John Edwards Exits Presidential Race

The ONLY candidate that was not bought and paid for by corporate America. A moment of silence, please.

Another Stumble Upon Gem

And just in time for Valentine's Day!

5 things you should never say to a woman

Interested in a life of constant arguing, withering stares and no sex? Just keep using these phrases then

By Sarah Miller

Women freak out. Often at you. Often for no discernible reason. You say something that you consider totally innocuous, or even downright nice, only to find that you’ve offended, enraged or annoyed us.Your first problem - being attracted - to women, a very weird group of people - is not going to go away. But here’s a problem you can solve: word choice. You need to know the phrases that, once introduced to her volatile atmosphere, will result in an explosion, or quiet contempt (no picnic either). Then you need to strike them from your vocabulary.Warning: some of these absolute no-no words and phrases seem so incredibly harmless, you may think we’re kidding. We’re not.

Forbidden Phrase no. 1: “Relax”It might seem logical to you to tell a woman who’s freaking out to relax. And if “logical” meant the same thing as “stupidest idea ever”, you’d be correct. Understand, a woman screaming and carrying on in anger or frustration or panic thinks that her response is 100 percent appropriate. If the inciting situation has anything to do with you, she feels she has a responsibility to freak out extra to compensate for your maddening calm. So when you tell her to relax, you’re implying that your response - that is, nothing - is correct. You’re denying that there’s a reason to be upset.You’re telling her she’s crazy. Women may sometimes feel crazy and joke about it, but anything smacking of accusations of being crazy will be far from soothing. Say... “I’m just as upset about this as you are. Let’s deal with it together.” This way she knows you’re totally sympathetic. This should help her to... oh, God... relax.

Forbidden Phrase no. 2: “I love you” (during a fight)In movies, “I love you” is usually employed by men during I-love-you-appropriate situations - lovemaking, walks on the beach, airport reunions. In real life, a woman hears “I love you” most often at that point in a fight when she desperately wants to get to the heart of the issue and when you desperately want to stop this nonsense and watch Alias - which you don’t normally even watch. When you come home shirtless from a bachelor party or forget our birthdays and stand there in the face of our rage and crushing disappointment, do you really believe that merely stating the powerful existence of your love is going to make everything okay? Because it’s not.

Say... 1. “[Insert detailed explanation of what you did and why you did it.]”

2. “It won’t happen again.”

3. “I love you.” (It’s okay at the end of the apology, just not at the beginning.) And when you go to a bachelor party, take along an extra shirt.

Forbidden Phrase no. 3: “It’s up to you” (meaning, “Whatever you want to do is fine”)Relationships are full of decisions. You decide where to eat, where to go on holiday, where to send your child to preschool. Most men wouldn’t dream of looking at their wife or girlfriend and saying, “You know what? I just don’t care.” They would, however, say, “It’s up to you.” And find themselves in a world of hurt they never saw coming. Men think of decision-making as work without pay. For women, it’s like window-shopping for life’s possibilities and we want you to help us shop. So when you say, “It’s up to you,” we feel abandoned.Say... “I could definitely do A or B, but I’m not crazy about C. What are you thinking?” This shows you’re listening, suggests you care and gets you out of making the final decision.

Forbidden Phrase no. 4: “You knew I was this way when you married me” Well, the truth is, we didn’t. Or we knew deep down, but we were so busy enjoying our fantasy of you that we chose to ignore it. It’s not your fault.It’s just that when we were little, we spent so much time daydreaming about having the perfect life. Even though we’re grown-up now, we can’t forget those dreams. Telling a woman, “You knew I was this way when you married me” is like saying the way your life is right now is the way it’s going to be forever. And that may well be true - in many wonderful and not-so-wonderful ways. But if she were to accept that, a little part of her would die.Say... “It frustrates me, too - and I’m working on it.” It’s a lie. That’s okay.

Forbidden Phrase no. 5: (Nothing)At times, you may be afraid of saying the wrong thing. You may think, If I just keep my mouth shut, I’ll be okay.Well, no. Imagine you’re bowling in a cricket game in which there is no batsman, not even a wicketkeeper. You would not enjoy that. Imagine yourself, head hanging, going to retrieve the ball yourself and, once again, throwing it to no one. That’s how we feel when you don’t talk to us. Say... Anything. Throw the ball back. Throw it badly. Even throw it anywhere on the field and risk looking like you don’t have a clue how to play. But keep your head in the game. The magic wordsThree instant get-out-of-jail-free cardsWhen a woman wants to kill you, you have one thing going for you: deep down, a tiny part of her wants you to make her not do it. She just might put down the apple slicer if you say one of the following sentences.

1. “Just tell me everything” I don’t think a man has ever actually uttered this statement, so make history. Here’s the thing: our most violent anger is often the result of anticipating being forced to shut up. So once we’re told we can give our entire, endless account - no rushing or defending ourselves - we cool off. Side benefit: we also get a little intimidated. We think, Is this part important or interesting or relevant? We edit ourselves.

2. “You are just so beautiful” The trick: you must say it as if it’s just occurring to you at the moment, as if her pulchritude were a rainbow suddenly in your path, the stunningness of which has left you incapacitated, emotionally stunted, but in a good way. Say it as if you can remember little else - certainly not whatever irksome matter you were just discussing. Works well as an alternative to “I love you” - but, the same way butter makes anything taste better, it’s all-purpose.

3. “Sorry. It was all my fault” So classic. So hard to say. Because it’s never all your fault, of course - and it’s a very rare case in which she shouldn’t also say she’s sorry. Everyone likes to save face, especially men.But truly, there is nothing hotter to a woman than a man who’s willing to admit he was wrong because he just loves her so damn much. You might feel like you’re losing her respect, but unless you’re always the one to apologise (which means you have a crazy lady on your hands), trust me, you’re gaining it.

Ending Poverty - The Purpose of His Life

I Also Have a Dream

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr and the dreams he has passed along to so many, I too wanted to share my dreams. Though some of the dreams of Dr. King have come to pass, many of them still struggle along as human will stands in the way of many of them. I don't understand. Like Dr. King's, my dreams are of the humanitarian state for all walks of life with a bit of a modern twist.

My dream is for those who can to give. I don't mean once a year and I don't mean just at church but when you see someone in need that you do what you can to make their lives just a little better. When you see the woman walking on the ice, offer to assist with a ride or walk with her. If you see someone drop something, help them pick it up. If you're able, if you know someone who can't pay their heat or power, anonymously pay it for them. Just one month. What a diffence it will make.

I have a dream that the tax base in this world will become more equal so those who struggle to make less will be able to keep more.

My dream is that those in a position of power or wealth to display kindness and empathy to those who are struggling. Their lives might not always be where they are now and your kindness will be remembered and they'll look to you to do business again. My dream is that more seek to do good will and charitable acts rather than turn our heads and pretend we didn't see the need.

My dream is that your ability to do a job be judged on a proven work ethic and not what your credit score says. For it can be that the score is low due to a change in life, the need for heat rather than a car or another temporary situation. Most, especially single mothers, will not have the opportunity for a job they are capable of doing to improve their lives and the lives of their families until this method of qualification is done away with and their situations will not improve and they will not become contributing members of their communities.

I have a dream that each one of us will look at the other with a live and let live philosophy. If the lifestyle, gender, color or religion of my neighbor next to me does not effect me or harm me in any way, than I should accept and never judge.

And most importantly, my dream is that all people will work towards understanding and education rather than fear. For what one does not understand, one fears. What one fears, one destroys.

Send 'Em Back!

How many credit card applications do you get in a day? In a week? What do you do with them? Do you shred them? Do you throw them away? Please do not throw them away. This is a great way to have your identity stolen. I recently was told that if it costs credit card company nothing to send these unsolicited junk mail items out, but they pay a fee when they are returned on the hopes of getting a new sucker...uh customer. What I started doing? I send them back. I take the self addressed envelope and stuff all the contents I received back in them and write on them, "take me off your list". Then I put them in my mail box and return them to their rightful owner. It takes no more time then shredding the unwanted mail and I get a little satisfaction is taking some control over the parasites. Does it work? I couldn't tell you. Does it make me happy? Yes. Your thoughts? What do you do with your junk mail?

Oh My....

I found this on Stumble. I thought I'd share....

Dear Red States:

We're ticked off at the way you've treated California, and we've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us.

In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and the entire Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get Elliot Spitzer. You get Ken Lay. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America’s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue; you get to make the red states pay their fair share.

Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners)
90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals than we lefties.
By the way, we have all the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.

— Anonymous in California

Kerry Endorses Obama?????

Wow...I was shocked to hear that one. Before I go on, I have to tell you that I am having a BLAST with this years political season. It is fair that you should know that I am liberal. But I am a different liberal. Well...not necassarily. You see, I feel that in the election past that a hard line got drawn between "christian conservatives" and "Godless liberals". I think that line is so wrong on so many levels. I believe in a woman's right to chose, gay rights and many other issues that put me in the liberal half. On the other hand. I support my troops even though I do not support the war. I am patriotic and I salute my flag and all the values it stands for. And I whole heartedly love my Lord and Savior. In conversations I have had with other liberals, I don't think I stand alone. I am in favor of getting rid of that line. In this election, I favor John Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary. In that order. I love Barack's stance on unity and I think it would do this country a world of good. But I digress. Okay...enough about my political background. Let's just say...democrat through and through.

But what a slap in the face for John Edwards. I understand that John has been fairly vocal (with Jay Leno) that running for second chair in 2004 was no picnic but for Kerry to openly endorse Obama has to be somewhat of an injury for Edwards. Regardless of what this does for Obama, it does not bode well for the character of Kerry. Why? What would motivate him to endorse someone other than his former running mate? Would Kerry ever run again? Does he feel that if he chose to do so that Obama would be easier to take the nomination from? I just feel that this is a blatant nose thumbing at his former running mate and I'm having a hard time understanding why. If class were to play into this election which it almost never does, I would think that not endorsing anyone would be far more favorable than endorsing someone other than the one you have had past ties with. Thoughts? Please share.

On another note. If John Edward had the press coverage that Obama and Clinton have had, I think he would have faired far better than he did in New Hampshire. As my 15 year old son said, Edwards just doesn't have the contraversy that Obama and Clinton have. He's your average white guy that worked hard to get to where he is in life. He refuses big business money so that he does not "owe" them if elected. Kinda boring. And yet, so in touch with what this country needs.

I adore Barack Obama. And I will support him if he is our candidate. I just think it might (might) be a little too soon for him. John brings humanity, honesty and integrity to this election. If you haven't looked at him before, please look at him now.

Weight Loss Options

Everywhere you turn today you see all the options you have to lose weight. Anything from weight loss programs to drugs. Many of you will try them. And then many of you will try again this time next year. Now is the time to make the commitment to change you life. I can help. If you are interested to learn more about USANA's RESET program or USANA products, email me the address where you would like it sent and I'll be glad to send you a free Health and Freedom catalog. No obligation. I simply want the information in your hands. I look forward to hearing from you. ChristyBarber@usana.com.

Considering the Move to Paradise?

Watching the news and the conversations about the housing market can be a little bit daunting. But here in the Pacific Northwest, we are not feeling that same housing pinch the rest of the nation struggles with. In fact, it was in our local papers yesterday that the population of Oregon alone is increasing. My thoughts? People are ready for a better life. I can't think of a better place to get it than in the states of Oregon or Washington.

If you are someone who is considering a home in these states, please contact me. I can provide you with a competive rate for your home loan and provide you with the best offer for your needs. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Contact me today at cbarber@primeres.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Dark Horse Polo

darkhorsepolo.com

How Healthy Have You Been?

I've noticed on my searches that several of you are curious about USANA's Proflavanol. I thought I'd take this opportunity to give you all a little more information about what Proflavanol and what it has done for me.

I used to get my first cold around the first of October. I used to hope that I could hold it off long enough to get my flu shot. Sometimes I did, most of the time I didn't. Then I'd go through that big panic of how long could I hold off my flu shot before that big epidemic hit my community. If you have ever had the flu...the real deal...the 5 days of high fever, coughing and the sensation that you might have to die to feel better....then you know that you DON'T want it again! Once I endured that first cold, by the end of October it would go into a full blown sinus infection. This would be followed by a trip to the doctor two weeks into because I'd get tired of coughing my brains out all night and all day battling the thing. Once I got my perscription filled, I'd immediatley ask for an additional perscription for Dulflican to go with it because I knew that course of antiboitics would soon be followed by the mother of all yeast infections. Once it all cleared up I'd feel pretty good until say about Thanksgiving. Turkey shopping when you want to shoot your own head off does not make for a festive mood. I'd get rid of that cold and feel great through Christmas just in time to get a whopper of a stomach virus some time during the vacation. Then when my flu shot ran out....well...you get the picture. Does this sound familiar to any of you?

I became a steady USANA user about a year ago. I suffered with a couple of colds when my director suggested I start on proflavanol. I did. And I am here to tell you that I have not had one single cold. Not one hint of a sinus infection and not one sign of the flu. Need I say the yeast infections have stayed away too? I take two proflavs at morning and two at night. If I start to feel a tickle or a cough come on I up it to 3 morning and night. I would recommend adding come Poly C to that as well. And gone. All gone. Does not come on. I don't miss work and I don't miss any of the fun things in my life as well. I could go on and tell you about all the ingredients in it but you can read that for yourself. Other than grape seed extract I couldn't tell you. And frankly, I don't care. It works. I'm not sick and I feel great. If you are reaching for that tissue for the umpteenth time today, what are you waiting for? Call me. I'll get it sent out to you today. 541.786.1613. Operators are standing by.

Oregon Wine and Food Festival Will Not Disappoint

Looking for something fun to do to erase the post Christmas blah's? Check out the Oregon Wine and Food Festival January 11-13 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem, Oregon. This year there is a record number of vendors attending the event. I've talked to people who attended the event in years past and they have given it the highest regard. So don't miss out. For more information on the event, read below.

What: The 26th annual Oregon Wine & Food Festival

When: Friday, January 11, 2008 – 4 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, January 12, 2008 – 11 am. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, January 13, 2008 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Oregon State Fairgrounds
Jackman Long Building
2330 17th St. NE
Salem, OR 97303

How much: Pre-sale general $8 / $10 at the door / seniors $8

Exhibitor categories include:
· NW Wineries
· Fine art, craft & sculptures
· Premier food & cuisine
· Live entertainment

Sponsors:
· Salem Monthly
· Merrill Lynch
· Elsinore Framing & Fine Art Gallery
· A-Z Party Rental
· KINK FM


Special offer: First 200 people receive free admission on Friday and Sunday only. Attendance on Saturday is not included in this incentive offer.

To schedule an interview or for press information, call 541.786.1613
To order pre-sale tickets, call 503.390.7324

A Healthy New Year

Now that the champagne has been drank, the last of the Christmas cookies consumed and the leftover turkey and ham devoured, many of us are avoiding our scales. It's time to get back on track and reset our bodies.

All over the television are weight loss advertisments for us to try. Many of them claim that "diet's don't work". I agree. If we starve ourselves and do not literally reset our bodies to lose the cravings, we are predisposed to failure when it comes to a new diet. In addition, once we stop the diet, what happens? If our bodies do not have a new pattern in place, our old habits tend to return resulting in the yo yo effect in dieting. Not what we want. How do we stop this?

RESET. Actually reseting our bodies to where they need to be to lose the carbohydrate cravings, not feel hungry and get back on track for a healthy new year. That's right. I said, not feel hungry. Can you commit to a five day regimin to get your body back on track? I know that you can. So many before you have done the RESET program with tremendous results and find their way to losing weight and feeling better.

The RESET program provides you with five days worth of food, vitamins, snacks and support. Many of us get through the five days feeling full, healthy and ready for to keep up a low glycemic lifestyle. We're starting today. Are you? Visit http://www.christybarber.usana.com/ to see how you can beging today as well. Or feel free to call me at 541.786.1613. I'm here to help you get your life back on track.