Fitness and Nutrition

[FlyingVProd]

A funny thing, I get free medical marijuana, and the marijuana that I have right now is so good that I write emails with entire words missing, instead of just having spelling errors I now write emails with whole words missing. But fuck it, it helps me to feel better right now.
 
I fully support medical marijuana, and I support medical marijuana being legal in California, and the feds need to back off on it. And I am friends with the local police chief, John, from Kiwanis International, and he fully supports medical marijuana.
 
Also of note, is that Steve McQueen and Robert Mitchum smoked marijuana, and they were amazing, so marijuana did not hurt their acting.
 
 
Salute,
 
Tony V.

[Lhoffman]

In Michigan we voted last year to make medical marijuana legal.   I don't remember for certain, but I think it went over pretty handily.  I supported it.   Seems like a good solution to help people in pain, and probably cheaper than many painkillers.   

[FlyingVProd]

I went to the cancer hospital today and the doctor discussed the test results with me, and she does not think that I have anything serious, she does not think that I have Leukemia or anything, but she wants to run more tests over the next 3 months just to make sure that I am okay, she wants a cat scan of my abdomen, and she wants more blood tests and stuff, and then I have an appointment with her in September to discuss the new test results. She told me not to worry, she thinks that I will be okay.

[Lhoffman]

Glad to hear there's nothing serious there, but I hope your doctor gets to the bottom of the problem soon.   

[FlyingVProd]

Thanks Mrs Hoffman. 

[FlyingVProd]

Colombian Pole Dancers Take Their Trade to the Streets! (VIDEO)

COLOMBIA - The initiative seeks to promote Miss Pole Dance Medellin, an event taking place July 2, and “Miss Pole Dance Colombia,” on July 30.

Organizer Alejandra Santamaria said that pole dancing is a sport that is trying its hardest to escape the erotic and raunchy connotations, and take force in the world of fitness.

“We wanted to promote what pole dancing means: a great dose of gymnastics, lots of technique and fun! This style of dancing has a great growth margin,” Santamaría told AOL Weird News.

Santamaría, her assistant Ingrid Tsai and many other dancers have taken their trade to the streets, dancing intertwined with traffic light posts, street signals and whatnot, to take the activity out of the strip clubs and roadhouses, and into the sports realm. “the hardest part of this street dance, is to find a structure of a good caliber” Tsai said “as well as the width and material of the structure.”

What do you think? Should it become a sport? Surely is a great way to keep a fit pair of legs, check out the video below!


Video Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mRFHLGhMjY&feature=player_embedded

And this is pretty cool...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFE6DdIBUj8&feature=related

[FlyingVProd]

All of the stores stopped selling my favorite shampoo and conditioner, and I am bummed out, I use Suave Aloe Vera shampoo and conditioner and it is awesome and it stops my hair from falling out, but the stores stopped selling it, and now my hair is falling out really bad. My Mother told me to buy Aloe Vera juice and mix it with my shampoo and conditioner, and I got to thinking that I could just manufacture and sell my own  line of hair care products, for the shampoo and conditioner I would add aloe vera and vitamin E and other anti-oxidants and maybe a little tea tree oil, I could make some kick ass shampoo and conditioner.
 
The first Rolls Royce that I ever drove as a valet/doorman was owned by a guy who sold his own line of hair care products, his sister married a rich guy and she bought him his own hair care product company, and he was very wealthy, and he owned a beautiful metallic blue Rolls Royce. So, there is money to be made from hair care products.
 
And I would just manufacture good stuff that I would want to use on my own hair, in part because I cannot find anything in the stores that I like for my hair and scalp, and so if I manufactured it I would have a good supply for my own hair.

I would add grape seed extract to the shampoo and conditioner as well, along with the aloe vera and vitamin E and other anti-oxidants and a little tea tree oil, it would be awesome stuff...

---
 
Grape Seed Extract and Hair Growth

Several recent studies have found a link between Grape Seed Extract and hair growth. The studies found that the OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins) found in grape seeds were able to inhibit the production of DHT which is the main culprit in hair loss. In addition, and more importantly, they found that the OPCs actually directly stimulated the hair follicles for healthy hair growth.

In recently published research, a group of Japanese researches examined 1000 different plant products to determine if any of them could influence hair growth. They determined that proanthocyanidins extracted from grape seeds promoted the proliferation of hair cells by 230%. They also determined that proanthocyanidins converted the telogen (non-growing) phase of hair growth into the anagen (growing) phase of hair growth. In this experiment, proanthocyanidins displayed hair-cycle-converting activity which was similar to that of minoxidil. "We are now investigating the possibility of the use of proanthocyanidins as agents for curing androgenic alopecia", said the researchers.


This is very exciting since we know that one of the effects of DHT is reducing the growing phase of the hair cycle:

Contrary to popular belief, hair thinning and baldness are not so much caused from the hair falling out. Afterall, everyone loses hair every single day. The problem is that DHT extends the telogen (non-growing) phase of the hair cycle. As a result, the growth cycle (anagen) is shorter and it cannot keep up with the loss of hair. Since much of the hair lost does not get replaced, noticeable hair thinning is the end result.

There are other studies that again have found that grape seeds can promote hair growth. Here is a brief summary of two of them:

In one of the studies, Japanese researchers shaved mice and found that 40 percent of their hair grew back naturally. But when they were given OPCs, between 70 and 80 percent of the hair grew back. The authors suggest that the PAC extract caused prevention of cell differentiation and retention of
the growing phase. These results indicate the possible use of OPCs in the treatment of baldness, but more extensive research is required in this area.

In another study using test tubes they were able to confirm that OPCs actually stimulate the hair keratinocytes to produce three times more hair than the controls.

To state the obvious, having the hair cells and follicles produce more hair and for longer periods of time is extremely important to prevent or reverse hair thinning and baldness.

So far, the research regarding grape seed and hair growth has been done in animals and in vitro. The results of those studies have been extremely promising. So much, that researchers now plan to begin human studies. In the meantime, many of those who have begun using Grape Seed Extract to improve their hair loss condition have had very satisfying results.

Since Grape Seed Extract has no side effects and provides many other health benefits, it is very easy to add it to your arsenal against hair loss. This supplement truly offers a win-win situation for anyone wanting to promote new hair growth. The recommended dosage for hair growth is 100mg. twice per day.

Additional Health Benefits
Grape Seed
Extract 

60 Caps
50mg. 
 
USD$24.99 

OPCs extracts have been scientifically studied and medically used in Europe since the 1950s. Scientifically documented, observed benefits include:

Enhanced capillary strength and vascular function, which helps the heart and decreases: PMS problems, bruising, edema from injury or trauma, varicose veins, leg swelling and retinopathy.

Enhanced immune resistance.

Increased peripheral circulation, improving vision.

Reduced adverse allergic and inflammatory responses.

Reduction in skin aging and loss of elasticity.
A study published this week offered more support for the heart benefits of the Grape Seed Extract. The study which will be presented in Maryland at the 14th International Inflammation Research Association Conference showed that the extract could reduce lipid oxidation and free radical damage of blood vessel cells by about 75 per cent.

Grape Seed Extract (GSE) and oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) clearly possess remarkable antioxidant properties. Their effects on reducing free radical damage and oxidative stress suggest that this is a valuable supplement for general health, anti-aging and now hair loss.

General Recommendations
The General recommended dose is 50-100mg daily.

It is recommended that smokers take 100mg, three times per day.

In addition, here are some condition-specific suggested doses:

Anti-Aging: 100mg daily
Cancer prevention: 100mg daily
Cataracts: 100mg daily
Eczema: 100mg, twice daily
Hair loss/thinning: 100mg, twice daily
Lupus: 100mg, twice daily
AMD: 100mg, twice daily
Psoriasis: 100mg, twice daily

http://www.add-hair.com/grapeseed_hair_growth.htm

------

I could make some awesome shampoo and conditioner that I would want to use on my own hair, and I could make a lot of money selling it to other people.

Salute,

Tony V.

[FlyingVProd]

High Hopes at Miracle-Gro in Medical Marijuana Field
 
By DANA MATTIOLI

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. has long sold weed killer. Now, it's hoping to help people grow killer weed.

 
Scott's Miracle-Gro is hoping to cash in on the growing medical marijuana business. WSJ's Dana Mattioli reports.

In an unlikely move for the head of a major company, Scotts Chief Executive Jim Hagedorn said he is exploring targeting medical marijuana as well as other niches to help boost sales at his lawn and garden company.

"I want to target the pot market," Mr. Hagedorn said in an interview. "There's no good reason we haven't."
 
Sales at Scotts rose 5% last year to $2.9 billion. But the Marysville, Ohio, company relies on sales at three key retailers—Home Depot Inc., Lowe's Cos. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.—for nearly two-thirds of its revenue. With consumers still cautious about spending, the retailers aren't building new stores as quickly as they used to, making growth for suppliers like Scotts harder to come by. Against that backdrop, Mr. Hagedorn has pushed his regional sales presidents to look for smaller pockets of growth, such as the marijuana market, that together could produce a noticeable bump in sales.

Sixteen states have legalized medical marijuana, the largest being California and Colorado. The market will reach $1.7 billion in sales this year, according to a report by See Change Strategy LLC, an information data services company.

While the report focuses on revenue from growers and dispensaries, Kris Lotlikar, president of See Change, said the market for companies selling hydroponic equipment and professional services is also thriving.

"We see very good growth for these types of companies as the medical-marijuana business grows," he said.

Altered States
Top US markets for medical marijuana, forecast 2011 sales

California: $1.3 billion
Colorado: $244 million
Michigan: $53 million
Montana: $44 million
Washington: $29 million
Source: See Change Strategy LLC

Marijuana use remains illegal under federal law, but federal raids on medical dispensaries have eased since President Obama took office. And while major public companies haven't openly targeted the market, in recent months medical-marijuana companies have sought money from venture capitalists and signaled future IPOs.

Centennial Seed Co., a Boulder, Colo., medical-cannabis seed seller, is seeking $500,000 through a private offering. General Cannabis Inc., whose stock trades on the Pink Sheets, supports the medical-marijuana market with financial and Internet services.

The 55-year-old Mr. Hagedorn isn't a typical suit-wearing CEO. A former F-16 fighter pilot, he flies his Cessna to and from meetings in Port Washington, N.Y., where he grew up, and the company's headquarters in Ohio, much to the chagrin of his board. He also peppers his language with swear words and military references, and he showed up at the office on a recent June day in jeans and sneakers.

Mr. Hagedorn took over Miracle-Gro from his father, who co-founded the company. The idea to merge with Scotts dawned on him after he looked at the company's market value in 1995, he said, so he called his father's tax lawyer to vet the idea. "I said, 'Bob, I got this f— crazy idea. Do you think it'd be f— possible to take over Scotts?'" he recalls, sitting in the Port Washington office that his father once occupied.


Mr. Hagedorn is serious about sales growth, no matter how small. On a recent trip to a Farmingdale, N.Y., Home Depot, he saw a customer having a difficult time choosing soil. "C'mon, go help him out," he told Mike Carbonara, Scotts' president for the Northeast. A few minutes later, the customer was walking away with a bag of Miracle-Gro. Over the next half hour, Mr. Carbonara influenced three more sales.

Targeting marijuana isn't the only way Mr. Hagedorn is pursuing growth outside the national chains. Scotts is also looking to sell more through grocery stores.

And the company is recultivating its ties to independent lawn-and-garden-store owners, including offering them exclusive products. Mr. Hagedorn strained those ties with a 2009 speech in which he criticized the owners for not doing enough to promote Scotts products, prompting many owners to walk out.

"I don't give speeches to independents anymore," he said.

To target marijuana growers, Scotts would likely buy niche dirt companies that already exist rather than create its own line of branded products.

Raids on pot-growing operations have turned up Scotts products. Mr. Hagedorn takes that as a good sign of brand awareness, but he fears that some growers would be reluctant to use a mainstream product.

Rollitup.org, a website geared toward the marijuana-growing community, has several forums that debate Miracle-Gro's effectiveness. A user with the moniker Weedqueen12 wrote: "i think [Miracle-Gro] works well." Another user, dannyboy602, countered that Miracle-Gro causes pot plants to "burn and stress."

In the past, Scotts wouldn't have considered pursuing businesses or product lines that generated less than $10 million a year in revenue. But, Mr. Hagedorn said, "We can't operate our business like that anymore."

Write to Dana Mattioli at dana.mattioli@wsj.com

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304665904576383832249741032.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird

[FlyingVProd]

I went to the library at UCI to use their computers for free when I did not have a computer, and while I was there I wrote down an idea for a test they could run. The test was to see if people who are color blind can see better in the dark than people who are not color blind. My rationale was that the eye contains cones and pistols, one detects color and one detects light, and color blind people have less of the one that detects color and therefore more of the one that detects light, and therefore color blind people can see better at night. I am color blind, and I can see great at night, I can drive a car with the headlights off at night, and I can see stuff at night that people who are not color blind cannot see. One implication of UCI doing an official test on it would be that right now the Army and other armed forces organizations in the USA will not accept people who are color blind, but if the Army knew that color blind people could see better at night then the Army could use the color blind people on teams that operated at night in the dark. I never found out if UCI did the scientific experiment to prove my hypotheses, but I noticed on the web that people are talking a little bit about color blind people being able to see better at night. Maybe eventually the Army will accept color blind people to work night operations, instead of banning color blind people as is currently the case.

And during the current economy, many color blind people are unemployed and many would like to have the option of joining the US Army and other armed forces organizations.

Salute,

Tony V.

[Lhoffman]

My brother served in the Navy, and he is color-blind.    This was 38 years ago, I suppose things may be different these days.

Your idea about color blindness and light is an interesting one.   Seems like something that would be easy to test on a large scale.

[barton2]

Please respect the NO SPAM in the terms of service.  Thanks.

[kam]

[kam]

http://www.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/the-last-breakfast.jpg

[kevo]

Air Alert! anyone tried this?

[FlyingVProd]

Here are some thoughts on being in tune...

When I was in a psychology class in college we did an exercise where we had to fill out a survey about ourselves, and then we had to have other people fill out the survey about us, and the goal was to see if how we viewed ourselves matched how other people viewed us, with the overall goal being to work to become more genuine and true and to make how we viewed ourselves congruent with how other people viewed us. It was a good exercise.
 
Sometimes we get out of tune within ourselves, especially if we are depressed, and develop low self esteem, and sometimes we feel horrible about ourselves, while other people love us and think that we are great, and in that case we need to work to feel better about ourselves to match how others view us.
 
Sometimes we feel great about ourselves, while others do not feel great about us, and in that case we need to work on ways of conveying better to other people who we genuinely are, we need to make our actions in tune with who we genuinely are, we need to say and do things that are true to who we genuinely are, and we need to get the way that people view us to match the way that we view ourselves.
 
In order for us to be truly happy, we need to have our thoughts, feelings, and behavior, congruent, otherwise we develop cognitive dissonance, and when we are in tune the way that we view ourselves will match the way that others view us. If people do not view you the same way that you view yourself then you are out of tune, and it is an indicator that your thoughts, feelings, and behavior, are not congruent, and by working to fix that you can get in tune, and you will be happier, and you will have a better life.
 
 
Salute,
 
Tony V.