~  Coffee Break 86~ January 6, 2007 Welcome to Coffee Break! It is so good to be back.  I hope your holidays were memorable.  Mine sure were, except for this told in my node ... ugh! The most exciting news to begin the New Year with is that my daughter Leanne ("See LeLe Run...For A Cure") will run two marathons for the lymphoma society this year!  I hope you will read her story and contribute what you can to help in the fight against lymphoma cancer.  Seventy-five percent of Leanne's goal goes towards patient services and research for finding a cure. Your tax deductible donation of any amount will be greatly appreciated not only by Leanne, but by those stricken with this dread disease. My assistant tells me we have a few Smart Living wall calendars left. They are nice sized: 10 1/2 inches by 18 inches and  feature soothing scenic photos paired with helpful health and wellness tips, large easy to read numbers with room to add appointments. If you would like one, send me your name and mailing address including zip code on our  form. We'll even pay the postage. This offer is only good for USA addresses while supplies last. Our Christmas page is still open and still overflowing with the Christmas spirit in case you're like me and want to hang onto that wonderful Christmas feeling. But, it will close soon, so don't miss it. We love for you to participate in Coffee Break. Send us your jokes, trivia, things to ponder, tips and noteworthy items.  If you have a suggestion of something you would like to see here in 2007, be sure to let us know that, too.    Take care, Joanne   Coffee Trivia Five Fantastic Reasons to Drink Coffee (Out of a Million) January 1, 2007 During 2006, we reported on many studies that showed the various wonderful health benefits of drinking coffee. The common thread throughout all these reports is that drinking a few cups of coffee throughout the day will benefit us all through our lives. Here are the Top Five Health Benefits: Protects against diabetes. Diabetes is a severe disease that compromises the entire body making diabetics at risk for gangrene in the feet and legs, at a higher-than-normal risk for blindness, and can result in a shorter life span compared to people who do not have the disease. Type 2 diabetes, which does not always require insulin but can be treated with medicine, is nonetheless at such epidemic proportions that it has become the number one concern for the medical community. The escalation of obesity in both children and adults is a contributing factor, so eating a more balanced diet, exercising, and getting plenty of rest are essential. What researches have also discovered is that drinking coffee is a positive addition to the lifestyle for those at-risk or who already have diabetes. Anywhere from two to six cups a day have proven beneficial. The reason? Antioxidants plus other chemical elements in the complex profile of coffee. Risk factors are reduced up to 30 percent, and scientists believe that the body's metabolism of sugar is balanced by the compounds found in coffee. While the recommendations have been from two to six cups a day, all the scientists agree that it is best to space the consumption out over the day as the compounds are eliminated rather quickly and do not remain in the body for great lengths of time even though they are beneficial while consumed. Protects against liver disease. The liver is the largest glandular organ in the body at three pounds, and it is absolutely the workhorse of the magic of the human body. Its task is to be the filter of toxins and the other detritus that accumulate from the natural functions of drinking and eating. The blood is carried from the intestines by two main arteries (the hepatic and the portal vein) to the liver where the blood is cleansed. Liver tissue is composed of thousands of lobules, and each lobule is made up of hepatic cells, the basic metabolic cells of the liver. When these cells are compromised, liver disease can occur and, since we only have one, that makes for a life-threatening situation. Cirrhosis of the liver is most frequently caused by excessive alcohol drinking, but some cases do develop among non-drinkers. Recent studies have indicated that it is not the caffeine that helps prevent cirrhosis but the combination of other compounds in coffee. Two recent studies by Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program cohorts revealed that subjects who drank four or more cups of coffee per day had upwards of 80 percent less chance of developing liver cirrhosis than non-coffee drinkers. In another study, death from the disease was reduced 23 percent. (Cirrhosis caused by Hepatitis C appears to be unaffected by coffee consumption.) Another study, in Norway, showed that cancer of the liver can be reduced by drinking coffee. Those in the study who drank coffee regularly versus those who never or hardly ever drank coffee developed only 214.6 cases versus 547.2 of those who did (per 100,000 people). Caffeine in coffee can rev up the body and keep the mind alert. One of coffee's main compounds, caffeine, does not have specific nutritional value, yet it does demonstrate medicinal properties. It is particularly helpful in keeping the mind alert and the body action-ready. Several recent studies reported the therapeutic value of coffee and caffeine for protecting against the onset of dementia and/or Alzheimer's, which affects the mind. Scientists now believe that caffeine can stimulate the brain cells to stimulate choline, a necessary element in making "neurotransmitters" which are greatly reduced in dementia patients. Caffeine also helps Parkinson's patients who experience a lack of dopamine in the brain, which causes tremors and general mobility problems. The explanation for caffeine efficacy may be that it is a phytochemical (a plant-derivative chemical) and phytochemicals are well known for therapeutic, medical properties. Coffee has powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants, plentiful in fruits and vegetables, are absolutely vital for excellent health and appear in high levels in coffee. Antioxidants are chemical compounds that fight free radicals, which, if allowed to grow, will attack our body and cause disease, most commonly cancer. Fats and sugars elevate free radicals, so it makes good sense to eat high amounts of fruits and vegetables daily - at least five servings - plus drink two cups of coffee per day. This guideline will definitely help the body build disease-fighting antioxidants in the body. Last year, a study from the University of Scranton showed that Americans' number one source for antioxidants is coffee, more so than any other diet source. And, that goes for caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated! Protects against gallstones. In two separate studies, one on men and one on women, caffeinated coffee appears to help reduce the symptoms of gallstones. Men have a 4 percent lower risk of developing them when they drink two or three cups of caffeinated coffee per day; however, men who drink four or more cups reduce the risk up to 45 percent over those men who do not drink coffee. These are the conclusions from a Harvard School of Public Health study that involved 46,000 male participants over a ten-year period. The men were ages 40 to 75 and had no gallstone disease at the beginning of the study. The study did not include women who, ironically, develop two-thirds of all reported gallstones; the reason is most likely because of the estrogen-cholesterol relationship. Vitamin C therapy appears to work well for women prone to stones but does seem to impact men. A separate study done by the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study followed 80,000 women for 20 years and reported that coffee reduces the risk of gallstones among women by 25 percent when they drink four or more cups a day, compared to those women who did not drink any coffee. The gallbladder stores the digestive fluid made by the liver, bile, and sometimes cholesterol and other substances that crystallize into stones. While they do not cause many symptoms, they can grow large enough to block the ducts that carry the bile from the liver to the small intestines. When that occurs, pain is quite intense and may be felt in the right side or the upper abdomen and travel to the right shoulder or between the shoulder blades. Researchers believe that caffeine in coffee helps lower cholesterol concentrations in the bile although caffeinated tea and soda do not have the same effect. It is also true that you can live without a gallbladder but it’s a lot easier to change your diet than go through any operation to remove it, doctors warn. Medical doctors and nutritional experts caution that eating enough fiber and drinking enough water, about 64 ounces a day, are the two best ways to prevent gallstones along with a well-balanced diet without excess salt or fat. Stay tuned; more benefits are being discovered every day!    Public Service Announcements Dioxin Research ~ Thanks to Ms. Florence Pierson The Internet has been flooded with email warnings to avoid freezing water in plastic bottles so as not to get exposed to carcinogenic dioxins. Rolf Halden, PhD, PE, assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and the Center for Water and Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health received his masters and doctoral degrees researching dioxin contamination in the environment. He sets the record straight on dioxins in the food supply and the risks associated with drinking water from plastic bottles and cooking with plastics. You might be able to safely freeze water in plastic bottles, but be sure to read about heating plastic ... it could be hazardous to your health.    Now, this weeks Goodies ... Bravery in 2007 NYC, Trump, Disney reward "Subway Superman" NEW YORK (Reuters) - A New Yorker dubbed "Subway Superman" received the city's highest civic award on Thursday after pinning down a stricken stranger on subway tracks just enough to allow an oncoming train to run over the top of them. Wesley Autrey, 50, jumped onto the subway tracks at a station in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood on Tuesday to help Cameron Hollopeter, who had suffered a seizure and fallen. Autrey, pictured at right, held down Hollopeter's convulsing body in the track bed as the train passed just centimeters above them. Both were uninjured, but Hollopeter, 20, remains in hospital undergoing tests to discover what caused his seizure. Autrey, whose knitted cap was brushed with grease and dirt from the train passing overhead, played down his daring act as he accepted the Bronze Medallion -- for exceptional citizenship and outstanding achievement -- from Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "You see somebody in distress, you help out," Autrey told a news conference, as he was flanked by his 4- and 6-year-old daughters, who had watched their father jump onto the subway tracks. "I was just in the right place at the right time." While Bloomberg called Autrey a "true hero" and the New York Post newspaper dubbed him the "Subway Superman," the construction worker -- who went to work as normal after the incident -- said the real heroes were U.S. troops in Iraq. Along with the civic award, Autrey was also given a year's worth of free rides on New York's subway and buses, then met with real-estate mogul Donald Trump, who gave him a $10,000 check, along with two other checks from undisclosed donors. The Walt Disney Co. gave Autrey and his family a one-week fully paid trip to the Disney World theme park in Orlando, Fla, and tickets to the Broadway smash hit musical "The Lion King." The New York Film Academy, where Hollopeter studies, said it had given Autrey $5,000 and offered scholarships to his daughters, while The New York Daily News reported Autrey had been offered a television show apartment make-over. Autrey -- whose boss didn't believe his excuse for being late to work until he saw on the Internet what Autrey had done -- is also scheduled to appear on both "The Late Show With David Letterman" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." "Good things happen when you do good," Autrey said. "What better way to start a new year than saving a life?" Autrey said he has visited Hollopeter in hospital and met the young man's father. Previous recipients of New York's Bronze Medallion include civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. The last recipient was Housing Authority employee Felix Vasquez, who caught a baby thrown from a New York City burning building in 2005.   Ford Mustang Chase ~ Thanks to Mr. Jim Knudsen Funny Police Chase   Teachers ~ Thanks to Ms. Linda Jo Bruton After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said: "Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning, and I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their T-shirt messages and dress habits.   You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self esteem.  You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job. I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of anti-social behavior, make sure all students pass the state exams, even those who don't come to school regularly or complete any of their assignments. Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps get an equal education regardless of the extent of their mental or physical handicap. I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card.  All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps! You want me to do all of this and then you tell me ...            I CAN'T PRAY?"   Zoo Thank You As a volunteer who conducts educational tours of the Zoo, Sally occasionally receives thank you notes from members of school groups. One of her favorites said: "Dear Sally, I am a third grader. I loved all the animals in the zoo. You were the best of all."   Two Duck Hunters ~ Thanks to Mr. Jim Ward A guy buys a new Lincoln Navigator for $42,500.00 (with monthly payments of $560.00).  He and a friend go duck hunting in upper Wisconsin. It's mid-winter; and of course all of the lakes are frozen. These two guys go out on the ice with their GUNS, a DOG, and of course the new NAVIGATOR. They decide they want to make a natural looking open water area for the ducks to focus on, something for the decoys to float on. Now making a hole in the ice large enough to invite a passing duck, is going to take a little more power than the average drill auger can produce. So, out of the back of the new Navigator comes a stick of dynamite with a short 40 second-fuse. Now our two Rocket Scientists, afraid they might slip on the ice while trying to run away after lighting the fuse (and becoming toast, along with the Navigator), decide on the following course of action: they light the 40 second fuse; then, with a mighty thrust, they throw the stick of dynamite as far away as possible. Remember a couple of paragraphs back when I mentioned the NAVIGATOR, the GUNS, and the DOG? Let's talk about the dog: A highly trained Black Lab used for retrieving; especially things thrown by the owner. You guessed it: the dog takes off across the ice at a high rate of speed and grabs the stick of dynamite, with the burning 40-second fuse, just as it hits the ice. The two men swallow, blink, start waving their arms and, with veins in their necks swelling to resemble stalks of rhubarb, scream and holler at the dog to stop. The dog, now apparently cheered on by his master, keeps coming. One hunter panics, grabs the shotgun and shoots the dog. The shotgun is loaded with #8 bird shot, hardly big enough to stop a Black Lab.  The dog stops for a moment, slightly confused, then continues on. Another shot, and this time the dog, still standing, becomes really confused and of course terrified, thinks these two geniuses have gone insane. The dog takes off to find cover, UNDER the brand new Navigator. The men continue to scream as they run. The red hot exhaust pipe on the truck touches the dog's rear end, he yelps, drops the dynamite under the truck and takes off after his master. Then "BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!" The Navigator is blown to bits and sinks to the bottom of the lake, leaving the two idiots standing there with "I can't believe this just happened" looks on their faces. The insurance company says that sinking a vehicle in a lake by illegal use of explosives is not covered by the policy. And he still had yet to make the first of those $560.00 a month payments. The dog is okay ... doing fine. And you thought Rednecks only lived in the South.     Flower Oil   When I go to a local discount store to get oil and filters for my car, I buy my wife a bouquet of flowers on display near the checkout counter. During one trip, some women in line behind me were oohing and aahing about a husband getting flowers for his wife. "How often do you do that?" one asked. Before I could answer, the cashier, more than familiar with my routine, said, "Every three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first."   Revolving Bar Door  A man walks into the front door of a bar. He is obviously drunk, and staggers up to the bar, seats himself on a stool and, with a belch, asks the bartender for a drink. The bartender politely informs the man that it appears that he has already had plenty to drink, he could not be served additional liquor at this bar, and could a cab be called for him? The drunk is briefly surprised, then softly scoffs, grumbles, climbs down off the bar stool, and staggers out the front door. A few minutes later, the same drunk stumbles in the SIDE door of the bar. He wobbles up to the bar and hollers for a drink. The bartender comes over and, still politely -- but more firmly, refuses service to the man due to his inebriation, and again offers to call a cab. The drunk looks at the bartender for a moment angrily, curses, and shows himself out the side door, all the while grumbling and shaking his head. A few minutes later, the same drunk bursts in through the BACK door of the bar. He plops himself up on a bar stool, gathers his wits and belligerently orders a drink. The bartender comes over and emphatically reminds the man that he is clearly drunk, will be served no drinks, and either a cab or the police will be called immediately. The surprised drunk looks at the bartender, and in hopeless anguish, cries, "MAAAN! How many bars do you work at?   A New Wine for Seniors ~ Thanks to Mr. John Lopez California vintners in the Napa Valley area, which primarily produces Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio wines, have developed a new hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic.  It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night. The new wine will be marketed as PINO MORE.   Rainy Day ~ Thanks to Mr. John Lopez Saturday morning I got up early, put on my long johns, dressed quietly, made coffee, grabbed my clubs, slipped quietly into the garage, loaded my clubs into the car, and proceeded to back out into a torrential downpour. There was snow mixed with the rain and the wind was blowing 50 mph.   I pulled back into the garage, turned on the radio, and discovered that the weather would be bad throughout the day. I went back into the house, quietly undressed, and slipped back into bed. There I cuddled up to my wife's back, now with a different anticipation, and whispered, "The weather out there is terrible." She sleepily replied, "Can you believe my stupid husband is out golfing in that?"   Top 10 country songs of 2006 ~ Thanks to Mr. Jim Knudsen 12. I Hate Every Bone in Her Body But Mine. 11. It's Hard to Kiss the Lips At Night That Chewed Your Ass All Day. 10. If the Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me.   9. I Liked You Better Before I Got to Know You So Well. 8. I Still Miss You Baby, But My Aim's Gettin' Better. 7. I Wouldn't take her to a Dog Fight 'Cause I'm Afraid She'd Win. 6. I'll Marry You Tomorrow, But Let's Honeymoon Tonight. 5. I'm So Miserable without you, It's like You're Still Here. 4. If I Had Shot You When I First wanted To, I'd Be Out Of Prison By now. 3. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend and I Sure Do Miss Him. 2. She Got the Ring and I Got the Finger. And the number 1 Country Song is: 1. I Ain't Never Gone to Bed with Ugly Women But I've Sure Woke Up With a Few.   Why sports figures can't have real jobs ~ Thanks to Ms. Florence Pierson Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model: "I wan' all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the kids to copulate me." New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first." And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skins say: "I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl," Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too." Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings." Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann, 1996: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach: "You guys line up alphabetically by height" And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, then line up in a circle." Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: "That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes." Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning regardless of what time it is." Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt." Amarillo High School and Oiler coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips, Phillips responded: "Because she is too damn ugly to kiss good-bye."   Advice from Maxine ~ Thanks to Ms. Barbara Jones Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately; illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, wild animals attacking humans in Florida. "Not me," says Maxine. "I concentrate on solutions to problems. The result is a win-win-win situation: Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border Use the dirt to raise the levies in New Orleans Put the Florida alligators in the moat. Any other problems you would like for me to solve today?"   John Wayne ~ Thanks to Mr. Richard DeBiaso Please turn your volume up to hear John Wayne recite this lovely poem about America    Picture of the Week - Thanks to Mr. Jim Knudsen Ooops.  Get the angle right when shooting pictures   Thank you for being with us in this new year.  Your contributions make this page a must stop for many.  I hope you liked what we had to offer in this issue. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.  When you come across something funny or informative and in good taste, please send it along.  I would love to include it with your name and our thanks.  May 2007 bring you all you hope for and much more. My best to you, Joanne Your San Francisco Bay Area Real Estate Broker

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