Author: Joe Withrow

How to Get Paid Up Front to Buy Stocks

submitted by jwithrow.stocks

Want to get paid up front to buy stocks you want to own at a price you specify? Selling put option contracts allows you to do just that.

Put options are a contractual agreement between two parties. The owner of the put option contract has the right to sell the designated stock to the counter-party at the agreed upon strike price at any time prior to the specified expiration date. In exchange for this right the owner of the put option must pay a market-based premium to the seller up front. Each contract is for 100 shares of the underlying stock.

For the owner, put options can serve two purposes – either as a downside hedge or as speculation. Generally speaking, the owner of the put option profits from the deal if the stock declines below the strike price.

In order to get paid up front to buy the stocks you want you simply need to “be the store” for hedgers and speculators and sell puts on stocks you would like to own. You choose the stock, the strike price, and the expiration date and you receive the premium immediately upon execution. That premium is yours to keep no matter what happens. If the stock is still above the strike price on expiration day then you walk away from the trade with pure profit. If the stock is below the strike price and the put option is exercised then you are obligated to buy 100 shares of the stock per option contract sold and the premium you were paid up front serves to reduce your cost basis in that position.

There are two basic strategies for selling put options. The first is to sell in-the-money puts on stocks you absolutely want to buy. This strategy can enable you to buy the stock at a lower price than it is trading for at the time.

Let’s use AUY as an example of this strategy (not a recommendation). AUY is currently trading at $4.48 per share. Instead of purchasing AUY at $4.48/share you could sell the February 20 5.5 Put for approximately $1.30 per share. This would obligate you to purchase 100 shares per put contract of AUY at $5.50 per share on or before February 20 and you would be paid $130 per contract up front to do so.

Now there are only two possible results. If AUY is trading above $5.50/share on February 20 then the put option expires worthless and you walk away with $130 per contract sold and you can explore selling more put options on AUY if you want. If AUY is still trading below $5.50/share on February 20 then you will be “put” the stock and you must purchase 100 shares per contract at $5.50/share. But you were already paid $1.30 per share so you would effectively be buying AUY at $4.20 per share ($5.50-1.30). Recall AUY was trading at $4.48 when you sold the put so you are buying the stock at a lower price than you could have originally.

The second strategy is to sell out-of-the-money puts on blue-chip stocks that you don’t think will dip below the strike price but you wouldn’t mind owning if they did. This is primarily a low-risk strategy for generating income and the lower premiums reflect this.

Let’s use WMT as an example of this strategy (not a recommendation). WMT is currently trading at $89.68 per share. We could sell the WMT March 20 82.5 Put for approximately $0.70 per share. In this example WMT would have to decline by roughly 8% in a little over two months for the put contract to be exercised. We walk away with $70 per contract unless that sharp decline happens.

As you can see, selling put options involves limited risk. You must keep enough cash in your brokerage account to purchase the underlying stock should the option be exercised but that is the most you can lose in each trade. If done properly, selling put options is actually less risky than buying stocks outright.

As always, be mindful of your asset allocation model before venturing into the equity markets.

Rethinking Modern Medicine’s Germ Theory

by Daniel A. Middleton, DC – ICPA:germ theory

The germ theory states that diseases are due to specific microorganisms, which are capable of transmission from body to body. Yet although it is widely accepted by medical professionals, forming the basis for billions of dollars of healthcare spending (actually sickness care, but that’s another article), the fact that so many people believe it to be true doesn’t make it so. This is one of the classic logical fallacies: argumentum ad populum, the appeal to the majority, where a thing is stated to be true simply because so many people believe it.

That didn’t work for the belief that the earth was flat, and it shouldn’t work for a theory of disease that is increasingly coming under fire from the scientific community and whose fundamental premise was known to be flawed almost from the beginning. I am reminded of the famous quote by Anatole France: “If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.”

Everyone has heard of the Black Plague that swept through Europe in the Middle Ages, resulting in the death of nearly a third of the European population (25 million people dead over the five-year period between 1347 and 1352). What is most interesting, however, is the other two-thirds—the ones who didn’t die. Many times the survivors were members of the same family as the victims, sharing a home and meals across the same family table. What about them—why didn’t they ‘catch’ the disease? Were they just lucky?

I’m not denying that the disease itself existed; it’s well-documented. The Bubonic Plague, associated with the bacterium named Versenia pestis, was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history—and one of the most studied. Instead, my argument is against the ‘germ theory of disease’ itself, the overriding idea in many people’s minds that exposure to a germ almost always equals disease, when common sense tells us that this simply is not the case.

The germ (or virus or bacteria) might well be the agent of disease, but the cause is much more complex than that. Otherwise, as chiropractic pioneer B.J. Palmer said, eventually no one would be alive to tell you about it! If our bodies can be kept whole and healthy, then the germs, which we come into contact with every day, would have no purchase. One of the goals of chiropractic is to have your body function at such a level that you don’t get sick very often—and that when you do, your immune system, stronger because of more efficient body-brain communication, is better able to fight off the disease, letting you recover more quickly.

Chiropractic is a vitalistic way of looking at our ideas of health and wellness, of how we get sick and why. Very often, it’s at odds with the predominant (mechanistic) model of health that everyone is used to. With the number of drug ads on television and in magazines, and news shows touting the latest medical advancement to treat this or that disease (many of which show up later with unpredicted—maybe even unpredictable—side effects or problems) and the countless TV shows idolizing medicine (e.g. House, ER, Grey’s Anatomy, Nip/Tuck, etc.) all the way back to the early days of television (City Hospital and The Doctor first appeared back in 1951, with the more well-known and iconoclastic Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey showing up ten years later).

Is it any wonder that we all grew up believing in the medical model of health care? After all, surely we could trust Robert Young’s kindly and grandfatherly Marcus Welby, M.D. In fact, we trusted him so much that Young made a subsequent commercial for a popular pain reliever (“I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV…”) that became a well-worn cliché. But what if the foundation on which the entire medical model rests is flawed? What if the “germ theory of disease” is not quite so cut and dried as we’ve been led to believe? Highly controversial when it was first proposed, the germ theory is now the cornerstone of modern medicine, and its chief proponent, Louis Pasteur, a demigod in the medical canon. But is what we remember Pasteur for the last he said on the subject?

Everyone is familiar with Pasteur’s name, but one of his contemporaries and chief opponents was a scientist named Claude Bernard (1813–1878), who argued that it was not the ‘seed’ (the germ) that caused disease, but was instead the ‘soil’ (the human body). Bernard argued that germs are nothing more than opportunistic organisms. It was an argument that persisted throughout their careers, and for his entire life Pasteur was convinced that germs lay at the cause of all disease. Only on his deathbed—with Claude Bernard present—did Pasteur finally admit that Bernard was right. In the end, Pasteur came to realize that the germ was not the only element in determining who became sick and who remained well.

What this tells us is that modern medicine (or Big Pharma, as the pharmaceutical companies with revenues exceeding $3 billion are often called) has based its fundamental premise on a theory that even its most well-known proponent—as Pasteur arguably was—recanted in the end. For the past one hundred years, modern medicine has pursued a theory that is, at best, only a single aspect of the cause of disease and, at worst, a theory flawed at its core.

How much better spent would our health dollars be—in treatment, education and research—if they supported instead research into how to make the “soil” less hospitable to the “seed,” rather than chasing cures and potions for every collection of symptoms that can be named? Just as in a court of law deathbed confessions are given an extra weight, so too should we regard Pasteur’s final comment on his most famous theory: “Bernard avait raison. Le germ n’est rien, c’est le terrain qui est tout.” (“Bernard was right. The seed is nothing, the soil is everything.”)

Article originally posted at ICPA.org.

Charting Your Homeschool Course

by Vicki Bentley – HSLDA:homeschool library

When I mention the word curriculum, what comes to mind? Most of us think of books. While your studies will surely include books, the word curriculum simply means “course of study” (its root translates from the French courir, “to run,” and Latin counterparts). Think of your curriculum as the road map for your homeschool journey.

Now, a little secret about maps and me: I am hopelessly geographically challenged. I have been known to call my husband on my cell phone from the parking garage of the state convention, unable to find an exit—even after 11 years at the same facility. Not long ago, I got lost for 20 minutes, a mile from my own house—after four years at the same address.

So if I called you for directions, you’d probably ask me where I am now and where I want to go, so you could help me figure out the best way to get from here to there. Similarly, in mapping out your homeschool course, you must determine where you are now, where you plan to go, then ascertain the best way to get from here to there (lest you be “lost in the parking garage” of homeschooling). This can seem overwhelming, but don’t panic! Let’s take a “rest stop” to determine your philosophy of education, which will guide you on the rest of your journey.

Why are you homeschooling?

Is this something you feel “called” to do, or are you “trying it out” for a year? This will steer your curriculum choices somewhat. If you are planning to put your child into public school in the near future, you may want to use a fairly conservative approach, possibly a pre-packaged curriculum (maybe a correspondence course), or you may want to compare your customized curriculum to the grade-level standards of learning for your state. For placement (knowing where to begin), determine what your child already knows versus what is covered in the material. Just because he is a first-grader doesn’t mean he has to be constrained to covering first grade reading skills again if he is already reading well above grade level.

(Note: If you are removing a child from a conventional school setting and you have a concern that he is not up to the cognitive levels indicated by his grade level, you may wish to have him take a standardized test or have him evaluated in some way to provide a baseline for you. That way, at the end of the year, you have a starting point against which to evaluate his progress.)

If you are committed to homeschooling for at least several years, you will have more latitude in your choices, since you will be responsible for setting the long-term standards for your child’s education. What is your concept of an education? What skills, knowledge, and/or experience will your child need in order for you to consider him ready to be on his own? If you can’t think that far ahead right this moment, at least consider what you want him to have accomplished by the end of this year. These goals should be measurable—how will you know when they have been accomplished? Discuss with your spouse and your child (if appropriate) how these objectives fit into the “big picture” of his future.

This is also a good time to set some goals for yourself and your family in general. As you choose activities and curriculum for your children, evaluate these against the goals you have set for this year. Will this activity move you closer to your stated objective? Is a good activity or book or class keeping you from having time to do what is best? Maybe it is something that can wait until another time.

Will you use a packaged curriculum to get started? Or will you choose various books and games that fit into your plan? Are there some subjects that you can teach to all the children at one time in a multi-level approach? Do you prefer the security and continuity of a traditional textbook approach, or do you like the idea of an integrated unit study approach? Maybe the patriotism of the principle approach excites you, or possibly your maternal instincts go into overdrive when you read about Charlotte Mason’s gentler approach to learning. As you read, you may find that the classical approach sounds like what you equate with homeschooling, or maybe you are attracted to the relaxed approach of studying what is of interest in your family at the moment. Feel free to borrow and re-arrange from all these different approaches; they are not mutually exclusive. That’s one of the wonderful benefits of homeschooling—you can create a custom curriculum!

There is no one “right” way to homeschool, no “perfect” curriculum. What works for one family may not be the best for another, or what works for you one year with one child may not work for the next. Don’t compare your children to the support group leader’s children or your friend’s children; compare your family only to God’s ideal for your family.

Have a great time along the way, and be prepared for an incredible journey!

Article originally posted at HSLDA.org.

Cooking for Learning

by Laura Grace Weldon – ICPA:cooking

It’s easier to cook when our children aren’t in the way. Bubbling pots and sharp knives, after all, are hardly child-friendly. But the kitchen shouldn’t be off-limits to kids.

Yes, dinner takes longer to make when Mason snips the cilantro to shreds and Sophie reads the recipe out loud. And you’ve got places to go—probably places to take your darling children, like T-ball practice or that great science program at the museum.

But how much, really, do our beloved children benefit from a steady schedule of, well, scheduled activities? We tend to forget that ordinary activities, such as cooking together, can be flexible, hands-on, purposeful experiences, too.

As they snip, read and converse with us, our kids are learning physical, mental and social skills. Here’s how cooking can be educational for them.

Mirror neurons. Even a baby in an infant seat benefits from time in the kitchen. She pays attention to your actions. She’s delighted when you talk to her and show her what you’re doing. Due to mirror neurons in our brains, all of us mentally duplicate actions and emotions we see. This inborn way of learning means that we’re continually participating in what we observe. Your baby’s mirror neurons allow her to vicariously experience what you’re doing. As she sees you wash, peel and cut carrots, she’ll form a mental template for that task, essentially allowing her to practice in advance.

If you change an element of that familiar activity— perhaps by using garden-fresh carrots with long waving fronds instead of milled carrots from a plastic bag—your little one will pay heightened attention. If your knife slips and you cut yourself, she’ll react to your surprise and pain, making her understanding of sharp implements more real than any warning might accomplish.

Meaning. Young children clamor to be included. When a preschooler begs to help prepare dinner, he doesn’t want to play with a toy cooking set; he wants to participate in the real work that’s taking place. It slows us down to let him cut fresh mushrooms with a butter knife (and restraint to avoid criticizing or re-cutting), but your child recognizes his contribution toward dinner. He’s also more likely to eat it.

Responsibility. Research has shown that children who participated in household tasks starting at age 3 or 4 were more likely to succeed in adulthood. I’m talking about educational completion, career success, and good relationships with family and friends. Even I.Q. scores had a weaker correlation with success than giving children early responsibilities. And waiting until children were older tended to backfire. We spend much time and money on enriching activities and products for our children, but if they don’t get the chance to take on real responsibilities, we’re depriving them of key components of adult competency.

Higher-level learning. Kitchen-related tasks allow our children to learn more than how dry pinto beans are transformed into enticing refried beans. Kids begin to see scientific principles at work. They develop personal qualities such as patience. They are motivated to apply what they’re learning to more challenging endeavors. Sure, it doesn’t hurt to know what it takes to grow the tomatoes, make the sauce, and prepare the beans for tonight’s bean enchiladas. But more importantly, as our children become proficient in the kitchen, they also see themselves as capable learners. That perception transfers across all endeavors.

Sensory learning. Full sensory learning has staying power. Apart from nature, it’s hard to find a more sensory rich environment than the kitchen. As your child’s little fingers crumble blue cheese into dressing, add raisins to a measuring cup, or tear mint leaves for chutney, the tactile and olfactory pleasure help encode specific memories. Perhaps the happiness your daughter feels making mint chutney with you today will be evoked each time she smells mint in the future. We humans must see, hear, smell, touch and, yes, taste to form the complex associations that make up true comprehension.

Active learning. Childhood is a period of major neuroplasticity, when learning actually changes the brain’s functional anatomy. Hands-on experiences are particularly vital at this time. In fact, the child who spends plenty of time with manipulatives (arranging cookies on a platter, sifting flour, washing silverware) and using real-world math (measuring ingredients, counting celery stalks, following recipes) has a strong foundation of representational experience, which in turn enables better understanding of abstract mathematical concepts. These hands-on experiences also contribute to reading readiness. Another benefit of kitchen learning? Cooking and tasting the results a short time later provides wonderful lessons in cause and effect.

Simplicity. Children accustomed to blinking, beeping toys and rapidly changing screen images may become so wired to this over-stimulation that without it, they’re bored. The slower pace of kitchen conversation and cooking tasks can be an important antidote, especially when we’re willing to go at a child’s pace. Young children tend to balk when they’re hurried. They show us, stubbornly and often loudly, that there’s nothing more important to them than the here and now. So whenever possible, simplify so you can make your time together in the kitchen enjoyable. Slowing down is better for digestion, concentration and overall happiness. Letting a small child spread his own peanut butter, cut his own sandwich and pour milk from a tiny pitcher into his cup is a way of affirming the value of the present moment. It also makes for an effortless tea party.

Skill building. There’s no denying that children who help out in the kitchen pick up useful skills. They learn that a cake takes lots of mixing, but muffins very little. They can set the table, toss a salad, make a sandwich and boil pasta. Not right away, but eventually. They also learn from the examples we show them, such as how to handle pressure and ways to learn from mistakes. Whether we’re 4 years old or 40 years old, gaining competency feels good. It doesn’t hurt to give credit where it’s due. So if your child has been busy peeling potatoes and crumbling bacon, try renaming the entrée “Max’s special potato soup” for extra reinforcement.

Purpose. When we prepare a family meal, bake a cake to celebrate a friend’s good news, or change a favorite recipe to accommodate Grandpa’s diabetes, our efforts have noticeable value. As our children participate along with us, they feel that same satisfaction. So many educational tasks put before our children serve no purpose other than to instruct. But when learning is connected to something truly purposeful, it can’t help but spark enthusiasm. Children feel honored to be included in real work that includes real challenges. If we pay attention, we’ll see that’s just what they pretend to do when they play.

Getting Started
Even toddlers can help. Let small children cut mushrooms, pears, bananas and other soft items with a blunt knife. Encourage them to stir (as long as you or they hold the bowl). They’ll be happy to add ingredients, tear lettuces and grate cheese. When putting together forgiving dishes like soups or casseroles, have them help you choose herbs and spices by smell before you toss in a pinch or two.

Encourage your small fry to wash unbreakable items in a sink of warm, soapy water. Let them clean up crumbs on the floor with a small whisk broom or handheld vacuum. Put them in charge of setting out napkins on the table and calling family members to dinner. Give them the job of stacking unbreakable containers in a low cabinet. Solicit their opinions on aroma, taste and appearance as you cook together. And remember to thank them for their assistance.

As they get older, children can read recipes, plan meals and do nearly every task required to make the dishes they enjoy. The time will come when they won’t want you in the room explaining how to fix a lumpy cream sauce or talking about how Nana always mixed pastry dough with her fingers. They’re on their way to making the kitchen a proving ground for their own culinary adventures. Hopefully you’ll be invited to taste-test while you relax for a change.

Parking the kids in front of the TV while we dash to get dinner ready may be efficient, but it’s not the way young people have matured throughout human history. Children need to watch, imitate, and gain useful skills. They’re drawn to see how their elders handle a crisis, fix a car, create a soufflé, build a bookshelf, heal what’s broken, and fall in love.

So welcome your little ones into the kitchen. And let the cooking begin.

Article originally posted at ICPA.org.

Crafting a World-Class Education

submitted by jwithrow.education

Journal of a Wayward Philosopher
Crafting a World-Class Education

January 9, 2015
Hot Springs, VA

The S&P opened at $2,063 today. Gold is up to $1,214 per ounce. Oil is still just under $49 per barrel. Bitcoin is flat at 287 per BTC, and the 10-year Treasury rate opened at 2.00% once again today.

Keep an eye on the oil patch – that’s where the interesting action will be as we move into 2015. Losses will start to crop up if the price of oil remains flat for any extended period of time. Most of the U.S. shale boom has been financed by debt, not equity. We can expect some of these losses to show up in the bond market as repayment becomes difficult at current prices.

But it won’t be quite that simple. Financing oil exploration also involves swap contracts and derivatives which are then packaged, moved, and sold. This means that some losses may not be borne by the oil companies but rather move over to the bank. But the banks are just middlemen so many of the swap contracts very well may have been sold to institutional investors such as exchange-traded funds. No one knows exactly where the risks are so discovering where the losses pop up if oil remains flat will be much like playing whack-a-mole.

Yesterday we discussed why the public school system fails and we decided the best thing for a concerned parent to do is opt out.

But then what? Most of us have gone through the public school system so we are accustomed to the rigid top-down model of education.

Do we look to private schools? Some of them probably offer a service that is superior to the public school system but they are still based on the authoritarian “gymnasium” model and they probably use the same politically-correct textbooks. And they are expensive! As mentioned yesterday, the Sudbury Valley Schools are an exception as they do not employ the “gymnasium” model. If you live close to one of these schools then that may be a great option.

For the rest of us, we are on the frontier – it’s up to us to craft a world-class homeschool program. To do so we must first understand what education is. The word educate stems from the Latin word ‘educo’ which means “to bring up; to draw out”. You see, education is not about teaching; it is about learning. There is only learning. We’ve had it backwards for quite some time now.

An individual’s education actually begins the moment they are born; and maybe even the moment they are conceived. At birth, infants are completely helpless. Within twelve months’ time they have learned to follow objects with their eyes, move their appendages, hold their head up, coo and chuckle, roll from side to side, grasp objects in their hands, laugh, sit up, play with multiple objects, crawl, stand, and maybe even say a few words.

Within twenty four months’ time that same infant has learned to walk and play, climb stairs, color with crayons, use gestures, and use several words together intelligibly.

Within sixty months’ time the infant has learned how to move freely throughout the house, use sentences with nouns, verbs, and modifiers, recognize colors, recognize his or her own name, age, and gender, play with other children, communicate with adults, write his or her name, and to feed him or herself.

That is an amazing amount of development within a short period time! And guess what? There is no system in place mandating or forcing the infant to absorb any of this. The infant learns all of these essential items on his or her own with the guidance of parents and trusted adults.

In crafting a homeschool program it is important to allow this natural education to continue uninhibited. The curriculum chosen should supplement this natural education; it should not take the place of it.

The development of technology has, for the first time in history, made access to quality supplemental curriculum free to everyone with a computer and an internet connection. One can go online and read essays or view lectures on any subject imaginable. There are millions of articles and countless books available to read online at no cost to you. The Ludwig von Mises Institute’s web site offers the entire manuscript of many great books in the fields of Austrian Economics and the philosophy of Liberty absolutely free. The Ron Paul Curriculum offers K-12 curriculum completely online including a platform for students to interact with each other.

This type of technology is unprecedented in human history! Technology is not only liberating education from the confines of centralized authority, but it is doing so at a greatly reduced cost. It is completely possible for enterprising parents to supplement their child’s natural education with a world-class curriculum for pennies compared to what the public school system costs.

If you venture down this path be sure to familiarize yourself with the Homeschool Legal Defense Association as well as your state’s laws regarding homeschooling. And always keep the big picture in mind.

Education is not about indoctrinating children to think the same things we think. It’s not about taking up all of a child’s free time to keep him out of trouble. It’s not about “beating” other countries on standardized tests. It’s not about setting a child up to get into the best college or to secure a high-powered desk job.

Education is individual in nature. Children, free to discover and pursue their own passions, will learn so much more on their own than they ever could in a classroom. And they will grow into self-governing and self-driven adults capable of thriving in an ever-changing world.

More to come,

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Joe Withrow
Wayward Philosopher

For more of Joe’s thoughts on homeschooling and educational alternatives please read “The Individual is Rising” which is available at http://www.theindividualisrising.com/. The book is also available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions.

Determination for Tough Times

by Tess Marshall – ICPA:determination

It’s easy to become discouraged during hard times, especially if you aren’t financially stable. Increased problems, such as job insecurity, fear of the unknown and everyday stress, can lead to anxiety and depression.

When so much is out of your hands, it’s important to remember what is in your control. Positive thinking is a strong force everyone can tap into. Do your thoughts nurture you and bring you hope for your future? If not, create a healthy belief system. Think uplifting thoughts, choose uplifting feelings and focus on creative ideas.

Toxic thoughts create toxic emotions. If you think fear, you will feel fearful. If you think you’re desperate, you will feel desperate. You can set yourself up for a good life or a life of failure. Here are some tips to help you with thinking positively and dreaming about a happy future, even in tough times. What do you have to lose?

Choose determination over desperation. Think of how you feel when you feel desperate, versus when you’re determined. Living in fear, anxiety and negativity will cause you to feel desperate and lead you into a downward spiral. As long as you have food, shelter and clothing, you aren’t truly desperate. As long as you have family and friends, you aren’t desperate. Determination, on the other hand, offers hope. It’s necessary to trust and embrace possibility. Yes, even in tough times. Be determined to take persistent action every day toward making your life better. Be bold, and do whatever it takes.

Go on a media fast. Don’t worry about the lack of information—if something happens that you need to know, someone will tell you. Or you can read just the headlines as you walk by a newsstand. If you have money in the stock market for the long run, you don’t have to worry about it going up or down day to day; you weren’t going to do anything about it, anyway. If you want to know what is in the news today, I can tell you: It’s the same as yesterday. Same fear, different story.

Uplift yourself. Choose to listen to music, watch comedies, see old movies or play games. There are a million ways you can spend time lifting yourself up. Any time you engage in something positive, you produce neuropeptides that echo feelings of happiness, contentment, excitement, joy and hope. When you do this, your energy will change as well. Read inspirational stories, listen to positive podcasts or watch DVDs about people who have overcome great obstacles. There is no difference between them and you. Countless people have survived war, the Depression and recessions, and have literally lost everything. Yet they came back stronger than ever, in all areas of their lives.

Appreciate everything. Learn to live in a state of gratitude. Acknowledge the value within and the value without. When you are fretting and fearful, stop and think of your best memories. Dwell on them for a while, remembering the joy and gratitude you felt. Bring those feelings into the present moment. The more you acknowledge gratitude, the happier you will become. Gratitude heals. Your energy from this exercise will bring you even more things to be grateful for in the future. You can choose to focus on what’s missing in your life…but what you need instead is a solution. It’s not necessary to have a new relationship, a new home or a better job to be happy. You can choose happiness now by choosing gratitude and appreciation.

Learn to live with less. Most people blow their needs out of proportion. No matter how much stuff they have, there is an insatiable desire for more. They live in a constant state of dissatisfaction. When I was growing up I had one pair of shoes. Today, I have several. Shoes don’t bring happiness. In fact, they are often in my way. How would your life change if you became satisfied with what you have? Get rid of clutter. Become aware of how much you bring into your home versus how much you carry out or give away. Stop wasting anything. Choose to lead a simpler life.

Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for anything you could have done but didn’t do. If you would have known better, you would have done better. Let go of the mistakes you have made in the past. You’ve carried that ball and chain for too long; take it off. You will feel lighter and free.

This too shall pass. Nothing is permanent. Tough times offer us an opportunity to grow. The sun will rise and the sun will set. It always does. Think of all the things you’ve been through, and have not only survived, but have made you stronger in the process. Take one day at a time.

Breathe. When you catch yourself feeling fearful, worried and desperate, stop and take a deep breath. Bring yourself to the present moment, and remind yourself that you can choose to feel peaceful instead. Unless someone has a gun to your head, you can choose peace in any moment. Learn to stop scaring yourself with your thoughts.

Relax your muscles. Quiet your mind. Think of the people you love and the joy they bring you. Let go of striving, and become aware of thriving. The quality of your days will increase, and you’ll experience more joy. Seek professional help. It’s normal to be stressed, down and frustrated when you live in uncertain times. It’s important to monitor your moods. If you find you can’t shake anxiety and depression, you may need to seek the help of a professional. Be brave.
Be bold. Take the necessary steps.

Article originally posted at ICPA.org.

Fluoride in the Water Supply Might Be Destroying Your Health

by Darrel Crain, DC – ICPA:fluoride

Fluoride recently began flowing through the tap water into millions of Southern California households. But the pipeline of information to warn the public about fluoride exposure is apparently clogged up with something.

Many people need to avoid fluoride altogether to preserve their health. We know this because scientists in government agencies have documented it thoroughly. Babies up to 1 year of age; pregnant women; elderly individuals; and anyone with kidney problems, thyroid problems, liver problems, diabetes mellitus, or cardiovascular problems all need to be as fluoride free as possible.

The level of fluoride added to the water, we are repeatedly told, is “optimal” and “safe.” Unfortunately, the level of fluoride in the water is meaningless until we know the actual daily dose an individual receives. People who drink lots of fluoridated water are getting far more fluoride into their bodies than those who drink little.

And water is just the first item on the list, because exposure to fluoride and fluoridated water comes from many sources. Watch for fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash, dental treatments, soft drinks, juice, commercially raised fruits and vegetables (grown with fluorine-containing pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizer), processed and canned food, wine, beer, coffee, and tea, to name a few sources—not to mention increasing fluorine pollution in the environment.

The U.S. Public Health Service reported in 1991 that people living in cities with “optimal” water fluoridation can easily receive a total daily fluoride exposure exceeding 6.5 milligrams per person —more than 600 percent higher than the “optimal” amount.

Perhaps our regional health leaders are reluctant or even embarrassed to post warnings about known safety problems with the public water supply caused by the intentional addition of fluoride, or maybe they are just too busy. The government research quoted below is probably in their files. One of them might even be planning to write a press release sooner or later, but who knows? In the meantime, the following notes of caution may help fill the information gap.

In October of 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that fluoridated water marketed for use in infants cannot claim to reduce the risk of dental cavities. One month later, in November of 2006, the American Dental Association (ADA) announced that babies up to 1 year of age should avoid fluoridated water because they are at high risk of developing dental fluorosis. This defect of tooth development can result in staining, pitting, and corrosion of the enamel.

“In Canada, we are now spending more money treating dental fluorosis than we do treating cavities. That includes my own practice,” says Hardy Limeback, PhD, DDS, and former President of the Canadian Association of Dental Research. (Canada is among the tiny number of countries that add fluoride to some of the public water supplies.)

But dental fluorosis is more than a cosmetic problem: It’s the first visible sign of fluoride overdose. The same week the ADA warned about shielding babies from ingesting fluoride, the British medical journal, The Lancet (November, 2006), reported that fluoride may damage a child’s developing brain. The article described fluoride as an “emerging neurotoxic substance” because of evidence linking fluoride exposure to lower IQs in children and brain damage in animals.

Babies and pregnant women are not the only ones who need to avoid fluoride. In 1993, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) listed several groups of people at high risk for fluoride toxicity. Following are excerpts from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, April 1993.

“Existing data indicate that subsets of the population may be unusually susceptible to the toxic effects of fluoride and its compounds. These populations include the elderly, people with deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, and/or vitamin C, and people with cardiovascular and kidney problems. Because fluoride is excreted through the kidney, people with renal insufficiency would have impaired renal clearance of fluoride. [Renal clearance means how well the kidneys are able to do their job and filter the body’s blood.]

“Impaired renal clearance of fluoride has also been found in people with diabetes mellitus and cardiac insufficiency…. People over the age of 50 often have decreased renal fluoride clearance.…Postmenopausal women and elderly men in fluoridated communities may also be at increased risk of fractures.”

The biological effect of fluoride on living tissue is the disruption of enzyme activity, including the enzymes that maintain life in the cells of the human body. Fluoride is an endocrine disruptor that was used for decades in Europe as a drug to treat overactive thyroid by depressing thyroid function. Alarmingly, the dosage once prescribed to reduce thyroid activity is about the same amount ingested by people in many communities today.

Fluoride is more toxic than lead and nearly as toxic as arsenic. The toxicity rating of lead is between 3 and 4 (3 is moderately toxic, 4 is very toxic). Fluoride is rated at 4, while arsenic is slightly above 4 (Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, 5th Edition, 1984).

Healthy kidneys are able to clear less than 50 percent of the fluoride taken into the body, and kidneys are prone to damage in the fluoride-filtering process. Fluoride is bone-seeking, and fluoride that is not excreted by the kidneys accumulates primarily in the bones, never to leave. Does it make any sense to surround the bone marrow, the blood cell factories of the body, with a toxic element more deadly than lead?

As the saying goes, “When all is said and done, more has been said than done.” The measurable benefit of drinking fluoridated water to fight cavities appears to hover around zero. All over the world the rate of dental cavities has fallen dramatically in developed countries, even though most have never added fluoride compounds to their water. The common factor for improved outcomes seems to be better nutrition and higher health standards.

If you are one of the millions of people for whom any amount of fluoride exposure is a bad idea, you need fluoride-free water. Removing fluoride from tap water at home is not simple, requiring the purchase of equipment to either distill the water, or filter it using reverse osmosis. It may be more feasible to buy water at the supermarket or have it delivered to your home. Eating organic foods and juices is another way to reduce fluoride exposure.

The fluoride being added to our water is actually toxic sludge scraped from the smokestack filters of American industry. Fluoride is a byproduct of the aluminum, steel, and fertilizer industries, among others. Because of this, we not only get a dose of corrosive fluorosilicic acid in our daily coffee, we also get an extra shot of arsenic and lead in each cup…

Article originally posted at ICPA.org.

Why the Public School System Fails

submitted by jwithrow.public school

Journal of a Wayward Philosopher
Why the Public School System Fails

January 8, 2015
Hot Springs, VA

The S&P opened at $2,036 today. Gold is checking in at $1,212 per ounce. Oil opened just under $49 per barrel. Bitcoin is trading hands at 286 per BTC, and the 10-year Treasury rate opened at 2.00% today.

The markets have kicked off 2015 with some healthy volatility! The S&P has dipped as low as $1,985 only to bounce back up. Oil has drifted as low as $47, bringing energy stocks down with it. The 10-year rate has dipped below 2% and threatened to drift lower. Bitcoin has fallen below $300 for the first time since 2013 and gold has climbed as high as $1,221.

Last month we contemplated raising children in the modern world and we decided compulsory education was not, in our humble opinion, in the student’s best interest. We reckoned that for any real learning to occur the student would have to be free to engage a topic of their own choice and then have the space to inspect, poke, jab, nudge, kick, and maybe even dance with that topic on their own timeline. Of course this method is the exact opposite of what is employed by the compulsory public school system that says the student must learn this topic in this way on this timeline with this grading scale and he better not interact with his neighbor while doing so.

As always, it is a minority position we take on the important matters of child-rearing and education. Perhaps this is why we had such an affinity for “Don Quixote” as a youngster. While the public school system is accepted as “normal” today, it is important to understand its origin.

The current public school system model was founded in Germany in the 1800s. The Germans called their model the “gymnasium” system and it was organized in part by the German military. This system separated students by grade and limited their interaction with students of differing ages. The intent was to foster a robust bond between the boys for they would be expected to train and fight together in the military as adults. Sure enough, this system created fiercely loyal soldiers.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in America, students were either educated at home or in small groups that were not separated by age. Individualized education in America was less geared towards memorizing facts and figures and more geared towards fundamental reading/writing/arithmetic, common sense, and self-confidence.

Age diversity helped older students develop responsibility and leadership skills by guiding the younger students along. Younger students got the benefit of both adult tutelage and guidance from the older kids. While seemingly a small point, having two distinct perspectives on the same topic goes a long way towards fostering critical thinking. Peter Gray, in Free to Learn, discussed this very dynamic as he observed students in Sudbury Valley School.

America began moving towards the German “gymnasium” model after the Civil War with the political class using force to move the shift along. Massachusetts passed the first compulsory school attendance law in 1852 and all states had compulsory school attendance laws on the books by 1918. Reading the work of John Dewey, one of the leading educators in 20th century America, provides troubling insight into why the shift was facilitated.

“The mere absorbing of facts and truths is so exclusively individual an affair that it tends very naturally to pass into selfishness. There is no obvious social motive for the acquirement of mere learning, there is no clear social gain in success thereat.”

The political objective was the centralization and control of education in order to reduce the American spirit of individualism and make students more malleable and group-oriented. John Taylor Gatto expanded upon the political shift of American education in his books Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling and The Underground History of American Education: A School Teacher’s Intimate Investigation Into the Problem of Modern Schooling.

History and political motives aside, Gatto also outlined and then expanded upon several points that demonstrate how the public school system is “dumbing us down”. They are as follows:

1. It confuses the students. It presents an incoherent ensemble of information that the child needs to memorize to stay in school. Apart from the tests and trials that programming is similar to the television, it fills almost all the “free” time of children. One sees and hears something, only to forget it again.
2. It teaches them to accept their class affiliation.
3. It makes them indifferent.
4. It makes them emotionally dependent.
5. It makes them intellectually dependent.
6. It teaches them a kind of self-confidence that requires constant confirmation by experts (provisional self-esteem).
7. It makes it clear to them that they cannot hide, because they are always supervised.

Gatto’s points refer to the public school system itself; not to the individuals working within the system. Most school employees at the local level are well-intentioned and work hard to improve the quality of their school. But they are forced to operate within the confines of the gymnasium system and they are forced to use government-approved politically-correct textbooks. More money will not change this dynamic, it will only further empower the Department of Education and impoverish the public.

So what is a concerned parent to do? Opt out!

Until the morrow,

Signature

 

 

 

 

 

Joe Withrow
Wayward Philosopher

For more of Joe’s thoughts on homeschooling and educational alternatives please read “The Individual is Rising” which is available at http://www.theindividualisrising.com/. The book is also available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle editions.

Ron Paul on How to Restore America – Don’t Avert the Government Shutdown!

by Ron Paul – Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity:Ron Paul

The political class breathed a sigh of relief Saturday when the US Senate averted a government shutdown by passing the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill. This year’s omnibus resembles omnibuses of Christmas past in that it was drafted in secret, was full of special interest deals and disguised spending increases, and was voted on before most members could read it.

The debate over the omnibus may have made for entertaining political theater, but the outcome was never in doubt. Most House and Senate members are so terrified of another government shutdown that they would rather vote for a 1,774-page bill they have not read than risk even a one or two-day government shutdown.

Those who voted for the omnibus to avoid a shutdown fail to grasp that the consequences of blindly expanding government are far worse than the consequences of a temporary government shutdown. A short or even long-term government shutdown is a small price to pay to avoid an economic calamity caused by Congress’ failure to reduce spending and debt.

The political class’ shutdown phobia is particularly puzzling because a shutdown only closes 20 percent of the federal government. As the American people learned during the government shutdown of 2013, the country can survive with 20 percent less government.

Instead of panicking over a limited shutdown, a true pro-liberty Congress would be eagerly drawing up plans to permanently close most of the federal government, starting with the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve’s inflationary policies not only degrade the average American’s standard of living, they also allow Congress to run up huge deficits. Congress should take the first step toward restoring a sound monetary policy by passing the Audit the Fed bill, so the American people can finally learn the truth about the Fed’s operations.

Second on the chopping block should be the Internal Revenue Service. The federal government is perfectly capable of performing its constitutional functions without imposing a tyrannical income tax system on the American people.

America’s militaristic foreign policy should certainly be high on the shutdown list. The troops should be brought home, all foreign aid should be ended, and America should pursue a policy of peace and free trade with all nations. Ending the foreign policy of hyper-interventionism that causes so many to resent and even hate America will increase our national security.

All programs that spy on or otherwise interfere with the private lives of American citizens should be shutdown. This means no more TSA, NSA, or CIA, as well as an end to all federal programs that promote police militarization. The unconstitutional war on drugs should also end, along with the war on raw milk.

All forms of welfare should be shut down, starting with those welfare programs that benefit the wealthy and the politically well connected. Corporate welfare, including welfare for the military-industrial complex that masquerades as “defense spending,” should be first on the chopping block. Welfare for those with lower incomes could be more slowly phased out to protect those who have become dependent on those programs.

The Department of Education should be permanently padlocked. This would free American schoolchildren from the dumbed-down education imposed by Common Core and No Child Left Behind. Of course, Obamacare, and similar programs, must be shut down so we can finally have free-market health care.

Congress could not have picked a worse Christmas gift for the American people than the 1,774-page omnibus spending bill. Unfortunately, we cannot return this gift. But hopefully someday Congress will give us the gift of peace, prosperity, and liberty by shutting down the welfare-warfare state.

Article originally posted at The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.

A Comprehensive List of GMO Products and Companies

by Why Don’t You Try This?.com:GMO

Baby Food ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Nabisco (Phillip Morris)
-Arrowroot Teething Biscuits -Infant formula Carnation Infant Formulas(Nestle) -AlSoy -Good Start -Follow-Up -Follow-Up Soy

Enfamil Infant Formulas (Mead Johnson)
-Enfamil with Iron -Enfamil Low Iron -Enfamil A.R. -Enfamil Nutramigen -Enfamil Lacto Free -Enfamil 22 -Enfamil Next step (soy and milk-based varieties) -Enfamil Pro-Soybee

Isomil Infant Formulas (Abbot Labs)
-Isomil Soy -Isomil Soy for Diarrhea -Similac(Abbot Labs) -Similac Lactose Free -Similac with Iron -Similac Low Iron -Similac Alimentum

Baking ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Aunt Jemima (Quaker)
-Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix -Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix -Cornbread Mix -Easy Mix Coffee Cake

Betty Crocker (General Mills)
-Pie Crust Mix -Original Pancake Mix -Complete Pancake Mix -Buttermilk Complete Pancake Mix -Muffin Mixes -Banana Nut -Lemon Poppy Seed -Blueberry -Wild Blueberry -Chocolate Chip -Apple Streusel -Quick Bread Mixes Banana -Cinnamon Streusel -Lemon Poppy Seed -Cranberry Orange -Gingerbread -Cookie Mixes Chocolate Chip -Double Chocolate Chunk -Sugar -Peanut Butter

Bisquik (Betty Crocker/General Mills)
-Original -Reduced Fat -Shake ‘n Pour Pancake Mix -Shake ‘n Pour Buttermilk Pancake Mix -Shake ‘n Pour Blueberry Pancake Mix

Duncan Hines (Aurora Foods)
-Muffin Mixes -Kellogg’s All-Bran Apple Cinnamon -Kellogg’s All-Bran Blueberry -Blueberry -Blueberry Crumb -Chocolate Chip

Hungry Jack (Pillsbury)
-Buttermilk Pancake Mix -Extra Light & Fluffy Pancake Mix (all varieties) -Jiffy -Corn Muffin Mix
-Blueberry Muffin Mix -Raspberry Muffin Mix -Pie Crust Mix

Mrs. Butterworths (Aurora Foods)
-Complete Pancake Mix -Buttermilk Pancake Mix

Pepperidge Farms (Campbell’s)
-Buttermilk Pancake Mix -Pillsbury -Quick Bread & Muffin Mixes -Blueberry -Chocolate Chip -Banana
-Cranberry -Lemon Poppyseed -Nut -Hot Roll Mix -Gingerbread

Bakers (Kraft/Phillip Morris)
-Unsweetened Chocolate -Semi-Sweet Chocolate -German Sweet Chocolate -White Chocolate -Hershey’s -Semi-Sweet Baking Chips -Milk Chocolate Chips -Mini Kisses -Nestle -Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips -Milk Chocolate Chips -White Chocolate -Butterscotch Chips -Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Bars

Bread ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Holsum (Interstate Bakeries)
-Holsum Thin Sliced -Roman Meal -12 Grain -Round Top -Home Pride -Buttertop White -Buttertop Wheat

Pepperidge Farms (Campbell’s)
-Cinnamon Swirl -Light Oatmeal -Light Wheat -100% Whole Wheat -Hearty Slices -7 Grain -9 Grain -Crunchy Oat -Whole Wheat -Light Side -Oatmeal -Wheat -7 Grain -Soft Dinner Rolls -Club Rolls -Sandwich Buns -Hoagie Rolls

Thomas’ (Bestfoods)
-English Muffins Original -Cinnamon Raisin -Honey Wheat -Oat Bran -Blueberry -Maple French Toast -Toast-r-Cakes Blueberry -Toast-r-Cakes Corn Muffins

Wonder (Interstate Bakeries)
-White Sandwich Bread -Country Grain -Buttermilk -Thin Sandwich -Light Wheat -100% Stoneground Wheat
-Fat Free Multigrain -Premium Potato -Beefsteak Rye -Wonder Hamburger Buns

Breakfast ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Kellogg’s
-Pop Tarts (all varieties) -Pop Tarts Snack Stix (all) -Nutri-Grain Bars (all) -Nutri-Grain Fruit Filled Squares (all) -Nutri-Grain Twists (all) -Fruit-Full Squares (all)

Nabisco (Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
-Fruit & Grain Bars (all varieties) -Nature Valley (General Mills) -Oats & Honey Granola Bars
-Peanut Butter Granola Bars -Cinnamon Granola Bars

Pillsbury (General Mills)
-Toaster Scrambles & Strudels (all varieties)

Quaker
-Chewy Granola Bars (all varieties) -Fruit & Oatmeal Bars (all varieties) -Aunt Jemima Frozen Waffles -Buttermilk -Blueberry

Eggo Frozen Waffles (Kellogg’s)
-Homestyle -Buttermilk -Nutri-Grain Whole Wheat -Nutri-Grain Multi Grain -Cinnamon Toast -Blueberry -Strawberry -Apple Cinnamon -Banana Bread

Hungry Jack Frozen Waffles (Pillsbury/General Mills)
-Homestyle -Buttermilk

Cereal ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

General Mills
-Cheerios -Wheaties -Total -Corn Chex -Wheat Chex -Lucky Charms -Trix -Kix -Golden Grahams -Cinnamon Grahams -Count Chocula -Honey Nut Chex -Frosted Cheerios -Apple Cinnamon Cheerios -Multi-Grain Cheerios
-Frosted Wheaties -Brown Sugar & Oat Total -Basic 4 -Reeses Puffs -French Toast Crunch

Kellogg’s
-Frosted Flakes -Corn Flakes -Special K -Raisin Bran -Rice Krispies -Corn Pops -Product 19 -Smacks
-Froot Loops -Marshmallow Blasted Fruit Loops -Apple Jacks -Crispix -Smart Start -All-Bran -Complete Wheat Bran -Complete Oat Bran -Just Right Fruit & Nut -Honey Crunch Corn Flakes -Raisin Bran Crunch
-Cracklin’ Oat Bran

Country Inn Specialties (all varieties)
-Mothers Cereals (Quaker) -Toasted Oat Bran -Peanut Butter Bumpers -Groovy Grahams -Harvest Oat Flakes
-Harvest Oat Flakes w/Apples & Almonds -Honey Round Ups

Post (Kraft-Phillip Morris)
-Raisin Bran -Bran Flakes -Grape Nut Flakes -Grape Nut O’s -Fruit & Fibre date, raisin and walnut
-Fruit & Fibre peach, raisin and almond -Honey Bunch of Oats -Honey Nut Shredded Wheat -Honey Comb
-Golden Crisp -Waffle Crisp -Cocoa Pebbles -Cinna-Crunch Pebbles -Fruity Pebbles -Alpha-Bits -Post Selects Cranberry Almond -Post Selects Banana Nut Crunch -Post Selects Blueberry Morning -Post Selects Great Grains Quaker -Life -Cinnamon Life -100% Natural Granola -Toasted Oatmeal -Toasted Oatmeal Honey Nut -Oat Bran -Cap’n Crunch -Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch -Cap’n Crunch Crunchling Berries

Chocolate ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Cadbury (Cadbury/Hershey’s)
-Mounds -Almond Joy -York Peppermint Patty -Dairy Milk -Roast Almond -Fruit & Nut -Hershey’s -Kit-Kat -Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups -Mr. Goodbar -Special Dark -Milk Chocolate -Kisses -Symphony

Kraft (Kraft/Phillip Morris)
-Toblerone (all varieties) -Mars -M&M (all varieties) -Snickers -Three Musketeers -Milky Way -Twix

Nestle
-Crunch -Milk Chocolate -Chunky -Butterfinger -100 Grand

Carnation (Nestle)
Hot Cocoa Mixes:
-Rich Chocolate -Double Chocolate -Milk Chocolate -Marshmallow Madness -Mini Marshmallow -No Sugar

Hershey’s
-Chocolate Syrup -Special Dark Chocolate Syrup -Strawberry Syrup

Nestle
-Nesquik -Strawberry Nesquik

Swiss Miss (ConAgra)
-Chocolate Sensation -Milk Chocolate -Marshmallow Lovers -Marshmallow Lovers Fat Free -No Sugar Added

Condiments ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Del Monte (Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
-Ketchup -Heinz -Ketchup (regular & no salt) -Chili Sauce -Cocktail Sauce -Heinz 57 Steak Sauce

Hellman’s (Bestfoods)
-Real Mayonnaise -Light Mayonnaise -Low-Fat Mayonnaise

Hunt’s (ConAgra)
-Ketchup (regular & no salt) -KC Masterpiece -Original BBQ sauce -Garlic & Herb Marinade -Honey Teriyaki Marinade

Kraft (Kraft/Phillip Morris)
-Miracle Whip (all varieties) -Kraft Mayonnaise (all) -Thick & Spicy BBQ sauces (all varieties) -Char Grill BBQ sauce -Honey Hickory BBQ sauce

Nabisco (Nabiso/Phillip Morris)
-A-1 Steak Sauce -Open Pit (Vlasic/Campbells) -BBQ sauces (all) -Chi-Chi’s (Hormel) -Fiesta Salsa (all varieties) -Old El Paso (Pillsbury) -Thick & Chunky Salsa -Garden Pepper Salsa -Taco Sauce -Picante Sauce

Ortega (Nestle)
-Taco Sauce -Salsa Prima Homestyle -Salsa Prima Roasted Garlic -Salsa Prima 3 Bell Pepper -Thick & Chunky Salsa

Pace (Campbells)
-Chunky Salsa -Picante Sauce

Tostitos Salsa (Frito-Lay/Pepsi)
-All Natural -All Natural Thick & Chunky -Roasted Garlic -Restaurant Style

Cookies ~Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Delicious Brands (Parmalat)
-Animal Crackers -Ginger Snaps -Fig Bars -Oatmeal -Sugar-Free Duplex -Honey Grahams -Cinnamon Grahams
-Fat Free Vanilla Wafers -English Toffee Heath Cookies -Butterfinger Cookies -Skippy Peanut Butter Cookies

Famous Amos (Keebler/Flowers Industries)
-Chocolate Chip -Oatmeal Raisin -Chocolate Sandwich -Peanut Butter Sandwich -Vanilla Sandwich -Oatmeal Macaroon Sandwich

Frookies (Delicious Brands/Parmalat)
-Peanut Butter Chunk -Chocolate Chip -Double Chocolate -Frookwich Vanilla -Frookwich Chocolate -Frookwich Peanut Butter -Frookwich Lemon -Funky Monkeys Chocolate -Ginger Snaps -Lemon Wafers

Keebler (Keebler/Flowers Industries)
-Chips Deluxe -Sandies -E.L. Fudge -Soft Batch Chocolate Chip -Golden Vanilla Wafers -Droxies -Vienna Fingers -Fudge Shoppe Fudge Stripes -Fudge Shoppe Double Fudge & Caramel -Fudge Shoppe Fudge Stix
-Fudge Shoppe Peanut Butter Fudge Stix -Country Style Oatmeal -Graham Originals -Graham Cinnamon Crisp
-Graham Chocolate -Graham Honey Low Fat -Crème Filled Wafers -Chocolate Filled Wafers

Nabisco (Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
-Oreo,(all varieties) -Chips Ahoy!(all varieties) -Fig Newtons (and all Newtons varities) -Lorna Doone
-Nutter Butters -Barnum Animal Crackers -Nilla Wafers -Nilla Chocolate Wafers -Pecanz Shortbread -Family Favorites Oatmeal -Famous Wafers -Fudge Covered Mystic Sticks -Honey Maid Graham Crackers -Honey Maid Cinnamon Grahams -Honey Maid Chocolate Grahams -Honey Maid Oatmeal Crunch -Teddy Grahams -Teddy Grahams Cinnamon -Teddy Grahams Chocolate -Teddy Grahams Chocolate Chips -Café Cremes Vanilla -Café Crème Cappuccino

Pepperidge Farm (Campbell’s)
-Milano -Mint Milano -Chessmen -Bordeaux -Brussels -Geneva -Chocolate Chip -Lemon Nut -Shortbread -Sugar -Ginger Men -Raspberry Chantilly -Strawberry Verona -Chocolate Mocha Salzburg -Chocolate Chunk Chesapeake -Chocolate Chunk Nantucket -Chocolate Chunk Sausalito -Oatmeal Raisin Soft Baked

Sesame Street (Keebler)
-Cookie Monster -Chocolate Chip -Chocolate Sandwich -Vanilla Sandwich -Cookie Pals -Honey Grahams
-Cinnamon Grahams -Frosted Grahams

Snack Wells (Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
-Devil’s Food -Golden Devil’s Food -Mint Crème -Coconut Crème -Chocolate Sandwich -Chocolate Chip -Peanut Butter Chip -Double Chocolate Chip

Crackers ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Keebler (Keebler/Flowers Industries)
-Town House -Club -Munch ‘Ems (all varieties) -Wheatables -Zesta Saltines -Toasteds (Wheat, Onion, Sesame & Butter Crisps) -Snax Stix (Wheat, Cheddar & original) -Harvest Bakery (Multigrain, Butter, Corn Bread)

Nabisco (Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
-Ritz (all varieties) -Wheat Thins (all) -Wheatsworth -Triscuits -Waverly -Sociables -Better Cheddars -Premium Saltines (all) -Ritz Snack Mix (all) -Vegetable Flavor Crisps -Swiss Cheese Flavor Crisps -Cheese Nips (all) -Uneeda Biscuits

Pepperidge Farm (Campbell’s)
-Butter Thins -Hearty Wheat -Cracker Trio -Cracker Quartet -Three Cheese Snack Stix -Sesame Snack Stix
-Pumpernickel Snack Stix -Goldfish (original, cheddar, parmesan, pizza, pretzel) -Goldfish Snack Mix (all)

Red Oval Farms (Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
-Stoned Wheat Thin (all varieties) -Crisp ‘N Light Sourdough Rye -Crisp ‘N Light Wheat Sunshine (Flowers Industries) -Cheeze-It (original & reduced fat) -Cheeze-It White Cheddar -Cheeze-It Party Mix -Krispy Original Saltines

Frozen Dinners ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Banquet (ConAgra)
-Pot Pies (all varieties) -Fried Chicken -Salisbury Steak -Chicken Nugget Meal -Pepperoni Pizza Meal

Budget Gourmet (Heinz)
-Roast Beef Supreme -Beef Stroganoff -Three Cheese Lasagne -Chicken Oriental & Vegeatble -Fettuccini Primavera

Green Giant (Pillsbury)
-Rice Pilaf with Chicken Flavored Sauce -Rice Medley with Beef Flavored Sauce -Primavera Pasta
-Pasta Accents Creamy Cheddar -Create-a-Meals Parmesan Herb Chicken -Cheesy Pasta and Vegetable
-Beef Noodle -Sweet & Sour -Mushroom Wine Chicken

Healthy Choice (ConAgra)
-Stuffed Pasta Shells -Chicken Parmagiana -Country Breaded Chicken -Roast Chicken Breast -Beef Pot Roast -Chicken & Corn Bread -Cheese & Chicken Tortellini -Lemon Pepper Fish -Shrimp & Vegetable -Macaroni & Cheese

Kid Cuisine (ConAgra)
-Chicken Nugget Meal -Fried Chicken -Taco Roll Up -Corn Dog -Cheese Pizza -Fish Stix -Macaroni & Cheese

Lean Cuisine (Stouffer’s/Nestle)
-Skillet Sensations Chicken & Vegetable -Broccoli & Beef -Homestyle Beef -Teriyaki Chicken
-Chicken Alfredo -Garlic Chicken -Roast Turkey -Hearty Portions Chicken Florentine -Beef Stroganoff
-Cheese & Spinach Manicotti -Salisbury Steak -Café Classics Baked Fish -Baked Chicken -Chicken a L’Orange -Chicken Parmesan -Meatloaf with Whipped Potatoes -Everyday Favorites Chicken Fettuccini
-Chicken Pie -Angel Hair Pasta -Three Bean Chili with Rice -Macaroni & Cheese

Marie Callenders (ConAgra)
-Chicken Pot Pie -Lasagna & Meat Sauce -Turkey & Gravy -Meat Loaf & Gravy -Country Fried Chicken & Gravy -Fettuccini with Broccoli & Cheddar -Roast Beef with Mashed Potatoes -Country Fried Pork Chop with Gravy -Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ore-Ida Frozen Potatoes (Heinz)
-Fast Fries -Steak fries -Zesties -Shoestrings -Hash Browns -Tater Tots -Potato Wedges -Crispy Crunchies

Rosetto Frozen Pasta (Heinz)
-Cheese Ravioli -Beef Ravioli -Italian Sausage Ravioli -Eight Cheese Stuffed Shells -Eight Cheese Broccoli Stuffed Shells

Stouffer’s (Nestle)
-Family Style Favorites Macaroni & Cheese -Stuffed Peppers -Broccoli au Gratin -Meat Loaf in Gravy
-Green Bean & Mushroom Casserole -Homestyle Meatloaf -Salisbury Steak -Chicken Breast in Gravy
-Hearty Portions Salisbury Steak -Chicken Fettucini -Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes -Chicken Pot Pie

Swanson (Vlasic/Campbells)
-Meat Loaf -Fish & Chips -Salisbury Steak -Chicken Nuggets -Hungry Man Fried Chicken -Roast Chicken
-Fisherman’s Platter -Pork Rib

Voila! (Bird’s Eye/Agri-Link Foods)
-Chicken Voila! Alfredo -Chicken Voila! Garlic -Chicken Voila! Pesto -Chicken Voila! Three Cheese -Steak Voila! Beef Sirloin -Shrimp Voila! Garlic

Weight Watchers (Heinz)
-Smart Ones Fiesta Chicken -Basil Chicken -Ravioli Florentine -Fajita Chicken -Roasted Vegetable Primavera

Energy Bars & Drinks ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Power Bars
Power Bar (Nestle)
-Oatmeal Raisin -Apple Cinnamon -Peanut Butter -Vanilla Crisp -Chocolate Peanut Butter -Mocha -Banana
-Wild Berry -Harvest Bars Apple Crisp -Blueberry -Chocolate Fudge Brownie -Strawberry -Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

Drink Mixes
Carnation Instant Breakfast Mix (Nestle)
-Creamy Milk Chocolate -Classic Chocolate -French Vanilla -Strawberry -Café Mocha

Heat & Serve Meals ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients
Chef Boyardee (ConAgra)
-Beefaroni -Macaroni & Cheese -Mini Ravioli -ABC’s & 123′s

Dinty Moore (Hormel)
-Beef Stew -Turkey Stew -Chicken & Dumplings -Hormel -Chili with Beans -Chili No Beans -Vegetarian Chili with Beans

Kids’ Kitchen (Hormel)
-Spaghetti Rings with Meatballs -Macaroni & Cheese -Pizza Wedges with 3 Cheese

Franco-American (Campbell’s)
-Spaghetti O’s -Mini Ravioli -Power Rangers Pasta in Sauce

Meat & Dairy Alternatives ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients
Loma Linda(Worthington/Kellogg’s*)
-Meatless Chik Nuggest

Morningstar (Worthington/Kellogg’s*)
-Harvest Burger -Better ‘n Burgers -Garden Veggie Patties -Grillers Burgers -Black Bean Burger -Chicken Patties

Natural Touch (Worthington/Kellogg’s*)
-Garden Vegetable Pattie -Black Bean Burger -Okra Pattie -Lentil Rice Loaf -Nine Bean Loaf

Worthington (Worthington/Kellogg’s*)
-Vegetarian Burger -Savory Slices

Dairy Alternatives
Nutra Blend Soy Beverage(Bestfoods)
-Original -Vanilla -Apple -Orange
*A company letter states that they are in the process of converting to non-genetically modified “proteins” in all products.

Meal Mixes & Sauce Packets ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients
Betty Crocker (General Mills)
-Garden Vegetable Pilaf -Creamy Herb Risotto -Garlic Alfredo Fettuccini -Bowl Appetit Cheddar Broccoli
-Macaroni & Cheese -Pasta Alfredo

Knorr (Bestfoods)
-Mushroom Risotto Italian Rice -Broccoli au Gratin Risotto -Vegetable Primavera Risotto -Risotto Milanese -Original Pilf -Chicken Pilaf -Rotini with 4 Cheese -Bow Tie Pasta with Chicken & Vegetable -Penne with Sun-Dried Tomato -Fettuccini with Alfredo -Classic Sauce Packets Hollandaise

Béarnaise
-White -Brown -Lemon Herb -Mushroom Brown -Onion -Roasted Chicken -Roasted Pork -Roasted Turkey

Pasta Sauce Packets Alfredo
-Four Cheese -Carbonara -Pesto -Garlic Herb

Lipton (Unilever)
-Rice & Sauce Packets Chicken Broccoli -Cheddar Broccoli -Beef Flavor -Spanish -Chicken Flavor -Creamy Chicken -Mushroom -Sizzle & Stir Skillet Supers Lemon Garlic Chicken & Rice -Spanish Chicken & Rice -Herb Chicken & Bowties -Cheddar Chicken & Shells

Near East (Quaker)
-Spicy Tomato Pasta Mix -Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil Pasta Mix -Falafel Mix -Lentil Pilaf -Couscous
-Tomato Lentil -Parmesan -Toasted Pinenut -Herb Chicken -Broccoli & Cheese -Curry

Pasta Roni (Quaker)
-Fettuccini Alfredo -Garlic Alfredo -Angel Hair Pasta with Herbs -Angel Hair Pasta with Parmesan Cheese
-Angel Hair Pasta with Tomato Parmesan -Angel Hair Pasta Primavera -Garlic & Olive Oil with Vermicelli

Rice-a-Roni (Quaker)
-Rice Pilaf -Beef -Chicken -Fried Rice -Chicken & Broccoli -Long Grain & Wild Rice -Broccoli au Gratin

Uncle Ben’s (Mars)
-Long Grain & Wild Rice (Original & with Garlic) -Brown & Wild Rice Mushroom -Country Inn Mexican Fiesta -Country Inn Oriental Fried Rice -Country Inn Chicken & Vegetable -Country Inn Chicken & Broccoli -Natural Select Chicken & Herb -Natural Select Tomato & Basil -Chef’s Recipe Chicken & Vegetable Pilaf -Chef’s Recipe Beans & Rice -Chef’s Recipe Broccoli Rice

Frozen Pizza ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Celeste (Aurora Foods)
-Supreme -Pepperoni -Vegetable -Four Cheese -Deluxe -Cheese

Tombstone (Kraft/Phillip Morris)
-Pepperoni -Supreme -Sausage & Pepperoni -Extra Cheese -Stuffed Crust -Three Cheese

Totino’s (Pillsbury)
-Crisp Crust -Pepperoni -Combination

Snack Foods ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Act II Microwave Popcorn (ConAgra)
-Butter -Extreme Butter -Corn on the Cob

Frito-Lay* (PepsiCo)
-Lays Potato Chips (all varieties) -Ruffles Potato Chips (all) -Doritos Corn Chips (all) -Tostitos Corn Chips (all) -Fritos Corn Chips (all) -Cheetos (all) -Rold Gold Pretzels (all) -Cracker Jack Popcorn

Healthy Choice Microwave Popcorn (ConAgra)
-Organic Corn (soy/canola oils)

Mothers Corn Cakes (Quaker)
-Butter Pop

Orville Redenbacher Microwave Popcorn (ConAgra)
-Original -Homestyle -Butter -Smart Pop -Pour Over -Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Cakes -Chocolate
-Caramel -Orville Redenbacher Mini Popcorn Cakes -Butter -Peanut Caramel -Chocolate Peanut

Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn (Betty Crocker/General Mills)
-Natural -Homestyle -Jumbo Pop -Extra Butter -Light -94% Fat Free Butter

Pringles (Procter & Gamble)
-Original -Low Fat -Pizza-licious -Sour Cream & Onion -Salt & Vinegar -Cheezeums -Quaker Rice Cakes -Peanut Butter -Chocolate Crunch -Cinnamon Streusel -Mini -Chocolate -Ranch -Sour Cream & Onion -Apple Cinnamon -Caramel Corn -Quaker Corn Cakes -White Cheddar -Caramel Corn -Strawberry Crunch
-Caramel Chocolate Chip
*Frito has informed its corn and potato suppliers that the company wishes to avoid GE crops, but acknowledges that canola or other oils and ingredients in its products may be from GE sources.

Soda & Juice Drinks ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Coca Cola (Coca Cola)
-Sprite -Cherry Coke -Barq’s Root Beer -Minute Maid Orange -Minute Maid Grape -Surge -Ultra

PepsiCo
-Pepsi -Slice -Wild Cherry Pepsi -Mug Root Beer -Mountain Dew -Cadbury/Schweppes -7-Up -Dr. Pepper -A & W Root Beer -Sunkist Orange -Schweppes Ginger Ale

Capri Sun juices (Kraft/Phillip Morris)
-Red Berry -Surfer Cooler -Splash Cooler -Wild Cherry -Strawberry Kiwi -Fruit Punch -Pacific Cooler -Strawberry -Orange -Grape

Fruitopia (Coca Cola)
-Grape Beyond -Berry Lemonade -Fruit Integration -Kiwiberry Ruckus -Strawberry Passion -Tremendously Tangerine

Fruit Works (PepsiCo)
-Strawberry Melon -Peach Papaya -Pink Lemonade -Apple Raspberry

Gatorade (Quaker)
-Lemon Lime -Orange -Fruitpunch -Fierce Grape -Frost Riptide Rush

Hawaiian Punch (Procter & Gamble)
-Tropical Fruit -Grape Geyser -Fruit Juicy Red -Strawberry Surfin

Hi-C (Coca Cola)
-Pink Lemonade -Watermelon Rapids -Boppin’ Berry -Tropical Punch -Smashin’ Wildberry -Blue Cooler -Blue Moon Berry -Orange -Cherry

Kool Aid (Kraft/Phillip Morris)
-Blastin’ Berry Cherry -Bluemoon Berry -Kickin’ Kiwi Lime -Tropical Punch -Wild Berry Tea -Ocean Spray -Cranberry Juice Cocktail -Cranapple -CranGrape -CranRaspberry -CranStrawberry -CranMango

Squeeze It (Betty Crocker/General Mills)
-Rockin’ Red Puncher -Chucklin’ Cherry -Mystery 2000

Sunny Delight (Procter & Gamble)
-Sunny Delight Original -Sunny Delight With Calcium Citrus Punch -Sunny Delight California Style Citrus Punch

Tang juices (Kraft/Phillip Morris)
-Orange Uproar -Fruit Frenzy -Berry Panic

Tropicana Twisters (PepsiCo)
-Grape Berry -Apple Raspberry Blackberry -Cherry Berry -Cranberry Raspberry Strawberry -Pink Grapefruit -Tropical Strawberry -Orange Cranberry -Orange Strawberry Banana

V-8 (Campbells)
-V8 Tomato Juices (all varieties) -Strawberry Kiwi -Strawberry Banana -Fruit Medley -Berry Blend -Citrus Blend -Apple Medley -Tropical Blend -Island Blend

Soup ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Campbell’s
-Tomato -Chicken Noodle -Cream of Chicken -Cream of Mushroom -Cream of Celery -Cream of Broccoli -Cheddar Cheese -Green Pea -Healthy Request Chicken Noodle -Cream of Chicken -Cream of Mushroom -Cream of Celery -Campbell’s Select Roasted Chicken with Rice -Grilled Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes -Chicken Rice -Vegetable Beef -Chunky Beef with Rice -Hearty Chicken & Vegetable -Pepper Steak -Baked Potato with Steak & Cheese -New England Clam Chowder -Soup to Go Chicken Noodle -Chicken Rice -Garden Vegetable -Vegetable Beef & Rice Simply Home Chicken Noodle Chicken Rice Garden Vegetable Vegetable Beef with Pasta

Healthy Choice (ConAgra)
-Country Vegetable -Fiesta Chicken -Bean & Pasta -Chicken Noodle -Chicken with Rice -Minestrone

Pepperidge Farms (Campbell’s)
-Corn Chowder -Lobster Bisque -Chicken & Wild Rice -New England Clam Chowder -Crab Soup

Progresso (Pillsbury)
-Tomato Basil -Chicken Noodle -Chicken & Wild Rice -Chicken Barley -Lentil -New England Clam Chowder -Zesty Herb Tomato -Roasted Chicken with Rotini -Fat Free Minestrone -Fat Free Chicken Noodle -Fat Free Lentil -Fat Free Roast Chicken

Tomatoes & Sauces ~ Genetically Engineered Ingredients

Del Monte (Nabisco/Phillip Morris)
-Tomato Sauce

Five Brothers Pasta Sauces (Lipton/Unilever)
-Summer Vegetable -Five Cheese -Roasted Garlic & Onion -Tomato & Basil

Healthy Choice Pasta Sauces (ConAgra)
-Traditional -Garlic & Herb -Sun-Dried Tomato & Herb

Hunts (ConAgra)
-Traditional Spaghetti Sauce -Four Cheese Spaghetti Sauce -Tomato Sauce -Tomato Paste

Prego Pasta Sauces (Campbells)
-Tomato, Basil & Garlic -Fresh Mushroom -Ricotta Parmesan -Meat Flavored -Roasted Garlic & Herb -Three Cheese -Mini-Meatball -Chicken with Parmesan

Ragu Sauces (Lipton/Unilever)
-Old World Traditional -Old World with Meat -Old World Marinara -Old World with Mushrooms -Ragu Robusto Parmesan & Romano -Ragu Robusto Roasted Garlic -Ragu Robusto Sweet Italian Sausage -Ragu Robusto Six Cheese -Ragu Robusto Tomato, Olive Oil & Garlic -Ragu Robusto Classic Italian Meat -Chunky Garden Style Super Garlic -Chunky Garden Style Garden Combo -Chunky Garden Style Tomato, Garlic & Onion -Chunky Garden Style Tomato, Basil & Italian Cheese -Pizza Quick Traditional

Article originally posted at whydontyoutrythis.com.