ONE. FUTURE... YES. WE. CAN.

most of you know that i love politics and care about what goes on in our community and in our country.

this year we face the most significant election in our generation. it is time that we become inspired and inspire others. that we take courage and heart. with vision and hope. for one nation and one great future.

please read on.


http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/CGxdg

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So this will not be easy. Make no mistake about what we’re up against.

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So let me remind you tonight that change will not be easy. That change will take time. There will be setbacks, and false starts, and sometimes we will make mistakes. But as hard as it may seem, we cannot lose hope. Because there are people all across this country who are counting us; who can’t afford another four years without health care or good schools or decent wages because our leaders couldn’t come together and get it done.

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The choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders. It’s not about rich versus poor; young versus old; and it is not about black versus white.

It’s about the past versus the future.

It’s about whether we settle for the same divisions and distractions and drama that passes for politics today, or whether we reach for a politics of common sense, and innovation – a shared sacrifice and shared prosperity.

There are those who will continue to tell us we cannot do this. That we cannot have what we long for. That we are peddling false hopes.

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Yes we can change.
Yes we can heal this nation.
Yes we can seize our future.

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– that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope; and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people in three simple words:
Yes. We. Can.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/CGxdg

All Fruits Are Not Made Equal (For Juicing)

So, as part of my road to a healthier eating habit, I've been eating more fruits, juicing, and turning them into smoothies.

Well, for the novice juicer or blender, you might want to know which fruits are ideal for juicing or smoothing and the proper equipment...

I've been mixing a variety of fruits and just waiting to be surprised with the results. Watery fruits like honey dew, melons, water melons, grapes are great for juicing. Make sure you are equipped with the right tools!

I have an orange squeezer for oranges, grape fruits, and lemons. I was acually pleasantly surprised how good freshly squeezed grapefruit juice tastes. Not to mention how rewarding it feels to extract a glass of juice from one grapefruit and 2-3 oranges.

I also have one of those electric juicers, which does the job, but a bit messier come time to clean. Fruit pulp and other stuff get lodged in the inner compartments. Anyhow, it has squeezing power that the orange squeezer doesn't have. Have you tried squeezing a honey dew?

And now to the blender, which I like a little better than the juicer. I recently tried to blend apples with not so good results. My tip would be to not blend so many apples... I tried with a few apple quarters and it didn't quite turn out as I had in mind. Not to mention that it looked like somebody threw up inside the glass jar... Other than that, I've had some delicious fruit smoothies. Crush some ice. Add fruits. And some soy milk. Bananas really thicken the smoothies.

Or if it's a bit much work, pick up some organic juice in your next trip to the supermarket.

The Art of Reinvention

My career path has a life cycle of roughly five years. So, I might be due for another one any day now... More on that later.

Anyhow, I like trying new things and redefining myself. Some people just call it passion.

I wanted to do a triathlon, so I learned to swim. And augmented that to my elementary knowledge of biking and running (and sometimes walking while trying to get my breathing in order). I have swam the Hudson River twice now. Words that I never imagined I would utter in my lifetime.

Recently, I tried doing a detox fast to cleanse my system (with moderate success). That entails five days of just fruits and vegetables nourishment, followed by ten days of pure liquid sustenance, and rounding that of with another five days of the fruit-veggie menu. I am on the tail end of this cycle now and can't wait to eat real food... (Okay, still need some work on the attitude.)

There are quite some interesting revelations in this experiment.

• I have a food addiction.
• I don't need to gorge myself to feel satisfied.
• Meat and rice, seven days a week, does not necessarily constitute a healthy diet.
• My body can actually function without overeating. It may even function better.
• I like eating fruits. They are good for me and you.
• I like eating certain vegetables. (Can't win 'em all.)
• Water is nutritious. Try it with maple syrup, lemon juice, and cheyenne pepper...
• I can learn to cook.
• A blender is a way better appliance than a juicer.
• I think I would rather do a triathlon than fast. (See first bullet.)

During the fruits and veggie days, I was forced to figure out how to eat, literally. Sometimes I just made up certain dishes, threw veggies together in a pot of boiling water, or sauteed with EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), and hoped for the best. (Did you get the Rachel Ray reference?!)

It goes without saying that I was craving salt, sugar, carbs, dairy and meat all the time! (Those are my basic food groups.)

The mental breakthrough might probably be more valuable than the physical. We'll see.

Of course, there were mild side effects. There were dips in energy, which is similar in sensation when you overeat after lunch. You just want to go to sleep. And then there's the other stuff.

A potentially transformational experience such as this requires real heart, mental strength, support from your circle of friends and family, and a good deal of creativity. I recommend having a few of these in hand before your next adventure.

My fasting group leader did say that I was a glutton for punishment...