Column

It has been argued that the 4-door SUV market was launched by the Jeep Cherokee; however, it was the Ford Explorer that ignited America’s infatuation. Over the years as the market and feature requirements have changed, Ford has been the leader in driving the technology and design movement. With the introduction of the redesigned 2012 Explorer, Ford has taken the segment to a new level and the 2013 Ford Explorer has raised it another notch.

When Ford introduced the all-new Explorer last year it just wasn’t a refresh of the previous year’s model, it was a completely new creation. Not only did they re-skin the Explorer, they also exchanged the truck-based frame with a modified Taurus architecture, which also improves the ride control and fuel mileage. They also added cutting-edge technology and new fuel efficient engine choices.

The 2013 Ford Explorer comes in four trim styles: Base ($29,995), XLT ($33,575), Limited ($38,995), and the all-new Sport ($41,675). All models except the Sport are priced as 2WD and are available with 4WD for an additional cost. The Sport comes standard with 4WD and a terrain management system that offers settings for sand, snow, mud, and hill descent.

New for 2013 includes heated steering wheels, smart HID headlamp beams that dim automatically when oncoming traffic is detected, Lane-Keeping Assist, and enhanced Ford SYNC® system with MyFord Touch®.

The 2013 Explorer is available with three engine types: 2.0-liter EcoBoost® 240 hp 4-cylinder, 3.5-liter 290hp V6, and 3.5-liter EcoBoost® 365 hp V6 (Sport model only). The first two engines are mated to a 6-speed SelectShift Automatic with overdrive and the Sport engine grouped with a 6-speed SelectShift Automatic with paddle activation. It is notable to mention that the Sport with its 3.5-liter EcoBoost® motor has the best fuel economy of any performance SUV.

The interior is impressive with excellent material quality, design, and features. The Explorer can be ordered to seat 6 or 7 passengers. The 2013 Explorer is loaded with technology attributes that keep it cutting edge. The dash feels soft to the touch versus hard plastics, and creates an upscale look and feel. There’s a deep center console in the front between the seats with a second 12-volt outlet and a change tray. The second row of seats offers decent leg room but doesn’t adjust forward or backwards; however, tilts forward to provide access to the third row of seats. The second row also has a 110-volt AC power outlet and adjustable heat and fan controls. The third row of seats fold flat and stow into the floor and is available with a Power-fold option that at a push of a button will fold and stow the seats.

The new redesigned Explorer has smoother lines and a muscular presence. The front has a bold grille with the logo bordered by chrome bars and perforated trim. The large headlights wrap around into the fenders.

Room for improvement:

• MyFord Touch is hard to use while keeping your eyes on the road

Cool Features:

• Inflatable outboard rear seat belts
• Lane-Keeping Assist
• 20-inch wheels on the Sport Model
• Possesses 2 EcoBoost® engine options

The standard safety equipment for all of the 2013 Ford Explorers are AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™), Safety Canopy® System, a side air curtain technology offering protection for the first and second seating rows, SOS Post-Crash Alert System™, MyKey® programmable vehicle key allows parental controls on driving speed, Hill Start Assist for more confidence on uphill grades, and Curve Control, which can slow the vehicle by up to 10 mph if it senses a curve is being taken too fast.

 

In Summary – The 2013 Ford Explorer is both a stylish and capable vehicle. It has been a consistent market leader and innovator. The new 2013 Sport model adds flare and a certain excitement to drive. The EcoBoost® engines provide explosive power with economical fuel consumption. The Ford Explorer has earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and having a 5-out-of-5-stars rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – it’s the complete package.

Specifications

2013 Ford Explorer Limited 4WD

Base price: $39,855 as driven: $47,710 (including destination)

Engine: 3.5-Liter 6 cylinder

Horsepower: 290 @ 6500

Torque: 255 foot pounds @ 4000

Transmission: 6-Speed Auto

Drive:  4 Wheel-Drive

Seating: 7-passenger

Turning circle: 39.2 feet

Cargo space: 80.7 cubic feet

Curb weight:  4697 pounds

Fuel capacity: 18.6 gallons

EPA mileage: City 17 / Highway 23

Wheel Base:  112.6 inches

Warranty:  3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper

While reading some of my recent columns you might have wondered why a TMJ and Sleep Apnea dentist/orthodontist is straying from his practice by talking about such things as telomeres, which as you may remember, are pieces of DNA that form a protection to the chromosome allowing it to replicate itself and divide.

My desire in doing so was to get you to understand that almost all ailments are best treated with a holistic approach. Not just an approach by medicine, but by biology which includes genetics, physiology, nutrition, and the environment, taking in all of the possible factors.

Medicine, for too long, has become a group of specialties, many of which do not understand, to the extent they should, the other specialties.

A cardiologist probably does not realize that the most prescribed statin drug in America can cause low testosterone and all the problems that go along with it, plus several other side effects. The psychiatrist, when prescribing an antidepressant, may be unaware of the many side effects that relate to other fields if medicine.

The overuse of ibuprofen, (Motrin, Advil), for pain makes it sometimes totally ineffective and all you get is the side effects. Ibuprofen is generally effective for just three months. To be most effective this class of non steroidal pain medicine should be changed every three months. Hopefully, if the cause of the pain can be dealt with rather than just the symptom, it would not be necessary to remain on medicine for more than three months.

Again, I want to emphasize a holistic approach. I don’t want to just cover the symptom, I want to find the cause and eliminate it. For example, due to the fact that I hate the side effects of pain killers, I have found that acupuncture is incredibly effective and have studied the subject at UCLA. I have found that problems in one area of the body can cause dysfunction and pain in another. A condition diagnosed as a migraine could be caused by an irritated colon. A simple test in which acupuncture spot “C1” is chilled with ethyl chloride, can eliminate the headache within seconds. Then we can deal with the cause.

Instead of months of unsuccessful drugs and splint therapy, professionals can study what is irritating the colon. Sometimes it is a food allergy or sensitivity which, when dealt with, can eliminate a host of other medical problems, including the migraine.

There is no question that, if you have a medical problem, it should be diagnosed and treated by the proper professional. The purpose of my writing is that all of us, including the professional, need to understand the whole picture.

The reason your body is failing could be damage to your telomeres. This could be due to early childhood trauma, horrible diet, pollution, severe stress or drug and chemical abuse. Who knows? It could be something else. Our job is to find out the cause of the health problem and return the patient to the most optimal health and vitality possible.

Treating telomere damage is an entirely different field than treating a disease. This field is very new to medicine and foreign to most with traditional medical training. The fact is, if you are just treating symptoms, and not the problems causing them, the disease could be exacerbated by the treatment.

It might sometimes seem that everything is getting so complex that there cannot be an answer. Actually, the opposite is true. Taking into account that new research has uncovered some of the underlying factors that cause our health to fail gives us new hope. It will soon be possible to not only cure the disease, but reverse the damage, establishing new, vital tissue in what was the diseased area.

Robert Brown, DDS has a TMJ, orthodontia, and sleep apnea practice in Danville and thoroughly enjoys discussing holistic medicine. You can contact him at 925-837-8048, at info@aodtc.com, or visit his web site at www.aodtc.com.

I know, for any faithful readers you are going to think, “Hasn’t she done this one before?” The answer is yes but I thought, what the hay, it’s Valentine’s Day, so we need a need romance. It’s crunch time with our government budget (again) so we need a little common sense and with this economy, we need a little humor. So, here it is, all three wrapped up in one movie—Dave.

Dave was released in 1993. I loved it then and I loved it even more the second time around. With all the “stuff” hitting the proverbial fan right now, Dave Kovic would be a refreshing change.

Bill Mitchell is the philandering and out of touch President of the United States. Dave Kovic is a sweet-natured and caring Temp Agency owner, who by a staggering coincidence, looks exactly like the President. As such, when Mitchell wants to escape an official luncheon, the Secret Service hires Dave to stand in for him. Unfortunately, Mitchell suffers a severe stroke while having sex with a staffer and Dave finds himself stuck in the role indefinitely. Corrupt and manipulative Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander (Frank Langella) has Oval Office aspirations and conspires to sit in the big seat! He even creates lies about the Vice President (Ben Kingsley) to discredit him and leave the path clear. The First Lady (Sigourney Weaver) who had been barely tolerating her husband, the President, starts to see little differences in her husband. As Dave starts to get a feel for what being President should be, he starts having a few ideas of his own.

After Dave spends a day with the First Lady at a homeless shelter, Bob Alexander forges the President’s signature on a bill to cut the funding for the homeless shelter. The First Lady lashes out at Dave thinking that her husband had wielded the pen that slashed the much-needed program and Dave insists that the Chief of Staff makes it right. Alexander flippantly tells him that if he can figure out how to cut 650 million dollars out of the budget he can keep his “lousy shelter,” so Dave goes to work. He calls his accountant buddy, Murray Blum (Charles Grodin) to the White House to give him some advice. Murray says, “Who does these books? If I ran my business like this, I’d be out of business.” At the next Cabinet meeting, with some “simple changes in our cash management,” Dave gets it done and gets the shelters back.

If you haven’t figured out by now, Ellen Mitchell, the First Lady starts to see something in Dave that she hasn’t seen in her husband, the President, in a very long time and the relationship starts to build.

Dave is light and sweet and terribly thought provoking. In a speech of his own, he says, “This government’s responsibility is to find a job for every American who wants one. Getting a job when you so desperately need one makes you feel like you can fly!”

Is Dave Oscar material? No, but I’ve seen a lot worse take home the gold statue. Dave makes you think about what the government’s role is in our lives. Government is a tight rope — if it’s too big or too little, it fails. This little movie has a great cast and an incredible heart. I invite your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Q. As a kid, my grandmother would always plant potatoes by the moon. Is that still done today; and if so, when is the right time to do it?

A. ‘Gardening by the Moon’ is still alive today, but on a limited basis. It’s being rediscovered by a new generation of gardeners who are using an old school approach to gardening. They’re into organic cultural practices; such as composting, compost teas, cultivating for weed control, organic disease and pest controls, etc. The moon dictates what and when to do almost all fundamental gardening activities. The influence of the moon and its different phases is twofold. One, the pull of the lunar gravity along with the increasing and decreasing light of the moon affects plant roots and leaves. Second, gardening activities, when to weed, what to plant, etc., is determined by which of the Zodiac signs the moon is traveling through. From a scientific standpoint, the ‘Gardening by the Moon’ methodology hasn’t been proven or disapproves, so you’ll find supporters and those that think otherwise. That being said I do publish a weekly ‘ToDo’ based on the moon at www.dirtgardener.com. Personally, I’m not a strict follower of the activities. Concerning planning potatoes by the moon, this is not the weekend to plant. Your best and only opportunity is month is March 9-14 under the sign of Scorpio, Libra and Sagittarius and just before the beginning of the four-quarter on March 14, which is a resting period. Potatoes are one of the easiest short-term crops for a home vegetable garden and are great to involve kids with. They can be planted in traditional raised beds and containers. Some of the more unorthodox planters include spare tires, a bed of straw or a bag of commercial potting soil or planting mix. Besides the usual amendments and fertilizer, it’s recommended to add Sulfate of Potash for the extra Potassium. Seed potatoes are recommended to plant over those found at the supermarket. The yield from the supermarket purchased potatoes is unpredictable, as they have been treated with a growth inhibitor to limit the new shoots. That is not the case with seed potatoes so you get a guaranteed yield. You should cut the potatoes in half or quarters depending on the size. The freshly cut ends should be dipped into Soil Sulfur to prevent rotting and let to air dry for twenty-four hours. Your favorite garden center now has red, white and the large russet seed potatoes available for planting. Last year and again this year, I used the Gardman Potato Tubs grew them on my deck all summer long. They’re the perfect compliment to an Earthbox for home grown vegetables in containers on decks, patios and balconies. I planted around the first of February and harvested fifteen pounds of potatoes in August. You can follow their progress on my facebook page, facebook/Buzz Bertolero.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/BuzzBertolero

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is an irritation and swelling of the thick tissue (plantar fascia) on the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous band of connective tissue originating on the bottom surface of the calcaneus (heel bone) and extending along the sole of the foot toward the five toes. The plantar fascia helps hold up the bones on the bottom of the foot, creating the arch. When this fascia becomes inflamed it makes walking painful and difficult. The pain is usually felt on the underside of the heel and is often most intense with the first steps of the day. Plantar fasciitis is commonly thought of as being caused by a heel spur, but research has found that this is not the case. On x-ray, heel spurs are seen in people with and without plantar fasciitis.

Risk factors for plantar fasciitis include:

• Foot arch problems (both flat foot and high arches)
• History of low back pain or sciatica
• Tight Achilles tendon (the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel)
• Obesity
• Running
• Sudden weight gain

What treatments are available for Plantar Fasciitis

Western medicine typically treats Plantar Fasciitis with oral and/or injectable anti-inflammatories. These may temporarily reduce the pain associated with Plantar Fasciitis but they do not treat the cause of the problem, and by no means heal it.

Long term correction of Plantar Fasciitis is a two step process.

First: Heal the Damaged Fascia
Ending the pain caused by Plantar Fasciitis requires stopping the cycle of inflammation. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only modality that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser 1200 a Class IV Laser. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.

Second: Correct the Foot and Gait Mechanics
This involves rehabilitation of spine as well as the arch of the foot. Arch rehabilitation is achieved by utilizing specific insoles and/or specific taping of the foot in order to re-establish proper motion of the arch while walking, then specific strengthening and stretching exercises are used to rehabilitate of the musculature of the foot and lower leg to ensure lasting results.

At Align Healing Center we are having great success treating plantar fasciitis, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even if it’s long-term residual pain. Even arthritis and degenerative disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications.

Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. To set up a complimentary consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com for more information.

“Life is a song, love is the music.” ~unknown

The month of February is the undisputed month of romance and love. Just prior to Valentine’s Day on February 14^th, many people, especially men, are seen scurrying around trying to find the perfect gift for their sweetheart. These gifts usually take the form of candy, flowers – especially red roses – perfume, jewelry and chocolates – preferably in red heart shaped boxes. But what is more romantic than holding your loved-one close at a quiet evening at home, or at a Valentine’s Day dance or party, dancing to the music of romance and love?

Music of Romance

There is nothing more endearing to lovers and sweethearts than songs of love and romance. For lovers music can be one of the most fascinating ways to express their love and affection for one another. What can be a better gift to lovers than romantic songs which have the power to express deep feelings and tell your beloved that you are there for them forever! Music has the power to inspire so many feelings and emotions, especially feelings for a special person in your life. Songs can often say what is in your heart and say it with words that may not be your own but help express what you really mean.

Popular love songs: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, How Sweet it is to be Loved by You, and I’m in the Mood for Love, are tunes that have endured for years. Many romantic tunes come and go but Unchained Melody, You Belong to Me, And I Love Her, by the Beatles, and Can’t help Falling in Love, by Elvis, will be staples for generations to come. Love songs are always popular but on Valentine’s Day they are the choice of listeners everywhere.

A Brief History of Valentine’s Day

Saint Valentine, an early Christian saint, died more than a thousand years ago. Pope Gelasias in 496 A.D .proclaimed Feb 14^th as a feast day in honor of St. Valentine, a Roman martyr. Chaucer, in the Middle Ages, and later Shakespeare both romanticized Valentine’s Day in their writings. As early as the 15^th century young romantics were expressing their love by giving gifts, such as flowers and candy, and sending greeting cards known as valentines. Saint Valentine signed a letter to a young girl with, “from your Valentine” an expression that is widely used today.

In 1797, “The Young Man’s Valentine Writer,” a British publication, was aimed at young lovers who were not prone to, or sometimes unable, to write their own sentimental verses. Apparently it was a great help-mate to many young men. Valentine cards that were already written made it much easier to send sentiments of caring and love. These cards were much more convenient but of course, less personal. In England the cards became so popular in the early 19^th century that they were mass produced and assembled in factories. Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts produced and sold Valentine cards before 1847 in the United States. Hallmark Cards Inc. began mass producing Valentine cards in 1913.

Valentine’s Day has become a major holiday in the United States, although it is a working day, not a legal non-working holiday. It has become a fabulous commercial success for businesses –25% of all cards sent in the United States are Valentine’s Day cards. Interestingly, teachers receive the most cards followed by children, mothers, wives and sweethearts.

Music can lift the hearts and spirits of lovers throughout the world, and not just on Valentine’s Day. The music of romance will help enhance The Power of Love, Change the World, (Eric Clapton) and Because You Loved Me, (Celine Dion) I will always Love You, (Whitney Houston.) and, Save the last Dance for Me.

Have a lovely Valentine’s Day and here’s a good way to celebrate this year: What I Did for Love, the Danville Community Band’s Annual Dinner Concert, Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 5:30, No Host Bar. 6:30, Dinner. Call the Blackhawk Country Club for reservations 925-736-6500.

Please submit your questions and comments to banddirector01@comcast.net

Visit our website at www.danvilleband.org for up-to-date information about the Danville Community Band.

 

 

What a combination! It’s a bit like mixing sand in your jello salad — the two just don’t seem to go together, do they?

I realize many people are very sensitive about the subject of guns. They are uneasy talking about them, and they sure as heck don’t want to be within a hundred yards of — or on the same planet for that matter — with firearms of any kind. But the fact is, they are on the same planet with them, and it’s likely that someone, somewhere not real far away, has or is carrying a gun of one sort or another. Did you know that there are guns in 42% of American households? Chances are, if you are “against” guns, your household isn’t part of the 42%, and you’ve probably not been around guns much, if at all.

If you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with guns, this may be hard for you to believe, but the tragic shooting in Newtown broke the hearts of all responsible gun owners too. I know because I am a gun owner and my heart still aches whenever I think about what happened. Speaking for all responsible gun owners, we hate hearing about the almost daily shootings in Oakland and Chicago and elsewhere.

As of this writing, Senator, Diane Feinstein has introduced a new bill to the United States Senate to ban a variety of so-called “assault weapons,” and President Obama has signed an order for 23 specific actions, supposedly intended to help prevent more mass shootings Chicago Mayor and Obama’s ex-White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel once said, “You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” In the aftermath of Newtown, passion and emotion has overruled logic and reason, and a lot of people—people uncomfortable and unfamiliar with guns—are taking the bait because what they are hearing “sounds reasonable.”

If you think what you are hearing sounds reasonable, please read my article beginning on page 20. There is a lot of misinformation being fed to the American public right now. As a responsible gun owner, my elected representatives are now treating me like a criminal, and I resent it. So do all other responsible gun owners. Want proof?  Since the Newtown tragedy and President Obama’s first reactive remarks, the sale of semi-automatic weapons has skyrocketed. There is a six month waiting list for new guns that were available, off the shelf just two months ago. Many types of ammunition are sold out, in stores, online and at gun shows. One store in Arizona sold more AR-15s in one week than they normally sell in three years.

I’m not a criminal. I don’t have three heads or an eyeball in the middle of my forehead. And since February is the month for Valentine’s Day, I’ll also say this: one of the main reasons I own guns is that I love my wife of 37 years, and my son. I encourage you to read my article so you can understand why.

I guess I have egg on my face. Or is it mea on my culpa? Or is it Punta on my Arenas? Need to check Google Earth before I do any more Geography questions. At least, I know a few people are reading this stuff. To honor famous faux pas (is that the plural?), I submit the following questions about famous booboos.

1. The last time the Cubs won the World Series in 1908, they would not have won unless a New York Giant baseunner did not advance from first base to second base on a base hit in a late season game, thus nullifying the game and giving the Cub an extra game to win the pennant. By what name do we know this colossal mistake?
2. The 1980 Western movie “Heavens Gate” is one the most famous flops in Hollywood history. Despite an all-star cast and a $44,000,000 budget, it was barely relesed and disappeared soon from sight. It ruined the career of its director, who had won an Oscar a few years previously. Who was that director?
3. In the early 90’s, two young Germans Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus took the music world by storm, selling millions of records in a short space of time. It was discovered that they were not doing the singing and were disgraced. What was the stage name of this singing pair?
4. Gary Hart had the 1988 Democrat Presidential nomination apparently sewed up until he was caught in a dalliance with a young intern. He was photographed cavorting on his boat with the girl, Donna Rice. What was the name of his boat?
5. It was the American public who committed this monumental goof in 1938 when they heard a radio broadcast purportedly announcing an invasion of the US by Mars. It was so realistic, the public panicked and took to the streets. Who was the boy wonder radio prodigy who put this show over?
6. “You’re in the Picture” was a radio quiz show that ran just once in 1960. It was so bad, the host of the show spent the following week apologizing for having his name attached to this turkey. He finished that season hosting a talk show. One of early TV’s great ones, who was he?

Answers

1. “The Mission Bells”
2. Fernandomania
3. Wallace Beer
4. Sy
5. Jose Jimenez
6. Benito Juarez

JANUARY WINNER: JOHN TAKACS OF CONCORD

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Ristaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez! Entries must be received by Feb 20, 2013. In the event of a tie, the winner will
be drawn at random. Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204,Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.