions be-hind your food choices can be very helpful in making changes.

Try It: Incorporate New Foods. Accord-ing the newly released Dietary Guidelines, incorporating plant-based proteins into a daily diet can help maximize overall health. Soybeans in their whole, natural state are the only plant-based source of complete protein. A reasonable goal should be to consume two servings of whole soy a day (a total of 15 to 20g soy protein). New and improved SOYJOY, made with whole soy, real fruit and other all-natural ingredients, is a great way to fit whole soy into your daily routine. SOY-JOY is the perfect snack to throw into your backpack, gym bag or glove compartment to fuel you through a long work day or intense workout. SOYJOY provides a nutrient-dense combination of complete protein, complex carbohydrates, and fiber to help supply sus-tained energy with only 130-140 calories.

To make new habits stick, it’s important to hold yourself accountable. Dare yourself to take on one of these new challenges or invent your own, and then share your dare with friends on Facebook as part of SOYJOY’s Do you Dare? program. SOYJOY is sweetening the deal by offering prizes and incentives to those who take a dare and stick to it. Check it out at www.facebook.com/soyjoy.

Main photo caption: Photo courtesy of Getty Secondary photo caption: Leslie J. Bonci, RD

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Do You Dare To Shake Up Your Routine?

The tight job market has a growing number of people looking to become their own boss. In a September 2010

Citibank small business survey, 81 percent of small business owners still like or love what they do, and 75 percent said they would start their businesses again, even knowing about the challenges they would face.

But starting a business in a recession isn’t always easy. Getting a bank loan is tough and credit card companies are reducing lines of credit. One way to feed your entrepreneurial drive in this economy is to consider a career in direct selling.

Direct sales is a dynamic industry – one that many entrepreneurs and stay-at-home parents are diving into. According to the Direct Selling Association, more than 15 million people sold about $30 billion in products and services in the US in 2008. Nearly one-third of those sales were for personal items such as cosmetics, jewelry, and skin care.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Direct Selling Association Education Founda-tion (DSAEF) have partnered to help educate those interested in pursuing direct sales for themselves.

Here are three questions the BBB recom-mends asking if you’re thinking about a career in direct sales:

Do I have what it takes to be a good •salesman? Most natural sales people are outgoing, comfortable speak-ing in public, and self-motivated. But those are skills that can also be acquired. Before diving in, make ar-rangements to shadow several direct sellers so you can see what it takes to be successful.

Is this a product I can believe •in? Genuine excitement is catching, so if you really believe in the prod-uct, a lot of the work is already done for you. And the opposite is true, too – if you wouldn’t buy the product for yourself, you’ll have a very hard time selling it to anyone else.

Is it Time to Work for Yourself?

Leslie J. Bonci, RD


Do I risk financial loss by joining •the company? Legitimate companies generally have low start-up costs – typically less than $100. It’s also very important to understand the company’s buy-back policy so that you will know your rights should you choose to quit the business.

Direct selling can be very rewarding. Denise Pagano from New York did her homework and decided to become an Independent Beauty Advisor for L’Bel, a premium skin care and cosmetics company. “Once I tried the products, I couldn’t wait to start sharing them with my friends,” she said. “I felt good about working for a company that’s had over 40 years of success, and it’s turned out to be a great fit for me. I get to set my own hours, I can sell online, one on one, or at L’Bel Beauty

Parties – whatever works best for me.”

Denise has also benefited from the coaching and education provided by L’Bel, as well as the online support offered. “In my Beauty Advisor Office Suite, I can communicate with people, manage my business and access more training and resources.” To find out if working with L’Bel could be a possibility for your career, visit www.lbelusa.com.

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For 11-year-old Ashlee Smith it started with a fire. Ashlee’s toys were destroyed when her home burned down. She started Ashlee’s Toy Closet and has now donated nearly 165,000 toys and books to kids in the United States, Canada and Haiti. These are just a few examples of how every-day kids found extraordinary ways to give back to their communities, but opportunities for service are endless.

The book “77 Creative Ways Kids •Can Serve,” by 18-year-old Sondra Clark, is just one resource for kids who want to help but may not know how.RandomKid (www.randomkid.org), •founded by 15-year-old Talia Le-man, provides staff and services to youth for the development, manage-ment and accomplishment of their goals to help others. Websites like Zoom into Action (• pb-skids.org/zoom/activities/action/in-dex.html) and Do Something (www.dosomething.org) also are great tools to find volunteer projects.

Jourdan, Mimi, Max, Ashlee, Sondra and Ta-lia were all recognized by the Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes program, which honors young leaders making a difference in their local communities and around the world and rewards them with scholarships, chari-table contributions, networking opportunities and leadership training.

If you know a deserving kid in your com-munity, you can nominate him or her to be a 2011 Huggable Hero. Nominations will be accepted through February 28. Visit www.lovehugssmiles.com/HuggableHeroes.aspx or a Build-A-Bear Workshop store for details.

PHOTO CAPTION: Young people all over the country are making a difference by volun-teering in their communities.

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Honoring Young Volunteers

Many youth today are involved in what 19-year old Jourdan Urbach describes as a “youthquake” of

charity work among their generation. Jourdan is founder of Children Helping Children, which has raised $4.7 million for neuro-logical disease research and care through Concerts for a Cure. He believes volunteer efforts by young people will be “this world’s saving grace.” A recent survey suggests that, indeed, today’s youths are attuned to helping others. The sur-vey, conducted by Build-A-Bear Workshop, reveals that:

98 percent of kids think it is impor-•tant to help others.95 percent think it is important •for kids to help charities that help people.94 percent said it is also important •to help charities that help other kids and charities that help animals.

While 82 percent of kids surveyed think it is fun to help charities, only 69 percent think it is easy for kids to get involved in doing so. It’s clear that kids want to give back, but they may not always know how.

“It’s as easy as looking around your neigh-borhood and asking yourself, “What can I do to make things better?” said Mimi Ausland.

Mimi created the website FreeKibble.com when she was just 11 years old. The site collects donations in order to buy food for animal shelters.

“Animal shelters need animal lovers to vol-unteer, find homes for pets or collect food,” she said. “They can always use a helping hand, no matter how small.”

Max Wallack, 14, was inspired to give while caring for his great grandmother Gertrude who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. He founded Puzzles to Remember, a non-profit organization that collects, donates and deliv-ers puzzles to Alzheimer’s patients, nursing homes and Veterans Affairs facilities.


Tips for Parents and Kids

A place where families can play together online

For a fun and safe place for kids, parents and even grand parents to play together online, visit buildabearville.com, the Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world. Build-A-Bear Workshop is committed to working together with kids, parents, educators, industry experts, policy makers, and law enforcement officials to make the Internet a safer place for kids through education and awareness. The tools that are currently available at buildabearville.com for kids to learn about Internet safety include: Cyber Safety Quiz Landing page with tips and suggestions on playing safe online Events throughout the year to promote safe playIn 2010, Build-A-Bearville received the Inaugural StopCyberbullying Award from

StopCyberbullying.org. In 2009 the site earned the WiredKids Best of the Web Award sponsored by WiredSafety.org and in 2008, Build-A-Bearville received the I-Parenting Award.

Parents’ concerns about Internet safety used to be confined to the computer. Today, kids have more access to the

Internet through smart phones and gaming devices so the potential for cyberbullying is greater than ever.

Cyberbullying is when one minor uses technology as a weapon to target another young person. According to StopCyberbullying.org, elementary and middle schools report cyberbullying as the most frequent problem they face. Most people think of cyberbullying as girl to girl. Girls become the more prevalent cyberbullies in middle school, harassing other girls and boys. Cyberbullying at the elementary school level is typically boy to boy due to the higher percentage of boys who play online games as opposed to girls.

Twenty percent of kids in the fourth through sixth grade have reported one type of cyberbullying when playing games, including:

Password theft Accessing and stealing virtual items Mean messages

What parents can doParental involvement is key to preventing cyberbullying and keeping kids safe online. Marsali Hancock, president and CEO of the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (www.ikeepsafe.org), recommends the following tips for parents to keep their children safe online:

Keep current with technology. You don’t have to be an expert, but a little understanding goes a long way towards keeping your child safe online. Get basic technical training and learn about new products as they are released.



cancer. Thank God for my wife. Pain in my breast, a first indicator, actually started about a year earlier. After the diagnosis my wife Liz and I were emotionally drained and I was left feeling lost, weak and extremely sad.

I started treatment immediately with a two-part chemotherapy and radiation treatment session. The cancer had already reached the lymph nodes so surgery was also necessary. The first chemotherapy sessions were very strong and lasted nearly 4 hours. I received chemotherapy and radiation treatment every three weeks for 36 treatments. Each treatment left me drained, sick with stomach cramps, vomiting, and extremely weak. Soon after the treatments started my hairs started to fall out and my vision started to blur. These treatments were used to kill any cancer cells that may have been left in my body. I am now into the second phase of my chemotherapy treatment but the sessions are only one hour long instead of four and the after affects are bad but not as drastic as before. Although I am still very weak I can still function. There are also 40 twenty minute sessions of radia-tion treatments left to complete. When I have both chemotherapy and radiation treatments on the same day it leaves my body very weak and my energy level is below zero. Now, I have something called Lymph Edema in my left arm and I am told that there is no cure. With this condition the pain in my left arm is a daily event; consequently, I have been prescribed painkillers for relief.

My line of work requires two hands to safely operate machinery and this is not possible according to my physician. I am medically and physically disabled and applied for dis-ability on three different occasions but was denied in each instance. I was told that the government policy regarding breast cancer is set up for women and not men. In fact, I have it in writing that my circumstance does not fall within the criteria because men are not known to have breast cancer. I am now pursuing my disability claim through the judicial system. People, please listen: I was 18 years old when I joined the U.S. Army and served my country for ten years. After get-ting out, I went straight to work as a pipefitter and machine operator until cancer got me. I

Male Breast Cancer Awareness

Having Breast Cancer “A Man’s View” By Kenneth K. Anderson - Georgia

Hello readers; I am Kenneth K An-derson, a stage two Breast Cancer patient. I would like to begin by

providing some personal history and family background. Both my mother and father died of Breast Cancer, additionally my family has a history of high blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension; however, breast cancer has been the most devastating and so that’s, my concern, especially male breast cancer.

I knew my mother died of breast cancer but, because my father resided in Pittsburgh, Pa and I lived in Jacksonville Florida I only knew that he died of cancer. But what kind of cancer? I never knew he died of breast cancer, after all, I didn’t think males could get breast cancer. I was put off by the name because men don’t have breast but instead have a chest-- right? I also have two sisters that are breast cancer survivors. See, here we go again, woman and breast cancer. As a matter of fact, when you buy books or re-ceive literature about the disease, it is nearly always in regards to women. When some-thing about the illness appears on television -- ditto! Admittedly, statistically, the incident rate for males with breast cancer is exceed-ingly low and this is partly the reason one seldom hears about male breast cancer. This lack of visibility has also fostered federal and state ignorance when it comes to planned medical care and assistance for males with breast cancer. People; let me be the first to tell you, although different than a woman’s, males too have breast.

On March 17, 2009, perchance, I was watch-ing television with my wife and a breast cancer commercial came on. I asked my wife; why were they always-telling women to check their breasts for lumps and for some sign of cancer, hell, I have a lump on my left nipple? That day my wife checked me for lumps and signs of cancer and two days later she had me in a doctor’s office and after testing I was diagnosed with stage two breast

will be 53 years old May 2011, worked hard, served my country and paid my taxes and you would think that there would be govern-mental aid for people with my sickness and circumstance.

A machine operator without the full use of his hands is a danger to himself and others around him in the work place. For a machine operator this is about as disabling as it gets. Yet I have to struggle to beg and finally to sue just to be considered disabled. People, what is wrong with this picture? Like so many social programs the eligibility criteria are so constructed as to deny disability status to as many as possible. In this way the bean coun-ters think they are keeping rift raft off the public dole and saving the tax payer money. In fact the opposite is quite true because their action adds to public cost while denying those citizens in desperate need access to ad-equate support. That coupled with a “profit at all cost” health care system with astronomi-cally high premiums explains why so many have such difficulties getting adequate help.

Because of my breast cancer I became unable to work, and consequently, lost my medical insurance. I applied for Medicare and Med-icaid but I was denied because of eligibility requirements. I was told that everything is set up to help a woman with breast cancer but not a man. I am thankful for the American Cancer Society and others like Cancer Care and the Patient Advocate Foundation. They have been exceedingly helpful to me.

Men don’t be ashamed to do the breast self-exam or take a trip to the doctor if you feel something unusual under the arm or in the breast area. Don’t think like I did; this disease belongs to us too. Thank you for reading my story and I hope it was informative and help-ful for both men and women.

Part 2

Satori Magazine would like to thank Mr. Anderson for sharing his story.

Please visit Satori LifeStyle Magazine to read Male Breast Cancer Awareness Part One

Satori LifeStyle Magazinewww.satorimagazine.com


Elle Swan[Ed. Note: Our guest columnist Elle Swan, International Vibrant Living Expert, is the au-thor of “Your Mind Over Habits: A Woman’s Guide to a Happy Life and a Vibrant Body.” Elle Swan’s Vibrant Living philosophy has been recognized on FOX, NBC and PBS and she is currently the Vibrancy Coach for ABC Las Vegas. Her miraculous journey from the deprivation and despair of addiction to vibrancy and abundance lit a passion inside her that illuminates her work today. Assist-ing others in overcoming all self-defeating thinking and behavior is her life’s purpose and the results have been astounding. On her website, www.elleswan.com, you’ll find tools to build positive relationships, create high self-esteem, develop your style, be fit and live rich.]

Beauty Tips10 Ways to Look Younger in an Instant!March 29, 2011 by Elle Swan Filed under Anti-Aging

Dear Beauty Conscious Reader,

If you want to turn back the hands of time and instantly look years younger, I’m living proof that it is possible. By using creativity and nature wisely, I look younger at 41, than I did when I was 25!

Many don’t realize it, but there’s more to looking younger than accumulating anti-aging lo-tions and potions or undergoing cosmetic procedures. The secret lies in the way you present yourself to the outside world.

I’m talking about your appearance.

Below are my top 10 ways to start looking younger now by making some simple tweaks to what you put on your body.

1. Update your glasses. Our faces change (with the help of time and gravity). So it’s important to update glasses every 3-5 years in order to present a look that is current and relevant. Noth-ing says old like an old pair of glasses.

2. Wear earrings for crow’s feet. If you have wrinkles around your eyes a nice pair of sparkly earrings can distract from those lines.

3. Color your gray. Coloring some or all of your gray hairs can take years off your appearance.

4. Wear clothes that fit. Avoid wearing baggy clothes if you’re not exactly happy with the shape of your body. An outfit that fits properly can actually make you look slimmer.

5. Shine and resole your shoes. Dull shoes with run over heels make the statement that you are tired and old.

6. Wear properly fitted bras. As your body changes, it becomes necessary to take the time to go into a department store and have the saleswoman measure your bust. Having the right under-garment on adds a youthful silhouette.

7. Matching handbag and shoes. This small gesture makes a big thoughtful statement and makes any look more current and updated. As women age, they tend to just carry a bag that they feel is comfortable. But taking the time to match your shoes with the same color bag (or a bag in the same color family) makes a smart statement that says you care.

8. Avoid heavy eyeliner. As we age, we should complement our natural eye shape and not load up on makeup to hide that we are getting older. Believe it or not, the more eyeliner you wear, the older it makes you look.

9. Learn how to apply concealer properly. Go into a department store and ask for the head makeup sales person. Ask that person to show you how to apply concealer below your eyes. The right application can give you a bright awake look and make you look up to 10 years younger. Once you learn, you can do it yourself in minutes!

10. Wear perfume. Young people pay attention to how they smell because they want to impress the opposite sex. Sometimes as we age (or stay married to the same person) we lose sight of this powerful tool. Smell is our strongest sense. And when you wear a perfume that matches your body chemistry, you come across as more youthful to those you encounter.Be Fit, Live Rich, and Have a Vibrant Day!

Homemade Facial Scrub¼ tsp cornmeal or crushed almonds1 tbls oatmeal1 ½ tbls yogurt

Place dry ingredients in food processor and blend until fine, add yogurt

Massage face lightly, rinse with warm water

Refrigerate leftovers and keep for 2 weeks

Please visit www.satorimagazine.com for more beauty tips.


Want That Luminous Look?March 25, 2011 by Anesta Dawkins Filed under Anti-Aging, SkincareDear Beauty Conscious Reader,

Are you in a love-hate relationship with your makeup? Want to show a more natural face to the world?

Then you might want to jump on the latest bandwagon… with mineral makeup. The leading lines promise weightless, breathable skin coverage.

To find your flawlessness and get rid of that heavy made-up look, you now have the option of using “pure minerals straight from the earth.” However, you’re not exactly using rocks on your face.

In order for “pure minerals straight from the earth” to be safe for cosmetic purposes, the ingre-dients are created in a lab to duplicate the form of minerals. To achieve the desired effect and give you that fantastic finish, the “mineral” particles have to be very tiny. The results work like a dream but there is cause for concern.

Some ingredients, such as talc, can cause pulmonary issues and lung cancer when inhaled, according to a Harvard Medical School study. For cosmetic purposes, it’s made through a crushing and milling process from a mineral called hydrous magnesium silicate, which has similar properties to asbestos. In addition, bismuth oxychloride and corn starch can cause skin irritation, itching and severe rashes. Christina Harris, the owner of CMH Essentials, reports that bismuth has been used as a cheap filler and is found to be slightly radioactive.

When these man-made, minute mineral particles come in contact with your skin, they can cause your pores to clog and you may develop acne. These mineral makeups are marketed as a healthier alternative to chemical-based options and supposedly have no oils, perfumes, dyes or carcinogens, but not all of them can claim such. As always, check out the ingredients before you buy the product.

Keep in mind, what looks good on you may not always be good for you.Here are a couple other tips when using mineral makeup:

• Don’t fluff your brush! Reduce the risk of inhaling powder by working it into your brush, and swirling and tapping your brush before you apply it.• To avoid acne, make sure to clean your skin thoroughly, especially before bedtime. Use your favorite moisturizer after cleansing to avoid dryness.

Overall, I like the effect of using mineral makeup but sometimes I prefer to just go without.

Keep on Stylin’!

Anesta Dawkins

[Ed. Note: Anesta Dawkins is Owner and Founder of Salon Hottie in West Palm Beach, Florida, and is an accomplished hairstylist, platform artist, and instructor. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry and a satisfied network of clients, Anesta is dedicated to keeping you current with the latest and most innovative products in the beauty industry.]

Beauty Tips

Natural Relief During Allergy Season

Itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing and congestion – these are just some of the symptoms that millions of people have to

deal with every day, all from allergens being inhaled through the nasal passages. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly one in three Americans suffer from sinus related symptoms, and that number continues to grow.

“Allergy sufferers require longer term care, so I try to recommend all-natural solu-tions that keep the sinuses clear for extended periods of time,” said Dr. Rohit K. Katial, MD, staff physician and professor at National Jewish Health in Denver and Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. “One of the most useful practices allergy sufferers can undertake is to use a daily sinus rinse, which helps relieve allergy symptoms naturally.”

Katial says that Waterpik Si-nuSense offers a natural, easy, effec-tive and BPA-free option for the treat-ment and preven-tion of sinus-relat-ed symptoms.

It’s impossible to completely avoid exposure to allergens – so talk with your doctor about the best all-natural treatment options for you and the allergy sufferer in your life. Find out more at www.WaterpikSinuSense.com.

Captions:

Photo Courtesy Getty Images

Photo Courtesy Waterpik

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Bio: Courtesy Birdie Nichols

Birdie Nichols is a retired teacher from the Performing Arts High School (CAPA) in Pitts-burgh, Pennsylvania. Prior to working at CAPA, Nichols taught on the faculty of Westinghouse High School. She also served as an administrator-supervisory program specialist for Pittsburgh’s middle schools, where she worked on the staff de-velopment team, supervised teachers and coordi-nated the vocal and instrumental music activities. Nichols holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Arts degree from Duquesne University and has completed advanced studies in theater arts and choral conducting from Penn State and Carnegie Mellon Universities. As a composer and arranger, she has had several of her compositions recorded by Glorious Rebirth. Glorious Rebirth was organized in 1980 by founder/director Birdie Nichols. What began as a singing group of her former students soon evolved into an outstanding troupe proficient in the full range of the perform-ing arts- music, drama and the visual medium. Over the years, through Nichols’ continued dedica-tion to develop and nurture young talent, Glorious Rebirth become and remained a positive force for young people in the community. Glorious Rebirth presented formal concerts and musical shows each year from September through June. One of their most exciting productions, "Music from the Black Experience," traced the history of Black music from African Chant, through the spirituals, Blues, jazz, Broadway show tunes and the varied music of the day. This diversity in their repertoire set Glorious Rebirth apart from other musical groups and enabled them to communicate with audiences as broad and diverse as the music itself. The goal of the troupe was to share an uplifting message of joy, hope and love. In addition, they awarded a $1,000 scholarship each year to a graduating high school senior who planned to pursue a music career at the college level

From The Editor

Birdie Nichols

By Bernice Carter-McNeil

Birdie Nichols:A Teacher Remembered

For two decades, Westinghouse High School Choir of Pittsburgh, Pennsyl-vania was under the direction of Mrs.

Birdie Nichols, a small-framed, five-foot tall gentle lady. Though small-framed and mild mannered, she was made of steel, very strict and very stern, yet she did it with love. Her students really loved her, even to this day. She was not called Mrs. Nichols in class, we always referred to her as “Aunt Birdie” be-cause, seemingly, we had somehow become a part of her family. We could tell that Aunt Birdie loved us as much as we loved her and we felt as though she cared about our well being as much as she cared about perfor-mances. Try as I may, there is no way to explain the extraordinary friendships built in her classroom. For two decades she provided a nurturing environment and an experience that her students would forever cherish. The lessons I learned from Birdie Nichols have carried me for over forty years and will never be forgotten

My encounter with Aunt Birdie in the sixties was a dream come true for a ninth grader who had waited two years to audition for a part in the prestigious Westinghouse High School Choir. I was already singing, and at that time, I was in a girl group with Anna and Robin, two high school friends. Anna, also a ninth grader, shared my keen interest in singing and she was as eager as I to try out for the Westinghouse High School Choir. It’s all we talked about; consequently, when the results were posted and it was learned that we both made it, you would have thought it was a nomination for a Grammy Award or some-thing equally as exciting.

That was the start of an experience that was so much more than just singing in a choir.

Mrs. Nichols wasn’t just a music teacher; she was sort of a John Wooden of choirs. Like Coach Wooden, she was an inspiration just to be around and managed to touch in a very positive way every facet of the lives passing through the institution known as Westinghouse High School Choir. Birdie was always a morale booster and her mother-like approach and never ending encouragement made us want to work harder to please her.

Plus, having Aunt Birdie’s approval allowed each and every one of us to hold our head high when we got it right. After all, we were a team and if one failed, we all failed. Aunt Birdie made us leave our egos at the door.

Just the knowledge that some of Mrs. Nichols prior students had gone on to Hollywood and on to Broadway stage was an inspiration in itself. We knew that in order to reach that level, we would have to always strive for best, good wasn’t going to cut it and Birdie never let us get by with good because she was always after best. Westinghouse High School has such acclaimed alumni as Billy Strayhorn, a jazz musician who recorded with Duke Ellington, Naomi Simms, one of the country’s first black supermodels and Chuck Cooper, one of the first black NBA players. With such a rich heritage one was proud to be a part of Birdie’s group.

The choir was a big deal on campus. We even had blue and gold sweaters (the school col-ors) with our name and WHSC emblazoned on the front. The choir sang before the Penn-sylvania State House of Representatives and for every school holiday event, which meant missing some of our other classes. Our foot-ball team “The Bulldogs” was on a winning streak and we felt such a sense of pride for our high school. This was in spite of having to survive abject poverty, broken homes and a multitude of other challenges that stalked the urban day.

One of the requirements for being a member of Birdie’s group was managing your grades. In fact, this was non-negotiable because our class was considered extra curricular like the basketball and football team. And if we want-ed to participate in extra curricular activities passing grades had to be maintained.

No matter what you were dealing with, once you entered Birdie Nichols class, you left it at the door. In her domain one could dream and aspire to be or become whatever one could imagine. To dream was a matter of survival, something to hold on to and a reason to work even harder.

In Birdie’s class, because of the encourage-ment received from both leaders and peers, there was always this aura of positivity and hope.

Respect, another non-negotiable rule, was also a requirement for membership and you best believe we followed it because being a part of the choir meant that much.

For those who were shy she had a way of making them comfortable and getting their best. She would smoothly maneuver one into the spotlight before one even knew what was happening. Being shy and an alto, Birdie

“Materialization Starts With A Dedicated Action and A Plan.”Birdie Nichols


Testimonials from Alumni

Cheryl Reed

Seeing Birdie Nichols with her former students, one would swear she was related to each one of them. She has always been more than just a music teacher, more than a choir director. Her genuine love for her students earned her the title “Aunt” Birdie. We believed in ourselves because she did. She told us we could sing any style of music, any language, any note. She communicated in subtle and often dramatic ways what she wanted us to do with any given note or phrase. Aunt Birdie knew instinctively how to pull the best out of all of us and that’s why her “kids” love her so much".

By, Cheryl Reed(former member of both Westing-house Choir and Glorious Rebirth)

Testimonials Continues on next page

This endeavor could not have been suc-cessful without My best friend Anna’s energetic support. She did all the leg work to locate contributors and to locate Aunt Birdie. Thank You Anna Anderson Hill.

Anna Anderson Hill

Amen Bernice. Birdie taught us the real meaning of singing. Birdie would come in on intermission and say to us, YOU ALL CALL THAT SINGING? Well that’s not singing. Singing comes from way down in your stomach and you must make it come up and out of your mouth. Don't be afraid to open your mouth. The sound cannot come out with your mouth half shut. Now get back out there and sing like you never sang before.

Deep in my heart there is a special place for Birdie and I would like to thank her from the bottom of my heart for teaching me how it’s so important to give a person a chance. When she gave me a chance to be a member of the Westinghouse High School Choir it made me one of the proudest students and my grades improved. When I entered Westinghouse Jr. High School (7th and 8th grade) and heard Birdie’s choir sing it sent chills down my spine and I ran home and told my mother how beautiful they sang and how I had to be in that choir. I began liking school better and better. The 9th year I went before Birdie to audition and I was shaking like a leaf and my 2nd soprano voice made Birdie smile and she said to me; I would be proud to have you as a member of the Westinghouse choir. My dream had come true, she had given me a chance. Always give a young person a chance in life to improve and to become better. She taught me the meaning of singing and gave me a chance to sing for the All City Choir of Pittsburgh and to form my own singing group The Soulful Soulettes. Thank You Birdie from the bottom of my heart.

would always encourage me to sing out. Open your mouth and sing, don’t be shy, its okay she would softly yet sternly say as she waved her conductor’s wand.

Birdie never embarrassed you or made you feel bad if you were out of tune. She had a great ear for pitch and always knew from whence the bad notes came.

Recently, with the help of my friend Anna, and after four decades, I was able to speak with Mrs. Nichols. Surprise of surprises she actually remembered me out of the thousands whose life she had touched.

When I told her about the article I planned to write in her honor, she was surprised and humbled. It was a touching conversation and brought back so many good memories. As we spoke, I could envision her classroom and how she would give us this really puzzled look during a performance if we were off key.

During our telephone call we had a short in-terview and I asked Birdie several questions:

SLM: Since retirement, do you miss work-ing with your group “Glorious Rebirth” and teaching in the classroom?

Birdie: Yes, to both questions. I miss work-ing with Glorious Rebirth very much. I started the group because I missed teaching in the classroom and I had gained so many wonderful friends through the years whose friendships and whose camaraderie I did not want to lose. Music was what we loved. I am still friends and keep in touch with mem-bers of the group.

SLM: What is the one thing you would want people to know and remember about you?

Birdie: I would want people to know and remember that I really loved my teaching career and my students. They were like my very own children and some of them still are, even today. Working with young people kept me enthused and kept me wanting to teach them as much as I possibly could. This was my dream and my passion.

SLM: What would you like to say to all of your alumni students that have passed through your life during the two decades of teaching at Westinghouse High School?

Birdie: As I have always told you, follow your dreams because that is where it starts. You have to always work hard to earn your place and not expect anyone else to bear your hard sweat and tears. For dreams to mate-rialize, you need to be prompt, respectful of your craft, and respectful of the people you encounter. Dedication is your drive, and most of all, love what you do. It has been a real

pleasure working with all of you.

After Birdie retired from teaching she started her own recording group and they recorded and traveled for ten years performing under the direction of Birdie Nichols. She did not have to look far for members; old alumni of Westinghouse High School’s choir were read-ily available and willing.

I told Birdie that if I had not been three thou-sand miles away I would loved to have been part of her group, The Glorious Rebirth. Her reply, I would love to have had you with us” brought tears to my eyes.

After all of these years, having this conversa-tion with my most memorable teacher was a touching moment. Even today, she has such a nurturing and calm voice that I just wanted to give her a great big hug and say thank you so very much for what you have given me through out the years. I want to continue to pay it forward by helping others to follow their dream. You don’t find many Aunt Bird-ie’s these days but that’s probably because we are not looking hard enough. I know they are out there we just don’t hear enough about them until they have passed on. The great ones are usually behind the scenes do-ing what on the surface seems mundane and trifling, but any in depth look at their life’s work will reveal the sheer magnitude of its importance to a well ordered society. Birdie Nichols is such a person and it was important for me to write this article and pay homage to a teacher that I have always admired and loved while she was still with us to hear it.

For your steadfast dedication to teaching, your unstinting dedication to your students and your unmatched dedication to community service, WE THANK YOU AUNT BIRDIE. Your exceptional and highly professional per-formance while a Westinghouse High School contributed directly to the later success of your students and to that institution’s highly favorable reputation.

It was an honor and a privilege spending a few of my teenage years under your instruc-tion and I can only hope to continue to pay it forward by helping to inspire others to follow Their Dream.

Most of all, simply put, thank you for truly caring. Not only are you a Teacher of Teachers’ but even after all of these years, a “Teacher Remembered.”


Gloria “Dolly” Jenkins

Thanks for including me in your article. Aunt Birdie is so special to all of us. She was always much more than a teacher, she was like a second mother and a good friend. If I had to name one thing I wanted to thank her for it would be how she taught us how to conduct ourselves as young ladies and inspired us to be better students. The choir has been an extended family for everyone that participated. She has been such an inspiration to so many people over the years and for that we are all thankful. We continue to be close friends Member of Westinghouse Concert Choir and Glo-rious Rebirth Performing Troupe.

Phillip Scott

I started working with Birdie in the Jr. High School Chorus and then went on to audition for the Westinghouse High School Choir. With the assistance of Birdie I entered The Center For The Musically Talented at Duquesne University of Pittsburgh, Pa. I am still good friends with Birdie. SLM: Birdie left us all with a Life Skill lesson to carry with us for life. What lesson do you carry with you? Phillip: Aunt Birdie left me with something she used to keep on the wall of the choir room. "There can be no defeat nor failure; except in no longer trying' This has kept me going through many obstacles even today. SLM: What would you like to say to Birdie Nich-ols here and now. Phillip: It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have been a student of yours in High School.

Member of Westinghouse Concert Choir and Glo-rious Rebirth Performing Troupe.

Aunt BirdieTestimonials Continued

Sharon “Lightfoot” Ford

I understand, you, Bernice, are giving our great Westinghouse High School choir director, Birdie Nichols a tribute. She is a wonderful woman that inspired all her students with a great appreciation of music. I am still good friends with Birdie. God bless you Birdie!

Member of Westinghouse Concert Choir and Glo-rious Rebirth Performing Troupe.

Smart Ways to Save

Who doesn’t like a good bargain? Coupons have long been a savvy bargain hunter’s go-to tool, and

today there are more ways than ever to take advantage of the savings they can bring.

Ninety-one percent of women use coupons to get a good deal, according to a national poll from SmartMagazine. And they’re gathering coupons from multiple sources: newspapers, email and snail mail, online, at stores and from mobile phones. There are plenty of deals to be had; you just have to know a few simple tricks to get them.

Here are some tips from the savings mavens at CheapSally.com for getting the biggest bang for your buck with coupons:

Finding Coupons

Save the inserts that come with •your local newspaper, especially the Sunday editions. Write the date on them and keep them in an expandable file folder.Bookmark websites that offer • online coupons, such as CheapSally.com. You’ll find printable coupons, e-coupons, promo codes and special deals for brands as well as retail stores.Keep your eyes open for in-store •coupons. You can find them in automatic dispensers along store shelves, on tear pads, and even on your store receipt. Some retailers print coupons along with your receipt. They’re called catalinas and can be used in the store on your next visit.

Some grocery stores have loyalty •programs that give you access to additional coupons, either online or, in a more recent trend, through e-coupons that you can load onto your rewards card. When you swipe the card, the coupons automatically get credited to your total.Check manufacturer’s websites for •coupons. You can also “Like” them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter to get even more savings. Consumer Reports recommends setting up a separate email account for couponing to help minimize spamming.

Smart Couponing Tips

Scour the newspaper ad circulars for •sales. Then match up your coupons to items on sale.Stacking coupons is a great way •to get a real steal. Look for sale items that you need. Then use a manufacturer’s coupon and a store coupon on top of it. If the store doubles the coupon’s value, that’s even more savings.Use coupons with “buy one, get one •free” offers. Using one coupon for each item saves you even more.If you find good deals on items •you’ll really use, then it can pay to stock up. But don’t fall into the trap of buying something just because it’s a bargain. If you won’t use it, you’ll be wasting money you can spend on something you actually need.

To get more great tips and savings, visit www.CheapSally.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty

Illustration courtesy of CheapSally.com

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To date, text4baby has sent more than five million English and Spanish text messages to more than 83,000 pregnant and new mothers.

According to text4baby enrollment numbers, 96 percent of participants would recom-mend the service to a friend. 67 percent of the enrollees are receiving information about pregnancy, while the remaining 33 percent are getting information about newborns.

“For those of us dedicated to health educa-tion, knowing that text4baby messages are reaching the women who are most in need of them is incredibly powerful and excit-ing,” said Judy Meehan, CEO of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. “Thanks to our partnership with CTIA-The Wireless Foundation and the mobile carriers, more than 5 million valuable health mes-sages have been put in the hands of thousands of pregnant women since our February 4 launch.” Text4baby is made possible through a public-private partnership that includes more than 350 organizations. The program’s founding partners include CTIA–The Wireless Founda-tion.

For more information, or to sign-up to receive the free text messages, visit www.text4baby.org.

As expectant and new moms know, having a baby is one of the most wonderful experiences, but it can also

be overwhelming. First-time mothers and veteran moms alike have questions about keeping their babies safe and healthy. They’re eager to learn about important areas such as nutrition, immunization, and safe sleep.

To address their questions and concerns, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) developed text4baby. This free mobile educational service promotes a healthy pregnancy and a healthy start in life for all babies.

With more than 1.3 trillion text messages sent and received in the U.S. in 2009, it makes sense to deliver vital health informa-tion through mobile technology. Currently in the United States, more than 500,000 babies - 1 in every 8 - are born prematurely. An estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday, a rate among the highest in the industrialized world. Premature infants come into the world with unique health needs that can mean lifelong challenges. Text4baby helps to address these issues by allowing timely and useful information to be distrib-uted to help give babies the best possible start in life.

While not everyone has access to the inter-net, 90 percent of Americans have a mobile phone. Text messaging is soaring in popular-ity and can be especially helpful in reaching first-time mothers in typically underserved populations.

How It Works By texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411, a woman will be signed up to receive three free text messages each week that are timed to her due date or baby’s date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, includ-ing birth defects prevention, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, oral health, and safe sleep. Text4baby text mes-sages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources.

Wireless carriers are waiving text messaging fees for the initiative, so enrollees opting in to receive text messages will incur no charges. Even users without a text messaging plan or limited texting per month will receive these messages for free.

Free Health Texts for New and Expectant Moms

What kids can do“Cyberbullying starts early and lasts a lifetime,” said Parry Aftab, founder and Executive Director of WiredSafety, home of StopCyberbullying.org and Wiredkids.org. “We have to teach our children good digital hygiene — about password safety and following the Internet Golden Rule — don’t do anything online that you wouldn’t do offline.”

Here are some other things kids can do to help prevent cyberbullying:

Protect your identity and reputation by being careful not to share your name, contact information, or pictures.

Realize that what is put in the digital world can stay there forever. Only post pictures that you would want your parents, peers and school to see.

Create secure passwords. Passwords should be easy to remember, hard to guess. If you have to write it down, it’s too hard to remember. If it’s a pet’s name, your middle name, your favorite sports team, etc., it’s too easy to guess. Remember, a combination of numbers and letters is always best.

Don’t share your passwords. Don’t allow kids to give out their password to others. Eighty-five percent of elementary school students and 70 per-cent of teens polled said they shared their password with at least one friend. That’s one friend too many. Friends can be cyberbullies too, sign ing onto your account, impersonating you and possibly embarrassing you. They can also change your password, locking you out of your account.

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Keep communicating with your child about what he or she is experiencing on the Internet and with technology in general. Know their lingo, and ask when you don’t understand some thing. Work to keep communication lines open.

Keep checking your child’s Internet activity. Know where they go online. Let them know that you will keep check ing because you want them to under stand that the Internet is a public forum and


online SAFETY

never truly private. Keep participating with your child’s

online activities. They are the experts, so you can ask them to help you. Not only will your knowledge of the digital world be strengthened — so will your relationship with your children.

“When we ask our kids what is going on at school they often reply ‘not much,’ but when we play online games with them, they start to talk about other things going on in their lives, too — it is a great way to ease into conversations that may other wise be difficult to get started,” said Mary Heston, director of the Wiredsafety’s Wiredmoms program.


Satori Magazine is a quarterly online and print publication intended for international distribu-tion. Satori Magazine’s coverage will include fashion, art, entertainment news, fitness, health, politics, national policy and human-interest stories.

To ensure consistent coverage of critical areas of wide spread interest Satori Magazine will be anchored by 6 permanent columns:

Opinion - Making Cents of It All -- By N. Ronimus will provide wide ranging coverage of national policy that directly affect your daily household budget.

Health and Fitness - By Diona Lynn Austin will provide factual information on health and fit-ness with the intent of promoting better health through fitness.

Features - A potpourri on entertaining articles featuring established and new works.

From The Editor - Insights from Bernice

Home Advisor - Will feature factual articles that run the gamut from how to make home repairs to how to care for a sick child.

Food – Sumptuous and delicious recipes for every season

Visit Satorimagazine.com regularly to keep ahead of the information game

Satori LifeStyle Magazine www.satorimagazine.com



Contributors Family Features Elle SwanAnesta Dawkins Jenny Harper Leslie J. BonciPhillip ScottDiona Lynn Austin Anna Anderson Hill Getty Images L’Bel Gloria ‘Dolly” JenkinsSharon FordBirdie NicholsArbor MistGladeKenneth K. AndersonIngrid HarperAdam GertlerCheryl ReedDreamstimeGiuliana RancicN. Ronimus

Satori LifeStyle Magazine is printed in the United States and distributed Inter-nationally. Satori LifeStyle Magazine is operated and published by Bernice Carter-McNeil Entertainment. No part of this magazine may be printed or repro-duced in any way without the permission of Bernice Carter-McNeil Entertainment. All rights reserved. Copyright 2010-2011.

Satori LifeStyle Magazine www.satorimagazine.com

Satori LifeStyle Maga-zine would like to thank all of our contributors for making Edition 3 the best yet!

Bernice Carter-McNeil

Satori LifeStyle Magazine

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