Grant Wood

This photo was taken June 13, 2012 at Eldon, Iowa, in front of the house where the original

painting of American Gothic was done by Grant Wood. Posing for this photo were Ruth Carlson of Stone City, Iowa, and Dr. James Carlson of Rocklin, California. They are sister and brother. The persons used in the original were Grant Wood's dentist and his sister.

While on a recent visit to Iowa I learned several things about Grant Wood and his painting. Wood attended the same elementary school --Polk --as my sister and I in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was associated with Coe College and the University of Iowa where he taught. He traveled with Marvin Cone to Paris in the 1920's to

study painting. Cone was still teaching at Coe when I attended that college in the early 60's. 

Grant Wood was very productive in the 1930's.

ACV--Mircle Cure??

I am a skeptic and when I hear health claims I listen and if the claims go over the top -- I tune out.
So when you read this --please don't do the same and tune out. This article has to do with twoconcepts --pH and potassium --both of which you are familiar. In the case of pH --that is our
body's acid-alkaline balance the plain fact is that most of us are too acidic due to diets that can be improved by simply eating more fruits and vegetables. I know you've heard it before, but what you are about to read will make that easier to consume the good stuff that fruits and veggies contain.in the form of ACV. In the case of potassium we can get more into our bodies with ACV. What is ACV? Apple Cider Vinegar. Yup, plain old-fashioned
vinegar taken daily. Read on to find out what kind of ACV and how much.
Einstein solved alot of mysteries but never found his Unified Theory (no one else has either). I feel the ACV solution is the equivalent of a unified theory in the health field. It answers so many questions. Why do we have aches and pains? Why do we age faster than we would like? Why do we develop
life-threatening conditions? The answer goes back to Hippocrates who prescribed vinegar to many conditions of poor health. More recently, yet one hundred years ago, Dr. Paul C. Bragg advocated apple cider vinegar for an array of health problems.
4 years ago I took a trip with my brother-in-law, Dr. Ted Novak, to Long Beach, Calif., where we heard Jack LaLanne speak about his mentor, Dr. Paul C. Bragg. Jack described himself as a miserable physical specimen as a teenager when he went to hear Dr. Bragg speak. It turned his life around and of course he went on to teach his generation and those to follow the concepts of good health. Later in the day we met with Jackand his wife Elaine who described how the two had met. She was a pretty (still is) hostess of a TV show Jack appeared on. After his appearance she talked with Jack while munching a bear claw and having a cigarette. Jack gave her his message. She said "Thank God, I listened, as I don't think I would be here
today if I had not." An integral part of Jack and Elaine's health program has been exercise as we know and nutrition including foods, enzymes and potassium -all of which are included in vinegar.
Now, what kind of vinegar? Dr. Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (available at Raley's/ Belair in Northern Calif.). Why? For one its unpasteurized, that it hasn't been heated to the point that all the enzymes have been killed. In addition it is unfiltered. As a result you will see a cloudy substance in the bottle. This is desirable for health reasons, but perhaps not for consumer-appeal.
How much? 2 teaspoons per day in 16 ounces water. Honey may be added if you wish 'to help the medicine go down' as well as for the benefits of honey which is another story.
The effects you can expect are numerous --increased energy, improved digestion, reduction of inflammation in  the body's tissues which means less pain.
Books suggested are Folk Medicine by D.C. Jarvis, M.D. and Apple Cider Vinegar by Paul C. Bragg.
yours in health, James Carlson, D.C. 

Stephen Bloom where are you?

In 2000 I read your book Postville.
I loved it.
You were cruel (in your writing) to the Jews
who moved into Posteville.
In 2012 I heard that a writer was cruel to
Iowans.
I guessed it was the same author.
It was. Good for you!
I am an Iowa U grad and would love to
party with you.
You are truly in the tradition of Grant Wood--
who satirized the society in which he lived--
and yet loved it for all its lackings.