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GoYin
When I was contacted to try GoYin, a new herbal infused drink that is about to hit the market, I had flashbacks of Market America-ish beverages. Years ago, my husband and I were dragged (kicking and screaming-ok, that was me, not him) into Market America and were made to believe that this OPC stuff was the best thing ever. It wasn’t bad. During college, it was a hangover pick-me-up, consisting mostly of grape seed extract. The taste was a bit much to handle though. It was gritty, and had a bite to it. I expected GoYin to be the same.
GoYin is not like that at all. It has a pleasant, albeit very fruity taste, that reminds me of a drink I used to like in college called "papaya punch." I don’t think I would choose it over my cup of coffee in the morning or my iced tea (must always have 14 gallons in the house because if I run out I get cranky), but it is a nice alternative to fruit juices.
The literature included with my samples says that GoYin is a product "based on 5,000 years of Traditional Asian Medicine designed to put our bodies and lives back in balance." Being married to a Clinical Research Manager, he had some "issues" with the study and whether or not there was a placebo effect since the article does not state whether or not the study was done blinded or randomized. If you’d like to read the study for yourself, you can find that information here.
GoYin boasts the following superfruits and herbs in their product: gac and cili for antioxidant support, rhodiola and schisandra for oxygen-blood levels, mangosteen and durian for cellular communication, tangerine peel and lycium (goji) for enzyme levels, astragalus and coriolus for immune function, seabuckthorn and ginger for inflammation, euphoria longan and lychee for neurotransmitter levels and finally, hawthorn and jujube date for blood flow. If you would like more information on the herbs, superfruits and their properties, you can find it in the GoYin literature.
With all of these superfruits and herbs, GoYin literature says that consumers decrease tension, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion, while increasing vigor. Personally, I didn’t notice any of these things happening during the few days that I tried the sample product. The product literature does say that consumers will need to drink GoYin over an extended period to really begin to see the health benefits. Unlike a lot of other health/wellness/energy drinks, there is no added caffeine, so there are no jittery side effects.
While it tastes pleasant enough, I was shocked to find out how much it costs. A 25 oz. bottle sells for $38.00 plus shipping and tax. (AHH! For that price, I was sort of hoping that it would grow me a new in tact ACL.) Preferred customers and customers using the product monthly are given reward points and free products throughout the year, although I’m not sure how many free products or rewards are given. If you are interested in finding out more about GoYin, please visit here. You can also contact Jenn Jantzen at jenn at experienceTAM dot com for information about the product.
As far as a juice goes, it has a mild fruity taste that isn’t overwhelming or too sweet; but the price of the product is the thing keeping me from giving GoYin a better rating.
BBM gives GoYin . . .
ESRB.com
Filed under: Video Games & Accessories, Websites
If you’re a parent and you plan on buying video games for your children this year, the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) website is going to be one of your best resources. It is no secret that there are violent video games out there, and the ESRB site can help you make sure that your children are viewing age appropriate images when they’re playing their games.
I was one of those crazy Mom’s who went out to every likely store last year almost every single day, searching for the illusive Nintendo Wii. I was one of the lucky ones and found one for my daughter. This week, I found out about the parental controls on the Nintendo Wii, thanks to the ESRB site. If you’re video-game-impaired like I am, this site is of great resource as it provides detailed instructions on how to set these controls and also provides links to sites that take you step by step through the process of setting the parental controls. These links are found under Parental Resources and can be accessed here.
If you’re looking for more help as a parent, you can find it here. This section is the area where you can learn things your child probably already knows in attempts to find a loop-hole around the parental controls you’ve set up. Do you know what "mods" are? I didn’t, but I now know that they are downloadable programs that can change the content of the game your child is playing.
In addition to the parental resources, there are detailed descriptions of games for every platform available. Parents are able to sort by rating, operating system or content. And, you don’t have to worry about the ESRB’s pockets being lined by video game producers. The ESRB is a non-profit organization that decides on their ratings based on imput and feedback from child development and academic experts.
When you’re choosing your presents this holiday season, make sure you look for the following ratings which should be clearly displayed on all video games. The ratings are given for good reason and after extensive experience playing and evaluating the games, so it makes sense to follow their guidelines when it comes to appropriate games for your child.
For additional shopping advice, make sure you visit the ESRB website before heading out to the stores. If you’re video-game impaired like I am, you’ll need all the help you can get.
For ease of use and availability of important information, BBM gives the ESRB website. . .
The Daring Book for Girls
I can clearly recall the days I spent trying to make perfume and princess crowns out of dandelions. That was usually after a spirited game (or eight) of kick ball in the street, followed by an even more spirited game of freeze tag. When it was too hot, I’d sit on my porch and play cat’s cradle with a willing friend. School days brought Four Square and Tether Ball with a vivacity that would have told an observer that I was an Olympian and these were my sports. What a trip back in time "The Daring Book for Girls" was for me.
Childhood has definitely changed for girls and this book attempts to put it back to how it used to be. One can learn how to build things, paint and create origami. Girls can also learn some girl-power history in this book, like the story of Joan of Arc for just one example.
Some of my personal favorites include the following. During the "Rules of the Game: Softball" section, the authors write this:
"The first rule of softball is never to apologize. This may seem an odd way to introduce a sport, but many, many girls, and women, too, find themselves saying ‘I’m sorry’ if the ball they throw falls short, strays long, leaps out of bounds, or in any way doesn’t land exactly the way they intended. Try to resist this impulse. Unless your throw inflicts actual bodily harm, never apologize for an errant throw or catch. Now you’re ready to play."
I knew right then and there that the authors of this book, who happen to be the co-founders of Mother Talk, are truly my heroes. It wasn’t many more pages before I found yet another reason to love them. In the "Every Girl’s Toolbox" section, they’re not talking about lipstick and an eyelash curler, when they use the statement "Remembering the saying ‘righty-tighty, lefty-loosy’ will help you recall which direction to turn a screw." I used this handy little saying just yesterday as I tightened the screw on the hand-grip of my crutches. It’s practically been my tool mantra since Industrial Arts in the 7th grade!
I also loved the chapter called "The Girls Guide to Danger" where one of the "dangerous" things the authors recommend for girls is to "Stand up for yourself-or someone else." Thank you Andrea and Miriam! I must repeat this to my daughter every single week, and it’s something that is well worth repeating to young girls these days who will be walked all over if they don’t learn this simple concept early in life.
Hand in hand with this chapter is the one simply titled "Boys" which, when all is said and done, boils down to just one statement: "do treat all your friends, boys and girls, with kindness." That can’t be said enough. It has gone a bit out of style and that is a very sad thing.
In case you’re a bit forgetful when it comes to basic math, science, and history, "The Daring Book for Girls" also has a good dose of the basics. From the Periodic Table (with a mention of the elements that women were responsible for founding) to a history lesson on female pirates, this book has something for absolutely everyone.
My daughter and I spent some time perusing the book and she decided that she wanted to learn how to do a back walkover. For a girl who has trouble jump-roping (a sad commentary on society today in and of itself), I knew a walkover was pushing it. But that didn’t stop me from coaching her on the fundamentals of a back walkover, starting with a backbend.
Like Popeye the Sailor man, I believed that spinach was the key component to strength when I was little. After eating a healthy portion (while holding my nose to disguise the taste) I performed my first backbend from a standing position. I told my daughter that tale; and I now believe it is her mission in life to be able to do that as well. This book has clearly opened some doors for us.
I only have two issues/suggestions that would make the book better. Being a martial artist, I thought that the karate moves every girl should know were a bit lacking. Including more effective strategies such as: 1. a knee/kick to the groin, 2. a foreknuckle strike to the throat, 3. an eye gouge, 4, a front kick to the knee and 5. a headbutt with the back of the head to someone’s face, would definitely be more effective from a self defense perspective. Or, take the moves that are already included in the book and include some information on how you would appropriately use them, as in "kick ’em where it counts" for example. We can’t ignore the fact that we live in a different world today, and some basic self defense would have been a welcome asset to the book.
My only other critique is really a suggestion for the future. Because it’s sometimes difficult to read about how to do an activity and then do it, an accompanying DVD would be a fabulous addition. A demonstration of Four Square, the Hand Slapping rhyme that starts with "Miss Suzie had a steamboat", and a step by step guide to cat’s cradle would have been an exciting inclusion. Of course, I’m sensing that a sequel would be appropriate so maybe that could be included then.
I know that this book will become a treasured part of our family life for many years to come. It’s the type of book you want to share with every girl you know. I know I’ve had fun sharing it with my girls, and hopefully, with a little help from this book, they can become daring girls like their Mom.
If you’d like to purchase this book, go here. To find about more about the authors, go here and here.
BBM gives "The Daring Book for Girls". . .
To learn more about The BBM Review rating system, go here.
Shaolin Legend Live
Shaolin Legend Live is a DVD that will be released on October 30, 2007. The show features the Shaolin Monks, an interesting and amazing group of young men who intersperse acrobatics, death-defying sword stunts, and entertaining dance and fight sequences that loosely resemble kata, complete with kiai.
Throughout the show, the Shaolin Monks display their athletic prowess and stunts that make you a little nervous. Take for example the young monk who lays down across a board containing blade-up swords, only to have a board full of nails put across his stomach, followed by another man on top of the nails, followed by a slab of concrete that is broken over both of their bodies with a sledge hammer. It’s not for the faint of heart.
Neither is the stunt where one of the monks seemingly impales himself on what looks like a giant sai, only to be spun around by the other monks before jumping off of the blade with only an indentation in his abdomen.
There’s also plenty of breaking and even some lettuce that’s cut on a monk’s stomach. Yeah, you heard me. Lettuce. There’s also some breaking over certain body parts that make the entire live audience gasp (especially the guys) but I’m not giving details on that. You’ll have to watch for yourself.
Interspersed with meditative music (that makes me feel like I’m having an appointment with my massage therapist) and calming artistic imagery, the show provides quite a contrast when it comes to entertaining. There are a couple vignettes where the accompanying music is a bit too Americanized and funky; but overall, the show succeeds in taking the audience to another place entirely, one where discipline is inherently important if one is to survive some of the stunts that these Shaolin Monks conquer.
To be honest, I never would have rented this movie off the blockbuster shelf; but I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it. Although I was sent just a screener copy, the official DVD release will include bonus features including a picture gallery, show highlights, and a booklet on the history of the Shaolin monks and art. For more information on the upcoming release, or to purchase the DVD when it is released, visit Milan Records.
BBM gives the Shaolin Legend Live DVD. . .
Ikigai108’s take on the Shaolin Legend Live DVD
And then some monks came out and did rituals. It seems like there was a head monk there. And they did kicks and one monk brought out some lettuce and chopped it up on his stomach. They spun weapons around.
…Does it seem like I kinda jumped into my article mid-thought? Like I didn’t really give you any information on what I was talking about, or any context for what the Shoalin monks were doing? That is the same basic approach Shaolin Legend Live takes. At the beginning of the dvd you are thrust onto the stage with a group of Shaolin monks as they perform their trademark stunts. Don’t worry about knowing what’s going on, just try to relax and watch the tricks.
The physical prowess of the monks is unquestionable. Each monk displays impressive conditioning and flexibility. As they whip around the stage it’s clear they put in hours of practice. There is no room for error in the Shaolin routines. Furthermore, the "iron-shirt" stunts where the monks prove their toughness are very impressive. I would not want to be caught in between a bed of live swords and a plank of spikes. I could never do what the monks do, plain and simple. They are fantastic athletes. But I also could never do the uneven bars, or pommel horse, or the vault. The demonstrations put on are likely to remind you of gymnastic routines you’ve seen elsewhere.
In case you’ve never seen a Shaolin demonstration, i’m going to let you in on one of their secrets – Shoalin monks love to spin things. That’s right. Prepare yourself for a deluge of spinning weapons, from aluminum swords to rattan sticks.
BBM touched on something that I would also like to mention – the music can be very distracting. Some of it makes sense and flows well with the demonstrations. But sometimes there are just weird selections in the background. Have you seen The 5th Element? Do you remember when that space opera girl was singing on stage? Yea that song is on this dvd for some reason. Just when you begin to get absorbed into the monks activities, the music is liable to bring you back out.
Maybe it’s the traditionalist in me, but this dvd did not do it for me. I would much rather have heard about the history of Shaolin and Bodhidharma. Shaolin is said to have influenced martial arts all throughout China, Japan, and Okinawa. How about some information on that? And then after you’ve filled my brain with some good information, then hit me with some tricks just for fun.
This dvd just isn’t good for me. If I want to see Jet Li choreography, i’ll go rent Fearless.
Ikigai 108 gives the Shaolin Legend Live DVD. . .
See the BBM Rating System for more information about ratings.
RYKA Athletic Shoes
Ryka is a company that was started by a woman frustrated by her choices in athletic footwear and clothing. I have echoed her frustration myself. Remember the Velcro shoe crazy of the early 80’s? Yeah, well my feet didn’t "work" in those shoes, because I had narrow feet and an even more narrow heel. My foot slipped out and it was another pair of lace up shoes for me. Trendy, I was not.
On their website, RYKA has this to say about their shoes:
"All RYKÄ shoes are made on a woman’s last (the mold or shape of a woman’s foot), and are designed and developed taking into account a women’s unique fit needs – narrower in the heel and wider in the forefoot (it’s not just you, our toes need more room and our heels slip too). Outstanding fit and exceptional comfort consistently place RYKÄ shoes among the highest rated in the industry. After all, if your shoes don’t work out, neither will you."
After reading about the shoes, I registered in their on-going contest called "Good for your sole" to win a pair of new shoes or athletic clothing. Unlike every other time in my life, I actually won. RYKA shipped me the below pair of walking shoes and I am thrilled with them.
They say they design them for a woman’s foot and they certainly do. The inside back of the shoe comfortably hugs your heel and there is absolutely NO slipping what-so-ever. They are super comfortable and provide a lot of support for your foot. Although I would have preferred a more colorful pair of athletic shoes, I’m certainly not complaining about the MC2 pair that I received, which retails for $79.99. They’ll be a little less likely to glow in the dark in no time, I’m sure.
If you haven’t yet registered for the RYKA contest, go here to do so. They are giving away 50 pairs of shoes and 50 pieces of athletic clothing every single day until October 25th, so there’s still time to register and be a winner! For every pair of shoes they give away to those who enter the contest, they’re also donating a pair to the Women’s Sports Foundation. Sounds good to me!
I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me happier than a new pair of shoes. If they’re free? Even better.
BBM gives the RYKA MC2 Walking Shoes:
For more information on the BBM Rating System, go here.
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