This week we continue our highlights on the Miami Fashion Week -November 19-23.
  Mauritania, formally the Islamic Republic of Mauritania is a sovereign country in Northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, West Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest. This is the 11th largest country in Africa -by land area, and the 28th largest in the world, measuring 400,000 square miles. Most of this area-90% is in the Sahara. Most of Mauritania's 4.3 million people live in the south of the country, with a third concentrated in the capital-- Nouakchott, on the Atlantic coast. Berbers settled on Mauritania by the third century AD. Arab tribes also moved there by the late seventh century, bringing with them Islam, Arab culture , and the Arabic language. By the 20th century, the French colonized this African country making it part of French West Africa. Mauritania became independent in 1960, but has since experienced recurrent coups and military dictatorship. The country has an abundance of iron ore and petroleum but struggles to maintain a vibrant economy. Its main economic engine runs on agriculture, fishing, and livestock. Since the Arabic incursion, most Mauritanians are of the Sunni sect of Islam. However, multi ethnicity is allowed with the presence of the Bidhans, or so-called "white moors," make up 30% of the population, while the Haratin, or so- called "black moors," compose 40%. Both groups reflect a fusion of Arab-Berber ethnicity and culture. The Mauritanian government is a unitary semi-presidential republic. It has a president, prime minister, and president of the national assembly. Its current GDP stands at estimated 34 billion USD.  How to Cut Your Risk of A Stroke  A stroke happens when blood stops flowing to part of your brain. The cells begin to die, and you may have damage to areas that controls muscles, memory , and speech.  Watch Your Blood Pressure If you have high blood pressure and you don't manage it well, your chances of getting a stroke go up. Ideally your blood pressure should be under 120 over 80. If yours is too high, talk to your doctor about ways to change your diet and get more exercise. It that's not enough they may prescribe exercise to help.  Break A Sweat Exercise helps you get to or stay at a healthy weight and keep your blood pressure where it should be--two things that can lower your odds of having a stroke. You'll need to work out hard enough to break a sweat 5 days a week for about 30 minutes. Talk to your doctor first if you're not in great health or haven't that active for a while.  Keep Stress In Check Stress can make it more likely you'll get a stroke, maybe because it causes inflammation in parts in your body. If you're stressed at work, do some things to dial it back Get up and move around often, breathe deeply and focus on one task at a time. Make your work area a calm space with plants and colors. And be sure to spend a healthy amount of time away from your workplace.  Have A Single Drink For years , doctors thought that a drink a day may help protect against a stroke, but the latest research suggests that this may not be true. And if you have more than two, your stroke risk quickly shoots up. Heavy drinking can also lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes -- all things that raise your odds of having a stroke.  Pay Attention To Your Heartbeat Atrial fibrillation (Afib), an irregular heart rhythm, make you five times more likely to have a stroke . If you notice a racing or irregular heartbeat, see your doctor to find out what is causing it. If it is Afib, they may be able to treat you with medicine that lowers your heart rate and cuts the odds, you'll get blood clots. In some cases they may reset your heart rhythm with medication or brief electric shock.  Fiber Up The magic number here is 7: For every 7 grams of fiber you add to your daily diet, your stroke risk goes down by 7%. You should get about 25 grams a day: six to eight servings of whole grains, or eight to ten servings of vegetables.  Eat Some Dark Chocolate Flavonoids are plant -based chemicals in cocoa that have all kinds of health benefits. For example , they can help with inflammation, and can relieve pressure on your heart. Studies show, a little dark chocolate a day can help relieve strokes in people with a high chance of having heart disease. Just don't overdo it because chocolates have sugar and saturated fat.  Take Your Meds
This sounds like an easy one, but a lot of people have a hard time with it. Take your medicine for blood pressure, diabetes, and heart health on time and as prescribed. If you're concerned about side effects, talk to your doctor before skipping your medicine or taking less than you're supposed to be taking. Credit: WebMD  1. Why didn't the cook season the turkey?
She ran out of thyme. 2. Why can't you take turkeys to church? They use fowl language. 3. What did the turkey say to the computer? Google, google, google!  Three women gathered around a kitchen table preparing a Thanksgiving feast.
"Thanksgiving 2003 by John Currin.   Thanksgiving in the US is also known as American Thanksgiving to differentiate from Canadian Thanksgiving which became a national holiday in 1879.  There are four towns in the US named Turkey. They can be found in Arizona, Texas, North Carolina and Louisiana.  Some families are not so lucky on Thanksgiving Day. This family - the mom in fact had her dog steal her turkey roll from the kitchen counter. She barely caught the dog, and there was a tug-of-war between mom and the dog. The dog won so the family had to order Chinese food instead.
 1. " When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window." (Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs)
2. " All relationships have problems. It just all depends if you two are strong enough to get through them together." -Unknown 3. "We loved with a love that was more than love." -Edgar Allan Poe 4. " We fall in love by chance. We stay in love by choice."-Unknown SHORT STORY
She sat alone on the bed while the radio played a sad song. Her heart was broken. He walked away and left her after 20 years together. "I'm Gonna Walk Away From Love," rocked her eardrum even though the volume was set low. Her heart raced at the thought of being left alone. She felt weak to fight back. To let him know in no uncertain terms that she was strong and would survive, never crossed her mind. Her room became darker while the lights were on. The song played even louder though she never touched a button. She did not hear the torrential rain. The crackling thunder was unheard although, meteorologists were broadcasting its occurrence. She was in a smaller room inside that large master bedroom. She was terrified to move lest she crashed against the wall she built. Since she chose to terminate her job she had early in their relationship, She lost contact with many of her friends. Two of her children had left home while the other two were in college. She stayed in that dark room for over two weeks. She fell out with the shower and her other hygienic companions. Her addiction forthe sad song became stronger. When her son and daughter came home from college and saw her in that state they adapted different points of view to her situation. Her daughter was angry with her dad for abandoning her mom and leaving her in that state. Her son, on the other hand, was upset but encouraged his mother to work towards changing her position on the issue. He reasoned that you cannot commit an adult to stay in a relationship if they refused. His dad had made a decision, for whatever reason and it was done, he advised. His sister disagreed saying that her dad was a monster. Then if he is, her brother surmised, why should mom stay with a him? They continued their exchange until her brother suggested that they were going to take their mom out for dinner. The swanky dining spot lived up to its reputation of providing the finest gourmet. Their mom's elegant attire blended well with the atmosphere. She got a few winks from an immaculately dressed man who sat at a table with a couple. The children did dot notice, but mom did. As the evening rolled along her children noticed that she appeared more relaxed and was even smiling at times. They felt that the meal and the atmosphere had done the trick. Unbeknownst to them, the winks from the guy at the table across from them tickled their mom. She was slowly beginning to believe again that she was desirable. © Wallace Paul November, 2024.   Now that we're approaching the Thanksgiving season it's time to remember to be thankful for so many good things that are happening to us daily. Some might question this point of view but, if you look a little harder, you'll find it.
Our first song for this this time of the year and at all time is "Thank You," by the group "Boyz II Men" This song is a soulful and emotional ballad released by the group in 1994. The lyrics are a heartfelt expression of gratitude and appreciation for someone who has supported and cared another. The appeal is universal. Boyz II Men known for their lushful harmonies does not disappoint here. Thank You I was young And didn't have nowhere to run I needed to wake up (Wake up) and see (And see) What's in front of me (na-na-op) There has to be a better way Sing it again a better way To show a better way (hum) So I thought this song To show my appreciation for loving me so long You don't know how much you mean to me "Cause even though when time get rough You never turned away You were right there And I thank you (thank you) When I felt I had enough You never turned away You were right there And I thank you (thank you) All through my life I knew that you'd be my world Knowing everywhere I go Things you taught me they would show ( So many times and changes) ( You've seen me through) I sure enough couldn't have survived without you, you And so I thought of this song To show my appreciation for loving me so long You don't know how much you mean to me. oh " Cause even though when times get rough You never turned away You were right there And I thank you (thank you) When I felt I had enough You never turned away You were right there And I thank you , thank you. (Repeat) Writers: Shawn P. Stockman/Wayne J. Morris/ Nathan B. Morris/ Dallas L. Austin/Michael McCary ©Motown 1995 |
