Column

Some readers of ALIVE Magazine might be aware that New York Times bestselling author and syndicated radio host Ben Shapiro is coming to U.C. Berkeley on September 14 after a tumultuous spring.

So far this year the university administration has cancelled or blocked three speakers previously invited by the Berkeley College Republicans (BCR): Milo Yiannopoulos, David Horowitz, and Ann Coulter. In the case of Milo, riots rocked the campus and city of Berkeley, and millions of Americans watched the university where the original Free Speech Movement started over five decades ago, burn late into the night.

As president of BCR, I wanted to explain why BCR has invited Ben Shapiro to campus, despite the previous and frightening amount of violence and obstruction, as well as the larger significance of this invitation to the fight for free speech rights for conservative students, here at Berkeley and elsewhere.

To begin: the First Amendment is under assault on college campuses all over the United States. U.C. Berkeley is simply the most well-known and publicized example of how university administrators and self-described “anti-fascists” work hand-in-glove to cancel or otherwise disrupt speakers who do not toe the line on subjects such as gender or Islam.

Some terminology: the “heckler’s veto” is the means by which the Left shuts down speech with which they disagree. It is when violence or threats of violence “compel” administrators to impose unreasonable security fees on the student group hosting the speaker, forcing the group to cancel their event. University policies which permit the levying of excessive security fees on such events constitute a “tax” on free speech. In most cases, the speech in question is conservative. But the heckler’s veto can take other forms; for instance, the shutting down of events at which hecklers have become too violent, or the cancellation of speakers who have sparked numerous and supposedly “credible” threats of violence, as in the cases of BCR’s three previous speakers.

The university administration, university police department, City of Berkeley, and city police department are all complicit in ensuring the success of the heckler’s vetoes on these past occasions. Not only did they tax conservative speech, they refused to deploy or exercise the proper amount of force against dangerous rioters and protestors in at BCR’s past events, providing themselves an excuse to silence our guests even before they spoke on campus.

Besides these methods of taxation and untrammeled violence, the university has applied numerous and arbitrary parameters to some of our past speakers, such as David Horowitz and Ann Coulter. These tactics have included curfews relegating our speakers to speaking at times when students are in class, or restrictions limiting them to venues far from the main campus, asking us not to advertise our events, and restricting attendance at the events. And all the while liberal speakers – such as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and former President of Mexico, Vincente Fox – are allowed to speak at later times and more accessible venues.

The double standard is clear.

BCR’s invitation of Ben Shapiro to campus is a refutation of the oft-made and erroneous claim that we have only sought to invite provocative, out-of-the-mainstream speakers to campus for the sole purpose of provoking a violent reaction. Unlike Milo Yiannopoulos, Ben Shapiro is a long-established member of the American conservative movement. A graduate of Harvard Law, Shapiro regularly sells out college venues and sometimes sparks conflict and controversy. His signature phrase, “Facts don’t care about your feelings,” has resonated across college campuses and among television and radio pundits for years, while his stances on the free market, abortion, and Israel are orthodox and held by a wide swath of conservatives, especially those of a socially conservative, Christian background.

Even if BCR is able to successfully host Ben Shapiro, it would be premature to say that free speech has finally been won at Berkeley.  As the saying goes, the exception proves the rule: speakers such as Milo Yiannopoulos, David Horowitz, and Ann Coulter are the exception. If these outspoken conservative speakers are unable to present on college campuses, let alone the supposed “birthplace of the Free Speech Movement,” then free speech has not been secured for students, regardless of their political persuasion.

Until speakers like the aforementioned can come to campus without the university administration or anti-fascists taxing, blocking, marginalizing, vetoing, and ultimately shutting them down, then U.C. Berkeley’s legacy of upholding First-Amendment rights remains tarnished.

Ben Shapiro’s event will serve as a test to see whether or not the administration is willing to protect any form of conservative speech on its campus. BCR’s ultimate goal is to establish a conservative legacy at U.C. Berkeley, what I might call “The New Free Speech Movement.”

We desire to take up the work communist, socialist, and far-left students began decades ago and fight for the rights of young liberals and conservatives alike, both present and future. This means institutional reform, not mere window dressing or one-off triumphs.

More tests, more trials and tribulations must follow before U.C .Berkeley can prove its commitment to keeping the United States Constitution and we the people – its students – safe.

(Woodwinds and Brass)

In order for any instrument to operate properly it needs constant and careful attention by both beginner and professional musician alike. The care and maintenance of any musical instrument is essential for its ability to operate and produce the optimum quality of sound it was manufactured to render.

An instrument that is well cared for can, and in most cases, last a lifetime.  This is an important aspect of instrument ownership as some instruments are so expensive, you want and need them, to last a lifetime; otherwise it becomes a serious financial consideration. If beginners are taught properly from the outset how to care for their instruments, it should carry over for the rest of their lives and become a habit. 

As a former high school teacher and later university professor, I have seen many students who have not adhered to a strict regimen of care and cleaning of their instruments. The result of this neglect is an instrument that does not play well and sound as it should.

If one does not clean and swab out after playing it may become an instrument with a smelly and distasteful mouthpiece. The results can be unpleasant at best and not healthy at worst. Not only does the instrument, especially the mouthpiece, need to be cleaned after each playing, but also the implements—swab, chamois and cloths—need to be cleaned for optimum sanitation.

Woodwinds

The key work on all woodwind instruments is quite delicate and is precisely aligned so all keys, pads and tone holes can work properly.  If any of the key work is bent, or not properly aligned, the notes may not be playable or badly out of tune. Therefore when cleaning, care must be taken to be very careful when handling the instrument, and when removing all the parts that need to be cleaned.  Always hold the instrument carefully in order to prevent damage to the key mechanism.

Flute

After playing the flute, the bore of the instrument must be thoroughly dried with a soft lint-free cloth or piece of a chamois on the end of a cleaning rod. One can dust under the key mechanism with a small soft water-color brush. The intricate key mechanism should be oiled with a special key oil several times a year. Use a tooth pick or needle with a drop of the key oil on friction points.

Oboe

Since the Oboe is made of wood it must be thoroughly dried after each playing. The wood may crack if moisture is left in the joints. Swabs are either cloth, chamois or pheasant feathers. Many oboists prefer feathers. Swab each joint several times to insure there is no moisture left. The Oboe reed needs to be blown out and put in a special case. One can clean the reed with a wet pipe cleaner.

Clarinet

There are five separate sections of the clarinet including the mouthpiece.  Make sure each section is dried properly and cleaned with a cloth or chamois swab. Start the swab at the upper end of a joint and draw it out at the lower end.  Like other instruments the key mechanism can be dusted with a soft water-color brush. Use key oil to oil at friction points on the intricate key work. The cork on the end of the joints are lubricated with cork grease. Remove the reed and dry the mouthpiece with the swab then place the reed in a reed case or holder.

Saxophone

A special saxophone swab is used to dry and clean the inside of the body of the instrument. The neck joint is cleaned with a special neck cleaner for the inside of the neck. Keys are oiled at friction points with key oil three or four times a year. Remove the reed and dry the mouthpiece and reed until free of moisture. Place the reed in a reed case or holder. Remember to keep the neck cork lubricated with cork grease. The neck strap and cleaning swabs should be in the small compartment inside the case to prevent damage.

Bassoon

Disassemble the instrument with great care as the key mechanism can be easily damaged. Swab out the inside of each piece so it is moisture free. The bocal or neckpiece may be cleaned periodically by running warm water through it. Shake the bocal and blow out the moisture. The joints should be well lubricated with cork grease. Tone holes should be blown out or swabbed with a folded pipe cleaner. Clean the reed with a wet pipe cleaner then blow the reed free of moisture. Keep the outside blades of the reed free from dirt so the vibrating surface is not hampered.

Brass

Instruments in the brass family require less meticulous care and maintenance than the woodwind instruments. This is because they have far less moving parts and are considerably less delicate, largely because they do not have an intricate key mechanism. 

But the finish on brass instruments requires special care. There are four finishes for brass instruments: Clear lacquer requires a moderate amount of care. This is the most common finish on most new instruments. Silver-plated finish is more expensive to purchase initially but in the long it is more economical because it is more durable. Wipe off with a soft jewelry cloth and apply a tarnish preventing silver polish when tarnish appears. A gold-plated finish is very costly and usually used by professionals only. Polished brass is the most economical finish to purchase and must be constantly polished as it tarnishes very easily.

One of the common problems in all brass instruments is the possibility of the air passage being blocked. Fortunately, this is a rather rare occurrence and does not often happen. Solutions are available and solved by experienced players or instrument repair technicians. Occasionally, a brass instrument should be flushed out with warm water (never hot). Never do this to a woodwind instrument!

Players, especially students, should not eat, drink or chew gum before or while playing. Water is the exception. Food particles can accumulate in the mouthpiece or blowpipe, becoming partially blocked, resulting in a fuzzy or breathy tone. The mouthpiece can be cleaned by a cone-shaped mouthpiece brush and the blowpipe can be cleaned with a flexible cleaning brush.

Trumpet, Cornet, Flugelhorn, Euphonium& Tuba

These instruments have piston valves in valve casings. In all of these instruments the valves should be removed, cleaned and wiped with a lint-free cloth. The valve casings are cleaned with a swab tool. The valves are then oiled with a special valve oil. The valves must be returned to their properly numbered casings. This should be done one at a time so a valve is not replaced into the wrong casing. Some euphoniums and tubas have rotary valves.  This requires different methods for care and maintenance.

French Horn

The rotary valves in a French horn are considered the most delicate mechanism of all the brass instruments. Only people skilled in rotary valves should attempt to remove one. The valves are oiled by removing the valve cap and placing a single drop on the axle. Only use oil specially made for rotary valves. Trombone oil or household oil should never be used as they may be too thick and cause sluggish action. 

Trombone

The slide on a trombone is carefully machined to very close tolerances and can be easily scratched, dented or put out of alignment by a twisting motion resulting from sloppy handling. The slide can be oiled by a commercially grade light weight oil. Some advanced players and professionals use a thin glaze of cold cream with water sprayed over the cold cream. This combination takes more care but some players consider it a superior lubricant to oil.

Do not put any foreign objects like books or music in the case as it may put pressure on the slide and cause it to warp.

The best care for any woodwind or brass instrument is preventive maintenance. If young students or beginning players are diligent in the care and cleaning of their instrument there is no need to purchase another one. The exception, of course, is when one wants to upgrade their instrument to a more sophisticated or professional model.

The end result of a properly maintained instrument is one that will provide many years of productive and enjoyable musical satisfaction. Happy playing and take good care of that precious instrument.  It will be your friend for years if you treat it well.

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.

                                                           

Some of my fondest memories of growing up are of times I spent with my cousins in Los Baños. As a young boy, every summer until about age twelve, I spent a week there. My uncle, Wayne, worked as an executive for a large farming company, and the family lived in a sprawling home surrounded by thousands of acres of farm land.

It was more like a compound than a family home, and staying there was like being at a resort; there was an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a surrounding cabana, a guest house, horse corrals and a barn, all nestled between acre-sized lawns and enormous beds of blooming flowers. While I don’t know if it’s true, I was told that their house was once the vacation residence of Ernest Lawrence, the inventor of the cyclotron and namesake of Lawrence Livermore and Berkeley National Laboratories.

Despite living on what could only be described as an estate, my aunt never put on airs—she was as personable and down-to-earth as one could imagine, and she always made my visits with them times I would forever remember.

One time in particular that I can still recall perfectly in my mind was one warm summer evening when she offered me and my cousin, Jim, popsicles. We of course obliged as she then suggested that we all go out—way out—onto the front lawn and lie down and gaze at the stars. Soon, there we were, the three of us, some fifty yards or so from the house, flat on our backs looking up at a coal-black sky blanketed with shimmering diamonds.

It was breathtaking. It was a moment of inspiration that began a life-long love and interest in Astronomy.

As I write this, the world awaits a spectacular event—a total eclipse of the Sun.The next one visible in North America won’t occur until 2024. By the time you’re reading this, you either “caught the bug” and went outdoors to witness the event, or passed it off as no big deal, continuing with your usual routine. I hope you chose the former.

But don’t feel bad if you missed it; tonight offers the opportunity for another experience that could well be just as moving. Simply go outdoors, somewhere as far away from city lights as you can find, spread out a blanket and lie down. As you look heavenward you’ll see what is always overhead, every night—it is God’s canvas—that same coal-black sky filled with diamonds.       

Whether by an eclipse, or just a warm, summer evening with loved ones, may you too be inspired.   

   

 

Many parts of the country are already dealing with fall weather, but here in California we revel in the luxury of an extended summer. While autumn’s early crops begin to appear at the farmers’ market, we continue to savor end-of-summer tomatoes, sweet corn, bell peppers, eggplant, zucchini, melons, and a decent representation of stone fruits.

This is an especially good time to load up on just-picked corn and vine-ripened tomatoes—sweeter than ever, with end-of-season prices to please your pocketbook. It’s going to be a long, lonely winter without those beloved veggies, so plan on getting your fill this month. But that doesn’t mean you should overlook the new arrivals! Look for a wide array of crisp apples and juicy pears to begin showing up each week at the market.

Bosc pears, one of my favorites, are some of the first to hit the market. Unlike most other varieties, these are best eaten while still slightly firm. For the next few months they will undoubtedly be part of every cheese course I serve—sometimes sliced and drizzled with a bit of local honey for added glamour. And Bosc pears will be my first choice whenever I reach for a piece of fruit to snack on, or something special to toss into a green salad.

With their long tapered necks, russeted skin, and almost sandy-textured flesh, Bosc pears maintain their elegant shape when cooked, making them ideal for poaching in a spicy-sweet syrup; baked with a bit of butter and a sprinkling of sugar; or halved, brushed with olive oil, and grilled.For a different savory note, sauté sliced pears in butter, seasoned with salt and pepper and perhaps some chopped fresh rosemary or thyme, to serve alongside grilled or roasted pork or chicken.Pears also make an interesting twist on recipes that normally rely on apples—like bread pudding, clafoutis, pies and tarts, cakes, quick breads, crisps, and cobblers.

When the evenings turn cool, a warm dessert can be the ultimate comfort food. Place this crisp in the oven shortly before serving dinner so it will be ready when you are. (As an added bonus, you’ll also enjoy an appetizing dose of aromatherapy as it bakes.) Serve with a scoop of cold yogurt, whipped cream, or vanilla ice cream. If you’re lucky, there will be enough left over to eat at breakfast the next morning.

Pear-Ginger Crisp

For the crumb topping

3/4 cup coarsely chopped California walnuts

1/4 cup granulated sugar

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut in pieces

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

 

For the pear filling

1/4 cup (packed) dark or light brown sugar

1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized (candied) ginger*

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

5 Bosc pears, peeled, stemmed, cored, and cut into thick slices or coarsely chopped

Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)

 

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan or a 9-inch round deep-dish glass or ceramic pie plate.
2. To make the crumb topping: In a food processor, combine the walnuts and sugar. Process, pulsing the machine on and off, until the walnuts are finely chopped.
3. Add the butter, flour, and salt and process, pulsing the machine on and off several times, until the mixture forms very coarse crumbs. Set aside.
4. To make the pear filling: In a large bowl, stir together the brown sugar, ginger, flour, and nutmeg. Add the pears and lemon juice, tossing gently to coat the pears with the dry ingredients. Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan.
5. Use your fingers to crumble the walnut mixture evenly over the top. Place the pan on a parchment-lined baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake until the filling is bubbly-hot and the topping is golden, about 1 hour. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serves 6.

*Cook’s Tip: Look for crystallized ginger sold in bulk—often in plastic bins in the produce section of supermarkets. The tiny glass jars sold in the spice section can be prohibitively expensive.

_________________________________________________________________________

Pear Pointers

• There are over 5,000 varieties of pears grown in temperate climates throughout the world. France is renowned for superior pears, followed by California and the Pacific Northwest.
• Pears in the U.S. today date back to colonial times when French root stock was brought to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
• Because they are extremely fragile and prone to bruising, pears are picked to arrive at the market when fully mature, but not quite ripe. Unlike most fruit, pears improve in both flavor and texture after being picked.
• Look for pears that are free of blemishes and soft spots. To ripen, place them upright on a towel-lined tray at cool room temperature for several days, as needed. Refrigerate ripe pears, handling carefully to avoid bruising.
• To test the ripeness of pears, use your thumb to gently press the neck of the fruit near the stem. When ready to eat, the flesh should give slightly. (Varieties vary. Bosc pears should remain fairly firm.)

-Pear arithmetic:

3 medium pears = about 1 pound

1 pound pears = about 3 cups sliced fruit

Pear skin is perfectly edible, but tends to toughen when cooked. For this reason, peel pears prior to cooking. (A swivel-bladed vegetable peeler does a fine job.) Dipping pears in lemon water will slow the browning of the flesh that inevitably takes place.

  Errata

 Last month’s recipe for Boysenberry Crumb Bars says to beat in vanilla in Step 2. But there was no vanilla in the ingredient list. (sigh) That’s because you should add the lemon zest in Step 2. (2 teaspoons lemon zest does appear in the ingredient list. Aaargh!)

How this happened: While developing the recipe I switched gears midway and decided to flavor the dough with fresh lemon zest rather than vanilla extract, to play up the fresh-fruit flavor.Unfortunately I neglected to make this change in the recipe text.

Mea culpa.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad & Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM, or visit their web site at www.pcfma.org. This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well.

 

 

Three Doors…And Good to Go!

Two-doors, three-doors, four-doors, five-doors; who’s counting? Hyundai is and their magic number is three when it comes to the 2017 Veloster and three is the perfect number! If the Veloster came in two-doors you would probably end up paying more for car insurance as two-door vehicles are considered sport cars. If it was equipped with four-doors, well, you would be driving a sedan. Let’s face it, with a name like Veloster it better lean more towards the sporty side than the practical direction.

The Veloster entered the market in 2011 to replace the aging Hyundai Tiburon. With its quirkiness of having three-doors adding to its unique appeal, the Veloster has created a category with no direct competitors. The underpinnings are provided by the last-generation Elantra. The styling is part hatchback and part coupe. The only changes for 2017 are the addition of HD Radio and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.The 2017 Hyundai Veloster comes in the following configurations: Base ($18,100), Value Edition ($21,350), Turbo R-Spec ($21,600), and Turbo ($22,600). The three-door styling is distinctive with a door on the driver’s side and two “full-size” doors on the passenger side. Saturn used to offer a third-door but it was very small. The Veloster’s rear passenger door allows for easy entries and exits.

The styling of the 2017 Veloster screams “let’s have fun.” It’s lower stance and height, sharply angled roof line, hard and soft body strokes, and rear wheels pushed as far back as possible create the image of a bottle rocket lit and ready to fly. Add in the panoramic sunroof (part of the Tech package for Turbo – a $2700 package) and the Veloster looks pronounced from the outside and inside.

The interior of the Veloster has received mixed reviews. The front seats are comfortable yet, for me, personally, the lumbar support was a little too-inflated and I couldn’t find a way to tone it down. The back seats have nice legroom, but the sloping roof steals away some desired headroom. Yes, we pay for a sporty design!The rear seats hold two people separated by cup holders and a minor pocket for unsecured storage.  The front dash has two 12v plugs but only one USB port. The Tech package for Turbo includes a 110 outlet.  The center of the dash lays out the vents and controls in a “V” shape accentuating the Veloster name.

The Veloster engines are shared with the Hyundai Accent and range in horsepower from 138 HP to 201 HP on the turbo version. Now the zippy look has the horses to back up the sporty flare. All models come standard with a six-speed manual Transmission or a 6-speedEcoShift® Dual Clutch transmission, except the Turbo R-Spec which is manual only. The Turbo is also available with a 7-speedEcoShift® Dual Clutch transmission for an extra $1,200.

Cool Features:

• Three-door design
• Panoramic sunroof
• 110-volt power inverter plug (requires the Tech package for Turbo)

The 2017 Hyundai Veloster comes well-equipped with safety features including the following: Vehicle Stability Management System, Electronic Stability Control, 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, driver and front passenger side-impact airbags, side-curtain airbags, rearview camera, driver’s blind spot mirror.

In Summary –The 2017 Hyundai Veloster is a fun-to-drive little sports car, especially when equipped with the turbo engine. The styling is amusing and clever as well as sporty. The rear seats fit adults, but might be considered more child-appropriate. The turbo 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine delivers the power while the unique sport-tuned steering and suspension completesthe aggressive package. If you are looking for a vehicle that doesn’t conform with norm, then jump into the 2017 Veloster and experience an entertaining ride!

Specifications

2017 Hyundai Veloster Turbo
Base price:                  $22,600 as driven: $26,260(including destination & optional
                                    features)

Engine:                       1.6-liter 4-Cylinder Turbo

Horsepower:              201 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque:                       195 lb.-ft. @ 1750 ~ 4500 rpm

Transmission:            6-speed manual

Drive:                          Front-Wheel Drive

Seating:                       4-passenger
Turning radius:         34.12feet

Cargo space:              15.5 cubic feet

Curb weight:              2,877 pounds

Fuel capacity:             13.2 gallons

EPA mileage:              City 25/Hwy 33/Comb 28 MPG

Wheel Base:                  104.3inches

Warranty:                    10 years/100,000-miles powertrain limited

Also consider:             Fiat 500 Abarth, Mini Hardtop, Nissan Juke, Volkswagen

                                       Golf

While most of us wait until January to make our “resolutions” for the coming year, the truth is, every day–today–is a perfect time and opportunity for a fresh start at just about anything to improve our lives. Now is the best time to start a weight loss plan or fitness/work out plan to get healthier and look better.

As I get older I find that it’s becoming harder and harder to motivate myself to do the same things that I used to even though I know what is good for me to do. For example, I’ve always been athletic and not only interested in exercise, but I use it as a mental escape and a way to relieve stress, and last but not least, to look good in my clothes and feel attractive.

I frequently counsel patients on the importance of staying active despite growing older, but I realize from personal experience that this is much easier said than done. One important realization that I’ve made, however, is that it’s not easy for anyone. Some people are just more motivated than others or they work harder to find their motivation to exercise and stay as healthy as possible. I heard a quote from a professional body builder who said that it’s never convenient for him to work out, but he made a commitment to himself to do it in order to reach his goals and be successful. One can extrapolate this mantra to any goal in life and it was somehow particularly soothing to hear someone else verbalize that it’s not easy for them to work out—even when that’s what they do for a living.

I remember my sister saying years ago, “Leslie, you take good care of yourself”. Ironically, my motivation for exercising and staying in shape had never included being healthier or taking care of myself, but as she recognized, that’s exactly what I was doing. I believe we should look at exercise in this way first and foremost because that’s what it does for us. Exercise keeps the heart healthy, lowers blood pressure, prevents and reduces depression, lowers stress and keeps us looking and feeling younger, to name a few benefits.

Another reason to exercise and get fit is to save money. It’s expensive to be unhealthy. Many people who don’t exercise or eat right have hypertension, diabetes, joint disease, chronic pain, insomnia and anxiety. I’ve heard too many patients worry about how they’re going to pay for their medications and because of the expense they don’t have money for enjoyable activities. Taking care of yourself is another way to gain control of your finances, health and your life. Let’s not be so complacent that we’d rather spend money on a pill for a preventable malady than work to keep ourselves healthy. We are responsible for our own health just as we are responsible for paying taxes and taking out the trash.

For many, getting healthier is a major change in a way of life. Therefore, it’s best to have patience and take it one step and one day at a time. The most important part of being and staying healthy is about what you eat. Start with a good meal plan and lose weight the healthy way. Losing weight has a positive feedback effect of losing more weight because of having increased energy and that subsequently encourages increasing activity. Most fitness professionals will tell you that your diet is 75% of the work of being in shape. Decide now–today–to take the first step and start eating right. The rest will follow.

 

Stress is a major cause of TMJ problems, insomnia, immune deficiencies and accelerated aging, not to mention heart disease. Most of us are unaware of the root cause of stress.  Many experts boil it down to that spoiled little brat inside us called the EGO. This enemy was mostly formed in our childhood and continues to hold us as prisoners for life. Not only does it tell us what we want and don’t want, but, as stated by Matthieu Ricard in his book Happiness, it places “veils” which force us to look around with that little brat’s opinion of what it thinks we should see, sometimes preventing us from admiring the beauty that surrounds us or giving us a prejudice when encountering others.

Ego has always been a part of humanity. Even Buddha warned us of the dangers of an egocentric life. The following is a prayer from Buddha’s time which I display in my office.

                                                                BE THANKFUL                                                               

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to.

Be thankful when you don’t know something

for it gives you an opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for each new challenge

because it will build strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you are tired and weary.

Because it means you have made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative to a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles

and they become your blessings.

 

Basically, the ego is a big and deep sense of lying to one’s self, and to begin to get out from under its control requires honest examination. When examined in depth, “Self” is nothing but a word or designation. According to Matthieu Ricard, “The problem is this label thinks it’s the real deal. To unmask the ego’s deception, we have to pursue our inquiry to the very end. We need introspective investigation to find out what’s hiding behind the illusion of the self that we think defines our being.”

I have been recommending Ricard’s book Happiness to my patients for years with wonderful results.  When we can see that we are the source of our stress, happiness can replace misery, and health can replace illness.

At Advanced Oral Diagnosis & Treatment Center in Danville we focus on a holistic approach to treating TMJ and sleep apnea. Rather than simply treating the symptoms, our goal is to try to get to the root of the issue and stop it all together. For more information: 925-837-8048  or visit www.aodtc.com.

 

 

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a chronic illness characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for more than six months. This fatigue cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition. The process for diagnosis usually begins with ruling out possible underlying diseases and chronic conditions … until the only choice left is chronic fatigue syndrome. Currently, over 1 million Americans suffer from this debilitating condition, and women are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with CFS than men.

In addition to the profound fatigue experienced, other serious symptoms often accompany CFS, such as:

• Feeling extremely exhausted for more than 24 hours after physical or mental exercise
• Not feeling refreshed after sleeping, or having trouble sleeping
• Having a hard time concentrating, or problems with attention and memory
• Muscle pain or aches
• Joint pain without swelling or redness
• Headaches of a new type, pattern, or strength
• Sore throat that is constant or goes away and comes back often
• Joint pain that moves from one spot to another
• Digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome
• Mood swings, panic attacks and depression

Causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Sadly research has yet to identify a root cause of CFS.  Chronic fatigue often starts after a stressful event in life like a divorce, loss of a loved one or an injury or illness. It is my belief that CFS is a multi-factorial syndrome because preliminary research findings show that viral and bacterial infections, toxicity, hormone imbalances, weakened immune system, chronic stress and nutritional deficiencies are all contributing factors.

Standard Treatment for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Conventional medical treatment treats the symptoms rather than the underlying causes. Often individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome are prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping pills. In many cases, the side effects from these drugs are actually worse than the original symptoms and they do not heal the condition.

 Steps to Heal Your Chronic Fatigue

 

1. Eliminate Food Sensitivities and Allergens. Remove any foods or allergens that could be causing you inflammation or reactions related to fatigue. The best way to do this is with an IgG test.

 

2. Test for Your Specific Deficiencies. Vitamin, mineral and amino acid deficiencies have been linked to suppressed immune function and contribute to chronic fatigue, inflammation, arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and much more. Specialized blood testing can reveal what your body has absorbed from your food and/or supplements over the past 6 months and zero in on what is deficient. Micro-Nutrient Testing allows a person to know exactly what to eat and/or supplement in order to support their healing process. By correcting nutritional imbalances the body is given the building blocks it needs toheal from the inside out.

 

3. Increase Magnesium and Potassium. Symptoms of magnesium and potassium deficiency include the common CFS symptoms: fatigue, irritability and muscle cramps. Eating a diet rich in magnesium and potassium can help to relieve these symptoms. Consider adding these magnesium and potassium–rich foods to your diet: spinach, chard, pumpkin seeds, almonds, sweet potatoes, black beans, avocados, figs, bananas, apricots and coconut water.

 

4. Take Lemon Balm (also known as Melissa) for its antiviral and immune enhancing properties. A usual dose is 2000mg twice a day.

 If you or someone you love is suffering from CFS you know that it is a stubborn, debilitating condition that drains the quality out of your life. Using a combination of science and nature we are able to determine your unique metabolic profile and then create a holistic protocol that will ignite the healing process and get your energy back.

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

In a world where all aspects of our lives are customized—from our Netflix queues to our coffee orders and Pinterest picks, the mass appeal of “One system for everyone” beauty line just won’t cut it. This is why make-up artist and skin care specialist, Theresa Taylor-Grutzeck, went super-niche with her Fleur Visage Cosmetic Line—a complete collection of products focused on her specialty: Beauty.

This line of cosmetics includes a one-stop-shop of beauty products, full of perfectly selected, trendy, modern products and beauty tools, all customized for women of all ages and backgrounds. This assortment includes custom foundations and powders, trendy tailor made custom compact eye colors, and popular smudge proof lip liner stains. These tools flip the script on how most women apply cosmetics, making the art-of-beauty fun, uncomplicated and easy to apply. “Lots of women are afraid and intimidated to go to beauty counters for fear of looking like a glam queen,” says Theresa.  “Today more women want to look like themselves with a modern sensibility, and I want my line to prove that it’s almost embarrassingly easy, fun and effortless to do makeup,” she adds.

With all the cosmetics Sephora or department stores might have to offer, The Rouge Cosmetics has made it easier for beauty customers, with their full line of expertly hand-picked products that work seamlessly to create a realistic look, customized for each individual. Truly, it’s a one–stop-shop for everyone to enjoy, tailor made to be effective, straight-forward and uncomplicated.

Modern Makeover Expert

When beauty retailer The Rouge Cosmetics asked customers about their beauty influences, they kept hearing the same thing: Women loved watching makeup tutorials online, but were intimidated by the finished looks and had trouble figuring out which vloggers were legit makeup artists. To the rescue: totally legit pro Theresa Taylor and Tia Woodson, are the go-to beauty gurus, who know what’s in and what’s out; what will make you or break you. They will show you what is updated, trendy, and in fashion, not to mention you can see the results in real time in less than 30 minutes!

You don’t need to watch beauty tutorials and endure hours of frustration; and you won’t get the overdone visages that populate the vlogosphere.  As Theresa says, “While I love the creativity shown with all those ultra-perfect doll-looks on YouTube, it’s unattainable in real life and it doesn’t look real. The collection of cosmetics we offer merges trends with wear-ability. I worry about women trying to achieve that version of perfection with their makeup. Instead, I like to bring out the real person, not a fabrication of someone they’re not.”

Fall In Line

“Beauty is a spiritual journey,” says Theresa Taylor, “Like the changing of the seasons the makeup industry is forever changing with them.” With fall approaching it is appropriate to start with a subtle change, especially if you are wearing darker colors or fall’s newest fashion trends. A key color element this season is neutral. Eyes and lips are hyper real, while looking ultra youthful, with skin looking silky smooth as satin.  Brows and lips take center stage in the new era of definition and refinement. Toned down neutral fuller lips, sculpted contours, and eye opening brows usher in a new focus on features. Subtle, natural, sophisticated, or modern—it’s time to get creative and redefine your beauty routine. “The quest for beauty is not vanity, but a ritualistic form of self-love that nourishes the soul,” Theresa says. It’s a philosophy that would have sounded fringe a decade ago, but for today’s juice-amped, gluten free, yoga-fied woman, it only makes sense to do some soul-searching while getting one hell of a updated beauty makeover!

Fall in line with the fall trends and book your make-overs starting at The Rouge Cosmetics September 1^st through October 30^th!  Appointments available Tuesday through Saturday.

 

 

 

 

Q. How do I go about preserving my pumpkins until Halloween? They have turned a nice orange color.  Should they be left on the plant or do I remove them just before carving?                                   

A. Actually, you could do both. Besides, the orange color, a pumpkin is mature when the rind loses its shine and it’s hard enough that you can’t scratch it with your fingernail. The curly tendrils on the part of the vine near the pumpkin turn brown and die back when it is completely ripe. Personally, I’d remove them and leave them in a sunny location. This allows them to develop a tough, rot-resistant skin and improves their shelf life dramatically. A mature pumpkin can last for months before spoiling, so, you may wish to save a few for Thanksgiving. When you harvest pumpkins, remove them from the vines with a sharp knife or use a pair of pruning shears. You should also leave about three to four inches of the stem attached to the pumpkin. This also extends its shelf life. In addition, harvested pumpkins don’t need to be washed. The dirt can simply be brushed off after a few days of drying.

Q. Last year, I bought a blooming Gardenia at the grocery store. I have it growing indoors where it gets morning sun and lots of light. This year, I‘ve only had two blooms. All the other buds have turned black and dropped off. What can I do to keep the blooms from falling off?                                                    

A. Gardenias are not the easiest plants to get to bloom. It’s not unusual for gardeners to have issues with the buds turning black and falling off both indoors and in the landscape. The primary cause for bud drop is nighttime temperatures below sixty degrees. With outdoor plants, September through early November is the best blooming period. You have shorter days and warmer nights along with some humidly. Indoors you have better control on the temperature but it can get awfully dry. So, you might want to place it on a saucer with pebbles and add a little water to raise the humidly. The water line should be below the bottom of the pot. Gardenias do not like to be disturbed so this can be the other reason for bud drop. So with container plants, keep them in one location, and move them as little as possible.

 Note: Gardenias found with the blooming plants at supermarkets and other retailers are usually grown under control conditions in a greenhouse while the landscape plants are grown under different conditions outdoors.     

Q. Last fall, we had a problem with raccoons. They tore up the lawn to feast on the grubs. I’d like to avoid the problem this year and discourage the raccoons early on. Is there an easy way to tell if the lawn grubs have returned?

A. There is a simple test for the presence of grubs you can do using detergent and water. Grub damage normally starts next to a hot cement or concrete edge and quickly expands towards the center of the lawn. The grass turns brown and you’ll also notice the lawn thinning out or disappearing, leaving bare spots. To conduct the grub test, you should set up several test sites both in the areas attacked last year and some neutral sites. With stakes and string, mark off several two by two-foot squares in each of the areas. Next, mix two tablespoons of a liquid soap or detergent in a bucket of water and pour the solution evenly over the areas. For the next ten to fifteen minutes, you keep a close eye on the soil surface. The detergent agitates the grubs forcing them to the surface. If grubs are present, you control them by applying Beneficial Nematodes. Beneficial Nematodes are an environmentally friendly method of killing all the soil insects except earthworms. Another option is Bonide Grub Beater. This is a granular product that’s applied with a spreader as early as June to protect the area for the balance of the year. I might apply a grub control solution even if the tests prove to be negative or inconclusive. You don’t want to wait until the raccoon’s return as the controls will take some weeks to work, all the while the damage continues. The raccoons will be a frequent visitor until they are convinced that the grubs are gone.