The Origins of Easter Symbols

I located this article among miscellaneous in my Bible. It is tattered and appears very old. It was written by Michael Hofferber, identified as a correspondent for Capitol Press.

As children, we accept a lot of things on face value--like Easter bunnies, Easter eggs and Easter ham.

We see these Easter symbols everywhere this time of year, but what do they have to do with the Christian celebration of the Resurrection?

Do white rabbits have some spiritual significance? Are colored eggs Christian. And why eat ham on a day celebrating Jesus, a lifelong Jew who never touched the meat?

Truth is, the name Easter (or Eastre, actually) belongs to a Scandinavian goddess or forest nymph. Easter was celebrated in festivals at the vernal equinox for centuries before the Resurrection. Her earthly symbol, signifying springtime and regenerations, was a white rabbit.

Early Christians observed the Resurrection at about the same time, and to win converts among the Saxon tribes they merged their holiday with that of the natives.

The stratagem worked. Easter became a Christian occasion, but the white bunny character prevailed.

Eggs have an even deeper history. They have long been symbols of birth and resurrection. Early Persians believed the world was hatched from an egg and the Egyptians who built the pyramids exchanged colored eggs each spring in celebration of the World-Egg of their creation myths.

The Jewish people, who spent many years in bondage to the Egyptians, included hard-boiled eggs in their ceremonial Passover meal celebrating their "rebirth" and exodus from Egypt. The Last Supper was a Passover meal and Jesus undoubtedly had eggs on His plate.

Life of all kinds emerges from eggs, or egg-shaped seeds, and much of this breakout is occurring now, in springtime. What better time, then, to celebrate the Resurrection? What better symbol for new hope than the egg?

According to legend, an egg merchant helped carry Christ's cross to Calvary. When he returned to his farm he found his hens' eggs were a miraculous rainbow of colors.

This inspired pysanki, the practice of painting bright colors and intricate patterns on the shells of eggs as a celebration of Easter.

As for eating ham at Eastertime, there is nothing spiritual about the habit. It's origins are clearly racist.

Old English Anglo-Saxons of about a thousand years ago were vehemently anti-Semitic. They sought to demonstrate their differences, especially at Easter, and so they would eat a gammon of bacon just to prove they weren't Jewish, because Jews were forbidden to eat pork.

William the Conqueror, who led the Norman Conquest, was equally anti-Semitic, but he hated bacon. When he became King of England, one of his first acts was to insist on hams instead of bacon. English-speaking Christians have been basting Easter hams instead of frying Easter bacon ever since.

Counting my blessings !!

I've just returned home from Church, and lunch with friends. A marquee in front of the bank (2:30 PM) said 82 degrees!! A weatherman predict-ed "in the 70's"; I was amazed to see "82." Maybe a mistake?? Mistakes happen!! Too much ozone..., too much time alone (depression), too little money (unemployed for over a year), too "gullible" ($3,000. scam by Dotless Domain), the list is endless. But it was never a mistake to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. At this Holy Season, I'm grateful that Jesus went to the Cross and paid my debt. Recently, I could have died from acute ozone poisoning; considering our Nation's economic circumstances, my retirement benefits may take a "dive"; I might not be able to pay the rent so all the cherished memorabilia ("clutter") would go to a Thrift Shop. ~~ I'm sitting here, with a cup of organic tea, C-O-U-N-T-I-N-G-- -M-Y- --B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G-S-!!!!

Potpourri

Here's a little potpourri: The weather has been beautiful for several days!! The trees are beginning to leaf and everything is turning green. I'm feeling new energy and therefore have begun to clean the apartment and reduce clutter. I've been saying for years that I'm going to "downsize." Maybe this time I'll succeed!! The other day I packed three large bags with clothing, and miscellaneous, and took to a local Thrift Shop. I have two boxes ready for more items for donations. (I'd like to sell quality-used but my last yard sale was a disappointment: $27. for newspaper ads, $32. received from sales.) Yesterday I vacuumed, and scrubbed floors, and waxed.... Today I shopped at Sam's Club for fruit and veggies; came home and prepared a large salad. (I exercised "restraint" and did not stop to shop at the Tuesday Morning store.) My Turbo Tax Income Taxes are almost ready to submit and I plan to e-File the middle of next week. Nasty weather is expected within a couple of days so will be the perfect time to sit at the computer and focus on last minute review of my taxes?!?! (Snow expected in the nearby mountains by Tuesday. Rain here for several days, starting Sunday evening.) Wishing you Palm Sunday blessings!!

10 Foods That Help Fight Cancer

By Michele Bender, Special to LifeScript
Published April 03, 2009

Food does more than sustain us – it can also keep our bodies healthy. Some foods even have cancer-fighting properties. Read on for 10 items that can ward off the big “C” and how to add them to your diet. Plus, test your cancer IQ with our quiz…

Most of us know the foods that pack on pounds: burgers, ice cream, chips and more. But what you eat goes beyond whether you’ll fit into your jeans. Healthy foods also may keep cancer at bay.

“Though there’s no one food that will reduce your risk of this disease, it’s the synergy between many nutrients – vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants – that’s likely to give you the most protection,” says Colleen Doyle, M.S., R.D., director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society.

These 10 edibles pack a powerful anti-cancer punch:

1. Berries
How they help: Berries contain antioxidants – compounds believed to protect your cells from damage that’s been linked to cancer – and may boost your immune system, says Lisa Young, Ph.D., R.D., author of The Portion Teller (Broadway) and adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University.

They contain polyphenols, including ellagic acid and anthocyanins – antioxidants that counteract, reduce and repair damage to cells, Doyle says. Berries are also brimming with other potential cancer-fighters like vitamin C and fiber.

Cancers they may fight: Skin, bladder, lung, breast, cancer and esophageal

Get your fill: Toss blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries into yogurt, smoothies, cereal and salads or stir them into muffin or pancake recipes.

2. Grapes
How they help: A plant chemical called resveratrol, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, hides in the skin of grapes – especially purple and red ones. Studies have shown they may keep cancer cells from growing and inhibit tumors, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research.

Cancers they may fight: Liver, stomach, breast and colon

Get your fill: Wash grapes, freeze them, then eat them as a sweet snack or add sliced ones into salads or cottage cheese. (Red wine contains this compound, but it’s not the best way to consume resveratrol because alcohol has been linked to higher cancer risk.)

3. Tomatoes
How they help: Tomatoes get their bright red color from an antioxidant called lycopene, which can protect cells from damage and kill those that aren’t growing properly, Doyle says.

They also may protect skin from cancer “by absorbing UV light,” says Wilhelm Stahl, Ph.D., professor and antioxidant researcher at the University of Dusseldorf in Germany.

Cancers they may fight: Breast, lung, endometrial, skin, prostrate and mouth

Get your fill: Cooked or processed tomato-based foods – juice, sauce, paste, soup, even ketchup – have the most lycopene because heat releases more of this nutrient and allows your body to absorb it more easily.

Not a tomato lover? You can get lycopene in pink grapefruit and watermelon, too.

4. Cruciferous veggies
How they help: Cruciferous veggies (think broccoli, kale and cabbage) contain potential cancer fighters such as glucosinolates, crambene and indole-3-carbinol, says the American Institute for Cancer Research. They also contain sulforaphane, which may keep cancer at bay by helping rid the body of carcinogens and inhibit the growth of cancer cells, according to research from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.

Cancers they may fight: Stomach, breast, skin, mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophageal

Get your fill: Try broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage salad. Eat veggies raw or lightly steamed because they lose powerful phytochemicals when overcooked.

5. Garlic
How it helps: Garlic contains unique antioxidant phytochemicals called allyl sulfides that “seem to intervene in several steps of the cancer process,” says Karen Collins, R.D., C.D.N., nutrition advisor to the American Institute for Cancer Research. A 2007 study in the Journal of Nutrition suggests that these compounds inhibit colon tumor formation and cell growth.

Cancers it may fight: Stomach, esophageal, breast, lung and colon

Get your fill: Sauté veggies in a clove or two of garlic or add it to homemade salad dressings, dips, pasta sauces and soups. Also, add garlic salt or powder to ground beef while making burgers or sprinkle it on pizza.

6. Tea
How it helps: Tea is chock full of antioxidants called catechins, which lab studies have found may stop growth of cancer cells and reduce the size of cancerous tumors.

Cancers it may fight: Colon, liver, breast, prostate, lung, skin, bladder, stomach and pancreatic

Get your fill: Sip hot or cold green tea instead of coffee (it has less caffeine and no calories if you go sugarless). Black tea offers benefits, but green tea has three times more catechins, according to the American Institute of Cancer Research.

7. Flaxseed
How it helps: “Flaxseed contains an antioxidant called lignans, which may help the body rid itself of carcinogens, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to reduce inflammation and boost the body’s immune system,” says Krista Haynes, R.D., a staff dietitian with the Cancer Project, a nonprofit group in Washington, D.C.

Cancers it may fight: Colon, breast, skin and lung

Get your fill: Try cooking or baking with flaxseed meal, flour and oil (all found at health food stores) or sprinkle ground flaxseed on cereal, oatmeal or salads.

8. Legumes
How they help: They may be tiny, but legumes such as peas, beans and lentils pack a big nutritional punch.

“They contain natural phytochemicals that are uniquely different from those in vegetables and whole grains,” Collins says.

These include saponins, protease inhibitors and phytica acid, which lab studies reveal may prevent the reproduction of cancer cells, as well as fiber, which can decrease your risk of colon cancer, according to a 2007 American Institute of Cancer Research report.

Cancers they may fight: Colon and stomach, among others

Get your fill: Top salads with lentils and peas, whip up lentil or pea soup, add pea pods to your stir-fry or nosh on plain old peanuts.

9. Whole grains
How they help: People who get their fill of whole grains have a 21% to 43% lower risk of cancer than those who eat little to none, according to a study from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. Unlike refined grains, whole grains have the bran and germ layers, which are packed with antioxidants and other nutrients.

“They also contain fiber, which, when fermented in the colon, may produce substances that protect cells from cancer-causing agents,” Collins says.

Cancers they may fight: Breast, colon and stomach

Get your fill: Bake with whole-wheat flour and have oatmeal for breakfast. Eat sandwiches made with whole-wheat bread (“whole wheat” should be the first word on the ingredient list) and replace white rice with wild or brown.

10. Dark-green leafy vegetables
How they help: These emerald-hued veggies contain folate and carotenoids.

“Carotenoids are antioxidants that aid cell-to-cell communication that controls cell growth, while folate is essential to protect our DNA, the starting point of any change that leads to cancer,” Collins says.

Cancers they may fight: Breast, skin, lung, stomach, mouth, pharynx and larynx

Get your fill: Add spinach to omelets and swap it for iceberg lettuce in salads (throw in romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce and Swiss chard, too). For dinner, lightly sauté mustard greens, collard greens and kale in olive oil and a squirt of lemon.

What’s Your Cancer IQ?
Cell phones, makeup, bug spray, even fresh produce all have been rumored to cause cancer. But should you believe every cancer myth you hear? How much do you know about everyday cancer risks? Test your cancer knowledge with this quiz.

Resveratrol is "Nature's Medicine" for Cancer, Heart Disease and Much More

Thursday, April 02, 2009 by: Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor

(NaturalNews) Just how good is resveratrol at preventing cancer and heart disease? It's so good that drug companies are trying to mimic its molecules in order to claim they're "creating" a new drug to prevent heart disease.

But this is Mother Nature's miracle drug -- only it's not a drug. It's a molecule synthesized by plants for protecting themselves! And it turns out the same molecule can protect you from cancer, heart disease and a whole lot more.

I wanted you to read about the amazing benefits of resveratrol, so I put together this collection of quotes from top authors in the field. Read it to learn the truth about resveratrol that the drug companies and the FDA hope you never find out...

Authors' Quotes on Resveratrol [I, Lorraine, only included one of over 50 quotes.]

Of late, considerable attention has been devoted by scientists to the antioxidant properties of red wine's phenolic constituent, resveratrol, as an important contributor. White wine contains much less of this antioxidant, and therefore it has fewer health benefits. resveratrol, unfortunately is not in green tea. However, green tea may offer even greater potential for health protection, since it not only includes the flavonoids active in red wine but also includes even more powerfully protective flavonoids that are unique to it.
- The Green Tea Book by Lester A. Mitscher and Victoria Toews
- Available on Amazon.com

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About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and technology pioneer with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a maker of energy efficient LED lights that greatly reduce CO2 emissions. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, Pilates and organic gardening. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at http://www.healthranger.org/
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Lorraine here to remind the reader that I am BIG on green tea!! See my 1/27/09 and 2/17/09 blogs.

No joke in April Fool's Day computer worm

By John D. Sutter

(CNN) -- A computer-science detective story is playing out on the Internet as security experts try to hunt down a worm called Conficker C and prevent it from damaging millions of computers on April Fool's Day.

This piece of computer code tells the worm to activate on April 1, 2009, researchers at CA found.

The anti-worm researchers have banded together in a group they call the Conficker Cabal. Members are searching for the malicious software program's author and for ways to do damage control if he or she can't be stopped.

They're motivated in part by a $250,000 bounty from Microsoft and also by what seems to be a sort of Dick Tracy ethic.

"We love catching bad guys," said Alvin Estevez, CEO of Enigma Software Group, which is one of many companies trying to crack Conficker. "We're like former hackers who like to catch other hackers. To us, we get almost a feather in our cap to be able to knock out that worm. We slap each other five when we're killing those infections."

The malicious program already is thought to have infected between 5 million and 10 million computers.

Those infections haven't spawned many symptoms, but on April 1 a master computer is scheduled to gain control of these zombie machines, said Don DeBolt, director of threat research for CA, a New York-based IT and software company.

What happens on April Fool's Day is anyone's guess.

More likely, though, said DeBolt, the virus may try to get computer users to buy fake software or spend money on other phony products.

Experts said computer hackers largely have moved away from showboating and causing random trouble. They now usually try to make money off their viral programs.

DeBolt said Conficker C imbeds itself deep in the computer where it is difficult to track. The program, for instance, stops Windows from conducting automatic updates that could prevent the malware from causing damage.

The program's code is also written to evolve over time and its author appears to be making updates to thwart some of the Conficker Cabal's attempts to neuter the worm.

"It is very much a cat and mouse game," DeBolt said.

It's unclear who wrote the program, but members of the Cabal are looking for clues.

First, they know that some recent malware programs have come from Eastern European countries outside the jurisdiction of the European Union, said Patrick Morganelli, senior vice president of technology for Enigma Software.

Worm program authors often hide in those countries to stay out of sight from law enforcement, he said.

In a way, the Conficker Cabal is also looking for the program author's fingerprints. DeBolt said security researchers are looking through old malware programs to see if their programming styles are similar to that of Conficker C.

The prospects for catching the program's author are not good, Morganelli said.
"Unless they open their mouth, they'll never be found," he said.

So, the most effective counter-assault simply may be damage control.

One quick way to see if your computer has been infected is to see if you have gotten automatic updates from Windows in March. If so, your computer likely is fine, DeBolt said.

Microsoft released a statement saying the company "is actively working with the industry to mitigate the spread of the worm."

Users who haven't gotten the latest Windows updates should go to http://safety.live.com/ if they fear they're infected, the company's statement says.

DeBolt said people who use other antivirus software should check to make sure they've received the latest updates, which also could have been disabled by Conficker C.

The first version of Conficker -- strain A -- was released in late 2008.

That version used 250 Web addresses -- generated daily by the system -- as the means of communication between the master computer and its zombies.

The end goal of the first line was to sell computer users fake antivirus software, said Morganelli.

Computer security experts largely patched that problem by working with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to disable or buy the problematic URLs, he said.

That process-of-elimination approach isn't likely to be effective with Conficker strain C, Morganelli said. The new version will generate 50,000 URLs per day instead of just 250 when it becomes active, DeBolt said.

The first iteration of Conficker is thought to have grown out of a free function for security programs created by Dr. Ronald Rivest, a computer science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"Any technology can be used for good or evil, and this is just an example of that," Rivest said.

Many viruses have taken pieces of benevolent programs and used them for ill. But overall the "open source" environment online promotes computer security far more than it enables hackers, DeBolt said.

"I don't blame the open-source community at all" for virus attacks, he said.

CA said it recently found a piece of code in Conficker C that says the worm will become active on April 1. Previous versions of the malicious software launched on specific dates noted in the program code, so the April Fool's Day launch date is not likely to be a trick, DeBolt said.

"The best minds in the industry are working on this to protect customers," he said. "We're trying to reduce the impact of the April 1 date as best we can. But we know ... this malware will continue to evolve."

Lorraine here: I installed and did the "complete scan" with Microsoft's http://safety.live.com/. When I was ready to scan, the following message was displayed: "Please note that, depending on the type of scan you selected, the Windows Live One Care safety scanner might take up to a few hours to complete." My scan took two-and-one-half hours (and that isn't an April Fool's joke).

April Fool's Day History

The history of April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day is uncertain, but the current thinking is that it began around 1582 in France with the reform of the calendar under Charles IX. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved from March 25 - April 1 (new year's week) to January 1. Communication traveled slowly in those days and some people were only informed of the change several years later. Still others, who were more rebellious refused to acknowledge the change and continued to celebrate on the last day of the former celebration, April 1. These people were labeled "fools" by the general populace, were subject to ridicule and sent on "fool errands," sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a "poisson d'avril" or "April fish" because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke.

This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fool's Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way. (Much more can be found by clicking this web site. I was curious about the origin of the day.)