Harold › Comments

"Initially, Gerson used his therapy as a treatment for migraine headaches and tuberculosis. In 1928, he began to use it as a supposed treatment for cancer, its best known application.[5] Gerson Therapy is based on the belief that disease is caused by the accumulation of unspecified toxins, and attempts to treat the disease by having patients consume a predominantly vegetarian diet including hourly glasses of organic juice and various dietary supplements. Animal proteins are excluded from the diet under the unproved premise that tumors develop as a result of pancreatic enzyme deficiency.[9] In addition, patients receive enemas of coffee, castor oil and sometimes hydrogen peroxide or ozone.[10] After Gerson's death, his daughter Charlotte Gerson continued to promote the therapy, founding the "Gerson Institute" in 1977.[11] The original protocol also included raw calf's liver taken orally, but this practice was discontinued in the 1980s after ten patients were hospitalized (five of them... more... - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Bees could hold the key to preventing HIV transmission. Researchers have discovered that bee venom kills the virus while leaving body cells unharmed, which could lead to an anti-HIV vaginal gel and other treatments. Scientists at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that melittin, a toxin found in bee venom, physically destroys the HIV virus, a breakthrough that could potentially lead to drugs that are immune to HIV resistance. The study was published Thursday in the journal Antiviral Therapy." - Harold from Bookmarklet

Mermaid Stoney Batter?!? I'm afraid to ask what that's supposed to be. - Victor Ganata

Alex, Harold and I studied the photo, and it looks like all those blue signs are font descriptions (Clearview and Highway C) and sign sizes, so it's like a set of samples for people who need to get street signs. It still looks really weird, though, and that road name is wacky. Okay, what do we win, Morton? ;) - Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)

"Superman's powers of flight and super-speed can't impress everyone." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"You've probably spent years of your life decoding The Matrix. You've probably debated between taking the red or blue pill 'til your brain hurt. You've been down the rabbit hole for so long that that you don't believe anything Morpheus says anymore." - Harold from Bookmarklet

also, in that photo Hugo Weaving looks a little bit like a young Steve Howe of Yes with short hair. - Hieronymous Boosh

"Less than a decade after Washington endorsed a fraudulent case for invading Iraq, similarly misinformed and politically motivated claims are pushing America toward war with Iran. Today the stakes are even higher: such a war could break the back of America's strained superpower status. Challenging the daily clamor of U.S. saber rattling, Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett argue that America should renounce thirty years of failed strategy and engage with Iran—just as Nixon revolutionized U.S. foreign policy by going to Beijing and realigning relations with China." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Former analysts in both the Bush and Clinton administrations, the Leveretts offer a uniquely informed account of Iran as it actually is today, not as many have caricatured it or wished it to be. They show that Iran's political order is not on the verge of collapse, that most Iranians still support the Islamic Republic, and that Iran's regional influence makes it critical to progress in... more... - Harold

"Solar energy in a suitcase is an invention saving lives around the world in places that lack reliable electricity. Dr. Laura Stachel discovered several years ago that many women and babies were dying during childbirth simply because there wasn't adequate light to treat them. So she and her husband came up with a portable solar energy kit to provide light and power when necessary. Since 2009, their nonprofit, We Care Solar, has given out nearly 250 free kits to medical facilities in Africa, Asia and South America." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"The CW confirmed the show’s return with a press release this afternoon, saying that new episodes of Whose Line will air on the network this summer. A premiere date will be announced at a later time. The new incarnation will be hosted by The Talk host Aisha Tyler, a comedian who also stars on FX’s Archer. Master improvisers Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and Wayne Brady — all cast members of the original show — will appear in each episode, along with one special guest comedian." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Last year, thanks to a public outcry, the effort to pass overreaching cybersecurity legislation stalled in the Senate. Now supporters have reintroduced the House version of that legislation — the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). The “new” version is in fact identical to the original CISPA — and poses the same threat to our digital civil liberties." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"The China Project was conceived in 1980-81 during the sabbatic visit of Dr. Chen Junshi, Deputy Director of Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine, to the laboratory of Professor T. Colin Campbell, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. A short while later, they were joined by Professor Richard Peto, University of Oxford, England, and by Dr. Li Junyao, China Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and their colleagues in China, the United States, England, Canada, and France." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were two principal observations suggesting a relationship between diet and cancer. First, rich Western diets (high in fat and meat, low in dietary fiber) were strongly associated (correlated) with incidence of colon and breast cancer. Second, migrants moving to areas of different cancer risks acquired the risk of the country to which they moved,... more... - Harold

"New Delhi, India (CNN) -- Two bomb blasts killed at least 12 people and wounded 57 others on Thursday in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, Home Secretary R.K. Singh said. Hyderabad's police commissioner Anurag Sharma didn't rule out the possibility of terror involvement in the city blasts. But he refused to identity any group as a suspect. The two bombs were planted on bicycles parked in a crowded spot, Sharma said. They were improvised explosive devices, he said, and they could have been triggered by a timer. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the strike a "dastardly attack" and said "the guilty will not go unpunished." He directed government agencies to extend all possible relief to authorities in Andhra Pradesh state. He also approved money for the next of kin of those killed and for others seriously injured." - Harold from Bookmarklet

bad situation. - Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)

"Yoni Freedhoff has three lovely little girls who range in age from 3 to 8. All three go to school, participate in organized, after-school activities, enjoy birthday parties and play dates, and have a cadre of friends. And everywhere they go, they're being smothered with junk." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"The Alabama House of Representatives is set to vote on abortion legislation Tuesday that would impose a variety of uneccesary restrictions on abortion clinics: providers would need to have admitting privileges at local hospitals (not such an easy feat when your local hospital thinks abortion is murder), clinics would have to follow needlessly prohibitive building codes, and nurses, nurse practitioners and physician's assistants would be charged with a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison for dispensing abortion-inducing medications to patients." - Harold from Bookmarklet

From the comments: "I feel like there's potential for a sleazy dick joke pickup line here and that makes me a terrible person." - Brian Johns

"This graphic comes from work done by Theda Skocpol: www.scholarsstrategynetwork.org/node/2612 "Naming the Problem: What It Will Take to Counter Extremism and Engage Americans in the Fight Against Global Warming."" - Harold from Bookmarklet

"It won't matter to your baby whether you throw a catered party for the neighborhood or just have the grandparents over for pizza. How much you do is up to you -- do only what feels fun and festive, and cut back if you get stressed out. Here are some tips to get you through this event." - Harold from Bookmarklet

Oh and I highly suggest diaper only as the attire for cake smooshing! Then after you just take to the bath and hose them down! :) I've seen people keep them in cloths. It isn't pretty, for the cloths at least. - Rachel Lea Fox

"Obesity isn’t the only potential toll that dinner from the drive-thru may have on your health. It’s not just your waistline that may pay a price for eating fast food meals three or more times a week, but your immune system as well. According to a study published in the journal Thorax, fast food fare is linked to an increased risk of asthma, eczema and rhinitis among kids and teens. The study also found that eating fruit could protect against these disorders among all age groups." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Eating fast food meals at least three times a week was linked to a 39% increased risk of severe asthma in teenagers and a 27% increased risk among children between ages six and seven. Fruit, on the other hand, seemed to have the opposite effect on asthma symptoms; three or more servings of fruit was associated with a 11% decrease in severe symptoms in teens and a 14% drop in severity of suffering in kids." - Harold

Not too surprising. - Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)

"John McClane (Bruce Willis) heads to Russia in this fifth installment of the Die Hard film series. Skip Woods (The A-Team) provides the script, with Max Payne's John Moore directing. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi" - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Playful and lighthearted with a subversive twist that is signature Lane Smith, It’s a Book is a delightful manifesto on behalf of print in the digital age. This satisfying, perfectly executed picture book has something to say to readers of all stripes and all ages." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Vibrant colors dance to the beat of this handcrafted djembe drum. Daniel Asante recreates the colorful patterns of Ghana's kente cotton cloths to host the goat hide drum head. This is held taught with cotton threads and iron rods. Djembes are among the better-known drums from Africa. Its origin can be traced to the Great Mali Empire of 12th century. The drum is played during full moon celebrations, harvest time, weddings, baptisms, and for honoring mothers. Asante calls this drum "Firitete," meaning "From the Past" in Akan language." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Game development has exploded over the last few years, and now it seems like everyone is making a video game. You’ve got big studios full of hundreds of people. You’ve got small teams making incredible games. There are more people in independent game development than ever. This is an amazing thing, because everyone brings their unique experience and sensibilities to game design. The more people who we can get making games and sharing their individual voices, the more we will see games evolve in new and exciting directions. Believe it or not, this can involve you. Do you have an idea for a game you wish you could play rolling around in your head? And no one is making it? I’ve got good news for you: there are more tools and support than ever to help people who have no experience with coding or development start to learn how to create the games of their dreams. If no one is making what you want to play, why not learn how to make it yourself?" - Harold from Bookmarklet

"North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It lies to the west of the southern part of South Andaman Island. Most of the island is forested. Because it is small, located away from the main settlements on Great Andaman, surrounded by coral reefs, and lacks natural harbours, it was never settled by Europeans" - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Barnes & Noble plans to continue to shrink its store base. The head of Barnes & Noble's retail group, Mitchel Klipper, said in an interview published Monday in The Wall Street Journal that the company will have 450 to 500 stores in a decade. That's down from about 689 currently. Klipper said the chain plans to close about 20 stores a year over the period." - Harold from Bookmarklet

Oh, no :( All we'll have left is that execrable Books A Million and crap like that :( - Kamilah Reed (K. Gill)

"Video game pioneer Atari has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy as part of a plan to split from its parent company formerly known as Infogrames. The creator of classic video game franchises such as Pong and Asteroids will begin a sale of its assets in the next few months, in an attempt to operate as an independent company." - Harold from Bookmarklet

That's a strange way to try to do some kind of management buyout... - Iphigenie

"If you follow the Sun’s path through the daytime sky, and you live in the Northern hemisphere, you’ll find that it rises in the eastern part of the sky, rises up to its apex in the south, and then lowers and sets in the west. And it does this every day of the year." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"And in the ancient world, the greatest scholars and scientists from Egypt, Greece, and all over the Mediterranean went to work at the Library of Alexandria. One of these scientists was the Ancient Greek Astronomer, Eratosthenes of Cyrene." - Harold

"In Houston, they tried air cannons so loud neighbors called in the SWAT team. In New Mexico, it took a half-dozen men and thousands of explosives. In Austin, technicians go out night after night with heavy-duty lasers. All to battle an 8-ounce, highly adaptive bird that's colonizing the country -- and leaving behind inch-thick layers of droppings as it goes. The great-tailed grackle, called by some the devil bird, is lovely to look at. Males are jet-black with a violet-blue iridescent sheen to their feathers that made them prized by Aztec kings in their original range in Central America. But while they once were seen only in the most southern tip of Texas, today they're in 23 states, as far north as Montana and as far west as Washington." - Harold from Bookmarklet

Purple Martins look and act like swallows, but they're a little bigger and chunkier and they don't have as dramatic of a swallow tail as Barn Swallows do. Grackles have long tails that look wider at the end than the base and forage mainly on the ground. The profiles and behavior are pretty different. One other bird that can look glossy purple (in some plumages, anyway) are starlings. - John (bird whisperer)

"Recess is good for a child's body and mind, and withholding these regular breaks in the school day may be counterproductive to healthy child development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics' first policy statement on the issue." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Increasing pressures on schools to find more time for academics has resulted in "an erosion of recess time around the country," says statement co-author Robert Murray, a professor of pediatrics at Ohio State University. "But we have a couple of decades of research now that indicates that recess plays a huge role in a child's life, and not just because it's fun."" - Harold

"Running around with friends and taking in some fresh air is just as important as studying math and learning to read. According to a new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) the pastime of recess is an important part of a child’s development and social interaction skills. The AAP published its statement in the journal Pediatrics in which it stresses the importance of school mandated breaks in learning times." - Harold from Bookmarklet

“Children need to have downtime between complex cognitive challenges. They tend to be less able to process information the longer they are held to a task. It’s not enough to just switch from math to English. You actually have to take a break.” - Harold

"If America is ever to confront its obsession with guns, that time is now. America’s murder rate is four times higher than Britain’s and six times higher than Germany’s. Only an idiot, or an anti-American bigot prepared to maintain that Americans are four times more murderous than Britons, could possibly pretend that no connection exists between those figures and the fact that 300m guns are “out there” in the United States, more than one for every adult." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"If Americans want a society where schools do not, as the one in Newtown did, have to drill their children in emergency lock-down procedures, more drastic measures should be contemplated. Handgun bans, such as those that operated in Chicago and Washington, DC, before the Supreme Court struck them down, would be needed on a national scale. Gun licences, obtainable only after extensive... more... - Harold

The piece calls for the reinstatement of the assault rifle ban and an end to “gun-show exemption” from background checks, before outright calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment. - Harold

"Celebs demand gun control in video campaign ... demand that President Obama and Congress step forward with a plan to end gun violence". - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Toy manufacturers often market high-priced toys that play by themselves (no child needed!), are connected to movies and television shows (no imagination needed!) or have just one purpose in mind. Once played with, they go in the closet. On this last weekend before the Christmas gift-giving commences, parents should go back to basics when toy shopping for their young children from birth to age 8. Children are complex people who need holistic opportunities for development, learning, health and happiness." - Harold from Bookmarklet

"Art supplies provide fun, creative and open-ended play opportunities that allow children to feel successful at any age. Rather than buying kits with lots of directions and samples of the end product, buy paint, markers, paper, paintbrushes, toothbrushes, feathers, yarn, glue, bits of paper and gather interesting materials from around the house to add in such as potato mashers and other... more... - Harold