Updates Blog

For Halloween, here’s a song compilation that’s all about the exhilaration of busting loose:

Also Sprach Zarathusra Born To Be Wild Another Brick In The Wall Der Kommissar Roam All Right Now Turn Me Loose Dancing In The Dark Danger Zone (Top Gun soundtrack) Venus Young Turks Bad To The Bone Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress Xanadu Through The Fire (Top Gun soundtrack) View To A Kill (from the Bond movie) Veteran Of A Thousand Psychic Wars Indian Reservation And When I Die

Richard Strauss Steppenwolf Pink Floyd After The Fire B-52s Free Loverboy Bruce Springsteen Kenny Loggins Bananarama Rod Stewart George Thorogood & The Destroyers The Hollies Olivia Newton-John Larry Greene Duran Duran Blue Oyster Cult Paul Revere And The Raiders Earth, Wind & Fire

Here are some other wild ‘n’ crazy tunes you might want to include in your own comp:

Roll On Down The Highway • Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Smooth • Santana
Hot Blooded • Foreigner
I Love Rock & Roll • Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
The Heat Is On • Glenn Frey
I Can’t Drive 55 • Sammy Hagar
Wild Thing • The Troggs
Stairway To Heaven • Led Zeppelin
Axis, Bold As Love • Jimi Hendrix
We Will Rock You • Queen
You May Be Right • Billy Joel
Don’t Ask Me Why • Billy Joel
Some Like It Hot • Robert Palmer

It feels good to have all these crazy-fun songs on one CD. It’s sort of like a vicarious rebel romp through all of space, time and human experience.

As I mentioned a few months ago in The Songs Of Songstresses post, you can get good deals at iTunes or Rhapsody.com for about a buck a song.

A WebMD article Top 6 Myths About Bottled Water exposes some myths about bottled water:

1. “Bottled water is better for you than tap.” Not necessarily — plus, you can get a filtration pitcher for about $25 that improves the quality of tap water.
2. “Purified water tastes better.” Actually, pure water with all minerals removed tastes flat.
3. “Bottled water with vitamins or other additives is healthier.” That’s somewhat true, but they really don’t add much that a daily vitamin already gives you.
4. “You need eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily.” Actually, eleven glasses are recommended, but water from juices and foods counts towards that amount.
5. “After intense workouts, drink bottled water.” Sports drinks work better — although for light workouts, regular water is good.
6. “Water bottles don’t harm the environment.” There are still environmental costs for trucking, manufacturing and everything else that goes into marketing and the necessary supply chain.

I’ve used this space to publish a couple of earlier music compilations, The Songs Of Songstresses and The Songs Of Summer. Over the next week I’ll publish another two comps, which will probably be all for this year and quite some time into the next year. Today I’ll publish the first half of a “songs for consumers” CD. On Halloween I’ll publish a “Born to Be Wild” comp, which you might say represents the middle word of Consumer Freedom Alliance.

Song and artist	Key Lyrics	My Comments
1. Born Free Andy Williams	Born free, as free as the wind blows As free as the grass grows Born free to follow your heart Live free, and beauty surrounds you The world still astounds you Each time you look at a star	A song to celebrate freedom, as well as animal rights issues (it was in the movie Born Free that starred African lions.)
2. Danny’s Song Loggins & Messina	Now I see a family where there once was none Now we’ve just begun Yeah, we’re gonna fly to the sun And even though we ain’t got money, I’m so in love with you, honey And everything will bring a chain of love.	All about the importance of families and kids, also about living happily even without much material wealth.
3. Taking It To The Streets The Doobie Brothers	You don’t know me but I’m your brother I was raised here in this living hell You don’t know my kind in your world Fairly soon the time will tell You, telling me the things you’re gonna do for me I ain’t blind and I don’t like what I think I see Takin’ it to the streets…	The other side: Poverty, unrest, distrust… and an ill-defined desire for social justice.
4. Fly Like An Eagle Steve Miller	Feed the babies who dont have enough to eat Shoe the children with no shoes on their feet House the people living in the street Oh, oh, there’s a solution I want to fly like an eagle to the sea Fly like an eagle, let my spirit carry me I want to fly like an eagle till I’m free Fly through the revolution	A song that (quite amazingly) unifies freedom and compassion. It’s main weakness is that it doesn’t address the spiritual needs of the impoverished.
5. Mr. Roboto Styx	I’m not a robot without emotions — I’m not what you see I’ve come to help you with your problems, so we can be free I’m not a hero, I’m not a saviour, forget what you know I’m just a man whose circumstances went beyond his control… Thank you very much, Mr. Roboto For doing the jobs that nobody wants to And thank you very much, Mr. Roboto For helping me escape just when I needed to… The problem’s plain to see: too much technology Machines to save our lives. Machines dehumanize.	I suppose most people wouldn’t have included this song in an album of this kind. I did because it’s absolutely how I feel about my career, especially the part about having to deal with computers.
6. Peace Of Mind Boston	Now everybody’s got advice they just keep on giving Doesn’t mean too much to me Lots of people out to make-believe they’re living Can’t decide who they should be. I understand about indecision But I don’t care if I get behind People living in competition All I want is to have my peace of mind.	People sometimes get into careers that don’t mean much. Let’s downshift from the “rat race,” at least occasionally.
7. Nikita Elton John	Oh I saw you by the wall Ten of your tin soldiers in a row With eyes that looked like ice on fire The human heart a captive in the snow… And if there comes a time Guns and gates no longer hold you in And if you’re free to make a choice Just look towards the west and find a friend	This and the next two songs are really about the international situation. The song was originally written in the eighties as sort of love/compassion letter to people (especially women) trapped behind the Iron Curtain. But it really is relevant to any unfree country. And I think a social prevalence of primitive family structures is a leading cause of war.
8. Top Gun Anthem	(instrumental tune — no lyrics)	The movie Top Gun was about hotshot naval-aviation pilots. I included it because the military factors into the resolution of foreign policy problems that affect everyone. Hopefully leaders will find more diplomatic methods, and when deemed necessary, learn to use military power more wisely.
9. Peace Train Cat Stevens	Now I’ve been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come And I believe it could be, something good has begun Oh, I’ve been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one And I believe it could be, some day it’s going to come ‘Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again	A peace song should follow a military song. I picked this one because it was passionately sung, and besides I couldn’t resist the irony:  Cat Stevens converted to Islam in 1976 and now splits most of his time between London and the United Arab Emirates. He emphatically denounced the 9/11 attacks and does a lot of charity performances.

I came to the end of my quote list for the Magic Mirror yesterday at quote #75 about Togetherness from Olivia Newton-John. I was sure there were 76 quotes… turns out, I published two Part 31s:

• Updates Blog » “Optimism” (Winston Churchill) and
• Updates Blog » “Forgiving” (Leo Tolstoy).

Which figures, because those two go together well. Optimism can be seen as a kind of forgiving in advance. Conversely, forgiving implies a certain optimism about human beings, at least in the sense of their capacity to grow.

~ Nature ~“Nature is the most beautiful thing we have. It’s better than art because it’s from the Creator.” — Olivia Newton-John “Hummingbird In Flowers” by Carol Adams • Visalia, California, United States   Olivia Newton-John English-born Australian Olivia Newton-John (1948 – ) is a Grammy-winning and Golden Globe nominated Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is an avid activist for both environmental issues and wellness causes including breast cancer awareness.

Here’s another installment of the best articles over the past few weeks, this time a baker’s dozen:

1. Pediatricians Double Vitamin D Requirement (ABC News):  They now recommend 400 international units per child per day.

2. 19 ways to have fun for less (BankRate.com):  Inexpensive entertainment options.

3. 10 winning ways to land the job you want (BankRate.com):  Ten fundamentals of job-hunting.

4. 10 biggest money blunders (BankRate.com):  Keep your finances in good order by avoiding these mistakes.

5. 6 deadly investing mistakes (BankRate.com):  Here’s what gets many investors into trouble.

6. Would Your Family Survive a Natural Disaster? (iVillage.com):  How to make sure your supplies and planning are adequate.

7. Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck (Kiplinger.com):  How to use budgeting your improve your finances.

8. Your Financial-Crisis Questions Answered (Kiplinger.com):  Kimberly Lankford, Kiplinger’s financial whiz, answers your questions.

9. How the Rescue Plan Helps Taxpayers (Kiplinger.com):  Tax breaks for college, charitable contributions from an IRA, sales taxes, teachers, alternative minimum tax relife, and disaster victims.

10. Bottled water versus tap: Which is safer to drink? (LATimes.com):  Often bottled water isn’t the best way to go.

11. Which Comparison Shopping Site Is Best? (PriceGrabber.com):  PriceGrabber.com was declared the best site for finding the best prices.

12. 15 Ways to Squeeze Your Budget (ThirdAge.com):  Some fundamental money-saving tips here, others are fairly creative.

13. What’s Really in Your Food (WebMD.com):  Here’s how to tell if a food product’s labeling is “for real.”

~ Togetherness ~“My most treasured possessions are not things — they are only things. My friends, family and animals are what counts.” — Olivia Newton-John “Great Wall, Great Walk” by Anonymous • China   Olivia Newton-John English-born Australian Olivia Newton-John (1948 – ) is a Grammy-winning and Golden Globe nominated Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is an avid activist for both environmental issues and wellness causes including breast cancer awareness.

Every 26 seconds, a motor vehicle is stolen in the United States. The odds of a vehicle being stolen were 1 in 190 last year. The odds of theft are highest in urban areas, where carjacking is more frequent: carjackings account for three percent of all motor vehicle thefts nationwide. Auto theft also includes auto component theft, which can even include airbags: more than 75,000 airbags are stolen every year in America.

Auto theft is covered by the optional comprehensive portion of auto insurance, which also pays for fire, vandalism and weather-related damage including damage from flooding and earthquakes.

If you like your car, chances are someone else will, too! Certain types of anti-theft devices have proven so effective that they will earn a discount from most insurance companies. These are the main types of vehicle anti-theft devices:

• Mechanical devices limit the steering wheel movement so thieves can’t drive your vehicle. Steering wheel locking bars such as “the Club” are the most common mechanical devices.
• Electronic immobilizers cut off power to parts of the vehicle’s ignition system so thieves can’t start the vehicle. Sometimes a vehicle alarm will also have an immobilizer built into the system.
• Vehicle alarms discourage thieves by drawing attention to your vehicle through loud noises (sirens, beeps, etc.). Sometimes they use flashing lights too.
• You can have your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etched onto all of the windows. Chop shops will find your car much less appealing

All anti-theft devices are either active or passive. Active devices are ones you have to set yourself, usually by moving a switch, removing a separate key or pushing a button. This includes all mechanical devices, because you must physically set them in place each time you use them. Passive devices automatically arm themselves when you turn off the vehicle and remove the key. These are considered more effective because they don’t rely on human memory to be activated.

To qualify for a discount on your insurance, your vehicle must be equipped with a passive electronic immobilizer. In other words, you must have an electronic system that will cut off power to the fuel, starter or ignition system, and that automatically sets itself when you leave the vehicle.

To pick the best device for your situation, you should:

• Determine your budget. You can install a kill switch yourself for about $10 or you can outfit your rig with all possible protection for more than $1,000.
• Factory-installed security systems that come with new cars vary in quality. Before you buy a car, find out what security system is installed and check with your insurance company to learn whether they will give you a discount.
• A backup battery is important: your alarm is useless without one if a thief unhooks your battery. Some alarms will even send a message to your pager when your alarm has been set off.
• Use a fuel-switch or ignition-kill switch (also known as immobilizers) to prevent the car from being started. Make sure the switch is hidden, or else a thief can find it and easily bypass it. Many car alarms have an ignition-kill option.
• Find an alarm installer who is Mobile Electronics Certification Program (MECP) certified. Check with the Better Business Bureau first, and once the system is installed, ask the technician to show you how it works.

Most cars are stolen because they are easy prey. These tips can help:

1. Always take your keys. Nearly 20% of all vehicles stolen have the keys in them. Never leave your car running, even if you will only be gone for a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas stations, ATM’s, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on cold mornings when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up.
2. Always lock your car. About 50% of all vehicles stolen are left unlocked.
3. Never hide a second key in your car. Car thieves know where to look for them.
4. Park in well-lighted areas. Over half of all vehicle thefts occur at night.
5. Park in attended lots. Auto thieves do not like witnesses.
6. Completely close your car windows when parking. Don’t make it any easier for the thief to enter your vehicle.
7. Park with your wheels turned to one side. Make your car tough to tow away, whether it’s in a parking lot or in your driveway.
8. Don’t leave valuables in plain view. Don’t make your car a more desirable target than it already is.

~ Gratitude ~“My cancer scare changed my life. I’m grateful for every new, healthy day I have.” — Olivia Newton-John “Happy Child” by Mandy Godbehear • Spain   Olivia Newton-John English-born Australian Olivia Newton-John (1948 – ) is a Grammy-winning and Golden Globe nominated Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She is an avid activist for both environmental issues and wellness causes including breast cancer awareness.

Nearly everyone should get an annual flu shot. People with weak, under developed or impaired immune systems need flu shots the most. Infants, the elderly and those who are seriously ill, are all vulnerable to virus attacks. People under chemical or radiation treatment for cancer also need flu shots because their medication and lines of treatment severely hampers their body defense systems. Similarly, people with AIDS need flu shots most. The protection of flu shots lasts for about a year, so the jab is an annual event for most of us.

People with histories of severe allergic reactions to vaccines and those with a disease of the nervous system known as the Guillain-Barre syndrome cannot take flu shots. Doctors are trained to diagnose such conditions, and this is one of the main reasons why lay people should not rush around trying to get flu shots on their own. Flu shots are grown in eggs, so you cannot take one if you are allergic to this product. Your allergy to eggs is not something doctors may know, so it is up to you to tell them if you know. Such allergies show up early in life, so most people would know if they are allergic to eggs. There are tests available to confirm this if you have a suspicion of egg allergy.

Flu shots cost around $15 each, and they are almost painless.

• Nasal spray versions are available, but people below 5, over 49 and the pregnant have to bare their arms for shots.
• Primary Care Physicians should prescribe flu shots and they should be administered by qualified medical personnel. You could lose health insurance benefits if you take flu shots on your own, and could fall sick if injected by an unauthorized person.
• Influenza is known to associate with pneumonia, a bacterial infection of the lungs. Doctors sometimes combine flu shots with vaccination against pneumonia. The pneumonia protection is for life, so you need to be injected just once.
• Your local Government Health Clinic is the best place to get flu shots, and some all-purpose convenience outlets offer the facility as well.

When to get flu shots

The sooner in the fall season, the better! Your immune system needs plenty of time to gear up for the increased threats during the coming months. Most people need about 60 days for their flu shots to take full effect.

Those who work with influenza patients, travel abroad or who take medicines which deplete the immune system, cannot afford to wait for the peak US season for influenza to take their flu shots. They should be vaccinated at regular intervals as long as they run risks of exposure.

The location of the flu shot could feel sore for a few days, and there may some mild body ache with a low fever. A doctor should keep watch in case these symptoms do not wane quickly and disappear altogether in a few days.

There are a few cases in which flu shots cause severe allergic reactions such as dizziness, rapidly escalating body temperature and make it difficult to breathe. It is best to lie down in a quiet place of the doctor’s office for a few minutes after taking flu shots.

The most disturbing aspect of flu shots is that they may not work in all cases. Flu shots reduce the chances of influenza, but do not rule out the possibility of the disease altogether. A major issue is the insidious ability of a virus to change form and evade a body’s defenses by deceit. More than 50% of the elderly may show signs of influenza even after flu shots. The efficacy of flu shots in the total population does not exceed 90%, which means that one in every 10 people with flu shots will still fall ill. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile for people who are especially vulnerable to viral attack to take flu shots.

What if you still get the flu? Influenza is relatively easy to treat provided that you see a doctor in time. The first two days after infection are most important for quick and complete action from medicines. The latter have a series of potential side-effects, so they can only be taken under medical supervision.

You can reduce the chances of viral attack by preventing people coughing and sneezing in your face, and by wiping faucets and knobs in rest rooms dry before you touch them. Keep your hands dry and clean as well. Balanced nutrition, regular exercise and avoiding excess stress are generally enough to keep your immune system in top gear. A simple total blood count can tell a doctor if there are any concerns on this account.

Alternative medicine providers boast of a number of herbal agents for which there are some anecdotal reports of efficacy. None of these have been evaluated for safety by modern scientific standards or have US FDA approval. Regulatory controls on their production are poor, especially if they are made abroad. Who knows what they may contain! A personal decision to try some of the products that are promoted on the Internet and at some stores could entail untold risks. It could also jeopardize your health insurance benefits.