Have you ever said you’re happy when you really weren’t? When someone asks how you are, it’s natural to say you’re “ok,” even though you’re wishing for different circumstances. You want a bigger this or a better that. A lot of people feel this way.

What if I told you you didn’t have to go after a better job or a new mobile phone to be happy?

CLICK HERE TO BUY Authentic Happiness in Seven Emails by Javy W Galindo

“Many people settle for a less than optimal life, one where happiness is occasionally attained by pursuing pleasure. Instead, studies indicate that happiness is more of a choice than a goal to be pursued,” says Javy Galindo, author of Authentic Happiness in Seven Emails.

Javy teaches a course on the psychology of happiness. There are lots of books about how to be happy, but he wanted to write one that was simple. He often has students contact him with questions about his course, so he came up with the idea to write a book about how he might respond to their emails. Here’s a synopsis of what he has to say about happiness:

Email 1: What makes us happy?

Think about things you really wanted and got. When you get something you want, your happiness spikes, but then you forget about it. After a while, you don’t even remember those little things that made you happy in the past.

When people go from extreme poverty to a higher lifestyle, they do generally become happier. But this doesn’t happen to most people.

Your circumstances change throughout life, but your happiness typically goes back to similar baseline. Even people who go through traumatic or tragic life events, such as losing body parts or losing a love one, generally go back to their baseline happiness after the dust settles.

Nick Vujicic was born without limbs. Because of childhood bullying, he once tried to drown himself. Today this Australian is a globe-trotting evangelist and motivational speaker. He’s pictured here speaking to an audience of 25,000 in Vietnam.

“Altering the conditions of our lives has less influence on our experience of happiness than our choices in thought and behavior. In other words, ultimately, we are what make us happy,” Javy said.

Email 2: Why do we do the things we do?

We do a lot of normal activities such as brushing our teeth or taking a shower without thinking about it. When we get dressed, we just do it without thinking about it. Our voluntary actions aren’t so voluntary. They seem to make us more efficient life-livers. A lot of what we do is unconscious activity.

If happiness is a choice, then why don’t we just choose it?

Have you ever been upset when getting caught in traffic or got cut off? Are you thinking about it, or just reacting? It’s a problem when you begin to develop habits that cause you to be unhappy. Your heart is pumping and your internal body is taking care of a lot of activities without thinking about it. The way you think and perceive the world is often equally unconscious.

“Our choices of thought and behavior are often not voluntarily chosen, but are the result of unconscious processing through things such as habits, conditioned behaviors and evolutionary instincts,” Javy said.

Email 3: What is happiness anyway?

Be careful of the cult of positivity. It’s a component, but it’s not everything. Happiness is more than a feeling. Happiness is the state of a life well lived. Emotions are chemical reactions and they fade over time.

“Beyond simply feeling good, being happy also refers to a sense of satisfaction and meaning we experience through our engagement with life,” Javy said.

So get engaged with the activities that bring you satisfaction.

Email 4: Live easy.

How can we live with fewer unpleasant emotions? Choose not to burden yourself with difficult thoughts. Choose to live easy.

Don’t make things harder than they have to be. It’s not just about being un-miserable. The goal is to be happy. Develop healthy relationships with your joys.

Email 5: Live light.

If you do the same things every day, go back to the same place, eat the same food, or see the same person in the same place all the time, it becomes mundane.

Are you happy? Do you want to be happy?

What if you continue to rely on the exact same thing? This is what happens with ice cream, alcohol, gambling or other addictive things. You need more and bigger to feel more. This is how you can get on a hedonic treadmill where you never reach happiness. These activities weigh you down and enslave you to dependencies.

So how can you experience more joy? Develop a healthy relationship with variations in small pleasures. Whether it’s flowers or coffee or music or travel, do these little things to bring joy to your daily life.

“We can enhance our experience of feeling good by placing more attention on the brighter sides of life and by being more lighthearted, enabling us to more easily appreciate the simple joys we experience every day,” Javy said.

Email 6: Live smooth.

People are happiest when they’re engaged in a physical activity, such as work they love. People who reach peak happiness get so engaged in what they’re doing that they lost track of time. They got so lost in the activity. It doesn’t matter whether you’re engrossed in a conversation, gardening, working, writing or doing some type of artistic or athletic endeavor. What matters is that it flows out of you. Everyone has a flow state. It’s where you lose yourself in an activity.

CLICK HERE TO BUY The Power of Thinking Differently by Javy W Galindo

“We are happy when we experience satisfaction with our activities. We often experience this when we enter flow states, states of complete engagement with our activity. The interesting thing is that the experience of flow is independent of the activity itself,” Javy said.

Email 7: Live meaningfully.

Many people search for purpose and meaning in life. Some people experience a vibrant life, while others see it dull. You become desensitized to things you see often.

You can always choose how you perceive things. Nothing changes about the world. You choose how you want to see things, positive or negative. This is The Power of Thinking Differently.

“The key is that we can make choices with how we engage in the world to make life feel more purposeful and meaningful. We can choose to participate in activities that involve some form of emotional risk, to give ourselves a feeling that our actions matter. We can pursue endeavors that are altruistic, prioritize building social bonds, and get in line with our virtues and character strengths. And we can choose to be open to new perspectives in order to make life more full of meaning.”

How to get happy now via habits, goals and resolutions

Javy Galindo

Javy Wong Galindo is a professor of philosophy, humanities, and psychology in Northern California. He has been a popular instructor at Heald College, John F. Kennedy University, and De Anza College. He is also a proud member of the American Association of Philosophy Teachers, the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy, and the Western Positive Psychology Association.

This former electrical engineer and performing arts instructor has had the privilege of working at several high-tech companies including Cisco Systems, Motorola, ViaSat, Tellus Technology, and Northrop Grumman among others.

Javy is now most well-known for his engaging college courses and public talks, his enthusiastic teaching style, and his ability to convey complex ideas in personally meaningful, simple terms. These characteristics are epitomized in his two books: Authentic Happiness in Seven Emails and The Power of Thinking Differently.

Javy is available for talks and workshops on various topics including creativity, innovation, creative thinking and authentic happiness. 

A friend called me this afternoon and invited me to join her for Beatles music at SJSU this evening. My husband and I were planning on going out for a walk this evening, so we decided to reroute our walk and meet up. “We can work it out,” I told her.

Fab Four from the Classical Mystery Tour paying tribute to the Beatles

I had no idea we were about to venture into one of the largest free music festivals in the area. We walked into a huge crowd of people sitting in the courtyard area behind the library. The music was fabulous!

Beatles music at Target Summer Pops series at San Jose State University

There are so many things to do when you live in a big city. Although I want to take part in great opportunities like this, I sometimes feel as if I have to sift through too much information to discover the best things to do, so I don’t search at all.

When we’re out and about, especially on weekends, we often stumble upon interesting events like this. But if my friend hadn’t called me, I would have missed out on this terrific event this evening. The music wasn’t overly loud so it was especially pleasant.

Do you need anybody?

I need somebody to love.

Could it be anybody?

I want somebody to love.

Would you believe in a love at first sight?

Yes, I’m certain it that it happens all the time.

I get by with a little help from my friends.

Gonna try with a little help from my friends.

I haven’t gone out of my way to listen to Beatles music for a while, but I found it surprisingly easy to sing along with the rest of the crowd. I’m always amazed at how lyrics stick with you even when you don’t hear them for years. Beatles songs are especially easy to remember. It’s one of their secrets of success. People crave simplicity in a world of complexity.

Beatles music at Target Summer Pops series at San Jose State University

My husband and I don’t usually have a good excuse to dance and sway our arms in the air when we go for a walk, but this evening we did. The Fab Four from the Classical Mystery Tour were so Beatle-like, they brought their audience to their feet, swaying their hips and arms to timeless tunes. Even dogs were wagging their tails.

People and dogs enjoy music in the park

One thing I love about living in Silicon Valley is that it’s full of interesting surprises. This evening I was in the middle of a massive crowd singing along to Beatles songs. “All you need is love . . . love . . . love is all you need . . . ”

The next time you have the chance to sing tunes with your neighbors in the park, jump on the opportunity. Not only did we enjoy the time with Mari-Lyn, we got to listen to some heart-warming music and meet more neighbors.

Thank you Target and Symphony Silicon Valley for sponsoring this fun event for your customers and neighbors!

Would you like to see rare places where age is enjoyed, admired and studied? Places where people are old or looking for ways to extend their lives? Then you’ll enjoy seeing How to Live Forever and meeting stubborn characters like 101-year-old London resident, Buster Martin, a chain-smoking, beer-drinking marathon runner.

In this film, Mark Wexler takes you on a fun whirlwind of visits giving you insights on how to extend your life. Being stubborn, by the way, is probably more likely than smoking to extend your life.

The following tips represent some of the many interesting topics highlighted in the film. I don’t necessarily endorse all of them, but I like to keep my options open. Sometimes a girl changes her mind you know . . .

Participate in contests. A contestant at the Ms. Senior American Beauty Pageant says, “I might be 75, but I’m still hot. It just comes in flashes.” Have fun staying active.

Dr. Madan Kataria

Laugh at least ten minutes every day. Dr. Madan Kataria is a medical doctor from Mumbai, India, where he’s known as the guru of laughter. He’s the founder of Laughter Yoga, a club he began in 1995 with five people in a public park. Today this movement for health, joy and world peace, has grown to more than 6,000 clubs in over 60 countries. Follow these instructions for your daily laughter yoga practice: Laugh for no reason. Laugh louder. Laugh more. Start over.

Learn from older people. If you have a 90-year-old or centenarian in your immediate family, that’s good news for you because you may have inherited some of the same longevity genes. If you don’t, ask your friends if they know an elderly person or volunteer at a retirement home to find some old friends. VolunteerMatch

Dear Diary, This is the Day I Decided to Drink Distilled Water

Stay active and set big goals. In 1984, at the age of 70, Jack LaLanne handcuffed, shackled and fighting strong winds and currents towed (with his own strength) 70 boats with 70 people from the Queen’s Way Bridge in the Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary, 1-1/2 miles.

“Anything in life is possible if YOU make it happen . . .  and YOU CAN,” says Lalanne.

Learn more of Lalanne’s secrets in one of his many books such as: Revitalize Your Life After 50 (1995), Live Young Forever (2009), Celebrating 90 Plus Years of Healthy Living (2009). Lalanne, who started off as a weak and sickly bed-ridden boy, died strong at the age of 96 in 2011. Huffington Post

Work out (your brain) every day. A common quality among centenarians is that they’ve kept their brains active throughout their lives. It doesn’t matter whether you work, play games or participate in mentally stimulating hobbies. They’re all beneficial.

Take hormones. Suzanne Somers touts the use of Bioidential Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). In fact, she’s written several books which encourage women to take hormones to remain youthful: The Sexy Years (2004), Ageless (2006), Bombshell (2012) and her latest book, I’m Too Young For This (2013).

Go on a calorie restriction diet. Calorie Restriction (CR) has been scientifically proven to extend life in animals and many researchers believe CR extends human life as well. FightAging.org. Check out CR Society International for more information. You can probably get by just fine eating a whole lot less than you have in the past. Eat less.

Don’t retire. The Japanese associate negative images with the word retirement. This, along with their healthy diet and active lifestyle, are probably some of the reasons why they tend to live longer than people in most other countries, particularly in Okinawa. There is no retirement age in Japan. I personally witnessed this earlier this year when my husband and I visited Okinawa. We met countless people in their 70s, 80s and even 90s still working. Okinawa Centenarian Study

Phyllis Diller

Treat your troubles with jokes. In her autobiography, Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse: My Life in Comedy, Phyllis Diller shares her struggles and shenanigans as the first woman of her time to rise to the top of the male-dominated comedy scene, a feat she accomplished while caring for five children and an unemployed husband. Despite the many challenges she faced throughout her life, she found a way to laugh every day. “Some people say ‘who would want to be 90,’ and I say ‘anyone who is 89,'” says Diller, who died with a smile on her face at the age of 95.

Write your autobiography when you’re in your 90s. Eleanor Wasson believes that the best part of life begins when you get past 50. She believes in free will and free choice–that we let things happen by the choices we make. She wrote her autobiography, 28,000 Martinis and Counting, in her 90s and later passed away in 2008 at the age of 100. Santa Cruz Sentinal

Set a goal to be the oldest person somewhere. Everyone gets a nanosecond of being the youngest person on earth, but very few get the chance to be the oldest. In this film, you’ll get to see Edna Parker who, at the time of filming, was the oldest person in the world at 115. Perhaps you can live to be the oldest person in your family, your city, or even the world . . .

Embrace technology. In his book, The Singularity is Near, Ray Kurzweil spells out his belief that we’re moving into an age of a “new civilization that will enable us to transcend our biological limitations and amplify our creativity.” Technology is used in medicine and many other industries to enhance and extend life. Soon it will be doing much more.

Say no to ice cream. John Robbins is the only son to the founder of the Baskin-Robbins empire. Instead of following in his father’s footsteps, he chose to walk away from ice cream and wealth to pursue his own dream of living in harmony with all life forms. He is the founder of EarthSave International and Board Chair of Yes! Robbins is also the author of numerous books including Healthy at 100.

Freeze your body and come back to life later. At Alcor Life Extension Foundation, cryonics is happening now. Alcor believes that “lack of legal status as a person does not imply lack of moral status as a person.” They welcome you to tour their facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, and walk among stiffs who are waiting to come back to life. If you don’t want to do business with a funeral home director, Alcor might be the alternative you’re looking for. You just might be one of the first to learn How to Live Forever.

Live until the day you die. “My boyfriend is older than me, but he can still drive at night,” said an elderly woman who still enjoys dating older men. Stay active. Get out there and keep doing the things you love to do. Laugh more, eat less.

Dear Mr. President,

I know you’re very busy trying to fix the deficit, the economy, the NSA and the ObamaCare website, but every good dad should have a few minutes to take a look at his kid’s report card. There’s something else you need to fix. Your child, Doe, isn’t doing very well in school. Here’s DOE’s report card.

Math & Science Scores – C

Among other countries, the US ranks 31st in math and 23rd in science. Students First. This puts US students in the “middle of the pack,” about the equivalent of a C. Huffington Post. This average score, however, has nothing to do with the number of qualified math teachers. They always multiply. PunOfTheDay 

School Lunches – F

Childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. CDC. When kids walk through hallways to go to another class or to go eat their Monsanto lunch, they pass by vending machines filled with junk food. Huffington Post. Most people believe that school lunches play a big part in contributing to childhood obesity and that schools have a big influence on what kids eat. FreshBites. Overweight kids are more likely to face health issues that will shorten their lives and they add economic burden to all citizens. Some students are so fat, they can’t even jump to conclusions. JustOneLiners. Food Matters!

Physical Education – D

Only six states require physical education classes. As school budgets have been tightening their belts, students have been letting theirs out. Physical education and other elective classes such as nutrition and health have been cut. This is further exacerbating the obesity issue. SPARK. Some young moms are so out of shape that they have trouble pulling shopping carts apart. AgelessFx

Graduation Rate – F

According to the OECD, the United States has a 76% graduation rate. The No Child Left Behind plan failed. The White House. Of the OECD countries, 20 of the 34 are doing better in providing a basic education to their citizens. I wasn’t a math major, but I think this means that the US ranks around 38%, equivalent to an F. We need more teachers like Erin Gruwell, who rallied up students to be Freedom Writers. Recently, a group of dropouts gathered at the front of a movie theatre for a noon matinee on a school day. They were all texting and one by one more kept showing up. As the crowd grew to more than a dozen teens, the manager stepped outside to ask what they were doing. One young man with oversize droopy pants spoke up said they were still waiting on a few more friends since the sign said that 17 and under were not admitted. Jeff Foxworthy

SAT & ACT Scores – D

Maybe students aren’t interested in studying at school and they’re picking up their reading and writing skills on social networking sites? Maybe not. SAT and ACT scores are generally on a downward trend. The Unsilenced Science. The DOE needs to invest more in high-tech teaching tools and less on high-tech security equipment, then these scores would be rising, not falling. “Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student. At least they can find Kuwait,” says A. Whitney Brown.

Teachers – D

Teacher job satisfaction is the lowest it has been in 25 years. If the teachers aren’t happy teaching, then students won’t be happy learners. Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teacher’s union, says, “Teacher job satisfaction will continue to free fall as long as school budgets are slashed.” Huffington Post. Do we need more money or do we need more teachers like Jaime Escalante who are willing to Stand and Deliver?

Spending – D

If you’re thinking that we need to spend more money to solve the problem, consider this. The US already spends more on education than any other participating OECD country. NEA Today, If I were a business consultant and found out that a company was spending more than any of their competitors to deliver their service, and customers and employees were unsatisfied, I’d give them a D with a warning that they better start doing their homework before they go out of business.

Schools – D

The education system is needs fixin’. It’s going to take a superhero to take care of all these issues! Fortunately, there are some superheros among us. Some kids have the good fortune of getting into KIPP schools. But we need more superheroes like SuperMike and SuperDave KIPPsters to figure out how to get all kids into successful schools. Watch Waiting for Superman free on Vimeo to see how KIPP schools have overcome these issues and found a way to successfully prepare their students for college. Check out the trailer. . .

By bringing Monsanto executives into your administration, you’ve been quite successful at destroying America’s food system and the health of American people. Occupy Monsanto. This leadership thing really seems to do the trick. By the way, was the tree in the DOE logo genetically modified too?

“My school was so tough, the school newspaper had an obituary section,” says Norm Crosby. Take a look inside one of the country’s most dangerous schools on this ABC News report. “If you know any teenagers in prison, send them some candy to help them break out.” Jill Perlow

Today’s kids are generally worse off than their parents, mentally, physically and financially. I’m writing on behalf of all the kids who are suffering, getting left behind, sleeping in the streets, getting locked up and dying for help. The kids are Waiting for Superman! Can you please hire some KIPP-like leaders to head up the DOE so that they can help all our young does and John Does succeed? Please call immediately to schedule a parent-teacher conference.

Go Away! And other good advice parents should give kids

Have you been struggling to lose weight for years? This is one of those moments in life when you came to the right place at the right time.

This diet plan allows you to unlock good and bad secrets that are likely to make you both angry and ecstatic. You don’t have to count calories, but you do have to follow the simple plan. Over the next few weeks and months, you will begin to feel like a blind person miraculously regaining sight.

Most diet plans focus on changing your eating or exercise habits. But your weight challenge isn’t only about what you eat or how often you go to the gym, it has a lot to do with what you’ve been taught through your family and culture. And it has a lot to do with how much you think or don’t think about what you eat.

Dr. Lorraine’s Film Diet Plan will bring on a paradigm shift in the way you think about food. You’ll finally understand why you’ve been unable to escape from a seemingly hopeless trap.

Big corporations that stock grocery stores and supply fast food chains are exploiting you and everyone else who eats their bait. They’ve ambushed every industry in the process: farmers, slaughterhouses, packers, migrant farmworkers, supermarkets, and fast food chains. And they’re doing an equal amount of damage to the people who consume their addictive, harmful, imitation food-like substances that come in plastics, Styrofoam, cans and other packages that pollute our environment.

If fat seems to be hanging a little lower each month, then your low fat diet is working just the way they want it to. DW. 

To them it’s a money game. You pay a rather small financial price to participate in the beginning, but in the long run you put your health and life at stake.

These corporations have successfully programmed you through advertisements, the media, internet, doctors, politicians and special interest groups. They sell addictive food-like chemical concoctions that tease your taste buds while wreaking havoc on your health. Each time you open up your wallet and pay for their junk, you’re one bite closer to sickness. Perhaps it’s already eating away at you.

You can begin your escape from the fat trap by avoiding these types of grocery stores that are only concerned about their profit and have no interest whatsoever in your health.

Shop at grocery stores that specialize in more healthful organic foods such as The Fresh Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods Market, and local farmer’s markets. They filter out tons of junk, literally, that you don’t want to put in your body. When you go, take your time and ask lots of questions. These are the types of places where you can find people who tend to eat healthier whole foods. They can help to steer you in the right direction and give you some great recipe ideas.

What can you make with beans and onions? Tear Gas. Jokes4Us

Here’s how Dr. Lorraine’s Film Diet Plan works.

Watch one or two of the following films each week for the next several months until you’ve seen all of them at least once. It’s that simple. The films are listed alphabetically, but you can watch them in any order. Choose the film you feel most drawn to next. That’s what will work best for you. It’s like choosing what you want to eat from a menu, except you’re choosing what you want to watch.

When you watch them, you must give your full attention to each one. Take notes if you want. Every time you’re buying or eating food, think about the films and make your choices accordingly. Your subconscious is astoundingly powerful. Once you gain awareness, you will have the confidence, will-power and strength you need to succeed.

In the upcoming months, do not allow skeptics to derail or discourage you. Decrease your time with nay-sayers and increase your time with encouragers. As you progress on the Film Diet, you’ll find it easier and easier to go out of your weigh to change eating habits in ways you never imagined.

If you regularly eat with your spouse, kids or others who live with you, it’s helpful if you do the Film Diet as a team. But regardless of whether or not others join you, you can do this on your own. Just as you feed your body each day, you can and must feed your mind each week.

Begin the Film Diet Plan today. Later you will look back and know that it was one of the best decisions you ever made in your life. Dim the lights. The show is about to begin. And you’re the star.

Following is the list of films along with trailers and links to where you can find them. Your mind meal is about to begin. You’re about to tap into a new energy source that’s just as important as food. It’s time for you to choose something from the menu:

A Delicate Balance (2008)

Learn more about the film and watch it for free at ADelicateBalance.com.au.

All Jacked Up (2008)

Click here to get the All Jacked Up DVD. Learn more about the film at AllJackedUp.com.

A River of Waste: The Hazardous Truth About Factory Farms (2009)

Click here to get River of Waste. Learn more about the film at ARiverOfWaste.com.

Bad Seed: The Truth About Our Food (2006)

Click here to get Bad Seed. Learn more about the film at BadSeed.info.

Dirt! The Movie (2009)

Click here to get Dirt! The Movie. Learn more about the film at TheDirtMovie.org.

Earthlings (2005)

Click here to get Earthlings. Learn more about the film at Earthlings.com.

Farmageddon (2011)

Click here to get Farmageddon. Learn more about the film at FarmageddonMovie.com

Fast Food Nation (2006)

Click here to get Fast Food Nation.

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (2010)

Click here to get Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. Learn more about the film at FatSickAndNearlyDead.com.

Fed Up! (2002)

Click here to get Fed Up!

Food, Inc (2008)

Click here to watch Food, Inc. on Documentary Addict.

Food Fight (2008)

Click here to watch Food Fight for free on Films for Action.  Learn more about the film at FoodFightTheDoc.com

Food Matters (2008)

Click here to get Food Matters.  Learn more about the film at FoodMatters.tv.

Forks Over Knives (2011)

Click here to get Forks Over Knives. Learn more about the film at ForksOverKnives.com.

Fowl Play (2008)

Click here to get Fowl Play. Learn more about the film at FowlPlayMovie.com

Frankensteer (2005)

Click here to watch Frankensteer for free at Films For Action. Learn more about the film at BullFrogFilms.com.

Fresh (2009)

Click here to get Fresh. Learn more about the film at FreshTheMovie.com.

Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives (2012)

Click here to watch Genetic Roulette for free on YouTube. Learn more about the film at GeneticRouletteMovie.com.

Hungry for Change (2012)

Click here to get Hungry for Change. Learn more about the film at HungryForChange.tv.

Ingredients (2009)

Click here to get Ingredients. Learn more about the film at IngredientsFilm.com

Killer at Large (2008)

Click here to get Killer at Large. Learn more about the film at KilleratLarge.com.

King Corn (2007)

Click here to get King Corn. Learn more about the film at KingCorn.net.

Mad Cowboy (2006)

Click here to watch Mad Cowboy for free on YouTube. Learn more about the film at MadCowboy.com.

McLibel (2005)

Click here to get McLibel.

Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home (2012)

Click here to get Peaceable Kingdom. Learn more about the film at PeaceableKingdomfilm.org.

Planeat (2010)

Click here to watch Planeat. Learn more about the film at Planeat.tv.

Processed People (2009)

Click here to get Processed People. Learn more about the film at ProcessedPeople.com.

Seeds of Death: Unveiling the Lies of GMOs (2012)

Click here to watch Seeds of Death free on YouTube.

$tatin Nation: The Great Cholesterol Coverup (2012)

Click here to get $tatin Nation. Learn more about the film at StatinNation.net.

Supersize Me (2004)

Click here to watch Supersize Me for free on YouTube.

Sustainable Table: What’s on Your Plate? (2006)

Click here to get Sustainable Table. Learn more about the film at SustainableTableMovie.com

Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World (2004)

Click here to watch Sweet Misery for free on YouTube.

The Future of Food (2004)

Click here to get The Future of Food. Learn more about the film TheFutureofFood.com

The Harvest (2011)  

Click here to get The Harvest. Learn more about the film at TheHarvestFilm.com

The Perfect Human Diet (2012)

Click here to watch The Perfect Human Diet on YouTube. Learn more about the film at PerfectHumanDiet.us.

Vegucated (2010)

Click here to get Vegucated. Learn more about the film at GetVegucated.com.

The Film Diet Plan is a good partner to other healthy diet plans. If you have friends or family members who are struggling with their health or weight, pass this on. You’ll reach your goals quicker if you discuss the films with them. The more you talk, the better. It keeps your mind and mouth occupied with talking rather than eating. DW

Did you know the US has more attorneys per capita than any other country in the world? For those of you who live in the United States of American Lawyers, I need to include a disclaimer. So here’s your warning. Please consult with your doctor before starting any diet plan. In this case, please consult with your optician before watching any of these films.

If you have any questions about the Film Diet Plan, feel free to contact me privately or leave a comment below. Check back regularly for updates on the films or the diet plan. And please keep me posted on how you’re doing. Don’t rush through the films or your meals. A slower pace will help you reach your goals quicker.

SlowFoodUSA.org

A pilot made a very rough landing, skidding the plane on its belly across the runway. As part of his job he was required to stand at the terminal door and say goodbye to the passengers as they disembarked. He was afraid of what they might say about his landing. But nearly everyone passed by without saying a word until the last few people were exiting and one little boy asked, “Did we land, or were we shot down?” AJokeADay

Sum Ting Wong? Yes.

Ho Lee Fuk. What’s up?

Wi Tu Lo. Our scores need to go up.

The US spends more $15,000 per student annually. This is more per student than any other country. OECD.

Ho Lee Fuk.

And here’s what we get for our money . . .

How is it that something like this can make national news in America? Did you know that the US has been slipping behind in the global report card for years? Even smart people who work at places like news agencies can be duped by an intern or Dum Gai.

It doesn’t take a PhD to see the DOE deserves a D in education

According to the OECD, the US falls well below the global average for the percentage of students graduating from high school. The NO Child Left Behind policy obviously doesn’t apply to ALL children. If you want to increase your child’s chance of graduating from high school, you’re better off in Slovenia, Finland, Japan, Korea, the UK, or more than a dozen other countries that outperform the US.

Wi Tu Lo.

But if you have the money, you can move to an upscale suburban neighborhood where higher property taxes help to ensure that your child gets a better than average education.

Watch Waiting for ‘Superman’ to see if you have enough money to play education roulette with your kid’s future. I don’t cry easily, but this film had me sobbing over the fact that American leaders are neglecting the education of millions of children, instead choosing to imprison them as young adults, causing them to fall into a life of poverty where they scrape by in less than desirable neighborhoods. And become a financial burden to all Americans. The wrong people are going to jail in this case! Go KIPPsters!

Sum Ting Wong?

Apparently some children are more important than others.

Ho Lee Fuk.

Bang Ding Ow.

Do you believe everything you hear on the evening news? I don’t either and I urge you to start looking for second and third opinions elsewhere. And teach your kids to do the same. If you and your kids can get news in other languages, all the better. Languages act like firewalls. If you can’t speak a language, you miss out on a lot of information on the other side of the wall.

Powerful corporations act like firewalls too. A Canadian poll recently revealed that 90% of scientists are afraid to speak openly to the media about the work they do. Tyee. The survey also found that 24% were asked to exclude or alter information for non-scientific reasons and 37% were told not to respond to questions by the public or media. Media Matters! Watch the War on Whistleblowers to learn more about Hu Yu Hai Ding. PL

Big corporations buy out news organizations, politicians and scientists to ensure that we only hear what they want us to hear. And they pay off citizens to keep their mouths shut.

So Su Mi. GLP

Smart people with ethics don’t last long under these circumstances. They eventually lose something: their ethics, conscious, job, home, health or life.

Sum Ting Wong!

The Union of Concerned Scientists represent 400,000 scientists and citizens from all walks of life who believe that we should be making decisions based on science without obstructions from politics, the media or corporations. UCS is working on some of the world’s most daunting problems such as global warming, how to feed, power and transport the world’s growing population, and how to reduce the threat of catastrophic war.

Bang Ding Ow.

Watch Collapse to get an idea of how we got where we are and for tips on what you can do to help prepare for the future.

Survival of the fittest applies to both animals and people. The country with the smartest and healthiest people has the best chance of surviving. According to the OECD, Asian students make up 53% of foreign students enrolled in universities worldwide. The largest numbers of foreign students are from China, India and Korea, and these numbers continue to grow. Europe is the top destination for students enrolled in college outside their country of origin. Although foreigners are still enrolling in American universities, it’s on a downward trend. Wonder why?

Talk to Wi Tu Lo and Wi Tu Phat.

Yang Mythos students from China sketching the Eiffel Tower

An American man struck up a conversation with a woman from Switzerland while on a Mediterranean cruise. They seemed to be hitting it off fairly well so he invited her to go for a dip in the sea followed by dinner when they docked in Rome.

“Can you speak Italian?” she asked.

“I’m American. I only speak English,” he responded.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I speak Italian, so I can order dinner for us.”

“Can you swim?” he asked.

“No,” she said, “but I can scream for help in six different languages.” HBBB

If you want your children or grandchildren to have a better understanding of the world, encourage them to travel and study abroad. There are so many things they’ll never see or comprehend if they never leave the country or learn another language.

You can’t see your country when you’re too busy driving between your home in the suburbs to your job, to strip malls scattered all over the place and to gas stations to keep filling up your tank. And the growing number of less fortunate who don’t have a car or home, are too busy trying to figure out how they can safely eat and sleep each day. Have you found your Escape from Suburbia yet?

Every good artist knows that you have to step back and look at your creation from a distance. Only then do you gain a true perspective on the whole.

This is when you gain new insights and come up with innovative ideas. That’s what a democracy is about, right? Education for all and freedom of speech for all. We educate our people so they have a fair shot at the American dream and a say in shaping our country, making it a better place for everyone.

A great time to live abroad is to take a year between high school and college or a year between a bachelor’s and master’s degree, or a year between completing a college degree and getting a job. If you’re like most people and don’t have the funds to lay on the beach for a year, look for a work opportunity in another country. You’ll learn a whole lot more that way any how and build a resume line that may help you for years to come. New York Times Gap Year

You don’t have to wait until your kids or grandkids are in college. Students can participate in exchange programs in middle school or high school. When I was living in Shenzhen, China, I had the opportunity to befriend and become language partners with Yang Mei Hong, the founder of Yang Mythos, of one of the most amazing intercultural schools I’ve ever seen.

Dr. Lorraine Haataia & Yang Mei Hong at Yang Mythos Center at Children’s Palace in Shenzhen, China

Yang Mythos Art Education Center isn’t only about art, fashion, dance and travel. It’s so much more. Students have the opportunity to attend local art classes with many talented foreign, bicultural or bilingual teachers as well as participate in international exchange programs. These real-life experiential programs give them hands-on opportunities to practice creativity, happiness, wisdom, enlightenment, and much more. The teachers, parents and students all have fun while building relationships and bridges among people and across cultures.

Yang Mythos has more than a dozen exchange centers throughout the world, in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Canada, France and Germany. And they just recently opened a new center in Washington, DC.

This Chinese boy is writing on the Berlin Wall. Who knows how this experience might affect his future? Perhaps he will tear down Nefarious walls and free people. The writing is on the wall.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked the teacher.

“Possible,” said the boy.

“What do you mean by that?” the teacher asked.

“My mom keeps telling me I’m impossible. When I grow up, I want to be possible.” AHD

Don’t let money stop you. Look for funding through organizations like the Institute of International Education.

Just one international trip can change many lives forever. Take a look at the Touch A Life Foundation to see what one trip to Vietnam did for Pam and Randy Cope and the countless lives they’ve affected through this organization they founded.

When was the last time you told your kid to go away?

Would you like some milk? Or how about a soft drink, a mixed drink or some dessert? It’s ironic that the Hooters menu features some of the very foods that may be detrimental to bosoms. Many of these foods, along with hamburger buns. sauces and other items on the menu are laced with high fructose corn syrup made from GMO corn.

Not long ago I heard that Hooters was considering starting a home delivery service called Knockers. JB. Surveys consistently show that most men like knockers. And many of them are willing to do just about anything to fit them into their daily routine. Hooters put the idea on hold for now, however, because some of the young women were having trouble getting through the training.

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Madam.
Madam who?
Madam foot is caught in the door.

Knock knock.
Who’s there?
Doris.
Doris who?
Doris locked, so I had to knock. AT

Men gather together to keep their eyes on Hooters. The NFL Shop sells more than 1000 pink products in a category they call “breast cancer awareness gear,” to make sure that all Americans know how bad the problem is. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in American women, who have about a 1 in 8 chance of being diagnosed at some point in their lifetimes.

But I can’t help but wonder why adults need to pay for gear to prove they’ve been informed of this? Kids get gold stars on their foreheads in kindergarten and that’s cute. But men wearing pink ribbons is like women putting blue balls stickers on their faces. The most common forms of cancer in men occurs in their prostates or on the skin of their heads or faces.

Don’t buy this pink stuff! It won’t do anything to save your boobs or your wife’s, whatever the case may be. Monsanto, cancer centers, pharmaceutical companies and even the NFL are all profiting from this pinkwashing.

Football was an obvious choice for pinkwashers who knew it would be a bad idea to promote pink at the olympics. Why advertise that we have one of highest rates of breast cancer in the world? BBC News Magazine. The pinkwashers don’t want this kind of news to make headlines. If foreigners leak information to Americans about what they can do to help prevent it, it would be bad business for insurance companies, cancer centers and big pharma.

It’s hard enough on women who are told by their doctors and insurance companies that they need annual mammograms. For the men out there who’ve never experienced a mammogram, imagine this. Another man places your wiener between the refrigerator and its door. Then he pushes on the door as hard as he can until you’re sure your wiener has become a sausage patty. Or picture another man maneuvering your joystick on an ice block and then putting another heavy ice block on top, crushing it down on you until you doubt whether you’ll ever experience joy again. CC

What Pink Ribbons founder, Jane Weiner, did to help save her sister is certainly admirable. It’s always nice to hear a success story about someone saving the life of a loved one. But this pink thing has gotten completely out of control. Now you can buy pink just-about-anything or participate in a pink walk, run or bike ride to raise more funds for cancer centers and pharmaceutical drugs that “cure” women through inhumane tortuous treatments.

During football season, millions of Americans tailgate and then sit back to drink and eat junk food while they cheer on the few dozen guys in the stadium who are actually getting some exercise. The next time you see a team sporting pink gloves, socks or shoelaces, here’s what you need to realize. The corn chips, popcorn, candy, soft drinks, and mixed drinks full of high fructose corn syrup sold at these “sports” stadiums are increasing your risk of cancer. And you’re forking out the dollars to put these addictive and GMO poisons into your body! Non GMO Project. 

Watch this clip to see the effects of eating Monsanto GMO corn . . .

Take a look at the Pink Ribbons website. You won’t find any information about prevention. It’s all about supporting cancer centers and the drugs and treatments they sell.  They’re helping to fund the “cure” side of the issue which is exactly why pink has become so popular. The “cure” industry is big business and it’s fully entrenched in every aspect of American culture.

City of HOPE – City of Hospitals, Oncologists, Pharmacies & Expenses

Angelina Jolie was busted. But thanks to American medicine and places like City of HOPE, she isn’t anymore. Read the signs. Americans build cities around Hospitals, Oncologists, Pharmacies, and Expenses.

Women who face breast cancer certainly need help and much more support than their bras can offer. They need more solutions. And we also need more organizations focusing on prevention for other women who want to keep their breasts along with the rest of their body parts.

If you’re looking for less traumatic cures, contact the Burzynski Clinic, Gerson Institute, Hoxsey Clinic, Cure Naturoli Cancro, or other similar centers in the US or abroad. If you’re aware of others, please let me know and I’ll add them to this list. Chances are, you’ll have to come up with the money on your own. Even if you have insurance, they’re not likely to cover “alternative treatments” since most insurance companies are in bed with the rest of the pinkwashers. Your doctor, cancer center and insurance company wants you to fear anything outside their fortress walls.

Why We Need to Do Doctor Reviews on Our Last Doctors’ Visits

What can women do to reduce their risk of breast cancer? Check out Dr. Mercola’s articles Why Medicine Won’t Allow Cancer to be Cured and Breast Cancer Breakthrough for some great tips. Learn why Evita Ramparte rejected surgery, chemo and radiation, and instead choose to cleanse her body and mind to cure her cancer. And watch these movies:

• Pink Ribbons, Inc.
• Food Matters
• Burzynski, The Movie – Cancer is Serious Business (Part I)
• Burzynski, The Movie – Cancer is Serious Business (Part II)
• Rethinking Cancer
• Gerson Miracle
• Sicko
• Cancer: The Forbidden Cures
• Dying to Have Known

A flat-chested young lady went to a doctor for advice on enlarging her breasts.

“Every morning during your shower, massage your breasts and say ‘scooby dooby doobies, I want bigger boobies.'” the doctor told her.

She did this faithfully for several weeks and it seemed to be working. But one morning she was running late and forgot her morning ritual. She didn’t want to lose momentum so she began her ritual on the bus. “Scooby dooby doobies, I want bigger boobies.”

A guy sitting nearby said, “Do you go to Dr. Hugh G. Rection by chance?” MBS

“Yes, how did you know?” she asked.

“Hickory dickory dock, I want a bigger . . . ”  TTF

It takes balls to say you’re not going to pass out candy on Halloween. It’s like saying you don’t want to roast a turkey on Thanksgiving, or fire up crackers and hotdogs on the Fourth of July.

You may think people who turn off their porch lights on Halloween night are anti-American scrooges who don’t like kids, when in fact they may be doing you a favor. Your kids get less candy, but more exercise as they parade to the next house. Some kids do more walking on Halloween night than they do most other nights of the year.

Why do you think Superman’s costume is so tight? It’s because he’s wearing an “S” when he needs an “L.”  Funology

Buying sweet goodies is more of a trick than a treat. You think kids like Halloween?

Valentine’s Day, Easter and Halloween are even bigger celebrations for the candy industry. According to the National Retail Association, Americans will spend more than $2 billion on Halloween candy alone this year.

Halloween is the time to sample new sweets. Adults buy pounds of their favorite candies to share with kids and colleagues, and to hide away stashes for themselves. Millions of Americans are plagued with sugar addiction.

If you want to know whether or not your kid is addicted to sugar, try this little experiment.

Candy contributes to cavities and other dental issues. That’s why we have the Halloween Candy Buyback program, you might be thinking. But do you really want your dentist getting free PR on the evening news because he’s paying kids for candy he sends off to troops abroad? Don’t fall for this prank! It’s like shipping our electronic waste off to China and India, making people in other countries suffer from our toxic waste. GreenPeace

It’s normal for parents to want to pass along their heritage. But why not create a new healthier tradition? Instead of passing out candy this year, have balls, throw balls, and get kids excited about playing with their balls!

Why balls?

Sour balls and other candies helps kids with eye-hand coordination as they improve their aim to their mouths. But balls help kids with more important things, like long distance eye-hand coordination, physical balance, strength and endurance.

Ask any man. He loves his balls and he’s enjoyed playing with them ever since he can remember. If you don’t believe me, test this for yourself. Given the choice, a boy will part with candy before he’ll part with his balls. Balls are to men what shoes are to women. SearchQuotes

Males tend to be more athletic than females. They keep their balls with them all the time, close at hand. The majority of females grow to appreciate balls, but parents with little girls need to know that there’s no guarantee on things like this.

Even though they may not have any themselves, they understand that men like their balls regardless of what size or shape they are. They come in a wide variety of sizes: everything from dense bowling balls, to air-filled basketballs, hardcore baseballs, and little lightweight ping pongs. Men and women across the globe have exhibited that they get a significant amount of pleasure each week from balls.

When young couples marry, brides are sometimes surprised that their newlyweds leave their balls out on the couch or living room floor. New wives are usually fairly tolerant of things like this, but after children come into the picture, ladies often nag their children and their husbands about putting their balls away.

Keep your eye on the ball. Doesn’t it make more sense to give your kids things to help their brains and bodies develop, rather than deteriorate?

How much should you invest in your balls? 

Whatever you put into your balls now will certainly return to you later. Even a very small investment may give you a surprising rebound. Regardless of how much you choose to spend on your balls, your investment will provide you with dividends for years to come.

How can you get balls? 

If you don’t have any balls, don’t worry. They’re surprisingly easy to come by. Most women can attest to this. Women are natural shoppers. They know how to get what they’re looking for. If you’re having trouble finding your balls, ask a woman. She can help you out.

In a recent survey, most men reported that their balls are priceless and they’d spend almost anything to keep them. Both men and women enjoy checking out balls at places like Dicks, Sports Basement and Sports Authority.

Some people like old balls. Look for them in the toy section in your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. They often have bins or shelves full of toys and balls you can get for a few bucks. Play It Again Sports is another great place to find balls that have been kicked around. Most used balls work just fine. Older ones tend to have more character. Don’t worry if they’re a little deflated. You can pump them up with a little air.

Let the kids select the balls. Studies have shown that boys especially are more confident when they have a say in matters that involve their balls. Besides, kids are more likely to know what kinds of balls their friends like.

If you’re a germaphobe, wash the balls before you touch them. Men don’t mind playing with dirty balls, but girls do.

What kinds of balls work best?

Different balls serve different purposes, so don’t let anyone convince you that his balls are better than anyone else’s. It all depends on your personal preference. When I was a young girl, I loved playing with big inflatable balls at the beach. And I also liked playing with my Jacks with ball set. I had friends who were into tennis balls, pool table balls and footballs. But I was most impressed with one of my friends who could ride a unicycle while juggling balls or oranges.

When it comes to balls, the sky is the limit. What boy wouldn’t like to have glow in the dark balls, for example?

Should you give your balls away?

Do your part to End Sugar Addiction. Give balls away this year. Don’t worry about losing them. Studies have shown that when you give your balls away, they eventually bounce back.

What food can you serve at a costume ball?

Celebrate healthy eating. Serve healthy treats such as banana ghosts, tangerine pumpkins or fruit-kabobs. Hold a fruit & vegetable art contest for younger kids and a pumpkin carving contest for older ones.

Banana, tangerine and celery snack plate.

Kids today know how to keep their eyes on their Apple iPhones, but they’ll be more active if they’re participating in an apple-bobbing contest. Check your phone, not your watch. It’s time for change.

Do kids need more balls or more candy?

Halloween candy is out. Halloween balls are in.

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 26 million Americans have diabetes and another 79 million have prediabetes and are at risk of developing it.

Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than they should be. It’s a serious disease which can result in slew of negative health effects. The ADA estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the US contributes $176 billion to the pharmaceutical and health care industries. Trick or treat?

As President Obama advises his nation . . .

Is Halloween a good time to schedule a ball game?

Yes. Host an afternoon softball or soccer game where players come dressed up in costumes. Then let kids get all juiced up as they participate in a fruit & vegetable art contest to explore their creative talent.

Should you involve your kids in ball planning? 

Yes. Involve your kids in planning the Halloween ball or ballgame. Brainstorm activities they might want to do. Not only will they have more fun at the party, they’ll also learn some basics of planning events and preparing healthy snacks.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, “eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. Eating disorders are serious emotional and physical problems that can lead to life-threatening consequences.”

How do you know when it’s time to change a holiday tradition?

There’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that world obesity has nearly doubled since 1980. More than 33% of the world’s population is overweight. According to the World Health Organization, 65% of the world’s population lives in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than starvation. Weight issues are the fifth leading cause of death.

Who are you most afraid of? Witches, doctors or dentists?

The good news is that these dental and weight issues are preventable. If you want to protect your kids from these afflictions, check out this advice from the Childhood Obesity Foundation. They offer four simple things families can do now to help kids achieve healthy bodies.

Order your balls today. Then give your balls to your friends and tell them about the advantages of having a ball on Halloween.

Next time you’re thinking of reaching for a piece of candy. Resist. Reach for your balls instead.

It’s always good to have a few excuses up your sleeve in case you run into someone who nags you about joining a gym. Prepare now for the next time one of your “you-should-join-a-gym” friends or family members nags you. If you put a little thought into it now, you can easily ward them off later. For the sake of simplicity, let’s call this friend Jim. It’s best to develop a few excuses that are custom made for you, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

The world’s strongest man, Patrick Baboumian, is vegan.

“I’m taking vegan cooking classes.”

This is a timely excuse you can use now since Jim probably heard about Patrick Baboumian. At Toronto’s Vegetarian Food Festival this year, he carried 550 kg (1,212 lbs) more than 10 meters (32.8 feet), setting a new world record. This makes him the strongest man in the world. This 34-year-old Armenian-German relies on plant power to build his lean body mass and strength. The Star

When he was a boy, Patrick’s hero was the Hulk. Today, he’s achieved his goal of being as big as the Hulk, but despite eating lots of greens every day, he still hasn’t turned green.

He broke the world record by lifting some heavy metal on an outdoor stage. He didn’t use any fancy gym equipment. Real men go to competitions to lift things like logs and cars.

If Jim gives you a hard time about the vegan thing, tell him that after you eat your vegan dinner, you go around the house lifting furniture. Make up specific examples like, “I can already lift my LazyBoy. I’m working on lifting the couch, and eventually I may even be able to lift some of my family’s potatoes.”

“I’m concerned about FARTS.”

Flatulant Air Release Timing Syndrome (FARTS) is particularly troublesome in smaller gyms, and gyms with poor circulation. Scientists are still studying the causes and effects of FARTS. They believe it’s mainly due to diet, but it could also be hereditary.

Though it’s not considered to be contagious, other people will notice if you have FARTS and they may try to avoid you. FARTS is particularly common among people who run on treadmills or ride stationery bikes.

Psychologists are also studying other possible negative effects of treadmills and stationery bikes. When people ride bikes or run on treadmills that go nowhere, some psychologists believe that it may reinforce the idea that no matter how hard you work, you just don’t seem to get anywhere. Working hard to get nowhere? That stinks!

“My local gym won’t let me bring my dog.”

This is a perfect excuse if you have a dog because you can back it up with research. Studies show that pet ownership is linked with better heart health.

Dog owners can also use the FARTS excuse. Despite the fact that most dogs are smart enough to avoid treadmills and stationery bikes, some dog owners have reported that their dogs have contracted FARTS.

You can tell Jim that you’re waiting for a dog-friendly gym like FitBernalFit or K9FitClub. As soon as one opens nearby, you’ll be the first to join. If you have more than one dog, you can elaborate on the fact that your dogs really miss you when you’re at work, so you like to spend as much time as possible with them on evenings and weekends. It also gives you the opportunity to change the subject.

“You know how most people give their dogs boring names like Rover or Spot? I call mine Sex. I was so embarrassed recently when I went to the city hall to renew the dog’s license for Sex. I told the clerk, ‘I’d like a license for Sex.’ He said, ‘I’d like one too!’ Then I said, ‘She’s a dog!’ He said he didn’t care what she looked like. I said, ‘you don’t understand. I had Sex since I was 9 years old.'” Garrick’s Jokes

And you can go on talking about Sex until your friend forgets about the gym question. If Jim isn’t interested in Sex, then he’s probably not a very good friend anyway.

“I’m learning partner yoga.”

This is a good excuse for people who are married. Tell Jim that you and your spouse/partner are doing partner yoga together several hours every evening while you watch TV. If Jim persists by bragging about how much he benches or how many reps he does, tell him how much strength and flexibility you’ve gained now that you’re doing the dog, the cat, and even the happy baby.

“I’m totally claustrophobic.”

If you have an older brother or sister, you can use this excuse. Make up a story about how your older brother/sister locked you in the closet when you were five years old and ever since you’ve been chronically claustrophobic. Tell Jim that you need open space and fresh air.

If he persists, you can embellish a bit more on the indoor thing. Tell him you’re allergic to the toxic disinfectant sprays they use in gyms. He can’t argue with you on personal stuff like this.

This excuse works particularly well if you’ve ever lived near Venice, CA. Tell Jim that you just can’t seem to find a gym that compares to your former gym, Muscle Beach. You can’t stand those oppressive gyms without a view or fresh air.

Free Fresh Air: Hurry! Offer Ends Soon

“I bike to work.”

Jim probably drives to work. Tell him you’re taking up donations for the League of American Bicyclists to help make roads safer because of all the people driving to gyms. Tell him that you’re only asking for a small donation, about the cost of one tank of gas. If Jim drives a car, ask for $50. If he drives an SUV, ask for $80. If that doesn’t work, give him 13 reasons why he should bike to work.

“I get paid to workout.”

This is a perfect excuse for anyone who does manual labor. Whether you’re stocking shelves, framing houses, or climbing telephone poles, you’re getting paid to workout. Why do you think personal trainers are the only people excited about going to the gym? They’re paid to hang out there.

“I’m a stair master.”

This is a great excuse if you work or live in a tall building. The more floors, the better. You know how magazines are always putting out tips like, “take the steps instead of the elevator.” Tell Jim that you begin your workday by climbing 27 flights. That ought to impress him.

Why don’t more people take the steps? Most stairwells in the US are unattractive passageways installed just to meet ineffective safety codes. Remember the 200  9/11 jumpers?

It’s all backwards! We need to erect more buildings with the emergency stairwells outside the building where they belong. For the sake of good health, indoor stairways should be as elegant as today’s elevators, lined with mirrors, fine wood and polished brass rails. And only one elevator for the disabled. Some people think guns are killing a lot of people in the US, but this number is low compared to the statistics on elevators.

You can use the stair-master excuse for most people you know, but be careful about using it with colleagues who work in the same building. If Jim catches you in an elevator, you can say, “I’m running late for a meeting.” Of course he’ll understand.

White-collar people use this excuse all the time, even though most of them never run at all. People with desk jobs drive home and turn on their TV so they can watch cops and robbers chase after each other.

11 Equipment Essentials for Easy Everyday Exercises 

As you can see, there are many good reasons for not joining a gym. But just in case you’re still looking for a few more ideas, check out this two-minute clip by Jeff Allen . . .

If you’re forgetful, put the Hulk in your kitchen to remind you to eat your vegetables every day. The whole family can have fun with the Hulk. If you have kids, keep the Hulk next to the fruit bowl. If your in-laws are visiting for the weekend, put the Hulk in the refrigerator. Next time Uncle Jim comes over for dinner expecting steak, point to the Hulk.

Subscribe to VegNews to learn more about the benefits of going vegan.

One last word of caution. If you have a dog, be careful where you keep the Hulk. The Hulk has no protection from Sex.

What’s your excuse?

For the record, I don’t have any problem with people hiding things in their drawers. That’s not my business. Participants in this laundry study agreed unanimously that once clothes are washed, they should, in fact, be hung up or put away in drawers.

Why do a laundry study? I lived in France when I was in college and became fascinated by the ways that people from different cultures do laundry.

Here are a few of my hangups and some of my husband’s as well. I took this picture from the balcony of our apartment in Shenzhen, China.

In this study, drying clothes or putting clothes on hangers was simply referred to as “hangups.”

The French procrastinate. They don’t like dealing with their hangups at all. I became close friends with quite a few people and got invited to their apartments. Many of them had very few clothes and they’d wear the same outfit all week. I learned that the French invented eau de toilette water just to avoid their hangups.

CLICK HERE to buy a collapsible indoor tripod clothes drying rack.

Instead of doing laundry, they’d rather meet up with friends to talk over a glass of wine and a plate of crackers topped with smelly cheese. At first I didn’t like the smell of some of the cheeses or even some of my friends. But it didn’t take me long to adapt to the culture and pay less attention to my own hangups.

One French participant noted that he used his bidet to wash his underwear and derriere at the same time. AhaJokes

Americans also avoid their hangups, but in a different way. They put their clothes in the dryer and expect the appliance to minimize their hangups. Numerous participants reported that their things do indeed tend to shrink in the dryer.

But in reality, dryers are a big waste of money and space. Clothes dry all by themselves if you give them a few hours. They don’t need to be baked. We’d all be better off if people dealt with their hangups on their own instead of relying on an electric appliance for a quick fix.

Many Americans firmly believe that people shouldn’t hang their laundry out to dry. In fact many homeowner’s associations and apartment complexes in the US restrict people from hanging their laundry out to dry. They forbid people from putting up clotheslines in their own backyard or hanging clothes on their porches.

CLICK HERE to buy a retractable outdoor clothes line. It stows away neatly when not in use.

Uppity hotels and resorts in the US restrict their customers from hanging their beach towels or bathing suits on their balconies. As an American, I think we should stop doing this. It’s really confusing to foreigners who think America is the land of the free.

One Italian who participated in the study stated that he didn’t understand why so many Americans went all the way to Italy just to take pictures of laundry hanging across streets in his hometown, Venice. He felt that Americans should be free to display hangups in their own streets.

Dry your laundry like you’re in Venice.

Most participants agreed that it’s perfectly normal to have hangups. And we’d all be better off if everyone hung their things out to dry. Most of the male participants agreed with this. Several commented that they like to know if a woman wears granny panties or thongs, adding that they have a tendency to be curious about things like this. But many female participants stated that they prefer to hide these sorts of things in their drawers. Whatever you wear, be sure to choose natural fabrics over synthetics.

My husband loves me regardless of my hangups. I know this because over the years he has supported me during times when I’ve had fewer hangups and at times when I’ve expanded my collection.

It’s important for married couples to be tolerant of one another. Since the time we got married, I’ve dealt with every one of my husband’s hangups, except for the occasional ones I pass on to the dry cleaner.

But even this I take seriously. I don’t give his hangups to just any dry cleaner. I look for ones that don’t use PERC.

Clothesline: a radical solar-powered laundry drying apparatus

Men usually have bigger hangups than women. Because their shoulders are typically wider, they’re naturally suited for larger hangups. This was another important finding of the study. My own husband, for example, didn’t know how to use a washer or dryer when we got married. Some of the younger women who participated in the study said they would have a problem with this because they expect their husband to deal with his own hangups.

But like many men of the Baby Boomer generation, my husband believes that women should be responsible for all the hangups in the family. I never really had a problem with it though because it makes me a stronger person. Any woman who has carried around a big basket of wet laundry knows it’s a heavy load to carry.

Turns out this is a global phenomenon. I’ve traveled all over the world and observed that women are usually the ones who take responsibility not only for their husband’s hangups, but also for the hangups of their children. That’s why middle age women are generally afflicted with a higher percentage of hangups.

According to the Green Cleaners Council, most drycleaners don’t care about their hangups. They pass them out without asking customers to bring them back. Responsible drycleaners understand that perfectly good hangups should not be wasted or placed in the trash.

When I lived in China, I was impressed with how many hangups Chinese people have. I saw many new types of hangups I’d never seen before. Most of them have a certain type of hangup permanently installed on their balconies or porches. And some have attachments to purposely display their hangups from their windows. They have no problem sharing even their most personal hangups with their neighbors. In fact, most Chinese people don’t even own electric dryers. They hang all their laundry out to dry.

I like to take pictures of people and their hangups. You can learn a lot about folks this way. Sometimes you can tell what type of work they do, the age of their children, and even how much money they make.

I’ve always believed that children should learn at a young age to put away their toys, say thank you, and deal with their own hangups. And moms should also be concerned about the toxins in dryer sheets. According to the Environmental Health Association of Ontario, dryer sheets “have been associated with numerous illnesses and chronic conditions.”

More Americans are starting to understand the hangup issue we have in our country. They’re banding together in organizations like Project Laundry List to educate people and to promote things like clotheslines, drying racks, and more hangups for Americans.

A member of the International Naturist Federation participated in the survey and commented that most people in Western countries have way too many hangups that they don’t need. He asked to remain anonymous even though he assured me he didn’t have anything he wanted to cover up.

The naturist assured me he didn’t have anything he wanted to cover up.

You can do your part by supporting Project Laundry List and your local green cleaner. But, according to the findings of this laundry study, the most important thing you can do is start dealing with your own hangups. As soon as they come out of the washer, hang them up to dry.

As with any change, you may find it a bit uncomfortable until you get into the new habit. But you’ll quickly begin to reap the benefits. Not only will you increase your physical activity, your clothes will last longer, and you’ll save money.

Shortly after the laundry study was complete, one of the participants contacted me with good news. Her husband decided he would try to do his own wash.

“What setting do I use on the washing machine?” my husband yelled out from the laundry room one morning.

“It depends,” I told him. “What does it say on your shirt?”

“Go Gators,” he replied.

AboutLaundryRoomJokes

“Nurse,” an anxious mother whimpers, “can you please tell me how my son is? He’s the one who swallowed the quarters.”

“No change yet,” the nurse replies. AhaJokes.com

Do you tighten up with fear each time you visit a friend or family member in the hospital? You’re not alone. In the US, the fear of doctors and dentists is right up there with the terrors of death, darkness, snakes, heights, and public speaking. Why are Americans so afraid of health care? Well, for good reason:

Medical errors may be the third leading cause of death in the U.S.

“Did you hear about the guy who lost his left arm and leg in a car accident?”

“Don’t worry, he’s alright now.” GreatCleanJokes

Fear of Western Medicine comes out of the closet on Halloween

Despite the fact that laughter is good for your health, medical schools neglect to provide courses on humor, and other important things like compassion and nutrition.

Dr. Patch Adams is a firm believer in the healing power of laughter. He put his medical degree and career on the line as he relentlessly laughed his way through medical school. Because traditional Western Medicine had little tolerance for his funny ways, he founded Gesundheit Institute, “a project in holistic medical care based on the belief that one cannot separate the health of the individual from the health of the family, the community, the world, and the health care system itself.”

At Gasundheit, health care is free, and full of fun and play.

Instead of letting your worst nightmares stifle you, use your dread of doctors, dentists, hospitals or shots to motivate you to prevent illness. Work on making better choices in your lifestyle and daily habits. Your fears are there to protect you. Use them wisely.

“Doctor, my hair keeps falling out. Can you give me something to keep it in?”

“Any glass jar will do,” the doctor replies. AhaJokes

Per capita, Americans spend far more on health care than any other country, more than any other nation in the world.

Despite all this spending, American longevity ranks low on the list of developed countries. Life expectancy is an overall measure of the quality of life in a country. See the CIA World FactBook for the complete list of countries.

The Western medical community implants the belief that “prevention” requires visiting your doctor, taking a prescription, or checking in for surgery. Remember Angelina Jolie? This is no laughing matter!

What Angelina Jolie’s doctors didn’t tell her about the BRCA Gene before her double mastectomy.

“Doc,” says Steve, “I want to be castrated.”

“What on earth for?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. My wife insists that I should have had it done a long time ago. If you won’t do it, I’ll go to another doctor.”

“OK, but I advise you not to.”

Steve has the operation. The next day he walks down the hospital corridor very slowly, legs apart. Heading toward him is another patient walking the same way.

“Hi there,” says Steve, “looks like you just had the same operation as me.”

“Yeah,” says the patient, “I finally got circumcised too.”

“Steve’s eyes widen in horror, “Oh no! How do you pronounce that word?” Jokes.com

The next time you visit a friend or family member in the hospital, make a special effort to make him or her laugh. You won’t be able to help everyone in the hospital, but you can make a difference for one person.

When I woke up after a surgery I had a few years ago, I remember feeling elated. Not only was I happy to still be alive, but also the pain medication was good stuff. My good friend, Cecile, sat on the bed, held my hands and made me laugh. It felt so good to giggle with her, despite the fact that it caused blood to gush from my fresh suture. She had me in bloody stitches!

The next time you head to the hospital, a retirement home, or someplace to see a sick friend, consider hiring a local comedian to perform. A little humor is sure to change the spirit of the atmosphere.

Find a comedian through GigMasters or FunnyBusiness, or contact a local comedy club for a referral.

A blond is having sharp pains in her side. The doctor examines her and says, “You have acute appendicitis.”

Wimpering, the blond says, “that’s nice of you doc, but I’m here for medical advice.”  Jokes.com

Why We Need to Do Doctor Reviews on Our Last Doctors’ Visits

Instead of bringing cut flowers that wilt and die within a few days, share the gift of laughter:

• Bring some whoopee cushions for your friend and the hospital staff.
• Tell uplifting jokes.
• Bring along a funny movie to watch together or leave behind as a gift.
• Hire a local comedian to accompany you on your visit to the hospital.

Good advice from Robin Williams: Carpe Diem

It’s delicious. Why aren’t you having some?

Are you afraid of things like walking under ladders, seeing black cats, breaking mirrors, or having dinner with vegetarians?

Consider the following advice from Grammy Award winning Stevie Wonder in his popular hit Superstition (Single Version):

“When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain’t the way! No, no, no.”

Do you do things like: knock on wood to ward off trouble, cross your fingers for good luck, throw rice at weddings, or say “bless you” when someone sneezes? If so, why?

If you get nervous about Friday the 13th, you’re probably from a Western Country. But if you’re more concerned about Tuesday the 13th, you’re probably from Greece or a Spanish-speaking country. It’s all relative, and borderline ridiculous.

If you’re not familiar with celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or lactose-intolerance, you may avoid these unfamiliar topics. Next time you eat with a diabetic, a Kosher Jew, or a vegan, don’t clam up. Instead, ask questions. Topics like “vegetarianism” can spur interesting conversations. People’s diets evolve around their cultural, financial, physical and spiritual existence. Our food becomes us, literally.

For better or worse, we get accustomed to the plants, creatures, and packaged stuff we’ve been eating year after year. Families, culture, and the media brainwash us with traditions and beliefs about what’s ok, or not ok, to eat. Our food is our daily supply of fuel that keeps us running (or perhaps dragging) through our days.

It’s no wonder that some people get nervous or avoid discussions about what someone else eats or doesn’t eat. It’s a natural, superstitious, and fearful reaction that reminds us there may come a day when our “comfort foods” are no longer comfortable, and we need to eat different foods for one reason or another.

Next time someone starts talking about what they eat or don’t eat, halt your aversion and carry on with the conversation. Who knows, you may learn something. Instead of floundering in superstition, take the time to learn more about the foods you’re putting into your own body.