companies

You are currently browsing the archive for the companies category.

Dreamclue.com Logo

We are all a product of a dream, whether realized or otherwise, they are among the most powerful mechanisms in our lives that help guide us, give us new ideas and play around with alternative realities!

Why develop Dreamclue.com?

Well, I originally began on this project a little over a year ago now after realizing that there was a huge amount of knowledge we are all acquiring but forgetting nightly! I wanted to create a system that not only makes sense of our dreams but more importantly, allows us to record them for prosperity. Our dreams are also a visual medium, so the site had to be chalk full of imagery to help guide you through the exploration of the dreamworld. The results? Well, launching with over two thousand dream symbols written by yours truly and a quarter of the entries with photographs also taken by me, I have big expectations for this site!

How does Dreamclue.com work?

Dreams are our own business, so it has to be built anonymously, as such, like myfoodcount.com before it, the system has no clue who you are and it’s drop dead easy interface for adding and learning about the dreamworld only helps to make the exploration that much easier!

Other cool Dreamclue.com features

The site features both text and image based navigation, in addition to interesting statistics not only about your very own dreams but all the dreams on the site as well. You can also read other peoples dreams (they are rendered anonymous by our system) and even comment on any interpretation on the site!

What’s next?

A lot, will let all our visitors know when the time is right ;-)
The Bottom Line

Passion is a dangerous thing as it can only bread more passion!

Scientology Review

Scientology ReviewWhat I find interesting with most religions is how they seem to really dislike one another under their facade of acceptance while they compete for our “poor” souls. Each religion out there has the tenant that they are the only TRUE religion so anybody professing anything different is seen as a competitor in this life or the next. What I find equally of interest is that they try to discount each-others beliefs while re-enforcing their own. Scientology is no different in that they are attacked regularly by Catholics and Muslims as being an evil cult which to me sounds no different then a kettle calling a pot black. I fail to see ANY difference between Scientology and other world faiths out there.

Disclaimer

My postings about religion are simply my exploration of this concept within humanity, I am not judging nor bashing of others rights to believe in whatever they wish to believe. I welcome anybody wishing to discuss this with me on my blog, I am open minded enough to explore anything but have no desire to be directed how I should live my life (ei: don’t expect me to convert to your way of thinking). I am sure this is full of inaccuracies, feel free to point them out. My goal in life is to understand others mechanisms regarding what makes them function.

Comparison (however flawed) with other religions

Scientology, unlike other faiths is rather new on the scene, there are actual video and audio recordings from the founder, L. Ron Hubbard himself. They preach acceptance, conditioning and conversion just like, ironically, the other world religions. Where they differ most greatly is that you don’t pray to an all-knowing creator (God) but actually take courses in how to improve yourself beyond ethical reproachment. Instead of intense worship, you focus on intense study. There is no heaven or hell, there aren’t millions of death under their belt in their religions name and there most notably, have a rather more interesting story as to human existence then any other religion complete with aliens and galactic wars. Cult? Nope, it’s just re-incarnation 2.0!

Scientology - The Shrinking World of L. Ron Hubbard (1967) - Part 1

  • Scientology means “study of knowingness”, it’s a faith or religion that calls itself a science
  • Scientologists study for hours daily, listening to tapes and are tested regularly to make sure all materials are clearly understood and followed to the letter
  • Scientologist use an e-meter, which is essentially a lie detector to audit people at confessionals for any type of emotion
  • Scientology has a record keeping system that would make even the ancient Romans envious, everything written down and kept for further analysis
  • Scientology is about profit, just like most other religions, at least they are honest about their intentions
  • to become a “clear”, you must be able to answer 60 questions in L. Ron Hubbard’s own handwriting without showing an ounce of emotion on an e-meter
  • ”suppressives” or people who dis Scientology are, in Lr. Ron Hubbard’s own words “Fair game. May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of Scientologists. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed”.
  • R2-45 is the mechanism by which people actively bashing Scientology are persecuted and investigated in order to ruin them
  • L. Ron Hubbard comes through as a rather intelligent and charismatic leader
  • I like how L. Ron Hubbard clarifies that he has no problem with people who are critical of him but of those who actively try to suppress the rights of others to practice what they want deserve what they get

Scientology - The Shrinking World of L. Ron Hubbard (1967) - Part 2

  • L. Ron Hubbard states that he had only two wives in his life but the record states that he had three, what I find interesting about this is… who cares? I fail to see how many wives, children or other details about a person have anything to do with leadership
  • L. Ron Hubbard spends a lot of time researching past civilizations, he believes he has lived before during many lives, memories exist within everybody from prior lives
  • people sign up in servitude to L. Ron Hubbard for a billion years as part of their training
  • -L. Ron Hubbard says that Scientology is a science, not a faith nor belief
  • L. Ron Hubbard’s quote stating “the one man in the world who never believes he’s a mad is a madman” couldn’t be any truer

BBC Panorama - Scientology & Me (Part 1 of 3)

  • Scientology is gaining acceptance around the world and is trying to become classified as a religion through various movements
  • use of a disconnect is used to break all links with individuals, including family members who try to get in the way of the religious growth of Scientologists
  • the concentration of this documentary is on making Scientology look like an evil cult, I completely see how Jon Sweeney has slanted his reports already
  • Scientology is the study of life and knowledge
  • e-meter was designed by L. Ron Hubbard himself

BBC Panorama - Scientology & Me (Part 2 of 3)

  • using the word “cult” is heavily frowned upon, they state they are a religion which I don’t understand because their Founder, L. Ron Hubbard stated emphatically that they are not a religion but a science
  • Scientology sends in their volunteers after major disasters to help using “touch assists” which is a healing method using hands and touch sort of like a massage but much lighter
  • Scientology runs an anti-drug program called “Narconon” using exercise and vitamin supplementation to help people kick their habits
  • courses don’t equate worship in British law, hence why it’s acceptance as a religion is stalled
  • it becomes quickly evident that Jon Sweeney isn’t very popular with the Scientology

BBC Panorama - Scientology & Me (Part 3 of 3)

  • many stars speak highly of the religion
  • I find Scientologist rather confrontational regarding Jon Sweeney’s interview, they seem to follow him everywhere, trying to break him down mentally but I also understand where they are coming from, how you would feel if you where Catholic or Muslim and constantly referred to as being part of a cult?
  • psychiatry is a pseudo-science according to Scientologists, a view that I actually have come to fully agree with though they take things a little further then I would have
  • they completely succeeded in driving Jon Sweeney nuts, if all for a few moments, they achieved their goal in my opinion as a result, discrediting his journalistic indifference
  • Scientology takes it’s religion extremely seriously, just like other world faiths

Brainwashing 101

If something works, it’s adopted by others and religion is no different then other types of marketing. They all seem to follow the same principles as those used in brainwashing 101 courses. These are the same techniques used by marketers who tell us you must buy a diamond for marriage, buy new cloths every season and that debts are no big deal in the pursuit of happiness (capitalism). I consider any type of activity whose sole purpose is to change the thinking of another person to be considered brainwashing.

Repetition!

First, begin with repetitive repetition on a continual basis to re-enforce a certain method of thinking. When I saw the video of this, I instantly thought of Madrasas or Sunday Schools the dot this planet.

Servitude

If you are Christian, you must give your soul to God “for eternity”, I believe it’s the same for other faiths but in Scientology, they only keep your soul under servitude for a billion years. I think this is progress… a billion years doesn’t seem so long when compared to eternity!

Sacrifice

Surrounding yourself by like minded individuals and “blocking out” those who don’t share your beliefs and the donation of energy whether in time, money or deeds to the religious organization. Evangelists have tiding where you give a portion of your income to the church, Catholics have the basket they put through the pews and other religions a mix of the two. If you want to be “part of us”, you must prove it in actions as well or words. At least Scientology is straight forward and very clear regarding these expectations with ladders related to donations.

Overly-friendliness: Community of the like minded

I grew up Roman Catholic and I see the same thing among other faiths, this overly-friendliness towards the like minded and possible conversionable. I visited a “born again” Evangelist complex a few years ago and that is when it really struck me… it isn’t just “hi”, it’s the big handshakes, hugs and even kisses. Why does this exist? Well, simply to re-enforce that you have entered a safe place, you have friends. Some people like hugging complete strangers, as for me, handshakes are about as far as I will take things.

Confessionals

Scientologists use e-meters, Catholics the confessional and I am sure there is an equivalent in other religion but what is it’s true purpose? No matter how the religious autocracy wish to characterize it, these are a brilliant method of control in two fundamental ways. First, they help break down the mental barriers which may, at a later period of time, create doubt in the mind and secondly, it keeps people in line. If you told your priest that you did xyz they say, “your sins are now forgiven” what has actually happened? NOTHING but a bonding event at the subconscious level! You told somebody else your deepest secrets which gives you some relief but also helps to keep you in line at a subconscious level.

Humans = EVIL

Humans are all evil, worthless and lost without GOD or some other entity, Scientologists don’t revert to these words, instead, they focus on purity of the mind. Religion is basically the pursuit of perfection, something that cannot EVER be achieved no matter how much training or lives a person spends on this endeavor. Religions all describe humans as being fundamentally flawed and only religious dogma is the way to go to achieve a higher level of being in this life or the next. I find this incredibly interesting as there are far more Catholics, Muslims and other religious persons in prisons and committing crimes out there then Athiests yet, regardless of religion, Athiests are seen as the absolute lowest of the low. It seems that people who believe in themselves, for themselves are so off kilter in not seeing supreme guidance that we are vilified just under the surface of acceptance.

Profit

Scientology is an expensive religion, you have to pay for courses to constantly improve yourself, the books, tapes etc all add up to a pretty penny. Before you bash this, consider that the Pope lives in his own city of incredible splendor just like Evangelists live in their multi-million dollar homes. What’s the difference? None. Religion is truly the most profitable enterprise out there, many governments even allow tax deductions for “donations” to religious organizations.

Death to critics!

This bears repeating, in L. Ron Hubbard’s own words “Fair game. May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of Scientologists. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed”. Sounds harsh? I don’t think so, considering Catholics wish you to spend eternity in hell under the most inhumane conditions while fundamentalists believe you deserve a beheading for speaking badly about their beliefs. Considering this, Scientology is rather generous to it’s critics as it doesn’t involve death! Christians has their crusades and I am sure Muslims had their equivalents in history, so far, not a hint of this from Scientology. Again, I believe this is progress as far as religions go.

Gays are ok!

Unlike Catholics and many other major religions, Scientology doesn’t seem to discriminate against sexual orientation. If you are gay, you are welcomed with open arms. Again, this is welcome progress in the world of religion.

Charisma of the Leader

After watching quite a bit of video, no matter what you believe about Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard is a rather charismatic leader, I am sure this was as true about Jesus in his time as with other prophets from other religions. He comes across as rather sincere, he obviously believes his way of thinking is the “purest” and wants to expand this organization to touch the hearts of minds of others around the world. Ironically, this is the same mission and method used by other religions around the world.

Is Scientology a Cult or a Religion

If others wish you ill harm on others, then I would consider this a cult but if they simply wish to be left alone to work on themselves while bettering the lives of those around them, who is to judge or make this distinction? As for me, I don’t see them as a cult anymore then other religions out there. They have their beliefs, I have mine… as long as they don’t infringe on my rights, I couldn’t care less about what their followers are doing behind closed doors. What I do find fascinating about the evolution of Scientology is that it gives you a glimpse of how religions form and grow in both influence and power in our world over time. They are the new kid on the block, learning along the way what should and shouldn’t be adopted.

Is Scientology for me?

Although I find their stories far more interesting then those of other prophetic books, I still cannot fathom giving up my inner power, no matter how slight, to another organization, no matter how it’s characterized by preachers and sinners alike. I do agree with some of their teachings and even some of their views but not enough to feel any deep passion to join them. Their equivalent to the Koran or Bible called Dianetics is on my “to-read” list though but unlike these two other books, I can’t find a free copy of this one.

The Bottom Line

Religion is no different then cough medicine, it makes the symptoms of thinking about our collectively mortality go away without solving the underlying problem that we all die eventually.

Buzvia: Church of Scientology Official Web Site, Wikipedia

buzvia - Share Influence logo I have many passions in life one of which is to allow others to freely share the influenced they have earned online with others. Life is just like the web but unlike life, you can now share your influence with complete strangers… Karma at its best!

Why develop buzvia?

Well, I have had this concept in my mind for a very long time, I believe that humans are at their best when they freely share information and knowledge with one another, just like the original spirit of the web. What has changed over the past decade on the web? Well, walled gardens, people FEAR giving links to sites other then their own because they don’t want to loose traffic. I wanted to change this with a simple and straight forward system.

How does buzvia work?

Each link on the internet has a source page and referral page, what buzvia does is act like a middleman which tracks both source and referrals by simply adding http://buzvia.com/#url#… it couldn’t be any simpler! The information is captured and stats are collected by all those involved. The beauty of this system is two fold, you don’t need an account to participate and everybody knows how to make external links.

Other cool buzvia features

I have a lot of knowledge about the web, as such, I have also launched a blog to highlight trends, experiences and sites in order to help other with their SEO, SEM and whatever other acronym you can imagine. I also look forward to writing about the companies that decide, in all their great wisdom, to join the buzvia revolution and see how much they can truly benefit by breaking down their walled gardens and embracing change.

What’s next?

Ah well, that’s the million dollar questions isn’t it, don’t worry, if things go to plan, I will have something truly special to announce in about two months or three depending on how development goes. It won’t be LegendaryLife, that is still deep in production mode but it will be something I believe equally exciting for a particular demographic of our society ;-) I am very happy with how WoodMarvels.com is coming along and am looking forward with great glee to see how this year works out for professionally and personally. Life is amazing when your having fun and everyday is like a vacation! I wouldn’t want it any other way.

The Bottom Line

Passion is a dangerous thing as it can only bread more passion!

Visit buzvia at http://buzvia.com

Bob Parsons, Founder of GoDaddyThe founder of GoDaddy has had tremendous success online as a domain registrar, he risked everything he earned from the sale of his company Parsons Technology, turning his 64 million dollar buyout to what will soon be a billion dollar company. Without further ado, here is his top 10 keys (suggestions) for success in 2008.

10: Never listen to advertising experts

The reason for GoDaddy’s success is doing everything that it was told not to do by agencies, the more people say you shouldn’t do something, the more you should do it. People generally fear change, they don’t want to make waves so becoming an agent of change is the only way to get any type of attention no matter your field.

9: Surround yourself with beautiful, intelligent and successful women

Half of the world’s population is female yet if you attend enough board meetings, you will quickly realize that these statistics don’t hold true in the executive world (sadly). I would easily argue that women are our smarter half and a company without at least 50% of the top management that isn’t one is missing out on huge opportunities.

8: Take care of your employees and give to charity

Employees leave a company because of stress but if you provide a good working environment that is fun, challenging and rewarding, even at lower pay then a competitor, they will stay with you. Charity is also always a great thing, once you can afford to do so.

7: It’s never too late to get a motorcycle but always wear your safety gear

I got my motorcycle license a few years back, the freedom that you experience driving on the road is tremendous, cars are so boxed that I got to the point where I actually hated being inside of one. Driving a motorcycle gives you instant feedback about the environment, the flexibility to move on a dime and just pure pleasure of the open road… something lost in cars and trucks.

6: Earn a Ph.D. in International Relations so you can become the head of ICANN

A degree is only worth as much as you do with it, ICANN is just about the most useless organization out there, they are experts at conducting meetings in exotic locations that produce absolutely nothing. Each time somebody registers a domain, they send a few cents to these guys who wine and dine on our efforts and provide anything but leadership or vision for the online industry.

5: Figure out what “Brad” does in GoDaddy

An inside joke but if you have an employee or somebody who really serves no value to your company, no matter your affiliation, time to let them go unless you can afford to do otherwise. Same goes with software and hardware, if it doesn’t have a use, then there is no purpose in supporting it any longer.

4: Figure out what “Yahoo” actually does

Yahoo use to be known as a search engine, now it’s morphed into a huge conglomerate but unlike General Electric, they are experts at buying up overpriced companies then shutting them down. They lack a vision, purpose and to be quite frank, are headed for the same fate as AOL… oblivion.

3: Let the devil within you come out every once in a while

Living life on the straight and narrow is nice but it’s good to get out of your shell or comfort zone every once in a while. When was the last time you did something crazy? If you can’t remember, time to do it again.

2: Never, ever, buy a Zune

Hmmm… let me see, Microsoft is an expert at creating loss leaders, they have the Xbox franchise which looses money hand over fist, more software packages then I can count which do little but offer pale imitations of other software products and are sitting on a huge pile of cash. Microsoft has their operating system (XP) that is their backbone and Office, otherwise, everything else has been a dismal failure… why? Well, they got too much money and I think they fear loosing it, so instead of making waves inside of new industries, they are stuck taking cautious approaches towards everything… which leads to mediocrity. If you aren’t in an industry to shake it up, don’t go into it… the Zune (so far) is no different. Let me put this another way, if you own stock in Microsoft, how much has it grown over the past few years compared to a company that does take chances such as Google?

1: Be Godaddy’est in everything you do

The definition of Godaddy’est is simply the ability to live on the fine edge between decency and absurdity. It’s a fine line between being labeled a mad man vs a crazy man, if you live your life on that edge, sometimes you get burned but more often then not, you will progress faster. Take chances, take risks and more importantly, enjoy the trip while it lasts.

The Bottom Line

Follow your gut, more often then not, it will prove right.

Buzvia: GoDaddyGoDaddy Radio, Bob Parsons Personal Site, ZipitLive: GoDaddy Reseller

Sir Richard Branson's Keys for SuccessOver the years, I have studied the Branson way of “Virgin” business and here is the top 10 list that he, so far, has never released as to why he has become such a successful entrepreneur.

10. Keep things small

Keep the size of the companies small, his average is about 60 employees per company, if they get too big, break them up into smaller pieces. This does a number of things, first, it keeps the company nimble and still personalized as everybody knows everybody else on a first hand basis. Secondly, it keeps things manageable, if there is a problem, the risks are minimal for the entire “Virgin Group” both financially and in reputability. Like Sir Richard Branson says, he always pays off the debts of defunct Virgin companies should things go bust which is difficult if you have one huge company with billions in receivership and tens of thousands made redundant.

9. Be ethical

Don’t participate in underhanded business activities such as kickbacks, bribes and sabotage. As a businessperson, the only thing you have to stand on is your business ethics and reputation, once this is tarnished, it’s an uphill battle to regain it. People tend to remember the dramatic and negative about people even if they represent but a small portion of a positive image.

8. Give others a vested interest

Sir Richard Branson has a unique method of building up his conglomerate of companies, he creates partnerships on usually a 50/50 basis. As such, each party has a direct interest in success of the new Virgin brand. This works in several ways for the entrepreneur who wishes to buy into this type of arrangement. Firstly, Virgin has a lot of companies so you may instantly have a customer with another part of the conglomerate, for instance, the in-flight entertainment for Virgin Atlantic may also be used for Virgin Trains. Secondly, Virgin has huge cash reserve, so getting additional funding (seeking it from Angels, Vcs and banks) is far easier when you can say “Oh, by the way, you do know Virgin is a partner in this company right?” ;-) Lastly, people work harder when they have a direct vested interest in something, an employee will work 40 hours a week but the founder behind the company has no problem pulling in twice those hours off the clock. This internal motivation usually makes the difference between boom or bust.

7. Follow your gut

Businesses must evolve to stay competitive, if you have a gut feeling to do something that doesn’t show up in the numbers yet, well, DO IT! Nobody knows a company like the founder or executive committee that was there since it all began, competitors, segways and even the market demands are in a constant state of flux. If you want to run a company strictly by the numbers, become an accountant, otherwise, follow your gut more often then not, it will prove right.

6. “Sue the Bastards” - Sir Richard Branson

If somebody is being unfair, tainting your image and reputation or simply not paying their bills after multiple tries to solve a problem, sue them. A friend told me once that there is business and there is personal, you may be great friends with a person who may be one of your suppliers or providers but don’t let that get in the way of running your business. If somebody isn’t treating you right, solve it before things get worse, and yes, they will get worse. I have taken my fair share of people to court, I think it’s a great way towards dispute resolution.

5. Mistakes aren’t a BIG deal

No matter what type of business, there will be some mistakes made, you simply cannot afford to go through the world of business walking on egg shells. No matter the size of the mistake or who it affects, admit to it and move on. Trying to push a mistake under the rug will simply allow it to grow into a bigger problem and eventually, it may get legs of it’s own. I liken the role of an entrepreneur to that of a fireman, you spend your day putting out fires before they become unmanageable, whether this is kicking the sales force back into shape or making sure internal politics don’t get out of hand.

4. Think long term

If you are starting a business with a quick payout then you should stick to your job at McDonald’s flipping burgers. Businesses need to be run for the long term, this is the only way you can attract investment and maintain your sanity through the years. Decisions are a lot easier to make when you can envision their effect a few years down the road then how they will immediately impact your bottom line. Todays investment will result in tomorrows revenue.

3. Don’t cash-out!

Your company just made a huge profit this year, what do you do? No… don’t go on a vacation splurging all this away, look at areas in your company that would benefit from additional investment or even better, consider acquisitions or new areas you wish to create change into. The bottom line is that profits are great mechanisms to further boost future influence, don’t take this cash out and waste it! This is a gift to be taken seriously and shared, not to be squandered at the casino ;-)

2. Customers come first

Let’s face it, a business without customers is a dead business. It’s tough to get new customers and even tougher to get repeated business from them, always appreciate them! There is something very wrong when a company begins to take it’s customer base for granted and begins exploiting them. I have seen this time and again, most of the time, the company goes under once all these under-handed activities either become known or the staff themselves get tired of becoming the customers punching bag. Let me repeat, if you want a successful business, you must appreciate each and every customer who ultimately buys into your idea. EVERY ONE!

1. Have Fun!

Life is about having fun, and business shouldn’t be any different, if you don’t enjoy your position in life, change it before it changes you. We are all very lucky to be given the gift of life by our parents, we need to show that appreciation by learning and exploring the world around us. You run a business, great! This is a tool to give you more freedom then the average worker, but be sure to get as much learnings out of it as you possibly can.

The Bottom Line

There is much we can all learn from Sir Richard Branson, hopefully this glimpse into his keys of management opens the doors of possibility for you.

Traffic JamAs vehicles continue to evolve in the marketplace with airbags and other passive technology to keep everybody safe during a journey, Nissan has decided to launch yet another revolutionary technology aimed squarely at the driver. Using various active and passive sensors around the driver, their new cars will gage whether a person is fit to drive at all! Yes, one day in the very near future, the car you bought might refuse to allow you to drive it because it thinks your sick!

Why is this a good thing?

Well, if somebody is sick or just plain drunk, they shouldn’t be allowed to join the road with the equivalent of a thousand pound missile. Accidents are part of life but this technology (and others like it) will make the road safer for all of us. We have regulators in cars to prevent them from going at excess speeds, we have collision avoidance systems and anti-lock breaks which all make an impact on road deaths… I think the more of these things we have the better.

Who will not like these safety systems?

Well, I can already see the discrimination lawsuits getting ready to take flight. You see, for a 20 year old male, these systems are no problem but for a 90 year old female driver, no matter how much in good shape she is, these systems will certainly lead to the end of their driving career. When a car can decide on it’s own if you are physically and mentally ready to join the road, then those with disabilities or other problems will be relegated to taking the bus or rides with friends. This is not a bad thing, I think the greater good is safe drivers and a machine is about as unbiased a mechanism to decide this… but I am sure the senior and disabilities associations will have problems with the growing control we give to technology to decide our ability to handle them.

The Bottom Line

Safety is as much a communal responsibility as an individual one.

Buzzvia
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6929931.stm

Promoting products that perpetuate myths are scams in my bookI wish I got a dollar for every new product that was released on the marketplace that was a scam because I would be a millionaire many times over by now. The latest fad out there hitting UK streets is called Serum No. 7, great marketing name but a scam no less.

Anti-Aging is an oxymoron

From the second you are conceived, you are on a one way trip towards aging. You cannot go back, the only time you are allowed to stop is when you die. The good news about aging is you can slow it down by proper exercise, diet and nutrition along with good habits that you must stick to throughout life. Aging is a compound element you see, it builds up, day after day, week after week and decade after decade. You don’t age all of a sudden, you age gradually. This is why any product that promotes itself as anti-aging should raise a red flag in your head.

I do believe anti-aging is possible but only through genetic DNA modification and re-sequencing which is sadly centuries away (if ever). In the meantime, save your money and send it to African to give a kid a chance.

What is Serum No. 7?

Developed by Stewart Long, distributed by Boots, Protect and Perfect (Serum No. 7) has slowly grown into a large scale phenomenon sweeping the country and sadly, now hitting North America. It promises to make you visibly younger =looking= in about four weeks. The key ingredients are Retinol which promotes skin cell activity and Tretinoin which is a powerful skin resurfacer. You already get plenty of Retinol by the way if you eat meat and is a known antioxidant vitamin with Tretinoin only available by prescription in most countries.

Why is Serum No. 7 a scam?

Well, even though the tests show some improvement in the structure of the skin, what about the BODY. I really don’t care if a product makes me -look- younger, the promise of Anti-Aging is just that, making me -actually, biologically- younger. I would prefer to look 100 years old with the internal organs of a 20 year old then look like a 20 year old with the internal organs of a 100 year old… wouldn’t you?

So, you take this product, you look younger, well, so what? You can get a face lift and look younger as well, same with a chemical peel… but that doesn’t change your internal chemistry nor DNA damage. Anti-Aging is synonymous with the fountain of youth. People since the beginning of time have wanted to not only look younger, but BE younger. Labeling this product as making you look younger is simply a way of protecting them from liability while maintaining the illusion in peoples heads that they have bought a bottle of water straight from the fountain of youth. Facial beauty comes from the inside literally and is a one way mechanism, there is no cream that you can apply on your face to improve your internals.

So, to summarize, this product doesn’t make you younger, promoting itself as such indirectly is a lie and as such, a scam. Yet again, more people will be wasting money for a product that does nothing to improve health, nothing to improve positive habit forming and like the pills, potions and magic rocks that preceded it, lead to a bunch of unhappy ripped off people when they realize that they have bought into a myth.

You want to look younger? Take care of yourself, it’s free and will actually benefit your entire body (including your skin). No product is stronger then the power of internal revitalization. Always read the fine print and please realize that there is a reason why certain words are used instead of others on promotional documents.

The Bottom Line

The myth of anti-aging portrayed by the beauty industry is equivalent to those of health by the diet industry.

References

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=3282943&page=1

Orlistat is a pharmaceutical grade scamThis past Friday, the FDA has approved yet another over-the-counter weight loss pill that promises weight loss to the legions of self-diagnosed slow metabolites eating at fast food joints around the world. It’s called Orlistat, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

How does Orlistat work?

Well, Orlistat pills come in 60 mg size which is half the prescribed weight and they basically prevent the colon from absorbing a large proportion of the fat you ingest. During a three month trial, the average human guinea pig lost about 2.7 kilos (some lost more, others less) but, my friends, this comes at the cost of bloating, diarrhea, urgent and incontrollable orange colors bowel movements, stomach pain, irregular menstrual periods, gas with discharge, leakage and oily discharges that come without warning. Get this, as soon as you stop taking these pills, which by the way run at about 50$ a month… the kilos you lost return and if you don’t take a multi-vitamin or have a good diet, you may suffer from malnutrition!

Who buys this crap anyways?

No pun intended but I am constantly astounded by the free spenders who find money to buy this worthless crap. What is the point of keeping 2.7 kilos off if it means you may shit yourself at any moment? Oh, hi mom and dad… where is your bathroom… I am taking Orlistat to make me unnoticeably thinner but I need to change my diaper before super. This pill does come with a warning not to take it for an extended period of time, but my guess is that most weight loss lemmings will ignore this warning and double the dose to get the prescription strength results without the need for a prescription. I hate to burst your bubble but3 kilos across your entire body is barely noticeable.

Why is this a scam?

To be quite blunt, the manufacturer says that a reduced caloric diet, low fat diet and exercise program should be performed with this pill for maximum results… hmmm… wouldn’t this alone make you lose weight? This is a scam, pure and simple because once you get off Orlistat, the weight returns, so really, you either need to go on this pill at 600$ a year FOR LIFE (which the manufacturer expressly warns against you doing) or you just wasted your 50$ a month. If you don’t go on the lifelong plan, guess what, you have been had as there will be no net positive results in your life except for some money lost… which to me, is the definition of a scam. The suggestion also put the onus on the client if they do not see results, it must be their fault… they didn’t take Orlistat and perform activities prescribed with enough vigor. If you got that much money to burn, guy yourself a gym membership, you will lose more then 2.7 kilos and feel great in the process without worrying about shitting in your pants (or worse).

Where did things go wrong?

I believe the FDA does the best it can with the limited resource it’s comparatively given (ei: defense). I believe anything that says the words weight loss should be completely banned from being sold over the counter, I don’t care if it’s a natural supplement, weight watchers centers nor pharmaceutical grade products. If you want to lose weight, stop trying to buy or eat your way out of it. Your body NEEDS fat, it NEEDS carbohydrates and it NEEDS plenty of whole foods. Go see a doctor, go see a personal trainer and get some common sense lessons.

Calling people with weight problems Lemmings, Guinea Pigs and Stupid isn’t very nice!

Actually, I believe some people need to hear the truth as bluntly as possible to get the message, I am not a big proponent of political correctness. Remember phen phen (fen phen), people where DYING trying to lose weight. This growing obsession on finding pills to replace lazy attitudes about health has got to stop. Not only are Orlistat pills DANGEROUS, not only will Orlistat wreck your internal chemistry (that is how they work, notice the side effects?), not only will Orlistat put a dent in your wallet but no amount of pills, potions or magic rocks will replace a SOUND diet, SUPERVISED exercise regimen and a freaking book. NOTHING. Get out of your head that you can buy yourself out of the neglect you have invested into your body. If you take these products because a friend does, you are nothing but an uneducated lemming in my book and when the FDA eventually bans this product because somebody took 5x the non-prescribed dose and their family gets a class action suit against GlaxoSmithKline, you will feel like you where nothing but a guinea pig. Follow my FREE advice from somebody who cares or waste your money, it’s your choice.

Caveat

Of course, there are internal and external reasons why some people need to take Orlistat pills, this is why they are available on a prescription basis whose assessment is based on sound medical supervision and knowledge. My problem is when pharmaceuticals try to profit off peoples ignorance by giving them a way to circumvent the medical profession. I am sure 9 out of 10 people visiting their doctors would be told that this pill isn’t for them (in a more diplomatic manner then what I have outlined). The problem is by simply buying Orlistat over the counter, these 9 out of 10 people will get access to something that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise… to the further detriment of their body and self-esteem.

The Bottom Line

If you are fat, go seek medical help, stop throwing your money away and simply do as GlaxoSmithKline says WITHOUT buying Orlistat!

References

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/06/15/diet-pill.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601244.html

Kelloggs Fruit Loops - the many colors of junk!I, like may children of my Generation Xs, grew up eating cereal in the morning. Now that I know a few things about nutrition, although my parents had good intention, they where essentially feeding us junk food before a busy day.

Most Cereals marketing to kids these days…

I know most parents don’t look at cereal box ingredient lists because they still buy them for their children, believing that they are a healthy meal. Nothing could be further from the truth. The vast majority of cereals (not only by Kelloggs btw) have enough refined sugar, salt, processed flour, preservatives, artificial color and artificial flavors to make crap look appetizing. Read the label, for your kids sake as all this junk only leads to a very unproductive day, obesity and other health problems later in life… thank God most of us grow out of this habit!

Kelloggs Promise

Well, according to a ABC News article, Kelloggs has avoided a lawsuit by health advocates for their glorified junk food by promising not to promote it’s products to children under the age of 12 unless they meet the following standards

  1. No more than 200 calories per serving
  2. No trans fat and no more than 2 grams of saturated fat.
  3. No more than 230 milligrams of sodium, except for Eggo frozen waffles.
  4. No more than 12 grams of sugar, not counting sugar from fruit, dairy and vegetables.

Promises aren’t worth much

Serving sizes are already a joke of the food industry, I regularly eat 4-6 serving sizes in one serving when I do eat something pre-made (ei: oatmeal, yogurt, granola bars etc.), so this is an easy promise to keep by simply bringing serving sizes that much smaller. Parents will KEEP over-serving (by the producers definition) their products if they keep buying this stuff. Trans fats should NEVER be consumed at any age and saturated fats (based on serving size) is still not much of a compromise.

The FDAs recommended daily value for sodium is 2 400 mg FOR AN ADULT, the average child weighs about 1/3 of an adult so for a child, that amount drops to about 800 mg. I think it’s easy to feed your child two servings so you are giving almost the entire DAILY FDA recommended sodium in one meal… and I consider FDA in this instance to be high to begin with. I would have preferred they completely DROP refined white sugar and use xylitol or simply brown sugar. A caveat to all this is that it doesn’t start for another 6 months!

Kelloggs isn’t all bad

I will be the first to say that Kelloggs does produce some great healthy alternatives among with other food producers, the problem is they aren’t really marketing these to kids but to adults. I am not talking about Pop-Tarts, Froot Loops or Cheez-Its neither. I don’t understand this rational of feeding crap to kids but health to adults… the damage from years of malnutrition will take years to undo.

Alternatives?

Well, what ever happened to cooking eggs in the morning into an omelet with fresh vegetables? What about juicing fresh carrot juice or drinking some V8 if you don’t have much time? There are plenty of alternatives to the sugar laden cereal and they take just about the same amount of time to prepare. Yogurt is great along with oatmeal and even cream of wheat is great! Not only will this SAVE you money, most cereals are bloody expensive, but your children will have a very productive day. I am happy to report that organic cereals and those made which very healthy ingredients are also starting to fill up groceries but again, the kids never hear about them.

Deeper problem

If you think about it, how do most kids find out about these junk cereals anyways… well, you let them watch Saturday morning and after school cartoons right? I saw my nephew watch cartoons a few too many times and each commercial promotes a product that is less healthy then the last. I would prefer him playing video games then having access to television. Parents use the TV these days as a baby sitter, they are so busy that they have relegated their responsibilities to the media to educate their children and we see the consequences each day that yet another child is diagnosed with diabetes, obesity and a host of other ailments that could have been prevented. But that, my readers, is a discussion that merits its own headline.

The Bottom Line

Read labels and cook your own meals, that is the easiest way to avoid feeding your kids junk food masquerading as healthy meals.

References
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=3276491
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/foodlabel/sodium.html

Sweet Debbie's Organic Cupcakes DesertI had the pleasure over the weekend of interviewing the CEO of Sweet Debbie’s Organic Cupcakes, Debbie Adler, to find more about not only her business but the markets they serves.

What made you want to get into the organics foods industry with Sweet Debbie’s Organic Cupcakes?

Over the years, as an avid cook and baker, I have become very aware of the benefits of using organic ingredients. So when I decided I wanted to start

Sweet Debbie’s Organic Cupcakes, it didn’t occur to me to use anything but organic ingredients, because I wanted my customers to derive those same benefits.

Can you give me an idea of the time line you have gone through from initial idea to running business?

I thought of the idea for an organic dessert company in 2005, wrote a business plan in that same year, formulated the recipes in the beginning of 2006, and started selling my organic desserts by the summer of 2006 under Sweet Debbie’s Organic Cupcakes.

Where did you get the ideas for the recipes and what ingredients to keep vs. substitution?

I knew that I didn’t want to use white refined sugar because of its harmful effects on human health, so I first started experimenting with all-natural, low-glycemic sweeteners. I tried brown-rice syrup and stevia, but found that xylitol was the best substitution. I also knew I didn’t want to use butter, so I substituted healthful oils such as extra-virgin coconut.

How many product lines do you currently have and how often do they change?

I have cupcakes, cookies, brownies, muffins, quick breads and granola. Every couple of weeks I try to come up with new flavors in each of the categories.

Have you noticed any seasonal or geographic patterns so far in what people purchase?

I have not noticed any seasonal or geographic patterns so far. People from all over the United States order a wide variety of goodies all year long.

Where did you learn about organics, healthy eating and proper nutrition?

I have learned by reading voraciously and taking seminars.

Have you ever considered sharing some of your recipes in a cookbook or alternative medium to help spread the word not only about your business but your passion for proper organic nutrition?

Yes, I am thinking about writing a dessert cookbook to share my knowledge about how desserts can taste delicious and still be made with healthful ingredients. Also, I speak at schools to let children know about the harmful effects of white refined sugar.

What are your views regarding artificial flavoring and coloring?

There are so many all-natural flavors and colors out on the market now that I feel there is no need to use artificial ones.

What are your views regarding the fast food / dessert industry selling desserts produced at an industrial scale?

I know that it is difficult to maintain a high standard of ingredient quality when producing at a large industrial scale, as well as to maintain a homemade taste which people usually are looking for especially when it comes to desserts.

What has the response been from your customers and media regarding your healthy alternative deserts?

At first it’s disbelief that a dessert can taste good with the ingredients we use, and once they try it, it’s elation, amazement and gratitude.

What are some alternatives to using white refined sugar?

The only all-natural sweeteners that are healthful, in my opinion, are stevia, agave nectar, brown rice syrup, erythritol and xylitol.

How do you stay so trim considering you spend much of your time surrounded by tempting treats?

Well, firstly our desserts are not that caloric, but as with anything moderation is key, and I do eat Sweet Debbie’s desserts every day. Secondly, one of the benefits of using extra-virgin coconut oil in the recipes is that it has been shown to help in weight loss.

Additional Information

You can find out more information about Sweet Debbie’s Organic Cupcakes at their website: http://www.sweetdebbiesorganiccupcakes.com but be warned, you will be highly tempted by their offerings.

The Bottom Line

Deserts can be as healthy as a solid meal if the proper ingredients are used.

wheelchair signFor whatever reasons, many people in this world end up in a wheelchair at one point of their lives or another. Sadly, go to any nursing home and you will see more wheels then feet hitting the floor… all that rubber does amazing things to floor polish huh?

Where did wheelchairs come from?

Wheelchairs have probably been in use throughout the world since mankind invented wheels. It makes perfect sense when you think about it, most of us spend more time sitting then standing and if you can’t stand, stick a couple of wheels on the chair and voila… instant mobility! The Oxford Dictionary has an entry dating back almost 350 years ago about wheelchairs being used by those with mobility problems but even before then, in 525 AD, the industrious Chinese had already documented this invention.

Evolution of the basic Wheelchair

As mentioned previously, wheelchairs are nothing new, their wheels probably transitioned from rock to wood, wood bronze, bronze to rubber and now rubber to composite materials over the ages but sitting hasn’t changed much at all for humans in the past 100 thousand years. Handles pushing somebody who is on a chair is also a rather obvious, though I believe those must have skipped the rock generation. Today, wheelchairs can be motorized, able to climb stairs and even some in Japan speak back to you! Domo Arigatoo for sitting on me! ;-)
Evolution of controls

Although the basic wheelchair has experienced changes, the most profound ones have been in the area of self-control, leading some people to live in complete independence when previously that was but a dream. Today, wheelchairs can be controled with just about anything thanks to modern technology, from joysticks and breath (puff/suck) to finger and even chin movement. I would be surprised if they aren’t researching those that move based on your eye movement in that the chair brings you where you are looking.

What does all this mean?

Well, all these advances (and a heck of a lot more) all help give people the independence many lost, a wheelchair is no longer a burden to others but an opportunity to those who require them. Life isn’t over, just modified. Here is a fantastic video to show you what the next generation of kids are doing with their disability… wheelchair backflips… who would have thought?

Equal Access

I don’t believe there is the same amount of social stigma once attached to somebody who required the use of a wheelchair as in the past. You can see just about every public building in North America have wheelchair ramps, most street crossings have small ramps and even better, there is a constant chorus of people who are pushing for equal access to other areas which where once unaccessible… like the beach!

Colours in Motion

I found this company after watching the wheelchair back flip video (above) and was totally oblivious as to how much wheelchairs have really changed in the past years. More chrome then on a motorbike, radical designs, vibrant colors and I am just scratching the surface. These chairs honestly put my office chair to shame in comparison. I am sure there are other companies doing this as well and I applaud them all for changing the lives of people around the world who have a disability. You can visit their website at: http://colourswheelchair.com

The Bottom Line

We may not all be lucky enough with the ability to walk but regardless of circumstances, there is always new opportunities that present themselves when shit happens.

Pills come in all shapes and sizes, it's what they do the determines price.I recently read and saw a show about Mannatech on ABC News and was surprised by quite a few things so I decided to take a closer look on my own.

Mannatech Background: From their own site

I visited their website to get some information about their products and services, a few things jump out to me right away.

  • a disclaimer saying that statements said on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA, this is standard fare in the health industry, so no big deal but where IS any documentation showing ANY of the products being sold HAVE been evaluated by the FDA?
  • WARNING #1: Page dedicated to the “Science of Wellness”. Wellness is NOT a science, this is equivalent to using the “Science of Creationism” to explain our beginnings. In other words, wellness is a belief, not a scientifically proven fact.
  • WARNING #2: Scare tactic about how you may not be getting “enough” glyconutrients in your diet due to pollution, industrial farming etc… simple solution would be to simply eat more fruit and vegetables if you are really eating that BAD a diet or if you are that concerned, set-up your own hydroponics system or backyard garden.
  • WARNING #3: Multi-level marketing approach, I would dismiss this entire company simply based on this. Does the Herbal Life plague ring a bell?
  • WARNING #4: The CEO of Manatech is also the founder of Mannarelief Ministries who uses the “love of God through world-changing nutritional products designed to improve the quality of life and health.” I guess this explains Warning #1 quite well.
  • WARNING #5: Pharmaceuticals are highly complex, require extensive testing and are promoted by highly skilled people. Although this company isn’t a pharmaceutical company and makes no mentions otherwise, it IS blurring the lines extensively throughout it’s web site.
  • WARNING #6: Board member on the Council for Responsible Nutrition. This is an association that aggressively pushes for self-regulation of the supplements industry and keeping the FDA as far away from said supplements as humanly possible. This is no different then the Better Business Bureau approach which has no jurisdiction for any type of enforcement and simply take your money to become a member. Why NOT put stringent double blind, pharmaceutical grade testing and evaluation on all supplements?

Clarification regarding warning #4

Regarding warning #4, I absolutely give high praise for whatever the CEO of Mannutech can do to change the fate of under-privileged and poverty stricken children around the world, no matter his methods nor beliefs. What I don’t like is this mix of God and Science, simply believing something doesn’t make it a fact.

Mannatech Background: Based on ABC News Findings

When ABC News takes the time to not only write an article about your company but a three month investigation, heads are going to roll. In this case, I am very happy they put the spotlight to confirm my suspicions that arose simply by visiting Mannatechs own website.

  • When asked point blank during an interview by ABC News if Mannutech products cured cancer or where promoted as such, the answer completely dodged the question.
  • Video after video of sales demonstrations purporting that their product Ambrotose is able to cure cancer. I saw this bull shit at The Health Expo in Toronto last year and it turned my stomach.
  • Unless you have a congenital defect, your body DOES produce enough glyconutrients that Mannatech tries to scare you otherwise.
  • Proof that the science behind Mannatechs Ambrotose works is funded by the company itself, sure sounds like Atkins all over again doesn’t it?
  • CEO of Mannatech, Sam Caster has a history of selling things that either didn’t work or didn’t even come close to what was claimed, sure sounds like another Kevin Trudeau doesn’t it?
  • Sales associates (ei: multi-level distributors) telling others how to work around legal restrictions about their products

Mannatech isn’t all bad

I don’t believe everything Mannatech does is bad, it does help children around the world with SOME of its profits, for that, again, I give them praise. They are providing income streams for people around the world who wouldn’t have them otherwise. They are putting “health” into the forefront for massive amounts of people, although highly misguided and biased with a strong profit motive.

As this is a Christian company doing Gods work through an affiliated Ministry…

… then they should not only show their values but live by them. From what I see, they have broken Commandment #3 (do not misuse the name of God), Commandment #8 (do not steal) and of course Commandment #9 (do not lie). Mannutech and its distributors tie in faith to their product in various subtle ways, they steal lives from individuals who could possibly be saved using proven medical science (who cares about the wasted money) and lie to get their stuff out the door. If their stuff REALLY cures the plagues of this world, spend 25% of your estimated half a billion dollars worth on double blind studies in a clinical setting with a few hundred Cancer, HIV Positive and other patience. If I had any of these conditions, you would be the last people I would ask for help.

The Bottom Line

I believe, God being my witness, that Mannatech is no different then an Evangelized Herbal Life, I really do wish the FDA clamps down on the entire supplements industry to put an end to all this *wellness* nonsense.

References
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=3228488&page=1
http://www.mannatech.com

EV1I was watching a very interesting documentary about electric vehicles on the Discovery channel that really opened my eyes. It helped me understand a few of the fundamentals about why our “leaders” seem so out of touch with the people they are suppose to fight for.

Electric Vehicles Background

Electric vehicle (zero emissions) where actually around before the internal combustion engine, they where cheap to run, required little maintenance and best of all, produced no pollution (sound or exhaust). The reason why internal combustion won out back in the late 1800s is because people where trying to get rid of gas, it was a waste by-product that nobody knew what to do with and was essentially being burned and dumped all over the place. Henry Ford built all of his vehicles using internal combustion engines even though his wife had an electric vehicle because he saw more profits to come from the complexities involved with internal combustion engines.

Why everybody wants them…

As mentioned earlier, electric vehicles are incredibly cheap to run for various reasons. The main one is the engine only has one moving part, have a problem with the vehicle, you don’t need to be a mechanic to figure out where it is coming from ;-) They produce no exhaust, sure nuclear and coal plants produce waste but with alternative energy coming online, this will start to hopefully be replaced with cleaner energy. They also produce little sound, imagine being able to walk next to a busy road and actually be able to have an intelligent conversation with your friend without having to yell. Electric vehicles are also very cheap to produce and mileage is equivalent to that of internal combustion (up to 300 miles range per charge). Electricity is also cheaper then gas.

Why we can’t get them…

Simply put, money. You see, because an electric vehicle has only one moving part, a very large part of an automakers business (replacement parts) would quickly dry out. All the “regular maintenance” that is needed for an internal combustion engine wouldn’t be needed, you have no fluids to replenishment, no highly corrosive agents nor any “engineered obsolete parts” that need replacing. Service departments would become huge empty rooms. This is just the tip of the ice berg, imagine all those third party distributors, manufacturers and investors who would be shut down over night. Politics and money are huge influences on government policy… JOBS!

But we got “hybrids”?

We got hybrids don’t we? You bet we do, but what are they actually buying? Automakers are selling the problems (profits) that come from an internal combustion engine without giving consumers the true benefits of electric vehicles. It is a very reluctant, half-assed “give-in” to customer demand without going all the way. They do this to protect their profits and the “combustion engine” industry. Have you ever looked at how complex those hybrids are? They need full time computers figuring out what mixture of electric vs gas is needed, the engineering is incredibly complex and the number of highly specialized parts needed to keep it all together is mind blowing. They could get rid of all this with a simple electric only engine but of course, there is no money to be made in simplicity.

Electric cars are not as good as internal combustion engine… BS!

Hate to say this but this is completely untrue, you have been brainwashed! Take for instance the GM EV1 that was introduced in California, it did 0-60 mpg in about 9 seconds, had a range of about 300 miles and GM took it off the road as soon as laws where changed. There is “The Maya” by Electrovaya which is a SUV with a range of 230 miles (top regulated speed of 80 mph) and a host of other vehicles on the road RIGHT NOW but unavailable to consumers.

Why do I not have a choice?

The technology is there, the demand is over flowing and yet, governments are unable to see the writing on the wall, we do not need this Internal Combustion —> hybrid —> electric/hydrogen transition! We want full electrics NOW.

There are electric boats, motorcycles… you name it, already in production around the world but simply unavailable due to outdated regulations, lobbying and to be quite frank, the inactions of our “leaders” who prefer to act like castrated sheep then the lions we elect them to be.

What does this have to do with HEALTH?

Everything and anything… we have an epidemic of cancer in our society which is mostly caused by environmental factors, an epidemic of asthmas in children due to breathing polluted air, an epidemic of diabetes caused by inactivity and unhealthy habits. Tobacco products are still being sold even though it is a known carcinogen, internal combustion vehicles are still being sold although their exhaust is also a known carcinogen and we keep being forced to waste so many resources within our garbage that we are always searching for new landfills.

We all know these facts, they all affect our health yet our leaders are unable to make decisions to solve them even if the solution is starring at them right in the face.

The Bottom Line

We need to change our mentality from one fearing change to one that welcomes the challenges that come with demographic shifts. If I had only one wish, it would be to make the word “stability” the new four letter word of the 21st century.

May 29, 2006 Update
Finally somebody made a movie about the GM fiasco in California!
http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/

Pills aren't the solutionThis has to be an April Fools Joke or something… a “prescription weight-loss pill” exists and not only that, Xenical will most likely be approved by the FDA for over the counter use. Please tell me this is a joke!

How does Xenical work & what is the difference?

Xenical works by simply blocking fat absorption during the digestive process. Xenical blocks 50% of fat consumed while the prescribed version blocks only 25% - it’s not a huge leap of faith that many people will simply double (or more) the dose to get “more results”.

I have three fundamental problems with turning a Xenical derivative into an “over the counter” medicine:

1) Fat is our friend: Fat is essential for your body, without it… you die a slow, heavily constipated death! If you are eating too much, don’t take a pill, change your diet!

2) Doesn’t address root problems: Obesity is rarely a clinical disease, it’s mostly a self-imposed condition caused by lack of exercise, education and will power (in other words, laziness)… a pill does NOTHING to solve this - and I think it will actually make things worse!

3) Habit Forming: Just like cigarettes being used for weight loss, as soon as you STOP taking the pills the “extra 5lbs” you lost and paid 25$ a week to keep off return.

FAT IS OUR FRIEND

Fat is our friend but like all friends, it requires respect and understanding.
Fat is ESSENTIAL for our survival, people do not get “fat” because they are eating fat, they become “fat” because they are consuming more calories then they burn. FAT is not the reason for obesity, over consumption of calories is. Fat is so important that if you ask any nutritionist or doctor (who studied in nutrition) what makes up a good diet, they will say
“Carbohydrates, Protein and FAT with plenty of Fiber from a non-processed food diet is what your body needs to keep running properly.”

If you are suffering from self-imposed obesity, you need to make changes in your mental and physical attitudes about life, not blame “fat”,”carbs” or whatever else for your bulges. You created what you look like right now, change your habits or be happy the way you are, either way, don’t take it out on my friend Mr. Fat!

Pills don’t solve root problems: The Obesity Culture

A large segment of our society still believes in doing NOTHING to improve their health and expect science to develop a pill that will give them an Olympic physique. They are so sure of this will happen in their lifetime they eat a poor diet and believe exercise is a disease to be avoided at all costs… rationalizing once the pill comes out, the HEALTH and body that has alluded them will happen overnight. WAKE UP!

If you are obese, you are slowly killing yourself by choice. Nobody is forcing or brainwashing you to be/stay overweight. YOUR CHOICE.

Habit Forming: Expect to become FATTER & POORER!

GlaxoSmithKline recommends an individual take the “non-prescription” version of Xenical for 6 months - a 650$ investment - WITH A SENSIBLE DIET AND EXERCISE PLAN. If you are obese due to laziness, I doubt taking a pill will make you want to get your butt in the Gym or cause you to change your diet plans.

After 6 months you know what GlaxoSmithKline has achieved? They have turned your pill popping into a HABBIT. Stop taking the pill, the weight comes back with a vengeance, keep taking it and you stay “5lbs” leaner for ONLY 1 200$/year. This is insidious because they have you HOOKED!

At least when prescribed, there is “some” supervision by a medical practitioner but over the counter… I expect that caveat fall on deaf ears. How do you know if it’s not the exercise and diet causing you to loose the weight? This simply covers GlaxoSmithKline ass if you GAIN or loose no weight while medicated - didn’t exercise or change your diet… then IT’S YOUR FAULT! This is the same trick used by just about every “weight loss” scam out there… put the blame on the consumer for not meeting expectations.

Now, how do you become fatter taking a weight loss pill? Easy, eat more then you did before… people suffering from anorexia, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder will now have access to a powerful drug that will only make their conditions worse.

The Bottom Line

As a businessman, I think this product is genius but as a human being, this product is deplorable.

Buzvia

ABC News Article
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=1819804