PLACENCIA HANDS & HEARTS

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“SMILE”: Once regarded as unseemly, this fundamental human reaction to joyfulness has many more subtly unique occurrences. For example, we all recognize the real and the unauthentic smile, a smile that is repressed, open, determined, painful, disdainful, false, mocking, bitter, sarcastic, pitiful, intelligent, stupid, good-natured, loving, friendly, shy, gay, content, happy, to name but a few. Most importantly, they are all differentiated by the situation arising – that is, taken in context.

Among strangers there is always an anticipation of the encounter between them. A smile is the first reaction that shows one to the other that this encounter will be a good one. The opposite holds true for dread: a frown or blank stare, a challenge by the person who holds charge of the encounter, perceived to be just another annoying interlude in their busy and self-important schedule.

Some say it takes 43 muscles to frown and just 17 muscles to smile. But then again, all the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile. So, Placencia, if you would like to spoil the day of a grouch, give him a big smile!!

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Placencia has had more than its fair share of fires over the past three years. With more and more people training with the volunteer fire fighting program it seemed a good idea for a column of Fire Prevention Tips to run in the Placencia Breeze. Here is the first of many to follow:
Fire Hazards
A fire hazard is a condition that encourages a fire to start or increase the extent or severity of a fire. A fire cannot survive without a fuel supply. First is heat source (fire), second is oxygen and third is a fuel source. Remember, if any one of these is taken away, you will not have a fire. The most controllable of these are the fuel and heat sources. If there are kept separated then conditions remain safe.
Fuel Hazards:
Combustibles such as Wood, Cloth or Paper.
Flammable and Combustibles gases such as: Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Compressed Natural Gas.
Flammable and Combustibles liquids as: Gasoline, Oils, Lacquers or Alcohol.
Dust such as Grain, Wood, Metal or Coal.
Plastic, Resins and Cellulose.

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Posture and breathing
Provided by Heidi Ribary
About 60 to 80 % of people 30 years and older live with some kind of back pain. Most of the complaints involve the lower back and neck areas. Long periods of sitting while using the computer, driving a vehicle or watching TV will increase the chances of developing persistent pain initiated by a badly curved spine.
Bad Posture is the reason for uncountable aches and pains in many parts of the body. Most of the posture related pain arises from a deformed spine. A large percentage of people have weak stomach muscles. When walking or sitting these people’s stomach sags forward and the back is arched. Inactivity and sitting for long periods of time often are reasons for improper alignment of the spine. An incorrectly curved spine always results in pain because the nerves extending from the centre of the spine to the body and its extremities get squished and pinched. Add shortened and tense muscles, to the picture and a classic scenario for lifelong problems is created. Because bad posture often starts in early childhood or as a teenager the spinal abuse has many years to develop until pain keeps a person from functioning normally. By that time it is often too late to entirely reverse the damage, but regular exercise and stretching can certainly help ease the pain and keep the spine from further harm. Of course, prevention of the problem is much better. It is very important to consistently work on good posture throughout a lifetime starting at a young age. Posture and breathing are very closely related. Weak stomach muscles and a stooped upper body will compress the lung and airways. Therefore shallow breathing occurs and the body is deprived from getting enough oxygen. The body needs oxygen to function properly.
For people doing their job sitting in a chair all day it is absolutely necessary to periodically change position and perform exercises involving stretching and breathing. People must avoid sitting in the same crooked position for hours neither for work nor for pleasure. Always keep in mind, it is so much more fun to grow old while the body is healthy and fit to do the things we like to do!

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Tips for Consumers
-- By Chris Stormann, Ph.D.
Bogus exercise equipment and nutrition scams have been assaulting us for about as long as anyone can remember. According to author Dr. James Harvey Young, the scams date back as early as 1630. That was the year Nicholas Knopp of Massachusetts Bay was fined five pounds for vending, as a cure for scurvy, nothing more than high-priced water.
Flash forward to 2002 and the bogus claims of many exercise and nutrition products continue to be just as bold. Indeed, according to FTC chairman Timothy J. Muris, "For years, marketers of diet and exercise products have been preying on overweight, out-of-shape consumers by hawking false hope in a pill, false hope in a bottle, and, now, in a belt."
Muris goes on to state, "Unfortunately, there are no magic pills, potions, or pulsators for losing weight and getting into shape. The only winning combination is changing your diet and exercise." This announcement came on the heels of a bold move by the FTC when they pulled infomercials for three separate electronic abdominal workout belts.
Below are five tips from Stephen Barrett's 10 Ways To Avoid Being Quacked to help you protect yourself from exercise and nutrition foolery:
If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. You've heard it before but it's the best medicine for consumers prone to bouts of naivety.
Seeing isn’t always believing. Promoters of quackery go to great lengths to make sure the demonstrations (and there can be lots of them) look convincing and not outlandish.
Beware of pseudo-scientific jargon and claims that a supplement or herb will remedy a serious disease or act as a cure-all. Speak with your physician about current medications and changing your diet before taking supplements. The Food and Drug Administration does not require makers of dietary supplements to demonstrate their products are safe or effective.
Look out for conspiracy theories and secret cures. Statements that the government or pharmaceutical industries are withholding information or products that could help millions of people just doesn't make sense. If the product in question is legit, it would go against their capitalistic best interests to suppress it.
Quackery thrives on desperation and vanity. Sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, marketers know people want to be admired and sexy. Doctors and the scientific community go to great lengths to insure your safety before recommending medicines. Listen to their advice and do some research before taking an action contrary to accepted wisdom and sound medical practice.

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Health News Flash
-- By Nicole Nichols, Fitness Instructor & Health Educator
Compared to women of normal weight, women who are overweight or obese are more likely to become pregnant while taking birth control pills. A study published in January’s Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that 5% of overweight women (compared to 3% of normal weight women) became pregnant each year while on the pill.
According to researchers, the higher a woman’s BMI (body mass index- a relationship of height and weight), the greater her risk is of becoming pregnant while on the pill.
Action Sparked - One more reason to get fit this year! By losing just 5 or 10 pounds, you can significantly reduce your risk of an unintended pregnancy. Women with the lowest risk in this study weighed less than 165 pounds. By burning 500 calories per day (through diet and exercise) you can

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By Kylon Eiley w/ help from Standard V teacher Mr Gongora
St. John’s Memorial School has been chosen as the HIV/AIDS pilot school. The objective of this is to create awareness to everyone in the community including parents. Therefore our school embarked on a campaign in making a banner and billboard and also a community meeting with the village doctor.
Presently we are still working towards putting up more informative sign and video programs, which will be air on Placencia Cable. The work wouldn’t have been possible without our dedicated teachers and students of St. John’s Memorial.
For our part of the job we had to do a billboard. With help from Ms. Greta, Julianni Chan, Alex Bull, Stephen Faux and Brandon Rogers and I were able to succeed in the making of the billboard. The billboard will be situated in front of MnM’s Hardware.

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June 22nd, 2007 in Placencia Village
In Loving Memory of Edlin Leopold Leslie Sr.
Event Song: I Run For Life by: Melissa Etheridge
Registration Fee $25 & T-shirts-$25
Design-A-Space Logo on Battle Cancer T-Shirts $150
Register online at www.blissfulsage.org or in Placencia Village at the Placencia Pier between 2pm-5pm on April 3rd, 4th and 5th.
***Please approach the registration booth and request a sponsored slot. (No payment necessary, payment is covered by a sponsor).
Or you may contact Raquel or Veronica at 523-3299 between April 3rd & June 22nd.
We are doing all we can to support everyone with a desire to run or walk the 5 miles.
Come join us at the Placencia Village “Battle Cancer” 5Mile Run/Walk on Friday, June 22nd at 6:00 a.m. The race will start 5 miles outside of Placencia Village on the main road.  The race features a flat, fast, scenic course with a great post-race gift bag, Many prizes will also be given.
Organized by The BlissfulSage Foundation Inc, this year's event will support Cancer awareness in Southern Belize. Proceeds will support prostate cancer as well as cervical screenings on race day and the establishment and maintenance of The Edlin Leslie Sr. Hospice Care program. Help to care for cancer patients in Southern Belize.
When you refer a friend who registers online and includes your name in the referral field, you will receive $5.00 of your Battle Cancer race registration in 2008.
Come out to Register, Sponsor a runner or Design-A-Logo on the Battle Cancer T-Shirt!!
SEE YOU AT THE PIER!!!

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