Don Andrew

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England Bow Out of World Cup

by admin on June 28, 2010

I normally don’t do this, but figured my readers would enjoy a repost of an article I wrote over at “Essential Health Nuggets”.

I have kept my posting to a minimum because I am planning big things for my online buiness and so I’ve been in limbo. So it’s a mixed bag for your entertainment (not just health stuff!).

You guys understand, right?

Anyway … here’s the repost:

“It never really felt right, did it?

Finally, after yesterday’s 4-1 drubbing by Germany, English fans must face the reality that our team just wasn’t that good.

Sure we had stars, all of whom had a proven pedigree (though never on the game’s most important stage).

But that’s life … and that’s sport.

Now the biggest problem seems to be how to remove Fabio Capello from his contract without swallowing a multi-million pound pill.

Which shows only too well that when you want something too bad, things never work in your favor. Who in their right mind would negotiate a contract before a world cup … and not take into account the eventuality of exactly what just happened?

Answer … a nation whose desperation trumps all common sense.

Anyway, I’m sure we’ve got a host of talented youngsters coming through to fill the boots of senor Lampard, Gerard et al.

Haven’t we?

Well … er …. no.

While I’m on the subject of the world cup (and spelling it without capitals is deliberate here) …

Why won’t Fifa agree to use replays?

We saw how wrong that was when France cheated their way into the world cup after Henry’s handball. Fortunately, karma had its way and the French went home hanging their heads just as sales of Guiness went through the roof.

Yesterday (and this is no excuse, just an observation) we saw an English goal disallowed because of human error). This was not even debateable. And yes, Mr Seth, it does take away from the beautiful game!

I’ll also say this … I liked Germany as a team up until the point their goalkeeper realised that he could pull the wool over the official’s eye and pulled an “Henry”.

Man, I am so sick of professional athletes cheating. What glory could there possibly be in an advantage gleaned from a technicality?

Come on. We are surely more sophisticated than that? Aren’t we …?

Maybe not.

And then there was Argentina’s obvious offsides.

Again, they surely would have won regardless.

OK, so Brazil and Spain are still in … and I can’t be mad at Argentina because offsides is not as blatantly intentional as pretending that a ball has not crossed a line when it has. See … even my morality is getting screwed up here now!

Why can’t we just have replays. It works for rugby. How ’bout it Sir?

Go Messi. Go Villa. Go Kaka!

And sorry England … but you’ll just have to look in the mirror on this one.”

OK, that’s it.

Hope you enjoyed. Not sure what I’ll keep doing with this blog … but I will post some interesting stuff before my changeover, so thanks for bearing with me.

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Lessons From the Land of the Free

by admin on June 8, 2010

I came across another very interesting commentary by Mike Adams of Natural News and Counterthink.com. You can find it here, complete with a cartoon to keep you smiling and give you hope.

Mike identifies 6 realities that need to be faced honestly by the American people … and which have huge potential application here in Britain too. He makes the point that he loves his fellow country men and his message is one of hope that more people can a) be honest and b) do something significant.

Here’s my spin …

The first problem he talks about is “medicated drivers”. Not drunk drivers, which will always be a scourge … but drivers taking to the road on prescription meds every bit as judgement-altering as their recreational counterparts.

I can see this being an underestimated problem here in the UK too.

People quietly numb their pain with very potent prescription painkillers as a matter of course. For many it is an addiction … a way to somehow blunder through their lives without ever confronting the emotions they know deep down are too dark or draining to deal with.

So many people escape because it’s just easier.

And when they drive, they become lethal weapons. Of course this is a problem … more so because as a society we like to pretend the reality is different. We hide our habits from everyone, even our spouses.

Our private suffering is our business … until we take to the roads.

To pretend that things are different in the UK would be naive. The risks are huge but people still take them. Logic is consigned to the back burner. By the time the bridge is crossed, it is way too late.

Penalties are largely ignored because people are sure they can get away with it. Until they don’t.

Problem #2 is a “counterfeit money supply”.

It never ceases to amaze me how nations continue to submit budgets that show expenditure in excess of revenue … all presented as if it will all be fine so long as we all choke down a bitter pill.

Printing more money fuels inflation and we are then told that official inflation is a nominal figure, even though the reality of the “real” basket of goods is something way different.

My question of all developed countries is “at what point does the camel’s back actually break”?

When will we confront the reality that we are spending way beyond our means and we can’t print our way out of trouble?

Countries will “robust economies” are themselves up to their eyeballs in debt.

Again, I ask …  when will we start to run the UK (for example) like a business? If a country like Germany owes billions, how can they be in a position to bail out a country like Greece? The reality is they are not … real spending power can’t possibly equate sustainably with a nation’s ability to suck up debt without flinching.

Of course we will continue to believe that our position is tenable because we have so many smart, highly educated individuals in all the right places. I know that makes me feel so much more secure about the future.

#3 on Mike’s list is all about what he refers to as a “zombie population”. Everyone here in the UK is familiar with the so-called “nanny state” where peole are encouraged to exist, rather than to think for themselves and take on any responsibility.

This may be expedient in a litigious environment, but it is hardly conducive to visionary thinking. Creativity yields to the safe numb zone of dependence.

The message here (I believe) is one not of derision, but rather to say wake up, let’s not allow ourselves to succumb to encroachment my degree. Let’s see it, call it what it is … and act to reject it. Free will is a corner stone of a free society.

Government should be an institution that works to improve the quality of peoples’ lives, not erode their ability to think. We should be clear where the lines are drawn.

# 4 in the line-up is what Mike delicately describes as “Washington Whores”! Ouch!!! But hey, if the shoe fits …

Politicians in any country are notorious for their agendas. We see it on many insidious levels, from farming, through pharmaceuticals and medicine … even to the “eatwell plate” and your fitness trainer down at the local gym.

Money makes it all flow. A machine with the invisible momentum of respectability.

But ultimately it is so not in our best interests. And saddest of all, most of us don’t ever even make the connection. Why are we so frightened of thinking outside the box? (please see 3 above!).

#5 is “Gunpoint Medicine”.

I am relieved to know that here in the UK things are markedly different in this particular regard. Or are they? OK, maybe the “right” people just have fewer guns as we saw so starkly in Cumbria recently.

If parents don’t consent to medical intervention for a child (because they honestly feel they would like to reserve the right to at least first evaluate other options), they may be at danger of being branded “unfit”.

I can only think that for intelligent, caring, decent parents with unconventional views this might be terrifying.Why must we all embrace the conventional? Is it better? I thought that was actually the point!

But then we still haven’t yet figured out other ethical boundaries pertaining to issues such as, for example, assisted suicide. Who gets to decide who is most qualified to draw those lines … and where they may be drawn?

Who brings those individuals to account? Can we improve on the system we have by looking beyond emotion, to those with an established and proven track record of sound and balanced rational judegement?

Or will this always be too subjective?

#6 comes as no surprise … a “toxic food supply”.

Is America any worse in this regard than Britain?

Well, let’s look at the health (or lack thereof) of the populations. In both countries (and in Europe, Australia et al) we see increasing rates of cancer, heart disease and stroke. Plus … a higher incidence of obesity, chronic fatigue, etc and an earlier onset of dementia and so-called “non-insulin dependent” diabetes.

You know the list. All diseases of poor lifestyle choices or a lack of knowledge …  and not genetics, though highly qualified people still love to have you believe this is not the case simply because of inadequate research data.

So what can we conclude from this discussion?

Well, the real question is : will something be done, or will we meekly accept continual erosion in relatively painless increments that add up over time?

We still have enough free-thinking, great people with energy, drive and a passion for the exceptional that maybe, just maybe, somehow we will all come to our senses and work out a solution to the biggest problem of all.

With too many rats in the cage already, how will be not continue on the path of self-destruction? How will be raise our consciousness? How will be make respecting nature “cool” again? How will we raise this to the priority status it deserves?

How many oil spills will it take? How many people are in a position to see beyond their next pay cheque? When will we stop breeding? When will we stop fighting?

So many questions … but only a finite amount of time. Come on people … seize the moment. Let hope be our shining beacon. Let’s prove that our God-given intelligence really does mean we are worthy custodians of our beautiful planet.

Or what’s left of it …

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BP Oil Spill Massive Threat

by admin on May 30, 2010

Anyone who follows any of my blogs knows just how serious the BP oil spill disaster threatens to be.

It has already wreaked massive damage … yet people are still talking about it in economic terms!

It is clear we still haven’t understood the potential magnitude of this disaster … so again I refer you to a post from Health Ranger Mike Adams who is actually on-site and speaking from first hand experience.

Now Mike’s approach is generally far more dramatic (and effective) than anything I can dream up … but in this case the severity of this event cannot be over-stated.

Here’s the link.

Please read it and please join me in encouraging our world to become more conscious.

What is it going to take?

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