JFK Assassination: the truth from Daniel Sheehan

If you haven't yet seen the video on the link below, you owe it to yourself to watch it if you find it hard to believe the official version of the JFK assassination. No one will tell you about this in the world today (i.e., major media, politicians, authorities, etc.) -- but you can hear real truth from Daniel Sheehan, prominent attorney throughout many decades -- who was involved in many of the most important legal cases of our time.  In this video regarding the assassination, in which Daniel tells who really did it and why, you will also learn that the U.S. was working with the Nazis after WWII and actually helped many of the high Nazi leaders escape justice by secretly bringing them to South America after the war.  The United States CIA and those Nazis worked together for decades thereafter, ostensibly combatting communism -- but were involved in other nefarious dealings which you will learn about if you watch this presentation by Sheehan, given at UCSC on November 21, 2013 -- 50 years after the assassination: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnRd_bSTdoA

I am amazed at Danny's total recall of names, dates, times and incidences -- he has an astounding photographic memory that has served him and his clients well throughout all of the years he has helped to bring truth and justice to our world, surmounting all obstacles set against him.

If you, like me, are interested in learning true facts about history and are not satisfied with the lying white-washed version we are constantly fed by those in power, you will want to set aside some quiet time to sit and watch this presentation, giving facts, figures, dates and names.  All I can say is "WOW!" and "Thank You, Daniel Sheehan!" for shining light into the darkest shadows of the political system of our time.  In this video you will learn about who is really pulling the strings in our world. The information is chilling.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnRd_bSTdoA

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Subjects of Atty. Sheehan's talks at upcoming Conference

Quite a Line-up of speakers IS slated for this conference, including two former astronauts (Edgar mitchell and story musgrave). the truth about ufos and extra-terrestrials  has been a long time coming to the public, but it's impossible now to refute evidence being revealed by astronauts, high military and government officials, SCIENTISTS and pilots who have nothing to gain and everything to lose by coming forward and telling the truth
(except to know they have been true to themselves by doing so).  it must be a great relief for many of them! 

daniel sheehan will be giving the following presentations at the seminar:

POPE FRANCIS:
  THE FIRST JESUIT POPE & THE JESUIT ORDER'S PUBLIC CALL FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD TO BEGIN TO DISCUSS "THE PHILOSOPHICAL & THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS" OF THE UP-COMING DISCOVERY OF ANOTHER HIGHLY-TECHNOLOGICALLY-DEVELOPED, BUT DISTINCTLY NON-HUMAN, INTELLIGENT CIVILIZATION IN OUR GALAXY

Dr. John Mack's Harvard attorney, Daniel Sheehan, who also served as General Counsel to both sessions of THE DISCLOSURE PROJECT in Washington, D.C. as well as Chief Counsel to The United States Jesuit Headquarters in Washington, D.C. for ten full years and then, for twenty years, as Chief Counsel to THE CHRISTIC INSTITUTE in Washington, will discuss the implications of Pope Francis being the first Pope in history to have been selected from The Jesuit Order… and the implication of this in light of the Public Call that was issued by The Jesuit Order in 2011 declaring that it was the belief of the Jesuit Order's Director of The Vatican Observatory that "another highly-intelligent, but distinctly NON-human, species will 'very soon' be discovered by our human family"….and calling upon the people of our world to begin a "very serious discussion" of 'The Philosophical & Theological Implications" of this discovery for the place of our human species in the Universe….since we are no longer located either in the geographic center of the physical Universe or, very likely, at the "apex" of even biological evolution.

THE DISCOVERY OF MORE & MORE
"EARTH-LIKE" PLANETS:
WHY THIS MAY WELL BE "THE BACK DOOR" THROUGH WHICH THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY WILL "ALLOW IN" THE EXISTENCE OF "OTHER INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE"….RATHER THAN BY ADMITTING THAT OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT HAS KNOWN FOR 70 YEARS THAT "U.F.O.s" HAVE BEEN COMING TO EARTH FOR DECADES
....PERHAPS EVEN FOR CENTURIES!

Attorney Sheehan will discuss the ever-accelerating rate at which new "Earth-like Planets" are being discovered by our newest space-based observatories…and the role which this "discovery" is likely to play in the "Disclosure" Process.

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A MUST MUST-SEE!!!! re POPE FRANCIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzrbfFZn1DE    I just finished watching this video of attorney Daniel Sheehan's class presentation yesterday and am trying to catch my breath at all the information it includes, revealing secrets from past U.S. history and predicting soon-to-be-announced events that will change the world. Much drama is certain to ensue from the Pope's planned actions.

If you are interested in Pope Francis and what his plans are for this year, you will want to watch this session of the exceptional course that is being taught at UCSC by Daniel Sheehan.  I urge you to take an hour and a half out of your life and be totally blown away by the news of what our present Pope has planned for us...and if you stay till the end of the video, you will hear who the next Pope (now standing in the wings, and on the same page with Francis in ideas and ideals) will be when Francis retires (yes, Francis is another Pope who will retire when he considers his work to be done--and boy, does he have a staggering and MOST important work ahead of him).  On June 5, the Pope is slated to announce an encyclical to address the looming catastrophe of global warming, requesting immediate mandatory, enforceable restrictions on all nations re. carbon emissions--stressing the moral imperative that demands this action.  And, in September he will be giving talks at the U.N. and to a joint session of Congress.  But that isn't all he has planned -- you will have to watch the video to hear what Francis will do if his warning is not heeded by all nations -- which will absolutely lead to widespread, dramatic changes on our planet, one way or another. We are living in an incredible time in history, that's for sure!

Start watching the video at 18 minutes in, when the class actually begins.  I am astounded by all the valuable information being imparted by Sheehan to this class of young people, who will be inheriting the world and its problems. He is marshalling their energy, mobilizing and providing them with the knowledge they will need to tackle those problems --  and with essential information to impart to others.  His insights being shared in this class are based on his own experiences and on his being privy to behind-the-scenes activities in many government institutions around the globe (including the Vatican).  I promise you, you will be riveted by the presentation.

It's amazing to hear this man speak of all he has seen, witnessed and been a part of in his life. His knowledge is all-encompassing regarding real history vs. what we have been told/sold by those who want to keep their insidious actions and secrets from the people. 

If you never watch anything else, this is one you don't want to miss!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzrbfFZn1DE

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Important recommendations for viewing

A friend just sent me the following e-mail (in blue type below).  I've been watching Danny Sheehan's talks online. My friend is right. He's not pulling any punches.  As one who is privy to insider info on many subjects about which truth has been hidden (i.e., JFK assassination, extraterrestrial visits to our planet, the dismantling of our Constitution and civil rights), he's making full disclosures and letting the chips fall where they may.  The following information is for anyone who is interested in what is really going on -- in politics and in other major matters in our world. 

If you're not familiar with Daniel Sheehan, he is a civil rights Constitutional lawyer who has been involved in many famous cases; he is a real firebrand in trying to bring justice and fairness -- and vital information -- to our world. In 2001 he served as General Counsel to The Disclosure Project, which coordinated the sworn testimony—before members of the United States Congress—of former U.S. Military Officers, Federal Aviation Administration officials, and NASA employees attesting to direct personal knowledge of Government information concerning the UFO phenomenon and the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence.

Sheehan also served as General Counsel to the Institute for Cooperation in Space, a U.S. citizens group dedicated to banning space-based weapons and the development of any weapons intended for offensive use against potential extraterrestrial civilizations. He has also presented, on multiple occasions, a talk on the Philosophical and Theological Implications of the Human Discovery of Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence at the International UFO Congress.  See more about him at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Sheehan_%28attorney%29   AND http://danielpsheehan.com/  and then, if you are interested, watch his latest talks given at UCSC, on the live-streaming link below. He presents fascinating, intriguing and extremely important information to know about!

For years, I've had a great interest in near-death experiences and after-life information. I'm happy to hear that Dr. Raymond Moody will be living in Santa Cruz and offering symposia on that subject to this community! (see http://www.lifebeyondlife.org/about.html for his first one).

Please pass along to your e-mail list any of this information that you find interesting and informative.  A new wave of truthful reporting is becoming available now to people all over the planet at this most crucial time in Earth's history.  It is up to us whether we educate ourselves or let the opportunity pass by.  Here is my friend's e-mail:

Hi Eileen,

I wonder if you are aware that Danny Sheehan has been teaching a course on the Constitution up at UCSC. (University of California, Santa Cruz).  Rico and I want to recommend that you

watch it online. Every class has been live streamed and goes immediately onto the Romero Institute youtube channel. Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmqxtYQ_6scR7wlTmInRCxA

Yesterday's class was absolutely stunning...it would be a good introduction to what the class has been about and what he plans to uncover in the remaining

classes. He isn't holding anything back now.

Also Danny will be giving a talk at the upcoming Contact in the Desert event: www.contactinthedesert.com. He will be talking about Pope Francis and his public

call to the people of the world regarding the implications of the discovery of another highly advanced civilization in our galaxy. 

One other event you might want to know about. Raymond Moody (of Life After Life fame) and his wife are moving to Santa Cruz. Raymond will be on the faculty 

at UCSC and will be teaching in the Philosophy Department. He will also be offering a series of symposia for the community. Here is a link to the first one:

http://www.lifebeyondlife.org/about.html

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Seymour Hersh's story re. bin Laden's killing rings true to me

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v37/n10/seymour-m-hersh/the-killing-of-osama-bin-laden

Rather than listen to the "official authorities" and critical naysayers who are calling him a liar, a crank and some other accusatory judgments, please read Hersh's report -- and decide for yourself.  Ask yourself if the cover story from Obama and the Pentagon really made sense. Compare it to what Hersh reports and it will be clear which story rings true.  Hersh is one of the very few true investigative reporters left in the major media who believes that truth should be told to the people. But the bought-and-paid-for press is trying to make him out to have suddenly turned "crazy" -- and have labeled him now as a "crank."  Hersh's story smacks of truth, plain and simple, and no amount of abusive, dismissive protestations from the White House and Pentagon can take away his integrity as a truthful and honest reporter, doing the job that ALL of the major media should be doing, but is clearly NOT.  Both the New Yorker (whose reporting I used to respect) and the Washington Post turned away from Hersh's story.  As did Vanity Fair, which published an account given to them by the officials. Cowards, all of them.

So, who can we trust anymore to give us straight reporting?  Only those who are willing to be vilified and labeled as nut cases when they report the real story behind the "official" story (even after such a distinguished career as Hersh's, winning many awards for his always-before-trusted investigative reporting). Hersh earned trust because his reporting always proved true in the end.  And will be again.  Like last night's PBS Independent Lens documentary "1971," in which the full story of the raid on the FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania was finally revealed, and the real patriots of our country are being made known to us after all those years -- in the same way, eventually, Hersh's story on what really happened in the bin Laden killing will be verified and revealed to be genuine.  Sigh.

That old saying attributed to Mark Twain is so true,  "A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its boots."

The most outrageous lies that can be invented will find believers if a man only tells them with all his might.  ... The glory which is built upon a lie soon becomes a most unpleasant encumbrance. How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!  - Mark Twain

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Right-wing way of divorce: Bill O'Reilly as role model

Not hard to believe about this ugly man who bullies anyone who disagrees with him.  His wife is lucky to get away without getting killed....(so far).  How much longer can the big mouthed fear-and anger-driven bully boy types at Fox News get away with fooling some of the people all of the time????  How is this guy different from someone like O.J.????

Bill O'Reilly accused of physically assaulting his ex-wife in front of their daughter

Travis Gettys
18 May 2015 at 14:23 ET                   

Bill O'Reilly (Fox News)

Bill O'Reilly's ex-wife accused the Fox News anchor of physically assaulting her in front of their daughter.

A source said Maureen McPhilmy, who was recently awarded custody of the couple's two children, testified during a New York family court hearing that O'Reilly attacked her at their Manhasset home, reported Gawker.

The source said a forensic examiner testified that O'Reilly's 16-year-old daughter claimed she saw her father drag her mother down a staircase by the neck, unaware the girl was watching.

It's not clear when the incident took place, but it apparently happened before the couple separated in 2010.

McPhilmy began dating a Nassau County police detective after the separation, and Gawker reported that O'Reilly called in a favor after raising money for the department and got an internal affairs investigation launched against the new boyfriend.

The couple divorced in 2011 and have been engaged in a bitter custody dispute.

O'Reilly tried to have his former wife excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church in 2013, according to another Gawker report.

Fox News and O'Reilly did not respond to requests for comment made by the website.  

AND...For more news from the "compassionate conservative" right wing, see the following story:

Florida church: We didn't fire lesbians for being gay — we fired them for acting like it

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Marijuana triggers cancer cell death, cuts off tumor's blood supply

Herb That Triggers Cancer Cell Death and Cuts Off the Tumor's Blood Supply

(Click on link for full article and videos.) This incredible cancer treatment is sitting right under our nose, but we're choosing to ignore it - despite the fact it's been proven effective against over 9 different forms of cancer, while leaving healthy cells untouched. Is this a case of death by politics?

Marijuana Research Supports Its Safety and Benefits

By Dr. Mercola

The use of marijuana for medical purposes is now legal in 23 states and, as of this writing, 9 states have pending legislation or ballot measures to legalize medical marijuana.¹ Estimates are that between 85 and 95 percent of Americans are in favor of medical cannabis, and nearly 60 percent support complete legalization of marijuana.

And doctors agree. In 2014, a survey found that the majority of physicians—56 percent—favor nationwide legalization of medical cannabis, with support being highest among oncologists and hematologists.²

However, many families are still unable, legally or otherwise, to obtain this herbal treatment. Families with a sick child are being forced to split up, just so that one parent can live in a place where medical cannabis can be legally obtained in order to help their child.

A major part of the problem lies at the federal level, where marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1³ controlled substance—a category reserved for the most dangerous of drugs, including heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.

According to the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, Schedule 1 drugs are defined as those having a "high potential for abuse" and "no accepted medical use." Research to date shows that marijuana meets neither of these criteria.

The featured documentary covers some of the most recent research on the medical applications of marijuana. In light of recent science, it's clear that marijuana does not meet Schedule 1 criteria and it's high time to revise this classification.

Prominent Physicians Shifting Their Stance on Medical Marijuana

A number of prominent physicians are reversing their opinions about marijuana's medicinal utility. A recent example is US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who in a recent CBS interview, acknowledged that marijuana may be useful for certain medical conditions.

CNN's chief medical correspondent and neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta also made a highly publicized reversal on his marijuana stance after the production of his two-part series "Weed."⁴

The US seems to want it both ways. The federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. But in October 2003, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) obtained a patent for marijuana as a "neural protectant," claiming it can protect your brain against stroke and trauma.⁵

How can HHS own a patent for the medical use of cannabis, while the federal government still classifies it as an unsafe drug with no medical value?

The US Has Much to Learn from Israel

The US is far behind many other countries in harnessing the healing power of marijuana. Israel is the marijuana research capital of the world, thanks to Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, who was the first to investigate the medicinal properties of marijuana way back in the 1960s and the first to isolate THC and CBD.

Israel is now using marijuana to treat cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Tourette's syndrome, and many other conditions. As shown in the film, even residents of Israeli nursing homes are being treated with marijuana.

But in the US, the fact that marijuana remains classified as a dangerous Schedule 1 drug has all but halted scientific progress. American scientists have to jump through a frustrating array of hoops, which are expensive and time consuming and ultimately discourage the majority of researchers from conducting marijuana studies.

Marijuana's Miracle Molecules: Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are the general category of active chemical compounds found in marijuana, or cannabis. Cannabinoids can be separated into several subclasses—two of which are THC (tetrahydrocannabinols) and CBD (cannabidiols).⁶

CBD is the most abundant cannabinoid, contributing up to 40 percent of cannabis resin. Cannabinoids produce biological effects because, just like opiates interacting with your opiate receptors, cannabinoids interact with specific receptors located in your cell membranes.

The therapeutic and psychoactive properties of marijuana occur when particular cannabinoids activate their associated receptors, and the effects depend on the areas of your body and brain in which they interact.

Some cannabinoids are psychoactive, whereas others are not. THC is the most psychoactive, the one that produces the "high"—which is why marijuana plants have been bred over time to produce ever-increasing amounts of this compound.

However, selectively breeding pot for high THC has diminished its medicinal value and increased its likelihood of producing adverse effects. Although research is still in its infancy, the cannabinoids appear to work in tandem with each other, balancing one another out. According to the University of Washington:⁷

"CBD may actually have anti-anxiety effects and lessen the psychoactive effects of THC. This means that a plant with a greater percentage of CBD may reduce the intensity of the effects of the THC, which in effect lowers the potency of the plant.

Use of a cannabis plant with less CBD has been shown to have an increased psychological impact and result in unwanted effects such as anxiety."

So, by breeding out the CBD, pot growers have created more intense psychoactive effects that lack any modulation, which is why some people experience adverse reactions such as anxiety and even psychosis. Mother Nature created a delicately balanced chemical system in this plant, which humans have upset with their tampering and manipulation.

Like It or Not, You Are Wired to Respond to Marijuana

The fact that there's a plant that acts on your body's own cannabinoid receptors is a phenomenon Dr. Mechoulam calls a "quirk of nature." He's referring to the fact that we didn't develop these receptors in order to smoke pot—we have them because we have our own endogenous cannabinoid system.

Your body makes its own cannabinoids, similar to those found in marijuana but present in much smaller amounts. These endocannabinoids appear to perform signaling operations similar to your body's neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. Cannabinoid receptors can be found on cell membranes throughout your body—in fact, scientists now believe they may represent the most widespread receptor system.⁸ Two receptor types have been identified:

• CB1: Cannabinoid receptors that are extremely prolific in your brain (excluding your brain stem), but also present in your heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and other parts of your body
• CB2: Cannabinoid receptors primarily found in your immune system

Your endocannabinoid system is thought to help regulate nearly every physiological process and plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis—and yet, it's not taught in medical school! We've shared this important system with all vertebrate species and even sea squirts for more than 600 million years. Science to date suggests that your endocannabinoid system is integral to the following biological processes, and chances are we've barely scratched the surface.⁹

Immune function	Inflammation (especially tamping it down)	Energy intake and storage
Appetite control and cravings	Nutrient transport	Cellular communication
Emotional balance	Reproduction	Pain sensation
Sleep	Bone growth	Memory

The Growing List of Illnesses Cannabis Can Treat

The fact that your body is replete with cannabinoid receptors, key to so many biological functions, is why there's such enormous medical potential for cannabis. If it can help restore homeostasis, it will prove itself as a very powerful therapy. CBD may be the most potent and beneficial of the cannabinoids, particularly for tamping down an overactive immune system, as is the case with autoimmune disease. CBD also has antipsychotic properties but does not get you high or stoned.

The response of cancer patients to cannabis treatment is very encouraging. Not only does cannabis help with the unpleasant side effects of traditional chemotherapy (including pain, nausea, and insomnia), but the cannabis itself appears to be a natural chemotherapy agent. Over the past several years, dozens of studies point to marijuana's effectiveness against many different types of cancer, including brain cancer, breast and prostate, lung, thyroid, colon, pituitary, melanoma, and leukemia. It fights cancer by at least two mechanisms, making it difficult for a cancer to grow and spread:

1. Cannabis is pro-apoptotic, meaning it triggers apoptosis (cellular suicide) of cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells untouched
2. Cannabis is anti-angiogenic, meaning it cuts off a tumor's blood supply

This may explain why chronic pot smokers have such surprisingly low rates of lung and other cancers, especially when compared to cancer rates among tobacco smokers. ^10,11 In addition to cancer, cannabis has been found effective against an ever-growing list of illnesses. Research has been limited, but we may be turning the corner. It's likely we'll soon be expanding this list as the evolving political climate becomes more favorable to cannabis research.

Mental disorders, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), mood disorders, and Tourette's syndrome	Pain and insomnia	Degenerative neurological disorders, dystonia, and tremor
Multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune issues	Parkinson's disease	Cancer, numerous types
Seizure disorders	Rheumatoid arthritis	Heart disease
Autism	Obesity	Nausea, vomiting, and lack of appetite

Science Shows Marijuana MUCH Safer Than Prescription Drugs

Download Interview Transcript

Many prescription drugs are known to be dangerous. Pharmaceuticals in general are among the leading causes of death in the US, and some drugs have killed tens of thousands of individuals. The painkiller Vioxx is one classic example that killed over 60,000 before being pulled off the market. According to Dr. Margaret Gedde, MD, PhD, owner and founder of Gedde Whole Health and the Clinicians' Institute of Cannabis Medicine, you don't have to look far to find research confirming that cannabis is safer and less toxic than many prescription drugs.

This includes liver and kidney toxicity, gastrointestinal damage, nerve damage, and of course death. Moreover, cannabinoids often work when pharmaceutical drugs fail, so not only is cannabis safer but it's typically more effective. One of the strongest areas of research regarding marijuana's health benefits is pain control.

In 2010, the Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMCR) released a report¹² on 14 clinical studies about the use of marijuana for pain, most of which were FDA-approved, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. The report revealed that marijuana not only controls pain, but in many cases it does so better than pharmaceutical alternatives.

If you compare prescription painkillers (opiates) to marijuana, marijuana is much safer. Opioid painkillers can lead to slowed respiration and death if an excess is taken—and the risks are compounded if you add alcohol to the equation. By contrast, cannabis overdose cannot kill you because there are no cannabinoid receptors in your brain stem, the region of your brain that controls your heartbeat and respiration.

The statistics speak for themselves. In 2010, prescription painkillers were responsible for 16,600 deaths, and painkiller overdoses claimed more women's lives than cocaine and heroine combined. In the CDC's Public Health Reports study,¹³ prescription drugs were involved in fatal car crashes at three times the rate of marijuana.

In states where medical marijuana is legal, overdose deaths from opioids like morphine, oxycodone, and heroin decreased by an average of 20 percent after one year, 25 percent after two years and up to 33 percent by years five and six. As noted by Dr. Gedde:

"There's an ongoing death rate from use of pain medications as prescribed. So, even as prescribed, they're highly dangerous and they are open to abuse. As far as medications used in the pediatric population to control seizures, there are also severe toxicities to organs. Many of them are very sedating. The children become unable to function or really to interact because of the sedating effects. Other medications have a side effect of rage and behavioral problems.

Unprovoked rage is actually a known side effect of some of the anti-seizure medications. Cannabis and in particular cannabidiol has none of these issues. No toxicities. The main side effect of cannabidiol is sleepiness. As a child gets accustomed to it, that does wear off and the child can be very alert and functional on the cannabis oil once they have worked into the dosing. Once you put them against each other, there really is no comparison in terms of safety."

Education Is Key

Because of the issues already discussed, it can sometimes be challenging finding accurate, science-based information about cannabis. Dr. Gedde offers the following suggestions for obtaining reliable information:

"The reason why it's difficult is that the preponderance of research funds have been to show harm related to cannabis, as a drug of abuse... [L]ook for the real research that's there on the endocannabinoid system and the ways that marijuana cannabis has been helping people for centuries. And look into the history of medical practice; that's where the information starts to come out."

She also recommends looking to current clinical practice, which is possible in states where cannabis is now safely and legally accessible. This is where you can learn more about optimal dosing and protocols found effective for various conditions. Other resources that may be helpful include the following:

• Cancer.gov,¹⁴ the US government's cancer website, contains research relating to the use of cannabis
• PubMed¹⁵ is a searchable public resource containing a vast amount of medical literature, including studies involving cannabis
• The Journal of Pain¹⁶ is a publication by the American Pain Society with a long list of studies on the pain-relieving effects of cannabis
• National Institute on Drug Abuse¹⁷ is an excellent resource, including information about preclinical and clinical trials are underway to test marijuana and various extracts for the treatment of a number of diseases, including autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, inflammation, pain, and mental disorders.
• I also recommend listening to my previous interview with Dr. Frankel, in which he discusses many of the medical benefits of cannabis.

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Two girls, strangers, who look almost exactly alike

http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/04/17/idesk-double-trouble.cnn?iid=ob_article_footer_expansion&iref=obnetwork

Pretty amazing to find someone who looks almost exactly like you!  Take a look at these girls...they look like identical twins.  Once, when I was in San Francisco, a woman came up to me calling me by a different name--and then did a double-take.  She realized I wasn't who she thought I was but said in amazement, "You look exactly like a friend of mine!"  I laughed about it then -- but am thinking it would be a startling experience to meet up with your "doppelganger." 

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Warning about Diet Pepsi's new artificial sweetener replacing aspartame

Fron Dr. Mercola
Diet Pepsi is getting an image overhaul, and as of August will no longer contain the artificial sweetener aspartame, PepsiCo. has announced.^1,2

The decision came in response to dwindling sales, mirroring consumers' concerns about aspartame's health hazards, which includes research^3,4,5,6,7,8 showing that aspartame is a multipotential carcinogenic agent.

It is clearly a move in the right direction and we have provided much of the impetus as our site comes up number two in Google for aspartame and many publications, like the LA Times,⁹ credit us for the increased awareness.

It's hardly a major victory, however, as the company plans on replacing aspartame with sucralose, aka Splenda.^10,11

The irony of this has not gone unnoticed. On April 26, US Right to Know tweeted the following message: "#DietSodaScam: @PepsiCo switching from aspartame to sucralose is like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic."

Indeed, sucralose is associated with many of the same adverse effects as aspartame, including:

Respiratory difficulties	Migraines/headaches12	Seizures
Gastrointestinal problems	Heart palpitations	Weight gain

Animal research¹³ published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health in 2008 also found that Splenda:

• Reduces beneficial gut bacteria by 50 percent
• Increases the pH level in the intestines
• Affects a glycoprotein that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you're on certain medications as it can cause the rejection of drugs such as chemotherapy, AIDS treatments, and treatments for heart conditions
• Is absorbed by fat (contrary to previous claims)

Pepsi Is Just Switching One Hazardous Sweetener for Another

It's really a toss-up as to which artificial sweetener might be better or worse than the other, but the fact that sucralose can destroy up to half of your beneficial gut microbes is by no means a selling point for aware consumers, as these bacteria are a vital part of your immune system and help support your general health—both physical and mental.

Disrupting your intestinal microflora is also one of the many mechanisms by which artificial sweeteners cause obesity and diabetes, according to recent research.^{14,15,16,17,18} Most importantly, this particular study actually shows causation.

Specifically, they found that the artificial sweeteners saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame cause decreased function in pathways associated with the transport of sugar in your body. They were also found to induce gut dysbiosis and glucose intolerance in otherwise healthy people.

Glucose intolerance is a well-known precursor to type 2 diabetes, but it also plays a role in obesity, because the excess sugar in your blood ends up being stored in your fat cells.According to the authors of this widely publicized study:

"[W]e demonstrate that consumption of commonly used non-caloric artificial sweeteners formulations drives the development of glucose intolerance through induction of compositional and functional alterations to the intestinal microbiota...

Collectively, our results link non-caloric artificial sweeteners (NAS) consumption, dysbiosis, and metabolic abnormalities, thereby calling for a reassessment of massive NAS usage."

Diet Pepsi Will Still Contain Ace-K

Diet Pepsi will also still contain the poorly tested acesulfame potassium^19,20 (ace-K), which has been linked to kidney problems. All in all, I believe ALL artificial sweeteners are bad news for your health, and Diet Pepsi will still contain two of them. Trading aspartame for sucralose in no way makes Diet Pepsi "better."

They're simply trading one hazardous ingredient for another, and it's only a matter of time before consumers realize the ruse. Aspartame may have received far more bad press than any of the other artificial sweeteners because (in my view) it is the worst of the artificial sweeteners, but studies have consistently found harm from other no- or low-calorie sweeteners as well.

This is particularly true when it comes to the effect artificial sweeteners has on your weight. Studies have also shown that artificial sweeteners worsen insulin sensitivity to a greater degree than sugar, and that animals fed artificial sweeteners develop a disrupted metabolic response to real sugar.²¹

Artificial sweeteners also promote other health problems associated with excessive sugar consumption, including heart disease,²² stroke,^23,24,25 and Alzheimer's disease.

Many astroturfers who insist that there's "no scientific basis" for claims of harm conveniently ignore, or try to malign and downplay the many studies that actually do show harm, such as the cancer studies referenced above.

There are a number of industry front groups working to shape and mold public perception of "the facts," which includes which studies to believe and which ones to ignore. 

As I discussed in a previous article, the Calorie Control Council is a front group association that represents manufacturers and suppliers of low-calorie, sugar-free, and reduced sugar foods and beverages. It is, of course, a staunch defender of aspartame's safety and effectiveness for weight management and diabetic control, and is quick to dismiss any research that suggests otherwise.

What many don't realize is that the Calorie Control Council has strong ties to the Kellen Company, which is instrumental in creating and managing industry front groups specifically created to mislead you about the product in question, protect industry profits, and influence regulatory agencies.  

Aspartame defenders also fail to admit that weight gain and insulin resistance are in fact harmful health effects—an ingredient doesn't have to be acutely toxic or outright carcinogenic to be a health hazard.

When it comes to diet soda, this issue is particularly pertinent, as soda companies indeed advertise diet drinks as a means to lose weight, or at the very least to avoid weight gain, even though there's absolutely no solid scientific foundation for that claim at all.

Use of the Word 'Diet' in Weight-Boosting Products Is Deceptive, False, and Misleading

False advertising is prohibited by federal law, and the term "diet" is only permitted on brands or labels when it is not false or misleading. In light of the burgeoning research demonstrating that artificially sweeteners actually increase your chances of gaining weight rather than help you shed it, the consumer group US Right to Know (US RTK) has asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo. Inc., and other companies for false advertising.²⁶

RTK's letter²⁷ to FTC Director Jessica Rich, dated April 9, 2015, reads in part:

"Their use of the term 'diet' in advertising for these products appears to be deceptive under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act 2 as interpreted by the Commission in its 'Statement on Deception,'3 because scientific evidence suggests artificial sweeteners contribute to weight gain, not weight loss...

We ask that the Commission conduct this investigation urgently, given the real possibility of consumer harm, in that companies are portraying products as assisting with weight loss, when in fact they may well contribute to weight gain. Such weight gain increases the risk of serious diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer."

According to Gary Ruskin, executive director of US Right to Know:²⁸

"The jump from aspartame to sucralose is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The bigger problem is that PepsiCo is selling a product as 'diet' that may well cause weight gain. They didn't solve that problem. We have asked the FTC and FDA to shut down what appears to be a consumer fraud. We're hopeful they will stand with consumers and do the right thing."

In its citizen petition to the FDA,²⁹ US RTK requests the agency to issue warning letters to Coca-Cola and Pepsi, concluding that the beverages are misbranded because the use of the term "diet" is false and misleading. RTK is also asking the FDA to investigate the use of the term "diet" in other foods and beverages that contain artificial sweeteners.

Many Studies Refute 'Diet' Claims of Artificial Sweeteners

Preventive Medicine 1986 Mar;15(2):195-20230	This study examined nearly 78,700 women aged 50-69 for one year. Artificial sweetener usage increased with relative weight, and users were significantly more likely to gain weight, compared to those who did not use artificial sweeteners—regardless of their initial weight. According to the researchers, the results "were not explicable by differences in food consumption patterns. The data do not support the hypothesis that long-term artificial sweetener use either helps weight loss or prevents weight gain."
Physiology and Behavior, 198831	In this study, they determined that intense (no- or low-calorie) sweeteners can produce significant changes in appetite. Of the three sweeteners tested, aspartame produced the most pronounced effects.
Physiology and Behavior, 199032	Here, they found that aspartame had a time-dependent effect on appetite, "producing a transient decrease followed by a sustained increase in hunger ratings."
Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 199133	In a study of artificial sweeteners performed on college students, there was no evidence that artificial sweetener use was associated with a decrease in their overall sugar intake either.
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 200334	This study, which looked at 3,111 children, found that diet soda, specifically, was associated with higher BMI.
International Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, 200435	This Purdue University study found that rats fed artificially sweetened liquids ate more high-calorie food than rats fed high-caloric sweetened liquids. The researchers believe the experience of drinking artificially sweetened liquids disrupted the animals' natural ability to compensate for the calories in the food.
San Antonio Heart Study, 200536	Data gathered from the 25-year long San Antonio Heart Study also showed that drinking diet soft drinks increased the likelihood of serious weight gain – far more so than regular soda.37 On average, for each diet soft drink the participants drank per day, they were 65 percent more likely to become overweight during the next seven to eight years, and 41 percent more likely to become obese.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 200538	In this two-year long study, which involved 166 school children, increased diet soda consumption was associated with higher BMI at the end of the trial.
The Journal of Pediatrics, 200639	The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study included 2,371 girls aged 9-19 for 10 years. Soda consumption in general, both regular and diet, was associated with increase in total daily energy intake.
Journal of Biology and Medicine, 201040	This study delves into the neurobiology of sugar cravings and summarizes the epidemiological and experimental evidence concerning the effect of artificial sweeteners on weight. According to the authors: "[F]indings suggest that the calorie contained in natural sweeteners may trigger a response to keep the overall energy consumption constant. ...Increasing evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners do not activate the food reward pathways in the same fashion as natural sweeteners… [A]rtificial sweeteners, precisely because they are sweet, encourage sugar craving and sugar dependence."
Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 201041	This review offers a summary of epidemiological and experimental evidence concerning the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight, and explains those effects in light of the neurobiology of food reward. It also shows the correlation between increased usage of artificial sweeteners in food and drinks, and the corresponding rise in obesity. More than 11,650 children aged 9-14 were included in this study. Each daily serving of diet beverage was associated with a BMI increase of 0.16 kg/m.2
Appetite, 201242	Here, researchers showed that saccharin and aspartame both cause greater weight gain than sugar, even when the total caloric intake remains similar.
Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 201343	This report highlights the fact that diet soda drinkers suffer the same exact health problems as those who opt for regular soda, such as excessive weight gain, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.44,45 The researchers speculate that frequent consumption of artificial sweeteners may induce metabolic derangements.
Nature, 201446	This study was able to clearly show causality, revealing there's a direct cause and effect relationship between consuming artificial sweeteners and developing elevated blood sugar levels. People who consumed high amounts of artificial sweeteners were found to have higher levels of HbA1C—a long-term measure of blood sugar—compared to non-users or occasional users of artificial sweeteners. Seven volunteers who did not use artificial sweeteners were then recruited, and asked to consume the equivalent of 10-12 single-dose packets of artificial sweeteners daily for one week. Four of the seven people developed "significant disturbances in their blood glucose," according to the researchers. Some became pre-diabetic within just a few days. The reason for this dramatic shift was traced back to alterations in gut bacteria. Some bacteria were killed off, while others started proliferating.
PLoS One, 201447	This study, which was done on rats, using aspartame, also found an increased risk of glucose intolerance. Animals that consume artificial sweeteners ended up with raised levels of propionate—short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) involved in sugar production. Consumption of artificial sweeteners shifted gut microbiota to produce propionate, which generated higher blood sugar levels.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,201548	Seniors aged 65 and over were followed for an average of nine years, and there was a "striking dose-response relationship" between diet soda consumption and waist circumference. This held true even when other factors such as exercise, diabetes, and smoking were taken into account. People who never drank diet soda increased their waist circumference by an average of 0.8 inches during the nine-year observation period. Occasional diet soda drinkers added an average of 1.83 inches to their waist line in that time period. Daily diet soda drinkers gained an average of nearly 3.2 inches—quadruple that of those who abstained from diet soda altogether.

Reclaim Your Health by Switching to Water

Sweetened beverages, whether it's sweetened with sugar, high fructose corn syrup, naturally occurring fructose, or artificial sweeteners, are among the worst culprits causing obesity and related health problems, including diabetes, heart and liver disease, just to name a few. Ditching ALL of these types of beverages can go a long way toward reducing your risk for chronic health problems and weight gain.

Your best, most cost effective choice of beverage is filtered tap water. Besides purification, I also believe it's critical to drink living water. Last year, I interviewed Dr. Gerald Pollack about his book, The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid, and Vapor. This fourth phase of water is referred to as "structured water" and is the type of water found in all of your cells. This water has healing properties, and is naturally created in a variety of ways.

Water from a deep spring is one excellent source of structured water, and there's a great website called FindaSpring.com⁴⁹ where you can find a natural spring in your area. You can also promote structured water through vortexing, i.e. stirring your water, creating a vortex in the glass or pitcher.

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