HEARD IT AND READ IT

Prepared by Bassam Mechammil

January 2008

 

HEALTH:

The miracle power of nuts: Nuts are among the most healthful foods you can eat. Rich in nutrients, they can help prevent some of the most common and most serious diseases. For example, in a long-running health study conducted by researchers at Loma Linda University, participants were asked what foods they ate most often. Those who ate nuts five or more times a week were about 50% less likely to have a heart attack than those who ate them less than once a week. Many Americans avoid nuts because they want to cut back on fat and calories. It’s true that a single serving of nuts can have 20 grams of fat and 180 to 200 calories, but most of the fats are healthy fats. Americans need to get more, not less, of these healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fat. As long as you limit yourself to a small handful of nuts daily you don’t need to worry about the extra calories. Each type of nut contains a different mix of nutrients, fats, and protective antioxidants, which can neutralize cell-damaging free radicals. People who eat a variety of nuts will get the widest range of benefits. Raw, toasted, or roasted nuts are fine as long as they are unsalted.

All nuts are good for the heart but the following nuts are especially beneficial:

  1. Macadamia nuts will lower your LDL cholesterol without lowering your HDL cholesterol.
  2. Pistachio nuts will lower your blood pressure.
  3. Almonds are rich in calcium that will strengthen your bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. They contain magnesium and potassium as well, which will both control the relaxation and contraction of blood vessels.
  4. Brazil nuts are a great source of selenium and are also high in vitamin E, which will both reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
  5. Pecans contain antioxidants that will fight free radicals to keep the eyes healthy.
  6. Walnuts are one of the best sources of omega-3 which appear to help maintain a healthy brain.

 

Important findings: 

  1. Bad events are more memorable than good events. Recent studies found that negative emotions such as fear and sadness increase activity in the part of the brain linked to memories, so bad memories are recalled easily. Positive emotions do not have the same effect; that’s why it makes sense to focus on potentially threatening information to protect against future dangers.
  2. Did you ever wonder what keeps the red meat that you use for Khobee-Neeye longer than average? The short answer is Myoglobin, a protein that looks red when it’s blended with oxygen. To keep meat looking rosy, manufactures may pump in some carbon monoxide which sticks to myoglobin like glue, keeping the meat red for weeks. Carbon monoxide is also used to keep tuna looking fresh for a long time.

 

 

TAX TIME:

Besides what you usually deduct from your taxes, you may deduct these as well: 

  1. Accounting fees for tax preparation services and audits for the IRS.
  2. Treatment for alcoholism or drug abuse.
  3. Appreciation on property donated to charity.
  4. Cell-phone used for businesses or to manage your investment.
  5. Home computer depreciation if used for businesses.
  6. Fees for a safe-deposit box that holds your investments/for businesses.
  7. Gambling losses, provided that you have gambling winnings.
  8. Investment advisory fees.
  9. Mortgage pre-payments, penalties, and fees.
  10. The cost of worthless stock and securities.

 

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS TO BE KEPT:

  1. Canceled checks generally for seven years to support your tax filing.
  2. Personal and state tax return documents for seven years.
  3. Loan documents until you repay the loan.
  4. Product receipts until your warranty is expired.
  5. The 401 K statements until you get a new one.
  6. Bank statements up to seven years.

 

LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES: 

 

Ranking of "1" is Most Dangerous; "50" is Safest

STATE

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

Alabama

17

18

19

18

20

17

19

21

19

20

21

23

20

16

Alaska

7

9

8

12

8

11

5

13

11

13

10

12

14

24

Arizona

3

4

3

3

3

5

7

7

8

9

6

5

7

9

Arkansas

13

15

22

25

23

22

25

22

20

23

25

25

26

30

California

9

10

10

10

12

13

17

12

10

7

5

6

8

6

Colorado

22

22

24

24

25

30

26

26

31

29

31

21

18

20

Connecticut

40

39

39

39

36

37

37

34

35

32

32

30

36

31

Delaware

18

24

15

20

19

12

10

11

17

18

16

33

12

21

Florida

8

7

6

7

4

2

2

2

2

2

2

3

4

5

Georgia

20

13

13

17

15

16

13

14

14

12

17

15

21

11

Hawaii

28

26

25

23

26

28

33

35

29

31

29

27

30

28

Idaho

39

40

41

40

42

46

42

40

41

41

40

38

35

39

Illinois

21

19

16

13

13

10

11

9

9

10

8

8

5

4

Indiana

25

28

27

26

24

26

24

25

24

26

27

29

31

25

Iowa

43

43

43

42

43

44

43

42

42

44

42

45

45

48

Kansas

27

25

26

31

28

23

23

27

28

30

31

26

23

15

Kentucky

34

33

37

36

35

35

38

39

37

38

37

34

44

42

Louisiana

10

2

2

2

1

1

4

4

3

1

3

2

1

1

Maine

48

49

48

48

48

49

48

48

48

48

48

49

50

49

Maryland

4

5

4

4

5

4

6

5

7

4

4

4

2

2

Massachusetts

30

30

29

27

31

32

30

29

30

28

26

31

28

29

Michigan

11

12

12

11

9

9

12

10

12

11

12

13

13

12

Minnesota

32

35

36

35

34

34

36

33

32

33

33

36

42

34

Mississippi

24

21

17

14

14

20

16

16

13

19

19

20

25

32

Missouri

19

20

21

19

17

21

21

20

22

21

20

9

17

14

Montana

44

42

40

44

41

42

45

45

46

43

43

41

38

41

Nebraska

37

34

35

34

39

36

34

37

39

39

41

42

43

44

Nevada

1

1

1

1

2

7

3

3

1

3

1

1

3

7

New Hampshire

47

47

47

47

46

43

49

49

49

49

49

47

47

45

New Jersey

33

32

32

33

32

33

31

30

27

24

24

22

22

17

New Mexico

2

3

9

6

7

3

1

1

4

5

7

7

9

13

New York

31

31

31

28

29

24

22

23

23

16

14

14

11

8

North Carolina

16

17

18

15

16

15

14

15

16

17

18

17

19

22

North Dakota

50

50

50

50

49

50

50

50

50

50

50

48

46

47

Ohio

23

23

23

22

22

25

28

28

26

27

28

29

29

23

Oklahoma

15

14

14

16

18

19

18

18

18

15

13

16

15

18

Oregon

29

27

28

32

33

30

27

24

25

25

23

19

24

27

Pennsylvania

26

29

30

30

30

31

29

31

33

34

34

39

38

37

Rhode Island

35

38

33

29

27

27

32

38

38

36

36

44

41

36

South Carolina

6

6

5

5

11

8

8

6

6

6

11

10

10

10

South Dakota

45

45

46

46

47

47

44

47

44

46

46

43

37

43

Tennessee

5

8

7

8

6

6

9

8

5

8

9

18

16

19

Texas

12

11

11

9

10

14

15

17

15

14

15

11

6

3

Utah

38

36

34

38

37

39

39

32

34

35

35

35

33

35

Vermont

49

48

49

49

50

48

47

46

47

47

47

50

49

50

Virginia

36

37

38

37

38

38

35

36

36

37

38

32

32

38

Washington

14

16

20

21

21

18

20

19

21

22

22

24

27

26

West Virginia

41

41

44

45

45

41

40

44

45

45

45

46

48

46

Wisconsin

42

44

42

41

40

40

41

41

40

40

39

37

34

33

Wyoming

46

46

45

43

44

45

46

43

43

42

44

40

40

40

 

 

MOST DANGEROUS CITIES:

 

  1. Detroit, Michigan
  2. St. Louis, Missouri
  3. Flint, Michigan
  4. Oakland, California
  5. Camden, New Jersey
  6. Birmingham, Alabama
  7. Charleston, South Carolina
  8. Memphis, Tennessee
  9. Richmond, California
  10. Cleveland, Ohio
  11. Orlando, Florida
  12. Baltimore, Maryland