Two Notes
First, I have reluctantly given up smoking. No, I never smoked cigarettes; I have always hated those things and their business. Rather, I gave up that fine pleasure of smoking cigars, pipes, and hookahs, which began at the end of my Army job training in 2003. After knowing and being told so many times, I finally conceded that it is in my best interests to leave tobacco behind. If it weren't for my serious ambitions as a singer, I would disagree and continue to smoke, occassionaly, as I only ever have. My mother has informed me that alcohol can be bad for one's voice as well, but I have never heard of this before, so I'll investigate it further before giving up my occasional evening drink. For one, I'd like to help set the example of moderation in drinking. So many Christians either call alcohol a demon and cast it out wherever they find it, or else call it a sacrament which can know no excess. It's not a very good witness for a faith which calls us to love the Lord our God with all our minds. I must insert that those who refrain from drinking because of the pain of loved ones suffering from alcoholism deserves the utmost respect... but, also, it does not bestow them with the right to take the rights of others to drink.
Second, I have a comment about Low-carb diets, which, I realize, comes rather late. Their hey-day seems to have passed, but they still live strong. I think the philosophy of the diet is all wrong. The situation is that the man needs to alter his diet because something or another is wrong, namely, him (I realize that in many cases it is an issue of genetic inheritance, but, honestly, that excuse is rather overdrawn.) He reacts by taking bread out of his diet to make for a strange diet that allows him his desired weight, or appearance, or "health." The problem is that he is taking his problems out on his bread, which is good, and serving his diet, which is bad. How can that be good or healthy? If your state is so poor that bread is bad for you, the solution is all but to press on. I could go on, but I should probably end there.
Have an excellent day- God bless the reader!
yours,
jake