Newsmax is the #1 conservative news agency on line.

I get its E mails because now and then I’ll answer a poll on politics and then I’m on their hit list. Periodically I ask them to delete my name and then I answer another poll.

They have sections on health and weight loss too and their medical and other health shills post videos and write books. I sometimes find these videos hard to ignore since they pull you in by suggesting you can get really good information about things of interest. But, inevitably, their oily and almost terrifically good looking spokesmen (remember the line about Lyndon Johnson's daughters as "marginally beautiful"?) goes on forever. You can convince me (or not) in the first 2 minutes of a spiel or in the first two paragraphs. If you go on longer then that, I not only lose interest, but get this eerie feeling that you are hard selling because what you are saying is bull s…

The headlines in the E mails can be: tips on losing weight, or vital news about thyroid health, or the 10 things you need to do to (whatever).

And all of this information is held back and a tedious half hour later when the spiel winds down, they would like you to ask for the free book but you must subscribe to their magazine to get it. I have ordered magical books like this and more often than not, I have been disappointed. Also, I have discovered how hard it is to undo a subscription, so when I know what their hook is, I click out.

Their latest breakthrough video is about the brain’s “God spot”.

When you watch this video, you’ll discover:
• How prayer actually changes four distinct areas of your brain…
• How a specific amount of “prayer time” per day can help you prevent memory loss, mental decline, even dementia or Alzheimer’s...

• The #1 prayer pitfall that can actually make you sick if you’re not careful (this is one of the most important bits of wisdom you’ll ever gain)… (OH NO, WHAT WHAT??)
•
• 47 scientifically proven benefits of prayer, including pain relief, reduced risk of death from heart attack or stroke, and decreased anxiety or depression…
• Plus much, much more…

Well, you can claim that it’s prayer and that God is involved, but I know from personal experience that it is self-hypnosis and works very well without any connection to a diety. I just don’t think it’s metaphysical. Inner thoughts that are positive and repetitive, whether addressed to your inner self or to your God, are hypnotic suggestion and that's a scientific fact. It is also a level of meditation and this practice has been known to contribute to self-healing.

I can also guess at their caveat about the pitfall that can make you sick – probably if your expectations involve divine intervention and you don’t get it. Yeah, that would do it.

All of our self-improvement comes from within. That’s it. And I am not charging for this wisdom.

xx, Teal