Preparing for Approaching Heaven
heaven

When a person enters the final stage of life on earth, two different dynamics are at work which are closely interrelated and interdependent. On the physical plane, the body begins the final process of shutting down, which will end when all the physical systems cease to function. Usually this is an orderly and undramatic progressive series of physical changes which are not medical emergencies requiring invasive interventions. These physical changes are a normal, natural way in which the body prepares itself to stop, and the most appropriate kinds of responses are comfort enhancing measures.

The other dynamic of the dying process at work is on the emotional-spiritual-mental plane, and is a different kind of process. The spirit of the dying person begins the final process of release from the body, its immediate environment, and all attachments. This release also tends to follow its own priorities, which may include the resolution of whatever is unfinished of a practical nature and reception of permission to “let go” from family members. These events are the normal, natural way in which the spirit prepares to move from this existence into the next dimension of life. The most appropriate kinds of responses to the emotional-spiritual-mental changes are those which support and encourage this release and transition.

When a person’s body is ready and wanting to stop, but the person is still unresolved or unreconciled over some important issue or with some significant relationship, he or she may tend to linger in order to finish whatever needs finishing even though he or she may be uncomfortable or debilitated. On the other hand, when a person is emotionally-spiritually-mentally resolved and ready for this release, but his or her body has not completed its final physical shut down, the person will continue to live until that shut down process ceases.

The experience we call death occurs when the body completes its natural process of shutting down, and when the spirit completes its natural process of reconciling and finishing. These two processes need to happen in a way appropriate and unique to the values, beliefs, and lifestyle of the dying person.

Therefore, as you seek to prepare yourself as this event approaches, the members of your Hospice care team want you to know what to expect and how to respond in ways that will help your loved one accomplish this transition with support, understanding, and ease. This is the great gift of love you have to offer your loved one as this moment approaches.

The emotional-spiritual-mental and physical signs and symptoms of impending death which follow are offered to help you understand the natural kinds of things which may happen and how you can respond appropriately. Not all these signs and symptoms will occur with every person, nor will they occur in this particular sequence. Each person is unique and needs to do things in his or her own way. This is not the time to try to change your loved one, but the time to give full acceptance, support, and comfort.

The following signs and symptoms described are indicative of how the body prepares itself for the final stage of life.

Coolness
The person's hands and arms, feet and then legs may be increasingly cool to the touch, and at the same time the color of the skin may change. This a normal indication that the circulation of blood is decreasing to the body’s extremities and being reserved for the most vital organs. Keep the person warm with a blanket, but do not use one that is electric.

Sleeping
The person may spend an increasing amount of time sleeping, and appear to be uncommunicative or unresponsive and at times be difficult to arouse. This normal change is due in part to changes in the metabolism of the body. Sit with your loved one, hold his or her hand, but do not shake it or speak loudly. Speak softly and naturally. Plan to spend time with your loved one during those times when he or she seems most alert or awake. Do not talk about the person in the person’s presence. Speak to him or her directly as you normally would, even though there may be no response. Never assume the person cannot hear; hearing is the last of the senses to be lost.

Disorientation
The person may seem to be confused about the time, place, and identity of people surrounding him or her including close and familiar people. This is also due in part to the metabolism changes. Identify yourself by name before you speak rather than to ask the person to guess who you are. Speak softly, clearly, and truthfully when you need to communicate something important for the patient’s comfort, such as, It is time to take your medication, and explain the reason for the communication, such as, so you won’t begin to hurt. Do not use this method to try to manipulate the patient to meet your needs.

Incontinence
The person may lose control of urine and/or bowel matter as the muscles in that area begin to relax. Discuss with your Hospice nurse what can be done to protect the bed and keep your loved one clean and comfortable.

Congestion
The person may have gurgling sounds coming from his or her chest as though marbles were rolling around inside these sounds may become very loud. This normal change is due to the decrease of fluid intake and an inability to cough up normal secretions. Suctioning usually only increases the secretions and causes sharp discomfort. Gently turn the person s head to the side and allow gravity to drain the secretions. You may also gently wipe the mouth with a moist cloth. The sound of the congestion does not indicate the onset of severe or new pain.

Restlessness
The person may make restless and repetitive motions such as pulling at bed linen or clothing. This often happens and is due in part to the decrease in oxygen circulation to the brain and to metabolism changes. Do not interfere with or try to restrain such motions. To have a calming effect, speak in a quiet, natural way, lightly massage the forehead, read to the person, or play some soothing music.

Urine Decrease
The person's urine output normally decreases and may become tea colored referred to as concentrated urine. This is due to the decreased fluid intake as well as decrease in circulation through the kidneys. Consult with your Hospice nurse to determine whether there may be a need to insert or irrigate a catheter.

Fluid and Food Decrease
The person may have a decrease in appetite and thirst, wanting little or no food or fluid. The body will naturally begin to conserve energy which is expended on these tasks. Do not try to force food or drink into the person, or try to use guilt to manipulate them into eating or drinking something. To do this only makes the person much more uncomfortable. Small chips of ice, frozen Gatorade or juice may be refreshing in the mouth. If the person is able to swallow, fluids may be given in small amounts by syringe (ask the Hospice nurse for guidance). Glycerin swabs may help keep the mouth and lips moist and comfortable. A cool, moist washcloth on the forehead may also increase physical comfort.

Breathing Pattern Change
The person s regular breathing pattern may change with the onset of a different breathing pace. A particular pattern consists of breathing irregularly, i.e., shallow breaths with periods of no breathing of five to thirty seconds and up to a full minute. This is called Cheyne-Stokes breathing. The person may also experience periods of rapid shallow pant-like breathing. These patterns are very common and indicate decrease in circulation in the internal organs. Elevating the head, and/or turning the person onto his or her side may bring comfort. Hold your loved one’s hand. Speak gently.

Normal Emotional, Spiritual, and Mental Signs and Symptoms with Appropriate Responses

Withdrawal
The person may seem unresponsive, withdrawn, or in a comatose-like state. This indicates preparation for release, a detaching from surroundings and relationships, and a beginning of letting go. Since hearing remains all the way to the end, speak to your loved one in your normal tone of voice, identifying yourself by name when you speak, hold his or her hand, and say whatever you need to say that will help the person let go.

Vision-like experiences
The person may speak or claim to have spoken to persons who have already died, or to see or have seen places not presently accessible or visible to you. This does not indicate an hallucination or a drug reaction. The person is beginning to detach from this life and is being prepared for the transition so it will not be frightening. Do not contradict, explain away, belittle or argue about what the person claims to have seen or heard. Just because you cannot see or hear it does not mean it is not real to your loved one. Affirm his or her experience. They are normal and common. If they frighten your loved one, explain that they are normal occurrences.

Restlessness
The person may perform repetitive and restless tasks. This may in part indicate that something still unresolved or unfinished is disturbing him or her, and prevents him or her from letting go. Your Hospice team members will assist you in identifying what may be happening, and help you find ways to help the person find release from the tension or fear. Other things which may be helpful in calming the person are to recall a favorite place the person enjoyed, a favorite experience, read something comforting, play music, and give assurance that it is OK to let go.

Fluid and Food Decrease
When the person may want little or no fluid or food, this may indicate readiness for the final shut down. Do not try to force food or fluid. You may help your loved one by giving permission to let go whenever he or she is ready. At the same time affirm the person s ongoing value to you and the good you will carry forward into your life that you received from him or her.

Decreased Socialization
The person may only want to be with a very few or even just one person. This is a sign of preparation for release and affirms from whom the support is most needed in order to make the appropriate transition. If you are not part of this inner circle at the end, it does not mean you are not loved or are unimportant. It means you have already fulfilled your task with your loved one, and it is the time for you to say Good-bye. If you are part of the final inner circle of support, the person needs your affirmation, support, and permission.

Unusual communication
The person may make a seemingly out of character or non sequitur statement, gesture, or request. This indicates that he or she is ready to say Good-bye and is testing you to see if you are ready to let him or her go. Accept the moment as a beautiful gift when it is offered. Kiss, hug, hold, cry, and say whatever you most need to say.

Giving Permission
Giving permission to your loved one to let go, without making him or her guilty for leaving or trying to keep him or her with you to meet your own needs, can be difficult. A dying person will normally try to hold on, even though it brings prolonged discomfort, in order to be sure those who are going to be left behind will be all right. Therefore, your ability to release the dying person from this concern and give him or her assurance that it is all right to let go whenever he or she is ready is one of the greatest gifts you have to give your loved one at this time.

Saying Good-bye
When the person is ready to die and you are able to let go, then is the time to say, Good-bye. Saying Good-bye is your final gift of love to your loved one, for it achieves closure and makes the final release possible. It may be helpful to lay in bed and hold the person, or to take his or her hand and then say everything you need to say.

It may be as simple as saying, I love you. It may include recounting favorite memories, places, and activities you shared. It may include saying, I ’m sorry for whatever I contributed to any tension or difficulties in our relationship. It may also include saying, Thank you for...

Tears are a normal and natural part of saying, Good-bye. Tears do not need to be hidden from your loved one or apologized for. Tears express your love and help you to let go.

How Will You Know When Death Has Occurred?
Although you may be prepared for the death process, you may not be prepared for the actual death moment. It may be helpful for you and your family to think about and discuss what you would do if you were the one present at the death moment. The death of a hospice patient is not an emergency. Nothing must be done immediately.

The signs of death include such things as no breathing, no heartbeat, release of bowel and bladder, no response, eyelids slightly open, pupils enlarged, eyes fixed on a certain spot, no blinking, jaw relaxed and mouth slightly open. A hospice nurse will come to assist you if needed or desired. If not, phone support is available.

The body does not have to be moved until you are ready. If the family wants to assist in preparing the body by bathing or dressing, that may be done. Call the funeral home when you are ready to have the body moved, and identify the person as a Hospice patient. The police do not need to be called. The Hospice nurse will notify the physician.

Thank you
We of Hospice thank you for the privilege of assisting you with the care of your loved one. We salute you for all you have done to surround your loved one with understanding care, to provide your loved one with comfort and calm, and to enable your loved one to leave this world with a special sense of peace and love.

You have given your loved one one of the most wonderful, beautiful, and sensitive gifts we humans have to offer, and in giving that gift have given yourself a wonderful gift as well.

Hospice of North Central Florida

Personal Home Page (PHP)
Definitions of PHP on the Web:

PHP is a server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language that lets you create dynamic web pages. PHP-enabled web pages are treated just like regular HTML pages and you can create and edit them the same way you normally create regular HTML pages.
www.terena.nl/library/gnrt/appendix/glossary.html

Personal Home Page. Advanced scripting language for site design.
webmaster.lycos.co.uk/glossary/P/

(Short for Hypertext Pre-processor) is a server-side, HTML embedded scripting language used to create dynamic Web content. PHP scripts can be embedded in HTML code and use similar syntax to the Perl and C programming languages.
powerelf-server-appliance.greencomputer.com/solutions/glossary.shtml

PHP hypertext preprocessor is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development (http://www.php.net/).
www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm

PHP is a script language and interpreter that is freely available from php.net and is used primarily on UNIX Web servers. PHP is an alternative to Microsoft's Active Server Page (ASP) technology.
www.eseehosting.com/support/glossary.php

A server-side scripting language.
www.0hosts.com/webhosting-glossary.php

(Hypertext Preprocessor) open source, server-side HTML scripting languaage used to create dynamic Web pages. PHP is embedded within tags, so the author authorr can move between HTML and PHP instead of using large amounts of code. Because PHP is executed on the server, the viewer cannot see the code. PHP can perform the same tasks as a CGI program can do and is compatible with many different kinds of databases.
mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/netterms.htm

PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor is an open source server side programming language extensively used for web scripts and to process data passed via the Common Gateway Interface from HTML forms etc. PHP can be written as scripts that reside on the server and may produce HTML output that downloads to the web browser. Alternatively, PHP can be embedded within HTML pages that are then saved with a .php file extension. The PHP sections of the page are then parsed by the PHP engine on the server and the PHP code stripped out before the page is downloaded to the web browser
www.smallbizonline.co.uk/glossary_of_internet_terms.php

PHP is a recursive acronym for "PHP Hypertext Preprocessor". It is an open source, interpretive, HTML centric, server side scripting language. PHP is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML pages. Also see PSP, JSP and ASP.
www.orafaq.com/glossary/faqglosp.htm

The PHP Hypertext Preprocessor allows web developers to create dynamic content that interacts with databases. PHP applications are normally found on Linux servers and in conjunction with MySQL databases. It provides those servers with functionality similar to that provided to the Windows platform by Active Server Pages technology.
www.6am-media.com/glossary.php

A scripting language used to create database interactivity and dynamic content on the Web. Often used with MySQL. PHP is an open source language that can be used on multiple platforms.
www.hostingconsumerreport.org/glossary.htm

A server-side, cross-platform, HTML-embedded scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. PHP is Open Source software
www.ekeda.com/glossary_of_terms.cfm

What is PHP? see also:
kb.indiana.edu/data/glos.html

In Web programming, PHP is a script language and interpreter that is freely available and used primarily on Linux Web servers. PHP, originally derived from Personal Home Page Tools, now stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, which the PHP FAQ describes as a "recursive acronym." PHP is an alternative to Microsoft's Active Server Page (ASP) technology. As with ASP, the PHP script is embedded within a Web page along with its HTML. Before the page is sent to a user that has requested it, the Web server calls PHP to interpret and perform the operations called for in the PHP script
www.tcwconnect.com/glossary.php

Self-referentially short for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, an open source, server-side, HTML embedded scripting language used to create Dynamic Web pages. Files created with PHP have the file extension .php.
www.brontedesign.com/glossary.asp

A script programming language that can be embedded into HTML. In effect, it turns your HTML pages into a program that is run by the Web server before being displayed, allowing you to customize your site's Web pages on the fly.
www.indra.com/support/glossary.html

Hypertext Preprocessor - a server-side scripting language used to write web pages that are dynamic and interactive. Note that the acronym itself appears in the expanded version. This is known as a Recursive Acronym - a programmers' joke.
www.sussex.ac.uk/its/glossary.php

[ Website ] The scripting language that Etomite is written in. PHP is multi-platform and open source.
www.etomite.org/wiki/Appendix/Glossary

Hypertext Preprocessor. Widely-used open-source programming language mainly used for developing dynamic web sites (web content).
www.kellerinternetmarketing.com/terms.php

PHP (originally "Personal Home Page Tools", but now a recursive acro... read more.
www.web-hosting-reviewer.com/glossary/

PHP stands for PHP Hypertext Preprocessor - a server-side scripting language for the web.
www.surfability.com/glossary.php

PHP is a robust programming language, similar to Microsoft's Active Server Page technology, except that it runs on UNIX servers, rather than Windows based servers. It is used for connecting to a database to create all kinds of web applications, such as product catalogs, changing content, calendars, and e commerce.
www.glaserweb.com/glossary.php

One of the most popular server-side scripting languages on the web. PHP is open-source, and noted for its efficiency and suitability for developing web applications.
www.aardvarkmedia.co.uk/glossary.html

----PHP is a widely-used open-source programming language primarily for server-side applications and developing dynamic web content. The name is a recursive acronym for "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor". (This is actually a retronym; see history.)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHP

Principles of Combining Foods Properly
By Dr. Herbert M. Shelton
Reprinted from Dr. Shelton's Hygienic Review



There are sound physiological reasons for eating foods in compatible combinations. In other words, some foods, if mixed in the digestive system, will cause distress!

The principles of food combining are dictated by digestive chemistry. Different foods are digested differently. Starchy foods require an alkaline digestive medium which is supplied initially in the mouth by the enzyme ptyalin. Protein foods require an acid medium for digestion- hydrochloric acid.

As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and bases (alkalis) neutralize each other. If you eat a starch with a protein, digestion is impaired or completely arrested!

The undigested food mass can cause various kinds of digestive disorders. Undigested food becomes soil for bacteria which ferment and decompose it. Its by products are poisonous, one of which, alcohol, is a narcotic that destroys or inhibits nerve function.

It plays havoc with nerves of the digestive tract, suspending their vital action such that constipation may well be a result! As set forth in Dr. Herbert Shelton's FOOD COMBINING MADE EASY these are the salient rules for proper food combining.



The Basic Rules of Proper Food Combining:

1. Eat acids and starches at separate meals. Acids neutralize the alkaline medium required for starch digestion and the result is fermentation and indigestion.

2. Eat protein foods and carbohydrate foods at separate meals. Protein foods require an acid medium for digestion.

3. Eat but one kind of protein food at a meal.

4. Eat proteins and acid foods at separate meals. The acids of acid foods inhibit the secretion of the digestive acids required for protein digestion. Undigested protein putrefies in bacterial decomposition and produces some potent poisons.

5. Eat fats and proteins at separate meals. Some foods, especially nuts, are over 50% fat and require hours for digestion.

6. Eat sugars (fruits) and proteins at separate meals.

7. Eat sugars (fruits) and starchy foods at separate meals. Fruits undergo no digestion in the stomach and are held up if eaten with foods that require digestion in the stomach.

8. Eat melons alone. They combine with almost no other food.

9. Desert the desserts. Eaten on top of meals they lie heavy on the stomach, requiring no digestion there, and ferment. Bacteria turn them into alcohols and vinegars and acetic acids.

120 Years Old and Healthy!
It's Common in the Republic of Georgia
by Nina Anderson

In the Republic of Georgia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, it is not unusual for people to live beyond 100 years of age as active members of society. When Russians marry they propose a toast to the bride and groom gifting them Georgian longevity. What is their secret?

For over 2,000 years, Georgians have consumed Alpine Tea as a daily ritual along with grain kefir containing eleven different probiotics. In addition, the water they drink is full of glacial minerals. It has been theorized that their long lives may be attributed to regular consumption of this traditional yogurt (kefir) and flavonoid-rich foods such as wine and honey, along with their Alpine Tea.

The last verifiable statistics from the Republic of Georgia show that there are almost 23,000 Georgians over the age of 100 based on a population of only 3.2 million people. One of the key reasons for their longevity is Rhododendron caucasicum, the ingredient in Alpine Tea.

It is grown at 10,000- to 30,000-foot elevations in the Caucasian Mountains, Rhododendron caucasicum (also known as "snow rose") contains polyphenolics, including flavonoids and proanthocyanidins. Thirty years of research indicate that the phenylpropanoids in Rhododendron improve physical abilities, increase activity of the cardiovascular system, and increase blood supply to the muscles and especially to the brain.

Rhododendron caucasicum increases resistance of the brain to imbalances due to chemical, physical, and biological reasons. It also is an antibacterial while allowing the good probiotics to thrive. It acts as a detoxicant, is highly P-vitamin active, protecting against capillary fragility, and is an excellent free-radical scavenger. Studies have demonstrated that Rhododendron caucasicum inhibits or abolishes the activity of the enzyme hyaluronidase, known to be an initiator of colon cancer.

Clinical research has been ongoing as to the medicinal uses of this alpine plant. Prof. Dimitry M. Rossiyski, M.D., Meritorious Science Worker at the Soviet Medical Academy of Science, conducted a double-blind placebo study on seventy test subjects diagnosed with circulatory insufficiency and atherosclerosis, some with high blood pressure and evidence of past heart attacks.

A 30 mg/day dose of Rhododendron extract over a 15-day period resulted in the subjects' experiencing a lowered blood pressure, improvement in coronary circulation, decrease of serum cholesterol, and elimination of pain in the chest area. Subsequent studies at the First Central Moscow Hospital showed similar results on heart patients suffering from hardening of the arteries. Doctors Avraamova and Galperin performed clinical studies at the Moscow State Hospital on 24 males and 36 females ages 18-65 diagnosed with mitral valve insufficiency (prolapse).

Improvements were obvious in the patients taking Rhododendron extract over those who did not receive it. The average hearts in those receiving the extract were lowered from 90 to 70 beats per minute and systolic blood pressure was lowered from 177 to 160 mm Hg (Rossiysky 1954).

Again, studies at the First Central Moscow Hospital revealed that when 50 mg of Rhododendron caucasicum diluted in water was given to 170 volunteers suffering from severe gout, the average discharge of uric acid increased 55-60 percent and pain was relieved in a few hours.

The Georgian Academy of Sciences gave 50 to 100 mg per day of the snow rose to 114 patients hospitalized for depression. The results showed a marked decrease in depressive symptoms in 93 of the patients. Similar results were achieved by the Moscow State Hospital study, indicating improvement of 162 patients with severe depression.

One of the key benefits for anti-aging is Rhododendron caucasicum's inhibition of hyaluronidase activity and its subsequent benefit to osteoarthritis patients. One theory regarding the cause of arthritis is that it may appear because of the abnormal release of the enzyme hyaluronidase from the cartilage cells. This leads to cartilage breakdown and destruction of the joint. Perhaps its inhibition of hyaluronidase activity is the key to arthritis prevention.

Rhododendron is also highly antibacterial, perhaps due to the presence of the well-known antibacterial compounds chlorogenic and caffeic acids that are known to exist in this plant. Tests conclude that it is more effective than either grape seed or pine bark as an antibacterial proanthocyanidin. In a 24-hour test of 12,000 Staphylococcus aureus bacteria thriving in solution, all were totally eliminated by Rhododendron, but 300 colonies were still surviving in the grape seed petri dish, and 370 in the pine bark solution.

Rhododendron caucasicum is a unique plant among all other species of Rhododendron and is considered safe for human consumption. It is reported that some Rhododendrons, mainly the flowers, contain grayanotoxins, which are not soluble in water and can be harmful. Therefore, do not just go out to your garden and harvest your backyard Rhododendron!

The snow rose has been used in foreign hospitals to treat heart disease, arthritis, gout, high cholesterol, blood pressure problems, depression, neuroses and psychoses, and concentration problems. Along with a strong regime of probiotic supplementation and maintaining a healthy mineral balance in your body, taking Rhododendron caucasicum may give your body the tools it needs to achieve the level of longevity enjoyed by the elder Georgians.



Oldest Living Person

Ulialia Peres Gien, a Mexican by birth, was known as the oldest person alive. She was 140 when this portrait was taken. Link

This information provided by Professor Dr. Zakir Ramazanov, Ph.D., and excerpted from the book The Secrets of Staying Young (Safe Goods: 1-800-903-3837).

MOVIES MADE IN PITTSBURGH
Movies Made in Pittsburgh

Some say the soul and your gardian angel are so intimately connected that they share information about the future and how and when you will die...

The Mothman Prophecies

This list of Made-in-Pittsburgh films was gleaned from the International Movie Data Base . Many of the films on this list are no longer available on videotape, and could not be reviewed.

But those we could review, we did so with an eye on those scenes shot in Pittsburgh, how recognizably Pittsburgh are they? and does the script call them Pittsburgh or is our fair city playing the role of somewhere else?

The higher the rating, the more Pittsburgh it is!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click here for an excellent essay which, although written in 1992 at the height of Hollywood Film Making in Pittsburgh, offers some insight into why the industry has "dried up".

Rating year title, Pgh scenes
n/r 1983 All the Right Moves
Johnstown, PA
n/r 1951 Angels in the Outfield
**** 1996 Assasination File
CMU track, Union Trust bldg, outside Margaret Morrison, Dobson St (hill dist), Mellon Park, Pittsburgh's 1 block "Chinatown", Mon incline, Grand Concourse exterior, Wm Penn interior, Smithfield St. Bridge, city skyline.
n/r 1995 Backstreet Justice
--- 1991 Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh
Not any Pittsburgh I'm familiar with!
Bad, but not bad enough to become a cult film.
** 1992 Bob Roberts
Certainly Western PA but hard to identify exact locations. Heinz Hall ext; ballroom, Mt. Lebanon High School
** 1995 Boys on the Side
Ft. Pitt tunnel and bridge, city skyline, parkway north, Greenfield? Courthouse - courtyard, stairs, hallway.
n/r 2000 Brat 2
n/r 2000 The Bread, my sweet
Strip district
****** 1993 Cemetery Club
Squirrel Hill, Homewood Cemetery, Fort Pitt Tunnels, Station Square, Heinz Hall, 16th St. Bridge, Crewser's parking lot, Westin Wm. Penn, PPG Place, the Point, Brownsville Rd.
****** 1992 Citizen Cohn
Union Trust Bldg, Grand Concourse, Heinz Hall, Margaret Morrison, Penn Sta. Mellon Institute , Carnegie Music Hall, Frick Building, Allegheny River, and Pittsburgher Pip Theodore
n/r 1999 Cola for Tea
n/r 1993 Coming in Out of the Rain
* 1982 Creepshow
Margaret Morrison - CMU
*** 1993 Dark Half
Edgewood (Maple Ave.) - W & J college, Washington, PA
n/r 1978 Dawn of the Dead
* 1978 Deer Hunter
Clairton, Duquesne Heights,
n/r 1996 Desperate Measures
** 1996 Diabolique
One brief drive through Pittsburgh, across the bridges; mansion in Squirrel Hill
n/r 1991 Diary of a Hit Man
I hear it is actually Youngstown
n/r 1995 Dog eat Dog
*** 1999 Dogma
Pgh. airport ; USX Plaza & Steel Bldg; Grand Concourse
Pittsburgher Betty Aberlin
****** 1988 Dominick & Eugene
Southside
n/r 1979 Fish that Saved Pittsburgh
Northside, Civic Arena
*** 1983 Flashdance
Carnegie Museum (art), Carnegie Music hall, Oakland streets, Smithfield St. Bridge, Heinz chapel, Mon & incline. Pittsburgher Don Brocket
n/r 1994 Flesheater
n/r 1984 Flight of the Spruce Goose
* 1993 Groundhog Day
Opening shot of Pittsburgh riverfront
Waukegan ILL and Woodstock ILL.
n/r 1971 Going Home
* 1986 Gung Ho
Mesta Plant, Homestead; Allegheny Airport
n/r 1984 Hambone & Hillie
n/r 1993 Heartstopper
* 1992 Hoffa
Strip District; Mellon Institute
*** 1995 Houseguest
Carnegie Museum (art), PPG Place, airport, West End Bridge, Sewickley
n/r 1991 Incident in Baltimore
Geo Westinghouse Castle, Wilmerding
**** 1992 Innocent Blood
Great aerial view of the city at night; Market Square, Union Oyster House, West End Overlook, Frick Bldg, 5th Ave. , Troy Hill, Northside near stadium, Liberty tubes.
****** 1999 Inspector Gadget
Pittsburgh is clearly itself! Wonderful shots of downtown, PPG place, bridges.
The best is the duel on top of the 6th St. Bridge!
n/r 1991 Iron Maze
**** 1997 The Journey
McMurray, Oakland, WDUQ, Fallingwater, Center for the Arts
n/r 1987 Kenny
n/r 1989 Kid Brother
n/r 1996 Kingpin
Mars, PA, Rochester PA
n/r 1981 Knightriders
**** 1989 Lady Beware
Old Hornes, Mt. Washington, North Side, Grand Concourse, Duquesne Incline, Troy Hill,
****** 1989 Lightning over Braddock
Tony Buba's documentary on the decline of Braddock
n/r 1999 Looking for Oscar
n/r 1992 Lorenzo's Oil
Ben Avon; however the house was torn down.
n/r 1986 Majorettes
n/r 1984 Maria's Lovers
n/r 1978 Martin
Braddock
*** 1994 Milk Money
the usual, over the river, across the bridge, skyline shots
and McCartle Roadway!
**** 1993 Money for Nothing
8th Ave White Oak, South Side, Mattress Factory, Old International Airport, Mon river off Carson St. Pittsburghers Don Cannon & Harish Saluja
n/r 1988 Monkeyshines
****** 2002 Mothman More detail...
Pitt campus; Mellon Square (as Chicago), Interior offices Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Shadyside, Kittaning PA

** 1984 Mrs. Soffel
County Jail
n/r 1991 My Worst Enemy
*** 1968 Night of the Living Dead
Monroeville Mall
n/r 1992 North of Pittsburgh
n/r 1992 No Pets
Regent Square
film by Pittsburgher Tony Buba, written by Pittsburgher Jim Daniels
n/r 1994 Only You
n/r 1999 Out of Courage
* 1992 Passed Away
bridges, Allegheny cemetery . Mainly interiors, could be anywhere.
Pittsburgher Don Brockett, Helena Ruoti
** 1995 The Piano Lesson
written by Pittsburgher August Wilson.
South Side hillside, Union Trust Bldg, The Garden (North Side)
n/r 1988 Prince of Pennsylvania
n/r 1995 Rappin
n/r 1984 Reckless
n/r 1987 Robo Cop
*** 1995 Roommates
Munhall Cemetery, South side, Cathedral of Learning, Rainbow Kitchen, Dormont Park, Pittsburgher Ron Jaye
n/r 1996 Santa Claws
n/r 1996 Scream Queens
n/r 1972 Season of the Witch
**** 1991 Silence of the Lambs
Carnegie Museum, Soldiers & Sailor's Hall , Liberty Tubes, Air Force Reserve Wing, Pgh Airport, Oakland, Layton PA, Shackleford & Maxwell
n/r 1990 Simple Justice
** 1993 Striking Distance
Pittsburgh's rivers - the Mon, the Al & the Ohio - locks - most of Pittsburgh's bridges. Many street scenes -- Bigelow Blvd, Carson St. Grant St. -- Armstrong Tunnel - Science Museum - Mellon Institute - City County Bldg - Point Park - newscaster Sally Wiggins
n/r 1977 Slap Shot
Johnstown, PA
n/r 1995 Sudden Death
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Homewood
n/r 1999 Tempatations
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n/r 1995 Undertakings
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**** 2000 Wonderboys
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Article One Hundred

Life is all about knowing the truth and following it. Life is simple, if you understand it. Human beings are influenced in many ways by people who say that they know the truth.

It is written in the Bible that we should ?seek the truth and the truth will set you free.? One of the first things we should do is to know our self. Our parents are our primary teachers.

We are also influenced by many other educators in the schools, churches, communities, workplaces, businesses, and by many other ?authorities? through out creation, since the beginning of time.

The greatest teacher is perfect love. God is love and our transformation through it. Grace is the shared process we have with God our Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit, who loves us all unconditionally.

Our Lord said, ?Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!?

The world will be a better place, when all men know that I am God. Go and preach the Gospel to all nations. Baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit. Tell them about my life, death and resurrection from the dead, proving to all men that I am your Lord and God.

Happiness

Happy people have found that life is filled with wonderful gifts to help us keep healthy, holy and whole. They are aware that there are countless aspects that make a person feel fully alive and energized with optimism for the future.

Some of the aspects are called physical, mental or spiritual; yet they all make up the whole person that experiences these as sensations, emotions, and feelings of union with our spiritual destiny when we become "beings of the hereafter."

A healthy person eats a balanced diet filled with every nutritional need to promote well being. He has a normal thirst for clean water, pure air and a healthy desire to be physically fit and morally strong.

The normal process of the digestion of food causes oxygenation, and chemical reactions to everything we ingest. Free radicals are oxygen molecules that cannot find a mate and destroy anything in their path.

Rusting metal and rotting fruit are examples of the free radical activity that goes on outside of our bodies. Free radicals can equally cause problems inside our bodies. You do not feel the damage that is taking place inside of you, however, it is ever present. Then it may be too late. In addition, high body fat percentages contribute to much higher incidences of free radical damage.

Antioxidants = Free Radical Scavengers

We have known for decades how to stop free radical activity. Most vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and herbs are the best known free radical fighters. They are also called antioxidants. The ones that are not direct free radical fighters have other jobs that directly or indirectly help the antioxidants. They are all synergistic, meaning they do a much better job when they have each other than when they are taken alone.

People from different parts of the world are affected in different ways to the harmful effects of the environment. There are many harmful substances in the water, air and food that we eat and the substances that we touch. Not all of the products that we use are complete safe and harmless to our health. Just about every medicine that has been created has several harmful side effects that can even cause us to die.

The cold remedy you take makes you sleepy. The antidepressant gives you a headache. The sinus decongestant makes your heart race. Why are side effects so common?1.

To understand this you need to realize that your body is an immensely complex structure built from chemicals that must be regulated in order to function smoothly. Chemicals such as hormones and other molecular messengers usually make these adjustments. Medicines often work by taking the place of one of the body?s regulating chemicals to readjust the balance. When this restores functioning it is seen as helpful.

However, two things complicate the picture. First, the body often uses the same chemical to regulate more than one process. This means that a medicine may retune not only the desired target but also others that don?t need readjustment. An example of this is that the drug prednisone turns off inflammation, but also causes thinning of bones.

Secondly, medicines are not always as selective as we would wish. This means the medicine may alter a number of unrelated processes at the same time. For example, the antidepressant drug amitriptyline can help depression (by acting on serotonin receptors), can also lower blood pressure (by affecting nor epinephrine receptors), cause blurred vision, dry mouth and constipation (by blocking acetylcholine receptors) and produce sleepiness and weight gain (by binding to histamine receptors).

One of the more surprising aspects of medications is how two people taking the same medicine can have such different experiences. One person may have severe or troublesome side effects that make the medicine intolerable, while another person finds that the medicine does only the good that it is intended to do. In fact when many thousands or millions of people use medicines, the list of observed side effects can become long indeed.

Side effects may be rare or common, serious or merely annoying. A medicine with frequent mild side effects may be tolerated by the majority of people and be regarded as relatively safe. On the other hand if a medicine has a less common but more serious side effect it can mean that the medicine should only be used when there is no alternative, and then with close monitoring.

These considerations require doctors to assess the risk of side effects versus the expected benefit of any medication. In a life-threatening disease, even serious side effects may be worth the risk; but for a mild, transient illness, little risk or even discomfort should be tolerated.

As we learn more about the way our bodies are regulated, more medications are developed that allow us to intercede when diseases disrupt our functioning. It has been a prominent goal in the development of new medications to avoid more serious side effects.

But it is likely that until we can foretell who is especially susceptible, at least some people may experience side effects from otherwise beneficial medications. Many of us may have to keep going back to our doctors to try a second or even a third medication before we find one with the strongest therapeutic effect and the fewest side effects.

Supplementing vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and herbs in the manner to neutralize free radicals is virtually unknown to most people. Or, the information is not well known by our traditional American Medical establishment.

Unfortunately, we tend to be educated by the popular media, multi-level companies, or health food store employees. It has been my experience that these individuals know enough about vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and herbs "to make them dangerous."

They are far from being experts in this field. Of the hundreds of multi-level and health food store owners/employees with whom I have spoken over the past couple of decades, few have any idea how much to take and how often to take them. Multi-level companies in particular are full of pseudo-scientific individuals being led around with the promise of making "big bucks" someday.2.

Some of the best food there is made, we have cultivated over the eons to keep us totally well. Food is the bread of life that keeps us happy. Herbs and spices were undoubtedly made for use in those climates where they grow, but the natives of those climates use them much more sparingly than we do.

We may reasonably suppose that they are more adapted to the wants of hot climates than of cold ones, as nature has placed them in the former, and yet we saturate our food with them, mix them together, destroy the flavors of each by so doing, and make a stimulus to appetite by a conglomeration, which is a most unnatural one, and gradually injures the very power of digestion.

We thus conceal, also, that fine aroma of vegetables and meats which distinguishes one from the other, and deprive ourselves of the pleasure God designed we should feel in partaking of them.

There is a delicate fruit of the tropics resembling a muskmelon, which grows, however, not upon a vine, but upon a tree, the taste of which is so finely delicate, that a foreigner can not even perceive it at first; but if he does not cover it with pepper and salt, as we have seen many foreigners do, to 'give it a taste,' he will, after partaking of it a few days or weeks (according to the simplicity of his appetite), appreciate its flavor, which is that of the most delicate aromatic nut. In our climate we lose the flavor of many vegetables in the same way, by covering them with pepper, and also by putting them into water below the boiling-point when we cook them.

Every one who is so happy as to live in the country, and can gather vegetables daily from his own garden, knows the difference between them when gathered thus and properly cooked, and those which have been picked and kept for market even one night.

When substances like rice, corn-starch, and farina are used, which have very little taste (rice, because it has been so long exposed to the air after it is gathered, and corn-starch and farina, because; from the mode of their preparation, they lose a great part of the nutritious ingredients of the corn), a delicate flavoring of spice may be used without injury to health.

Science may at last bring us to the conclusion, that each climate and region produces those articles of food which it is most healthful to eat in their respective localities.

It is not the most costly or most luxurious living that we would advocate, but it is a variety of food. The difficulty is, that we are tempted sometimes by a great variety of dishes at one meal to eat too much. This is no argument against variety of food.

It is important that we should study to increase earth's products, and improve their quality, to produce the highest condition of perfection in man. A man, it is true, may be a glutton, and consume mountains of flesh and rich dishes, but that is not the point. It is that we all should consume the best food possible to be produced, and in sufficient variety to give healthy results.3.

Weight Loss for All: Diet, Exercise and Knowledge
Exercise tip for losing weight...
Weight Loss for All

Develop a rhythmic style when exercising as this helps keep the body in the last "gear" of our energy system and helps burn a greater percentage of fat!


The effects of metabolism on losing weight


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Some answers revealed to help you lose weight:

What causes us to stop losing weight when we hit a Weight Loss Plateau?

1- increasing metabolism naturally will help lose weight quickly
2- anaerobic exercise burns carbohydrates but will increase metabolism to burn fat faster at rest
3- to burn fat directly you should be able to hold a conversation during a workout

Learn which exercise I do first to trick the cells into burning more fat.

Learn why successful weight loss requires a constant adjustment no matter what diet or exercise program is used.


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Patients explore complementary medicine

By Marjorie Wertz
TRIBUNE-REVIEW (Suburbian Pittsburgh, PA. newspaper)
Monday, April 21, 2003

For practitioners of holistic medicine, a healthy life is not just the absence of pain. Whole health is the normal functioning of the physical, emotional and chemical self, according to Dr. Phil Westerbeck, a chiropractor at the West-Land Clinic, in Latrobe.
"It is the physical, our posture, muscle tone and weight," said Westerbeck. "It is the chemical, or what we put in our body, and it is the emotional portion of the body. My purpose is to find out why a patient's body is not healthy."

Westerbeck has been a licensed chiropractor for eight years. And while the chiropractic segment of his practice focuses on treating the dysfunctions of the body's joints, Westerbeck also concentrates on nutritional therapy and contact reflex analysis.

His patients seeking nutritional therapy are not alone. Prevention magazine's national survey on the self-care movement reports that 158 million consumers use dietary supplements to stay healthy, spending about $8.5 billion each year.

An estimated 22.8 million consumers use herbal remedies instead of prescription medicines, and an estimated 19.6 million combine herbal remedies with prescription products, according to the American Holistic Health Association.

Similarly, about 30.3 million people use herbal remedies instead of over-the-the counter drugs; approximately 19 million combine herbal and over-the-counter remedies.

Vitamins and minerals are essential to a person's overall health. For a fairly healthy person, a good multivitamin with trace minerals, essential fatty acids such as flaxseed oil or fish oil, and extra antioxidants, will keep him on the road to good health.

The best source of calcium, Westerbeck said, is calcium citrate. Vitamin D and magnesium helps the body assimilate calcium, while antioxidants prevent cell damage caused by free radicals.

"When you get free radicals in your body, it will pull electrons off cells," he said. "Anything that protects the cells from getting disrupted or destroyed is a good thing.

"Contact reflex analysis is similar to acupuncture," Westerbeck said. "We monitor the electrical system of the body by testing various points by using electrical stimulation. Sometimes a patient will have a nutritional problem that causes an imbalance; sometimes there is a CRA imbalance."

In the mid-1980s Deborah Barr, founder of Whole Health Resources in Pittsburgh, began conducting classes in natural weight loss.

"It all starts with a basic need to be happy and healthy," said Barr. "People have a lot of fear about changing their diets. It's about finding the imbalance in the person because sometimes it's how we're eating, not what we're eating."

Barr's training is in traditional Chinese medicine, which looks at the therapeutic values and the energetic properties of food.

"Our diets are terrible. It's not even real food," said Barr. "I'm never surprised when people change their diet and after a week they feel better. Holistic healing focuses on what causes the problems and what new choices I can make. Then you need to create a plan to do those choices.

"We teach and facilitate an understanding of the relationship between diet, attitudes, lifestyle and wellness."

Barr consults with each patient to customize a program based on the person's condition, constitutional strengths and weaknesses, lifestyle, age, activity level, and personal health and lifestyle goals.

"There is no one way for each person to achieve the results they want," she added. "There is no one perfect diet."

In addition to dietary healing, Barr provides attitudinal healing, which is a therapy used to uncover the mental/emotional and spiritual causes of health problems; shiatsu therapy, an energy-based massage; herbal and vitamin therapy; yoga therapy and corrective exercise; meditation; visualization and spiritual development, for her clients.

"We strive to uncover the cause of problems on every level," Barr said. "This is the only way to achieve lasting results."

Sixty-four-year-old Karl Hayek, of Forest Hills, Allegheny County, used to have constant headaches and heart palpitations. He began treatments at Medical Wellness Associates, in Jeannette, in December.

"I just didn't feel right," said Hayek. "I wanted to build up my immune system and have some chiropractic treatments. Now I have more energy and I've lost 11 pounds. I hardly have any heart palpitations and my headaches are infrequent. I attribute that to the diet and nutrition."

His new diet consists of lots of fruits and vegetables, little carbohydrates, and very little meat. He no longer consumes dairy products. Hayek is nearing the last of his immune drip treatments, a series of 12 intravenous infusions of vitamins and minerals specially blended for Hayek's immune system. The treatments are part of Dr. Martin Gallagher's 90-day wellness plan.

"The program has eight steps, each of which is a tool to get well and stay well," said Gallagher.

The steps are: detoxification; diet; optimizing digestion; food, chemical and environmental allergy identification; exercise and conditioning, nutritional supplements, attending to stress and rest; and chiropractic.

"Over the 90 days, we see very profound changes. The patient has more energy, less arthritic pain, the cholesterol lowers, and the blood pressure is lower," Gallagher said. "We also see an improvement in the emotional and spiritual well-being. These methods are natural, but patients must follow a natural lifestyle."

Gallagher, a licensed chiropractor, has a syndicated cable television show, "Nutritional Healing," aired on Sky Angel, The Health and Healing Channel, Cornerstone Television, and Family Land. He also has a radio show, "Alternatives 2 Medicine" on WEDO-AM (810) and KHB-AM (620) from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. He can also be heard on WEDO from 1 to 2 p.m. weekdays and on KHB 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays.

On any given day, between 25 and 30 of Gallagher's patients receive chelation and infusion therapy. Chelation therapy consists of a man-made amino acid (EDTA) which is infused intravenously. EDTA removes toxic metallic agents involved in the buildup of arterial plaque and free radicals. Medical insurers, including Medicare, will not cover the costs involved in chelation treatments.

"We need to develop a method where we start with natural methods first in treating health problems," said Gallagher. "Doctors should be teaching patients on how to get well. There is, however, a place for drugs and a place for surgery in health care."

Westerbeck noted the importance of working with other health care providers in attaining the best possible care for the patient.

"They (medical doctors) are essential," he added. "You are going to find things in patients that they need to be referred to other doctors, such as oncologists or other specialists. That's very important to refer those patients to the physician who can best help them."

Marjorie Wertz can be reached at .

Other Dr. Gallagher's Articles

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Your Health Article

CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD
Herbal cure for common cold?

Related News:
- Echinacea might not fight cold symptoms, further evidence

- Herbal remedy may offer flu protection

- Echinacea fails to reduce severity of colds but may cut frequency

21/09/2004 - Scientists in Germany, Austria and Canada are claiming that their combined work may have led to a natural ?cure for the common cold?.

Calgary-based Factors R & D Technologies in collaboration with researchers at the universities of Alberta, British Columbia and Dalhousie in Nova Scotia, as well as the Heinrich-Hein University in Dusseldorf, Germany and the Karl-Franzens University in Graz, Austria have pooled their knowledge and resources to produce Echinilin - an Echinacea extract phytopharmaceutical.

In contrast to over-the-counter cold and flu treatments, the product is supposed to be a preventative treatment, which does not mask or suppress symptoms.

?When clinical trial participants were given Echinilin, we saw an immediate and sustained increase in natural killer cells which target virus infected cells and destroys them,? said Dr. Richard Barton, co-director of the human clinical studies. ?This indicates that their immune system had been stimulated to target and destroy the viruses. The end result was an immediate and marked reduction in both severity of symptoms and duration of the infection.?

Factors R & D Technologies claim they spent eight years in research and development at a cost of over $5-million dollars to produce this product.

Many researchers are still undecided about the ability of the herbal Echinacea to reduce symptoms of the common cold and help patients recover faster.

A study published in June in the Archives of Internal Medicine (164:1237-1241), for example, showed that the herbal remedy had no effect on severity of symptoms and the time taken to recover from a cold compared to those given placebo.

The findings were based on a trial of 120 adults, who took 300 milligrams of an echinacea juice preparation daily at the first sign of a cold and supported the results of a study in children last year.

This trial, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that echinacea did not reduce the severity or duration of infections although it did appear to cut the number of respiratory tract infections in the children.

Echinacea is thought to stimulate the immune response and is widely sold as a cold remedy. However it is available in different forms, made from both the above-ground herb and/or root portions depending upon the species used. The product tested in both the new and JAMA study used the fresh-pressed juice of the above-ground part of the Echinacea plant.

The researchers from the US-based Marshfield Clinic concluded that "further studies using different preparations and dosages of E purpurea are necessary to validate previous claims.?

Common Cold Cure