Beautiful & Bald Barbie Facebook Campaign!

Bald Barbie Supports Children With Cancer!

Barbie is just shy of 53 years old. She’s survived the Vietnam War, the fall of the Berlin Wall and German reunification, both wars with Iraq and has managed to outlast 10 U.S. Presidents. But she might have just met her match with two cancer survivors. 

Jane Bingham and Rebecca Sypin have started an online movement on Facebook requesting Mattel Inc. to create a "Bald Barbie" as a role model for young girls going through chemotherapy or suffering from hair loss conditions such as alopecia.  

Why? Cancer has touched both women's lives – Bingham has lymphoma and Sypin’s 12-year-old daughter has leukemia. The friends recognized hair loss was a difficult aspect of cancer treatment, especially for females. A bald doll would reassure girls going through chemotherapy and radiation, as well as reassure girls who experience hair loss because of other disorders. The doll would help them feel beautiful and accepted, according to Sypin and Bingham. In addition, they feel a bald Barbie would raise awareness of children's cancer.

The women, who live on opposite coasts of the U.S., started a Facebook page, “Beautiful and Bald Barbie! Let's see if we can get it made.” The page has garnered over 120, 000 “likes” since the page's advent at Christmas time. Supporters worldwide have added comments, mostly in support, of a bald Barbie. Many of the comments are from childhood cancer survivors who say they would have loved a doll like the proposed Barbie when they were going through treatment. Parents of children with cancer have posted pictures on the page of their beautiful – and bald – daughters asking Mattel to consider creating the doll. A petition in support of the doll is featured on the social change website Change.org and the story has spread to mainstream news organizations.

Interestingly, Mattel created a one-of-a-kind bald Barbie doll for a little girl, Genesis Reyes, in 2011. “Princess Genesis” was made for the 4-year-old girl at the request of a friend of wife of Mattel's chief executive. But, Mattel seems to have broken the mold with Princess Genesis, and so far, has not bowed to the pressure of the social media movement. In statements, the company said they were honored Barbie was being considered as a potential role model for children with cancer, but “Mattel doesn't accept ideas from outside sources.”

Really, Mattel? Certainly a multi-billion dollar company could produce a limited run of the dolls, with a portion of the proceeds donated to childhood cancer organizations. Barbie has had so many incarnations over the years-NASCAR driver, astronaut, Totally Tattoos Barbie, a presidential candidate Barbie, a Barbie in a wheelchair and haute couture Barbies.

Why not a bald Barbie? While companies often believe creating a special line will dilute their brand, in essence a rare line of dolls would actually increase the value of the Barbie brand. Consumers drive brand appeal – in spite of what companies believe–and a bald Barbie would be a wise move on the part of Mattel.

Bingham, Sypin and their supporters are on to something big with their “Beautiful and Bald Barbie” Facebook page. If social media can act as a catalyst for revolution in other countries, I am sure we might see a bald Barbie on the shelves of our local toy stores sooner than later.

Go to http://www.facebook.com/BeautifulandBaldBarbie if you want to support the drive.

What Is SOPA?

Here Are 5 Things You Need to Know.

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) has got the entire Internet up in arms today. Media justice advocates say the bill is anathema to basic functioning of the Internet; for a system that’s based on relative freedom and connectivity, SOPA would work as the online world’s stingy gatekeeper, giving government the power to shutdown websites altogether.

Today, hundreds of websites are joining in a day of action to SOPA’s threat to freedom of expression on the Internet. Several civil rights and racial justice organizations are joining in what’s been called an “Internet strike,” by closing their websites from 8 am to 8 pm eastern time. Colorlines.com’s Jamilah King, who covers media policy, explains why:

The Internet’s been an important space for communities of color to tell their own stories and advocate for issues they don’t often see in film or on television. SOPA puts that independence in jeopardy. It’ll add yet another barrier to how and what we can communicate.

So, here are the basics on what you need to know.

Who’s behind SOPA? Rep. Lamar Smith, a Texas politician who’s been known mostly for his anti-immigrant stances in recent years. Smith’s got big industry backers, namely: The Recording Industry Association of American, the Motion Picture Association of America (now led by former U.S. Senator Chris Dodd), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

What’s the justification for SOPA? Supporters of the bill claim that it’ll help copyright holders (think big record labels) protect their content. Rep. Smith has criticized the bill’s opponents and explained that SOPA would only target foreign websites that put American businesses at risk.

But opponents argue that the definition of “foreign infringing sites” is too vague. As it’s written now, they argue, the bill will fundamentally alter the relative freedom with which the Internet currently operates. What’s certain is that it’ll add a level of supervision to the Internet that’s never existed before.

Who’s opposed to SOPA? Basically, every website that you visit regularly. Most notably, Wikipedia, Craigslist, and Reddit, along with thousands of other websites, have chosen to go dark in opposition to the bill and to help educate users about its potential impact. But the list doesn’t stop there: Google, Yahoo, YouTube, and Twitter have also publicly opposed the bill. The White House has also announced that should the bill reach President Obama’s desk, he will veto it.

How would SOPA work? It allows the U.S. attorney general to seek a court order against the targeted offshore website that would, in turn, be served on Internet providers in an effort to make the target virtually disappear. It’s kind of an Internet death penalty.

More specifically, section 102 of SOPA says that, after being served with a removal order:

A service provider shall take technically feasible and reasonable measures designed to prevent access by its subscribers located within the United States to the foreign infringing site (or portion thereof) that is subject to the order…Such actions shall be taken as expeditiously as possible, but in any case within five days after being served with a copy of the order, or within such time as the court may order.

How would it impact me? If you create or consume content on the Internet, under SOPA the government would have the power to pull the plug on your website. If you’re a casual consumer, your favorite websites could be penalized and shut down if they seem to be illegally supporting copyrighted material.

This is especially important for human rights groups and advocates in communities of color, who could faced increased censorship if the bill is passed. The language of the bill makes it easy for the US Attorney General to go after websites it simply sees as a threat.

For more info please see the link below:

http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/01/what_the_hell_is_sopa_and_how_it_would_affect_you.html

Vietnam Veteran is in need of a live kidney donor!

Ramon Macias a Vietnam Veteran needs a kidney transplant.

Ramon Macias, US Army, Vietnam '66-'68, 167th Signal Company developed Chronic Kidney disease from exposure to Agent Orange. He is now in need of a kidney transplant and is looking for a live kidney donor. The wait for a kidney that would be a match from a deceased donor is over five years.

If you're interested in being a living donor for Mr. Macias, please contact  his transplant coordinator, JoAnn Johnson at the VA Nashville Transplant Center, in Nashville, Tn. Her direct line is 615-873-8668, please leave a voicemail message and she will return your call. The Nashville VA Transplant Center will pay for all of the travel and medical expenses so there will be no cost to the donor for the gift.

For anyone who may be interested in becoming a living kidney donor, here is a link for information on the requirements to become a living kidney donor: 

http://angieslogspot.blogspot.com/2012/01/give-life-be-living-kidney-donor.html 

A note from Mr. Macias' daughter-Carol Garza:

Thank you for reading this and for considering giving the gift of life to my dad. If you are not able to be a donor, could you please share my father's story with your friends and family. May God Bless you always.

"My dad was the middle of 5 boys born. He was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. Graduated high school and was drafted afterwards. My grandparents owned a grocery store. I was the first "granddaughter born", So naturally my dad named me after my grandmother (his mom) and my middle name is after my mom's sister. (my aunt)"

For more from Carol and her family please see their Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kidney-donor-needed-for-Vietnam-Veteran/161060164002218

Kidney Donor Needed for Vietnam Veteran!

This is on the behalf of a friend who's father needs your help!

I am writing this request for my dad. My dad Ramon Macias (Ma-ci-as), who served in the US Army -during Vietnam in 1966-1968 in the 167th Signal Company. He developed Chronic Kidney disease from exposure to Agent Orange Exposure, and is now needing a transplant. My dad was drafted right after high school, when Duty called, and he answered. He wasn't much younger than 18 years old, as he showed me the picture of him dressed up in that uniform. That picture was for my grandma and how she cried when the news arrived that he was going to Vietnam. Duty called, and he answered while the whole world spit in his face. My dad learned how to be a man in some Gosh forsaken place. Still people think he's a disgrace. While in Vietnam working for Uncle Sam, at 18 yrs old. So duty called, and my dad answered his country to serve, but as an result of Agent Orange, he developed chronic kidney disease (service connected). He is now needing a living kidney donor. I (his daughter) am not not able to donate one of my own.

We have been told that the wait list is at least 5 + years on the waitlist just for a deceased donor. The benefits of receiving from a living donor is that the wait list wouldn't be as long.

If you're interested in being my father's living donor, please contact my father's transplant coordinator, JoAnn Johnson @ the VA Nashville Transplant Center, in Nashville, Tn. Her phone number direct is 615-873-8668, if not available leave a voicemail message and she will return your call. Nashville VA Transplant Center, will pay for all travel, medical expenses to Nashville.There will be no out of pocket fees (medical,etc) for this gift.

Please contact my dad's transplant coordinator, Joanne Johnson at the Nashville VA Tennessee. (1-615-873-8668 ) They will ask you some questions regarding whether you're willingness to donate. THE VA will pay for your travel to Nashville for this. Please email me as well, to notify me of the interest in providing a gift of life to my dad. Thanks again for looking at this ad, even if you're not interested, please pass along to someone who might be interested. May God Bless you always.

For more information please see: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kidney-donor-needed-for-Vietnam-Veteran/161060164002218?sk=info

Give Life, Be A Living Kidney Donor!

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT DONOR REQUIREMENTS:

In 2009, 38 percent of the 16,830 kidney transplants were made possible by the bravery and generosity of living kidney donors. In that year, 6,388 lives were changed because of this life-saving act. All of those donors were willing to undergo surgery to have one of their kidneys removed and live the rest of their lives with a single kidney so that someone else could benefit.

The criteria to become a donor are relatively easy to satisfy, which means that an increasing number of individuals can become donors.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
The University of California San Francisco Medical Center requires donors to be between the ages of 18 and 65. Donors must be reasonably fit nonsmokers. Transplant centers often reject overweight volunteers until they lose weight. Donors need not be related to the recipient. Surgeons perform thousands of transplants every year between nonrelatives.

BLOOD TYPE:
An ideal donor has either the same blood type as the recipient or has type O blood, which is safe for any recipient. The Rh factor does not matter. Rh factors are immunological markers found in blood that are characterized as positive or negative. For example, a type A negative donor can give a kidney to an type A positive recipient. In some situations, a kidney donor may be willing to donate to a particular person, such as a friend or relative, but cannot do so because he is a poor match. In these cases, donors should explore paired donation. Through paired donation, a poorly matched donor can donate to a more suitable recipient, and in exchange, his friend or relative receives a kidney from a different donor, one who is also poorly matched to a particular candidate.

TISSUE MATCHING:
A prospective donor should also have a close tissue match with the recipient. Doctors base this match on six different histocompatibility antigens, immune response markers that characterize the tissue. Doctors determine histocompatibility antigens of prospective donors using a simple blood test. Perfect matching is not required, but some matches are better than others. If a prospective donor is excluded because of an unsuitable tissue match, paired donation is, again, a possible option.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
Donors should be free from medical issues that are risks for donation and transplantation. For example, a common medical exclusion for a donor is hypertension. Doctors also evaluate possible cardiovascular and kidney problems because these would exclude someone from donating, as would a prior history of some cancers. Other exclusions include diabetes, intravenous drug use, and certain infectious diseases—hepatitis, for example. Donors who are excluded for medical reasons can often be reevaluated once the condition has resolved.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION:
Prospective donors also undergo psychological evaluations to confirm that they are free from any mental health issues that would make the procedure risky. For example, donors who are mentally unstable are not good candidates because they may be unable to care for themselves properly after surgery. Physicians also make an effort to select donors who would not be psychologically harmed if a recipient ultimately lost the donated kidney.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/130966-kidney-transplant-donor-requirements/

A Perfect Pair!

The two most perfect little ones ever!

My Grandson & Granddaughter

who are both so sweet and adorable,

I can't explain how much love I have for them.

They are so smart and growing up so fast, too fast.

Their Mommy & Daddy are doing a great job with them.

The History of Aromatherapy...

For 6000 years Aromatherapy has been a good alternative method of healing.

The humble beginning of Aromatherapy, which literally means therapy of healing through the sense of smell.

Aromatherapy dates back thousands of years and has been used by most of the ancient civilizations. Most of the stories of ‘the medicine man’ were of professionals schooled in the use of essential oils.

The Chinese civilizations used some form of aromatics dating back to 2700 BC. These historical references contain detailed information on over 300 plants and their uses. The Chinese also used aromatics in religious ceremonies, a tradition which is still practiced today. The Chinese were also involved in other ancient therapies such as massage and acupressure, hence the term eastern medicine.

Aromatherapy has also been used for many centuries in India. Ayurveda, the traditional medical system of India, uses dried and fresh herbs, as well as aromatic massage as important aspects of treatment.

In ancient Egypt, aromatherapy was a way of life. The essential oils of plants were used during religious rituals raising a higher consciousness or promoting a state of tranquility. Egyptians used the principles of this art in their cooking as well. Specific herbs aided in the digestive process, protected against infection and improving the immune system.

The Greeks acquired most of their medical knowledge from the Egyptians and used it to further their own discoveries. Hypocrites commonly known as the “Father of Medicine” was the first to study this scientifically. The Greeks found that some fragrances were stimulating while others had relaxing properties. Aromatherapy was used for both cosmetic and medicinal purposes.

The Romans learned from the Greeks and became well known for scented baths followed by massage with aromatic oils. With the decline of the Roman Empire, the use of aromatics faded and the knowledge of their use were virtually lost.

One of the few places where the tradition of Aromatherapy continued was in monasteries, where monks used plants from herbal gardens to produce infused oils, herbal teas and medicines. During the Middle Ages, it was discovered that certain aromatic derivatives helped to prevent the spread of infection.

The revival of the use of essential oils is credited to a Persian physician and philosopher known as Avicenna. The Persians initiated a method of extraction known as distillation, and study of the therapeutic use of plants once again became popular. The knowledge of distillation spread and the lost process was once again returned to Europe. By 1200 AD, essential oils were being produced in Germany and were based mainly on herbs and spices brought from Africa and the Far East.

When the conquistadors invaded South America, even more medicinal plants and aromatic oils were discovered, and the wide variety of medicinal plants found in Montezuma’s gardens provided a basis for many new and important remedies and treatments.

Throughout the northern continent, Native American Indians were using aromatic oils and producing their own herbal remedies, which were discovered when settlers began to make their way across the plains of the New World.

Although herbs and aromatics had been used in other world cultures for many centuries, it was not until the 19th century that scientists in Europe and Great Britain began researching the effects of essential oils on humans. It was French chemist, Rene Maurice Gattefosse who discovered the healing powers of lavender oil after burning his hand in his laboratory. He published a book on the anti-microbial effects of the oils in 1937 and the term “Aromatherapy” was born.

The discovery of Penicillin and creation of synthetic drugs has conditioned modern society to readily accept instant cures. In many medical circles, aromatherapy and holistics as a whole are considered “soft” sciences, because cures are less speedy and are difficult to prove scientifically. The proof of the effectiveness of aromatherapy lies in our ancestors, who survived throughout the ages in this hard world equipped with only a natural instincts.

During World War II, the French army surgeon Dr. Jean Valnet used essential oils as antiseptics. Later, Madame Marguerite Maury elevated aromatherapy as a holistic therapy. She started prescribing essential oils as remedy for her patients. She is also credited with the modern use of essential oils in massage. Aromatherapy works the best when used on the mind and body simultaneously.

Even after reading the history of aromatherapy many westerners remain skeptical of this science. Only after they consider the modern uses of aromatherapy do they say “Oh, I get it.”

Some of the more common and mainstream examples of aromatherapy include: Mentholated vapor rub (to loosen congestion in the chest and breathing passages), Spa treatments such as the use of Eucalyptus especially in a steam room, Perfumes, Colognes, deodorizers and room fresheners.

For a list of essential oils used in aromatherapy blends click on the following link:  http://aromatherapy4soul.com/essential-oils-a-z.htm 

Source of the history of aromatherapy can be found at the following link:http://yellowstaressentials.wordpress.com/2008/12/29/history-of-aromatherapy-2/

Pitbulls are wonderful dogs & great family pets!

FIND THE PITBULL...

Only one of the pictures below features the real American PitBull Terrier. Take the test to see if you can find it. To find the breed of a dog, click on image. Note there are no mixes or rescue dogs of unknown background who's breed could be debated. All dogs have been picked from breeders' websites

and should be good representatives of their breed.

When you are done, ask your family and friends to take to test and watch the results. For many people, a Pit Bull is a a big headed dog, or a dog with cropped ears. For some it's a brindle dog,

a big, stocky dog, or one with an eye patch.

Often dogs that attack are identified as pit bulls when they are not. There are 20+ breeds that are

commonly incorrectly identified as pit bulls.

For more information on the Pitbull go to the link below:

 http://understand-a-bull.com/PitbullInformation/PitBullIndex.htm

To take the "Find The Pitbull Quiz" go to the link below: http://www.pbrc.net/poppysplace/games/AdultFindabull/findpitbull_v4.html