Caffeine and Pregnancy

A huge controversy exists about caffeine and pregnancy with some conclusive findings suggesting that higher levels of caffeine intake can have negative effects on pregnant women and their babies. The real question up for debate is: What amount of caffeine is safe? While it is best not to ‘overworry’ about the chocolate bar you may have inhaled last night (yes…chocolate has caffeine), if you find the effects of caffeine on your pregnancy worrisome, perhaps you would be best suited avoiding caffeine altogether.

First, caffeine is a stimulant and a diuretic, so it increases blood pressure and heart rate (not recommended during pregnancy), and causes frequent urination that could lead to dehydration. While you are in control of the exact amount of caffeine that enters your body, your baby is not; caffeine crosses the placenta and acts on your baby just as it acts on you. Normally, the effects of caffeine on an adult wear off in six hours, but in pregnant women, it may take twice as long to leave the body. Also, because the baby is still developing he will not be able to metabolize the caffeine efficiently which could result in altered sleep patterns and movement in the later stages of pregnancy.

In effort to prepare for pregnancy, many women eat better and exercise before conception to ensure that their bodies are healthy and ready for implantation of a fertilized embryo. Some studies have actually found a link between high amounts of caffeine consumption and delayed conception, with women who consumed more than 300 mg of caffeine per day twice as likely to have conception delayed a full year or more compared with women who consumed less than 300 mg per day. While low to moderate consumption seems safe, heavy caffeine drinkers may want to start cutting back even when they begin trying for a baby. No studies have been done on the effects of caffeine on sperm.

The under-300 mg per day mark seems to be the safe consumption level even after conception as the fetus grows within the mother. A few studies have been done that show an increase in miscarriage among women who consume more than 300 mg of caffeine per day, and other study outcomes of high caffeine consumption included pre-term labor and low birth weight. Many studies done in animals have shown caffeine to cause birth defects, reduced fertility, and other reproductive problems, but human studies are still far behind. Although many women choose to avoid caffeine completely just in case it may have undiscovered effects in any amount, experts believe that moderate caffeine intake (150 mg-250 mg per day) will not have a negative effect on pregnancy.

For those women holding out until the late stages of pregnancy to enjoy caffeine again, the wait may be even longer than expected. Late in the pregnancy, the baby will absorb caffeine from the mother, and at this stage, the caffeine can cause increased fetal heart rate, increased breathing rate, and tremors. Also, babies born to women with high levels of caffeine consumption late in the pregnancy were likely to spend more time awake in the days following birth. Many tired parents of newborns want their babies to sleep well, so the avoidance of caffeine in late pregnancy is essential for the baby to establish good sleeping patterns, and essential for the parents’ peace of mind as well! Even breast-feeding mothers can pass caffeine into their baby’s system, so while low to moderate caffeine levels will not harm the baby, any amount of caffeine will be passed from mother to baby, metabolized by the baby’s system, and may have stimulating effects.

While most women and babies have no negative health effects from low to moderate caffeine consumption, caffeine sensitivity varies in each individual mom and baby. If you are normally caffeine sensitive, take care to avoid it during pregnancy, as the effects of caffeine are greater because it is more slowly metabolized in pregnant women. Avoid caffeine containing foods such as chocolate, coffee flavored ice creams and yogurts, and stick to fruity desserts like pies. Be sure to stay well hydrated with beverages such as decaffeinated tea, juice, and water.

If you are thinking of becoming pregnant, but consuming more than three cups of brewed coffee per day, try to start weaning yourself off of the coffee now, as your body will have a chance to adjust before all of the other changes start taking place. Once pregnant, take care to regulate caffeine intake at safe levels. Know what foods and beverages contain caffeine, and avoid them if you are concerned about the effects of caffeine on pregnancy. Myths do exist about caffeine and pregnancy, so remain calm if you do happen to slip and indulge in cappuccino ice cream; moderate levels of caffeine are safe for you and your baby.
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David Beart is the owner of http://www.professorshouse.com . This site covers a wide selection of topics including relationships, family, cooking and other household issues.
http://www.professorshouse.com/

Home Pregnancy Test

Ovulation tests and Pregnancy tests

First response home pregnancy tests are designed to detect hCG, a hormone released by the placenta right after the embryo begins implanting into the uterine lining: the hormone is released in a pregnant woman's urine. HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. Home pregnancy tests (HPTs) are designed to detect it. Detetcting hCG in the blood is how home pregnancy tests work.

How accurate are first response home pregnancy tests? The highest possible screening sensitivity for an hCG-based pregnancy test conducted on the first day of a missed period is 90 percent, as 10 percent of women may not have implanted yet in the uterus. The authors estimate that the highest possible screening sensitivity of a home pregnancy test by one week after the first day of the missed period is 97 percent, thus their accuracy is usually not doubted so long as the test instructions are correctly followed.

Companies Manufacturing Test Kits
Because implantation usually happens 6-12 days after ovulation, it is possible that you are testing too early, too soon. Various home pregnancy test manufacturers advertise their product as being foolproof. Clearblue Easy publishes on its website that Clearblue Easy can be used as early at 4 days before you expect your period, about 5 days sooner than waiting until you miss your period to test. With their digital test, they say 55% get a positive result 3 days before a woman’s period is due, 87% 2 days before, and 92% one day before her pregnant period is due. Then there is the company First Response and Answer, which says “Answer Quick & Simple® Early Result Pregnancy Test can detect the pregnancy hormone as early as 4 days before you expect your period. In clinical testing, Answer® detected the hormone levels in 69% of women 4 days before their expected period, in 83% of women 3 days before their expected period, in 93% of women 2 days before their expected period, and in 93% of women 1 day before their expected period.” The companies publish their statistics to tell the possible kit user the level of accuracy with which the tests can be conducted.

Instructions To Follow
The test can be conducted at home with you using the midstream urine -- meaning you should urinate a little first and then either hold the test stick in your urine stream or use a collection cup to collect. If, in spite of having bought a stick test, you would like to collect urine in a cup, you need to hold the absorbent tip of the stick in the cup of urine for 5-10 seconds. Otherwise, the directions with the test need to be followed. There are online pregnancy test instructions which provide all the information needed to use the tests. If used incorrectly, the tests will not be accurate, so it is essential to read the entire set of instructions before beginning to test. The tests describe a step-by-step method by which to conduct the first response home pregnancy test.

Why buy Organic Skincare?

Having a bad hair day? Well a bad skin day can take a lot longer to fix I can tell you.

Your skin is the largest and most visible organ you have since it covers the entire body. Having attractive, healthy skin starts from the inside and reflects on the outside. The first step towards taking proper care of your skin is to determine what type of skin you are in right now.

Looking both inside and outside our bodies it would seem common sense to reduce the cocktail of chemicals around us whenever possible. They are present in household cleaners, furniture, and pollution from cars. There seems to be no escape from damaging our skin so where do we start? The food that we eat is perhaps the most obvious start or reducing the number of chemicals and pesticides in our bodies. However, for those of us who use them, skin and body care products are another very direct point of contact between ourselves and the world of invasive chemicals.

If you have changed to organic eating habits, you might be wondering about an organic solution for skin care. The cosmetics, perfumes and cleansers that we use contain chemicals that are easily absorbed through skin, or through our lungs when we inhale the perfume. These chemicals then rapidly enter the bloodstream. Should this be a concern?

People choose organically produced foods because they believe these foods are safer. So if you treat your skin with chemically produced substances that have also been proven to affect lab animals in negative ways (even though testing cosmetics on animal labs seems to have reduced), the same negative effects will happen to your skin. Natural or Organic skin care is the care of the skin using ingredients such as herbs, roots, and flowers. They are combined with natural oils and waters. These ingredients do not include chemicals that may be harmful to your body or be the reason of certain unwanted side effects. The body shops founder realized these decades ago and built a multinational company that has recently been sold to L'Oreal.

Which types of food are good for our skin?

Avoid too much fat and grease. A diet full of variety is the most beneficial for our skin. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals responsible for maintaining skin integrity. Protein is also a key player. Some important nutrients are vitamin A and vitamin C. Vitamin A deficiency can cause dry, scaly skin.

Look out for the labels!

Many labels have long lists of chemical names, some followed by the phrase derived from… (some natural substance). This is grossly misleading for consumers who are looking for genuine natural products.

However, the term certified organic is governed by a number of internationally recognized bodies. In Australia the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) is the largest and the Soil Association in the UK. Searching for products with the logo of a certifying body on the label is the only way you can guarantee the organic authenticity and integrity of every ingredient in the product. This can then truly be called a natural product.

Source http://www.guidemegreen.com

Are You Prepared For An Organic Skin Care Routine?

Today, when people are more concerned about side effects, due to chemicals in personal care, when traces of parables (preservatives) were found in breast tissue, organic herbs and genuine oils in skincare formulations become a necessity.

The general knowledge about herbs as ingredients in personal care along with the understanding of skin functions can open unlimited possibilities for people to choose a proper skin routine, free of side effects.

A natural and organic treatment for the skin has the same importance for your inner health as a natural and organic food. The natural and organic skin care routine becomes the new way of finding the right approach to feed the skin.

Skin requires water, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, proteins for its cells as much as your inner body needs them for a proper metabolic function of its organs. This is the natural and valid way of obtaining a younger looking skin for a long period of time while keeping the skin healthy.

The name natural or organic in skin care becomes very controversial since usually natural ingredients are mixed with chemical ingredients for the sake of nice and fluffy structure and for a long and strong preservation of the products.

If you are looking for a nice looking cream with white and fluffy structure, you will never find it to be a real natural cream unless they contain bleach and/or stabilizers.

One or two natural ingredients are not enough to start all chain reactions necessary to promote extended collagen and elastic production, or other vital metabolic reactions.

Many chemical ingredients in a formulation that also contain natural ingredients can induce oxidation of the last releasing free radicals that can damage the skin.

On the other hand, chemical substances can mimic similar structures with natural active constituents and compete for the same cell receptors. The result is the diminishing of the effects of the natural constituents.

Some chemicals are very difficult to eliminate from the skin due to their unrecognizable structure and tend to accumulate in different parts of the body and even block the skin pores makes the toxin elimination very difficult.

In conclusion: Be very careful when you choose a natural cream; be aware when you see more than one or two unknown names (chemicals) in a natural product. Be picky as if you were choosing a proper outfit. Don’t be tricked by fancy advertising. Look carefully at the ingredients of your skin care products as you would look for side effects on a prescription medication.
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About The Author
Claudia Budu has a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and a Master in Biochemistry. She is the Founder of Active Herbal Cosmetics and Skin Therapeutics (http://www.telbari.com). Her line of skin care products created only of Certified Organic herbs and genuine oils represents her continue dedication to satisfy the customer needs for healthy and radiant skin.

Feng Shui - Monsters Under Your Bed

Good feng shui often requires making wise decisions based on your specific circumstances, rather than blinding following an ideal rule. The feng shui rule for storing things under your bed is "don't do it." But for those who live in small homes every inch of possible storage space is precious. If you are faced with cluttering up some other area of your home with stuff that otherwise might be put under the bed, how do you decide what to do?

My preference as a feng shui professional is to keep the more visible, frequently used areas of the home uncluttered. If that means storing some things under the bed, so be it, as long as it is done thoughtfully and appropriately.

There are two reasons why your bed is so important in feng shui. The first is the principle of proximity, which states that the closer something is to you the stronger its effect will be. The second is the principle of duration, which means that the longer you are exposed to a particular influence the stronger its effect will be.

If we were getting our eight full hours of sleep every night, we'd be spending a third of our lives in bed. Even with long days and not enough sleep, the average person probably spends 25% or more of his or her time in bed. Keeping the factors of proximity and duration in mind, this means that anything that is close to you while you sleep will have a strong effect on you, either physically or symbolically.

Since you are probably well protected from below by a nice thick mattress, whatever you've got stashed beneath your bed isn't likely to be directly harmful. However, in feng shui the symbolic energy of an object or image is just as important as whatever literal impact it may have. If you are using your under bed area for storage, take a moment to think about the implications of whatever is down there, especially if you haven't been sleeping well lately. If you don't remember what you've stashed under your bed, it's time to take another look.

Here are some things that you ought to find another place for:
  • Shoes under the bed can keep you "running around" all night even when you are sound asleep. No matter how many hours of sleep you get, you may never feel well rested.
  • Exercise gear, workout clothes, and sports equipment are also less than relaxing. Unless you want to feel like you're "going nowhere fast" in life, don't store your treadmill, rowing machine, aerobic step under the bed. Tennis rackets (or other gear for competitive sports) can bring a competitive, adversarial energy to your romantic relationships. It's best not to have any kind of exercise or sports equipment in the bedroom at all if you can find another place for it.
  • Books and work or school papers can have an intellectually stimulating effect; if you have trouble turning your mind-chatter off so you can fall asleep at night, make sure you are not sleeping on top of a lot of information. Plus, chances are good that if you're keeping that stuff under the bed it probably isn't at all current, so all that old information is also energetically holding you in the past.
  • Guns and knives. I really hope you don't feel the need to have these in your house at all. All that potential violence is not conducive to a good night's sleep, no matter how "safe" it may make you feel. A feng shui friend once told me she'd consulted for a guy who collected knives, and who kept that collection under his bed. No wonder he complained of a long string of failed relationships! Regardless of any other qualities he may or may not have had, that's a lot of cutting chi underlying what should be a place for romantic connection.
These examples should give you an idea of the sort of potentially disruptive effect the stuff under your bed can have. If you must use the under-bed space for storage, reserve it for soft, cuddly items like extra bedding or your winter sweaters.

You may even find a good use for that space by placing something with positive symbolic meaning there, so you can take conscious advantage of the proximity and duration effect. For example, laying a mirror face up under the bed is a recommended feng shui sure for insomnia; symbolically the mirror reflects the bed "downward" thus drawing into a deep, restful sleep. For a child who is frightened of imaginary monsters under the bed, placing a super-tough-guy action figure under there could provide some important protection and security.

A feng shui client recently asked if it was okay to keep her empty suitcases under the bed. If you enjoy traveling and want to do more of it, then having the luggage under the bed may help to encourage that. Inside the suitcases you can put guidebooks, photos, travel accessories, and other items related to the places where you'd like to go. For example, if you would love to take a trip to Paris put a guidebook to the city, a French-English phrase book, and a photo of the Eiffel Tower in an empty suitcase under your bed. Add some French currency or traveler's checks for the future trip. The suitcase and its contents is now a feng shui activation to help make your travel dreams come true.

On the other hand, if you've been traveling a lot lately and would like to stay home for a change, then I definitely recommend finding some other place to keep your luggage. If you absolutely, positively have no alternative to keeping suitcases under the bed -- and you really want a break from travel -- put a rock in each one and cover them with a blanket, to help them settle in for a long rest and to keep you grounded at home.

(c) copyright 2004 Stephanie Rogerts

Choosing A Baby Name

Ever heard about the association of a person’s name with his personality? That’s how our names really work. A name molds a person’s identity like a cookie-cutter. So, better get that best baby name for your son or daughter. Read on for some tips on how to provide that best baby name for your little angel.

1. Stop it already with the dictates of your family’s tradition. Choosing the right baby name does not have to always rely on what your elderly relatives deem to be the best baby name. It is your baby’s name, not theirs. So, better act like it. Once your baby is born he will be stuck with that baby name for life. That means it’s not wise to just settle for any baby name that will suit your grandma’s or auntie’s taste.

2. Take a look of a picture of his future. You don’t want your baby to be always called with a moniker that will forever ridicule him or will allow his playmates to make a big laughingstock out of him, right? Research about the meaning of the baby name you are eyeing to give to your baby. Don’t consider Beelzebub as a prospective baby name just because you heard it from a TV show and you find it cute. Don’t use Rodelfa just because a certain Mexican TV show’s hunky lead actor is called Rodolfo. Just plainly saying yes to your gut feel, thinking of the people that pops into your head upon hearing somebody spout a certain name, trying to follow a fad by naming your baby a certain celebrity’s (sometimes notorious) or NOT THINKING AT ALL in giving your precious one his or her baby name are huge no-nose!

3. Consider reading the initials of the baby name you are planning to give your baby. Make sure they don’t stand for anything funny, disturbing or something utterly stupid. Christine Sue Irving? What will happen on the next episode? Alvin Stephen Stuart? He will surely remember not to get near any hole. Fran Ursula Catherine Klein? Uh-oh! See? Can you imagine the sickening situation you may put your child into when he or she grows up?

4. Go check your family tree once and for all. Some can’t still get away from some traditions regarding baby name decisions, especially when they have a special bond with a certain family member that they want that person’s name to be a part of their baby’s name. If your planning to still follow the tradition of putting a part of your elder relatives’ names on your baby’s name, you have to know whether anybody else in your family use that name too. You don’t want to confuse people when they’re calling a name that’s owned by two. Ask around.

5. Don’t go for the overkill. Being too creative on thinking of a baby name can backfire, I’m telling you. Examples are too unique spellings. It will be hard for the kid to keep on spelling his or her name to people who only know the common spelling of such name.

6. Decide with your partner in coming up with the best baby name for your sweet baby. It wouldn’t be nice to be always blamed when people ask who chose that awful baby name, right? Okay, kidding aside. Sharing on this kind of decision-making is a good way of furthering your bond as a couple, not to mention the possibility of coming up with a better baby name. Remember that the “two heads are better than one” thought also applies to dealing with the troubles of finding the most suitable baby name for your baby.

Sound, appeasing relatives and friends and avoiding embarrassing initials and discovery of disgusting meanings are some of the major concerns that should be considered in your quest for the perfect baby name. You might find them a bit taxing. But in the long run, you’ll see that doing your homework will make your baby thank you when the right time comes. Happy baby naming!

All About Condoms

Condoms, a contraceptive sheath is the most used and trusted thing. It not only provides the safety from Sexually Transmitted Diseases, but also saves from the hassles of unwanted pregnancy. Its success rate is 75% to 99%, if used properly. A male uses the condom usually, but now there are female condoms on sale now. These are equally safe and are used by the females. It holds the semen in the sheath, so it does not reach the vagina and meet egg. It is the only contraceptive, which does not need any prescription or medical guidance. It is very safe and easily available. In addition, known as Prophylactics, these are the most sought after devices.

Material - Mostly condoms are made of natural rubber latex. Its non-porous texture does not transmit the STD virus to the other partner. Actually, condoms are the safest mode of prevention of these deadly diseases. Sometimes this material causes allergy to some persons. Some people dislike the taste of latex, during oral sex, for that there is lambskin material too but its porous texture is not successful in preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

Different types of condoms - Markets are flooded with the wide range of condoms. There are many types of condoms, in lubricant and non-lubricant variety. Lubricant condoms are to give the natural feel in act. Non-lubricant ones are for the oral sex, and for the people who are not comfortable in using the lubricated condoms. Different sizes, textures like studded or spiracle, provide a wide choice to the users. To add some variety there are even nightglow condoms. For extra romantic user there are the flavored ones. For the different moods and kicks, there are colored variety condoms too.

Where you can buy a condom - Condoms are easily available at any drug store. You do not need a prescription to buy it. Anyone can buy condoms easily, and without any hassle. The greatest revolution is now with the on-line condoms, where people can choose the brand according to their life style, preference and size, and buy discreetly. It is especially beneficial for those people who are hesitant or shy to buy the condoms from the shops.

The governments, doctors, NGOs, social workers for the prevention from the Sexually Transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy, recommend condoms. Because of its success rate, even the governments are installing machines for everyone, worldwide.

Contraception

Contraception's are methods that are used to stop the pregnancy. It is an age-old practice, where women used to take some precautions like some herbal potions, or simply the withdrawal method or total Abstinence to the act itself. It was just to check the childbirth. Mostly these methods proved unsuccessful, but at times worked fine. Now in the changing times, markets are flooded with the choices from a small pill to female condoms. These are not full proof methods but are used worldwide.

CONDOMS - Condom is the most used contraceptive worldwide. It is used by the men on his penis, just before the intercourse. It keeps the sperm inside and thus, prevents the chances of pregnancy. Condoms are available in many brands, styles, sizes and even flavors! Made of latex, these condoms are in lubricant and non-lubricant material. Wide range of choice is there. Condoms are effective to prevent the pregnancy 84% to 98%. It is the only method that stops the STDs and HIV.

PILLS - These are hormonal pills for the women and are to be taken before the intercourse, orally and daily. They are effective but carry the risk of side effects. These can cause nausea, heavy or low bleeding during menstruations, weight problem, high or low BP. Pill is 95% to 99.9% effective. One pill is there which can be taken orally after the intercourse. These pills can reduce the chances of pelvic inflammatory disease and ovarian cancer, and iron deficiency.

Copper T - Also known as Intrauterine Device (IUD), is a T shaped thing which is to be inserted into the uterus. It is 99% effective, and it can be kept in the uterus for up to twelve years. This device should be inserted by a doctor or nurse.

Diaphragm or Cervical Cap - These are cup shaped devices used by women to bar the sperm into womb. Made of latex, these are to be fitted by the doctor or nurse. These cap or shields must be kept for 24 hours inside, after an intercourse, to prevent the pregnancy.

Female condoms - This barrier method is used by women. It is made of polyurethane material and is lubricated. This also gives the protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Female condoms are effective 79% to 95%.

Choice is wide, but the best contraceptive is what feels comfortable. One should always consult the doctor before choosing one. Contraception is hassle free and saves from life long trouble. One can indulge in the activity, without any tension.

Winter Skin Savers

Do you have the winter skin blues? Is the itching and flaking driving you crazy? Don't worry; you can take steps to protect and soothe your body's largest organ. With proper care, healthy, glowing skin is achievable during winter. Whatever your age, follow these helpful guidelines throughout the season.

No matter how dark your skin, you still need to protect it from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. Choose a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or more. Sunscreens containing Titanium Dioxide tend to leave darker skin tones looking 'ashy'. A sunscreen gel is preferable and it absorbs invisibly into your skin.

I know it's tempting, but taking long, hot showers drain essential moisture from your skin, leaving it dry and lacking in water content. Limit your showers to about 5-10 minutes. (Tip: Use a leave-in conditioner, so you don't have to spend as much time washing your hair, but still be able to keep it conditioned.)

Wash your hands and face using lukewarm, not hot, water.

This winter, opt for a non-foaming cleanser which cleanses but does not strip away your skin's natural moisture barrier. You don't want that squeaky clean feeling you get with cleansing gels, which can leave your skin feeling dry and taut.

Invest in a great hand cream: it will help to keep your hands soft and smooth. If possible, avoid washing your hands frequently. Apply hand cream to your hands immediately after washing them to seal in moisture.

Your lips have no natural defense against the elements. Wearing a lip balm with SPF is essential even during winter months. Your lips tend to dry out faster during this time of the year, so make sure to re-apply as necessary. Licking your lips can cause them to dry out faster, too. As the saliva on your lips evaporates, so does your lips' natural moisture.

In general, and especially during winter months, avoid skin care products containing Alcohol. Not only is Alcohol an irritant, but it is drying, too.

Instead of ex foliating with AHAs, (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) wear a good water-based moisturizer to hydrate your skin and keep it from flaking. AHAs can be a great way to de-flake the skin's top layer, but they usually tend to dry out your skin. If you plan to use them anyway, don't overuse them.

History of Crystal

The history of crystal dates back thousands of years to the Mesopotamian times. Lead oxide was used to enhance the brilliance of glass as used today, but applied in differently. This was an alternate to the popular rock crystal which was more expensive, harder to cut and less refractive.

In the year 1676, George Ravenscroft revolutionized the methods of adding the lead oxide, which brought lead crystal a major step closer to it's mass production of today.

In 1892, Daniel Swarovski invented a machine to cut jewelry stones perfectly. In 1895, he moved his company, known as Swarovski, from Bohemia to the Wattens, Austria where he used the Rhine River as a source of energy to run the company's machinery. From here the name 'Rhinestone' was born. Today the word 'Rhinestone' is used for leaded crystal coming from any country though.

Swarovski is the highest quality crystal stone manufacturer in the world today. Stones are made in many other countries other than Austria as well, most notably Czechoslovakia, Germany, China, Israel and others.

Why Your Mattress May Be Killing You

The average mattress consists of petroleum-based foam covered in petroleum-based polyester fabric. During its 10-year average lifetime, a foam mattress loses up to half its weight, and the lost weight goes on your bedroom floor in the form of toxic dust and in the air in the form of formaldehyde gas which is a by-product of the foam breakdown. Those dust bunnies under your bed could be a real threat to your health, unless you use an organic mattress which does not break down into these toxic by-products.

The foam mattress story gets even more scary. The average petroleum-based foam queen-sized mattress is soaked in about a pound of fire retardant chemicals called PDBEs, which have already been banned in Europe, but not in North America. PDBEs are chemicals which are similar to the banned PCBs, and they build up in the body like DDT and PCBs. The PDBEs are used because they are the simplest and cheapest way to conform to United States mattress fire resistance codes. They are also promoted by the chemical industry, which recently sponsored tightening of the mattress fire resistance codes, which will cause even greater quantities of PDBEs to be used in the manufacture of mattresses beginning in 2006. While these new codes will save an estimated 27 lives a year from fires, these new regulations play Russian roulette with the future health of the 285 million Americans that sleep on these petroleum-based foam mattresses. Those calling for a ban on PDBEs say the greater danger is not the lives lost in fires, but the potentially millions of cases of cancer caused by exposure to these chemicals over the coming decades.

The solution to this problem is to remove petroleum-based bedding from your home, and this has spawned the burgeoning organic bedroom movement. The cornerstone of this trend is the organic mattress, which is the same kind of mattresses our ancestors used before the rise of the petrochemical industry after World War II. It is also interesting to note that current cancer rates are more than 5 times higher than before World War II, when everybody was sleeping on organic mattresses by definition, because there was no petrochemical industry during those times.

Examples of an organic mattress include:

1. Organic cotton and wool batting innerspring mattresses with an organic cotton fabric cover. Wool is naturally fire retardant and meets all US fire codes.
2. A Natural latex mattress, whose foam is made from the latex sap of the rubber tree and which require no fire retardants because natural rubber does not burn well.
3. Luxury organic mattresses which use combination of all three materials, organic cotton, wool, and latex, to produce maximum comfort mattresses that rival any non-organic mattresses.
4. All organic cotton mattresses. Although cotton does not burn well, it requires a doctor’s prescription because cotton does not meet US fire resistance codes.

Organic mattresses also have comfort advantages over traditional petroleum-based foam mattresses. They wick away moisture from the body much more thoroughly than clammy polyester and man-made foam, stopping night sweating and cutting down on problems like athlete’s foot and jock itch. Wool also regulates body temperature very well, which is important for a restful sleep. Natural latex foam and wool are resistant to dust mites, which cause allergies in many people, and organic cotton and latex foam are both hypoallergenic materials. Organic mattresses are also considered a must for people with chemical sensitivities.

Major North American manufacturers of organic mattresses include Vivetique/Crown City Mattress, located in South El Monte, California, Royal Pedic, headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, and Obasan, located in Ottawa, Canada. Retailers of organic mattresses include a variety of local mattress stores who carry products from these manufacturers, and nationwide web retailers, like Dax Stores, which often have the best prices for these mattresses.

Source http://www.guidemegreen.com

Canada: Haven for the Cowardly?

From today's Globe & Mail:

Tom Hayden, a U.S. activist of the 1960s, is asking Canada to provide a haven for deserters from the U.S. army.

Mr. Hayden, once a defendant in the notorious trial of the Chicago Seven and later a California state legislator, went to Parliament Hill on Thursday to ask the federal government to give special consideration to Americans who flee military service in Iraq on grounds of conscience.

He said soldiers and reservists of today are in the same boat as Vietnam-era draftees and deserters who came to Canada to avoid service in southeast Asia.

He said the soldiers are coerced to volunteer for the army by lavish offers of cash and educational benefits.

This guy's main claim to fame was being a draft-dodger married to Jane Fonda.

The article goes on to point out that we've already turned down Jeremy Hinzman.

Ladies & Gentlemen, Please Welcome Pope Benedict XVI

Today is a joyous day. Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany has just been named the new pope, and has chosen the name Pope Benedict XVI. Ratzinger is hard-line conservative, and will continue on in John Paul II's steps.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a longtime guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy, was elected the new pope Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI.

Ratzinger, the first German pope in centuries, served John Paul II since 1981 as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In that position, he has disciplined church dissidents and upheld church policy against attempts by liberals for reforms. He turned 78 on Saturday.

White smoke poured from a chimney at the Vatican and bells tolled on Tuesday evening, announcing to the world that a new pope was elected in the first papal conclave of the new millennium.

Crowds in St. Peter's Square chanted: "Viva il Papa!" or "Long live the pope!"

He is the 265th pope.

The new pope will have to decide whether to keep up the kind of foreign travel that was a hallmark of John Paul's papacy, with his 104 pilgrimages abroad.

The new man may be locked into one foreign trip รข€” the mid-August Catholic youth day gathering in Cologne, Germany. John Paul had agreed to visit and organizers have already spent millions of dollars in preparations.
I don't think that will be a problem for the new German pope. Welcome.

Update: It get better. Cardinal Ratzinger has a fan site! Can't get in due to heavy traffic, though.

The Pacifist Left - 8 Years in the Slammer

I don't even need to comment on this piece. I will let my readers bask in the irony of the pacifist left.

A Caltech graduate student convicted of helping to firebomb scores of sport utility vehicles was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison and ordered to pay $3.5 million in restitution.

A federal judge Monday rejected William Jensen Cottrell's plea for leniency.

"There's no way I'd ever be involved in anything like this again," Cottrell said. "I won't ever even jaywalk again."

However, U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner said Cottrell had engaged in domestic terrorism and "we're very, very lucky" that no one was killed in the arson attacks.

Cottrell, 24, was convicted in November of conspiracy to commit arson and seven counts of arson for an August 2003 vandalism spree that damaged and destroyed about 125 SUVs at dealerships and homes in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles.

Cottrell was acquitted of using a destructive device Molotov cocktails in a crime of violence. That was the most serious charge he faced and it carried a sentence of at least 30 years in prison.

At his trial, the prosecution had accused Cottrell of "arrogance" and a "towering superiority" toward people who did not share his environmental views. Cottrell had testified that SUV dealers were evil.

The judge said he felt sorry for Cottrell, a doctoral candidate in the physics department at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, but he had only himself to blame.

Oh, they hate that don't they? When they have to blame themselves, and not somebody else?

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