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Currently Marvel's The Avengers is shattering box office records. It's the biggest movie of 2012 worldwide already. Although some tried to make it their point of protest against Marvel's policies or court battles, this was a film that was made by a comic book fan (Joss Whedon) and made in a way that satisfied comic book fans as well as mainstream audiences. Even if you're unfamiliar with the comic books that inspired it, The Avengers is a well played action adventure that audiences are going back to see again and again.

I wanted to say this is an important film to me personally for several reasons. First, this should signal the end of the slump in the comics industry. The slow climb out of the hole made by the crash in the mid-90s has been aided by successful superhero films prior to this one, but the massive success of this film surely means some fans of the movie will give the comic books a chance. To me that's a good thing. It means people are going to be opening their minds to something that got me through my childhood and teenage years. It means that mainstream people who normally wouldn't ever consider reading a comic book in the past are now capable of understanding why I read them for so many years. They can understand me and what made me happy a little better now. The years of comics being marginalized and ridiculed may finally have led to understanding, and that's a great thing to me.

It also means more movies in the future. It means more entertainment made for me and my wife, another comics fan, to enjoy. It's something we'll be able to share that will make us happier, and we won't have to make excuses for why we like it. While some will lament the transition into the mainstream, I will be glad. Get those comics out of the closet! It's time for acceptance!

Yesterday I took the leap and decided to launch my Kickstarter project. I've been working on the 3-D designs for gaming dice in my spare time for four years, and now it's time to make them available to gamers everywhere.

Kickstarter

It's really exciting to finally try to get these out there.

For those who haven't seen any of the designs yet:











(The render really doesn't capture the details of the spacey looking ones above. The bevels are like the kit-bashed greebles from the spaceships in movies like Star Wars.)



I thought these skull dice would be great for games like Call of Cthulhu or Vampire: the Masquerade or the Warhammer games.

Everyone sooner or later has a health issue. We all feel pain or fatigue or depression or some other issue sooner or later. Most people don't know that there are simple things you can try that potentially have universal health benefits. Of course you know you should exercise more or drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables. Taking a tai chi class isn't a new idea, but what about the easy stuff? Things you can just eat and see how it goes?

1. Jennies Macaroons (lauric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid)
Who would have thought that a sugary treat could be good for your health? Just one example I can think of from a few years ago: One of my co-workers at a restaurant told me about how her son had been sick, and it seemed like he just wouldn't get well. She did her best to treat his symptoms with over-the-counter medicines, but it just wouldn't go away. She was pretty sure it was the flu, and she was at her wits end. I recommended that she just give him a whole can of Jennies macaroons, and it cleared up soon after. Why?

I discovered Jennies macaroons back around 1997 when I was reading about two naturally-occurring anti-viral substances found in coconut fat, palm kernel oil, and mother's milk: lauric acid and capric acid. There were studies going on with these substances in the treatment of lipid enveloped viruses like herpes, chicken pox, influenza, and even HIV. After a pharmaceutical company patented this use of these natural substances, some clever person designed a monoglyceride of lauric acid and we now have the supplement called monolaurin or lauricidin.

However, there was a study to determine whether or not there was a useful amount of these substances in any food product containing coconut. Unfortunately the shredded coconut you get at the grocery store and found in candy like Mounds or Almond Joy is processed to the point that it contains virtually no lauric acid or capric acid whatsoever. Personally I think Hershey's would be smart to figure out a way to use organic coconut in their popular candy bars, but since I'm not a shareholder I don't think that's going to happen any time soon. Anyway, the great thing I discovered from that study was Jennies organic coconut macaroons, a delicious treat with the highest levels of lauric acid and capric acid from any food item!

Because this stuff is so good at helping to kill pathogens, I try to make sure my family each eat one of these per day, and as long as I don't forget, it keeps us healthy most of the time. Boy, do I notice it when my daughter decides she doesn't want macaroons for a week! She'll get a bug in no time! Now I try to make sure she eats one every day.

Coconut fat also contains caprylic acid, a substance that has been effectively used to fight against subclinical candidiasis, a strange problem that some have alleged to be an underdiagnosed epidemic. Candidiasis is when the yeast candida albicans is overproduced in the body, usually as a product of various factors that kill the good bacteria in your digestive tract that keep yeasts in check. Antibiotics, birth control pills, medicines, and various other factors can kill these good bacteria and lead to this problem. When candida escapes your digestive tract and finds its way into other random areas of your body, it can cause a myriad of problems from headaches to depression, and you might never know the underlying cause. It's something to think about if you're having random issues with your health.


2. Vitamin D3 (high doses)
For years I read articles by nutritionists arguing about the need for vitamin D. Many doctors and nutritionists were pushing the idea that you could get enough vitamin D from just standing out in the sun for a while, but researchers kept coming back with data that contradicted this belief. Then it all changed a few years ago when some researchers did a study showing that vitamin D3 had completely protected the telomeres in a rodent study. Suddenly every grocery store had prominently displayed D3 in their vitamin sections!

The telomere is the part of the DNA that you can think of like a biological fuse that burns down as we age. It's one of the markers of physical aging. Every cell in your body has a life cycle, and every cell should contain a copy of the blueprint for your body, your DNA. When your DNA gets corrupted, sometimes by a virus, it can lead to cancer and other illnesses, as well as just basic physical aging. I don't want to oversimplify the various biological processes of physical aging, but basically the big reason we take antioxidants is to protect our molecular structural integrity, especially the telomeres. Telomeres figure prominently in several of the theories on cancer as a biological phenomenon. Although this is not a perfectly consistent element, one of the primary features observed in most cancers is their production of a substance called telomerase which protects the telomeres in cancer cells. The problem is that we want to protect the telomeres in health cells, not cancer cells. We want to kill the cancer cells, but because they produce telomerase they don't burn out like normal cells, instead defying the Hayflick limit and becoming what we call immortal cells. This is why cancer just keeps on growing and doesn't stop like a normal cell would.

This isn't the only reason to take it. Vitamin D deficiency of it has also been linked to multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. You can use D3 to prevent a myriad of diseases, but even if you're already taking a vitamin D3 supplement, you may not be taking enough! An analysis of the medical literature found that at least 1,000 to 2,000 I of Vitamin D3 per day is necessary to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and that lower doses of Vitamin D3 did not have the same protective effect.


3. Astragalus
Since the last item on this list gave you a little info about telomerase, it's worth mentioning astragalus root, an herb that contains telomerase. It's been used for thousands of years in Chinese medicine, and may help protect the body against diabetes and cancer. While it is true that cancer cells use telomerase as a sort of shield to protect themselves against being killed, your healthy cells can use this same shield to protect them from attack, including cancer. Some people initially jumped to the idea that telomerase could somehow be dangerous since cancer cells produce it, but telomerase is not a carcinogen. This is important because you could be robbing yourself of a very useful tool for your health if you believe otherwise. If you have cancer, you're not going to make it worse somehow with increased levels of telomerase. Cancer cells already produce plenty of telomerase to protect themselves. They won't enjoy increased protection if you increase your levels of it. In fact, the opposite is true. By protecting your healthy cells with the substance cancer cells use to protect themselves, you're preventing cancer. Cancer makes telomerase, but telomerase doesn't make cancer.

At Harvard, mice bred to underproduce telomerase exhibited various signs of premature physical aging and a variety of undesirable effects, including smaller brains. Injections of telomerase restored these mice to healthy, youthful states.


4. Magnesium L-Threonate
I'm not going to go on and on about the benefits of magnesium here, or the fact that most Americans are deficient in magnesium. I'm also not going to again cover how important magnesium is in fighting osteoporosis, as opposed to calcium, which Americans already get plenty of. I'm not even going to cover the benefits magnesium has for mood and relaxation again. I'm going to assume that you already know the great things about magnesium, and you've already tried several forms of magnesium and may even have ended up choosing magnesium citrate for its superior absorption. Instead I'm going to tell you about a novel form of magnesium that has new benefits that surpass all other forms of magnesium.

I'll try to keep this short and sweet, and reference the wikipedia article on this.

"One study reported that magnesium L-threonate administered to rats significantly boosts their cognitive abilities, and suggest that the same effect may occur in humans, although this remains to be tested. Another study suggests that because L-threonate inhibited DKK-1 expression, it may have application as a treatment for the prevention of androgen-driven balding. It may also offer health benefits for metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, anxiety disorders^, and possibly help Alzheimer-related memory loss."

So this not only supplies your body with magnesium, but may increase your mental capacity, prevent male pattern baldness, and fight various disorders and diseases.


5. Dopa Bean (mucuna pruriens)
This ayurvedic herb supplement is popular with bodybuilders because it increases levels of human growth hormone. It's also popular with people who suffer from depression and ADD because it increases dopamine levels. It's also known to increase libido, and it helps fight diabetes by decreasing serum blood glucose levels. As if that wasn't enough, it's also an antioxidant. It should also help fibromyalgia and Parkinson's disease sufferers.

A friend of mine who suffers from bipolar depression told me that out of all the myriad medications and supplements he has tried, this was the one thing that truly worked for him. That's strong advocacy in my book.


6. Black Cumin (bunium persicum)
I only recently discovered the medicinal purposes of this spice, but I've been using it since the 80s in cooking. There's an easy way to make a type of Persian bread at home. Get a frozen loaf of bread from your grocery store and let it rise as indicated in the instructions for the bread, then flatten it so it's like unleavened bread. Smear it with an egg yolk, then sprinkle kala zeera seeds over it and bake. These seeds, sometimes called "onion seeds" impart a special flavor to the bread, and it's unlike any other I have tried.

Then I stumbled across a book about these seeds in which they were called black cumin. Apparently they've been in use medicinally for thousands of years. There's even a famous quote from the prophet Mohammed about them:

Bukhari – Volume 7, Book 71, Number 591:
Narrated Khalid bin Sad:

We went out and Ghalib bin Abjar was accompanying us. He fell ill on the way and when we arrived at Medina he was still sick. Ibn Abi ‘Atiq came to visit him and said to us, “Treat him with black cumin. Take five or seven seeds and crush them (mix the powder with oil) and drop the resulting mixture into both nostrils, for ‘Aisha has narrated to me that she heard the Prophet saying, ‘This black cumin is healing for all diseases except As-Sam.’ Aisha said, ‘What is As-Sam?’ He said, ‘Death.”

Bukhari – Volume 7, Book 71, Number 592:
Narrated Abu Huraira:

I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death.”

Archaeologists allegedly found a bottle of black cumin oil in the tomb of the Egyptian boy king Tutankhamen. It was supposedly used to treat upset stomachs, headaches, toothaches, colds, and infections.

In my research on this spice I discovered that it's apparently been used successfully to treat fibromyalgia, and it has shown promise in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

The seeds of the black cumin plant allegedly contain over 100 chemical compounds, including some yet to be identified. In addition to what is believed to be the primary active ingredient, crystalline nigellone, black cumin seeds contain: thymoquinone, beta sitosterol. myristic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, protein, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, folic acid, calcium, iron, copper, zinc, and phosphorous.

For something you can get a bag of for a couple of bucks from an Indian grocer, this is amazing stuff!


7. Turmeric (curcuma longa)
Speaking of stuff you can get cheaply at an Indian grocer, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I want to again extoll the virtues of turmeric.

This orangey-yellow staining spice is truly amazing. Anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-depressant, and helps in weight loss, as well as being helpful in fighting Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, and a long list of other disorders and diseases.

Although the pill form at vitamin shops is expensive, the powder is cheap at Indian grocery stores. A friend of mine a few years ago was diagnosed with NFT and had tumors growing around her brain, and she decided to pack her own turmeric pills and stopped the progression of the disease. My aunt had a problem with her hip about a year ago, and I gave her some turmeric, and the pain went away. I can't say enough good things about turmeric.

It's important to note that studies have indicated that the supplement piperine (extracted from black pepper) increased the effectiveness of turmeric by 1,000%!


8. NAC (n-acetyl cysteine)
Within the last few years we've seen NAC (and more recently the amino acid taurine) promoted for the prevention of hangovers when drinking alcohol. If you've ever gotten overly drunk before, you know that hangovers are not just severe fatigue, but also include a painful component that feels like you've been poisoned by something. the reality is that you have been poisoned! The most damaging effects of alcohol come from a chemical called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde derived from the consumption of ethanol binds to proteins to form adducts that are linked to organ disease. Although this chemical occurs naturally in coffee, bread, and ripe fruit, those sources will never deliver the high concentrations you'll get from heavy consumption of alcohol. It's a toxin, irritant, carcinogen, and an air pollutant found in tobacco smoke. People who have a genetic deficiency for the enzyme responsible for the conversion of acetaldehyde into acetic acid may have a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease.

NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine) has been shown to neutralize acetaldehyde. When taking L-cysteine, N-acetyl-cysteine, or glutathione, it is recommended that three times as much vitamin C should be taken at the same time to prevent these amino acids from being oxidized in the body.


9. Niacinamide
I always keep a bottle of this around just in case someone feels out of sorts, or in case I might randomly encounter someone who is experiencing negative drug effects. Niacinamide is a highly potent form of niacin that lacks the pharmacological and toxic effects of niacin, so it doesn't reduce cholesterol or cause the awful "flushing" effect. It's useful as a natural neuroleptic, and can be used to terminate drug trips with LSD or marijuana. There have also been recent studies suggesting that niacinamide may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

"As an Alzheimer's treatment, large doses of nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, "cured" Alzheimers disease in mice, reports health researcher/reporter Dr. David Williams."

Niacinamide is a very useful substance for clearing brain fog and feeling focused again.


10. Fenugreek
Another herbal supplement, fengureek is popular with breastfeeding moms because it helps with the letdown response, making it easier to release milk. This is because fenugreek increases levels of oxytocin in the brain. For this reason it's often used to increase libido both in humans and in animal husbandry, and appears to increase loving feelings in relationships. It's also mildly euphoric at high doses, so it can make you feel good all day, although it potentially has the strange side effect of making your sweat smell like maple syrup.

Fenugreek is also used in the treatment of arthritis and diabetes.

Because this herb increases oxytocin, it should not be taken by pregnant women. The drug form of oxytocin (pitocin) is used to induce labor. Interestingly this means it's contraindicated for pregnant women, but recommended for breastfeeding women, unlike typical advisory warnings.


I hope someone reading this list will find a way to relieve pain or otherwise feel better with one or several of the remedies on this list. I think it's important to share this kind of information with others whenever possible. Be well.

Topher Grace screened his edit of the Star Wars prequels as one film.

I think in the future it may become a standard practice for all geeks who want to be filmmakers to make their own edits of the Star Wars prequels. Eventually there may be a special edition of the prequels on Blu-Ray with extra footage intended for film geeks to use in these special edits, again making a ton of cash for Lucasfilm. Heck, it may even come with an into by Lucas encouraging fans to make their own versions, and there may be a few short films on the discs using the footage with odd twists on the story.

Fan edits are becoming more and more common, and not just of the Star Wars prequels. I remember how amused everyone was with the previous contests for film editors where trailers got reinvented with different takes on classic films. The Shining was turned into a heartwarming family film in one of them, and West Side Story became something like 28 Days Later.

Something I'd love to see someday is a re-edit of Krull with a different score and modern special effects to replace some of the cheesier shots. I think with a little work Krull could at least be passable as a film instead of a multi-million dollar abortion.

I've toyed with editing the first Game of Thrones series down to a shorter duration with the sex scenes and some of the more severe violence edited out so I could show it to family members who are put off by such things. There would be no more naked brothel scenes, and since some of those are quite lengthy I imagine the whole thing could be condensed into a movie. As a kid I hated edited-for-television stuff, but now I see how useful it is to sharing your enjoyment of a good story with more conservative friends and family.

If I had the time I'd love to make my own edits of the Star Wars prequels, although my primary interest would be in audio. The main changes I'd like to make would be in adding alien languages and subtitles, something that made the original Star Wars fascinating to me as a child. It lent an extra pinch of realism to the fantasy, and since so many people seemed to be offended by the voices in the prequels, it's an attractive project.

I have some Dell PowerEdge servers to sell if anyone is interested, or knows someone who might be. I have a 1650 (two P-III 1.4 GHz CPUs) that was a mail server, three 2550 servers, and two 2650 dual Xeon servers. They're rack servers, so they're flat and fairly heavy, and have dual NIC and SCSI RAID. If anyone is interested, please let me know.

 I wonder what the world would be like if the United States of America had lost the war of 1812 and been reconquered by Britain. In 1814 the British captured and burned Washington, D. C., and you'd think that would be the end of it, but it wasn't. It was during this war that the Battle of Baltimore inspired the song "The Star-Spangled Banner" and this war was taken as a second war for independence from Britain.

Many of the renewed problems between the United States and Britain at the time were the result of Napoleon's taking over the rule of France. The U. S. continued to trade with France, so the British tried to use blockades to stop them. I would imagine it wasn't yet common knowledge that Napoleon was an evil dictator, the historical predecessor to Adolf Hitler. The Americans surely wanted to remain neutral in this conflict.

The British were also supporting the Indian Confederacy at the time, which the United States opposed.

What if at the conclusion of the wars against Napoleon the British threw everything they had at the U. S., and all of this became Canada?

Today Taylor's first half-asleep words were "my chalk" and then "my bubbles" (in case you're wondering what toddlers dream about).