If you read my earlier post about the Medill study from May 20, 2010 here is more information about Vitamin D deficiency. This is from Mark Hyman, MD via The Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/vitamin-d-why-you-are-pro_b_585311.html
Hopefully the introduction as well as three unpublished chapters will be published very soon. We all still need the voice and insights of this fallen leader.
When I read this I knew this was too valuable to not share with all of you…
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on
their farm. And he was given a slingshot to play with
out in the woods. He practiced in the woods but he
could never hit the target. And getting a little
discouraged; he headed back to dinner.
As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just
out of impulse, he let it fly, hit the duck square in the
head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.
In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile,
only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it
all, but she said nothing.
After lunch that day grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash
the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me
he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn’t you
Johnny?” And then she whispered to him, “Remember, the
duck?”
So Johnny did the dishes.
Later, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go
fishing, and Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Sally
to help make supper.” But Sally smiled and said,
“Well, that’s all right, because Johnny told me he
wanted to help.” And she whispered again, “Remember,
the duck?”
So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and
Sally’s, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He
came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck.
She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, “Sweetheart,
I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I
saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave
you.
But I was just wondering how long you would let Sally
make a slave of you.”
I don’t know what’s in your past. I don’t know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up
in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know
something.
The Lord Jesus Christ was standing at the window. And He
saw the whole thing. But because He loves you, He has
forgiven you. Perhaps He’s wondering how long you’ll
let the enemy make a slave out of you. The great thing
about God is that He not only forgives, but He
forgets.
I think this is more than appropriate and inspirational for all of us on God’s day. A great song done by two great singers from different genres.
Feel like hard clubbin tonight. This is a hot club classic from Tamia remixed by Leonardo. It’s from 2008 but you will hear why it still gets good play in the clubs!!!
Kill it Luda &, Nikki!! Have you realized that on every Ludacris CD he has at least one great club banger? Pick up battle of the Sexes Ludacris’ new CD.
I find it interesting that the BBC, not the mainstream US press and media reported on a potentially historic case in the Federal Court of the United States at the beginning of the year. Several multi-national corporations (among the corporations named are IBM, Ford Motors, Daimler, General Motors, UBS, Fujitsu and Barclay’s Bank) are litigants in a $400 billion dollar lawsuit initiated by the victims of South African apartheid. The case was originally filed in 2002 and accuses the corporations of “knowing participation in and/or aiding and abetting of the crimes of apartheid; extrajudicial killing; torture; prolonged unlawful detention; and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.” This would be in direct violation of international human rights laws. The corporations (defendants) contend that “A corporation lacks the qualities of a moral agent, e.g . it has no moral conscience; corporate liability does not exist because moral condemnation can only be imposed on natural persons.” The corporations managed to get the case dismissed in 2004. That decision was successfully appealed in 2007 by the victims (plaintiffs). In 2008 the corporations petitioned the US Supreme Court to review (certiorari) the lower court (US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit) decision to allow the plaintiffs case to go ahead. Interestingly, in May 2008 the US Supreme Court refrained from issuing a decision because four of the nine justices recused themselves due to conflicts of interest. In that action the US supreme Court had no other choice but to uphold the decision of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals allowing the case to move forward. In September 2009 the South African government after originally opposing the lawsuit reversed course and decided to publicly support the lawsuit.
What has allowed the lawsuit to even be initiated in United States courts is a series of antiquated laws dating back to 1789. Remember, the Revolutionary War had just ended in 1783. The Alien Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. 1350) allows people from outside the U.S. to bring a civil lawsuit against another entity or person for alleged crimes committed outside the U.S. The historical record about what caused the creation and thought behind the Act is lost to history.
The Khulumani case (Khulumani et al v. Barclays National Bank et al) is significant because it is an attempt after the fact to penalize and acknowledge the impact of a corporation’s investment in the illegality of governmental actions. This case places other corporations “on notice” and will serve as a deterrent to corporations being complicit in illegal, illegitimate and criminal governmental actions. This case also is about reparations to the South African people.
Many of us forget that Martin Luther King in his “I have a Dream” speech over 46 years ago briefly touched on Black America’s issue of reparations for the inhumanity of slavery and racial bias: “In a sense, we’ve come to the nation’s capital to cash a check. It is obvious that America has defaulted on this promissory note,
insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring
this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check.
A check which has come back marked ‘insufficient funds.'” The United States Senate in 2009 unanimously approved a resolution issuing an apology for slavery, however the resolution specifically states it cannot be used in reparation cases against the United States government.
Instead of attempting to litigate against the US government, is it possible using the South African model to litigate against corporations that profited from slavery? Companies like: Aetna, New York life Insurance, JP Morgan Chase Bank, RJ Reynolds Tobacco, Brown and Williamson, CSX Corporation, Union Pacific Railroad, Norfolk Southern Co., and Bank of America. These companies or their antecedents profited immensely from the American slave trade.
Despite the abolishment of slavery, Jim Crow, and other laws that was America’s apartheid, the companies mentioned did aid, abet, and profit from the killing, torture, detention, and inhuman treatment of generations of our people. Doesn’t that call for reparation on par with our South African brothers and sisters?
The United States desires to be the moral compass of the world. The Alien Tort Claims Act is a legal vehicle that is an example of our founders wish “for a more perfect Union.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King saw the potential greatness in America once it rid itself of the cancer of racism. Today, we must start to pay attention to this case and the eventual judgement that will be rendered. The execution of this case may become the template for our “40 acres and a mule.” The promissory note will be cashed!
The title is my opinion.
Homogeny and Group think?
As we all know partisanship has gripped American politics like a cancer. Has America become homogenized in thought to the point we are blind to any view outside our own? Instead of our leaders being pragmatic and analytical have they succumbed to group think?
This is a very interesting commentary from James Thomson, president of RAND Corp. an organization that seeks “To help improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis.”
RAND | Newsroom | Commentary | A House Divided: Polarization and Partisanship.