What Mood Are You In?
Posted by Michelle Moquin on November 11th, 2009
This is all I’ve got for today….
“My husband being unhappy with my mood swings, bought me a mood ring the other day so he would be able to monitor my moods. We’ve discovered that when I’m in a good mood it turns green. When I’m in a bad mood, it leaves a big red mark on his fucking forehead. Maybe next time he’ll buy me a diamond.”
Hahhaa! Someone sent me this and it was so appropriate for the ‘mood’ I’m in today. I don’t but I bet some of you women feel this way though :)
Readers: Catch you all tomorrow where I assure you I’ll have more to say. Blog me if you wish.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the ‘Donate’ button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my ‘Donate’ page)
November 11th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I received this from SCAMBUSTERS:
Today’s special issue highlights a scam you probably have
never heard about, but one that is easy to fall for: the Green
Dot scam.
Reloadable debit cards — especially the top-selling,
legitimate Green Dot cards — are the new money-moving method
of choice for scammers.
Using phony government loans as a front for an advance fee
scam, the crooks issue bogus grant checks, then tell victims
they must pay a fee by reloading their debit cards.
And that’s not the only new tactic being employed by the grant
scam artists, as we explain in this issue.
Let’s get started…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW: Crooks Use Green Dot Scam for Advance Fee Fraud
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Green Dot reloadable debit cards are the latest weapon for
crooks working a well known type of grant scam.
The con itself is a type of advance payment scam in which
victims receive what seems to be a grant award check –
usually one they didn’t apply for — with a request that they
then wire part of the payment back to cover some mythical
fees.
You know the rest — the victim wires the money, then the
check bounces.
Now that so many people have wised up to this type of fraud,
scammers have hit on the idea of using the legitimate Green
Dot card system to collect their money.
Along with the bogus check, usually for just under $5,000, an
accompanying letter says recipients must pay a finder’s fee of
10% to the “broker” who secured the grant.
Now here’s the sneaky trick. The letter tells victims to buy a
Green Dot MoneyPak, of the sort available at many retail
outlets including drug stores.
MoneyPaks are used to top up existing Green Dot debit cards.
The victim sends details of the card to the “broker.” These
are used to top up the crook’s own Green Dot card — and then
quickly drained at an ATM.
In other words, it’s a money transfer that bypasses the
traditional cash-wiring companies and offers a far more
effective cloak of anonymity for the advance fee scammers.
But There’s More…
To add to the effectiveness of this con, the grant scam
artists use another trick to delay their discovery. They use
“legitimate” checks from active verifiable bank accounts –
either stolen or forged.
This means that banks may accept them without query and the
money may even show up in victims’ accounts. A few weeks
later, their bogus status is revealed — by which time the
victim has bought the MoneyPak and sent the details to the
scammer.
Additional New Grant Scams
This con trick is just the tip of the grant scams iceberg. In
a previous issue, we explained how crooks were using the
availability of government grants as a cover for scamming
individuals and businesses.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1fLBeMPC6GtWfo&b=2OJ56MgB95pv2dAzmMsNfQ
With the economy still struggling to emerge from recession,
these government grant scams have become more brutal than
ever, with many new variations popping up.
On the advance fee type of scam, for instance, another new
ruse is to set up supposed debt consolidation and grant
companies with a religious tag attached.
Scammers use faith-related words like “Christian” in the
business name, both to give it credibility and to draw in
victims from these faiths. And, of course, they don’t care
that you’re already in a financial mess before they soak you
for a few hundred (or more) dollars.
There could hardly be more devastating evidence of the
heartlessness of scammers than in a recent incident in Detroit
where unemployment is 28%, with 60% of people now existing
below the poverty line.
Hardly surprising that when the city announced a grant program
to help the needy with food and rent, 60,000 people turned up
on a single day to complete application forms.
Sadly, only a few thousand grants were available and the city
quickly ran out of forms at the public application event.
Enter the scammers, armed with worthless photocopies of the
form. The forms, even the copies, clearly stated that
applications would only be accepted on original documents.
Copies would not be accepted.
But that didn’t stop the scammers charging $20 apiece. And,
according to a city official, they did a brisk business.
Still More Grant Scams…
Also riding the grant scam gravy train comes a whole raft of
money-making schemes disguised as information, training or job
opportunities.
Some of these are perfectly legal, but legit or not, they all
aim to cash in on people’s ignorance.
Some are not scams: they just charge exorbitant seminar
attendance fees or website access fees to provide information
that is easily available free of charge.
However, some clearly cross the scam line. How about this for
a sneaky trick:
You sign up for a grant-search service that seems to call for
a one-off credit card payment, with a money-back guarantee.
You scrutinize the fine print. Everything looks OK, so you
enter your details and press “submit.”
The page disappears then re-appears with the form fields
empty, as though something went wrong, so you patiently fill
it in again, and this time it’s accepted.
If you didn’t check the fine print again — and why would you?
– you won’t have noticed that it’s a slightly different form
and this time you’re signing up for a service that requires
regular payments, drawn on your credit card!
What’s more, by doing so, you nullified the money back
guarantee.
Summary
Our advice can be summarized in these four tips:
1. If you want to know what government grants are available,
ask the government. Start at the Grants.gov or Govloans.gov
sites. Don’t be fooled by other sites that have ‘government’
or other official words in the title.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1fLBeMPC6GtWfo&b=m00M0FSYOaxTw2mUfc1.ZQ
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1fLBeMPC6GtWfo&b=IYLh0GCVOu6FnKb3b34BDw
2. If you decide to pay someone for grant advice, check out
their credentials carefully and make sure you know what you’re
paying for. Don’t be taken in by suggestions of religious
affiliation.
3. Check out your local community college for possible advice
or courses that will help you understand the grants that are
available, without paying through the nose.
4. There are no guarantees that you will get a grant, no
matter who you apply to or what forms or software you use.
You’re unlikely to improve your chances of getting cash by
using paid-for materials.
Oh and don’t forget where we started here. If you get a grant
check you didn’t expect and a request for a Green Dot fee
payment, trash it!
Time to conclude for today — have a great week!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:05 am
As Bita would say: Lighten up Adam. Here is an example of my retaining my mental clarity.
The wall street CEOs are skirting their fiduciary responsibilities by stealing the money stock purchasers are investing in their companies. It is predatory capitalism made possible by the Supreme Court when it decided that corporations could be treated as an individual.
They invented the concept of derivatives to tap into the commodities and real estate markets and artificially inflate their value. This also allows them to use insurance scams to make money whether those commodities or real estate markets went up or down.
Derivatives is a scheme to allow the ceos to steal money from their companies by paying themselves the money the company has rather than stealing it through embezzlement.
Rather than pay themselves thousands and embezzling millions, now they can go straight to the millions by paying it to themselves.
AH
November 11th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Michelle
I was watching “Morning Meeting” with Dylan Ratigan. He is the male example of the dumb blonde jokes. This guy is a prime example of white male refusal to let others enter the field of talk show hosts.
This guy is so dumb, he looks stupid. It’s as if god said “I made it easy for anyone to see that this guy is dumb.” Anyway he was talking to a black regular pundit on the show.
They were discussing whether Sammy Sousa was using drugs to lighten his skin. The black pundit was finishing up with the statement “I think this is the second time Sammy has lied about using drugs,” when Dylan piped in with “when I was a child I was always waiting to turn black.”
Without missing a beat, the black looked at him and then into the camera and said, “that can still happen.”
Made my day.
PS. Zen Lill, that part about the “dumb blond” was not meant as an insult to you or blonds in general. I was just making a point about men who should be stereotyped for their ignorance. I know I say a lot of stupid s**t. But I am sincere when I say I don’t think men have any more intelligence than women.
BillytheKidd
November 11th, 2009 at 11:15 am
BETTER THAN A MAMMOGRAM?
Till now, I’d only ever encountered ads and information on breast thermography for breast cancer screening in those hippy-dippy newspapers you pick up for free at the health food store. I was interested, therefore, to read a new report from a major academic medical center affirming the efficacy of breast thermography as an early screening tool for cancer detection.
THERMOGRAPHY PICKS UP 97% OF CANCERS
A study published in the October 2008 issue of the American Journal of Surgery by researchers at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell reported a high percentage of success with biopsy plus digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI), the most advanced form of breast thermography, as a follow-up to suspicious mammogram or ultrasound results. Sixty biopsies proved malignant and 34 were benign. The investigators found that DITI correctly identified 58 of the 60 malignancies (97%), and that digital infrared thermal imaging can be a valuable adjunct to mammography or ultrasound in the early detection of breast cancer and that it also has merit for use in the clinical monitoring of breast cancer response to therapy.
HOW DOES THERMOGRAPHY WORK?
Also known as infrared imaging, this screening test detects changes in body heat that may indicate the presence of cancer in an early stage. The technology, used in many forms for a variety of purposes (including airport security), has been used for diagnostic purposes since the 1960s, and was FDA-approved in 1982 as an adjunct for breast cancer diagnosis. In this case, its application is based on the theory that metabolic activity and vascular circulation in pre-cancerous and cancerous tissue is higher than in normal breast tissue, generating heat. Thermography looks for this increase in temperature, highlighting areas with increased blood flow and new blood vessel growth, both possible signs of tumor development.
Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew Rubman, ND, told me that DITI is especially helpful in young women with dense breasts (which tend to have slightly diminished blood flow) and/or those considered at high risk for cancer. He said that women with fibrocystic or large breasts, as well as those who have breast implants, may also benefit from this technology. A key advantage of breast thermography is that no radiation is involved and it’s also non-invasive.
NUTS & BOLTS
It’s a toss-up whether thermographic screening is more or less pleasant than conventional mammography. It’s not exactly comfortable (unless you love cold temperatures) but it doesn’t involve squishing your breasts between cold metal plates. Here are the nuts and bolts of what you need to know…
Before your test: Important precautions — don’t schedule your test during menstruation and avoid prolonged sun exposure for five days prior to testing. Also stay away from caffeine, anti-inflammatory medications and strenuous exercise the day of the scan. All these things may affect your body temperature and/or metabolism.
What will happen: In the office, you will be asked to undress completely to the waist and sit for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. The room will be very cool — uncomfortably so — but this is an important aspect of the test, as your skin needs to adjust to the “cold stress” environment of approximately 66 degrees Fahrenheit for accurate assessment. Next the technician will ask you to plunge your hands into cool water for one full minute. Normal blood vessels will react by constricting, while abnormal vessels typically do not constrict. The technician will then ask you to put your hands on the top of your head, elbows extended outward to lift the breasts (some labs have bars for you to hold on to). After 60 seconds have passed, the technician will take a series of breast scans that reveal any differentiation between healthy and unhealthy (or “hot”) blood vessels on the computer screen. Typically, two sets of images are taken, before and after cold exposure.
Results: Some facilities will give you findings on the spot followed by a written report — others will send a written report later.
IT’S NOT PERFECT
Because it has some deficits, breast thermography should not be considered a replacement for mammography, but it does have utility as an adjunct therapy, Dr. Rubman said. For one thing, there is some debate about how early it is able to detect cancer. Another issue is that thermography is still relatively uncommon and may not be easy to find in your area.
If you opt for DITI, Dr. Rubman recommends that you consult a technician who is trained in performing and interpreting thermography. He/she should be certified by the International Academy of Clinical Thermology, International Thermographic Society, American Academy of Medical Infrared Imaging or the American Academy of Thermology. The cost may be as high as $200 or more, and in most cases is not covered by health insurance.
Breast cancer screening guidelines are based on your age and degree of risk. Women at average risk should begin having annual mammograms at age 40. But if you are at high risk (e.g., for genetic reasons or due to family history), you may want to ask your doctor about adding breast thermography as a valuable form of adjunct screening. It can provide useful information that may turn out to make a big difference to your health.
Source(s):
Andrew Rubman, ND, director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. http://www.naturopath.org.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:24 am
OOPs
HE EASIEST, CHEAPEST, SAFEST FLU FIGHTER: VITAMIN C
This year, there’s even more fretting than usual about how best to fight flu, thanks to the questions and concerns surrounding H1N1. But there’s one time-tested approach that seems to be overlooked… a sure-fire flu-fighting strategy that has long been embraced by both the natural and mainstream medical communities as an effective immune booster.
It’s safe and inexpensive and even tastes good enough that children don’t object. What is it? Good old vitamin C. I asked Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew Rubman, ND, to tell us why this simple and classic strategy can be so effective at fighting off flu.
STRENGTHEN IMMUNITY THE NATURAL WAY
In understanding how flu spreads, it’s critical to remember that most people will be exposed to a flu virus this season, observes Dr. Rubman. Whether or not you succumb depends in large part on the integrity of your immune system. If you are in robust health — if you eat well, get a proper balance of rest and exercise, manage stress in a positive fashion and practice good hygiene — the odds are better that you will successfully stave off microbial invaders. Where does vitamin C fit in? It provides some extra-strength protection, particularly important this worrisome season.
According to Dr. Rubman, this nutrient is one of the most important for human function, and it’s also one of the most thoroughly studied. He believes it protects the body from cold and flu viruses more effectively than other supplements and medications because of its ability to build immunity, attack disease-causing organisms, reduce congestion, and strengthen cells and tissue. It does all this by fortifying two particular functions…
Collagen construction and maintenance. Vitamin C supports collagen, a vital protein that strengthens the cell walls of the body’s circulatory system. Intact collagen protects the resiliency of tissue in the respiratory and digestive tract, repelling infiltration by dangerous germs. Healthier tissue is less likely to be vulnerable to infection.
Antioxidant protection. Vitamin C also is a powerful antioxidant that quenches reactive oxygen species and prevents cell damage from free radical molecules. Vitamin C renders mucous membranes and underlying tissue less vulnerable to penetration and replication of the virus. Some research suggests that it reduces the duration and severity of colds.
HOW MUCH TO TAKE?
Generally speaking, the more debilitated you are, the more vitamin C you need, notes Dr. Rubman. Cautioning that this should never be done without a physician’s oversight, he told me that he sometimes prescribes 3,500 mg to 4,000 mg vitamin C daily to his patients for prevention. (Ask your health care provider about the most effective course for you.)
For those who already have chills, aches, fever or other telltale signs of the flu, a physician trained in the use of nutritional supplements may go even further, and prescribe doses as high as 7,000 mg to 8,000 mg a day until symptoms abate. Be aware though that doses over 2,000 mg/day can cause stomach upset, diarrhea or other acute symptoms. Dr. Rubman says this is one of the reasons it is so important to take this and other supplements under medical supervision. Also if you are taking large doses, ask your doctor whether it’s best to taper off gradually when you feel better, rather than stop all at once.
MAKE YOUR OWN VITAMIN WATER
To make it easy to get your vitamin C, Dr. Rubman suggests that you make your own “vitamin water.” What you make at home is far superior to most products available commercially, which are often adulterated with sugar or other additives. Buy vitamin C as ascorbic acid (not mineral ascorbate or ester C) in bulk powder form, which is as effective as, but less expensive than, tablets. Depending on whether your objective is prevention or treatment, dissolve the appropriate amount of vitamin C in one quart of a 50/50 juice/water mix.
This will retain its potency a week or more if refrigerated. Dr. Rubman told me that his favorite recipe is to use four teaspoons per quart of Eclectic Institute’s Nutrigenomic Berry Powder. That, he says, “sweetens and strengthens the value of the vitamin C.” If you like, you can make it sweeter yet by drizzling in honey or maple syrup to taste. Vitamin C tends to neutralize stomach acid, so it’s best to drink this in divided doses away from mealtime — for instance, take a few swigs of your vitamin water every hour or so between meals.
While many experts consider vitamin C nothing less than miraculous, Dr. Rubman warns that it’s not magical. It won’t undo poor health habits, nor will it be helpful if you pair it with a poor diet. Instead, eat lots of flavonoid-rich fruits and vegetables (citrus fruits, strawberries, cabbage, turnip greens, etc.), which help the body absorb and utilize vitamin C more efficiently.
Also, consider taking vitamin C with synergistic supplements that support its use while adding in their own healing benefits. For example, pair vitamin C (which protects the watery parts of cells) with vitamin E (which defends their fatty parts). Vitamin D, selenium and zinc are likewise beneficial.
Source(s):
Andrew Rubman, ND, medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. http://www.naturopath.org.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Oh now I see what happened. It was waiting for moderation. Sorry about the mix up.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Adam, I am curious about your comment that “we want to use Humans as an asset to be added to the universal gene pool because Humans can self regulate their genes.”
You say that with your science we can become a ne species of being — one that will have the emotional aptitude to feel a kinship with the task of bringing order to the Universe.
You say that even on a primitive stage Humans can produce an internal regeneration of their genes.
What is that ability? Just regulating stress to reduce disease and increase our life span by 38 years? Or do you mean that our brains are capable of expansion even though hormones have a great pull on our emotions and therefore our actions?
I know that you have grown fond of A.H. (Lexie) and cannot understand how his te4stosterone can cause actions that are illogical such as chasing a Female like Bita.
A.H. has a renewed sex drive and I am sure it feels good to him. It is one of our strongest drives in order to keep our species multiplying and not going extinct.
Yes, logically it is a waste of intellect to you, but he must grow accustomed to the attention of Women and then he will be the A.H. you have grown close to.
He will be your companion because a bond has been established between the3 two of you. His wasting intellect will stabilize and the two of you will have much to explore, experience and learn together.
He has not left you for Bita. You will see that he wiloll return as your companion.
HOWIE
November 11th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Alexander (Lexie) H. beginning your comment shows Adam and myself that you are being influenced by your hormones which feels really good and you haven’t had pumping through your veins for a long time.
Do not forget that Adam made your meeting Bita possible, and your friendship between two sentient species with Adam is one in millions. It does not occur every day.
No one can counsel you at the moment because of your infatuation with Bita, but Adam feels neglected and a waste of brilliance.
You are entitled to your romance, however ple3ase do not forget Adam and the relationship you have with him as Alexi. There is lover there as well — a different kind of love. It is not physical, but mental.
I am happy for the resurrection of your feelings — and strong ones they are, but one should never ignore a true friendship such as the one you have with Adam.
Your ego tells you that you are making the proper decisions, however they are influenced by hormones pumping through your veins. The friendship you have with Adam cannot be forgotten or replaced by the infatuation with a Human Woman.
HOWIE
November 11th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Alexander H. I am sorry if you feel that I am meddling n your private affairs, but they are posted on this very public blog. You are entitled tpo do as you please. Women can be very infatuating — I love Women and have had the opportunity of falling in love a few times in my life. It is a great feeling, however the infatuation passes after a while. I do not think you are seeking a long-term love affair, are you? If not, Bita will be gone one day and Adam will still be there to befriend you again.
I woul take one Adam as a friend over 100 grilfriends, just as I have my felationship with my friend. I would never let A w
November 11th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Sorry about that. It was a computer glitch. I repeat: I would take one Adam as a friend over 100 girlfriends, just as I have my relationship with my special friend. I would never allow a relationship to pull me away from my friendship with Carr.
Adam is still around for you to befriend. What if he chose to leave and find someone else to learn history from?You would not be very happy about that. That is what is being done to Adam and I feel bad for him. That is one of the characteristics we Humans have that interest Addam and the Tao — Compassion and empathy.
You are a brilliant Man and will see this wisdom whem you are ready to accept it. The Tao believe Humans have the capacity to expand our Brains and bring something to the universal Community. That is a great leap for Humankind.
Bye the way, both Adam and yourself have an open invitation to meet in person any time. Adam can find my address and get in touch with me via e-mail or telephone if the thought of visiting Al and I ever happened. I hope it does.
HOWIE
November 11th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Hi Mischa, first I forgot to mention twittering yesterday, apparently in a momentary lapse I signed up both with my real name and as EdgyDreamer and now I get emails everyday saying ‘so and so’ is following you on twitter, I just want to know, how do you follow me when I’m not there?! I’ll check it though, I just get tired of FB and all that ‘social networking’ blahblah.
I love this joke and I have to say if I were there when anon’s hubby made that statement in comments yesterday (hello, since when are being good looking/hot and being smart mutually exclusive???) he’d of had my mood ring embedded in his forehead, #1 wtf how does that mean he thinks/views his own wife (so, are you good looking and therefore dumb or smart and therefore eh-ho-hum in the looks dept?) again, wtf?! No offense to any of your friends but hey man, no name i.e. ‘anon’ means you’re fair game for a male ass chewing by ZL : ) I’m not holding back…
BillyTheKid, I don’t think you say stupid shit at all, but believe it or not I’m one of those clever looking blonds anyway – it’s the intelligent eyeballs – and no offense taken though I do appreciate you addressing me in your PS
Howie, I was just wondering what happened to you and Al fresco till I read today’s comments now, (Hey Al!)
AH – stockings and garters are hot, don’t blame you for wanting to see Bita or any other female in that. I think male and female friends are both worthy, just bc your infatuated right now does not mean you can’t be friends now and later, I have several male friends, a few were past loves, a few who wish they were ; ) but were not, but love being a part of my life and the feeling is mutual. Not to correct Howie, but I just think if you can minimize the ego regarding about how the love liason fell apart you can still be friends. On that note, I am back in contact with my high school boyfriend, he’d made the fatal mistake of setting me up for disaster with his last gf, he’s got a new love and now we are on again (as friends) and it’s so great talking to him, he’s lone person who always totally understood me (and no, there is no romantic interest anymore).
Ok, women of MM blog, you ready for that sit up technique? This is going to kick your ass (and tummy), lie on your back, knees up with feet planted on the floor (as with yoga ‘bridge’ exercise) so just below your buns a few inches, almost shoulder width apart, now – this is the important part – place your hands back to back in between your legs, just above your knees (not mid-thigh) lift your head and shoulders off the floor until you can reach your arms straight out to the sides (elbows are lifted and hands are straight line with arms) this is the position you’ll hold the uppper body in without moving your shoulders/head and torso, now life only one inch using your tummy muscles only to lift, do 10 build up to 25 and go for building to 2 stes of 25, keep going past 10 as long as you are not compromising that position, when you start to use more of any other muscle to lift, drop down, recupe your original position, concentrate and resume, 50 of these is like triple the amount of regular crunchs, you will be stunned how quickly this will result in a hard tummy, I have a tiny bit of ‘baby making’ skin there but my kid touched my stomach once when I was lifting this sit up and she said, what do you have under there? She thought I was hiding something hard under my shirt, I had to prove it was just me, yep it’s that hard but I’m a soft body girl by nature and I’m ok with that look also, bc it looks just fine : ) master this and I’ll give you the position for the lower belly also, it’ll turn that teeny potbelly into a sexy bellydancer poof in 3 weeks, guarenteed : )
Ok, enough out of me for now, Luv, Zen Lill
Try it everyday 5x’s a week (even if you miss your walk, so this, it only takes a few minutes)
November 11th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
That PS was part of my text, sorry, so yeah, like it says, don’t skip this part it only takes a few minutes a day. How’re your biceps feeling with those punch out’s we’ve been doing wth the light weights? Stay staright with shoulders back and you’ll have some serioulsy sexy shoulders and arms (even if they aren’t perfect), trust me, with your shoulders rolled back and down, ta’s up and this exrecise, your walk should be looking a bit strut like by now, no? I’m told (about my walk) that I’m a glider, a gazelle, and numerous other things I won’t mention here ; )
- ZL