We have had an unusually rainy summer, and that has created some interesting challenges in at new house. The area right around the house is all dirt - rather in this rainy weather it is all mud. Behind the house is a rocky area, then some oak trees with heavy underbrush. Behind the trees is a grassy field going down into a seasonal creek.

For the most part, we want to maintain a wild hill country look. We don't want a manicured lawn. Right now we are taking out the thorny vines and the shoulder high Johnson grass. We are leaving the native grasses, wildflowers, and bushes.

The rain has led to high grass, and that has led to chiggers. After being viciously attacked we looked for a more natural solution than insect repellant. Here is my anti-chigger program.

I wear calf high boots when I work in the yard or walk in the underbrush. I dust the boots with sulfur powder. A Viet Nam Veteran at the hardware store told me about this trick, and it really works. When I'm finished with yard work for the day, I change into my swim suit, and swim laps at the pool. I figure any chiggers that brave the sulfur powder will drown in the chlorine water.

I haven't had a chigger bite since I started using this technique. As I work in the yard and swim I am getting lots of strenuous Type O exercise. I feel good in the day and I sleep good at night.

Congratulations to my dear friend and colleague Dr. Paul Mittman, who received some well-deserved recognition as the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) ‘Physician of the Year� for 2007. Paul is just a great guy and a true asset to the profession. Without his early support The Institute for Human Individuality (IfHI) would have been impossible. Sadly, Paul also recently suffered the loss of his father.

Sometimes it's just nice to know how many people love and admire you, especially at times like these and (if you are reading this) Paul, know that Martha and I love and admire you very, very much.

Paul Mittman getting his Physician of the Year plaque at the 2007 AANP convention. I got one in 1990. Mine had a dent in it.

Speaking of IfHI, I just finished the new practitioner lookup page. If you are looking for someone who uses these types of principles in their practice this database can be a great resource. It is now searchable by name, state/province or country.

Link to Practitioner Lookup

I was watching the news on TV and these two commentators were tossing the word ‘terrorist' around. If you were to believe these guys, everyone in the Muslim world was a terrorist. However, as any decent historian will tell you, today's terrorist is often tomorrow's freedom fighter. During the American Revolution patriots often tarred and feathered neighbors who were loyal to England or who just wanted to be left alone and not have to choose sides. Many of these people were hounded out of their homes (which were often grabbed by deserving 'Sons of Liberty') and exiled.

Now these same terrorists get microbrewery beers named after them.

Calling someone a ‘terrorist' is a lot like calling something ‘unscientific.' It almost never adds anything to the discussion and likely tells you more about the accuser than it does about the accused.