Identity Thief Instructions

Not A Joke!! Even If you dislike attorneys..... You will love them for these tips.

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts,DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.
If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.

I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.
But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name.

The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):

1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.

If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about

Dear Readers - April 9, 2009

Spring is such a season of change! Last week it was chilly and wet, this past week the sun came shining forth with temps in the 70s. Now it's back to "normal," with coolish temps and rain forecast for the Easter weekend. As they say, April showers bring May flowers! And, boy, do they here in Northwest Oregon!

The meaning of Easter celebrated as it is during springtime, is a spiritual reminder of the transcendant quality of life. No matter how "bad" things seem, or how "powerless" we may think we are to change it, life always gets through our pesky egos to try to teach us about transcendance.

Zen teachers say the solution to any problem is in the problem itself. And nowhere else is this truer than within human psychology. Once we can recognize that the mind creates its own experience of life, our thoughts become our remote controls--controlling the kind of experience we have in life. Every thought or judgement is a "self-fulfilling prophecy."

It can be like wearing emotional glasses. We put on fearful glasses, and everything we see is fearful. We put on depressed glasses, and everything looks hopeless. A good exercise is to pretend to put on joyful glasses, and then just begin to see the little things around us that look joyful. Soon, more and more things seem joyful, and finally, we feel joyful. It's all a matter of perception.

I came across a great free download from the HeartMath Institute's founder Doc Childre. It is the De-Stress Kit for the Changing Times. I highly recommend downloading both the article and audio, and read along with the narrator. The material offers 15 exercises that will help de-stress whatever it is that is lowering your quality of life. Any ONE of these exercises could do the trick, so having 15 of them pretty much guarantees you'll be able to transcend whatever negativity is nagging at you, or draining your energy.

To celebrate this hope for transcedance during the Easter season of Spring, we're offering our handmade, very soothing, essential oils soaps by Venables Valley from beautiful British Columbia. These are such a treat to bathe with, so relaxing and de-stressing. You'll love them!

Also, we're having a 50% OFF CLEARANCE SALE on our remaining Throat and 3rd Eye Chi Bracelets (1 ea.) and our remaining four Chi Necklaces. It's first come, first serve, so call us toll-free 888-301-6773 right away to order this very strenghtening and energetic jewelry for half off!

May your Spring be a springboard to joy!

In vibrant health,


Shay Arave
President
Subtle Energy Solutions
ShaysWays.com

Juicing!!!

I have been asked this question at least 100 times by you here on Facebook, so I am going to hopefully explain to you what I have been told by the great master teachers of Juice Therapy, Dr. Max Gerson and Dr. Norman Walker.

So, here we go!

The reason for juicing is to separate the juice from the fiber, so our body can assimilate the juices immediately, so that when you do drink that pulp free juice, which is now predigested, 100% of the juices go into our stomach immediately, without taxing our body, into the intestinal wall, through our portal vein, into the liver, and into our bloodstream to feed our 100 trillion cells!

That is precisely WHY juicing is far superior to blending. I truly hope you can understand, that when you blend foods together, it takes a long time to digest these foods, because they have been blended together, and now the stomach has to use more and more if its enzymes to digest it. Of course our mouths have enzymes called ptyalin that converts starches into dextrose and maltose, more commonly known also as salivary amylase, but when you are blending your foods, these enzymes are inhibited because they have been blended.

Let me further explain.

We need these enzymes to thoroughly mixed with your foods, while we are masticating our foods, so we can break the complex carbohydrates into simple starches and sugars for utilization by the human body.

But when we blend them, we are drinking the entire amount (which is pulp and juice together) and you haven't chewed the blended foods, so where is the body's ability to break it down? It can't do such a great job, so that is why juicing is far superior than blending.

When you are blending, you still have the cellulose fiber, no matter how minute you think you have thought the blender has broken it down, you still have the cellulose fiber that needs chewing for superior digestion and assimilation.

However, when we juice, we automatically don't have to worry about the pulp, and that's why I have always said, these juices, when extracted properly from the pulp, are pre-digested, and absorbed by the intestines 100%!

There is a caveat to this.....it's still very important to drink your juices slowly, so don't think you can gulp them down just because they are pre-digested! Drink slowly always. After all, it takes a long time to prepare the juicer and the produce, and the clean up....so enjoy your beautifully coloured and gorgeous juice!

I am going to film a short version of this talk today, so hopefully I can download it (with the help of our son) onto Youtube and then bring it here to Facebook, so you can really GET what I am saying!

All the best to everybody, and my old slogan seems fitting today......

"It's the JUICE of the FIBER that feeds you!"

Jay Kordich
juicedaddy.com

(we have a chapter in our book, Live Foods/Live Bodies that covers plant enzymes and why enzymes are VITAL to our health.)

Natural Egg Dyeing

Natural Egg Dyeing
Spring has sprung - or promises to, anyway. If you're dyeing eggs in celebration, engage nature in the process this year. Natural ingredients like herbs and spices offer an endless variety of hues for dyeing eggs -- from the soft purple shades of hibiscus to the rich gold tones of turmeric. Dyeing with nature takes a bit more patience, and a bit more openness to whatever nature decides to deliver. But that's what makes the activity such creative fun -- and the results so stunning.

There are two easy ways to dye eggs with natural dyestuffs. One is a hot method, which delivers the deepest colors; the other is cold. You might try each, or use them in combination.

What you will need to get started
» Mordant -- Alum, cream of tartar, or white vinegar will help the colors penetrate the eggshell. (Mordants aren't necessary, but you'll get better results if you use one.)
» Pots -- Enamel or glass pots (not aluminum) are best.
» Water -- Use distilled water or water that is chlorine-filtered.
» Eggs -- White eggs will display the subtle, natural colors better than brown or green eggs.
» Dyestuff -- The more eggs you're dyeing, the more dyestuff you'll need. Have fun experimenting with herbs and spices to see what colors they impart, but here are some suggestions to get you started:

Reddish blue/lavender: Hibiscus flowers
Deep gold: Turmeric root powder
Pale yellow: Safflower petals
Pale orange: Curry powder
Reddish brown: Chili powder
Orange: Paprika
Soft brown: Dill seed
Tannish yellow: Yarrow

Other natural products that make lovely dyes:
Beet juice or beet powder, berries, coffee, juice, lemon and orange peels, red cabbage leaves, tea, onion skins.

Ingredients:
Once you get the hang of dyeing naturally, you'll work in panfuls and handfuls, but here are some guidelines to get you started:

» 4 cups water
» dyestuff (about 2-4 tbsps ground herbs and spices or 1 cup whole or cut and sifted)
» 1 tablespoon mordant (see above)
» 4 to 6 eggs, washed to remove any coating (Use raw for hot bath, hard-boiled for cold.)

Hot Bath Directions
Bring water, dyestuff, and mordant to a boil. Add eggs and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes, remove from heat, cover and let sit another 15 minutes or more, until desired color. (The longer you leave the eggs in the dye, the deeper the color.) Remove eggs, gently rinse in lukewarm water, and let air dry.

Cold Bath Directions
Make a dyebath by bringing water, dyestuff, and mordant to a boil. Simmer the dyestuff until the water is deeply colored, anywhere from half an hour to a couple of hours. (Put a lid on the pot to prevent evaporation.) Strain the liquid and cool. Add hard-boiled eggs to the dye, and let soak until desired color is reached (overnight, in the refrigerator, if you like).

Tips and Tricks
» Add sheen to your eggs by gently wiping the dry, dyed shell with vegetable oil.
» Consider dyeing an egg in more than one color. (Let dry between dyeing.)
» Experiment with fun techniques: Wrap an egg in rubber bands or apply masking tape in patterns before dyeing, for a batik effect. Or wrap an egg in leaves (hold them in place with a nylon stocking) before dyeing. For a stippled effect, pat an egg with a sponge while still wet. And to marbleize your egg, add a drop of oil to the dye liquid.
» For a smoother look, dye eggs in strained liquid. For more texture, leave in the dyestuff.
» Don't over stir the eggs while simmering, or overhandle them once you remove them from the dye. The outer shell, softened from the mordant, can rub off.

Ask the Experts
How can I tell which herbs will make good dye?

As you experiment with other herbs and spices, remember that you can't always tell which ones will make good dye. Trial and error is part of the fun. Sometimes an herb you expect great things from will leave the water clear (lavender, despite its name, scent, and beautiful flowers, delivers little if any color when boiled, for example). Other times, you'll be surprised by the burst of color when a plant hits the water. You can test natural ingredients before placing eggs in them (you can usually judge by the color of the water how well it will dye). And you can always re-dye an egg if you're disappointed in the initial results.

Can I eat the eggs I've colored with natural dye?

» If you plan to eat eggs that you've colored with natural dyes keep them in mind as food as you dye them. Use the cold bath method, or (if you're after richer color) start with the hot bath, but cook the eggs just until the desired doneness. Then remove them from the pan, strain and cool the liquid, and place them back in. Put the soaking egg in the refrigerator. (Eggs that are going to be eaten shouldn't be kept out of the refrigerator for extended periods.) Remove, rinse, and let air dry. Then put right back in the refrigerator until you're ready to crack it open to make that egg salad. (If the shell cracks during dyeing, make sure whatever dyestuff you've chosen is safe for human consumption, or discard the egg.)