Hippocrates, a Greek physician considered to be the Father of Medicine, prescribed the juice of this leafy-topped stalk to patients suffering from nervous tension.  Chinese medicine has also long recognized celery juice to reduce high blood pressure.  Only recently, has it been studied in the Western world. The University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) is credited with one of the first studies of celery’s effects on blood pressure. In one instance, the father of a scientist at UCMC experienced a drop in his blood pressure from 158/96 to 118/82 after just one week of eating about four stalks a day.

Celery contains an active compound named phthalides.  Phthalides naturally relaxes the muscles in and around the walls of the arteries which cause those vessels to dilate, creating more space inside the arteries that permits the blood to flow at a lower pressure. Phthalides have also been reported to promote a healthy circulatory system by reducing what are known as stress hormones. Celery also contains high amounts of magnesium, potassium, and calcium. The beneficial effects of these minerals serve to calm the nervous system, automatically counterbalancing stress levels.

A physician at the Whitaker Wellness Center and her father decided to test this theory. They both drank celery juice for thirty days, mixing it with a little orange juice to mask the slightly bitter taste of juiced celery. The results proved the theory to be true.  The father’s systolic level dropped from 148 to 128, and the physician’s went from 120 to 105.

Who knew celery juice could be so beneficial? It can lower blood pressure AND reduce stress hormones.  Because stress hormones are linked to weight gain, it may also help me to lose weight, as well.  Interesting…

To your health,

Lici

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

So, Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob – born of the favorite wife, Rachel, who then died while giving birth to another son, Benjamin.  Joseph’s favored status (and his dreams of being elevated above his family) caused such a strain with his brothers that they hated him – enough to wish him dead – enough to act upon it.  Some of the older brothers took Joseph and roughed him up and threw him into a pit, later selling him as a slave.  They ripped his famous coat of many colors, covered it with blood and led his father to believe he’d been killed by wild animals.  Joseph wound up a slave in Egypt, then wrongfully imprisoned, before being released by Pharaoh.  He found himself installed in the second highest office in the land because of his dream interpreting abilities.  Turns out, those dreams of his came true.  This begged the question:  Was all this really brought on by sibling rivalry?  Seriously?  What was really going on?

As my friend always says, ask God a question and you’ll get an answer.  It occurred to me recently, that this was not just about family squabbles but more about destroying this family and trying to prevent them from fulfilling their destiny.  Jacob, or Israel, was the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.  God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations but he made a special covenant through the descendants of Isaac.  From Isaac came twin sons, Esau and Jacob.  The covenant carried on through Jacob’s descendants – twelve sons, destined to become 12 tribes and the nation of Israel.  Israel the man became Israel the nation, through whom all the nations of the world would be blessed, for Jesus comes from the line of his son, Judah.

Incidentally, Judah is the brother who sold Joseph into slavery for twenty pieces of silver.  Selling him was a compromise – Judah initially wanted to kill him.  Wow.  What better way to thwart Judah’s future than to have his brother’s life on his hands?  Imagine the guilt of that.  To Judah, this probably seemed like a good plan to derail Joseph’s future but thankfully, God had a better plan.  God used this horrible betrayal to put Joseph IN power, in a land of plenty, during a time of famine, so that he could save his family.  Think about it – no Joseph, no food, no future.  God took these evil events and used them to fulfill his good purpose so Judah was forgiven for the part he played.  Joseph was restored to his father and treated as the firstborn – he received a double portion among his brothers.  His one tribe was reckoned as two, according to his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.  It was a good thing for all that Joseph’s brothers were not able to destroy him, his future and by extension, their own future with their actions.

I thought of the story of Joseph and his brothers and related it to my own family squabbles.  Everyone has a story of sibling rivalry.  But is it really about the squabble or about something bigger and deeper?  What’s really going on?  Is there a bigger picture to consider, a destiny for your family to fulfill?  What if in tearing down your sibling, you are tearing down yourself or affecting your future?  It came to me that there is so much power in unity.  But therein lies the problem – unity is dangerous to evil.  Divided we can do little but together we can accomplish so much.  We can be a force to be reckoned with!  But we allow petty squabbles to divide us and cause us to compete with one another to keep us from fulfilling our true purpose.  Family is strength.  Family is where our power lies.  It’s our foundation for everything – for our churches, for our society.  Families fall apart and so goes everything else.  It’s all dependent on the family unit.  So it follows, as we destroy our family relationships it will affect our future.

When my friends admit to me that they enjoy talking or visiting with siblings that they normally don’t get along with, they sound amazed AND a little bit guilty.  A friend of mine recently confessed to me, she sounded surprised, that she really enjoyed some time she spent with a sibling.  Like, she shouldn’t be having a good time with someone who has previously tormented her.  But why be surprised?  This is the natural order, not the rivalry – even though that’s been going on since Cain and Abel.  That unity, God’s plan for the family, predates fratricide.  More people, being of one mind, equals more power.  That’s why group prayer is so powerful.  Studies have been conducted to prove it.  That’s why our family unit is so important and why it constantly comes under attack.  That is why marriages are failing and families are estranged.  It is so our power will be diluted and we will stand defenseless against the enemy.

My sister recently remarked to me, “Your first reaction is always negative.”  My response:  “What?  ME?  You!”  And we went back and forth about it for a few minutes.  I was a little steamed because I felt misjudged, especially since I try very hard to be encouraging.  Apparently, she has been missing out on that most excellent part of moi.  I let it go (this time!) because even though it’s untrue, it’s her perception and might as well be true.   I didn’t realize that was how she saw me.  But I’m not willing to let that divide us because it is so small.  Our number has dwindled.  We’ve lost a sister and a brother so losing each other has become a real possibility.  And some of us are not as close, geographically and relationally.  So what we have, we hold on to, we treasure.  We stand by each other.  My brother told me recently that he is praying for me – that was touching and powerful.  I am grateful for his prayers.  I need them.  I feel stronger just knowing that.  I think now, at this stage in our lives, we’re getting past the sibling rivalries.  Like Joseph and his brothers, we’re realizing we need each other to stand and to be strong and to have a future.

Be blessed,

Loria

P.S.  You can find the entire story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, chapters 37 thru 50.

I’ve had friends and others ask me for opinions about cases and such for the Hero.  Other than determining that it does indeed protect your investment, I always tell them, without fail, that it is a choice they should make on their own, as they are the ones who will have to live with it daily.  Makes sense, right?

Basically, protection for your Hero boils down to 3 layers of safety.  Those layers are:

1. Screen protector – a thin, usually clear protective sheet that adheres to the touchscreen, covering it entirely [most times].  The sensitivity should not be affected by the use of a screen protector.  If it is, then you need to get a different brand.  There are lots of brands out there.  Most of them are decent.  I opted for a cheapie I saw on a mall kiosk [you know the ones that sell the cheap knock-off cell phone cases] and so far it has worked great!  I admit I lucked out because I firmly believe you get what you pay for, and I only paid $5 for this screen protector.
2. Case – a protective outer covering made of any number of materials designed to prevent damage to the phone in case of a fall.  Most are decent at up to a 3ft. fall.  Anything higher than that and you’re on your own!  I tend to favor the silicone-based “skin type” cases for their excellent grip and tendency to bounce when dropped as opposed to smacking into the pavement. The 2 piece “snap-on type” cases are good, too.  Particularly, the ones that are hard material covered by a softer material so you still get decent grip and deflection from striking the ground directly.  The brand Otterbox comes to mind.  They have both a high end and a lower end version.  Don’t cheap out like I did [some mall kiosk, LOL] and get a knock off case.  Once again, you get what you pay for.  Dropped it once and now it looks like hell.  It did actually prevent damage to the phone, but you would think the case would last through one fall with out looking like it had been run over by a garbage truck.
3. Holster – a “holder” that usually attaches to a belt, purse, or some other article on your person, that secures the phone to you.  Lots of options here also.  The simplest solution is to get the holster that is made for your case.  Or vice versa.

Now, none of the above items are mandatory.  It is totally up to you.  I say it depends on how you carry your Hero.  Me, I’m a pocket kind of guy.  I can’t do holsters.  I don’t like things hanging off my belt.  I used to use a holster all the time back in my Handspring & Treo days.  I repeatedly broke them.  They would catch on things and snap off, finally culminating in the loss of a phone.  Now, just because I’m clumsy or have poor peripheral vision doesn’t mean a holster isn’t right for you.  It just means I hate the freaking things.

Right now, my Hero is nearly naked.  The only protection I am using is my screen protector.  I had a 2 piece hard shell case, but I dropped it and now it looks like crap.  I covered that didn’t I?  Well, it does.  I only dropped it because the plastic was so slippery it was like holding a bar of soap!  So I ditched it.  I feel secure with my Hero this way though, because it is always snug in that little front pocket of my jeans [No, I do not wear “skinny” jeans. I don’t understand how men wear those things. They look totally weird in them.].  Plus, I love the slimness of the Hero.  The case added just enough bulk to take away from that. Also, the Hero has a natural grip that I like.

Find out what works for you.  Read some reviews before buying.  Buy what YOU want, not what your buddy says works for him.  Unless of course, it works for you, too.  Remember, you have to carry it and look at it everyday.  It’s an investment, just like your phone.  Take the time to make a good purchase.

Ciao!

My Tech Life

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Sookie Stackhouse fan fiction

by J. Barrington

My grandmother once told me “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.” If the good Lord’s willing, and the creeks don’t rise, my pearls of wisdom to future generations will not be as poetic. I’m more likely to say “What doesn’t kill ya will still hurt like a son of a b****.” I’ll also tell them how fine I was back in the day:  A beautiful buxomly blonde who was told on several occasions that I looked prettier than a gob of butter on a stack of hotcakes. Right now, I probably looked like something the dog has been keeping under the porch. Screaming for hours, while being tortured by ruthless, supernatural creatures sometimes has that effect on people.

The blood bath had ended just after sundown. It was brutal. As we sped away from the battlefield, I tried to reconcile the horrific day’s events in my mind. Tray Dawson, a werewolf; Claudine, a full-blood fairy and Clancy the vampire, represented the diverse group of Supes that had pledged to protect me from all hurt, harm and danger. All of them, and countless others, were casualties of the Fae War.

My injuries were God awful. Thanks to many sutures, bandages, splints and medicinal vamp blood, they weren’t life threatening. Bill Compton was alive, just barely. The vampire’s disorientation, brought on by the silver poisoning, forced the decision to take him to the Supe hospital of a neighboring county, before heading home. This was one ailment that the resilient vamps couldn’t easily bounce back from. He needed to start treatment right away, if he were to survive.

How does a mere mortal end up in the middle of a violent Supe skirmish? It wasn’t easy. I am Sookie Stackhouse, famed telepath extraordinaire, friend to the Supes (cause I can’t read their minds) and a barmaid. Niall Briggant is an actual, real life, Fae Prince. He is centuries old and like all Fae, he is stunningly beautiful. Quite recently, I learned that Niall is my great-grandfather. Seems we had a “Mama’s baby – daddy’s maybe” skeleton hiding in the old chifferobe. Anyway, there was an ongoing family feud between Niall and the only other living Fae prince, Breandon. Breandon considered humans an abomination and consorting with them robbed Fae of their magic. Therefore, all mixed breeds must be vanquished and the passages to the Fae realm sealed forever. When Breandon learned of the whereabouts of his nemesis’ part-human descendant, my name moved to the top of the Fae watch list.

We hit Interstate 167 South like 40 going north. Maxwell Lee, a businessman, was driving while Pam, who was Eric’s second in command, rode shotgun. My honey, Eric Northman, sat just behind them in the center. All are vampires in Eric’s fiefdom known as Area 5, where he is the Sheriff. The trio were caught up in a discussion and very careful that I didn’t overhear. Eric put up pretence of calm but I could feel his rage. The obvious breakdown of my security detail was of cataclysmic proportions. In the very near future, he was sure to be kicking ass and taking names.

Bill and I lay huddled on the floor of the van atop a mattress. He was worsening by the minute. The thought of an addition to my ever growing list of losses for the day seized my heart. I pressed my forehead to his. Maybe my closeness could, somehow, will him to hold on just a little while longer. “We’re nearly there.” I told him.

He rattled on like a snake, going in and out of consciousness. He spoke of the night we met, our many good times together, his failings and how sorry he was that he didn’t get to me sooner. I placed a hand on his cool cheek that was wet with either perspiration or tears. It was probably the latter, since I couldn’t remember ever seeing the undead sweat. He had the faint smell of Herbal Essence and vampire, a scent distinctive to Bill.

He held my hand and kissed my palm over and over as he poured his heart out in a whisper. His voice was so weak and filled with regret. Eric’s gazed suddenly burned at the back of my head but I didn’t move away. They could have been the last words he ever spoke, so I let Bill release his entire confession. It was the least that I could do.

I owed him my very life. In my darkest hour, he appeared in my torture chamber like a dream. The vision paralleled the way he originally entered my life and would be ingrained in my memory for all eternity. My first love . . . my first vampire came for me. He killed for me. He saved me. Although we had been apart for a long, long time, Bill still loved me. I didn’t think that he would put his life on the line for me. What surprised me even more was realizing that a great part of me still loved him and I would never forget what he did for me this day.

I had prepared in my mind that I would gift my friend with only the most precious images of serenity to remember me by as we parted. It was quite an effort since I looked like death warmed over and felt even worse. I would place an endearing kiss right on his cool lips. No tongue. Eric was understanding, but not that understanding. I would smile and tell him to get well soon, before saluting him with a Ms. America wave goodbye as we drove off into the distance with Eric by my side. I would be brave for him, just like Eric told me to, and not shed one single tear. It was a good, solid plan. A famous prize fighter once said “Everybody’s got plans… until they get hit.”

The actual parting shot was of me embracing Bill’s emaciated frame for far too long, Eric pulling my struggling body back while I fought to cling to Bill and then of me losing my last bit of sanity when Bill’s outstretched hand was wrestled out of mine. It was a pretty picture alright, pretty dang wild.

My mind just snapped and the whole, hellacious day came crashing down, shattering me into a million pieces. For the next few moments everything slowed down to a crawl. They were all shouting things at me but I heard nothing.

Pam’s iron fists shackled my arms and pulled me into the van while Maxwell Lee slammed the back doors shut to prevent my third attempt at launching myself out.  The click of the lock had me scrambling to find an alternate means of escape.  I pleaded, cried, banged on the doors.  Finally, I just looked out the tiny rear window in defeat.  I saw Eric giving orders and then saying some parting words to our friend.  I could tell that it was not the typical “Get well soon, buddy” that should be expected.  He was probably threatening the staff with certain death if they allowed anything to happen to Bill and threatening Bill if he dared to give up.  I knew that Eric took the loss of anyone under his charge personally. As he walked back to the van he was both sorrowful and mad as hell.

Overall, Bill was looking better, I thought, and that made me happy.  My vision was a little blurred by my tears.  I could see that his skin, which had turned gray from the silver, looked pale blue in the moonlight.  He had that vampire glow again that I found so alluring when we met.  His eyes were bloodshot red and brimmed with tears. When they rolled Bill away he looked right at me and silently placed his hand on his chest to symbolize his breaking heart.

Well, that just dilled my pickle.  My blood felt like it was boiling in my veins. “Bill! . . . Bill! . . . Bill! We can’t leave him Eric.” My cries were hoarse, barely audible and had clearly fallen on deaf ears.

Being an active participant of so many Supe scuffles, one would think that I’d have grown accustomed to handling such conflicts. However, this war was within me.  I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it.  I was clearly losing the battle.

I sat exhausted in the middle of the mattress, panting while three sets of lifeless eyes stared in astonishment, fangs fully extended. The smell of fresh blood soaking through my bandages was the why of it. “Sookie!” Pam mouthed. Her body trembled as she tried to maintain her composure. Maxwell actually started to drool. I guess I should have been afraid of being viewed as a meal. Frankly, I was sick and tired of being the victim.  I would not be an easy win. No one was taking another thing from me today.

I stared them down so coldly it would have made Dirty Harry flinch. “Come on, make my day.” I said through gritted teeth. “You may walk over here but you’ll be limping back!” Eric barked a wordless command that sounded like a hiss mixed with a growl. It must have been vamp code for “Slap a muzzle on it,” because both of them snapped their bodies toward the road instantaneously, fangs retracted.

Eric gave me a dubious glare. He wasn’t sure if I needed an exorcism or to be shot and put out of my misery. After a long moment he coaxed me to lie down and examined my many wounds. He knew that my body was covered with cuts, bites and bruises from the Fae. My stitches had broken apart during my outburst. He continued his inspection, silent and suspicious, paying close attention to my wrists and neck. As usual, Eric’s close proximity soothed. I’d worn myself out and cried my eyes shut.

Eric calmly instructed Maxwell to take the scenic route into my hometown.  He sounded as tired as I felt, speaking with the thickest accent, that he seldom exposed.  It sounded like he just got off the boat or the ship or whatever Viking vessels were called. Eric had hoped that the long drive would lull me to sleep, I guessed. My head rested on his lap and within a few moments I was out like a light.

He spoke the words of his mother tongue over me as I slept. “Avkastning till mig, ä lakare. Nyss tillata samlad resa. Jag kommer att bära denna börda för oss båda. Avkastning min solen som lyser min eviga mörker.” Each time I floated back up to consciousness I could hear him chanting low and methodic. I couldn’t translate nor can I read vamp minds. Miraculously, I received the sentiment that was like the lyrics of a love song: “Yield to me, lover. Just let it go. I will carry this burden for the both of us. Return to me the sunshine that illuminates my eternal darkness.”

The cemetery that separated Compton and Stackhouse properties was the landmark that I awoke to sometime later. This could have been my funeral procession, I thought, as the wheels crept up the deserted country road. My brother, Jason, would have given me a proper burial and put my remains in the Stackhouse family plot right next to my grandmother. It was just a stone’s throw away from my farmhouse and my soul was sure to rest in peace. I felt a pang when I looked toward Bill’s house. This time I was able to keep it together.

“Welcome home, lover.” Eric said in a low voice. He maneuvered my body to sit in front of him and wrapped himself around me. We took in the sight of the dense wooded acres and farmland that was, somehow, too beautiful to behold. The barren branches extended over the road ahead of us, waving in the night breeze like hands. It was a welcome worthy of the charming Southern hospitality that my grandmother was proud to show to whomever or whatever dawned on her doorstep.

“They did so many horrible things to me.” I said staring out the window. Tears flowed. “All I could think about was getting back home.” My foot was actually on the first step of my porch, when I was abducted. Seeing this place again was but a fantasy in my mind.

“Shhh.  Hush now.  Sookie. You made it.” He said quietly. He sounded like he was about to cry. “We made it.” My night vision had improved with my recent blood donation and I turned my head to look in the face of my benefactor. Pale skin, red lips and blue eyes that were clear as crystal, were the colors that made up the canvas of my, um, gracious plenty. His long hair was tied back and looked much darker in color that the actual sun-kissed wheat that it was. I was so thankful that he was safe. He held me close and looked on me with love and adoration.

The moment was pure heaven. He pressed a cool kiss to my warm lips. It started out as a little innocent peck but grew more intense as I responded.  He didn’t think we would ever see this place again either. The fact that my mind had returned from the brief hiatus in Looneyville was a boon, as well, and added to his excitement.

Pam and Maxwell slapped each other with a high-five as we made our way down Hummingbird Road. I was just about to join in the celebration when I sensed that we had company. I questioned, “Part of your entourage?”

“Part of yours.” Pam answered with a smile in her voice. I looked incredulous for a moment and searched the low foliage.  A pair of emerald greens peered through the darkness and I immediately identified him – Alcide Herveau, werewolf. A few feet farther, golden eyes glowed, Calvin Norris, werepanther. There were several others that I didn’t recognize but one set of eyes gave me pause, ethereally beautiful silver grays, sparkling in the dark like diamonds.

I heard a familiar chuffing noise and turned to the opposite side. My eyes searched wildly.  Purple pansies? “Quinn” I said, before I knew it, reaching my hand toward him. He’s a rare weretiger. That put a big lump in my throat. Maxwell paused in the road to allow a stray dog to pass. It was Sam Merlotte the shape shifter, in his favorite Collie guise. Sam was my boss and one of my best friends. He looked straight at me and winked before disappearing into the brush.

“Talk about animal magnetism.” Maxwell teased. “Or should I say Alpha-magnetism? They’ve been following us the whole time.”

“There’s something about Sookie.” Eric chimed in. “Your friends insisted on ensuring a safe passage home.”

“’Magine that” was all I was able to get out. I was so overwhelmed. I had spent so much of my night raising sand about my losses that I missed what I still had. Not many could summon their own band of guardian angels.

Overjoyed with being back on my own stomping grounds, surrounded by my friends and in Eric’s comforting embrace, I tried to shove my traumatic ordeal in the tiniest compartment of my brain.  As we closed out the last mile of the way, I thought of a quote that I could pass on from my grandmother.  “When life hands you lemons… squeeze them into some sweet iced tea.”  Besides, I have my work cut out for me with Amelia just around the bend.

About the author:

J. Barrington is an avid fan of the Sookie Stackhouse paranormal mysteries by Charlaine Harris, so much so, that waiting for the next book was not an option!  This new story picks up where CH left off.  Tune in weekly for the next installment of Back from the Dead.

Disclaimer:  J. Barrington does not own the characters of the Southern Vampire Series AKA Sookie Stackhouse Novels, all rights are reserved for Charlaine Harris.

There have been more reports to the FDA for aspartame reactions than for all other food additives combined!  Some of the side effects of aspartame can include headache, changes in vision, convulsions and seizures, hallucinations, nausea and vomiting, and joint pain.  Aspartame toxicity also mimics several other common health conditions, such as:  multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ADD, depression and arthritis, just to name a few.

Aspartame contains aspartic acid that is an excitotoxin. This excitotoxin causes particular brain cells to become overly excited to the point where they die. A review conducted in 2008 by scientists from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo found that consuming a lot of aspartame may inhibit the ability of enzymes in your brain to function normally, and may lead to neurodegeneration.

Now we know that artificial sweeteners are not healthy. But what about it being, at least, a low-calorie food? By reducing our caloric intake we can reduce our weight and be healthy, right?  Research has discovered that diet foods and drinks actually stimulate your appetite, thereby boosting your desire to overindulge.

As we become more aware of what is actually making us sick and making changes accordingly, we can be healthy. Health isn’t an illusion, but our right!

To your health!

Lici

There came a day when their father, Isaac, was old and thought he was on his death bed.  Preparing to get his affairs in order, he called Esau to him so that he could impart the blessing he had reserved for his firstborn, and favorite, son.  Now Esau, because he’d already sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of porridge, wanted to claim his blessing.  Perhaps Esau “despised” his birthright in selling it so cheaply but I don’t think he ever really planned on parting with it.  He probably figured he could just physically intimidate Jacob.  But the blessing was his ace in the hole.  It was important to him.  If all else failed and he had to hold up to his bargain with Jacob, he would have that, at least.  But Jacob didn’t even allow him that comfort.  He and his mother devised a plan to trick Isaac into blessing Jacob, instead of Esau.  And Isaac unknowingly blessed Jacob, giving him what belonged to the firstborn.  Esau was furious and Rebekah was forced to send her beloved Jacob away to save him from his brother’s wrath.  So Isaac sent Jacob on a mission – to go to his Uncle Laban’s house (the brother of Rebekah) and get a wife from among their kin.

There, he met his cousin, Rachel and immediately fell in love with her.  He struck a bargain with the uncle.  Because he came with nothing to offer, he would work for his bride for seven years.  He loved her so much, the time flew by.  But after the marriage he learned that he, for a change, had been tricked.  Not the beautiful Rachel but her sister, Leah, had been wed to him.  Laban agreed to give Rachel to Jacob if he worked another seven years.  So Jacob worked hard for Laban for fourteen years, increasing his livestock.  But Laban deceived Jacob repeatedly, changing his wages whenever it suited him.  Jacob eventually tired of the games, gathered his family and possessions and set off for home.

By this time, Jacob‘s family had expanded to include the children of Leah, Rachel and their handmaidens.  He was well on his way to becoming the father of twelve tribes and a great nation.  Rachel, his favorite wife, had even managed to bear a child, Joseph – of The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat fame.  As they traveled home, Jacob received word that his brother, Esau was coming to meet them.  Jacob was struck with terror for his vulnerable young family.  He feared his chickens were finally coming home to roost and Esau must be coming for payback.  Jacob prepared to meet his brother with trepidation, softening him up by sending many gifts of livestock in advance.  He hoped to save his family and his own life.  Envisioning the worst case scenario, he divided his family into groups, so that some of them would have a chance at surviving an attack.  He kept Rachel and Joseph, treasured above all, closest to him.  Their lives were on the line.

That night, Jacob went to sleep.  In the middle of the night, he was accosted by a strange man.  Jacob grabbed him and wrestled with him.  They grappled into the dawn, dislocating Jacob’s hip but still, he wouldn’t let go.  Finally the angel, for that is who he’d wrestled with, said to him “Let me go, for the daybreak is coming.”  Jacob knew that the angel must surely carry a message – it’s kind of what they do.  So he replied, “Not until you bless me!”  He meant, “What have you come to show me?”  There had to be a reason for this display.  The angel asked “What is your name?”

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:28)

Message delivered.  His former name was an account of his life, to date – the deceit and trickery that he’d used to supplant his brother from his rightful position.  The things he’d done which caused him to run away, rather than face his brother’s anger, he now had to deal with.  During his absence, Jacob grew up and learned it wasn’t right to deceive people just to get what you wanted.  Having been on the receiving end of such treachery, he was wiser.  When the angel changed his name, he acknowledged that personal transformation.  He let Jacob know, “That’s not who you are any longer!”  Because God had blessed him so much, he no longer envied Esau or anyone their possessions.  No longer would he use his inherited cunning and devious nature for ill gotten gain.  He was not that person anymore, nor was he bound by his past.  He came away from that experience stronger.  His reality changed.  He was able to face his brother, who was quite happy to see him, as it turned out.

Lately, when faced with situations, temptations or desires that used to defeat me, I get a mental picture of wrestling.  I used to think it was me, grappling with that particular issue and trying to overcome it.  “Wrestling with my demons,” so to speak.  Now, I’ve come to another realization, for this story has stuck with me.  God is giving me a message, too.  “You can overcome what you’ve done, all of your past sins and defeats.  And what you have become is not all there is – I want to bless you truly and give you a new name and a new future.  You’re not wrestling with demons; you’re wrestling with me as I fight with you, for you.  I want to improve you and to bless you beyond belief.  I want to show you who you really are.”  I realize now, the fight is to get me to let go of that person I was, so that he can show me who I truly am.

Be blessed,

Loria

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People give lots of reasons for dissatisfaction with the Hero. Battery life is chief among the complaints. There’s also sluggish performance. Of course, there’s the fact that the Hero is running the oldest of the current versions of Android, with a rumored upgrade nowhere in sight.

So, yeah – I get frustrated with my Hero, occasionally. Did I make a bad purchase? No. I didn’t. Even with all the above issues (which, by the way, none are deal breakers for me), I am still pretty happy with my phone. I look at it like this: Android is still a fairly new OS. Being so, I expect that there will be growing pains. One of which are upgrades. So what my Hero is running v1.5? I knew that when I bought it. There WILL eventually be an upgrade. It’s not like my phone is suddenly obsolete because there are later versions out. It still performs the same functions it did when I was excited about buying it. As for its issues, there are tons of tips on workarounds or modifications on the Net for you to try if you aren’t happy. It’s like buying a computer. You don’t buy a new computer and expect to never have to upgrade it, or expect to never have problems with it, right? I have never had a smartphone (or phone period) that didn’t have something about it that I would change/improve. It’s just the nature of the beast.

The Hero is a great entry phone into the Android world. It’s not a high end phone, nor is it a bargain basement cheap-o. It’s a good mid-range option to get started with. It’s made well and, to be honest, v1.5 is a good version to learn Android with. It’s pretty simple and straight forward.

Basically, what I’m saying is the Hero is worth your patience. Take the time to get to know your phone. If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know I’m a huge advocate of using forums as reference tools. Read them! There are tons of experts out there giving away knowledge for free! Remember, the upgrade HAS been confirmed. It is coming! Just think how awesome the Hero will be running v2.1?

No more blues!

About Me…

I’m Adonis a complete and total card carrying techno-geek and proud of it.  LOL!  I’m also a father of a beautiful young lady who is turning into a techophile in her own right.  I have been into technology ever since I had my first computer, a TRS-80.  It was love at first sight!

I am into everything from computers, game consoles, handheld devices and everything in between. My current passion is wireless tech and cellphones.

So basically, my blog is about technology I find interesting, how it affects my life, and my life in general. Sound interesting?  I hope so.  Ciao!

My Tech Life

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by J. Barrington

The story thus far …

The life of a telepath is no leisurely coast up the bayou. As a matter of fact, it’s more like falling overboard and wrestling with the alligators. Fighting off the unwelcome innermost thoughts of humans, my whole life, proved to be so challenging that most of the locals labeled me as crazy. 24/7, my mind involuntarily read the thoughts of most humans within close proximity. Then my eyes were opened to the mysterious world of the supernatural also known as the Supes. Realizing that you are on the bottom of the Supe food chain, as well, is bound to put a negative spin on a gal’s Joie de Vivre.

Bon Temps is a small, rural community on the northern tip of Louisiana, which is fast becoming a summit of Supernatural activity. I live on several acres of wooded land that has belonged to the Stackhouses for over a hundred years and was left to me when my grandmother died. My home is just as old and has been added on and improved over the years but in the end, still looks like what it is, a farmhouse and I love it. Over the years the grounds have proven to be the nucleus of the Supe community and drawn creatures of every walk of life to my doorstep. Well, sort of.

My journey began when vampires decided to “Come out of the Coffin” as they put it, and show the world that they truly exist. This exposition was made on the heels of the mass production of a synthetic blood created by the Japanese called Trueblood. The world was now convinced that vampirism was a virus. The symptoms of the virus were sensitivity to sunlight, which led to complete incapacitation until sundown and severe anemia. The end result: vampires organized themselves and flooded mainstream society touting that humans were not in danger of vampires because they could now survive on synthetic blood.

Less than a year ago, another group of Supes followed suit. The great Were Revelation confirmed to the human world that the tales of werewolves and shape shifters were more than just folklore. The most difficult part to accept was that these two-natured beings, which were naturally faster and stronger than humans, didn’t live in crypts across the sea or across town; they were our neighbors, co-workers, friends, siblings, parents and spouses. Other than a few shootings, crucifixions, beheadings and body burnings, the two groups were pretty well accepted by the world at large.

My life as a barmaid in a small town was pretty simple and uneventful. A few years ago, Bill Compton, who was a native of Bon Temps, over a century ago, walked in the bar as our first vampire patron and catapulted me into the Supernatural world. The pinnacle is that my telepathy, of which I viewed as a curse all my life, was treasured by the Supernatural community. My lonely existence blossomed into one full of love and admiration from my many Supernatural friends and suitors. The pit is that my puny human casing lacked the armor that would protect me from being brutally beaten, kidnapped, beaten, assaulted, poisoned, beaten, staked, raped, drained, beaten, bombed, shot and, oh yeah, BEATEN!  It was tantamount to “going bear hunting with a switch”, as my grandmother used to say.

All the horrific attempts on my life paled in comparison to what the Fae had in store for Sookie Stackhouse. I had learned, quite recently, that my ancestry included a fairy bloodline instead of Stackhouse. To vampires, it meant that I would be more alluring than the average human and my blood would taste better. Some of the Fae believed that reproducing or consorting with humans robbed them of their magic. Therefore, all mixed breeds, especially me, needed to be extinguished. The Fae were physically the most beautiful creatures to ever walk the earth. I learned the hard way that they were also the most deadly…

J. Barrington

About the author:

J. Barrington is an avid fan of the Sookie Stackhouse paranormal mysteries by Charlaine Harris, so much so, that waiting for the next book was not an option!  This new story picks up where CH left off.  Tune in weekly for the next installment of Back from the Dead.

Disclaimer:  J. Barrington does not own the characters of the Southern Vampire Series AKA Sookie Stackhouse Novels, all rights are reserved for Charlaine Harris.

Developed for Android by HootSuite

This application does look nice but in my opinion it has too many screens.  I’m not used to going to a main screen to open up another screen for a different action.  I prefer most actions to be incorporated into one screen with menu options or tabs.  Some people have found this to be the Twitter application for them, I however, still prefer Seesmic.  I always endeavor to try out new apps as they hit the Market so I will say to everyone, it’s definitely worth trying out!

Rating: 2 Stars

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Our vitamin D levels have a dramatic effect on our entire body. What is really frightening is that it is thought that over 95 percent of our senior citizens and 85 percent of the American population are deficient, including our children. Being out in the sun for 30 minutes a day allows our body to produce about 20,000 IUs of vitamin D. That is an equivalent of about 50 typical multivitamins or 200 glasses of milk!  However, during the winter months, we are stuck indoors more often. Getting that 30 minutes a day of sun is near impossible. To optimize our levels we have two other alternatives. The first alternative is to utilize a safe tanning bed where the harmful emissions are shielded.  The second is to take a high-quality supplement. Although our body has a way of insuring we do not overdose on vitamin D when we are exposed to the sun or the tanning bed, it cannot guard itself against an overdose of this vitamin when we supplement.

To prevent an overdose or to check for deficiencies, we must test our vitamin D levels regularly. We need to work with our doctors to reach optimal levels. It is important to keep in mind if you decide to take oral supplementation that vitamin D3 is a human vitamin D where vitamin D2 is inferior and a synthetic version. You can purchase vitamin D3 at your local health food store, but I would first check my levels.

I find it strange that given the fact that optimal vitamin D levels could prevent diseases, it is not checked by mainstream doctors more regularly. Let’s take our health in our own hands and request our levels be checked. It is my hope that by educating ourselves about what our body needs we can live long and disease free lives.

Here’s to our health!

Lici