Body Perfect Recipe

Body Perfect Recipe

If you’re like most people in the United States, you’re either trying to lose weight, trying not to put on weight or concerned about your weight.

Many of us are overweight and it is becoming too obvious. Some of us claimed hereditary problems, some of us acknowledge that we eat too much and some of us deny eating much at all although we pack on the pounds. What many of us are guilty of doing is that most of us are as stationary as the furniture in our homes. We sit down on the table to eat, we sit in the car to order out, we eat in the car to eat as we drive, we sit on the couch to eat, we sit and snack, then we sit again and then, finally, we go to bed. Our poor bodies must be screaming for help. We eat lots of food and we eat often.

Last Saturday, I went to a local post office to drop off a package. To my surprise, the parking lot was full. In front of the mailbox outside of the post office, a line of cars waited in line. As one car moves in the line, the others follow as the driver rolls down the window, stretches the left arm and drops their mail into the mailbox, then drives away. It was such a beautiful day I just could not understand why people chose to stay in the cars. They forfeited an opportunity to move their bodies. At a point, there were so many cars in line that people were forced to park their cars and walked the few feet to the mailbox drop and the post office; a marathon to many of us. Yes, some people had to walk out of their cars. Perhaps they were too tired to get out of their cars and walk a few feet. Many people give up on their weight and don’t realize that changing their lifestyle is key to maintaining a healthy body.

It’s sad when our bodies begin to get fat and start to adjust into the shape of the task that we usually perform during the day. Some of us bend our necks for several hours a day just to adapt to the screen of our computers and keyboard. We end up looking like ducks. I know because I’m one of the culprits and potential victim. Throughout the day, I must constantly remind my self to stretch a bit or my neck will bend forward permanently and make me appear a few inches shorter that I actually am, and someone might mistakenly take me for one of these pesky Canadian geese. I also realize the next thing that will happen is that I will start growing love handles as replacement for my waistline. It’s a fight that I plan to win. Do you plan to win yours?

One of the best weapons to use in the war against obesity is to keep the body moving. Of course, eating less and staying away from all the fried food and fast food is a winning ingredient. Should the urge to eat such occur, eat as little of it as possible. Then, go for a walk. Whether you’re overweight or not, keeping the body mobile, is one the Recipes For a Good Life.

UNSC Membership inquiry

A few days ago, I posted the following question on a public board.

Do you think, any of the former republics of the USSR, should dispute Russia’s assumed succession as Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council?


Of the answers that I've gotten so far, some gave a few reasons as to why Russia assumed that role. But can those reasons be challenged?



Following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Russia, as one of the former republics, assumed succession as a permanent member of the UNSC. Is is because Russia has nuclear arms, it is because its capital is Moscow, is it because the other parts of the failed republics did not know they too could assume that role, could they have managed the role? At least can any of those former soviet countries challenge Russia to share the role of Permanent Member of United Nations Security Council?


So far, I've gotten a few interesting answers. I'm curious to see if people are interested in the current Russian's government's behavior in view of its domestic and international affairs.



What about you? What do you think?

Rebuilding Wall Street

Once upon a time, one of my sisters on saw a man selling “stereos” in the street. The man was selling the “stereos” at a bargain. A fraction of what they are actually worth and sold for in stores, the man told my sister. The man had an actual stereo on the ground which he used as display. Next to the displayed stereo, stood two boxes. Both “stereos” were packed in boxes and ready to go.

Without hesitation, my sister decided to buy one. “What if it does not work?” I asked her. “It works” she replied with confidence. “Maybe he stole them”, I told her in my effort to keep her from buying. “He’s selling them in the street, I don’t think he stole them” was her reply.

Needless to tell you, that my sister got herself into what we’re calling today the mortgage mess. When we got home, we opened the package. To my dear sister’s surprise, inside the box, she found pieces of bricks wrapped around newspaper and tissue paper.

If you ask me what happened to the “stereo” that she paid for, I’ll tell you that you’ve missed the point. If you’re getting the gist of this, keep reading.

Before I even dare mention Deregulations, Regulations, too little of this, too much of that, I think of the people who decided to buy these “mortgage” backed “securities”. Why not? Why would anyone buy a box without knowing what’s inside of it? Theories, politics, Demagoguery and Rhetoric are plain barriers. Don’t buy it if you don’t know what it is, provided that you’re buying a lottery ticket. By now, it is redundant.

The second point is, lack of common sense. Why would anyone buy something for which they can’t pay? Ok, speculators, flippers or investors buy with the hope of turning a quick profit if the price goes up. Now, the price went down, that’s their problem. They took the risk and they have to learn to live with it. In a way, it is capitalism and it is fair. No one should bail you out if you gamble and lose. If you can’t weather the storm, best to evacuate.

The third point is an issue of making informed decisions. Many homeowners are too stupid to know that they can’t afford it; some are addicted to buying so they buy. Some have no clue and have a way to buy so they buy not knowing what they are actually getting into. We live in a country where too many people buy on credit and don’t think that they will eventually have to pay for what they buy. That group would benefit from basic financial education and basics budget. The Treasury Department should include financial education for the general public as one of the steps to remedy this situation.

On the hand, there are those who lose their jobs, become ill or lose their financial means-they, must be in everybody’s mind.

Who’s to blame? Who made the wrong decisions? Who just brought for the sake of buying and a making a fast buck? While resolving problem is of primary importance, no one should try to shove the dirt under the rug.

In all of this mess, there are questions of ethics and basic financial literacy.

Almost everyone who bought into this mess relied on the independent, objectivity and assessment of rating agencies. Rating agencies’ job is to provide a rating system that helps investors evaluate the risk associated with making investing be it in a specific company, investment market or instrument. In order for the information to be reliable, Rating agencies must remain objective, independent as not to allow their clients to interfere with their jobs, credible as to their capability to assess value on a timely basis and transparent to discourage any subjectivity or conflict of interest. If you were to ask me that if a client pays you to rate its merchandize and if after you do, the client accepts your evaluation, then the information is most likely fair. Should the client go to another rating agency because the client is unhappy with your rating then get another evaluation, I’d say something is wrong with that scenario. Now, if we were talking about cosmetic surgery, I’d have given you a different answer. Some folks work on commission.

To return to the first point, relying too much on questionable and unverifiable information is a poor choice. Someone somewhere should have realized, that there is no way possible, that any company could review mortgage applications and credit histories for millions of mortgages to assess their worthiness over and over and over. Now, you either had a lot faith, had never heard of pyramid schemes, enjoy a little bit or Russian roulette or hoped that it would not blow up on your clock.

Of the necessary solutions, should the first call be for actual neutrality?

Wall Street and Main Street

When it comes to politics, commonsense often gets pushed aside so politicians can appear as if they are doing the right thing. Winning over voters has become all too important. It is almost the only reason why many politicians run and manage to keep their elected offices.
The commitment to do the job takes the back seat especially in time of re-election and general elections. I have a feeling that most politicians either don’t have a clue or simply don’t care about the responsibilities that come with their jobs. It is tragic when public trust is mused. It appears that the current situation on Wall Street, The mixture of asphyxiating accounting regulations and the government’s unrestrained desire to help, is proven to be a recipe for a massive coronary. I wouldn’t dare bring up those folks who actually brought boxed gifts with pretty bows without knowing what those boxes contain. Even an eight-year old would want to open the box to see what is inside or even it there is anything inside of it. Just because it is in a little blue box, it is not necessarily from Tiffany’s. Yes, those who bought boxed gifts should be ashamed for having been so excessive naïveté.

Normally, with such major failure, you’d expect a decisive application of relief. Unfortunately, with the elections approaching, most of those who hold the key to undo and prevent further damage, can’t afford to risk the possibility of losing the support of the voters from Main Street. The appearance of the wrong move of “bailing out Wall Street”, may cost many politicians too many votes, in which case, they, as well as their many constituents, who will be unemployed should big old Wall Street fall flat on its face, will lose the elections and become unemployed. Of course, most politicians would not want to lose their elected offices and become unemployed. Think about it.

Rather, than do what’s right, many politicians leisurely and carefully evaluate making important decisions against winning elections and party politics, then decide which is more important. As time passes, it become more costly to repair damages expensive, but that does not take precedence- winning votes is key. In all fairness to politicians, many employees, for fear of losing their jobs would not address necessary concerns with their bosses. Get the job and keep the job at all cost mentality or get another job while you still have a job seems to be widespread.

It is not simple hatred for Wall Street or excessively paid Chief Executive Officers. As grotesquely overpaid CEO’s are, there is no Main Street without Wall Street. Main Street and Wall Streets are the recipes for a successful society.