This means that, for very practical reasons, they will tend to accept readily sermons that echo from academic pulpits. Consumers of media information have nearly same problem -- a large flow of information thrust at them, and little time to sort through facts with their attending hype and spin. Election years only magnify this problem, and political candidates can grind axes with best of them. When a scandal breaks out, media blitz can sometimes blind even more critical viewers with their ensuing data-storm. So we have done some of extra homework for all these groups to help them make best of this unhappy situation. Here, we offer a clear-headed set of rules to disperse fog quickly, bringing daylight to topic at hand.

As a first step in learning to adopt a cautiously critical posture, we would like to introduce to our readers rule, "take careful notes and develop a long memory by referring back to them now and again." Spinmeisters count on fact -- a most unhappy truth -- that most people do not remember what sales script said that they fed to masses last week. This way, when they change story next month, you can call them on it. If it's a political speech in question, "Tivo" it, so you can play it back when later when spin proponents deny that their guy ever said it in first place.

Second, isolate parts of speech, lecture, or what-have-you, that seem to form main points of argument. Often this or that advocate of -- let us arbitrarily pick one, say, "scientology," will not state all main points of his argument explicitly, but will only imply them. Make implied parts explicit yourself by asking, "what assumption(s), does this depend upon that he has not stated openly?" Then write them down. For instance, if one were to argue, "We had to attack his country because guy is a tyrant," then note that this assumes -- unless otherwise qualified -- that we must attack all countries where tyrants rule. Given today's political climate, this would not promote a very promising course of action. So stated, we would have to attack almost everyone, starting with I.R.S.

So remember to make a list of important claims in question -- whether speaker or writer has stated, implied, or simply assumed them.

Third, "Always examine a claim by itself first."

This provides a fast and easy way to prevent reckless professors, for instance, from hoodwinking students into bogus philosophies (as is their custom). For instance, consider popular claim, "There are no moral absolutes." This would mean that claims about morality necessarily have exceptions. Evaluating this claim by its own words, however, quickly reveals that it provides to us an example of a moral absolute. It allows no exception, while speaking to topic of morality.

Ironically, then, claim instances an example of just what it denies. The claim cannot be true on ITS OWN terms. Such claims would play roles of felon AND whistleblower all at once. The philosophy department has named these propositions, "Self-referential absurdities." They represent a form of logical or propositional suicide, since they affirm by example, and yet forbid by principle, very same thing. This is like man who marches back and forth all day; and when you finally see his picket sign, you find it reads, "Down With Protesting." Look for these and you will find more than you imagine might suffuse popular chatter.

Fourth, compare and contrast these claims, assumed statements, and implied assertions with one another, asking, "Are these logically consistent with each other, or do they get along like Larry, Moe and Curly when ladder-swinging begins, and paintbrushes start to fly?" Sometimes speakers will utter logically incompatible sayings within a very short span. So you will need to learn to identify them to note when this happens. Here, you will have located spin, exaggeration, unwarranted claims, or even outright lies. You might even get two-for-one.

Although I am neither a doctor nor a health care professional, I have studied a great deal about effects of various kinds of personal habits, vitmains, etc., and their known consequences to your health. So here I will offer what I regard as well-proven tips for really improving your own health in very practical and effective ways.

1. Eat yogurt and a banana every day. Yogurt has live cultures in it, meaning "good bacteria" that your body absolutely needs, and which any caffeine beverage or alcohol will tend to reduce or eliminate. Electricity and anti-biotics kill these off too. This good bacteria functions like millions of tiny janitors, eating up and cleaning away any sort of debris which might float about in your bloodstream or body. You must replace these daily to stay healthy in long run, and yogurt is one of easiest sources both for this, and for calcium. You can also buy acidophilus milk at grocery store, or pro-biotics from your local health food store.

Bananas contain potassium, a mineral necessary for many bodily functions, including muscle development and maintaining proper hydration, and which can – and often does – suffer depletion from environmental and dietary factors. So, as they say, go bananas.

2. Eat fresh – not cooked or canned - vegetables and fruit every day without fail. Once you heat a vegetable to over 120F degrees, enzymes they contain begin to break down. These enzymes aid digestion process, which forms central part of good health. There are other ways to get enzymes in your diet, but eating fresh fruits and veggies remains best way.

A great way to enjoy your daily dose of enzymes comes by "juicing." This has become something of a health craze of late, and a great one at that. You can buy a good juicer for about $200 or so, or for less if you don't mind bargain hunting. Try e-bay. To "jucie," you simply turn juicer on and stuff your fruits and veggies down chute. The juicer then aggressively works them over, yielding only juice inside them out bottom chute to fill your cup.

Fresh fruit and veggie juice is delicious, and it will really help improve your health in many little ways. Try combining different juice "partners," including oranges and carrots. They go well together. And, yes, ladies, vitamins and minerals in fresh fruit and veggie juice can help give your skin a healthier, more youthful tone. And anti-oxidants they offer overflow with other health benefits too.

3. Exercise For Fun. Find a game or sport you enjoy, and do it for 10 minutes a day. My children love it when I chase them around park – so I do. They laugh and we all exercise, but no one outruns "the claw." Studies show, time and again that most people don’t exercise because they think they don’t have enough time. But this is nonsense. Most people waste more than 10 minutes a day just chatting.