Medical 2014
by – Sheri de Grom

Few of us think about having our medical identity stolen. The crime of medical identity theft has been happening for years and is rampant today. Most of us are unaware that it’s occurred until something significant happens in our own world of health or our credit rating has crashed.

Medical identity theft is the fraudulent use of another person’s medical identity in order to obtain medical services and medications or to bill a third-party payer such as an insurance company or Medicare and then keep the payment for personal use.

The theft of your medical identity also reveals your social security number, health system ID, driver’s license number, health insurance and other personal information plus critical details a thief can use in multiple ways.

The crime can have long-lasting and dangerous effects, both on your health and your finances. The thief may obtain…

Life began again

when my heart started to beat

the tune of self love

Blessitude

Lorrie

6/30/14

Murals, *Graffiti, Street Art…..

By Pao – in Rome, Italy.  SpongeBob Square Pants.  I’m familiar with the character but never watched the cartoon.  I find this humorous.

Call it what you will but there are some truly astounding works to behold all around the globe.  Besides beautifying otherwise downtrodden neighbourhoods and offering innovative art to the public for free, the transient nature of street art is part of its appeal.  It’s also a lot nicer than looking at a blank wall. Street art is an ephemeral thing. Here today, maybe gone tomorrow. Many a mural has been erased due to the whims of local governments and the impulses of other street artists. I was upset to notice that an intricately beautiful mural I’ve always admired on a gelato shop had been painted over.

So I thought it would be fun to post the TOP TEN BEST…

Botanical series. Acrylic on canvas

Finally all together. Four different pieces of paintings form the Tropical Botanical series. Acrylic on canvas. Size 1′ x 1′

Gisele the pink ginger flower, Peter the petai, Lily the waterlily and Stanley the staghorn fern completes this mini collection. Now all I have to do is to put them up for sale somewhere….

June 28, 2014 by Darius 

In the last several weeks, since the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights visited refugee camps there last month, a number of international groups have been focusing attention on a region/conflict that rarely makes the news: Western Sahara.  Western Sahara is the region that comprises the northwest edge of the Sahara Desert – hence the name.  On maps, it’s often that jagged bit along the Atlantic in the same color as Morocco but with a diagonal line through it.  (See map below.)

Why is Western Sahara in the news?  The short answer is its complicated and unfinished history.

After the (shameful) 1884 Berlin Conference that carved Africa up among the various European powers, Western Sahara ended up a colony of Spain.  It was then, as it is now, a thinly populated territory of Berbers and Arabs.  In the 1950s, when other parts of…

Well it’s Sunday night again here in exceptionally chilly Melbourne and even though I had a relatively quiet weekend planned, I still didn’t manage to do any writing. Arrrggghh

For some reason I just wasn’t at all productive this weekend. Maybe it’s cause I’m fighting a cold, and feel a bit tired, or it could just be because it was sooo cold, I’m sure I could come up with many more excuses if I tried.

The weekend was not a total waste though, I did manage to rearrange my boys bedroom, and make the most awesome dish that the gorgeous talented Elaine from Foodbod shared and it was just delicious! And I completed the 30 day Facebook Ab challenge.

So all in all it was not a bad weekend, unfortunately I will need to get motivated to get back to writing, my column is due on the 11th July so…

Summertime is here and so is eating light, but still keeping it healthy and nutritious. As you may have come to know me, you know how much I love to cook with fruit. It adds a slight sweetness to every dish and adds beautiful color. Fruit adds color, vitamins, fiber and anti-oxidants to our daily diet. There is no real thought process to this, just add the fruits you enjoy the most.

Since strawberries are in season, and one of my favorite fruits, why not incorporate this into any meal.  I believe most people are not too sure where they can add fruits into their meals. Well, here is a simple rule of thumb..wherever you want to! Food is about taste, pleasure and nutrition. If you hate strawberries  but love blueberries, then substitute them. It’s not going to make a world of difference, it will just get you to eat…

Sometimes no matter how hard I try, I can’t let go, maybe I don’t really want to, deep down