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African Shea Butter and Ghana Black Soap...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:26:50 +0200

Washing Soap African Shea Butter and Ghana Black Soap for a Good CauseWhen you buy African Shea Butter or Ghana black soap from The African Store ebay store, 10% of the proceed supports the good cause of Doctors Without Borders USA (Médecins Sans Frontières). Independence, KY (PRWEB) May 21, 2008 -- The African Store is donating 10% of proceeds from the sale of its shea butter and Ghana black soap to Doctors Without Borders, (Médecins Sans Frontières) on eBay. Customers will not only be able to buy these wonderful African products but they will be supporting a worthy cause. About Doctors Without Borders, (Médecins Sans Frontières):Doctors Without Borders, (Médecins Sans Frontières) is a secular humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic disease. Médecins Sans Frontières was created in 1971 by a small group of French doctors (including Bernard Kouchner), in the aftermath of the Biafra secession. The organization is known in most of the world by its French name or simply as MSF, but in the United States the name Doctors Without Borders is often used instead. During the Biafran war and early part of the organization's formation, these doctors concluded that a new aid organization was needed that would ignore political/religious boundaries and prioritize the welfare of victims in war-torn and disaster areas. About Shea Butter:Shea butter is a slightly yellowish or ivory-colored natural fat extracted from fruit of the shea tree by crushing and boiling. Shea butter is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer and an emollient. Shea butter is also edible. It is used as a cooking oil in West Africa, as well as sometimes being used in the chocolate industry as a substitute for cocoa butter. It is also a known anti-inflammatory agent. Shea butter is very effective in treating the following conditions: fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. Shea butter provides natural ultraviolet sun protection, up to SPF 6. Sun-sensitive persons should not rely solely on shea butter for protection. Shea butter absorbs rapidly into the skin without leaving a greasy feeling. It is also used in hair conditioners to add and maintain moisture in dry brittle hair, in addition to revitalizing and preventing breakage. About Ghana Black Soap:Totally organic, this black soap is the real thing. It is pure, unscented, and traditionally made in Ghana, West Africa. Black Soap is also known as Anago Soap or Alata Soap in Ghana, and as Ose Dudu in Nigeria. Our Black Soap is made from roasted cocoa (chocolate) pods, plantain skins ashes mixed with palm oil. Black Soap is especially recommended for the very young and the elderly, or anyone with tender skin. Raw Black Soap is prized for its quality antiseptic properties and we are glad to bring this to you at the best price. Active ingredients in our Black Soap:Water, cocoa pod ashes, plantain skins ashes, and palm oil.

Bronze yourself in moderation

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:22:49 +0200

Coloring Agent As summertime gets closer more and more people are hitting the tanning salons trying to get that perfect glow. Here are some things you should know about indoor tanning.If you are go to a tanning salon one of the most important things to make sure that you have is protective eyewear. Some people think that a towel or closing their eyes is good enough however your eyelids and towels do not provide UV protection. The eyewear has 100 percent UV protection. The delicate eye tissue can be damaged by overexposure to UV light, causing basal cell carcinoma. The UV light can also cause you to loose your night vision and diminish your color vision. There is no cure for either of these problems. It can also cause photokeratitis — which is a temporary corneal burn resulting from short term over exposure to UV light. The result is a tearing pain and blurring for two or three days – or cataracts, which are permanent damage to the cornea resulting from long-term UV light. The only cure for cataracts is surgery. Eyewear should even be worn if you are only using the leg tanner because of the radiation and still being able to see the light from the UV lamps.Some people are allergic to tanning which could be because of medications they are on or from lying directly over the bulbs. These people could try airbrush tanning, mystic tanning or stand up tanning booths.Airbrush tanning is more expensive and does not protect you from burning in the sun as it dyes your skin rather than creating melanin. Melanin is what your body produces that causes you to be tan to protect your skin from burning. A DHA formula is used for airbrush tanning and is also found in a lot of tanning lotions used for tanning beds. DHA stands for Dihydroxyacetone, which was first recognized as a skin-coloring agent back in the 1920s by German scientists. Since it was used for the X-ray process, it was noted as causing the skin to turn brown when it was spilled.Mystic tanning is similar to airbrush the only difference between the two being that when airbrushed another person is actually spraying the DHA formula on you. Mystic tanning is where you stand in a booth and the machine sprays you. Airbrush tanning is better than mystic for the simple fact that having a person spraying the DHA formula on you gives a more even tan then a machine.There are several different types of tanning beds. Some salons have leg tanners since the legs exfoliate more often for women due to shaving. Stand up tanning booths can allow more space from the bulbs and may prevent the allergic reaction for some people. The standing bed also gives you a more even tan preventing the pressure lines and lines under the arms and down your sides. They also have high-pressure beds that use quartz lamps. These beds are called high-pressure beds because of the manufacturing process of the bed, which maintains the gases in the lamps at above atmospheric pressure while gases in conventional beds are held below atmospheric pressure.Tanning beds consist of two types of rays, UVA rays and UVB rays. UVB rays are tanning rays that are only strong enough to make it through the epidermis. The UVB ray is what stimulates the melanocyte cell and helps produce melanin as mentioned earlier. UVA rays go through the epidermis and scatter through the dermis, which is the second layer of skin. The UVB ray is more damaging to the skin than the UVA ray. The UVB ray is referred to as the burning ray and UVA ray is referred to as the tanning ray, it also gives you a deeper tan.Another thing that is very important to know about tanning is that it dries the skin out so moisturizing is very important. Not only that but also getting into a tanning bed without the skin being moisturized will not give you as good of a tan because your skin will reflect the rays, whereas if your skin is moisturized it will absorb them, making tanning more effective.Because of the potential dangers, you should use the tanning bed in moderation..

Hard, clear plastic and epoxy resins: wa...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:22:05 +0200

Plastic Resin In more "materials that are bad for you" news, BPA, a chemical found in hard, clear plastics like baby and sports bottles as well as epoxy resin, is apparently something you should avoid. In studies of laboratory animals...BPA changes play behavior, weakens gender differences, decreases sperm count, stimulates prostate cancer and causes ADHD symptoms.As a designer, what do you need to know about this? With papers on the ills of BPA "being published at the rate of about one a day," manufacturers are getting hip to its dangers and are coming up with alternatives; if you're in a position to spec out materials, you may want to have a look at these. These [safer alternatives] include glass baby bottles instead of polycarbonate ones -- the Glass Packaging Institute recently reported a surge in demand for these -- and natural resin for lining cans instead of epoxy. Japanese manufacturers started using natural resin in 1997, and two years later a study found that BPA levels had gone down significantly.As a consumer, what do you need to know? Don't put polycarbonate plastics in the nuke or the dishwasher; heat makes the BPA leach out of the plastic, and into you, faster. Read all about it here

Fluorescent Lighting Fixture survives dr...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:20:45 +0200

Neoprene Gasket Rated for NEC Class I Division 2 atmospheres, RigMaster(TM) provides dependable source of illumination for offshore and land-based drilling rigs. Metallic fixture features impact-resistant lens and corrosion-resistant aluminum housing that withstands extended exposure to caustic chemicals, UV rays, and driving vibrations. To protect personnel and equipment during power interruption, product offers instant-on capabilities and optional emergency battery pack.Appleton, the leading premium supplier of electrical components to hazardous locations, today introduced its new RigMaster(TM), a fluorescent lighting fixture specifically engineered to meet the extreme conditions found on offshore and land-based drilling rigs.Rated for NEC Class I Division 2 atmospheres, Appleton's RigMaster metallic fluorescent lighting fixture is a rugged, dependable source of illumination for rig operations. Its lightweight, corrosion-resistant aluminum housing withstands extended exposure to high temperatures, caustic chemicals, UV rays and driving vibrations. In addition, its neoprene gasket and impact-resistant lens acts to protect and seal against the damaging effects of dirt, dust and moisture.The Appleton RigMaster is available with a variety of mounting options including safety-cable eyebolts, for simple and secure installations wherever light is required to productive, safe rig operation. It also protects personnel and equipment in the event of a power interruption with instant-on capabilities and an optional emergency battery pack.

Bericap enlages light weight plastic clo...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:19:17 +0200

Plastic Resin Bericap's range of light weight closures save their customers money and offer a greener alternative, according to the company. A spokesperson from the company told FoodProductionDaily.com that its range of light weight closures was initially introduced in response to demands from customers to cut raw material costs.Because the lighter weight closures use less plastic they also use less non-renewable material which is, of course, good for the environment, she added.In a statement the company said that savings on the newly introduced HexaLite closures amount to almost 2000 tons of resin savings for each one billion bottles produced, an estimated reduction of 15000 tons of green house gas emissions and almost €3m in cost reductions.The company said that it had a "general commitment" to offer to its customers "a broad range of new closure and neck finish solutions to help them develop sustainable packaging solutions in key FMCG markets." The spokesperson confirmed that the first light weight closure to be introduced was the SuperShorty for short neck bottles which was introduced to the market in 2007. The HexaLite and new Galileo closures are more recent additions to Bericap's light weight family.HexaLite According to the company the HexaLite closures at less than 1.5g save a minimum of 0.5g of plastic resin (HDPE), and the new light weight neck finish for PET bottles saves at least 1.5g of PET resin, totalling savings of 2.0g per package.There are two main sizes; the HexaLite 26mm at 1.1g or less on a new neck finish of 26mm at 2.2g or less, which replace the current 26.7mm standard used in the States and some European countries; and HexaLite 29/25mm at 1.4g or less on a new neck finish 29/25 at 2.4g or less, replacing the 30/25 standard for still water. Standard Bericap features such as the olive seal for better seal under high temperature variation and the slit, folded tamper evident band (Flexband) have been included in the HexaLite line.HexaLite closures were introduced to the market earlier this year.GalileoGalileo is the registered name for a range of Bericap closures that use patented technology for moulding hinged closures in a closed position which allows relatively high speed moulding, does not require any additional closing operation and offers efficient tamper evidence performance.This technology has been used to develop various light weight closures.A new Galileo I 38mm light weight hinged closure has been introduced for the packaging of fresh milk, milk based drinks and beverages."For any 100 million bottles, this Galileo I 38mm program would contribute to save between 225 and 345 tons of resin or between 300 000 and 500 000 worth of PET and HDPE resins and would help to reduce the carbon footprint by up to 2600 tons of CO2 emissions", said the company.According to Bericap Galileo closures include other benefits such as a visible and reliable tear-off temper evident band and an efficient secondary seal after first opening.Bericap says it is one of the largest manufacturers of plastic closures in the world, with 20 factories in 18 countries.

Less-popular produce in spotlight Brocco...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:17:23 +0200

spinach and peppers are among the more "famous" vegetables, but there are lots of others out there, too. Just because they're less well known doesn't mean they don't have value. This is part of a continuing series to keep you informed about the benefits of the "not-so-famous" vegetables.CabbageValue | Cabbage is a member of the cruciferous family, which includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale and bok choy."Like broccoli and other members of this family, cabbage is full of nutrients and has cancer-fighting capabilities," said Lanah J. Brennan, a Los Angeles dietitian. Cabbage is a good source of potassium, fiber, folate, B vitamins and vitamin A.Nutrients | One cup of chopped cabbage contains 32.6 milligrams vitamin C (54.3 percent of the daily value), 151 milligrams of potassium (4 percent), 38 micrograms folate (10 percent), 67.6 micrograms vitamin K (80 percent). Cabbage also contains almost 9 percent of the daily recommended amount of dietary fiber.Health perks | "Green cabbage is a top source of 'indirect antioxidants' called glucosinolates," said Nicholas D. Gillitt, nutrition researcher at Dole Nutrition Institute. "These are phytonutrients that remove free radicals from the body by stimulating the body's own natural antioxidant systems. This cascade of antioxidant activity - unlike the one-shot, finite amount you get from most direct antioxidants - actually cycles over and over within the physiology, continuing to protect your system for as many as three to four days after the cabbage has been consumed." When cabbage is sliced or chewed, phytochemicals called indoles and isothiocyanates are also released.Nutrition stats (1 cup) | 22 calories, 5.2 grams carbohydrates, 1.14 grams protein, 2.2 grams fiber, 0.09 gram fat, 16 milligrams sodium.Purchasing | Cabbage is in season during the fall and winter. Look for heads that are colorful and firm. Check the stem to make sure it's not dried out. Avoid cabbages that are cracked or bruised. To get the most vitamin C, buy whole cabbage heads instead of those that are precut, says Brennan.Avoid heads that feel light because they likely have lost a lot of moisture. The head should not have blemishes or withered leaves, said Molly Morgan, of Creative Nutrition Solutions in Vestal, N.Y.Storage | An uncut head should last about a week in your refrigerator, but it's best eaten as soon as possible after you buy it. Store it in a plastic bag.White Button MushroomsValue | They're low in calories, inexpensive and have low energy density - so you get filled up with fewer calories. Also, these mushrooms are known to have antioxidant benefits similar to those of fancier mushrooms. They are a great source of vegetable protein, says Brennan. Oh, and they're a fungus, not a vegetable.Nutrients (five medium) | 362 milligrams vitamin B2 (riboflavin) (21 percent of the daily value), 3.3 milligrams vitamin B3 (niacin) (16 percent) and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) (13.5 percent), 0.286 milligrams copper (14.3 percent), 8.4 micrograms selenium (10 percent), 286 micrograms potassium (8 percent), 77 milligrams phosphorous (8 percent) and 4.5 milligrams iron (2.5 percent).Health perks | They are a good source of three important B vitamins that help convert food to energy and promote healthy skin, hair, muscles and brain function. They also supply a good source of selenium, a trace element that functions as an antioxidant in the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This important enzyme helps neutralize the free radicals - unstable oxygen molecules - produced by normal cellular processes. Once used, the enzyme needs riboflavin - also found in mushrooms - to regenerate into its active form. Thus, everything you need to help this particular antioxidant enzyme system function optimally is supplied in mushrooms. Selenium is also needed for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland and may play a role in fertility, especially for men. In addition, research suggests that selenium may reduce the risk of lung, liver and prostate cancers, Gillitt said.Nutrition stats (five medium) | 20 calories, 3 carbohydrates, 3 grams protein, 1 gram fiber, 0.3 gram fat, 48 milligrams sodium.Purchasing | Select mushrooms that are firm and white, not browning or broken, says Brennan. Also, look for caps that are closed on the bottom, as they tend to be fresher.Storage | Brush off dirt with a soft vegetable brush. Do not rinse or soak mushrooms or they may get soggy. Store them in a paper bag or vented container to allow air flow. Mushrooms will keep for about three days in the refrigerator, Brennan said.CauliflowerValue | Like cabbage, cauliflower is a top source of the "indirect" antioxidants known as glucosinolates.Nutrients (1 cup) | 46.4 milligrams vitamin C (77 percent), 16 micrograms vitamin K (20 percent), 57 micrograms folate (15 percent), 0.222 milligram vitamin B6 (11.1 percent) and notably, 303 milligrams potassium (9 percent), 2.5 grams fiber (10 percent) and 15 milligrams manganese (4 percent).Health perks | In addition to antioxidants, cabbage has high amounts of vitamin C, which is healthy for the skin and the immune system. Lastly, "Diets rich in potassium (which lowers blood pressure), fiber (which reduces cholesterol), vitamin C (which prevents oxidation of LDL 'bad' cholesterol) and vitamin B6 (which reduces homocysteine levels) are associated with maintaining a healthy heart," Gillitt said.Nutrition stats (1 cup) | 25 calories, 5.3 grams carbohydrates, 1.98 grams protein, 2.5 grams dietary fiber, 0.1 gram fat, 30 milligrams sodium.Purchasing | Look for firm, white, clean tops. Avoid brown spots and soft heads.Storage | Cauliflower will keep for up to five days if stored in the crisper section of the refrigerator. If the head is not purchased wrapped, store it in an open or perforated plastic bag. Keep it stem-side up to prevent moisture from collecting on it.CHARLES STUART PLATKIN is a nutrition and public health advocate, an author and the founder of Integrated Wellness Solutions.

A downsizer adapts her small house to he...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:16:19 +0200

Instant Bond Pat Tippett left what others wished for -- a spacious Old Portland-style house in the heart of Northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood -- for a small cottage in North Portland."I was looking at bigger houses," Tippett says, "but I stopped and thought: 'I don't want a house to own me.'"Downsizing made sense for the single woman whose three boys were grown and moving out on their own. Her new house near the rim of the University Park neighborhood would also be closer to her business, Flaming Carrot Catering.Little did she know at the time that this 960-square-foot house -- along with some one-step-at-a-time remodeling to expand into the unfinished basement -- would accommodate the transitions her life would take over the next decade.Plus, she felt an instant bond with the house built in 1913."The things I loved most were the giant willow tree in the backyard and the kitchen," says Tippett, who started in the catering business in the early '80s. "The kitchen didn't need much."The kitchen's salvaged-hardwood counters were a big draw.In fact, the kitchen had been beautifully remodeled and featured counters made from salvaged -- Tippett repeats salvaged -- Brazilian hardwood. In the bedroom, rose, coral and teal linoleum paints a vintage picture on the floor.She decided to get comfortable -- and not do a thing -- in the home's two bedrooms, one bath and a large unfinished basement.Initially, it felt plenty big for one person. She converted one of the bedrooms into a home office, which doubles as her workout room. An informal breakfast bar, which she created by opening the wall between kitchen and living room, provided just enough room to eat. A small mudroom and a cozy family room in the back of the house seemed like a bonus.It wasn't until her three sons came to visit that Tippett realized just how cramped the house could feel. "When they come, they bring significant others," she says. "It's cozy."Finishing the basement added 750 square feet to the house, giving Tippett plenty of space and a guest room.Six months after moving in, she partially finished the basement, adding a guest room and a media room with plenty of pullout sleeping space.The remodeling continued to unfold from there, thanks to the able assists of a friend who's retired and a contractor whose wedding she'd catered.She finished the rest of the basement, adding a spacious full bath that doubles as a laundry room.Then she opened up the two tiny rooms at the back of the house, which gave her a small combined dining area and family room. She added a gas fireplace and bought a sofa that works as an extra bed for guests."This is where I sleep when all of my sons are here," she says. To expand the area visually, she cut out a pass-through in the wall of the basement stairs that opens to a window."I love being able to see the trees," she says.This also gave her room for a formal dining table that expands to seat 10."I was so excited about the table," she says. "Before, this was always an eat-in-your-lap kind of house if there were more than a couple of people."Tippett added a combination bath and laundry room in her basement.Finally, Tippett says, the house felt done."I enjoyed coming home in the evenings. I'd do some office work, make dinner, come in here and read," she says of the new family room.Then, late last year, Tippett decided to close Flaming Carrot. What she didn't sell from the commercial kitchen housed in the North Star Ballroom, she packed up to bring home. She knew that food would still be part of her professional life.But that meant the kitchen, one of the few untouched rooms in her house, would need some tweaking to make room for barware, plates, bowls and items she might need close by. The small appliances and other things could go elsewhere.The chef long known for her creativeness went to work.Tippett created the breakfast bar when she opened up the wall between the living room and kitchen.She found a row of floor-to-ceiling cabinets at an outlet store that matched her existing cabinets and offered oodles of storage. For the basement, she bought a clothes wardrobe that fit in nicely in the family room. In its drawers and shelves, she stores catering equipment and bakeware.Tippett's new career materialized more quickly than she thought it would.No sooner had she unpacked her equipment than she was putting it to work as a food stylist for the movie "Twilight," being filmed in the Portland area.She's now looking ahead to working as a private chef."I'm so busy," she says. "When I'm home, I really enjoy my house."

Lubricant freezes metal parts to penetra...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:15:29 +0200

Lubricant Spray Loctite? Freeze & Release is low-viscosity, spray-on lubricant designed to shock-freeze metal parts, allowing lubricating oils to penetrate into rust layers. It freezes seized and rusted parts to -45°F, which causes hairline cracks to form in rust layer as metal contracts, allowing lubricant to penetrate by capillary action. Threaded assemblies can be dismantled in 1-2 min and product is available in 400 ml aerosol can. To free seized or corroded assemblies, Henkel Corporation has introduced Loctite? Freeze & Release, a low viscosity, spray-on lubricant designed to shock-freeze metal parts, allowing lubricating oils to penetrate into rust layers.As Loctite Freeze & Release instantly freezes seized and rusted parts to -45 degrees F, hairline cracks form in the rust layer as the metal contracts. These cracks allow the product's lubricating oil to penetrate by capillary action quickly and efficiently into the rust layer. After one to two minutes, the assembly is easy to dismantle.Loctite Freeze & Release eliminates the need for cutting torches and die grinders. The product is available in a 400-ml aerosol can. For more information on Loctite Freeze & Release, call 1-800-LOCTITE or visit the company's Web site at http://www.henkelna.com/mronew. For more than 130 years, Henkel has been a leader with brands and technologies that make people's lives easier, better, and more beautiful. Henkel operates in three business areas - Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives Technologies - and ranks among the Fortune Global 500 companies. In fiscal 2007, Henkel generated sales of $19.218 billion and operating profit of $1.975 billion. Our 53,000 employees worldwide are dedicated to fulfilling our corporate claim, "A Brand like a Friend," and ensuring that people in more than 125 countries can trust in brands and technologies from Henkel.

Shepherd Bliss: Oil, Food and Agrotherap...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:14:59 +0200

Organic Oil Lets face it: our world has become increasingly maddening. Bad news mounts each day: unending wars, financial crises, earthquakes, hurricanes and cyclones killing thousands, chaotic climate change, vanishing pollinating bees and polar bears, rising oceans, thinning forests and a host of human-created or worsened threats. We live in uncertain times with an even more uncertain future. We face unprecedented, unpredictable converging threats. What can one do to remain somewhat sane? The ostrich approach of denial by burying ones head in the sand will not be effective or life-enhancing.It is a good time for an increasing number of people to return to the multiple benefits and pleasures of growing at least part of their own food by gardening and farming. In addition to satisfying the need to eat and drink, farming can also help deal with depression, passivity, and other forms of psychological suffering. It can help treat both the body and the soul. Farming can be done in ways that preserve the Earth and put humans in direct contact with it.Since growing ones own food is not possible for everyone, it is also a good time to establish direct relationships with local farmers and shop more at farmers markets, farm stands, and by subscribing to Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs). Urban agriculture, farms on the urban fringe, and rooftop gardening are becoming increasingly popular. The large city of Havana, Cuba, grows 70% of its own food. Necessity will change how people get their food in the near future.Many Americans take their food sources for granted, assuming that super-markets will be able to always supply them with what they need. Having lived in Hawaii when delivery disruptions and the lack of transportation across the ocean left bare shelves in food stores, I know the panic this can cause.The Silent Tsunami, Misery Index and Mud CakesA silent tsunami of hunger sweeps the globe, reports the head of the United Nations World Food Program, Josette Sheeran, speaking in late April at a food summit in London. The heightened hunger threat endangers 20 million of the worlds poorest children and is pushing 100 million people into poverty.This is the new face of hungerthe millions of people who were not in the urgent hunger category six months ago but now are, Sheeran reports. The worlds misery index is rising.During 2008, food riots have already broken out in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. You are seeing the return of the food riot, one of the oldest forms of collective action, commented Raj Patel in an April 25 San Francisco Chronicle article. The University of California at Berkeley scholar wrote the new book Stuffed and Starved: Power and the Hidden Battle for the World Food System.The World Bank estimates that food prices have risen 83% in three years; other estimates are in the 60 and 70 percent range. Even in the wealthy United States, we have recently seen rationing of rice and other staples by food giants such as Costco and Wal-Marts Sams Clubs, the two biggest warehouse retail chains. Such trends are likely to continue and are creating stockpiling and hoarding.In the poorest districts (of Haiti), there is now a brisk trade in mud cakes, writes Patel in an article titled The Troubles with Food, published at http://www.redpepper.org.uk . Mothers feed the biscuits, made with water, salt, margarine and clay, to their children. The cake puts a dampener on hunger, at least for a couple of hours, but leaves your mouth dry and bitter for several hours more, he continues.Industrial agriculture will be one of the many aspects of human life on the planet hit by the dwindle/demand oil trend and the related peaks of other fossil fuels, such as natural gas. Industrial agriculture depends upon petroleum in many ways to run tractors and other machines, to make chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and to fuel the trucks that transport food an average of 1500 miles from field to fork. Oil is the most important ingredient in most of conventional food. As the dwindle/demand rate intensifies, food will be less available and more expensive. Famine is likely.Survival will require that more people return to an earlier energy supply muscle power. As someone who made a transition in the early 1990s (while in my late 40s) from a livelihood based on college teaching and related intellectual activities to one based on farming, I can report that there are many advantages to such a change. I feel better as a result of living on the land, growing some of my own food, and sharing that organic food and the farm itself with others.I have found my local place. In 2003 I accepted a great job offer in Hawaii, but after a couple of wonderful years, I felt so homesick that I returned to my farm.So this will be a report from the farm front, which will focus on some of the psychological benefits of farming.The multiple consequences of a diminishing supply of humanitys major energy source at this point in history will include hardships, stress, and suffering. There are many ways of dealing psychologically with such matters, including with family, friends and professional counsellors. This article will explore what I have come to describe as agropsychology and agrotherapy.I was trained to be a counsellor. Quite frankly, I was not good at delivering individual therapy. I got too emotional and involved. I did not adequately develop the necessary professional armor and shield. I did not take enough distance from the people I was working with or have enough impulse control. So I shifted more to teaching, group work, and writing. In the time since my more conventional psychological training, some forty years ago, self-disclosure and emotional men have become more acceptable as sex roles and professional codes have evolved.

Roo on the run returns for peanuts

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:14:17 +0200

Peanuts Butter Toto spent 15 days on the hop from the Serengeti Wildlife Park in Hanover, north Germany.Despite being spotted several times, Toto managed to elude wardens as they tried to track him.They even took his son Conrad along on their search in a bid to lure him out.But when that failed the wardens decided to leave a trail of peanut butter leading to a trap filled with sandwiches smeared in Toto's favourite spread.The mischievous marsupial's tastebuds finally got the better of him and he was re-captured in a field close to the village of Mellendorf.Toto has now been returned to the wildlife park where vets who examined him gave him a clean bill of health."He's lost a little weight and he's got a runny nose, but he seems to be quite healthy apart from that," vet Frank Thiersen said.

Love of the loaf kneads silver medal suc...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:12:32 +0200

Artistic Tea Is three a crowd or do good things come in threes? If asking the triumvirate of bakers from Taiwan who traveled to Paris and baked it out with 11 teams representing the world's finest breadmakers at the 2008 Bakery World Cup, the answer would definitely be the latter.As the nation's first-ever representatives at the triennial event held March 31, Wu Pao-chun, Wen Shih-cheng and Tsao Chih-hsiung did their homeland proud by finishing second to hosts France in an event that demands artistic vision, extensive know-how and a sense of taste to come out on top.The fiercely fought contest featured the top three place-getters of the 2005 competition--the United States, France and Japan--as well as teams from Argentina, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the Netherlands. With "bread, symbol of your country" the theme of this year's event, the Taiwanese trio rolled up their sleeves and got down to the business of mastering the mystery of fermentation by working their magic with yeast, flour and water.This demanding process called for an uninterrupted eight-hour session, with participant's efforts scrutinized by judges from Belgium, Canada, Chile, Hungary, Ireland, South Korea and Vietnam. The teams were assessed on three specific categories of baking: Baguettes and Specialty Breads, Viennoiserie (Viennese pastry making) and Artistic Design (creations that symbolize a nation).In addition, the troika's organizational abilities, time and space management, teamwork and individual mastery of skills were put to the test.According to Pingtung County-born Wu, the team was very anxious prior to the competition, but wanted to do well and repay all those people who had supported them throughout the years. "The temperature in the room was quite warm and I was very nervous," he said, recalling the pressure that forced all contestants to concentrate on nothing but the doughy tasks at hand.The 39-year-old bread chef at Pasadena Bakery in Kaohsiung City explained that he consumed nothing but water to keep his body functioning during the event, a habit adopted three years ago while giving up smoking. "I was puffing away on two packs a day and had tried so many times to kick the habit," Wu said. "Reaching the Bakery World Cup has been a goal of mine since my 20s and I knew that if I could resist the temptation of nicotine, I could dedicate myself 100 percent to the competition."In addition to constantly sipping water, Wu found that hard work was another way of easing the pain of cigarette withdrawal. He would often remain on the job until midnight, experimenting with different breadmaking techniques and ingredients in the quest for perfection. Although physically and mentally exhausted at the time, Wu's commitment to his profession helped lay the groundwork for the team's success at the world cup.As the baker responsible for Baguettes and Specialty Breads, Wu said it was his "secret weapon"--dried longan bread made using sweet fermented rice wine--that won the backing of the judges. "The inspiration for this creation came from childhood memories of my mother cooking longan soup with sweet fermented rice wine to keep the cold at bay during winter," he said. "Maybe it was the 'flavor of mother' that touched the judges' hearts."In fact, the judges were so impressed by Wu's work that he was selected to take part in the Baguettes and Specialty Breads category at the Bakery World Championships in 2010. An honor also awarded to teammate Tsao with his inclusion in the Artistic Design section.Wu explained that his creative partnership with Tsao dated back to 1993 when they were both working at a bakery in Kaohsiung City. "He was making cakes and I was baking bread," he said.Years later, after deciding to test his skills on the international stage, Wu remembered his former coworker's artistic talents and invited him along for the ride. After some persuading, Tsao signed on but the duo needed one more member to fill out their team. Fortunately, they discovered Wen--who specialized in making sweet bread and came highly recommended by a respected local baker.Along with 25 other teams, the trio entered Taiwan's inaugural Bakery World Cup qualifier in December 2005 and were selected to move on to the second round of the competition held in March of the next year during the Taipei International Bakery Show at the Taipei World Trade Center.

Herbal beverage sales won't take long to...

uebhanyashuang — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:11:13 +0200

Oolong Tea Drink Beaumont resident Rachel Gunther, who could be called an avid tea drinker, jokes that she enjoys drinking the beverage because she can put honey in it and that makes her "feel fancy."Maybe "feeling fancy" could be attributed to the Tea Association of the USA's recent report that tea sales have gone from $1.84 billion in 1990 to $6.85 billion in 2007. It predicts sales will exceed $10 billion in 2010. Local specialty shops, including Southern Magnolia Tea Room in Orange and Rao's Bakery, said tea sales here also have risen in recent years."It used to be, if we put out green tea people would say 'There's something wrong with your tea,'" said Tammie Hughes, a manager at Rao's on Calder Avenue, referring to the drink's light color. "But we've sold more iced green tea in the last few years than ever before."At Southern Magnolia Tea Room, 1627 Strickland Drive in Orange, owner Cathy Manshack said tea sales there have spiked since it first opened in 1999.At first, Manshack said, the tea room only served drinks and desserts, and coffee sales actually topped tea sales.Since then, Manshack said Southern Magnolia Tea Room has added a full lunch menu and customers seem to be taking advantage of the tea of the week.Why is tea suddenly trendy?Hughes said she thinks more people are aware of the antioxidants in tea and are drinking more in an effort to be healthy.TeaIndustry.com reported that one cup of tea and one serving of vegetables contain the same amount of antioxidants.Tea's healthy benefits is one reason W. Joe Deshotel stopped in Rao's Bakery Tuesday afternoon for a steaming hot cup of chamomile tea.Chamomile and roobios are two of Rao's most popular teas, Hughes said, but they're actually not teas.The drinks are "tisanes," or herbal infusions, made from flowers instead of tea leaves but are prepared the same way as tea, Hughes said.Flavored green teas are most popular at both stores, and Rao's owner Jake Tortorice said he is expecting Pu-erh tea to be the next big trend.The dark-reddish color drink, he said, sometimes has been aged for 80 years, and is known in China for its health benefits. According to the Tea Association, all tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. How the fresh leaves are processed and their level of contact with oxygen determine the type of tea. Green tea is not oxidized at all, black tea leaves are oxidized for two to four hours and oolong tea leaves are partially oxidized.Tea made from processed tea bags and from tea leaves have the same levels of antioxidants, but Tortorice said tea leaves generally make higher-quality drinks, have stronger tastes and can be used at least twice.A tip from Rao's: If you're enjoying your first ever cup of tea, don't use milk and lemon. Choose one or the other.

Alcan Global Pharmaceutical Packaging La...

uebhanyashuang — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:19:41 +0200

Tag: HDPE Material Montreal, QC - Alcan Global Pharmaceutical Packaging, part of Rio Tinto Alcan's packaging unit, has launched a new StabilitySolutions product line of high barrier plastic bottles. The product development and production come from the Alcan Packaging plastics business headquartered in Pennsauken, New Jersey."This is a groundbreaking, innovative product for pharmaceuticals that require the highest moisture and oxygen barrier," said Michael Rubenstein, chief growth and innovation officer, Alcan Packaging. "StabilitySolutions DRY and StabilitySolutions BARRIER use patent pending technologies to ensure that the customers' products maintain their efficacy longer, delivering the greatest possible benefit to patients."StabilitySolutions DRY is a bi-layer desiccant container for oral solid products that offers improved product protection and product shelf life. The patent pending technology incorporates desiccant material into the product contact layer of the bi-layer container, eliminating the need for a desiccant sachet or canister. The integration of this feature into the bottle wall thickness itself can add filling line efficiencies resulting in significant cost savings to customers.StabilitySolutions BARRIER is a tri-layer container for oral solid dose products using patented and patent pending technology that sandwiches the high oxygen barrier ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) between two layers of high density polyethylene (HDPE). This approach results in pharmaceutical bottles that provide remarkable oxygen barrier protection coupled with the reliable moisture barrier characteristics offered by HDPE."The StabilitySolutions product line demonstrates our belief that packaging can add exceptional value to our customers' products", commented Mike Schmitt, president, Alcan Global Pharmaceutical Packaging. "Our innovation efforts are uniquely focused on our customers' specialized needs, working collaboratively with them to optimize product integrity while delivering a high level of customization for their individual product requirements."

Blueberry Power-Snack Turnovers

uebhanyashuang — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:18:02 +0200

Tag: Egg White Powder Summary:This is a snack recipe that children ages 5 to 12 can make with a little help from an adult.Letting the dough rest will make kneading the dough much easier.Makes 12 turnoversIngredients: * 1 1/2 cups flour, plus more for the work surface * 1 cup whole-wheat flour * 1 tablespoon baking powder * 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg * 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted (may substitute margarine) * 1 cup nonfat milk * 3/4 cup spreadable blueberry fruit (in the jam section of the grocery store) * 1/2 cup frozen blueberries, defrosted * 1 large egg white * 1 tablespoon water * 1/4 cup wheat germDirections:Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking oil spray or line with parchment paper. Lightly flour a work surface.Combine the flours, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the melted butter and milk, stirring to form a dough. Transfer to the prepared work surface and let it rest for 15 minutes. Then knead the dough for 4 minutes to 8 minutes, until it is smooth and supple. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a rectangle that is 12 by 16 inches and 1/2 inch thick. Cut into twelve 4-inch squares.Spread each dough square with 1 tablespoon of the blueberry fruit, leaving a clear 1/4-inch margin around the edges of each square. Sprinkle each square with 5 or 6 blueberries.Combine the egg white and water in a small cup to make an egg wash; use a brush to paint the egg wash on the margins. Fold each square in half diagonally to form triangular turnovers. Press down well to seal. Use the tines of a fork to reinforce the seal by pressing along all sides.Lightly brush the tops of the turnovers with the egg mixture. Place turnovers 2 inches apart on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with the wheat germ. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to the stovetop (off the heat) and let them cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Quick fix: Dressed-up teriyaki tops stea...

uebhanyashuang — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:17:06 +0200

Teriyaki, a sweet sauce, glazes a juicy steak for this quick meal. Frozen diced onion, minced garlic and sliced mushrooms, all ready-prepared in the supermarket, are added to bottled teriyaki sauce to give it a homemade touch.Toasted sesame oil lends a nutty flavor to the side dish of Chinese noodles. It can be found in the oil section of most supermarkets. Steamed or fresh Chinese noodles can be found in the produce section of the market. Use them within a day or use dried Chinese noodles.|Teriyaki glazed steak||and Chinese noodles|? lb. skirt steakVegetable oil spray1 cup frozen chopped/diced onion4 tsp. minced garlic? lb. sliced button mushrooms (1? cups)? cup low-sodium teriyaki sauceSteps: Remove visible fat from meat. Heat a medium-size nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and spray with vegetable oil spray. Add steak and saute 3 minutes per side if thin or 4 minutes if thicker. A meat thermometer should read 145 degrees for rare and 160 for medium. Remove to cutting board. Add the onion, garlic and mushrooms to the skillet and cook 2 minutes, breaking up large mushroom slices with the edge of a cooking spoon. Add the teriyaki sauce and saute 1 minute. Slice the steak and divide between two plates. Spoon the vegetables and glaze over the steak. Makes 2 servings.Per serving: 376 calories (41 percent from fat), 16.9 g fat (6.2 g saturated, 9 g monounsaturated), 84 mg cholesterol, 37.8 g protein, 16.8 g carbohydrates, 1.9 g fiber, 802 mg sodium.|Chinese noodles|? lb. fresh or steamed Chinese noodles or dried noodles 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil6 scallions, slicedSalt and freshly ground pepperSteps: Add noodles to boiling water. Cook 1 minute or according to package instructions. Drain. Add sesame oil, scallions and salt and pepper to taste. Makes 2 servings.Per serving: 213 calories (24 percent from fat), 5.6 g fat (0.7 g saturated, 3.2 g monounsaturated), 9 mg cholesterol, 7.9 g protein, 33.7 g carbohydrates, 2.3 g fiber, 122 mg sodium.— By Linda Gassenheimer, author of "The Portion Plan" and "Prevention's Fit and Fast Meals in Minutes."