“Don’t Wait Until Your Doctor Kicks the Habit”
I don’t mind dying. I just don’t want it to be my fault. ~ Dr. Kim A. Williams, MD, Past Pres of ACC
When Dr. Williams was elected President of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in 2015, he became the first vegan president of a very prestigious medical association concerned with education of cardiovascular health. Imagine a cardiologist who promotes a plant-based diet as a way to reverse heart disease and Type II diabetes, lower blood pressure, and lose weight? Read more 
Aging Out….
If you’re a middle-aged parent of young adults or teenagers then you’ve probably noticed the great divide between yourself and the younger generation. And, it’s not just lifestyle, fashion (visible bra straps and pants falling down), body art (tattoos and piercings), music, and entertainment (What is it with “The Walking Dead?”) as these things seem to plague every generation. Humor, which is generally thought of as universal within a culture is as much a part of the generational divide as everything else. Allow me to explain. Read more
Top 10 Executives (MEN) at the NRA Made $10.6 Million
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a non-profit 501 (c) (4) organization that fights tirelessly for our second amendment rights. Whether or not you believe the second amendment refers to “militia” or “the people” has always been controversial but is even more so in the wake of the near daily occurrence of mass shootings in this country. People are speaking out for gun control because quite frankly, there are too many guns and assault weapons in the hands of the wrong people. Read more
How to Compete With the NRA
The primary reason the NRA is so successful at keeping guns, rifles, assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in so many people’s hands is because they are organized and well-funded. The foundation of the organization is the NRA itself – a non-profit 501 (c) (4) that has a reported 5 million members who pay about $40 annually each. This is key (a 501 (c) (4) cannot accept tax deductible contributions (although they can accept contributions that are NOT tax deductible) so the NRA focuses on membership).
The NRA holds fundraisers, and is affiliated with four non-profit 501 (c) (3)’s – NRA Foundation, NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund, NRA Special Contributions Fund, NRA Freedom Action Foundation – all of whom can collect tax deductible donations and use these funds to support firearm organizations, educate the public, and provide legal assistance. The NRA is also affiliated with a PAC (NRA Political Victory Fund) which contributes to political organizations and candidates. Read more
How The Donald Beat the FAA
Back in 1985, Donald Trump (“The Donald”) purchased Mar-a-Lago, the Marjorie Merriweather estate (a 110,000 square foot National Historic Landmark on 17 acres of land that span from the ocean to the intracoastal in Palm Beach) for $8 million (about $18 million in today’s dollars). He renovated the estate and turned the property into a private club in 1995 (requiring a $25,000 initiation fee which has since been raised to $200,000), although he maintains private living quarters on the property for he and his family. Ironically, the initial initiation fee was a bargain (the buying power of $25,000 in 1985 is $40,000 in 2017 dollars) compared to the cost to join in 2017. Read more
Mountain Dew? Doritos? In a Hospital?
Recently, I spent several hours at the JFK Medical Center in Atlantis, Florida where a friend was being treated. The waiting room was filled with family and friends who had very few options while waiting for news of their loved ones. In one corner of the room was a coffee maker and a basket full of Otis Spunkmeyer Blueberry Muffins (which earned a D+ from www.caloriecount.com for its 19 grams of sugar, 9 grams of fat, and 270 mg of sodium) while in the other corner were two vending machines. Read more
Ma’ale Adumim Is Not In Israel
We didn’t steal the land from anybody. It was built on empty hills. You can see there – the desert, rocks and sand. Now you have a living city. ~ Benny Kashriel, Mayor of Ma’ale Adumim
Ma’ale Adumim is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank built on a parcel of land that was seized from Jordan in 1967. Established in 1975, Ma’ale Adumim was given official status as an Israeli settlement in 1977 by Israel’s Prime Minister at the time, Menachem Begin although the settlement has not been recognized by Jordan or the rest of the world because the settlement is built on land that doesn’t belong to Israel. Read more
Is the NRA a Good Ol’ Boys Club?
The NRA (National Rifle Association of America) calls itself “America’s longest-standing civil rights organization.” By most definitions, civil rights refer to a “class of rights to protect individuals’ freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one’s ability to participate in the civil and political life of the society and state without discrimination or repression.”* So, it only seems natural to look at the people – the officers, directors, and key employees – and the composition of the management of “America’s longest-standing civil rights organization” to see if this organization sets the standards for upholding civil rights in America. Read more
The Israeli Conflict in 700 Words
Every newspaper, magazine, and media outlet is spewing out articles about Israel these days – often with several related stories because there is simply so much information and an abundance of opinions, all of which can be overwhelming. The conflict between Israel and the rest of the world is daunting and polarizing which is all the more reason the public needs to be informed. With that in mind, the Israeli conflict is described below in 700 words: Read more
The Big Why Questions for 2017….
With the beginning of a new year comes hope for a better future, a more enlightened approach to problem solving, and a commitment to do better. And, so we ask ourselves the questions that transcend time. Questions that hang over us like a wet towel or an annoying mosquito that never seems to go away. Questions that we try not to think about because they may be too hard to solve. Questions that are complicated, inconvenient and often easier to dismiss than figure out. But, questions nonetheless that are worthy of our time because they make us look at our ourselves and see if our actions are aligned with our beliefs. The questions also make us wonder if we are part of the problem or the solution. Read more
Paddock Post 