There are so many things to be thankful for –
being alive …
having children who are very much alive, well, and feisty as ever.
We should all be thankful for life, liberty, laughter, love, and that we are all still able to share, be mindful of those who have less.
Happy Thanksgiving …
Imagine a World with NO Nukes & NO Chemical Weapons … that respects ethics while putting legacy land religion and greed aside for the prosperity for their next generation
and No Covid19 … world goals
~ Nativegrl77
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Mindful behavior … Stop smoking
a repost
I believe that great information makes us think – hopefully starts a conversation, and makes us take positive action. We have all heard about the current political noise in California and possibly other states concerning taxing cigarettes; a move that Washington State decided was a good idea, deciding folks must pay both the cigarette tax and the use tax, which goes directly to the Department of Revenue. The art of Mindful behavior takes some a mere moment while others a few hundred tries, but … it can be done.
As a parent and an ex-smoker (cold turkey) for well over 15yrs, the idea of taxing cigarettes is a good idea though no revenue will benefit the state itself, it will help others in the different ways the act of smoking affects our lives. It took becoming a parent to stop, along with an increase in allergies and asthmatic symptoms. My mindful behavior, and the love of my kids not to mention a long family history of asthma helped so much. Mindful behavior has a lot of angles … by definition or what society thinks of when contemplating the word “behavior” is a need for guidance or in its totality has to do with the quality of awareness that a person brings to everyday living; learning to control your mind, rather than letting your mind control you. However, being mindful in this case includes actions that can be stopped, controlled, or at least altered if you make a lifestyle change, reduce stress with exercises, and or find other things to do.
California and other states can or should at least explore subscribing to a Tobacco Tax; the increases can offer win-win-win solutions, especially as they face a severe fiscal crisis and work to balance budgets while preserving essential public services.
In 2009, Orzechowski and Walker, an economic consulting firm, said …
$1,712 is the average amount a pack-a-day smoker in the US spends annually
What can $1,712 buy?
** 170 mosquito nets from nothingbutnets.net and prevent malaria transmission to African families.
** Provide 11,900 meals for the nation’s hungry through www.feedingamerica.org
** Donate to local programs to give 10 kids fun and creative after-school options every day for a month. www.aferschoolalliance.org for tips on finding an organization near you.
Just another rant…
In 2015, I posted an article by George Heymont “You can’t Fix Stupid” from 2012, and sadly it is still relevant. We have those leaning right in several industries, some voted into office on the local and state level, others have seats in Congress who continue carpetbagging, voting against their own constituents, clearly acting out, doing the best they can to make sure certain types of people never get close to the highest office lest we talk about how our first opportunity for a Woman at the helm in 2016 if folks had turned out.
It’s now 2021 and the stupid continues to spread.
The thing that keeps coming to my mind is what the character of “Forrest Gump,” says, “stupid is as stupid does.” The fact is, voters, have gotten a box of chocolates like the character “Forrest Gump,” says, “We never know what we are going to get” which is not the way a POTUS or a democratic republic should reign. When Republicans are in charge of Congress they get on the airwaves and say whatever their base wants to hear, and then get on the floor of Congress to pass legislation with nasty riders that ultimately hurt our fellow Americans.
My question continues; when will voters decide that while there is nothing wrong with disagreeing, debating, and setting up a schedule for voting last-minute bills; trying to pass legislation knowing it will hurt your constituents is unacceptable. When Congress is led by republicans, the extreme right in both Chambers seems to believe that most if not all legislation should be designed for the rich and not for the good of all Americans who also vote. I find it offensive to think Congress cannot seem to find a fair conclusion that allows Americans an opportunity to prosper instead of pushing and voting for that trickle-down financial system, which no longer works (never worked). We cannot forget what happened during the Bush years and why! That the folks in Congress at the time failed American voters while Banks, folks like AIG, hedge funders decided that best business practices or acting in a good faith effort.
If you’re listening honestly, voters who sat on the sidelines helped guarantee that the old republican attitude or southern strategy is not only close at hand, alive and well but still very active with the new governmental trifecta in charge … this is stupid!
~ Nativegrl77
… just another rant
So, I got an email on Monday, saying oh… , and Justin Gammill had more to share about “natural flavorings,” turns out, so do I. I was informed by my fams that ice cream more often than not was homemade and our mom only used pure vanilla extract when vanilla was needed! Whew! So, at least 20years of my life were “Vanilla flavouring,” free, though the fact is anything that has a scent probably includes … Castoreum ~~ from you know where. I also came across a 2011 article from http://vrg.org , was posted separately.
My first post is below … continuity for updates of course
I was looking through my email a few days ago and came across an article about ice cream and the heading gave me the impression something seemingly vile was being put in it and had to find out. I love and eat all kinds of ice cream all year round because of its ice creamy goodness.
However, disclaimer … with cancer, things have been adjusted! please eat fruit bars etc. I was in and felt like a reasonable and rationalization phase, thinking ok, I can find out which ice cream brands actually list all of their ingredients and omit those that have the “natural flavoring” buying only those who don’t use you know what from you know where! A secretion sac. Then I found out that Castoreum, is used for beauty products and sadly, that was not all.
The article by Justin Gammill was well written I laughed but I cannot lie it pissed me off to find out that my obsession for vanilla was … extracted from my heart. I have been a vanilla lovin fool since my crayon days second to coconut and included in my group of extraordinary smells; I love, obsess over, and have used for years. While I love cinnamon and almond too, vanilla was … yes, was my go-to after Coconut then Shea butter for the skin the others for all things used on our skin eat and drink. I admit the article brought out feelings of sadness as well as sounds of ick, ewwww, ugh of what must happen to the animal giving up their secretions let alone who how why did someone decide, uh um uh let’s take that beaver sac and see what we can do with its stuff. I am definitely frowning about the slap of ugly reality of “natural flavorings” knowing it had to come from somewhere and that was bad enough, but to research it a little more and read what health.com has to say:
“Where you’ll find it: On both female &male Beavers ~ Castoreum! “While it sounds downright disgusting, the FDA says it’s GRAS, meaning it’s “generally recognized as safe.” You won’t see Castoreum on the food label because it’s generally listed as “natural flavoring.” It’s natural all right—naturally icky.”
Today, Castoreum is used as a tincture in some perfumes[5] as a food additive, perfumes cigarettes, bee keepers use it and there are medicinal uses as well. Apparently, back in the 18th Century, they thought Castoreum induced abortions among other things and helped headaches too … goodness, don’t tell your favourite Republican because they will suggest putting that between your knees too !
All kidding aside, this stuff is worth a lot per sac.
Resources: wiki, the internet, health.com and Justin’s article
…. yep, just another rant!
Healthcare: Thing is, Republicans need to realize that their constituents &non voters have had a chance to experience ACA aka Obamacare! Though some Governors stepped in and denied their fellow man the expansion of Medicaid.
Yes, some folks didn’t like #ACA aka Obamacare, but that was because President Obama’s name was attached to it and when you think about a person’s name as being the only reason you would deny your family of maybe living longer? Well …it’s just beyond my understanding. I get it, folks are claiming they suffer from higher premiums and the costs are outrageous, some love Obamacare, others confess it saved their lives; remember some republicans said this. I think those who suffered need to have a professional check their applications for errors, misinformation and of course their state’s version of #ACA probably is the real problem and yes there are victims of not just the insurance industry but their states’ policies because they need serious health care reviews not the implementation of a means tests, preconditions, more restrictions, age taxes or anything giving the 1% a gift tax cut off the backs of sick people.
Most feel, if #trump gets his way, we will not only get less health care but we will be in line at urgent care centers or the ER more and end up paying more for the health care rendered on levels that put you and yours at risk of losing everything, making those republican #deathpanels a reality. The idea that the House voted and passed a health care bill called it a win and celebrated out loud was offensive and laughable because it didn’t pass in the Senate, they want to start from scratch and now it’s on the back burner again.
I don’t know about you, but IMO, health care should be a right, not a privilege, but year after year we continue to see a panel of republican men making decisions for women who more often than not take care of all the family health care issues, including for the men in their lives. so, vote for the democratic party this November because it’s obvious we need to end the era #trump and move to make him a one-term president!
Vote for the Democratic Party …yes #ACA needs tweaks but this republican like the bill(RomneyCare) is worthy of saving … these “guys” want to kill it
~ Nativegrl77
Be a Seed for Change 
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