My husband decided to shed a few pounds, so to make it easier for him I volunteered to shed a few pounds also. (Misery loves company.) How did we decide to do it? We bought a month's supply of NutriSystem meals.

The advertising is terrific. The demonstrations on the home shopping shows are compelling. By golly, it looks like real food, good food, and plenty of it. It's a system made in heaven. Or is it?

This month we welcome Joyce Shafer, writer, entrepreneur and UPI columnist. Joyce has a very helpful, unique way of looking at life. She really makes you think. Her article for this month, "Pay Attention to How You Ask" is a good example.

This link provides a list of items (and links to them) that I've found during September. I've chosen them to encourage you to take better care of yourself, and to help you understand the importance of taking supplements. The list is long -- take a look -- you never know what you will find that may make a difference in your life.

September 21 was "World Alzheimer's Day." I didn't hear anything about it in the mainstream press, but it's just as well. What would celebration accomplish? Awareness? Walk-athons, and more money pumped into the same type of research that's been done for years that hasn't produced anything?

In honor of the day, a press release, "Neutraceuticals offer hope on World Alzheimer's Day" suggested it's worth reflecting on the potential of research into food and dietary ingredients to stave off the disease. Could this be good news?

I purchased my first pair of jeans -- ever. (Hold on-it's not a done deal--I'll probably take them back.)

While taking a short cut through Penney's at the mall I spotted a rack of Levi 512 boot cut jeans, with a sign that promised they would make me look skinny.

"Gloryoski", exclaimed Little Orphan Annie. "Can it be true?" (My apologies if you are not old enough to remember Little Orphan Annie.)

As I've said many times, I don't like jeans because (among other reasons) they promote cultural conformity. If it's the latest boatload of "designer jeans" produced by cheap labor from China, everyone wears them, looking like clones from Wal-Mart.

It is no wonder there are so few (if any) "natural cures" for devastating diseases. If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would have to say it's because the medical industry doesn't want to find "natural cures." If a natural cure were found for cancer, for example, oncologists and the whole traditional "cancer fighting" network would be looking for another specialty. Or another line of work.

The pharmaceutical industry doesn't want to find a natural cure for cancer because there is no profit in a cure. Big Pharma makes its money selling products that at best only manage symptoms that are not life threatening but on going. Anyone with high blood pressure is a prize for the drug companies. Those unfortunate individuals will take profitable "management medication" until they die. Got it? Management pays. Cures do not pay.

If you have young daughters or grand daughters, you will definitely want to watch this video. It is absolutely shocking. To make matters worse, it appears Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil, has plans to promote it for boys as well. Absolutely shameless what they will do to make a buck. Thanks to Dr. Mercola for making the video available.