SimplyMaggies

I can honestly say that I am a fan of Grisham’s, especially when he sticks to what he knows best, which is a suspense novel. I’ve read most of his books and enjoyed most of them (with the exception of “A Painted House” ad such). And “The Broker” follows in the steps of some his best work.

The nearly-former president grants a controversial pardon to a notorious Washington power broker, Joel Backman, who spent the last six year in a federal prison. However, nobody knows that the president did so under the pressure form the CIA director who wants Backman for himself. It seems that at the top of his game, the broker stumbled upon some secrets that, if revealed, may compromise the world’s most sophisticated satellite system. The system that nobody knows who it belongs to and the CIA is desperately trying to find it out.

So they smuggle Backman out of the county, give him a new identity and wait for the opportune moment to leak the information about Backman’s whereabouts to the countries supposedly involved in the scheme. Then they sit and wait for their move. The question, however, is not whether the broker will survive but who will be the one killing him.

It is a fast-paced novel that will keep you turning pages to the wee hours of the night trying to find out whether this small pawn in the big game will be able to outsmart them all… And it was particularly enjoyable for me since it partly takes place in Italy (the country I fell in love with a few year ago). So if you like suspense novels with thrilling action and dangers lurking at every corner, you will not be disappointed with Grisham’s “The Broker”.

I read a very interesting, although quite disturbing, article yesterday, which opened my eyes even wider to the issue of American freedom. I have already noticed many discrepancies between what the world believes about the US and its so-called freedoms and the reality, however I never imagined that the American government is, in fact, so close to the police state…

Are you aware that the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution (of the United States, of course) allows invasive searches at border checkpoints? Nothing new, you think. Well, it isn’t but one of the federal statutes defines the border zone as an area of 100 miles inland of the actual border (known as ‘Constitution-Free Zone’).

At first glance 100 miles may not seem like much but consider this: nine of the top ten metropolitan areas are in the zone, 12 states are completely inside the Zone (these are Delaware, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont), 99% of the population of California lives within those 100 miles and, more importantly, 2/3s of all the US citizens live in the Constitution-Free Zone, which means they can be deprived of their Constitutional rights at any moment.

 So what does it all mean? First of all, it means that border patrols can set up random checkpoints within the Zone and ask drivers for their documents (including passports) as well as perform car searches without consent. And this is the law so there is nothing you can do as a citizen if it happens to you. It seems to me like a great abuse of one’s rights, if I’ve ever seen one.

Is this the land of freedom the rest of the world is aspiring to? Somehow, in the course of the history, the Americans have lost their grip on what constitutes freedom and I must say, citizens of other countries all over the world have more rights and freedoms than Americans. Go figure…

Going back to nature seems to be a new trend these days. One that is quickly becoming more of a live style and going beyond the house we live in and a car we drive and finding its way into other areas of our lives. Natural ingredients can work wonders for your health and beauty not only inside but outside as well.

Here are 7 natural remedies for beautiful hair:

• Apple Cider Vinegar—removes product buildup, reduces dandruff and restores luster to dull hair. It also stimulates hair follicles to enhance hair growth.
  Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and pour the mixture over your hair after shampooing. Massage into scalp and hair for about 5 minutes and rinse with warm water.
• Olive Oil—not only does it moisturize and hydrate damaged and over-processed hair, it also adds shine and eliminates dandruff and dry ends.
  Rub ¼ cup of warm extra-virgin olive oil into your scalp, cover with a shower cap     and leave overnight. Wash hair as usual in the morning.
• Baking Soda—removes product residue from your tresses leaving hair clean, more manageable and shiny.
  Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to your favorite shampoo and wash your hair concentrating on scalp. Follow with a good conditioner and rinse with cold water to seal hair cuticles.
• Honey—this amber liquid is packed with vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, copper, magnesium and potassium and when used on hair and scalp, it reduces dandruff and adds shine and moisture.
  For a moisturizing hair mask: mix ½ cup of honey with 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Put the mixture on your hair, cover with a towel and leave on for 30 minutes. Shampoo as usual.
• Avocado—packed with vitamins (including vitamin E—a known antioxidant) and minerals (e.g. potassium, which promotes hair growth). The fruit hydrates hair and helps it regain its body, shine and elasticity.
  For soft, shiny hair mix one mashed avocado with 2 tablespoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of olive oil. Leave on hair for 30 minutes then shampoo and condition as usual. Or leave overnight under a shower cap once a week.
• Soy—full of protein (hair’s main building element) as well as minerals (magnesium, calcium) and B vitamins, which strengthen hair and increase healthy growth.
  After washing your hair, pour a cup of soy milk over your locks and massage it into hair and scalp for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
• Milk—not only does it strengthen bones, it does the same for your tresses. It also stimulates hair growth with calcium, controls sebum production with vitamin A and moisturizes, softens and shines with lipids.
  Mix ¼ cup of dry milk powder and ½ cup of water into a paste, massage into hair and cover with a hot towel. Leave on for 30 min, rinse and shampoo as usual.