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A person, thinking about child care startup may very well be looking forward to a profitable business in the form of a child care center.

Setting up a child care center, is a flourishing business but it also requires a lot of dedication. The certain factors involved may be the cost of starting it altogether, making a business plan and looking after legal requirements.

These centers can also be started in spaces that are otherwise unoccupied during the entire week or within a school that has surplus space. If a child care center is set up within a school, it brings the advantage of having well coordinated programs.

After the location is decided, child care insurance is the next essential step. This is very crucial for starting a child care business. These centers offer dedicated services to working parents. Hence, these should provide a safe environment to the children. And, insurance works as an added security measure.

As this is a very fast growing industry, proper management is very important. This is also required to give the center, better recognition. As there are a number of child care centers, people will generally prefer the one that has a better management system. Therefore, better management system results in a flourishing child care center and great profit.

A management application is especially designed for childcare management that could be obtained before starting up the child care center. This software is easily accessible at a number of online and offline resources. This software provides complete, user-friendly and integrated modules that help in managing child records, billing and various accounting operations, available city subsidies, payroll records, direct deposits and preauthorized payment records. Find out more about childcare management at http://www.childcare-management.com

The child care software that maintains the records updates automatically. This helps the parents and family members understand the child’s progress. It also provides an opportunity to them to observe the activities of the child. For the various child care institutions, security is of utmost importance. This security can be protected by using this software.

Finally, a business broker can be a good source of information. He could provide detailed information regarding a child care center like the availability of the area, its price, current market requirements and so on. He could not only provide you information but also help you strike the best possible deal of the infrastructure. Information of the brokers regarding a child care startup may also be found through a search on the internet.

Remember the lifelong anxiety you’ve experienced, worrying about the crumbling of The Great Wall of China? Fret no more.

Now, humanity longest tribute to war-wrought paranoia will be on the mend. It seems the enterprising communist nation has an abundant new supply of materials to rebuild it with: The millions of lead-loaded toys, bibs and other children’s paraphernalia its cheapo manufacturers shipped off to Mattel and other toy makers, appalling mothers by the millions.

But, as Confucius say, “Toys made with lead paint eventually return to factory.”

Or, in a more contemporary vein, “From China with lead” is turning into “Back at you from America.”

Even as you read this, the varicolored plastic remedy is tending its way toward its eternal destiny, as ships laden with returned Barbie Dolls, Mattel Cars, painted bibs and other infant delights steam toward their disgraced land of origin.

Of course, given the way rocks cobbled together have a way of returning to their place of origin, especially with the steady help of enthusiastic vandals, the ancient enormity has been falling apart almost since it was begun. In fact, today less than half of its 4,000 mile stretch still rises above elevation zero.

And Mao, economic moron that he was, didn’t help the matter. He was unable to envision the stone wonder of the world as anything other than a dispensable feudal curiosity, let alone a hot tourist attraction that could help prop up his decrepit state. So great swaths of it were pulled down and transformed into functional accoutrements of his workers paradise, such as dams, roads, and stone huts.

But now the new communist elite are in receipt of more than enough resilient material to restore the entire length of it.

Redone as a sort of land fill from toy land, the reconstructed immensity will, to the delight of state capitalists everywhere, become a greater wonder for tourists than ever. Imagine the colorful come-visit look of its renewed grandeur, compacted with a rainbow of plastic toys, out of which odd appendages and bumpers poke.

Should such an original method of rebuilding the wall ever become an architectural reality and surefire outrage, what might have become The Great Fall of China may be elevated to an enlarged source of latter-day Chinese prosperity.

Termite Prevention in Sydney using Termidor

How does Termidor Work?

A lot of termite control products are toxic to termites, very few of the termites are actually killed before being repelled by the termiticide barrier. As a result, termites remain alive and actively seek gaps in the barrier in order to gain access to the building. They do this day after day, year after year until they find a way through.

Termidor is non-repellent to termites. This means that they cannot detect the product and will not avoid the treated area. As a result, termites continue to randomly forage through the soil until they encounter Termidor and pick up a lethal dose.

How does Termidor kill Termites?

Termidor moves only a small distance outward from the site of application before binding tightly to organic matter in the soil. This means that Termidor concentration decreases with increasing distance from the site.

Termites first come into contact with Termidor at the edge of the treated zone as they tunnel through the soil towards the home. At this point, the product is at its lowest concentration. Those termites that do not immediately continue tunnelling into the Termidor treated zone will survive long enough to transfer Termidor to others in the colony through normal feeding and grooming.

This unique Transfer EffectTM is devastating to other termites not directly exposed to the Termidor treated zone, and indeed may wipe out the entire colony. If termites continue to tunnel into the treated soil where Termidor concentration is higher, they will die more quickly. This means that Termidor is two termite treatments in one.

Then why use the Termidor Dust?

There are some situations where termites may be present in the house with no connection to the exterior. This may have occurred because of a previous treatment conducted with older termite control products that are repellent, thus trapping them inside with no choice but to feed solely on the house timbers. Also, leaking plumbing inside the house can create conditions where

the termites do not need to return to the soil for their moisture source. Under these conditions, no liquid treatment will be effective. However, Termidor Dust Termites can destroy your home.

Termites are increasingly causing major structural damage to buildings throughout Australia and striking fear into the hearts of homeowners. With the home so often the major family asset, and termite infestation being essentially un-insurable, homeowners are desperately seeking reliable protection against termites.

Termites can be found throughout mainland Australia. They live in a central nest or colony, from which they forage over large areas in search of timber – their staple food. Once a source is found, worker termites strip and partially digest the timber before returning to the nest to feed the colony. Some colonies may contain over one million hungry termites, and the timber used to

build homes provides a very attractive meal.

Attacking in large numbers, termites can feed to the point of leaving only a thin timber veneer, and this can happen in a matter of months. Since the banning of older but effective chemistry in the 1980’s as a result of environmental concerns, there has been a frenzied search for a termite control product (termiticide) that offers real, long-term control with fast initial kill, no smell and low toxicity to humans and pets.

After many years of patient research, the solution has finally arrived…The Termidor programme.

How to turn termites Inside-Out

Termidor now comes in two formulations, Termidor Dust and Termidor Residual Termiticide (Termidor), the perfect combination, both inside and outside your home, to ensure complete termite nest elimination and full protection from future termite attack.

Termidor Dust

Termidor Dust is the culmination of over 10 years research in Australia to find the perfect termite nest elimination product. Termidor Dust is applied by professional Pest Control Operators directly on to the termites, either inside your house or onto activity around the yard (trees, fences etc). Termidor Dust is also perfect for treating active termite bait stations. After treatment, the termites carry the dust particles on their bodies and eventually back to the nest (where ever that may be) via the unique Transfer EffectTM.

Extensive Australian research proves that it takes as little as 2 to 4 weeks for total termite elimination. This is much faster than expensive baiting systems and you will not require numerous visits from the Pest Control Operator to achieve success. Eradication of one termite colony with Termite Dust does not guarantee protection from a future attack by other colonies in the area. Termite dusting is not designed and should not be used as a standalone treatment. Therefore a continuous chemical treatment such as Termidor Residual Termiticide should be applied immediately following successful eradication of termite activity in the home to ensure protection in the future.

Termidor Residual Termiticide

Termidor is applied as a continuous chemical soil zone around and under the home. Some termiticides are repellent and rely on keeping termites away from treated structures. Which will

will eliminate them from the house.

Termite activity is on the increase in Australia and the Pest Control Operators are busy people, therefore upon inspecting a house and confirming termite activity, it may be several weeks before they can return to apply a Termidor treatment. However the Pest Control Operator may apply Termidor Dust to eliminate activity before applying the preventative Termidor treated zone to the soil.

The Australian Standard for termite control states that an initial remedial treatment, such as a dusting, be conducted before installing a chemical treated zone.

Termidor Inside-Out controls termites

The performance of Termidor has been proven around the world, in all types of conditions, and in the most difficult-to-control situations. Termidor has been extensively tested under Australian conditions, including the treatment of 22 termite-infested houses across five states under an experimental use permit. The results were outstanding. In every state, 100% control was achieved within 9 weeks. On average, termite activity was eliminated within 4.3 weeks*.

CSIRO Forest Products continues to monitor Termidor treated soil trials in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, with excellent results observed against Australia’s major termite pests Coptotermes acinaciformis and Mastotermes darwiniensis even 8 years after treatment.

Termidor has been used in more than 50,000 structures in Europe and more than 2.6 million structures in the USA. Termidor use is expanding rapidly throughout Asia. In Thailand, Termidor is now the biggest selling termiticide in the most difficult tropical conditions. Similarly, Termidor Dust has been extensively tested, in the laboratory and the field, against all the major timber

feeding subterranean termites in Australia, including Coptotermes acinaciformis, Schedorhinotermes and Mastotermes darwiniensis.

In all field trial sites, termites have been eliminated from the treated structure (house, stump, garden bed, tree, post) and from the central nest when the nest has been positively identified. In nearly all cases, this has been achieved within 2 to 4 weeks after treatment.

Termidor and the environment

When applied according to the label directions, the Termidor Inside-Out program has minimal impact on the environment. They are applied at some of the lowest doses of any of the termiticides available today, and the active ingredient has been registered in household pet products in Australia since 1996.

Termidor has been assessed by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, and is fully approved for use in domestic and commercial situations. Termidor is water-based and has no odour, will not leach through soil and is not damaging to soil micro-organisms, earthworms and plants.

The Termidor Inside-Out program provides fast elimination and highly effective, long-term residual termite control.

With a unique mode of action, the Termidor Inside-Out program will not only eliminate the current activity (including the nest) but will provide proven protection against termite entry and will continue to control termites for at least 8 years. When compared with other termiticides, Termidor has consistently provided termite control over a significantly longer period. Termidor also controls termite populations more rapidly than baiting systems which rely on attracting termites to begin to work.

The Termidor Inside-Out program can only be applied by a licensed pest control operator to ensure that the treatment is successful. For control of termites and peace of mind, insist on Termidor . If you’re not asking for Termidor, you’re asking for trouble. It’s your home, why risk it? Both weather-exposed and covered sites were assessed * BASF Data, 2002.

To provide long term protection from other termite colonies, a Termidor Residual Termiticide soil treatment is installed. Home is fully protected into the future, whilst still controlling termites

that venture into the Termidor treated zone. Choose All Guard Pest Control as a Termidor Certified Professional to fully protect your home from termite attack

Call All Guard Pest control now on 1800 333 337 or email Rudy at rudy@allguardpestcontrol.com.au for free advice on how to best protect your home from termites

In music; if you had to start at the very beginning, you would start with “Doe, Ray, Me” or so the song goes. In art it would be “Line, Texture, and Light.” Keep in mind that if you want to be a great photographer, you also want to be a great Artist. Anybody can go out and buy a cheap camera, and push the button. That does not make them a great photographer. But the truly great ones like: Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Edward Weston all had one thing in common. These people knew art and the elements of design.

Lines can be seen or not seen. They can be solid objects or merely implied. Lines can be straight, curved, or jagged. They can lead your eyes into your photograph, or distract you and force you to look elsewhere. A line may be continuous and unbroken; or it may consist of isolated points that are visually connected by the human eye on some deep subconscious level. In short, they can be your best friend or your worse nightmare.

Vertical Lines represent vitality and strength.

Horizontal Lines represent tranquility and being at peace.

Straight Lines represent tenseness and precision. These lines are often used to make a

positive statement.

Slightly Curved lines are loose and flexible. These lines are often thought of as sexy.

Vigorously Curved lines change direction more rapidly. These types of lines are considered more active and forceful.

The Arc of a Circle is very consistent in change of direction. These lines used carefully can demand attention, however . . . used casually it can also be the most boring.

Diagonal Lines lead the eyes. If you are aware of that fact, it can be good, if you are not,

it could be a disaster for your image. They can lead towards your subject or away from it.

The Jagged Line with its sudden, abrupt change of direction suggests energy, activity, or conflict. If you want an emotional response, be aware of these lines.

So who cares about all these different types of lines? You should, if you want your work to look its best. If you shoot a tall powerful waterfall; do you hold your camera in a vertical position or a horizontal one? If you want to shoot a calm peaceful lake with a mountain reflecting off the surface, which direction would you shoot? When your picture says one thing, and you shoot in the opposite direction, you’ve lost all credibility as a great photographer. Even if the scene is beautiful, if the format doesn’t fit the image, you just got lucky.

When I was in High School, I took pictures of everything. I won several awards. Everybody knew I was a photographer and life was good. When I went to college, a teacher reviewed my portfolio. After studying every picture, he said, “Do you know what you’re problem is?”

Unaware that I actually had a problem, I nervously replied, “No. What’s my problem?”

“Your problem is . . . you were told you were good,” he answered calmly.

Confused, I humbly asked, “and why is that a problem?”

He grinned as he replied, “You’ve been told you were good, by people who have no idea what good really is. Now, I’m going to teach you how to be good, according to standards of those of us in the art world who know what good really is.”

The very first photo tip that this great teacher taught me was about lines. Leading lines lead. That’s what they do. They can lead your eyes deeper into the image, or . . . they can lead it off the page all together.

Occasionally the line in your photo is the subject (like a wall or a fence), but most of the time lines are the thing that introduces your subject. If you were to be introduced to a new potential customer, would you want that introduction to be positive or negative?? For most of us when someone views our work for the first time, that is our introduction. If the lines in your image support or lead to the subject, that’s a good introduction; but . . . if the lines are in conflict or actually lead you away from the subject, that’s a bad introduction.

Different types of lines send out different messages. The good news is you control how the viewer sees those lines. Being aware of lines, both seen and unseen is one of the first steps in becoming a great photographer. Using lines to your advantage is one of those little known photo tips that can take your work to the next level.

Psoriasis is a long lasting, chronic skin ailment characterized by inflammation and scaling of outer layer of skin. The symptoms of psoriasis are chronic skin rash condition with a red or silver color and the skin has blisters. The symptoms of having the disease are recurring attacks of skin rashes, small red patches that expands and becomes scaly, red plaques and silvery scales etc.

When psoriasis occurs, patches on the skin thicken, reddens, and become covered with silvery scales referred to as plaques. These patches are itchy or have a burning sensation with crack in the skin at the joints. Psoriasis occurs in a wide variety of areas in the body including the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, fingernails, and soles of the feet, toenails and even on the soft tissues inside the mouth. Psoriasis often leads to psoriatic arthritis.

Researchers have commented that, psoriasis is a disorder of the immune system. In psoriasis the abnormal immune system leads to the over-production of T-cells; a type of white blood cell that protects against infections; that in turn triggers the excessive skin cell production and inflammation. There are certain conditions that flare up the problem of psoriasis, like infections, stress, change of climate and excessive dry skin. There are certain medications that worsen the problem of psoriasis such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and medicines for treating high blood pressure or depression. Psoriasis may also be hereditary. Genetic connections with a psoriasis patient may also trigger the diseases.

Diagnosis of psoriasis requires a through examination and required diagnosis. There are various types of psoriasis. The most common type is the plaque psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris as known scientifically. In this type of psoriasis, the lesions have a reddened base covered by silvery base. Guttate psoriasis are caused by viral respiratory infections or streptococcal infections. In this type, drop like lesions occur on the limbs, and scalp. The non-infectious pus characterizes pustular psoriasis. Sunlight allergies, medications, infections, perspirations, emotional stress, chemicals and even pregnancy cause it. Large, dry, smooth red plaques occurring in the folds of the skin near the genitals, in the armpits and under the breast, characterizes inverse psoriasis. It is related to over-sensitivity to sweating and friction. Reddening and scaling of the skin, accompanied by itching sensation and pain in the area happens in the case of erythrodermic psoriasis.

The disease, psoriasis requires a systematic treatment according to the severity of the problem and responsiveness to certain medication. The effectiveness of the treatments varies from one individual to another. The type of treatment suitable for a particular patient depends on the location of the lesion, their size, amount of skin affected, response to the undergoing treatment and most importantly the perceptions of the patient and preferences about the treatment undergoing. The treatment is according to the specific forms of disorder.

There are mainly three types of treatment provided to the patients affected by psoriasis. In the topical treatment, the patient is suggested loads of fresh air and sunlight, steroid ointments, and medicines prepared from coal tar or anthralin and vitamin D3. Other topical solutions include, bath solutions and moisturizers. Phototherapy and systematic treatment for severe cases are other forms of psoriasis treatment.

Larson Electronics Magnalight worked with family members to equip US soldiers in Iraq with high power lighting products to detect and destroy roadside bombs and snipers. SFC Henk’s group in Iraq based Camp HIT clear roadside bombs and IEDs for other units admist sniper fire and uncooperative local forces. Family members contacted Larson Electronics, who matched family support with 24 volt spotlights, remote control spotlights, HID flashlights and vehicle mount spotlights with magnetic bases. Within 10 days, nearly $10,000 worth of lighting products were on their way to Iraq courtesy of Larson Electronics, family members and concerned community members.

Flower Mound, Texas (PRWeb) November 18, 2006 — Larson Electronics Magnalight worked with family members to equip US soldiers in Iraq with high power lighting products to detect and destroy roadside bombs and snipers. SFC Randy Henk’s group in Iraq, based at Camp HIT, clear roadside bombs and IEDs for other units amidst sniper fire and uncooperative local forces. Family members contacted Larson Electronics, who matched family support with 24 volt spotlights, remote control spotlights, HID flashlights and vehicle mount spotlights with magnetic bases. Within 10 days, nearly $10,000 worth of lighting products were on their way to Iraq courtesy of Larson Electronics, family members and concerned community members.

SFC Randy Henk’s group is in need of various supplies including military spotlights and military searchlights. Known for weekly editorial contributions in a local Chicago newspaper (http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/henk/index.h tml), SFC Henk’s group performs IED search and detonation missions. IEDs are explosive devices cloaked as common roadside objects, designed to surprise and kill American troops in Iraq. While avoiding insurgent sniper fire, SFC Henk’s group works to find IEDs and perform controlled detonations so other units can move safely through the area. SFC Henk indicated in his last article that he was in need of equipment and supplies for his unit at Camp Hit.

Larson Electronics Magnalight was contacted initially by Melisa Roche, whose brother, Daniel Roche, also serves in that unit in Camp Hit. “We sent some email back and forth with SFC Henk and determined that he was looking for around 50 lights to outfit 8 up-armored vehicles,” said Rob Bresnahan, President of Larson Electronics. “We have several products that are deployed throughout Iraq that meet his needs. We sent over a couple cases of our HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights with magnetic base this morning.”

Community members reading SFC Henk’s article have also contacted Larson Electronics Magnalight and purchased spotlights for the unit. Larson Electronics matched the purchase of every 2 HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights with one free HML-5M 24 volt military spotlight. Larson Electronics also contributed some new high power HID spotlights and flashlights. We would like to thank the following community/family members, including:

Mark Bohne purchased 2 of the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights. These spotlights were sent 11/8/06

Colette McGrath, from Chicago, IL, purchased 1 of the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlight. This spotlight was sent 11/8/06.

Rose Decosimo, from Signal Mountain, TN, purchased 6 of the GL-3049-24-M wireless remote control spotlights with magnetic base and ring terminal connections to outfit each vehicle. These spotlights will be sent 11/15/2006.

Trisha McDonnell, from Chicago, Illinois, purchased a GL-3049-24-M wireless remote control spotlights with magnetic base and ring terminal connections. This spotlight was sent on 11/13/2006.

The Boyle Troop, including Jim, Peg, Meghan, Marc, Fiona, Grace, Ethan, Niamh, Kathleen, Quinn, Siobhan, Seamus, Beth and Packy purchased 2 of the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights. These spotlights were sent on 11/13/06.

Kyle Nemetz, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin purchased 12 of the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights. These units were sent on 11/13/06. Kyle’s company, Harvard Factory Automation (http://www.hfaconveyors.com) also donated a variety of other tools, including cordless drills, sealants, cobalt bits, wire connectors, etc.

Liane Roche, Melisa Roche and Jane Swensen purchased 2 of the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights. The spotlights were sent on 11/13/06. Mike Roche (Uncle Mike, Aunt Susan and Cassidy) purchased 4 of the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights. The spotlights were sent on 11/15/06.

Aileen Omalley, from Chicago, IL, purchased a GL-3049-24-M wireless remote control spotlights with magnetic base and ring terminal connections. This spotlight was sent on 11/13/06.

Patrick Roche purchased 1 of the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights. This spotlight will be sent 11/15/06.

Larson Electronics contributed 14 of the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlights, 1 of the HML-6M 12/24 Volt HID military spotlights, 1 of the Rechargeable HID flashlight and some t-shirts and hats.

“Once we had reached the quantity of lighting products that SFC Henk was looking for, we decided to throw in some of our new high powered High Intensity Discharge spotlights,” Rob stated. “These lights project a beam nearly 2,200 feet. The bulbs do not use a filament so they have proven very durable, since there is no filament to break. Plus, they have a lifespan of more than 5,000 hours. We have had reports from Iraq that the lighting color is very natural and thus very effective in locating IEDs. I wanted to take a moment and thank one of our suppliers, Bob Rinaldi with Acro Lights, for their contribution towards the HID spotlights and flashlights.”

Larson Electronics produces several 24 volt military spotlight models that would be effective in searching for IEDs and snipers. HML-5M 24 volt military spotlight features a 100 pound grip magnetic base and mounts anywhere on most military vehicles and weapons, including the .50 caliber and M4 automatic guns. With over 7,000 of these deployed in Iraq, the HML-5M 24 volt military spotlight has proven very durable and reliable. Today, it is standard issue for the Special Forces’ EOF kits.

Larson Electronics released the HML-6M 12/24 Volt HID military spotlight last month. Featuring an HID lamp that produces 20 million candlepower and 200 pound grip magnetic base, this heavy duty military spotlight has been well received in the field. The light produces a color range of 4300K, which has proved effective in locating IEDs due to the natural color it provides.

Larson Electronics Magnalight also has magnetic mount remote control spotlights. These wireless remote control spotlights enable the operator to control the pan and tilt of the spotlight from 150 feet away in any direction. Soldiers can control the light from inside the vehicle or have the light point at their work area away from the vehicle. The GL-3049-24-M wireless remote control spotlight with magnetic base features a 24 volt remote controlled, motorized spotlight with a 200 pound grip magnetic base and 21 foot cord with ring terminals. The beam reaches 800 feet into the distance. This light can be installed and operational in minutes.

In total, 47 lights have been sent to SFC Randy Henk’s unit in less than 10 days.

Curing oneself of the condition called acid reflux can be accomplished by using natural, healthy methods. I suffered from this condition for years, taking harmful, expensive PPI drugs (proton inhibitors), which only masked the symptoms. These drugs, not only had myriad side effects, but became ineffective over time. I was forced to find another answer. I wanted to cure myself without the use of drugs. My doctor was no help. He didn’t have a clue about natural healing and nutrition. After a great deal of research I discover that with the proper use of herbs, health store items, meditation, exercise and diet, one can heal themselves of acid reflux.

The first thing that I learned is that acid reflux, sometimes called gerd (gastro esophageal reflux disease), is not a disease at all. Contrary to what the medical community would have us believe, it is simply a condition, brought on by poor eating habits. Besides eating the wrong foods, not chewing food properly is probably the root cause of this ailment.

The Acid reflux condition would not exist without a damaged esophagus and a weakened LES (lower esophageal sphincter). If the condition is to be eliminated, healing the esophagus must be the first order of business.

During this reflux recovery period, eating anything which could irritate or damage the esophagus, must be avoided. Things like poorly chewed chips, crackers, cereal or any hard foods with sharp edges are culinary culprits - they cause little lacerations to develop in the esophagus. Until the lacerations have had a chance to heal, spicy foods, such as acidic tomato products, hot peppers, raw garlic and raw onions should also be eliminated from the diet. They just further irritate the condition. Smoking and drinking alcohol relax the LES, allowing stomach acid to splash up into the esophagus, thus impeding the healing process.

The key to acid reflux recovery is to eat only mild, easy to digest food until the esophagus has healed. Eat early, giving yourself at least three hours of sitting or walking time before lying down. Eat slowly and chew your food completely. Last, but not least, try to eat in a relaxed, pleasant and stress free environment.

I have listed a few of my favorite recipes that I enjoyed during my own recovery period. They can be made quickly and easily. Try doubling these recipes so that you can reheat them later in the week… less time in the kitchen. Remember that cooking from scratch, instead of relying on convenience foods, is a better approach to good health, in general. It’s also nice to know what you’re really eating.

For breakfast, I believe that fresh fruit is the best way to go. I especially like melon and papaya. For lunch I eat more fruit like apples, bananas and, perhaps some almonds, or walnuts. It’s better to eat many little healthy meals during the day. I try to buy only organic fruits, however, sometimes when I am rushed, I purchase “ready to go” containers of mixed fruit at the grocery store. Try to stay away from pineapple, as I find it hard to digest.

How about starters in the evening? Serving vegetables raw is the ultimate healthy way to present them.

Try creating a beautiful platter of crudité (crew di tay) better known as elegant rabbit food. Serve it with a savory tofu dip. Use cauliflower, broccoli, English cucumbers, radishes, green & yellow zucchinis, Belgium endive, carrot sticks, whole small mushrooms, or whatever appeals to you. Cut the vegetables in bite size pieces for dipping. The Belgium endive is a natural edible scoop for dipping. Just cut off the ends and peel off the leaves.

Make the tofu dip by putting one package of soft or silken tofu in a food processor or blender, adding garlic powder, cumin, paprika and chopped chives or parsley for flavor and color. Season with salt & pepper to taste. Add a little fresh squeezed lemon juice if the mixture is too thick. Process until smooth and creamy. If you are in a rush, ready made dips and raw vegetable platters are available in the produce sections of most supermarkets, but make a concerted effort to eat only organic, if possible.

I hope that you enjoy the following dishes. Even though I have cured myself of acid reflux, I still serve these recipes on a regular basis. I prefer food slightly under cooked. Feel free to adjust the cooking times and seasonings according to your own taste.

Bon appetite!

Sautéed White Fish On A Bed Of Mashed Potatoes

This recipe is for one serving. Increase the ingredients for additional servings as needed.

* One 4oz filet of white fish (orange roughly, sole, turbot, flounder, etc) * One med. Potato * Steamed green vegetable such as broccoli, spinach, peas or asparagus * Parsley or chives for garnish * 1/4 tbsp unsalted butter, olive oil or Pam

We will start with the potatoes because they take the longest to cook and they tend to retain their heat the longest. (The fish and vegetable take only minutes to cook.)

Peel and cube potato. Place in cold water to cover. Bring to the boil, and then simmer until fork tender. Drain, leaving just enough cooking liquid for mashing or whipping. You may also use the vegetable broth (recipe below) instead. Add salt to taste. Hold in a warm place.

Season fish with salt and pepper to taste. Place non-stick sauté pan over med high heat. Add butter, oil or spray with Pam. When not quite smoking, add fish. Cook two minutes, turn and cook other side for two minutes, or until the filet is light brown and cooked through. If the filet is very thin, one minute on each side may be enough. (You can broil or bake the fish if desired)

Serve fish on top of mashed potatoes, surrounded by the steamed vegetables. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives.

Vegetable Broth

This broth is very alkaline and rich in minerals. It can be served as a simple soup, or used as a stock (as above) for cooking. Cook and save the potatoes and beets to use as a vegetable side dish or to add to soup.

* 2 cups red skinned potato peelings * 3 cups celery stalk * 2 cups celery tops * 2 cups beet tops * 1 small zucchini or yellow squash * 2 cups carrots * One small onion * Sprig of parsley * 2-1/2 quarts distilled water

Chop all vegetables into very fine pieces. Place in water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Strain & refrigerate for future use.

Note: By cooking pearled barley in the finished broth with the addition of chopped vegetables, one can prepare a healthy soup for a first course.

Pasta Primavera

Primavera means “spring” in Italian. This pasta dish offers a great opportunity to use all the wonderful fresh spring vegetables at your disposal. However, you can make this dish anytime of the year by using whatever fresh vegetables you can find at your food market. I have chosen a mixture of vegetables that I happen to love, for this recipe. You can use these or replace them with your favorites. During the reflux healing period, try to stay away from tomatoes, raw onions and raw garlic. I have included garlic in this recipe (*see note regarding roasted garlic). If you can tolerate a little garlic, then make sure to cook it well at a low temperature, without browning it. If you want to be a bit daring, you can add the optional cup of heavy cream. You may substitute parsley for the basil and the penne regatta for fettuccini, or another pasta. The whole family can enjoy this classic pasta dish.

* 1 cup sliced mushrooms * 1 cup sliced carrots * 1 cup baby peas * 1 cup sliced asparagus spears * 1 cup snow peas or sugar snaps * 2 cloves garlic finely chopped or roasted * 1 lb. penne regatta * 1 tsp. salt * 3 tbsp extra virgin, first cold pressed olive oil * 1/2 cup shredded basil * 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese * 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)

Place a steamer basket in a pot with a small amount of water and bring to the boil. Place vegetables in basket, cover and steam until tender (about 4 minutes). Rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking and preserve the color, and drain.

To a large pot of boiling water, add salt and the penne regatta. Cook uncovered according to the instructions on box, preferably al dente.

Meanwhile in a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook at a low flame for a couple of minutes (do not brown). Add the steamed vegetables and optional heavy cream and raise the heat to medium. Cook just enough to heat.

Drain the pasta and add to the sauté pan and mix well.

Sprinkle with Parmigianino Reggiano, and shredded basil. Heat the dish thoroughly and serve. If the dish needs more salt, use extra cheese instead, at the table. Serve this dish with a heart of romaine salad with lemon chive dressing (recipe below)

NOTE: It takes more than two cloves of roasted garlic, for this recipe. On a sheet of aluminum foil place two heads of garlic and cut the stem end off with a knife. Drizzle a little olive oil over them and wrap tightly. Bake in a 400 degree oven for one hour. When cool enough to handle, squeeze out the roasted garlic, into a bowl, discarding the shells. Mash well with a fork.

Another use for roasted garlic is my version of pesto sauce. I use walnuts instead of pine nuts, which I find indigestible, with the roasted garlic and basil. Use whatever proportion you like and drizzle first pressed, extra virgin olive oil into the blender. If your sauce is too thin, adjust with more walnuts, basil and garlic. If it is too thick, use more olive oil. This is all a matter of taste. Serve with your favorite pasta. I prefer linguini or fettuccini.

Lemon Chive Salad Dressing

This is a simple, yet classic vinaigrette for green salads. Use heart of Romaine, Boston or Bipp lettuce. Make this dressing and hour or so before serving, in order that the chive flavor is fully incorporated. Remember to toss well before serving. The advantage here is using lemon juice, instead of vinegar. I find that lemon juice becomes alkaline after being ingested.

* 1 lemon juiced * Sea salt (pinch) * 3 tbsp. extra fine sugar * 6 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil * 6 tbsp. minced chives (you can’t have too many) * Freshly ground black pepper

Combine lemon juice, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Continue whisking in the olive oil, chives and several grinds of pepper. Keep whisking until dressing is emulsified.

NOTE: You can make this dressing for two by reducing the lemon juice to two tbsp. and the other ingredients by 1/3.

Keep left over dressing in a jar in fridge for future use. It will keep for about a week.

Savory Lentils With Texmati Brown Rice

* 1 lb of organic lentils (2 1/2 cups), rinsed * 8 cups water or stock * 1 onion, chopped * 3 cloves of garlic, chopped * 2 carrots, sliced * 2 stalks celery, chopped * 1 bay leaf * 2 sprigs of thyme, or 1/2 tsp dried * Organic Texmati brown rice (follow instructions on package)

To a large pot bring water and lentils to a boil. Add other ingredients. Reduce to the simmer, partially covered. Cook until tender (about 20 to 30 minutes), stirring occasionally and adding more liquid as needed.. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve over organic Texmati brown rice. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with a light green salad, dressed with the lemon chive dressing above.

Baked Chicken Breasts on Mushroom Caps With Steamed Broccoli And New Potatoes

* 6 chicken breasts (either bone in or halves with skin on) * 1 tsp dried thyme * Olive oil * 6 large Portobello mushrooms (or enough smaller mushrooms to cover the bottom of the baking pan) * 1 tbsp minced garlic * Salt & pepper to taste * 2 cups dry white wine or dry vermouth * 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 400 degrees.

Into a lightly oiled baking pan, large enough to hold chicken breasts, arrange mushrooms gill side down. Sprinkle with minced garlic, salt & pepper. Pour wine over mushrooms. Place chicken breasts skin side up over mushrooms and brush with olive oil.

Bake uncovered about 20 minutes, until the breasts are golden brown. If the wine has evaporated during the cooking process, add a little more (for those of you who can’t tolerate alcohol, keep in mind that it burns off during the cooking process, leaving only the flavor).

Baste the breasts with the pan juices and turn over. Cook until breasts are completely done and springy to the finger, about 15 minutes more.

With a slotted spoon, place the chicken and mushrooms on a platter, mushrooms on the bottom and breasts on top, skin side up. Skim off excess fat and spoon juices over the chicken. Sprinkle with parsley.

Serve with steamed broccoli and boiled new potatoes. (Substitute brown rice for potatoes, if desired)

Stir Fried Shrimp And Vegetables Served Over Millet, Brown Rice Or Quinoa

* 3 tbsp Canola oil * 1 lb. raw medium peeled shrimp * 2 cups broccoli florets * 2 cups sliced mushrooms * 4 scallions, trimmed and chopped * 2 tbsp Garlic, minced * 2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced * 1 cup cold vegetable broth (see recipe above), mixed with 2tbsps, cornstarch * 1 package of organic millet

Into a hot wok or sauté pan pour oil until just smoking.

Add vegetables and stir constantly to cook al dente.

Add shrimp and continue to stir until just turning pink.

Add broth and cover for a couple of minutes until shrimp is almost done.

Uncover and add cornstarch mixture, stir until thickened and turn off heat.

Serve over millet cooked according to package instructions.

Season to taste with tamari light soy sauce.

NOTE: This dish must be done very quickly, as you don’t want to over cook the shrimp or the vegetables. I have chosen Millet because it is an extremely alkaline grain. It is neutral in taste and will absorb the flavors of this dish. You may substitute brown rice instead.

Gift giving is a part of life. We give gifts for holidays, get well gifts, thinking about you today gifts, good luck, birthdays, religious occasions, graduations, teachers, people who have given us service and on and on. It is a fun part of what we do in our lives but can it be a hassle.

There are some gifts we give we know from year to year we are going to need yet we scramble at the last minute to buy the gift, get it wrapped and delivered. (Have you ever thought, “It’s your birthday again”?) With a little planning and preparation these stressful situations of giving a gift can be avoided. Here are six simple tips to make gift giving pleasurable.

Have one central place for gifts. It could be in an under the bed container, a closet, a basket, anywhere handy yet not in your way. When you purchase a gift you know right where its designated place is and when you need it you don’t have to go searching. If it is for a family member and needs to be hidden on top of the closet shelf may be an option.

When you are out shopping, keep your eyes open for good buys so you will have a nice selection of gifts when one is needed in a hurry. These could include picture frames, candles, books, toys, bath products and so forth. Shop the sales to take the stress out of your budget.

Make a list in your planner of who you plan on buying gifts for during the year. When you buy a gift for them, write down what you bought and where you put it. This works for Christmas gifts as well. When shopping the sales after Christmas make a list of who you have bought gifts for and where you are storing them for the next year. (Don’t assume you will remember).

Another way to shop is through catalogs. There are catalogs on line as well as those that come in the mail to peruse through and select the perfect gift. Ordering from a catalog saves time, the hassle of driving, shopping, parking and hauling things home. One of my favorite things is getting packages in the mail even if they are for someone else. Be sure to recycle outdated catalogs and if you get more catalogs than you want go to www.Catalogchoice.org This is a free service that lets you decline paper catalogs you no longer wish to receive. It reduces the amount of unsolicited mail in your mail box, while it helps to preserve the environment.

Have a designated place for gift wrap, ribbons and gift bags. Consider limiting yourself to one or two kinds of wrapping paper and ribbon. Use patterns and colors that are generic for any gift giving occasion. It could be a solid color and then dress it up with ribbon. There are special containers made to stand paper wrap in with a place for ribbon, gift tags, tape and scissors. Or buy a sturdy laundry bag that can be hung in a closet to hold rolls of paper.

Another idea is to consider gift certificates. Keep things simple and remember people just like to be remembered, it is the thought that counts.

Students who attend the academic summer camp, SuperCamp, acquire many valuable learning and life skills. Here are some Quantum Learning tips that can help every student do better in school. Share them with your son or daughter.

S.L.A.N.T.

Sit in the front row or middle section of the classroom. Lean slightly forward in your chair, as if you are hanging on the teacher’s every word. Ask questions to clarify anything you don’t understand. Nod your head to show you are listening and interested. Talk to your teacher after class to build rapport and establish a relationship.

Test-taking Strategies

Do test-time jitters ruin the time you spend studying and preparing? Allow yourself enough time to get to class a few minutes early- hurrying causes tension and mental crunches, and you can use the few extra minutes to review your notes one last time. Before and during the test, give yourself positive messages: “I know this information and I’m going to get an A.” If you feel yourself getting tense, close your eyes for a moment and take a few deep breaths. Imagine a relaxing scene. If you’re having trouble concentrating or are feeling overwhelmed, try drawing a mind map in the margin of your paper. It will help you remember what you studied.

Optimal Study Area

Design the optimum study area at home. It should include good lighting, a desk or table to work at, a comfortable chair, inspirational posters, and plants. Play Baroque music softly in the background. Study at the same time every day and take a short break every 30 minutes. Tackle the most difficult subjects first. When you get them out of the way, the rest will be easy.

Cultivate a Winning Attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude is your most important learning asset. You need to mentally prepare before any learning experience. Henry Ford said, “If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you can’t. Either way, you are right.”

Remember the “F” Stands for Feedback

From infancy through adulthood, we learn through our mistakes. Remember to learn from the feedback you get from others, whether it is a failed test or a poor relationship. In your path to become an excellent learner, feedback is simply the information you need to succeed. Refresh your memory and read about Failure Leads to Success and the rest of the 8 Keys of Excellence.

Plan Ahead

Use a calendar to mark days for tests or due dates of important papers. Studying ahead reduces stress and increases your ability to remember at test time.

Discover the Power of “This is it!”

“This is it!” means making the most of every moment. It also means doing whatever it takes to make a subject interesting. Be creative! Some ideas include studying with a friend or relating the topic to something you already know or like. When you know something well, you almost always find it interesting.

Overcome the Obstacle of a Blank Page with Freewriting

When faced with writer’s block, freewriting provides visible and immediate progress. Choose a subject and set the timer for a specified amount of time. Write continuously until your time is up. Don’t worry about structuring sentences, checking grammar, backtracking or crossing things out – just keep writing. Freewriting clears your mind, focuses your ideas and makes the invisible visible.

Take Breaks

Every thirty minutes it helps to take a short five-minute break. Take mini-breaks more often by standing up and stretching whenever you notice your mind wandering. Studies show that you remember best what you learned just before and just after a break – so the more breaks, the more you learn!

SuperCamp summer programs fill up fast. Go to http://www.SuperCamp.com now to learn about enrolling your son or daughter while spaces remain. Age-specific programs are available for students in grades 4-12 and incoming college freshmen. At the website, you also can get a free eBook that gives you an inside look at what works with teens from a world leader in youth achievement, SuperCamp co-founder Bobbi DePorter.