NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION FOR NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

A near-death experience is defined as a life-threatening event (such as a heart attack or traffic crash) when a person felt a number of sensations, including a sense of being outside their physical body, unusual alertness, seeing an intense light, and having a feeling of peace. Researchers report that people who say they’ve had a near-death experience; they often have different sleep-wake control systems than other people.

Researchers compared 55 people suffered from a near-death experience to 55 people who hadn't had this kind of phenomenon. The researchers found that those with near death experiences were more likely to have less clearly separated boundaries between sleeping and waking. Probably, normal and the REM (rapid eye movement) state of sleep intruded into normal wakeful consciousness, i.e. REM state intrusion. Examples of REM state intrusion include: waking up and having the feeling of being unable to move; sudden muscle weakness in the legs; and hearing sounds just before falling asleep or just after waking up that other people can't hear. REM state intrusion may also be associated with other disorders, including narcolepsy and Parkinson disease.

The report appears in the April 11 issue of the Journal Neurology. "Views & Reviews" section, Author: Kevin R. Nelson, MD, FAAN, of the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Reference: 'Near death' has biological basis, BBC NEWS, April 11, 2006

Can Praying help a sick person's recovery? In a scientific study, praying from strangers did not showed any benefits for heart surgery patients, And patients who knew they were being prayed for had a slightly higher rate of complications.

However, this study is not addressing whether God exists or answers prayers made on another's behalf. The study could look only for effects or benefits from the specific prayers offered on sick people.

The study followed about 1,800 patients at six medical centers. The research team tested the effect of having three Christian groups pray for particular patients, starting the night before surgery and continuing for two weeks. The volunteers prayed for "a successful surgery with a quick, healthy recovery and no complications" for specific patients.

The patients were split into three groups: [1] those who knew they were being prayed for, [2] those who were prayed for but only knew it was a possibility, and [3] those who weren't prayed for but were told it was a possibility.

The study looked for any complications within 30 days of the surgery. Results showed no effect of prayer on complication-free recovery. But among patients who did receive prayers, 59 percent of the patients who knew they were being prayed for developed a complication, versus 52 percent of those who were told it was just a possibility.

Study fails to show healing power of prayer Reuters March 30, 2006

A pastor who taught at a Christian school in southern Utah has been sentenced to two years in jail for two counts of attempted sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl.[1]

Gabriel Edward Carlin operated the East Harbor Christian Academy. [1] Carlin was arrested in March 2006 following accusations he attempted to touch a girl inappropriately while she was dressed and in his care. He met the victim through Living Faith Community Church where he served as pastor. [2] Carlin was not only the church's pastor, but directed the affiliated school, East Harbor Christian Academy, where the girl attended daycare.[2]

Fifth District Judge sentenced Carlin to two consecutive years and ordered three years of probation.[1]

ONLY TWO YEARS?

STOP CHILD SEX ABUSE!

[1] Pastor gets 2 years in jail in abuse case The Salt Lake Tribune 02/19/2009

[2] Man sentenced in sex abuse case

Basic Definition of Democracy [merriam-webster]

Government by the people ; especially : rule of the majority b: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections.

Origin of Democracy [WIKIPEDIA]

Democracy is a form of government in which power is held directly or indirectly by citizens under a free electoral system. It is derived from the Greek δημοκρατία ( [dimokratia] (help·info)), "popular government" which was coined from δήμος (dēmos), "people" and κράτος (kratos), "rule, strength" in the middle of the 5th-4th century BC to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens following a popular uprising in 508 BC.

In political theory, democracy describes a small number of related forms of government and also a political philosophy. Even though there is no universally accepted definition of 'democracy',[3] there are two principles that any definition of democracy includes. The first principle is that all members of the society (citizens) have equal access to power and the second that all members (citizens) enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.

雅典民主是最早期而又最知名的民主制度，民主一词也是在前五世纪于古希腊出现的。在这段时间之前的记载都断断续续的，不过希俄斯岛（Chios）的记载显示岛上在公元前575-550年之间就出现了公民的议会和大会。投票的权利逐渐扩展，从原本的一小群地主贵族扩展至所有受过义务军事训练的公民，公民的年龄限制通常是20岁以上。

Core Documents of U.S. Democracy [http://www.gpoaccess.gov/coredocs.html]

Articles of Confederation
The Bill of Rights
A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873
The Constitution of the United States of America
The Constitution of the United States of America, Analysis and Interpretation
The Declaration of Independence
Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789
Emancipation Proclamation
The Federalist Papers
The Gettysburg Address

The FBI has rescued more than 45 suspected teenage prostitutes, some as young as 13, in a nationwide sweep to remove kids from the illegal sex trade. Some of these networks of pimps and their organizations are very sophisticated, they're interstate. [1]

I feel very sorry for these kids. Most of them are what they term 'throwaway kids,' with no family support, no friends. They're kids that nobody wants, they're loners. Many are runaways. [1]

What happens in Burma? Each year thousands of young girls are recruited from rural Burmese villages to work in the sex industry in neighboring Thailand! The trafficking of Burmese girls has soared in recent years as a direct result of political repression in Burma. Human rights abuses, war and ethnic discrimination has displaced hundreds of thousands of families, leaving families with no means of livelihood. [2]

[1] Reference: FBI, police rescue child prostitutes around US Associated Press, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 23, 3:33 am ET [2] http://www.brunofilms.com/sacrifice.html

An 11-year-old boy is charged with criminal homicide and criminal homicide of an unborn child in the killing of 26-year-old Kenzie Marie Houk. Houk was 8 months pregnant. [2] Houk's 4-year-old daughter found her in her bed Friday. The child alerted landscapers working near the home, who then called police. [1]

Houk was shot in the back of the head as she lay in bed Friday morning. Police said the weapon was a .20-gauge "youth model" shotgun, which investigators found in the boy's bedroom. The boy and Houk's 7-year-old daughter -- who was also home at the time of the shooting and heard the shot -- both went to school afterward.[3]

Does he know what he is doing?

Reference:

[1] Boy, 11, accused of killing father's pregnant girlfriend CNN
[2] Pa. boy, 11, charged with killing pregnant woman Timesleader.com Saturday, February 21, 2009  6:59 pm
http://www.timesleader.com/news/ap?articleID=1687682
[3] DA: Boy, 11, Kills Dad's Pregnant Girlfriend, Goes To School ThePittsburghChannel.Com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29314570/

President Obama told mayors from across the country yesterday that help is on the way - in the form of the $787 billion economic stimulus plan - but put them on notice that he will "call them out" if they waste the money. Thomas M. Menino of Boston said, "Transparency and accountability are critical tools for maintaining the public's confidence in this process, and we will make sure to uphold this responsibility." Currently, Boston is facing an estimated $145 million budget shortfall this year.

I also need to spend money wisely...

Reference:

[1] Obama warns mayors on waste of stimulus money Boston.COM February 21, 2009

Many melons originated in the Middle East and gradually spread its popularity across Europe. Ancient Egyptians and Romans enjoyed cantaloupes or muskmelons. Melon seeds were transported to the United States by Columbus and eventually cultivated by Spanish explorers in California.

Most people don’t know that melons are in the same gourd family as squashes and cucumbers.

Cantaloupe Serving size 1/2 cup, diced (78g) Amounts Per Serving % Daily Value Calories 25 Calories from Fat 0 Total Fat 0g 0% Saturated Fat 0g 0% Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 10mg 0% Total Carbohydrate 6g 2% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Sugars 6g Protein 1g Vitamin A 50% Vitamin C 50% Calcium 0% Iron 0% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Honeydew Serving size 1/2 cup, diced (85g) Amounts Per Serving % Daily Value Calories 30 Calories from Fat 0 Total Fat 0g 0% Saturated Fat 0g 0% Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 15mg 1% Total Carbohydrate 8g 3% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Sugars 7g Protein 0g Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 25% Calcium 0% Iron 0% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Credit: CDC.gov

Now, you tell me which one is better for our health?

While a minor degree of height loss is usual and unlikely to be associated with any health problems, significant height loss may indicate osteoporosis. The resulting height loss can affect the normal functioning of the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems, which in turn may lead to early satiety, poor nutritional status, and weight loss. [3]

Among seniors, an increase in the ratio of their arm span to their height -- indicating a probable loss of height -- is strongly associated with shortness of breath and reduced lung capacity. [1]

The loss of 2 or more inches in height during adulthood serves as a powerful predictor of osteoporosis in the hip, and thus the risk for hip fractures, in elderly women. [2]

[1] Loss of height linked to breathlessness in elderly Reuters Health Feb 13, 2009.
[2] Screening Height Loss about.com
[3] Height Loss in Older Men May Be Linked to Lower Survival, Heart Disease Medscape December 19, 2006