1 comments about Beyond Cortisone: Herbal Alt. for Inflammation.

1. In Beyond Cortisone: Herbal Alternatives for Inflammation, clinical herbalist Martha Moore first explains what inflammation is and what causes it. Although people regard inflammation as undesirable, Moore says it is a necessary part of the healing process. She adds that "inflammation may, however, develop at times and at sites with an intensity that is harmful, and the weapons intended to destroy invading elements or noxious stimuli may turn against the body itself."

   Moore describes exactly how the immune system recognizes and attacks foreign substances, and how that system sometimes becomes overwhelmed and breaks down, leading to chronic illnesses. She explains how the body chemicals and anti-inflammatory agents work together and how inadequate nutritional intake weaken those functions.

   Moore says herbalism is a holistic approach that "assists in resolving the condition while alleviating pain and discomfort. It is not aimed at simply alleviating symptoms, it also focuses on liver function, circulation and elimination, as well as quality of life." She adds that herbs primarily stimulate both anti-inflammatory and metabolic functions.

   The bulk of her book is devoted to describing the various herbs, how they work, and recommended dosages. She offers specific diet and nutritional information, as well as herbal treatments, for these common inflammatory diseases: allergies and asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, and eczema. She ends with a materia medica which lists the common herbs and how to use them. An appendix has a list of resources.

   Beyond Cortisone provides all the information needed to help those suffering from chronic inflammation find natural and gentle relief from their pain.

4 comments about Brought to Light: Shadowplay : The Secret Team/Flashpoint : The LA Penca Bombing (Two Books in One).

1. This book will really blow you away if you are unaware of American intelligence involvement in the various dirty wars of the past fifty years. If X-files-style paranoia appeals to you, this is really something to get your teeth into. While "The X-Files" suggests that US intelligence agencies have spent much of their time trying to cover up the existence of aliens, this book can produce evidence of much more frightening activities.

   This is two books in one: Alan Moore's half provides the history of US imperialism in an incredibly readable and yet deeply unsettling graphic story. The other half of the book is a documentary-style account of yet another US-sponsored assassination, and yet another suppressed investigation.

   I urge all Americans to read this book and reflect on whether you are comfortable with your tax money being spent on the murderous activities described.




2. Important background! In late 1993, Martha Honey & Tony Avirgan recanted their previous claims that the CIA tried to [end] Pastora after determining that Sandinista intelligence was behind the assasination attempt. Doug Vaughan published an expose on this in the San Francisco Chronicle/Miami Herald on August 1st, 1993.



3. Read Susie Morgan's book "In Search of The Assassin" in conjunction with this book. Susie was a survivor of La Penca and has doubts about the conclusions that this book comes to. Nobody wanted to talk about the bombing, and it is known that people lied to interviewers to cover up the facts.
   Read with a pinch a salt.



4. Considering that Brought To Light was published in 1988, and the book seems to imply that the lid would be blown off of these scandals, it's ironic to read it now and see that not only did nothing come of the expose, but no one even seems to remember (or care) about La Penca.

   Brought To Light is designed as a flipbook, with each side having a complete story, and it's own cover. The stories can be read in any order, as they only really converge at the end.

   I read Flashpoint: The La Penca Bombing first, and it's the best of the two. Joyce Brabner and Tom Yeates tell the story of a couple of American journalists trying to expose American involvement with the attempted assassination of a Guerilla leader in Central America. It's a gripping story, but with almost 15 years elapsing since it's original publication, I can't help but wonder what the REAL story is, and if anyone was ever brought to justice. Another reviewer here states that the whole story was later recanted....

   Shadowplay: The Secret Team, is a whole other ball of wax. Both stories are based on a lawsuit filed against the Federal Government by The Christic Institute, in which they hoped to expose 30 years of illegal and unconstitutional U.S. covert activities. Where Flashpoint tells a straightforward docudrama tale, Shadowplay is like Oliver Stone on a bad acid trip. Alan Moore and Bill Sienkiewicz' hallucinatory tale is a conspiracy-nut's wet dream, but the art is almost as hard to follow as the twisting logic of the narrative, and the lettering is so hard to read, I was sorely tempted to just stop reading the book entirely, something I NEVER do....Usually I LOVE Alan Moore, but this story was just too much.

   Overall, Brought To Light is an interesting read. If you already distrust "The Man", it won't tell you anything you didn't already suspect. And if you buy everything Uncle Sam tells you, you won't buy what the writers are selling.
   It's an interesting look back at a time when it seems America was more naive and trusting in the Government, but that's about it.

5 comments about Under the Mermaid Angel.

1. This is a great book. It shows wonderful examples of joy, pain, love, friendship, and sorrow. Roxanne comes into Jesse's life and they become best friends. Roxanne is kind of the outcast of Ida. With her bubbly personality, giant coat, wild red hair, and Liberty Bell tattoo, people look at her as a definate outcast. Roxanne teaches jesse the magic of life and they bond. This is a wonderful book for all ages. a must!!!



2. Although I read this book like 5 months ago I can still remember what it was about!! I can't even describe this book it was so amazing! To all readers out there: read this book you will fall in love with it!



3. I read this book when I was twelve. It is still my favorite book. And when I read it, I finished it in 2 days! I couldn't put the book down. It is not tons of adventure on every page but it is soo interesting. I felt connected to Jesse. Well, Jesse feels kinda in a rut in a very boring town (Ida). But when roxanne moves in she changes Jesses life. They become best friends even though the big age difference. I think the climax of the book was when Roxanne wanted to touch Frankenstiens hand at the church and she didn't. I thought it was so sad that she sat next to him but never said or did anything. And he never knew. And that she came all the way to Ida and sat next to him and never told him. Very sad. At the end of the book. I wished that it would go on. I wish Martha Moore would make a sequel. Because I want to know if Frankenstien ever found out about his mother.



4. I give Under The Mermaid Angel two thumbs up.
   It is a good book to read if you'r feeling really down and depressed and you just want a really good book to read to so totally boost up you'r spirit.



5. THIS IS SUCH A GOOD BOOK. I first picked up when I was in middle school (a very long time ago) and I try my hardest to read it again every few years. The characters are delightful and the entire book is a such a beautiful story. Highly Recommend It.

1 comments about NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS SHADOW BOOK (Shadow Book Series).

1. This is an enjoyable addition to a night before christmas collection - quite unusual, as you shine a flashlight through the picture to enlarge it upon a wall. Tends to get out of focus - kinda tricky, but fun

No comments about Do This in Remembrance of Me: A Ritual Approach to Reformed Eucharistic Theology.

1 comments about Matchit.

1. This book is about a boy named Matchit who doesn't think too much of himself or thinks he's popular.This story takes place at a junkyard where his dad leaves him to hightail it to Mt. Rushmore with his Girlfriend. Matchit thinks worst of the situation but he begins to lighten up later on.Great book about a boy who learns to face challenges with his dad being gone for a while. DEFINITLY 1-2-3-4-5 stars!!!!!! One of the better books I've read ever!!!!

5 comments about Sarah's Seasons: An Amish Diary and Conversation.

1. I think that many of us are facinated by the Amish and their way of life. Most of us will never have the chance to become close friends with an Amish woman and have the chance to observe her life close up. This book takes you into the day by day life of Sarah and lets you vicariously experience what it's like to live the "plain life". We see the various seasons as recorded in her diary over a 2 year period of time. Her developing friendship with the "English" author is touching and enlightening. This is a special book.



2. My co-worker loaned me this book. For I used to be a member of an Old Order Amish sect. What I found in the diary were true emotions and experiences that a woman faces living in an Old Order Amish sect. This is a beautifully portrayed work. I recommend it, as well as, "The Storekeeper's Daughter", by Wanda Brunstetter, and "My Amish Heritage", by Ruth Irene Garrett.
   
   Sicily Yoder aka Teresa Phillips
   Author of, "Leaving Lancaster County."



3. For those unfamiliar with Amish diaries, Sarah's musings are far from the emotion filled journal entries one commonly sees in the English world. Sarah's record keeping consists of three to five lines of basic news, usually including the weather and family illnesses, scribbled on a feed calendar. Martha Davis doggedly tries to find and analyze greater substance and meaning behind the two years worth of day to day activities noted in this way by her Amish friend. I'm not sure she succeeded, as her conclusion mirrors her repeated observations that Sarah's life is slower and more anchored in daily task work. It was still rewarding to read the news from Sarah's community in Kalona, Iowa during the 1976-77 years, and no doubt it has changed minimally since then. Overall, it was an enjoyable book that felt like a warm blanket, and I can't help but recommend it.
   
   For the curious, Sarah (Fisher) died some years back, and she'd probably be very surprised by how many people continue to enjoy this elaboration of her calendar.



4. Reading this wonderful book made me wish for a plain and simple life. Reading about Sarah and her everyday life made me feel Like I really knew her and this book reminded me of a time when I was much younger... with children...a husband and a house to run. Sarah takes life as it comes and seems to let nothing bother her. Her faith in God keeps her on a steady path. She is someone I would like to cross paths with. Birthing her babies, her mothers death...the cycles of life are all handled with dignity and grace. This is one book that I will keep on my book shelf.



5. This book is simply the diary of a young Amish housewife and mother going about her daily chores of cooking, sewing, cleaning, and rearing children. Interesting, but not particularly engaging look into the ordinary life of an Amish woman & the impressive amount of activity she crams into a single day in her life.

No comments about Gurdjieff: Eight Key Evocation.

No comments about Kaplan AP European History, 2008 Edition (Kaplan Ap European History).

No comments about The Inner Journey: Myth, Psyche, and Spirit (PARABOLA Anthology Series).