It’s Dash: US bank stops man’s payment as dog’s name resembles Daesh

A US bank blocked a man’s online payment to his dog walker because his service dog’s name sounded like a dreaded terror network.

Bruce Francis, 55, from San Francisco, was transferring $374 from his account to his dog walker and wrote his dog’s name ‘Dash’ in the memo line, as he has done every month for the past couple of years.

Chase Bank blocked Francis’ online payment because his pitbull mix’s moniker loosely resembles the terrorist network ‘Daesh’, another name for Islamic State.

Bank officials thought ‘Dash’ was a hair too close to ‘Daesh’, the Arabic term for the Islamic State or IS, and cancelled the payment. The dog walker notified Francis ten days later that she still had not been paid.

“I called my bank, and they were kind of squirrely about why the payment didn’t go through,” Francis told the New York Daily News.

When he logged into his account, he realised the bank had flagged the transfer made earlier this month for review by the US Treasury Department, which posted a note on his account asking him to “explain what Dash means”.

“I said, ‘Oh, so that’s what this is about,’“ said Francis.

“Last year, you didn’t hear John Kerry talking about Daesh, but now he is, and he pronounces it like ‘dash,” he said.

Francis, who suffers a rare form of muscular dystrophy and relies on his 9-year-old service animal, was quick to obey the Federal Reserve. He called the Office of Foreign Assets Control and told them that Dash is his dog’s name. The payment was then processed.

“The idea that my dog is a terrorist is pretty funny. Seriously, the only thing Dash could terrorise is a roast chicken,” said Francis.

A Chase Bank spokesperson defended almost collaring an innocent man and his dog.

“If a name on the OFAC list appears on a payment, we are required to review it,” the bank told KTVU San Francisco.

“This is an important part of ensuring that crime does not filter through the US banking system. In this instance, the payment was flagged, reviewed and eventually released,” he said.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com 

How to build a Hobbit home from scratch

Rare Kodachromes of 1950s Hot Rods to Send your Heart Racing

Motorcar racing has taken place at the Bonneville salt flats in Utah since 1914, but for three years between 1953 and 1955, one die-hard fan attended the races to capture the surreal scenes like never before– in brilliant Kodachrome colour. Don Palmer only published a few of the photos and most of his snaps have sat in his personal collection until only recently surfacing on the net.

Surrounded by these incredible speed machines in such vivid colour against the bright white backdrop of the salt flats, through Don’s photos you can really feel what a fantastic day out this was for car lovers and spectators alike. Memories to keep forever.

The Easy Way to Help Prevent Kidney Stones

Most of us have heard about the infamous kidney stone, a small “pebble” that forms in the kidney and then passes, painfully, through the urinary tract.

Hard crystals made up of minerals and acid salts that form in the kidney, these stones are most commonly made up of calcium oxalate, according to Dr. Koushik Shaw, founder of the Austin Urology Institute. While the stones don’t typically cause any permanent damage, their promise of pain is enough to make anyone nervous.

Are you at risk for these painful pebbles? According to Shaw, it depends on your gender, your diet, and—surprisingly enough—your location. Stones typically strike more frequently in men, but the number of women suffering from kidney stones has increased over the past 10 years. 

“We are likely now seeing more females affected likely due to the dietary and climate changes,” says Shaw.

The likelihood of developing kidney stones rises as men hit 40, and continues to increase into the 70s. Women are at peak kidney stone risk in their 50s, but the risk can also surface during pregnancy, due to the body’s heightened calcium excretion.

Shaw explains that if an individual forms one stone, there is a 50 percent chance they will develop another sometime down the road. Ouch.

According to the doctor, diet is an important factor in preventing kidney stones, and research has shown a correlation with obesity and uric acid stones. But Shaw’s top tip for preventing kidney stones may surprise you. “We cannot say it enough: Water with lemon, water with lemon, and water with lemon.”

Citrate, naturally found in lemon, helps stones from forming and prevents larger stone formation. Shaw recommends a squeeze of lemon twice a day, as well as making sure your daily water intake reaches 6 to 8 glasses, especially if you live in a humid climate.

That’s right. Where you’re located can affect your risk for developing kidney stones. Austin, Texas, where Shaw’s practice is located, is situated in the “Stone Belt” of the United States. “This is an area approximating a ‘belt’ that goes across the southern part of America where there is a higher occurrence of kidney stones,” says Shaw. Theories behind the belt focus on higher temperatures, which increases sweat and dehydration.

But regardless of where you live in the country, if you’re worried about developing kidney stones, the preventative answer for Shaw is clear: squeeze a lemon into your water and chug. 

Fast-food workers reveal the items you should never order

If you want to know the real story behind your favorite fast-food items, ask the workers.

A recent Reddit thread asked fast-food employees "what should we never order from you?"

Thousands of people responded.

Some had info on what items are overpriced, while others named favorites that they think are gross.

While the thread was anonymous and Business Insider can't verify the identity of the workers, many of the points they made were interesting.

Here are some of the items that people said they refuse to order:

Subway's oven-roasted chicken

"The 'oven roasted' chicken was actually boiled in a microwave," says Reddit user Hotpotabo.

Starbucks' 'secret menu'

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"Don't order something from the 'secret menu,'" writes justine7179. "We sure as s--- don't know what a Snickerdoodle frappuccino is, as it is not a menu item. Employees would be more than happy to make you a drink if you just explain the recipe rather than the name of it. I'll make you diabetes in a goddamn cup if you just tell me what you want in there."

Chipotle's tacos

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"I used to work at Chipotle, and never ever ever order the Tacos," says KourageWolf. "You get less than half the regular portions. Instead, order a bowl with whatever you want in it, then ask for the taco shells, hard or soft, on the side."

Any hot Starbucks food

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"All Starbucks food is reheated frozen food," says likeabaker. "Ridiculous how little people realize that. Doesn't mean it doesn't taste good, it's just not fresh at all and incredibly overpriced."

Dairy Queen's salads

"Salads from DQ are a rip-off," writes obeyyourbrain "They just recently down-sized them while changing the bowl to make it look like the same amount. Over $5 for 3 oz. of old lettuce, cabbage, carrots and even older grilled chicken."

Anything but wings at Buffalo Wild Wings

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"I work at a Buffalo Wild Wings. Don't get anything other than the wings. That's the only quality thing there. Everything else is frozen s---," says HunterOfTheSky.

Auntie Anne's Pretzel Dogs

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"The only thing I can say is that sometimes the pretzel dogs (hotdogs) can be icky when you don't order one fresh. When they sit in the warmer, they shrivel up and get all chewy," saysblamethecranes.

Carl's Jr./Hardee's chicken tenders

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"We were supposed to throw them out after 20 minutes," says i_Ryan. "We were told not to do that. We would sometimes serve 1-2 hour old tenders. Now when they are fresh they are f------ great as we would hand bread them. You can always ask to make them fresh but expect to wait 5-10 minutes."

Wendy's fries

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"My brother's girlfriend used to work at Wendy's and a saying there was (about fries) 'They aren't old until they're sold,'" says Wrinklestiltskin.

Jimmy John's Gourmet Veggie Club

"If you're trying to order a healthy option, don't order the Gourmet Veggie Club," says lolutah. "It's thesecond most caloric sandwich behind something called the 'Gargantuan.' 8 slices of provolone cheese will do that."

Unsalted fries from McDonald's

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"Don't be one of those people that orders fries from McDonalds with no salt then ask us for salt packets right after we give you your food," says anti-food hack Reddit user StrawberryMarmalade. "I understand people can't have salt for medical reasons, but 90% of the time it's people in their mid-20s, who 100% of the time ask for salt afterwards. I don't care what you read up on Buzzfeed. If you want fresh fries, ASK US."

How to Rid Your Body of 5 Common Toxins

Spring is typically the time of year we start thinking about “cleaning.” We may spring clean our houses or feel inspired to take a walk outside and breathe in the fresh springtime air. On a broad scale, we may start clearing things from our lives to make way for the new.

This natural inclination towards cleansing is part of engaging in the cycles of life. We have the opportunity to rebirth ourselves within our environment every year. And, perhaps this cleansing process we instinctually go through during springtime is even more of a necessity now that our toxin load has exponentially increased.

The message is the same no matter where you look: our planet and lifestyles are thick with chemicals, pollutants and waste. The average adult contains about 700 contaminants in their body, with infants harboring a couple hundred at birth. This toxicity is not just a scary concept in itself, but relates directly to escalating rates of chronic disease. For example, toxins of all types have been connected to behavioral disorders, autoimmune disease, asthma, allergies, cancer, dementia and infertility. Research shows that high body levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can result in obesity and type 2 diabetes.

However, you don’t have to fear toxins! Awareness and knowledge are powerful tools to help you on your journey of understanding your health. How do you begin to “come clean” in the dirty world we live in?

Food

Food is an easy place to check first. Here’s where organically-grown food has an advantage compared to conventionally grown food. It may be more expensive, but you are getting less pesticides, insecticides and herbicides. Hopefully, according to the definition of what it means to be organic, you are avoiding the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The chemicals you want to avoid tend to like fat; so if you eat many fatty animal products, you might be getting a larger load. If you are eating dairy products, you’ll want to be on the lookout for hormone-free, antibiotic-free milk. Eating fish is supposed to be healthy because it contains anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats, but when the fish is chock full of methylmercury, you reduce much of its health benefit. Check the Natural Resources Defense Council to get information about fish choices lower in mercury.

Air

We may forget about the impact of air quality, because we breathe without thinking about it. However, inhaling air pollution particles can have drastic effects. You may be surprised to know there are studies showing that air pollution is correlated with heart disease, preterm births, inflammation and asthma. A recent study showed that overweight/obese people can breathe 7-50 percent more air than a person who has a healthy weight, making them even more vulnerable to the effects of air pollutants. Deep breathing exercises to remove “dead” air in the lungs is a good first start to removing the pollutants in our lungs.

Water

We are constantly taking in water – drinking it from the tap or from plastic bottles, cooking and bathing in it. Current estimates suggest that there are more than 2,000 toxins in tap water. There are several kinds of water filter units available that remove certain kinds of chemicals. It would be a good idea to have your water tested where you live to see what you might need to remove before you buy a filter.

Personal Care Products

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is often overlooked when it comes to what toxins we are exposed to. Research suggests that women use about 12 different personal care products on a daily basis and “consume” about 126 chemicals from these products. For men, the number is somewhat lower at 8 products daily with 85 unique ingredients. It is essential to read your product labels like you would your food labels, making sure that you are not taking in endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates and parabens.

Relationships

You might not have been expecting this one, but toxins enter every area of our lives. People can be toxic. Holding emotions back may be toxic. And even jobs can present their own toxicity. We are surrounded in a mesh of social networks that may or may not be serving us. The power of these networks ripples through our ability to be happy, which can lead to other health and eating issues. It is important to choose your connections wisely to maintain good body-mind health! The tide of toxicity can feel like a tsunami, but the more we can become aware of physical and social toxins, the more we will be able to ride the wave of health rather than drowning out in the undertow of disease. 

Best & Worst Foods for Gallbladder Disease

Over half a million gallbladders are removed annually in the U.S. Gallbladder disease is a serious condition. If you suspect that you are having a gallbladder attack and are in severe gallbladder pain, especially if you also have a fever, consult your doctor immediately or go straight to the emergency room. This post may serve to help you know the symptoms in advance and take precautions so a gallbladder attack might be avoided.

Remember no one, neither an MD nor a holistic practitioner, ever cures us of anything. Natural therapies simply provide the building blocks to help the body heal itself. Western medicine is great for emergencies, however, it falls short when it comes to chronic disease as it does not offer a forensic look at what led to the disease state in the first place, such as improper diet and nutritional deficiencies, unhealthy choices, such as smoking and abuse of pharmaceutical drugs and a stressful lifestyle.

What we find in western medicine is a one size fits all model and its goal is to make symptoms go away. This is kind of like pulling the fuse when the engine warning light goes off. We don’t really want to just make symptoms go away, we want to get to the root or underlying cause of our “dis-ease” state.

With gallbladder disease, both western medicine and holistic alternatives can come together and provide the tools for actual healing. If a gallbladder removal surgery can be avoided by making some changes, for example in your diet, wouldn’t that be the best possible outcome? Or what if symptoms persist after gallbladder removal, which often happens? This is a clear sign that the underlying cause of problem has not been resolved.

The diagnostic tool of choice for gallbladder disease is usually an ultrasound scan. Ask your doctor for a copy of the scan results so you can either get a second opinion. Explain to your doctor that you wish to use nutrition and nutritional supplementation as adjunct therapy and would like your progress monitored carefully. He or she might welcome learning about this! One of my own MD’s was so impressed with Oriental Medicine and acupuncture that he took two years off from his own practice to become trained in it and now incorporates it into his practice. His entire paradigm shifted as a result of this exploration.

With your medical diagnosis in hand and blessing from your doctor, the first and perhaps most important rule to follow from now on is to eat a variety of fresh organic, raw and lightly steamed green vegetables, good fats (like avocados) and exclude sugars, and all processed and refined foods. It was most likely food choices that caused the gallbladder dis-ease in the first place. Here are the food culprits to avoid!

Foods to avoid for general gallbladder disease:

Eggs (Research showed that eggs have caused symptoms in up to 95 percent of patients. We don’t know if the eggs used in this research were factory-farmed or the better choice of free range and organic, but this is always the problem with clinical trials and tests. For now, try substituting flaxseed gel in recipes that require eggs for the “glue” that holds things together. For example 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed to 3 Tbsp hot water will congeal into a nice gel. Let cool and add to your recipe.)
Pork
Fowl (turkey, chicken and again we assume the culprits are factory farmed, but again let’s err on the side of caution and avoid these foods for now)
Dairy (pasteurized) milk, cheese and cream. (I personally have found raw dairy to not be a problem, but again we are all different and have different philosophies, so proceed with caution)
Gluten and grains in general such as wheat, barley, rye, spelt, kamut, etc.
Corn
Coffee, regular or decaf
Oranges, grapefruit
Nuts
Trans fats, Hydrogenated, partially-hydrogenated oils, vegetable oils
Margarine
Fried Foods
Saturated fats (it’s best to even avoid my favorite fat for just about everything, coconut oil until feeling better)
Red meats
Spicy foods
Chocolate
Ice cream
Black tea
Alcohol, beer, wine, liqueur
Fruit juice
Carbonated water
Tap water
Turnips
Cabbage, cauliflower
Colas and all sodas
Oats (for some people)
Avoid all artificial sweeteners, sugar, preservatives, refined and bleached foods (like white flour)
Avoid smoking as it can exacerbate the symptoms
Avoid all possible food allergens

Are there foods good for our gallbladder? GallbladderAttack.com tell us that these dietary suggestions are not the food bible because we are all so different. You can try the foods on the next list, one a time, to determine what you can tolerate. Then take a look at the list above and experiment cautiously with what you may be able to introduce again without having a relapse.

What foods are thought to be good for gallbladder disease?

Organic and locally grown foods from the list below are wonderful raw or lightly steamed, especially the green vegetables. Don’t forget, we must include good fats (like avocados) too.

Beets
Cucumbers
Green beans – not the same as dried beans
Okra
Sweet potatoes
Avocados
Vinegars – all types
Garlic and onions help with liver cleansing but not processed types like flakes or powder. But some people have trouble digesting them so pay attention to what your own body tells you!
Shallots
Tomatoes
Cold water fish – salmon, trout
Lemons (lemon juice in the morning with hot water helps to clean the liver)
Grapes and fresh organic grape juice
Apples, berries, papaya, pears
Oils like flax or hemp should be used for salad dressing with fresh lemon juice or vinegar.
Vegetable juices – beet and cucumber are especially helpful to gallbladder. You can add other green vegetables like swiss chard, dandelion greens, beet greens, celery, carrots, (avoid the cabbage family)
Use baby mixed organic greens for salads just avoid the bitter greens for now.
Soluble and insoluble fiber found in fruits, vegetables and guar gum are also beneficial.

When gallbladder disease is suspected or has been confirmed, again it is critical to avoid fried foods, fatty foods and particular types of fats like trans fats, hydrogenated fats, partially-hydrogenated fats (read your labels) and saturated fats.

We all have so much to offer each other and I think instead of survival of the fittest or that old notion of only the strong survive, I believe that we truly survive through a cooperative society of people helping other people and that is what drives me to write this blog and share what I have found, thus far and yes even using the brand names of what works for my clients and me and how to get them as I am always on the hunt for new products to explore.