That sprig of parsley on your dinner plate has a huge number of uses, surprisingly.  Primarily used as a diuretic today, it helps with kidney and bladder issues.  Also, it can help strengthen the digestive system and dispel liver and stomach problems.   It can be used to ease bloating, stomach cramps and nausea,  and regulate menstrual cycles.  There has been some information that shows that parsley can improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure and heart rate, making it help with some heart conditions.  It may help with kidney stones.  Also, parsley can freshen your breath, the number one reason it’s placed on dinner plates across the nation.

What is in parsley that makes it so useful?

• Iron
• Potassium
• Vitamin C
• Essential oils, including apiole, a kidney stimulant

Hints for the use of parsley:

• Don’t cook it - chop and add it just before serving hot dishes
• Dried parsley looks and tastes rather gross.
• Italian parsley (has flat leaves) has a better flavor and is higher in nutrients
• Fresh parsley?  Freeze it rather than drying it
• Keep it fresh? Dust parsley with water, wrap it in paper towels and place in a plastic bag.  Much like fresh cut flowers, fresh parsley needs water to stay fresh.  You can also place the parsley in a vase and refrigerate (like a fresh bouquet)

Ok, let me begin by saying, I am not biased against anyone based on color, sex, race, creed, religion, cult-affiliation, etc.  Nor do I consider myself a member of one political party vs. another.  I believe in the people and I believe that our elected officials should represent the people, which I feel, for the most part, don’t clearly believe along a particular party line.

I do, however, have a problem with anyone who shows a complete lack of common sense and that is what is wrong with the Republican party.

What exactly are they thinking?  Do they WANT to make CERTAIN that their party is not elected this year?  I believe they have done just that by bringing on Sarah Palin, Gov. of Alasaka, as the vice-presidential candidate for the republican ticket.

Somewhere, or perhaps many somewheres, there is a HUGE party celebrating this latest in Republican blunders.  Are they so out of touch with reality that they think this will HELP them?  Even ignoring her gender, Sarah Palin positively screams differences:

• Runner up in the Miss Alasaka pageant
• Past ‘whistle-blower’ on Alaskan government corruption (as she saw  it)
• Vetoed a bill that ultimately granted State of Alaska benefits to same-sex couple

She’s a bit unique; just ask her children, Track 18, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13, Piper, 7, and Trig, less than 1 year old.

Let me state that I have nothing against Sarah Palin.  In fact, she might actually do some good in a high leadership position.  What I’m saying is that by bringing her on the ticket, the Republican party has all but assured that we will have a Democrat in the office next term (as if the current state of affairs hasn’t done that already).

However, as a general rule, republicans tend to be more conservative when it comes to who they will vote for, and it’s doubtful that a woman on the republican ticket is going to assist the cause. In fact, I think it will ultimately assist the OTHER cause, which is to elect the Democratic ticket - the Obama.  Sarah Palin’s unfortunate selection of chromosomes aside, she has shown an alarming tendency toward the ‘old-boy’ tendency to appoint cronies to the major positions surrounding power.  While this might appeal to the public on a very basic level, it’s enough to scare off many republican voters, I’m quite certain. She also has a vaguely Hollywood tendency when it comes to naming children - granted she isn’t mom to an Apple or a Pilot Inspecktor, but she’s walking the line here, in my opinion.  Also, I truly cannot see a Vice-Prez/Former Beauty Pageant Winner … we are just not suitable evolved at this time.  Perhaps in the future.

So, Republican party, it’s been nice knowing you this election year but you’ve just sealed your own fate.