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Ron Paul on Your World with Neil Cavuto * On The Current Economy *

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1. Make your bedroom a haven for sleep. Your room should be quiet and sufficiently dark, because darkness prompts the pineal gland to produce melatonin, the hormone that regulates circadian rhythms (your 24-hour body clock). Heavy drapes can help keep the light out, and a fan or white-noise machine can help drown out any annoying sounds. Cool temperatures help you sleep, so set your thermostat appropriately. For better air circulation, open a window or use a fan. If the air in the room is too dry, buy a humidifier.

2. Become a creature of habit. A nighttime routine can be very effective in letting your body know when it’s time to sleep. Go through whatever rituals help you get mentally prepared for sleep. (Read a few pages of your novel, spend 5 to 10 minutes on personal grooming, meditate, stretch.) It’s also critical to go to bed and get up at the same time every day — even on weekends.

3. Reserve your bed just for sleeping and sex. Avoid working, paying bills, reading, or watching television in bed. If you associate your bed only with sleep, you’ll be more likely to fall asleep when you get under the covers for the night.

4. Tame your tummy. Going to bed either hungry or too full can disrupt your sleep. Don’t have a big meal too close to bedtime or the digestion process might keep you awake. Also, if you lie down after stuffing yourself you can end up with gastric reflux — stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. If you’re hungry, have a snack rich in carbohydrates, which trigger the release of the brain chemical serotonin, associated with relaxation. Try a graham cracker or bowl of cereal. Pair it with some milk or a slice of turkey, both rich in the amino acid tryptophan, which also induces sleep.

5. Watch the caffeine. Too much caffeine throughout the day, even if it’s not consumed right before bedtime, can contribute to fitful slumber. Once you hit 50, your metabolism slows, so caffeine may stay in your system longer — up to 10 hours. Limit yourself to two cups of tea, coffee, or cola, taken at least 6 hours before bedtime. If that doesn’t work, try cutting out caffeine altogether.

6. Tap the exercise answer. It’s a simple fact: If you’re physically tired at the end of the day, you’ll sleep better. In a study from Stanford University School of Medicine, a group of 50- to 76-year-olds who had complained of sleep problems began moderate exercise for about half an hour four times a week. Compared with a similar group of people who didn’t exercise, the more active group slept an average of one hour more each night, took less time to fall asleep, spent less time napping, and reported an overall improvement in sleep quality. Outdoor exercise is especially helpful. By exposing yourself to sunlight (particularly in the afternoon), you help prevent midday sleepiness and reinforce your body’s circadian rhythms. Exercise at least three hours before bedtime.

7. Soak it up. Take a warm bath an hour or two before bed. Your body temperature will slowly drop after you get out of the tub, making you feel tired. Don’t bathe right before bed, however, because it can briefly stimulate you enough to make it hard to fall asleep.

8. Drift off naturally. Investigate the benefits of chamomile, valerian, kava, passionflower, skullcap, catnip, or hops. These herbs can be taken in tea and other forms. A cup of chamomile tea before bedtime may be all you need to relax. If you’re trying valerian, the suggested dose for the concentrated form is equal to two to three grams of the root a day. But don’t combine valerian with alcohol or mood-regulating drugs. If you’re using kava, try a dose of between 60 and 120 mg before bedtime.

9. Don’t toss and turn. If 30 minutes go by and you haven’t fallen asleep, don’t lie in bed feeling frustrated. Get up and do something relaxing, like listening to soothing music or flipping through a magazine. Or make yourself a cup of warm milk.

10. Buy the right bed. A bed that’s too soft can cause poor sleep postures (which can also lead to muscle stiffness and back problems). If you’re leaving a divot in the mattress when you get up, it’s too soft. Replace your mattress if it’s more than 10 years old, and buy one that’s as firm as you can tolerate but still comfortable.

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A powerful pro-gun lobby group in the United States has filed legal challenges to handgun bans in San Francisco and Chicago.

The lawsuits come a day after the US Supreme Court ruled that a ban on the private possession of handguns in Washington DC was unconstitutional.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) says it wants similar bans in other states and cities overturned as well.

San Francisco’s mayor says he plans to fight the NRA challenge.

The NRA lawsuit in San Francisco challenges the city’s handgun ban in public housing; while in Chicago it challenges a ruling that makes it illegal to possess or sell handguns in the city.

“In Washington DC, or in any state, whether you live in the housing projects or a high end suburb, you have the right to defend yourself and your family at home,” said Chris Cox, from the NRA.

“These laws all deny that right.”

Self-defence

The NRA is joined in the San Francisco suit by a gay man living in a government-owned housing development who says he needs a gun to protect himself from potential hate crimes.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the city would “vigorously fight the NRA” and said the ban was good for public safety.

“Is there anyone out there who really believes that we need more guns in public housing? I can’t for the life of me sit back and roll over on this. We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority,” Mr Newsom said.

The Supreme Court’s ruling says that the constitution “protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defence within the home”.

The ruling enshrines for the first time the individual right to own guns and limits efforts to reduce their role in American life.

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Republican congressman Ron Paul warns against military engagement in Iran, saying ‘bombing Iran’ will cause energy prices to skyrocket.

In a speech on the House floor, Congressman Paul suggested that the US is inching toward an ‘endless struggle’ similar to the Iraq war.

“In the last several weeks, if not for months we have heard a lot of talk about the potential of Israel and/or the United States bombing Iran. Energy prices are being bid up because of this fear. It has been predicted that if bombs start dropping, that we will see energy prices double or triple,” said the Republican.

“To me it is almost like deja vu all over again. We listened to the rhetoric for years and years before we went into Iraq. We did not go in the correct manner, we did not declare war, we are there and it is an endless struggle,” he told a nearly empty House chamber.

“I cannot believe it, that we may well be on the verge of initiating the bombing of Iran,” said the war veteran.

The 72-year-old former presidential candidate then blasted what he called the ‘virtual Iran war resolution’, which is soon to be considered by the House of Representatives.

“This resolution, House Resolution 362 is a virtual war resolution. It is the declaration of tremendous sanctions, and boycotts and embargoes on the Iranians. It is very, very severe,” Paul said.

Supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), House Resolution 362 (and the Senate version Resolution 580), known as the ‘Iran War Resolution’ can be considered a means of imposing harsher sanctions as well as a naval blockade restricting exports to the oil-rich country.

This bill, which was introduced at an AIPAC annual policy conference, has gained 208 co-sponsors in the House and 29 in the Senate. It will likely be put to a vote after July 4.

“The fear is, they say, maybe some day, [Iran is] going to get a nuclear weapon, even though our own CIA’s National Intelligence Estimate has said that the Iranians have not been working on a nuclear weapon since 2003,” continued the 10-term congressman.

The US and Israel accuse Tehran of making efforts to produce nuclear weapons; Iran insists its nuclear program is directed at peaceful purposes.

The most recent UN nuclear watchdog report on Tehran’s nuclear program, however, has conceded that there is no link between the use of nuclear material and ‘the alleged studies’ of weaponization attributed to Iran by Western countries.

“This is unbelievable! This is closing down Iran. Where do we have this authority? Where do we get the moral authority? Where do we get the international legality for this? Where do we get the Constitutional authority for this?” asked Paul.

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This is Excellent!!

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Everyone has things they hate to do, but need to do anyway. Sometimes it is doing basic chores that need to be done. In other cases, it’s the boring part of an otherwise interesting project. People who get things finished (as opposed to people who just get things started) have mastered the ability to push through the things they hate doing, to work on the things they love.

Getting over activities you hate means combating a special type of procrastination. Everyone procrastinates. Even on things that they normally enjoy doing. I occasionally procrastinate with writing, even though it is one of my favorite things to do.

While a few minutes or an hour of procrastination for a neutral task happens occasionally, you can procrastinate for years on the jobs you really hate. If there are things on your to-do list that never make it to the top, you probably know which jobs these are.

Stomaching Unappetizing Work

There are a few strategies you can use to make bad tasting tasks a little more pleasant. The first is simply to focus on it. You might have noticed that you chew a lot more when you don’t like the food in your mouth. This is probably an instinctive reaction to force you to carefully examine what you’re going to eat before you swallow.

You can do the same thing with the work you don’t like. By focusing on boring or awful work, it is easier to overcome your reflex to spit it out and work on something else. I’ve often found that focusing on work intensely can even make me like tasks I once hated. I normally hate cleaning, but if I invest 100% of my attention towards it, the chore becomes a lot more fun.

Normally, the first reaction to unenjoyable tasks is to “get it over with”. Finishing as quickly as possible so you can move on to something better. However, with this attitude, it is a lot easier to never get started at all, and procrastinate forever.

Try taking a reversed approach. The next time you have an activity you hate, commit to focus on it completely. Invest all of your mental energy and concentrate on the activity until there is nothing else in the world. You might be surprised how much easier the task becomes when you do this.

Make it an Art

Sometimes tasks can be unenjoyable simply because there is no quality in doing them. For me, writing an article is more enjoyable than cleaning dishes. While an article has incredible depth, ranging from complete trash to life affirming, dishwashing is a narrower activity. I either clean the dishes or they stay dirty. That on-off approach usually makes a task incredibly boring.

One solution I’ve found is simply to take that on-off task and give it more depth. See your boring activity as a previously unrecognized art form you can master. When you give an activity more depth, the interest level goes way up. More importantly, it becomes easier to focus on the task completely, making it easy to swallow.

Several years ago I did part-time work as a janitor. Although this wasn’t a glorious position, I found I was able to enjoy it by doing this step. Instead of seeing my job as being an on-off task, I gave it more depth. I saw that there were many ways I could increase the quality of what I did. Taking on those little steps made the work far more enjoyable.

Leverage Yourself With Another Goal

Despite your best efforts, the first two steps might not work. In those cases, trying to transform an ugly task into a beautiful activity won’t help. You might be better off just trying to get the work done, instead of wrapping a bow around it.

The first way you can push through the muck is to use your goals as leverage. Reconnect with why you started important projects and how any activity fits into your bigger picture of success. If you can do this, you can bring some of the motivation towards your final goal and use it to finish an ugly task.

This is why it is important to constantly remind yourself of your goals, and why they are important to you. Those reminders are often necessary to push through the tasks that don’t excite you.

Don’t Do the Work at All

The best solution is to simply not do the work you don’t enjoy. This may sound like a fantasy, but there are ways you can get away with avoiding the stuff that doesn’t interest you:

* Outsource or delegate it to someone else.
* Eliminate it from your project. (Is it really necessary?)
* Find a better way to do it. Technology and tricks can often help you shortcut boring steps into ones that are more interesting.

Ultimately, you should try to minimize the amount of work you need to do, but don’t enjoy. Productivity shouldn’t be about pushing through the muck, but enjoying work you love. However, if you can’t get yourself to stop procrastinating on an ugly task, these are a few ways to move through it.

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Tea Tree oil, which is extracted from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, has been used by the Australian aborigines for centuries as an antiseptic and antifungal treatment. In recent years, many countries have embraced it as an alternative to synthetic medicines.

Not only will this potent liquid cure you of all fungal problems on your body, but it is also great as an insect repellent for both you and your garden.

Here are a few other ailments of this incredible oil treats:

* Dandruff
* Athletes’ foot
* Jock itch
* Nail fungus
* Insect bites
* Acne
* Ringworm
* Bee Stings
* Boils
* Cold sores
* Gum disease

Always use this oil with caution. It is very strong and has been known to cause rashes in some people. If you use it on your skin, always dilute it with another essential oil such as jojoba. If used to repel insects in your garden, please be sure not to spray directly on plants as it can burn them and be sure to always dilute it before spraying.

This oil is toxic if ingested. Be very careful when using around domestic animals and when using as an antiseptic in your mouth.

I also think it is important to call attention to a study that suggests that Tea Tree oil and lavender oil may cause Gynecomastia in prepubescent boys when used in excess. Here is a link to the Mayo Clinic for more information http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tea-tree-oil/AN01555. The study found that it only occurred in 3 boys, so it is not really conclusive. It is important, however, to provide all the information, so people can develop an informed opinion.

Tea Tree oil is a great multipurpose treatment to use on a number of ailments. Whether you are looking to repel insects in your garden or if you are looking to clear up your acne, tea tree oil is a great alternative.

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1. Lack of Sleep. Duh, right? Well how come we don’t get enough sleep? It needs to be a priority and you need to muster up the proper motivation to make it happen. Now, not everyone needs 8 hours of sleep, but some do. How do you figure out how much you need? Experiment. Some good advice from Steve Pavlina is to wake at the same time each day, but go to sleep when you’re tired. Measure how much you need by how you feel the next day. Are you dragging with droopy eyelids all day? Then that’s not enough. If you feel mostly alert, then you’ve hit on the right amount for you.

2. Sugar. Avoid it. If you must eat sweets try to combine it with fiber which slows the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream. Most fruits naturally have both the sweetness and the fiber. The next time you have a candy bar or can of soda, watch for the subsequent energy dip that occurs within 30-60 minutes. Be prepared to nap because that’s what you will feel like doing.

3. Caffeine. I’m sorry, but caffeine is the big lie. Don’t hate me. It’s simply the laws of physics. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Caffeine follows this law. Initially you will see a kick of energy from caffeine, but everyone pays the price later in terms of tiredness, insomnia, or irritability. This is obviously a personal choice, but there are many, including myself, who have improved their life by eliminating or decreasing their caffeine intake. Here is an article with both pros and cons to help you decide if you want to kick the caffiene habit.

4. Lack of Exercise. If you don’t use it, you lose it. Your muscles store and therefore provide energy. Exercise gives you energy especially if you do it on a regular basis. Shoot for 20-30 minutes everyday to improve your energy levels. Another simple thing you can do is take a 5 minute break every hour to get up from your work to stretch and walk around a bit. So if you’re feeling lethargic, get your blood pumping by moving your body. If you’re feeling exhausted on a particular day, see #1 and get some rest instead.

5. Not Enough Oxygen. Many of us have shallow breathing most of the time. When we do that we’re not getting enough oxygen which is the element we need to burn fuel inside our bodies for energy. Deep breathing will serve another important purpose and that is moving fluids through the lymph system. Your lymph system eliminates toxins which in turn frees your body to work on more important things like your goals! What to do: 2-3 times a day take 5 minutes to do 10 slow long deep breaths. Breath in slowly, hold, and then release slowly too. You’ll be amazed how good this makes you feel!

6. Processed Foods. The more live foods you eat, fruits and vegetables, the more alive you will feel. Seek to eat healthy foods: whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and good fats such as found in salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds, and olive oil. Here are some additional healthy eating tips.

7. Dehydration. This is an often overlooked cause of fatigue. When you don’t get enough water, bloodflow to your organs, including your brain, is slowed down making you tired. At a minimum, be sure to at least drink enough water to replace what you lose through your daily activities. This amount will vary from person to person. While many people scoff at the 8 glasses per day rule, it is indeed a good rule of thumb (as explained here). It is also important to note that your water needs can come from juices and other beverages, but bear in mind that caffeinated drinks will make your body shed water so you may need to drink more if you drink a lot of caffeine. Be safe about it and just drink more water.

8. Stress. Life is stressful by definition, but for many of us, we make it worse by overfilling our schedules. Instead, stop trying to do it all. Figure out what is most important to you. Cut out the rest. Trim your schedule. Learn to say no. And try meditation. By simply meditating once or twice a day for 10-20 minutes will make a huge difference in your stress levels. If you’re tired in the middle of the day a “meditation nap” is a great way to rejuvenate your energy. Another thing to elevate your happiness and decrease stress is to practice gratitude and be mindful of keeping your internal voice focused on the glass being half full.

9. Chronic Pain. Daily pain can take the form of debilitating back pain or as simple as chronic foot pain from wearing tight shoes. The thing with chronic pain is we become used to it to a certain degree. Many people just live with it. This is not good, because chronic pain robs you of energy. Pay attention to your body to identify any pain you are experiencing on a daily basis and come up with a plan to alleviate it. So, for example, if you always feel enormous relief upon taking off your shoes at night, you might want to find more comforatable shoes. If you have sciatica pain you might want to begin a slow regimine of simple stretches such at toe touching and hip opener stretches. If you are having knee pain, and are carrying extra weight, losing some weight might help relieve that daily pain. Other pain relieving strategies include stretching, massage, accupuncture, or a pain management program from a doctor who specializes in this.

10. Toxic People. People who are negative can rob some of your energy too if you let them. There are a few actions you can take. Spend as little time as possible with negative people. Make a commitment to not engage with negative people. Don’t fight with them. Don’t expect better from them. Instead try to practice compassion for them. Maybe their negativity is a reflection of pain in their life. Focus on that when having to deal with them. Be kind and make it a point to spend time with positive people every day.

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7 Ways To Breathe Life Back Into Your Marriage

1. Public Display of Team Effort. When the two of you are in front of other people, make it a rule to not contradict each other. Even when you know your partner is dead wrong, you can still reserve the option to take them aside and discuss the subject with them or wait until later. In this way you are avoiding causing embarrassment to them or undermining them.

2. Cheerleading Unit. Whenever you talk to people about your spouse make sure you tell them every little thing that you adore and admire about your spouse. When that person talks to your spouse in the future they will be sure to mention all the amazing things you have said and about how much love you have for them.

3. Date Your Wife. Instead of falling back into the same week-to-week rut, go out on a fun, spontaneous, and easy-going date. No picking fights, no arguing, just taking pleasure in what you have and loving each other. Be young and sexy again!

4 .Create Bucket Lists. A bucket list is a goal setting tool used strictly for fun activities. That’s basically what you do, create a future of fun, dining, entertainment, adventure and exploration together on paper. This future will determine who you are being in the present, as well as the anticipation and teamwork that will be produced as you work towards achieving this together.

5. Give It To Them. Find out what your partner likes, such as you bringing them dinner while they watch the game (for him), or pouring a glass of wine and just listening attentively (for her) [you get the point], and just being fully giving. It is within your giving that your own love grows for that person. You can’t make them love you more, but you can both make yourselves love each other more.

6. Don’t Make Them Wrong. This is probably the hardest one of all. It means a total acceptance of both who they are and the decisions they make. What makes this hard is when your spouse is doing something that is killing themselves, like smoking for example, and you have to completely allow them to decide on their own and let them be.

7. Share The Landmark Forum. When Marina and I did the landmark forum together, it brought our extraordinary relationship to new heights that I didn’t expect. At the point I couldn’t even imagine getting any closer to her, despite the fact that we were getting closer each day. As an example, if our relationship was at a 15 out of 10 already, it hit 30 over the course of a weekend. I would say that we got our money’s worth.

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0:60 Create The Possibility of Being Healthy
Understand that the only time is right now, so no excuse of ‘I’ll only cheat once’, or ‘I’ve been good all day, why not?’, is going to be good enough. Each time you put food in your mouth, you must treat it as the most important time.

0:55 Differentiate Between Healthy and Unhealthy Foods
If it’s a plant-based whole food it’s good morning, night, and day. If it’s full of grease and fat, it is a no go — no matter what. Keep the meats lean, preferably chicken and turkey, and no red meats.

0:50 Take Inventory of The Refrigerator
Go through your refrigerator and food cubbies and look at the type of food that you are currently harboring. Compare this to the food that you decided is healthy — get rid of the rest.

0:45 Water — Choose
Make a decision that the only beverage that you will allow past your lips is water. It’s the original, and is still the best. Forget sodas, processed juices, coffees, teas, and alcohols — you’ll be amazed by the difference.

0:40 Trade Inhaling For Chewing
Often times we’re in such a hurry to feel satiated and go about our daily business that we forget that food is supposed to give pleasure. By taking the time to chew, we can love food and have it processed into easily digestible tiny bits at the same time.

0:35 Get Accountable
When your willpower is questioned, it helps to have people in your life to keep you accountable. This is the same reason why personal trainers are so effective — because they make you do it. Figure out who is close enough to you to give you critical feedback.

0:30 Pledge To Under Eat
I’m not talking about starving yourself, I’m talking about eating to the point before you feel full. This point greatly aids in digestion and is the number one habit of people with quick metabolisms and low body-fat.

0:25 Eat Often
Hand-in-hand with not overeating is eating often. Having small meals 5-6 times a day that you might think of as snacks instead of meals. It will help you stay slim and keep you alert after your meals instead of lethargic (the tiredness after a big meal).

0:20 Say ‘No’
Whenever an unhealthy food option presents itself, say no. Do not think of it as restricting yourself, think of it as an opportunity to strengthen your resolve to be disciplined and think of it as doing a really good thing for your health.

0:15 Consider Cardio
Cardio is great for losing weight (which could be a problem for people trying to bulk up) but it’s absolutely essential to keep yourself healthy (especially a healthy heart). Commit now to walking at least 4 times a week for 30 minutes each time, or running 3 times a week for at least 20 minutes.

0:10 Breathe
Breathe because this has been an intense 60 seconds and because breathing will reduce stress, which will decrease the cortisol being released into your body, and ultimately decrease stress related diseases. Make a commitment to meditate for 15 minutes each morning when you wake up for ultimate stress relief.

0:05 Celebrate Victory
Do a little pre-victory celebration; you deserve it. You now know everything it takes to live healthy. All you need to do is go out there and do it.


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