Do your homework.

Access to information is extremely easy these days. We have 24/7 news channels and internet. Want to know something? Sure, just "Google" it. Reading and researching lead me to start an organic clothing business for babies and children. It has also helped my husband and I understand the importance of natural foods in our diet. We've changed our eating habits for the better and discovered how much better we feel and how good real food from scratch can be.

Other things I have discovered:

• Obesity in children and adults increases very year.
• Diabetes is now rampant in our society.
• Autism has increased in the last 25 years from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100.
• ADHD increases 2 - 3% every year.

I don't claim to be an expert (although my family has accused me of being "a know it all") but let's just look around us. What's different today than when we were kids.

• Fast food eateries at every street corner.
• Preservatives and additives in almost everything we pick up at the grocery store.
• Everyone spraying and fertilizing with chemicals to get the perfect lawn or bigger yields.
• Healthy lifestock being injected with antibodies.

I'm a child of the 50's and 60's. I didn't know anybody with autism, ADHD or diabetes. I know many researchers say that because it wasn't diagnosed then. In my heart, I don't buy that.

What I'm asking you is to do your own homework.

Word of caution, however. When you read a research or study, check out the organization that funded or conducted said research. There might be a bias.

Happy Googling.

The Awesome Cheetah.



Photograph by Chris Johns

 I could look at this picture for hours. Such a magnificent creature. I love all animals, but there is something magical about the big cats. They are so regal. I think it's the eyes.

Cheetah.

Even the name is cool. That's why Disney has the "Cheetah Girls" instead of the "Naked Mole Rat Girls". Cheetah is even listed in the Urban Dictionary: "A cougar in training. A sexy woman too old to be a kitten and too young to be a cougar. They are known to move extremely fast."

Now, for the sad facts. Cheetahs are at the top of the list of all endangered big cats. Their habitats are dwindling and so are their numbers.

That's what Animal Tails are all about. Organic clothing for our children with a message. Hopefully, when your child wears one of the Animal Tails tees, they will be encouraged to learn about our endangered species and help made their world better. To learn more about the cheetah, go to http://www.cheetah.org/. It's a great website.

We're featuring the boys Cheetah shirt at http://www.rubij.com/ as our "Special of the Day". Like the cheetah, it's cool.

Grandson Cole is cool, too.