Incline your ear to wisdom

Here are 10 sets of words that could make your opponent challenge your play in Scrabble (tm)  and lose a turn

1.  INSUREDS, DRYS, ARES, ABOVES, BELOWS and other words that surprisingly take an S.

2.  QWERTY and the other Q without U words (QAT, QOPH, QAID, QINDAR, QINTAR, QANAT, TRANQ, FAQIR, SHEQEL)

3.  LEVATOR and other "misspellings" (COMPONY, LAMA, EARING)

4.  BRRR and other consonant dumps (CRWTH, CWM)

5.  TOEA and other vowel dumps (RAIA, AALII, EULOGIA, MIAOUED, SEQUOIA)

6.  KENT and other "proper names" (TARZAN, MARIA, HONDA)

7.  ZEBU and other "weird" animal names (JNANA, NARWHAL, VICUNA)

8.  MBIRA and other "weird" looking words (BWANA, ATLATL)

9.  RINGGIT and other monetary units (PISO, XU)

10.  DRYASDUST (a possible description of this entry if you're not fascinated with words)

A common complaint among tBloggers are the proliferation of spam blogs here in our blog site.  These sellers masquerading as blogs grow faster than weeds and choke the recent blogs section and slows down our server.  Not only that, they cause this blog site’s admin (which I understand is composed of one person) to devote a great deal of time to shut them down, instead of developing new features for our site.

My friend Finalyfree recently blogged about this problem and I suggested a rather drastic and somewhat controversial solution: all blogs should be converted to pro.  I suggested lowering the price to $15 a year to make it more affordable to most, if not all bloggers.  I believe most of these spam blogs are not willing to pay and would rather go to some place where they can create blogs for free.  For those who would pay, the admin would still retain the right to shut down any blog he deems as spam and refund them only part of the fee, charging them a small amount for the trouble they caused.  This was actually a revision of an initial suggestion and I would further revise it here.

I suggest we do the conversion in phases.  The first phase is just to encourage bloggers to convert to pro.  I’m a pro user and some of the features that I really like are the following: (1) advanced site statistics (I use full advantage of this feature, specially visiting the blog sites of people who visited, both as a courtesy and as part of searching for quality sites)  (2) Full HTML support (I’m just starting to learn HTML, but I like the fact that I can enhance my site dramatically when I do learn it fully).  (3) New comment notification (that little box that pops up when I have a new comment adds to the excitement of blogging, at least in my opinion)  (4) Full image support (I like the idea of adding pictures and slideshows to my blog with much ease.)  These are great features (no, tbucks x 4 doesn’t count) but basic users can add similar features to their blogs using utilities and websites, so the appeal of turning pro is somewhat diminished. 

The solution I think is to add more features that are truly exclusive and useful to pro users.  One that comes up to mind is an advanced post editor that can correct spelling. (I know, I know…you can use a text editor, but the idea is that you don’t have to).   Another is a featured posts section.  When you add or edit a post, it will ask you whether you want to add it on your featured posts section.  (I achieved this by creating buttons and linking to previous posts, very tedious).

After convincing most users to pay, maybe that’s the only time we can ask the remaining ones to convert. 

Whenever I leave a comment on someone’s blog, I see to it that I add value to the post.  If it’s about an experience, I try to recount a similar experience.  If it’s a funny post, I would add a story or a related joke.  If I couldn’t think of something beyond the obligatory LOL, I wouldn’t comment at all.  If a friend is going through a rough time, I’ll leave an encouraging note.  If it’s a controversial matter, I’m not content in saying, “I agree” or “I disagree”.  I strive to explain my position, and tend to expound on the subject at hand.  This brings me to one thing that I need to improve on.  When the blogger is a friend of mine and I disagree with the entry, I tend to avoid commenting for fear of offending the blogger.  That is a fear I need to overcome if I want to be honest with him, and more importantly, if I want to be honest with myself.  After all, how can we grow if we’re not open in examining opposing views?

I have the same expectations for the comments that I want in my blog.  I am blessed with friends who comment often, and I’m very thankful to them for sharing their unique insight regarding my posts.  So far, most of the comments I get improve on the entries I publish.  Good examples of those are the ones on my entry “Secrets”.  But unfortunately, I also receive some useless comments.  One of them called an entry “boring”.  I don’t fault the commenter at all for expressing his opinion, but I would’ve appreciated it if he explained why he thought so.  I could’ve learned a thing or two on how to make my blog more interesting.  I am afraid I’m also guilty of leaving some pointless comments in the past, but I’ll try my best not to do it again.

All these are not meant to discourage you from leaving a comment on my blog.  I'm just asking you to think before doing so.  Is it relevant to the post?  Does it add a new idea, or a distinct point of view on the subject at hand?  Keep in mind that I will share this blog (in the form of a book) with my daughter when she grows up.  I will print all my entries including the comments.  But I will be picky on the comments that I'll print and delete the rest.  I will choose like I'm choosing a friend.  I rather have a few quality ones, than a hundred rotten ones.

The following are 10 disease-preventing foods that everyone should include in their diet.  The first five is more beneficial to men and the last five to women.  (This was a forwarded email, but the source was not included)

1.  Tomato Sauce - Men who eat a lot of tomatoes, tomato sauce, or pizza smothered with the stuff may be giving themselves a hedge against prostate cancer.  So say researchers at Harvard University, who studied the eating habits of more than 47,000 male health professionals. They found that men who ate tomato sauce two to four times per week had a 35 per cent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than men who ate none.  A carotenoid called lycopene, which tomatoes contain in abundance, appeared to be responsible. But scientists were puzzled: tomato juice didn’t seem to have a protective effect. Other research shows why.  For best absorption, lycopene should be cooked with some kind of fat.  So pizza may be just what the doctor ordered.


2. Oysters - Myth has it that oysters are the food of love.  Science may agree. Just two to three oysters deliver a full day’s supply of zinc, a mineral critical for normal functioning of the male reproductive system.  Scientists are divided over reports that sperm counts have declined over the last 50 years and that environmental factors are to blame.  Nutritional deficiencies do seem to be the cause of certain cases of low testosterone.  Getting adequate zinc is sometimes the answer (up to 15 milligrams per day is recommended for men; more than 40 milligrams can pose risk).  In one trial, 22 men with low testosterone level and sperm counts were given zinc every day for 45 to 50 days.  Testosterone levels and sperm counts rose.


3. Broccoli - A recent Harvard study finds that cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, may protect against bladder cancer, which is common among Asian men.  Scientists analyzed the diets of nearly 50,000 men and discovered that those who ate five servings or more per week of cruciferous veggies were half as likely to develop bladder cancer over a ten-year period as men who rarely ate them.  And broccoli and cabbage were singled out as the most protective foods.


4.  Peanut butter - If you want a healthy heart, spread your morning toast with peanut butter.  Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women, but men fall victim at an earlier age.  Researchers from Pennsylvania State University compared the cholesterol-lowering effect of the step II Diet of the America Heart Association (AHA) with a higher-fat diet based on peanuts.  The AHA plan included more carbohydrates.  The peanut regimen was 36 per cent fat.  After 24 days both diets lowered “bad” LDL cholesterol.  But the peanut plan also caused a drop in blood fats called triglycerides and did not decrease HDL, the “good” cholesterol. The AHA diet raised levels of triglycerides and lowered levels of HDL. “Peanut butter is a little higher in fat” says Penny Kris-Etherton, the lead author of the study.  “But it’s the type that’s good for you: monounsaturated fat. Researchers have predicted that the peanut diet could reduce heart disease risk even more than the AHA diet could.  Just don’t go nutty plastering on the tasty spread, since it is high in kilojoules.

5. Watermelon – Until the age of 55, more men suffer from high blood pressure than women do.  Research suggests that foods rich in potassium can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.  The evidence is so convincing that the US Food and Drug Administration recently allowed food labels to bear a health claim about the connection between potassium-rich foods and high blood pressure. “A good goal for potassium is about 2000 milligrams or more a day” says Antigone Blazos, a lecturer at Asia Pacific Health and Nutrition Centre in Melbourne, Australia.  Watermelon is a rich source of this mineral and has more potassium - 664 milligrams, in just one large slice than the amount found in banana or a glass of orange juice.  So cut yourself another slice and enjoy its cool taste.

6. Papaya – This fruit packs about twice the vitamin C of an orange.  Add it to your arsenal against gallbladder disease, which afflicts twice as many women as men.  After analyzing the blood of over 13,000 people, scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, found that women who had lower levels of vitamin C were more likely to have gallbladder illnesses.  One medium papaya (about 280 grams), with 188 milligrams of C and a mere 500 kilo-joules, is a refreshing source of the vitamin.  Best of all it’s probably growing in your garden.

7. Flaxseed – Bakers use this nutty-flavored seed mainly to add flavor and fiber. But scientists see the tiny reddish-brown seed, rich in estrogen-like compounds called lignans, as a potential weapon against breast cancer.  An exciting report at last year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium showed that adding flaxseed to the diet of women with breast cancer effectively slowed tumor growth.  You can flavor your muffins with flaxseed, but the easiest way to get the beneficial lignans is to sprinkle a few tablespoons of ground flaxseed on your morning cereal.  Look for the seeds in health food shops.  They’re easy to grind in a blender or coffee grinder.  But get seeds; there are no lignans in the oil.


8. Tofu - Foods high in soy protein can lower cholesterol and may minimize menopausal hot flushes and strengthen bone.  Isoflavones, plant chemicals in soybeans that have a structure similar to estrogen, may be the reason.  Though animal studies form the bulk of evidence, a human study found that 90 milligrams of isoflavones was beneficial to bone (specifically the spine).  And two other studies suggest that 50 to 76 milligrams of isoflavones a day may offer some relief from hot flushes.  Half a cup of tofu contains about 25 to 35 milligrams of isoflavones.


9. Pork – Due largely to menstruation, women tend to be more anemic than men. And low iron levels in blood can cause severe fatigue.  To get a good dose of iron, try pork.  It has what every diet-conscious women wants; lots of iron and fat that can be easily removed, compared to most cuts of meat.  According to the Asian Food Information Center in Singapore, a palm-sized pork steak has about 1.4 milligrams of iron.  Best of all, says Dr. Mark Wahlqvist, president of the International Union of Nutrition Sciences, eating a small amount of pork with a meal increases the absorption of iron from accompanying vegetables and cereals.


10. Cabbage - This humble vegetable may help fight osteoporosis, which affects many women late in life.  In addition to getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D, some studies suggest that vitamin K may have a bone-protective effect as well.  Based on data from one of the largest studies of women, the Nurses’ Health Study, researchers discovered that women who ate enough vitamin K-rich foods (at least 109 micrograms of the vitamin daily) were 30 percent less likely to suffer a hip fracture during ten years of follow-up than women who ate less.  Researchers point out that dark-green leafy vegetables, Brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli are all good sources of the vitamin.  But cabbage is among the best.

I recently watched a fine movie about two young people who met at a cruise ship.  The young woman is a by-the-book kind of lady and makes sure she has an itinerary before she proceeds in her day. The guy is a shoot-by-the-hip kind of guy and likes to take spur of the moment decisions.  But despite this incompatibility, they can’t explain why they like each other.  As it turned out, they also have something in common.  The reason the young lady was alone in that cruise ship was because she ran away from her wedding.  The cruise was supposed to be a part of her honeymoon but she discovered on her wedding day that the guy she was marrying got another woman pregnant (the woman came to the wedding pleading the guy to take responsibility for his child).  The young guy also had a secret.  He was there alone on the cruise because he wants to enjoy life to the fullest before he dies.  He recently discovered that he might not live for long because of a serious illness. 

Their relationship blossomed but it almost ended when they discovered each other’s secret.  I think because of timing.  The young lady told the guy right away when she realized that she was falling for the guy.  But the guy withheld the truth until he couldn’t hide his condition.  She felt sorry for the guy but also felt betrayed because the guy let her fall in love with him.  But in the end, she found that she have enough love for him to forgive him and decided to marry him.  They lived a happy life and was blessed with a son, but the death of the man, although expected made me question how this story relates in real life.  How many men would have kept the secret until they are married?  How many women would have ended the relationship upon knowing the guy’s predicament?  

The woman who was a rape victim.  The reformed drug addict.  The repentant woman who committed abortion.   The unrepentant guy who convinced her to do it.  The woman who’s first marriage was annulled but wants to marry her boyfriend without telling him she was married before.  The guy with a serious family history of Down syndrome.  These are real situations of real people that I either read about or know personally.  Who among them should divulge their secrets before their marriages?  What kinds of secrets are we suppose to reveal to our potential spouse?  Can we keep the ones that we think would not affect our relationship?

I commented on a blog before that relationships must be founded on honesty, or it will sooner or later crumble.  I can just imagine the utter difficulty on the bearer of the secret to expose it for fear that the other will end the relationship.  But I believe that it will be harder for him or her to carry this load during their marriage.

I’ve been visiting photo websites lately and have been feasting my eyes with works of extremely talented photographers.  On the left side of my blog, you can find 10 of them that I really admire.  Most of them are professionals but ironically the one I liked the most is a hobbyist.  The term ‘hobbyist’ doesn’t give justice for the guy’s work but keep in mind that I used that term in a purely technical sense.  I chose it to differentiate him from the other photographers who do make their living by taking photos.  I certainly didn’t want to call him an amateur.

His name is Graham Jeffrey.  His been photographing for 30 years and the quality of his work definitely shows his level of experience.  When you visit Sensitivelight.com, I recommend that you go directly to the ‘Favourites’ tab.  This will give you a taste of the wide range of subjects Mr. Jeffrey deals with.  After savoring the appetizer, I suggest you go to the ‘Galleries’ section and choose from a variety of ‘main courses’ this chef of colors has to offer.  I suggest you give yourself ample time if you want to fully savor the experience (Or if you don’t have high speed connection, for the photos will load rather slowly.)  I particularly like the ‘Birds’ and the ‘Smoke’ dishes.  Ready for the dessert? Mr. Jeffrey is a blogger!  Click on the ‘Recent images’ link and you’ll see his latest photos (posts), complemented by very insightful captions (as if his photos are not enough to satisfy the visitor).

So, what are you waiting for?  Go and visit our fellow blogger, leave a comment or two, and add a link to his site.