Tough for Chipmunks Too!

This past Saturday, on the way to shop with my friends Donald and Danny we came upon a yard with a tree that had been chopped down and stacked in pieces. On the tree was this note...

While this was cute, it shows that even despite the economic downfall that we are facing there is still someone out there that can take a moment to see and pass along a little humor.













(click photo to see larger image)

Awesome new site... and great gift idea (at least for me it is)

I found this today, and wanted to pass it along. Hope Wine (now OneHope).

They have ribbons for various causes on the labels of each of the different types of wine... you can get all the info at their site ( www.hope.com )... but here is a quick list.

Ribbon Color/Wine Type/Charity

Red /Merlot = Charities that fight AIDS

Pink/Chardonnay = Breast Cancer Charities

Green/Sauvignon Blanc = Save Our Planet Charities

Yellow/Zinfandel = Charities that Support Our Troops

Puzzle/Cabernet Sauvignon = Charities that support the fight against Autism

I am completely in love with these bottles, and according to the web site they are award winning wines. What is really great is that 50% of the profit from each bottle goes to various charities.

If anyone is wondering I like them all, but love the Puzzle and Green ribbons.

Wanda Sykes on Jay Leno...

Okay... so this is great for bringing more awareness to the injustice of Prop 8 (or Prop H8 as many are calling it)...

I love Jay's remark about how to get straight men to vote against Prop 8.

'tis the season for colds...

I don’t know if this counts as a good deed, but I thought it’s something that we can all apply to our daily lives... below are some ways to prevent catching a cold or the flu... with a few added comments for fun... (I hope you don’t mind)... and of course I hope you avoid getting sick this ‘season’.

Defensive Measures Against the Common Cold

There is no cure for the common cold, but you can protect yourself from as many sneezes as possible by:

· Washing your hands. Your best protection against a cold virus is to wash your hands often with soap and water. Be extra vigilant with hand washing during cold season if you work with kids or if you are around someone with a cold, especially someone in your own household... (on a side note... please wash your hands after using the restroom... those that don't know who you are, and so do we... and we think its gross!) Using paper towels instead of hand towels also helps cut down on exposure as germs can remain on hand towels for up to three hours... (and don't even get me started on those nasty air blowing hand dryers... ewww).

· Keeping a stash of gel. If you can’t always get to a sink, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends keeping some alcohol-based gel cleanser with you and using it often... (however do not use the gels in place of washing your hands, only in those rare times when you cannot make it to the sink to wash oh, and don’t let it get in a cut it really hurts... well a little anyway).

· Keeping your hands away from your face. Because cold viruses like to get into your body through your mouth, nose, and eyes, keeping your hands away from these body parts is essential to keeping colds at bay... (do I have to remind you to keep your hands to yourself as well... lol).

· Using your own stuff. Don’t use a cold-sufferer’s phone, keyboard, pen, drinking glass, or any other item where a cold virus can lie in wait... (and don’t let them use yours... this is the one time it’s okay to be selfish... nothing like having someone hacking all over your desk).

· Doing some disinfecting. Viruses are hardy creatures that can live up to three hours on objects. Use a disinfectant that specifically targets cold viruses to clean common areas... (no you cannot spray your coworker as much as you feel they need to be disinfected... that would be mean... funny, but mean).

· Keeping that immune system humming. Eat right, exercise, and manage stress to keep your immune system at its best to help you fight off any cold bug... (lots of veggies and fresh fruits.... see bottom of this post for a list of fruits and veggies).

· Avoiding the crowd. Because cold viruses are so contagious, you improve your chances of not getting one if you stay away from the pack... (so, although you may be the bell of the ball, and never home on a Friday night, just remember to follow the rest of the preventative suggestions, oh, and don’t kiss on the first date at least not during cold season... lol).

Here are some fruits and veggies that are high in many helpful vitamins...

broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries, papaya, grapefruit, oranges (surprisingly not the highest in vitamin C), cabbage, tomatoes, spinach, pineapple, watermelon, tangerines, limes, basil (one of my faves good in salads), blueberries (high in vitamin C and antioxidants), garlic (goes great with the basil, some toasted pine nuts EVOO, and parmesan cheese), apples, shiitake mushrooms, pears... well you get the idea. Lots of stuff for you to use to boost the immune system!

Have a great day,

redd

AIDS Day: Successful Global HIV Testing Campaign to Test 1M People Marches On

This is something I found out about last month when I was being tested by Angelica (who by the way was AMAZING and a hottie) at one of the mobile HIV Testing Stations in WeHo, and tho I didn't make it out to be tested today, I am glad that this movement is so successful.

Enthusiastic Response Greets Worldwide HIV Testing Campaign Led By AHF; 1,000 Organizations in 72 Countries Team Together to Test One Million People Worldwide November 26th - December 1st for Week of World AIDS Day

By: AIDS Healthcare Foundation ( http://www.aidshealth.org/ )

Los Angeles - December 1, 2008

As part of its global World AIDS Day effort to test one million people for HIV, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS group in the US which currently provides medical care and services in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, spearheaded the One Million Tests campaign. The campaign, which has been organized by AHF in coalition with over 1,000 global partners from 72 countries around the world, mobilized non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local and national governments, international relief agencies, faith-based organizations and civil society to participate. The goal: a worldwide commitment to provide a total of ONE MILLION Free HIV Tests during an extended World AIDS Day week from November 26th through December 1st-World AIDS Day.

“Our 'One Million Tests' campaign has been met with a wildly enthusiastic response in all corners of the world,” said Terri Ford, Director of Global Advocacy for AHF and Coordinator of the 'One Million Tests' campaign, in a statement from Africa where she is overseeing AHF's own 'One Million Tests' World AIDS Day testing efforts in South Africa and Uganda. “The collaboration and participation of so many partner organizations-NGOs, health ministries, government bodies, faith-based groups and others-has been inspiring, but I am truly heartened and humbled by those individuals who are seeking out the testing services that we and the more than thousand partner organizations are providing this week.”

“Testing, and linkage to care and treatment, when needed, are crucial linchpins in helping us break the chain of HIV infection,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Not only does antiretroviral treatment save the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, it also helps prevent further transmission of the virus. It is our belief that the successes of our 'One Million Tests' campaign clearly show how we can overcome roadblocks in the fight against HIV/AIDS-be they logistics, bureaucracy, stigma or indifference-by working together to develop easily accessible HIV testing models and improved access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment worldwide.”

Read the entire arcticle here... http://www.aidshealth.org/news/press-releases/aids-day-successful-global.html