Hope is the thing with Feathers
By Emily Dickinson
‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—
And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—
I’ve heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.
By Dr. Jonathon Chung of Keystone Chiropractic
Read Time: [7-8 min]
I know it’s a little bit of a crazy headline, but today we’re going to talk about how a fat neck can contribute to chronic whiplash pain.
But I’m not talking about the width of someone’s neck. The neck I’m talking about can be thin on the surface, but have fat tissue build up in places where it shouldn’t. Namely, inside of your muscles.
It’s helped us to reveal a problem that many doctors miss when looking at conventional MRI findings.
For better or for worse, injuries from auto accidents are usually made or broken by MRI findings. That’s why your attorney has likely pushed you to get an MRI even though your doctor may have chosen against it.
If your doctor is like me, they avoid too jumping to MRI’s too quickly because sometimes it can really cause more harm than good. MRI’s give you the most highly detailed images available to the average consumer, but those extra details can be counterproductive.
In a patient’s eyes, an MRI report can be intimidating and scary. It’s common for most MRI reports to say things like:
Which is fine if you’re a health care professional and you need to know what’s going on. However, a lot of patients will look at these words, do a quick google search, and end up looking like this: (Visit link and scroll down). http://chiropractorwellington.com/whiplash-disorders-why-you-should-get-your-fat-neck-in-shape/
There’s a couple things to remember when seeing some of your MRI findings:
To add more insult to injury (pun intended), things like herniated and degenerated discs are very disempowering as a diagnosis. In most cases, those findings are going to stay with you throughout your life, and that’s okay because even healthy pain-free people will have it throughout their lives too!
….even healthy pain-free people will have have herniated and degenerated discs throughout their lives too!
Generally we all wish we had a little less fat around our waist lines. In recent years, researchers have been seeing that fat can build up in muscular tissue and is associated with problems of aging. You can read some more about the science behind this problem in a great article on the Strength Theory Blog here. This includes chronic pain which is the major concern for patients with whiplash.
Some recent studies are starting to show that identifying fat build up in your neck muscles can predict how well someone with whiplash will recover. [1, 2, 3, 4]
If you don’t want to read the abstracts, here’s the summary:
Patients with greater fat build up in neck muscles after an accident are more likely to have more persistent whiplash symptoms.
This runs counter to people with herniated discs because the presence of herniations is generally a poor predictor of pain.
The problem with fatty muscles is that they don’t work the same way as lean muscle. Fatty muscle tissue is weaker in strength and endurance than lean muscle tissue.
But if you’re in pain, you don’t really care that much about your strength and endurance. You just want to feel better. As my friend Morpheus from the Matrix says:
When muscle tissue becomes dysfunctional, your body loses a valuable neurological input to the brain that helps to modulate pain. That’s why exercise is such an effective form of medicine for people with various types of pain.
On top of that, when fat builds up in muscle tissue, it has neuroendocrine effects on the muscle tissue itself. These effects include:
Ultimately, fatty muscle tissue effects how the muscle contracts, how the muscle eats, how the muscle digests, and it predisposes your muscles to pain and inflammation.
While the evidence is still pretty new , it does seem to reflect why people who are stronger and have more muscle seem to be more resilient to pain problems.
Fatty muscles can result from prolonged periods of inactivity. So it seems like a pretty simple fix. Move more, exercise, and get stronger. A small study on exercise for women with whiplash disorders show that neck exercise can reduce fat content in neck muscles and improve someone’s prognosis, so it does look like this problem is fixable. [Source]
However, one of the things that triggers inactivity after a whiplash accident is the immediate pain itself. When you have a whiplash, even small amounts of movement tend to be painful or instigate symptoms. The thought of exercising just sounds….painful.
So what can you do after an accident? Fortunately, these same rules apply with or without an MRI.
With a great understanding of the problems associated from chronic whiplash, we can utilize better tools to make sure that you don’t become a victim to chronic pain.
The YWCA of Palm Beach County is pleased to announce the election of its new officers and board for the 2016-17 term.
The officers are: Theresa LePore, President; Kalinthia Dillard, Esq., 1st Vice President; Sharon Rinehimer, Esq., 2nd Vice President; Whitney Baldwin, Esq., Secretary; and Jane Bloom, Treasurer.
New board members include Maria S. Atuña, Jane Bloom, Sharon Daley, Victoria Karasin, Tinu Peña, Maria Siemon and Dr. Chelly Templeton. Re-elected to the Board for an additional term are: Marti LaTour, Dana Schack, Bernadette Shalhoub, Phyllis Verducci, Trixy Walker, and Maggie Zeller. They join continuing board members Sheila Carnicelli, Kimberly Lea, Terry Liddell, PhD, Henrietta McBee, and Linda Wartow.
“I am excited to be working with such a distinguished and diverse group of women,” said LePore at the installation ceremony held June 13, 2016 at the YWCA corporate offices in West Palm Beach. “We look forward to furthering the YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women, she added.
For information about the YWCA and its local programs benefiting women and children, please visit www.ywcapbc.org or call 561-640-0050, Ext. 115.
Travel with Terri
Germany’s Fairy Tale Route: A Place to Believe in Happily Ever After
Story and Photos by Terri Marshall
With all the craziness going on around the world lately, happily ever after doesn’t seem like a possibility. But there’s one place where we can still believe in fairy tales. The German Fairy Tale Route stretches 375 miles winding through a landscape of picturesque villages, fortified castles, and sinister forests as it follows the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm. Standing at the edge of a forest along Germany’s Fairy Tale Route surrounded by dense canopies of dark towering evergreens, I fully expected to see Little Red Riding Hood skipping along to Grandma’s house with the big bad wolf lurking somewhere behind a tree. And sleeping underneath a canopy of twinkling lights in the Sleeping Beauty castle, I once again believed in happily ever after. This is a place where fairy tales come to life.
The University Town of Marburg
I started my travels in the university town of Marburg where Jacob and Wilheim Grimm studied in the early 19th century. Marburg served as the inspiration for the brothers’ idea to collect the fairy tales ultimately published in The Brothers Grimm’s Children’s and Household Tales which has become one of the world’s most famous books from German cultural history.
As we walked the narrow alleys of Marburg’s medieval center, we discovered fairy tale statues and sculptures on houses, steps and walls. There was a statue of the Frog-King, Red Riding Hood’s basket and cape, and the wicked step-mother’s mirror from Snow White. Perched high above the town on the climb up to the imposing Landgrave Palace we found Cinderella’s slipper.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Next stop was Snow White’s cozy house in the tiny hilltop village of Bergfreiheit. Inside there were seven little beds, seven little hats hanging on a rack, and place settings for seven with – you guessed it, seven little chairs.
The story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was inspired by a true story of a local beauty, Margaretha von Waldeck, the daughter of Count Philip IV who lived in the Baroque hilltop castle, Friedrichstein. She died young – presumably poisoned – and her brother founded the mining village of Bergfreiheit. The seven dwarfs were real too, but they were actually children who worked in the local copper mines centuries ago.
We left the tiny little house behind to visit the copper mine where the dwarfs went when they set off each day singing “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go.” And wouldn’t you know it, crossing the meadow between the village and the mine were statues of those seven little guys.
Hanging out with Mother Hulda
In one of the best-known fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm, Mother Hulda shook the beds from her mountain, the High Meissner, which then snowed feathers down on the earth covering the village of Hessian Lichtenau. The fairy tales, myths and legends about Mother Hulda still come alive here. In fact, Mother Hulda herself greeted us (pillow in hand) when we arrived in the charming village. It’s not every day that I walk around with a fairy tale character through a village filled with iconic half-timbered houses, a 17th century old city hall and an early 15th century Gothic town church. The entire experience was a bit surreal – but utterly enchanting.
Castle of the Sleeping Beauty
When I was shown to my room in the tower of Sababurg Castle where a four poster bed with a wooden canopy filled with tiny little star lights awaited I felt like a princess. Located in the forest of Reinhardswald, Sababurg Castle was built over 675 years ago. It stood in ruins covered by a thorny hedge for several years in the 16th century when it was named “Castle of the Sleeping Beauty”. Today, the castles houses a romantic hotel, a café that serving homemade baked goods, and a gourmet restaurant that focuses on locally sourced cuisine. Healthy options for kids are abundant at a realistic price.
Throughout the castle grounds the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale is illustrated with steel cuttings. And the medieval castle garden is filled with historic roses, tulips, shrubs and herbs. Theatre plays, lectures, and concerts are staged in the medieval vaulted cellar and on the open air stage in the inner court of the castle ruins. We even had an audience with Sleeping Beauty and her Prince!
City of the Brothers Grimm
The city of Kassel is the capital of the German Fairy Tale Route and the Brothers Grimm. The brothers lived in Kassel for much of their lives and it was here that they collected, documented and revised more than 200 fairy tales. The Brothers Grimm Museum chronicles their lives and work and has on display their personal copies of the Tales of Children and the Home with notes and comments – part of the world document heritage of UNESCO. In summer, there is a Brothers Grimm Festival and a fairytale Christmas fair in winter. Kassel is also home to the UNESCO Word Cultural Heritage site, Wilhelmshöhe Mountain Park with its iconic statue of Hercules and magnificent cascading water displays.
Germany’s Fairy Tale Route was designed for children – and I would have loved to have my grandkids along – but it is so charming even adults will start believing in happily ever after.
To plan your path to happily every after, visit
Mommy MomentsBy Melanie Lewis
Schools out for summer and open your wallet. The money drain has begun. Some parents worry about the great “brain drain” of summer. YES! That is a fact. Kids lose a lot of their learned facts and study habits over the summer months while they recuperate, recharge and relax. Parents are finding this a costly time, however. The tab is going up at the rate of the National debt (debt clock as of writing http://www.usdebtclock.org/# $19,287,106,197,763 or a tidy sum of $161,050 per taxpayer). That makes me feel a little better about my own financial spending. My summer entertainment tab is already up to $5540. What’s included in the tab: Camp fees, camp supplies, driving, weekend visits with Grandpa and Grandma and dining out. And That’s Just June! There’s more to come. I imagine a trip to Six Flags or some other theme park, a couple of weekends to the beach and a regular visit from the chiming bells of the ice cream truck.
It’s time to get creative about things to do that won’t burn up my credit card. A little brainstorming includes some money making ideas: Helping a neighbor to pet-sit, mowing the lawn, a lemonade stand, and garage sales. Granted the effort put into these activities is a dismal monetary return for effort on the part of parents. But, the non-monetary rewards of helping, creating and making your own are beneficial life skills not found in school. I think if the kids are up for the challenge, they might be able to cash in some of the Legos to pay for a few rounds of Skee ball and a Drumcicle. I’m the “tough” mom, so for not going to bed on time, picking up your stinky clothes is punishment. You need life skills, kids.
So what are some other learning activities that can’t be found in school? Working, people. Learn what it’s like to be a chef! California Pizza Kitchen at Wellington Green offers a Kid’s Pizza class:
10300 W. Forest Hill Bl. #197
Wellington, FL 33414
(Next to Nordstrom)
Mon – Thurs 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Fri – Sat 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Sun 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Phone: 561-793-1601
It includes a tour, a crust and toppings to design your own pizza and a sundae. Call about 2 weeks ahead to schedule on a Tuesday and Wednesday. Yes it does cost MONEY: $10/child. But you’d pay that for lunch anyway, going out to eat. You may as well get the kids involved in seeing what it takes to be a pizza pie maker.
Find a relative, neighbor or friend to take your kid to work for the day or part of a day. Give them a taste of a working stiff.
A historic event happens this summer-The 2016 RIO Olympics. Create your own “Home Games.” In a recent episode of The Goldbergs, they created some very interesting “sports”. Your kids can become sporty heroes while watching the athletes at RIO.
My all time favorite summer activity is going to the library on a slow day. Libraries have loads of things to do. There are lap-sits and story and craft time. There are books for every topic, movies and meeting other neighborhood kids and parents. It’s all there, FREE!
When all else fails, dig out a closet, excavate an old favorite toy, book or game. Relaxing is the goal. Breathe and rest. Summer will be over faster than you can pull out your Visa card.
Paws-itive PressBy Barbara Masi
In May we covered the smaller birds and caring for them and this month we will talk about BIG birds. No, not the big yellow one on TV but the bigger birds we like to adopt into our homes – parrots and the like.
Buying a parrot is easy to do but maintaining one can be problematic if you are not aware of what you are getting into BEFORE you purchase or adopt. Just look at the many advertisements on Craig’s List for those that the owner can’t handle any longer. Too many are rejected as unwanted birds as people did not do their homework. Think long and hard and be honest with yourself. Too many need to be rescued and retrained after living in novice homes where the owners just did not have a clue as to the needs of these wonderful creatures.
Parrots are noisy, messy and need lots of attention. They should never live their lives in a cage as cages are for bedtime or to keep them safe when doors are open. Also, some birds left on their own too often or traumatized will begin self-mutilation – feather plucking. However, if you have the time and space for a parrot then he will be a wonderful companion as long as you treat him properly.
Constant attention is vital for a happy, well-adjusted bird. They are like three year old children and need to play and learn. Training a parrot is easy and there are lots of videos on the Internet to guide you. Patience and gentle handling is a must.
A screaming parrot is deafening and impossible to live with. He will scream if he is bored, hungry or unhappy. He may also scream when he sees strangers approaching or he is frightened. Some also scream when dinner is cooking! This screaming can be annoying to your neighbors so you need to ensure that your neighbors live far enough away that it does not bother them – or that your bird is kept happy and entertained so they do not scream on a constant basis.
One of the birds shown pictured here, Zaire, showers with her owner every morning because it’s important to keep her feathers clean. She then uses a pump sprayer after their shower and lightly mists her. She spends evenings with them during dinner and shares goodies such as veggies and pasta. Good quality seed, nuts and fresh water are a must to keep your parrot healthy and happy. They can live up to 60 years – macaws can live into the 100s.
An outside flight on fair weather days is a great way to let your bird enjoy the sunshine. Though on hot days, make sure he has shade. Cold won’t bother him if he is acclimated but wet windy days are not good for him.
Parrot harnesses are also a good way to take them out with you on walks. Socializing is very important too. The more people that pick him up the better he will be. Parrots are very smart and learn quickly, they also know when people are afraid of them and will play up, so always approach with confidence.
Parrots in the wrong hands can be wretched, miserable, unhappy creatures so think twice before you take one on. That said, if they receive the time, attention, and proper care required, they are fantastic companions.
Thank you to my Facebook friends Fran Barnbrook and Julie Mc Corkindale for their help with this article.
By
Lori Hope Baumel
“Can you spell gessellschaft?”
– Final word of the Scripps National Spelling Bee 2016
Since this is my summer article, I will express my thoughts in two segments.
Part 1:
On the evening of May 7, 2016, I was privileged to cover the Scripps National Spelling Bee at National Harbor, MD for Around Wellington Magazine.
The children that participated in the National Spelling Bee all had one thing in common: they read insatiably. From an early age, their parents strongly encouraged them to read books for pleasure. As a result, they were exposed to the English language extensively. Reading was an important part of their journey.
When interviewed by ESPN, one bright young girl said, “My competition is not with the other contestants, it is with the English dictionary.” Contrary to popular belief, the final round of contestants were diverse in many ways and equally divided by gender. The last four “spellers” were down to two girls and two boys. They shared camaraderie unlike anything I’ve seen in a competition. Apparently, they had spent a great deal of time getting to know one another. I’m very pleased that Scripps sponsors this educational event. They have offices right here in Palm Beach County.
Fortunately, my son, Evan, lives in the metro DC area and he came along to watch the competition. Afterward there was much discussion about the children and their families. The subject of parenting came up and Evan mentioned that one of the most important lessons my husband and I taught him was “foresight.” During his childhood years, he did not fully comprehend why we requested he complete various tasks. As an adult, he has a clearer understanding of our parenting techniques – especially when it came to reading and writing (he is now a public policy writer and editor).
The children at the spelling bee did not learn to master their skills overnight. I am sure their summers were filled with enjoyable books (commonly referred to as “mind movies”). I urge you, as your cultural arts columnist, to exercise foresight. Make some time for pleasurable reading. Encourage young children and your friends to take some time this summer and read books for enjoyment.
Part 2:
Now, a word of advice…
For those of you who’ve heard all the hype about how wonderful the Broadway show Hamilton is – yes, it is true. As the NY Times stated, “It really is that good!” Hamilton will probably vie for the longest running show on Broadway. This has yet to be seen. This is where foresight, yet again, comes into play. Three years ago, I ended up paying three hundred bucks a seat to see The Book of Mormon, labeled “the show of the century.” Prior to that, I shelled out a small fortune to see The Producers at the Kravis Center. Twenty-eight years ago, when my husband was in school in NYC, we couldn’t afford seats to Phantom of the Opera (thankfully, we were given tickets as an anniversary gift).
Well, Phantom of the Opera is STILL running. Eventually, all of these shows went on tour and ended up on “TKTS” in NYC for half-price per seat.
Unfortunately, due to price gouging on Ticketmaster and similar sites, tickets for Hamilton are going for ridiculous amounts of money. We’re talking thousands of dollars for a seat not far from the nosebleed section. I think that’s insane! For me, it’s a matter of principle; a fraction of that money goes to the production itself. The rest goes in the pocket of Ticketmaster. Therefore, I’m very content to “wait it out.” I purchased the extraordinary cast album and the two books recommended below. In addition, I am listening to their respective audiobooks on Audible.com.
Access to scenes of Hamilton can be viewed on YouTube and hundreds of review and Broadway-related sites. There’s even a rumor that the original cast will be filmed prior to disbanding. Here’s where foresight and experience come into play. I have a hunch that if I give it some time I’ll be able to see the show with my entire family for what would have been the price of one ticket. Sharing the experience will be so much sweeter!
Here’s my Top 5 for the summer:
1) Everything Hamilton – Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
You can order or wirelessly download the following books/music, pick up the CD at Barnes and Noble or order it all on Amazon.com.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
A New York Times Bestseller, and the inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Hamilton! Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow presents a landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father who galvanized, inspired, scandalized, and shaped the newborn nation.
(As described by amazon.com)
Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the best traditions of theater, this once-in-a-generation show broadens the sound of Broadway, reveals the storytelling power of rap, and claims our country’s origins for a diverse new generation.
HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION gives readers an unprecedented view of both revolutions, from the only two writers able to provide it. Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages–“since before this was even a show,” according to Miranda–traces its development from an improbable performance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. In addition, Miranda has written more than 200 funny, revealing footnotes for his award-winning libretto, the full text of which is published here.
Their account features photos by the renowned Frank Ockenfels and veteran Broadway photographer, Joan Marcus; exclusive looks at notebooks and emails; interviews with Questlove, Stephen Sondheim, leading political commentators, and more than 50 people involved with the production; and multiple appearances by President Obama himself. The book does more than tell the surprising story of how a Broadway musical became a national phenomenon: It demonstrates that America has always been renewed by the brash upstarts and brilliant outsiders, the men and women who don’t throw away their shot.” (As described by amazon.com)
Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording – 2 versions, edited or explicit)
Personally, I listened to the cast album and followed the lyrics in one sitting. I was mesmerized and could not put down the album libretto. Yes, it’s that good! LHB
Links to scenes from Hamilton:
Don’t miss the revolutionary musical’s performance at the 2016 Tony Awards, which combined “History Has Its Eyes on You” with “Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)”
See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtLKdQW40Xo
Hamilton feature on PBS News Hour:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAiEVjW-GNA
Hamilton performed at the 2016 Grammy’s:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hamilton-2016-grammys-performance-video-865880hamil
2) This Summer’s 14 Must-Read Books (recommended by the editors of Wired magazine):
“The only thing breezy about your summer reading should be the cool wind on your sun-baked faces. That said, nobody wants to be puzzling through dense academic tomes either. There’s a way to have fun and be smart about it too. To that end, we have assembled this list of upcoming summer releases with one goal in mind: pick worthwhile-looking books that also promise to be wildly entertaining.” – Wired Magazine
To see the list go to:
http://www.wired.com/2016/06/summer-reading-list-3/
3) 5 Books Bill Gates wants you to read this summer:
“This summer, my recommended reading list has a good dose of books with science and math at their core. But there’s no science or math to my selection process. The following five books are simply ones that I loved, made me think in new ways, and kept me up reading long past when I should have gone to sleep.” – Bill Gates
https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/Summer-Books-2016
4) Get out of the heat. Visit the Wellington Public Library:
For more information see:
http://www.pbclibrary.org/branches/wellington
5) Check out the Best Sellers on the NY Times book list
Authoritatively ranked lists of books sold in the United States, sorted by format and genre.
See:
Cantankerously YoursBy Wendell Abern
Dear Readers,
When I was a senior at the University of Illinois, I attended a talk given by Walter Van Tillburg Clark, a nationally-renowned novelist; his novel, “The Ox-Bow Incident,” had been made into a movie, one of my favorite westerns.
At the time, Clark presided over the writing program at the University of Montana; needless to say, a horde of us wannabes crowded the auditorium. Clark was introduced by one of our professors, and began by saying, “Good morning, and you needn’t worry, I’m not going to pull a Sinclair Lewis on you.”
We had no idea what he was talking about. He explained: “Sinclair Lewis was asked to give a speech at any Ivy League School, and he began by asking how many in the audience wanted to become writers. Many raised their hands, and he said, ‘Then why aren’t you home, writing?’ and walked off the stage.”
Since that time, I have heard that same anecdote attributed to Hemingway, Faulkner, Eugene O’Neill, Max Shulman and Ring Lardner, to name a few. I’ve often wondered if it was just some fable, created to subtly point out how writers will use any excuse to procrastinate, including listening to some other writer talk about his writing.
And I have wondered about stories of other famous writers, also.
Mark Twain.
My favorite tale about Mark Twain (and I still don’t know if it’s true) is his own personal recounting of his reluctant attendance at a local church; the preacher had just returned from a long visit to poverty-riddled areas of Africa, and Twain’s wife insisted they attend. My fragile memory remembers Twain’s account going something like this:
“I knew he was going to be asking for money to help starving multitudes. And I was all for it. After twenty minutes, I had decided to donate one hundred dollars. After forty-five minutes, I had cut my contribution to fifty. When they finally passed around the collection plate an hour and a-half later, I stole twenty dollars.”
Albert Lasker.
If you Google this name, you will discover that Lasker is considered “The father of modern advertising.” His exploits as creative director and president of the Lord & Thomas Advertising Agency in the 30’s and 40’s became legendary.
Many people think Lasker thought “outside the box” before that phrase even existed. But in truth, he simply thought things through. He saw what most of us might overlook and then think, “Of course. How logical.”
The most famous story about Lasker has become mythical in the advertising industry.
It was early in the 30s, and Lasker’s agency had been asked to compete for the Johnson baby powder account.
For those of you unfamiliar with advertising agency operations, a presentation to obtain a new account becomes a dog and pony show worthy of Broadway; Up to a dozen honchos from the agency show up, toting charts, spread sheets, mammoth research studies, hefty marketing reports and scores of ad layouts. (Nowadays, they might bring three thumb drives.)
Lasker showed up at the Johnson offices all alone. No charts. No layouts. Not even a briefcase.
He walked into the board room and was introduced to eight or ten management people by the CEO. As he sat down to sip his coffee, the CEO said, “Mr. Lasker, aren’t the rest of your people coming?”
Lasker said, “No, it’s just me.”
“But you have no charts, no papers, nothing.”
Lasker said, “You want to sell more baby powder, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
Lasker reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a small can of their baby powder; he twisted the cap, exposing all the perforations.
“Make the holes bigger,” he said.
To this day, I’m still not sure if that story is actually true. However, it is frequently cited in advertising circles as the first time a marketing concept rather than an advertising idea captured a new account.
Leo Burnett.
When I joined the Leo Burnett Advertising Agency in 1967, it was the biggest agency in Chicago. In fact, it was larger than all of the other agencies in the city put together.
And Mr. Burnett had already become a living legend. The antithesis of the slick, articulate ad guy in an Armani suit and Italian loafers, his tie was forever askew, cigarette ashes frequently adorned his rumpled suit jacket, and his hair was always a curly mess. But at a time when there were fewer professional copywriters in the country than there were neurosurgeons, he was one of the best in the world.
My second day there, I insisted on meeting him personally. My creative director smiled and said, “Ask him if the rumor about Allstate is true.”
I wasn’t about to fall into some rookie trap without knowing what was going on. My CD explained.
“Leo always wanted to do something like Albert Lasker did with the Johnson Baby Powder.
“So when the agency was asked to make a presentation to Allstate early in the 1950s, Leo showed up all alone. When they asked him where everyone else was, Leo reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a rumpled napkin with the Blackhawk Restaurant logo on it. ‘We came up with an idea for you at dinner the other night,’ he said.
“And in his barely legible scrawl, he had scribbled, ‘You’re in good hands with Allstate.’”
When I finally got in to see Leo and asked him if the Allstate rumor was true, he smiled and said, “It’s a good story, isn’t it?”
Much later, I learned that he said that whenever asked. However, when I think about it today – it is now June of 2016 – I realize that Leo wrote that line more than 60 years ago. And it’s as valid today as it was then. Kind of amazing, isn’t it?
Cantankerously Yours,
Wendell Abern
Natural InsightBy Sabeen Faquir
Do you want to know what you can do for the health of your eyes? May be your ophthalmologist is telling you to watch out for macular degeneration or warning you about cataracts or glaucoma. I’m here to tell you there may be some supplements you should to ask your doctor about. Present him/her with some research.
First, eye health is nothing without carotenoids. The –xanthin’s like astaxanthin and zeaxanthin are crucial carotenoids of the eye. Lutein is another antioxidant found in the eye. In fact, taking lutein and zeaxanthin regularly has been found to contribute to eye health (Nwachukwua et al). In a recent randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial, it was found that taking lutein and or lutein and zeaxanthin, improved macular pigment optical density (Huang et al). The study suggests taking 10-20mg of lutein or 10mg of lutein with 10 mg of zeaxanthin. This result has repercussions for those experiencing macular degeneration, a degradation of the central part of the retina.
Carnosine is a helpful nutrient for those suffering from proteinaceous build up in the lens of the eye, or cataracts. Carnosine acts by inhibiting proteolysis or the breaking down of protein. Crystallins are a type of protein that normally supports the lens’ function. But when damaged, crystallins contribute to the formation of cataracts. In one study, it was found that with increased concentrations of carnosine, the turbidity (opaqueness) of damaged crystallins was reduced significantly. And despite UV-B and UV-C exposure, carnosine reduced the turbidity of crystallins significantly after 6 and 4 hours, respectively. But, there was less of a loss of crystallins after UV-C exposure, so carnosine is more effective at protecting against the damage of UV-C rather than UV-B irradiation (Liao et al). You can find carnosine as an oral supplement or part of eye drops. In an eye formulation, you will see it as N-acetyl-carnosine. Studies may suggest its lipophilicity (ability to dissolve in fats) is increased in a phospholipid complex. This may make delivery to the lens easier (Abdelkader et al).
French maritime pine bark, also known as the patented Pycnogenol, is shown to improve endothelial function (Jain et al). This means it was shown to improve the ability of blood vessels to dilate or constrict, as needed. This may be important for someone experiencing glaucoma which is associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP). An ophthalmologist may prescribe something to help prevent the amount of fluid produced by the eye like a beta-blocker or something to drain the fluid out of the eye like a cholinergic. To mitigate the effects of side effects, WebMD suggests using eye drops. And to potentiate the effects of medication, you might want to ask your doctor about taking French maritime pine bark. Furthermore, a combination of the pine bark and bilberry known as the patented Mirtogenol, is shown to increase the effects of latanoprost eye drops and lower IOP (Steigerwalt et al). A study compared the effects of Mirtogenol, latatoprost, and a combination of the two. The combined effects of both Mirtogenol and latanoprost, was significantly more effective at lowering IOP.
So, if when the next time you get your eyes checked out, your ophthalmologist or optometrist mentions you may be developing macular degeneration, cataracts, or glaucoma, ask them about taking the aforementioned nutrients.
Disclaimer: The content of this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure disease.
Sources:
Ifeanyi D. Nwachukwua, Chibuike C. Udenigweb, Rotimi E. Alukoa. Lutein and zeaxanthin: Production technology, bioavailability, mechanisms of action, visual function, and health claim status. Trends in Food Science & Technology. Volume 49, March 2016, Pages 74–84
Yang-Mu Huang, Hong-Liang Dou, Fei-Fei Huang, Xian-Rong Xu, Zhi-Yong Zou, Xin-Rong Lu, Xiao-Ming Lin. Changes following supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin in retinal function in eyes with early age-related macular degeneration: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2015; 99:371-37
Jiahn-Haur Liao, I-Lin Lin, Kai-Fa Huang, Pei-Ting Kuo, Shih-Hsiung Wu, and Tzu-Hua Wu. Carnosine Ameliorates Lens Protein Turbidity Formations by Inhibiting Calpain Proteolysis and Ultraviolet C-Induced Degradation. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2014, 62 (25), pp 5932–5938
Hamdy Abdelkader, Julian Swinden, Barbara K. Pierscionek, Raid G Alany. Analytical and physicochemical characterisation of the senile cataract drug dipeptide ?-alanyl-L-histidine (carnosine). Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Volume 114, 10 October 2015, Pages 241–246
Sparshi Jain, Savleen Kaur, and Nishant Sachdev. Brief Communication: French Maritime Pine Bark Extract (Pinus Pinaster) and Its Ophthalmic Use. Journal of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 2014, 5:4
Robert D Steigerwalt, Jr, Gianni Belcaro, Paolo Morazzoni, Ezio Bombardelli, Carolina Burki, and Frank Schönlau. Mirtogenol® potentiates latanoprost in lowering intraocular pressure and improves ocular blood flow in asymptomatic subjects. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2010; 4: 471–476.
AW SpotlightBy Sabeen Faquir with contributions from Sherri Mraz and Barbara Nicholson
Sherri Mraz, owner of the Cookin’ Yogi, has recently expanded to open the Wellness Cooking Academy.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Sherri, as a graduate of INN (Institute of Integrative Nutrition), she began as a health coach and started cooking classes for private clients in 2008. She was solicited for a ladies group to do a cooking class and her Cookin’ Yogi business caught on from there. She does events such as, birthday parties and private classes and teaches people how to eat healthy in a fun and simple way.
In 2013 Sherri won the “Best Plate” award for the Flavors of Wellington event at the Palm Beach Equestrian Center. This gave Sherri a huge surge in her business. Her coaching practice grew as well as her demand for cooking classes.
Sherri’s first love has always been teaching people how they can change their health with food. She knows most medical conditions come from food. “There is an undeniable epidemic of obesity and high cholesterol in this nation”. If people would modify their diet, we could see the morbidity rates for these diseases decline,” Sherri said.
Her passion for reaching people and families to spread the message about the connection of food and health, along with her love of helping other coaches succeed in their businesses is what sparked the Wellness Cooking Academy to come to fruition. Sherri was bombarded with questions from other coaches on how to create a successful business doing what they love. “They wanted to know how to get others to change their lifestyle through food.”
She knew she couldn’t reach everyone alone, but by training other coaches to do what she is doing, the results could be far reaching. She would create a “brigade” of healthy cooking instructors to spread the concept “Healthy begins in the Kitchen,” worldwide, and reach people and families everywhere with this important information.
Once certified, the instructors do not work for Sherri, but will be referred to customers. “My goal is to give them a ‘turn-key business’,” said Sherri.
Sherri believes that people learn best when they are enjoying themselves, and people love cooking classes! The classes are an amazing opportunity to get in front of a lot of people that may not have been seeking out health information. Classes give them health tips that can change their health as well as the health of their families.
The Academy is a 12-week certification course that runs online via live webinars. At the end of the course, students receive a diploma and become a Certified Wellness Cooking Academy Instructor. The Pilot program of the Academy just launched this month. Sherri anticipates a full class when the program officially opens in September 2016. The Academy will have a worldwide databank of future instructors spreading the message of health. “We are excited to have a student in our pilot program joining us all the way from New Zealand!” said Sherri.
According to Sherri, “Healthy starts in the kitchen.” In fact, this is a tagline for the Academy.
Despite starting off as a 1-on-1 business all these years, Sherri now only focuses on classes and running the Academy. Most clients are referred to her associate Barbara Nicholson, a Certified Natural Health Practitioner (www.herbsofthefield.net). Both Barbara and Sherri emphasize plant-based recipes and have seen their clients enjoy overall better health by incorporating delicious healthy foods without feeling like they are missing out or are in deprivation.
Sherri also gives back to the community. She runs a women’s group at her church and offers one hardship scholarship per course to a candidate that is unable to pay for the program. Sherri said, “For whatever reason if a woman has fallen on hard times, I want them to know that there is always hope”
If you are interested in the Wellness Cooking Academy, visit Sherri online at www.cookinyogi.com or www.WellnessCookingAcademy.com
Sherri Mraz , founder of The Cookin’ Yogi and Wellness Cooking Academy
Located in Bootz Cultural Arts Center
420 S. State Road 7, Suite 118
Royal Palm Beach, FL 33414
Office: 561-791-6455
Cell: (561) 254-4949
Email: sherri@cookinyogi.com
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