Browsing CategoryBrendan’s Articles

13 Year Old’s Growing Confidence & Declining Anxiety & Insecurity

A new student during there second qigong class tells class they feel so hot in there lower back that it was challenging for them to focus on other energy centers during exercises tonight.  Said the feelings in his Kidneys were like hot coals (two hot coals, one in the location of the left kidney and the other in the location of the right kidney) and reminded him of his Grandpa taking Red-Hot Coals out of the fire/ (Barbecue) and setting them on the ground!

I read in a qigong book that the Kidneys can become very hot from the qigong practice which can result in internal purification and health improvements.  When the Kidneys are working at a high temperature (related to the qigong practice) they can:

  1. Purify the blood
  2. Transform and refine many negative unhealthy energies like Fears and Paranoi’s to Virtues like Courage, Confidence, Freedom, Wisdom and Internal Will
  3. Also, when the Kidneys are functioning at a super high level (the thousand/s of diseases that man suffers from will be cured) man will not experience all these diseases that man suffers from… (taking all the drugs, and creams to treat all the symptoms and not the origin/cause of the problem).

In Chinese Medicine they say if the Kidneys are weak then people can have health issues including:

medicinenet.com
  1. Infertility, slow development and early senility
  2. Sore and weak lower back
  3. Weak body and bones
  4. Ringing in the ears
  5. Impotence
  6. Asthma
  7. and many more problems too

Continued Qigong training from the above mentioned student will help them live up to their life potential’s and give them health and wisdom far beyond the average human! -Brendan 11/16/11

13yr old Qigong Student’s Personal Growth

By Brendan Thorson, 12/12/2011

I guess it has been about a month now since the young man started his Genesis qigong training with me at the Noble School of Taichi and Qigong Training.  I recall during his first class that when he and I were doing a paired exercise, (where I was energizing his Kidneys/life gate and sending the qi down to his feet to help him get more grounded) that he mentioned that he was feeling as though his feet were magnetized to the earth and it felt as though it would be challenging for him to move his feet if he wanted too.

Later, in that first class we began to do some exercises to activate energy feelings between his hands and he said that he was clearly feeling sensations on his hands and mostly in the form of hot heat.  Then, later in the class (during different exercises) the feelings in his hands began to change from hot to magnetic feelings.  His parents were in that class with him and I recall his father mention, something to the point- that his son had previously worked with many different highly reputable and successful energy healers over the years and they told him his son is not energy sensitive and therefore was unable to feel the energy.  The families experince in their first Genesis Qigong class contrary to what they heard before-hand was evidence to them that there son was and is very energy sensitive.

Based on my experience as a Qigong instructor and Healer I have found that some people are clearly more sensitive to energy than others, but eveyone I have worked with who could not feel it initially were able to feel the energy very clearly when the energy levels reach the right stage, and upgrading the Kidney energy levels (activation of low kidney energy levels to a higher point where electrical energy can be felt through the body) in most cases based on my experience is the key to help students actually feel the “Chi/ Qi/ Ki/ Prana”.

To go back a step, so when I was working with the Young man to activate his Kidney/ life gate center and then sending the energy down to his feet… he was able to feel magnetized to the earth with his feet because we charged his kidneys and then as his kidneys were getting more charged we sent energy down to his feet to activate his feet and get him grounded, and then after his feet reached the level/ stage where the energy was able to open up his “Root Centers” Kidney #1 points on his feet then he was able to feel the magnetic and clear connection between his feet and the earth.

I think it was in his Third class (a few weeks after his first class) I noticed the young man looked much more solid and mature than he did when I first met him only a few weeks earlier.  Over the years I have seen 100’s of students transform their health, strength, confidence…. and quality of life all the time, but regarless of how often I see it happen it never stops amazing me, warming my heart and delighting me to see students dramatically  improve their internal confidence, happiness and life.

Qigong Student Experiences Bone Marrow Washing/ Fire at Sacrum to Life Gate-Circulation in Limbs

By Brendan Thorson 12/20/2011,

Last night we had a holiday class with a focus on deepening the development in the Sacrum/Marrow Gate.

In Genesis Qigong The Sacrum/ Marrow Gate is referred to as the Power Center.  (improve blood quality, Immunity…)

spineuniverse.com

In last night’s class one student shared she was feeling intense heat building up in her Sacrum and as the class continued she began to feel the heat rise up to her life gate (the energy center on the spine between L2 & L3).  Toward the end of class, after completing our final exercise and meditation she shared feeling the energy shoot from her sacrum (rise up her spine) and circulate out her arms to her hands and also felt the energy circulate (shoot) from the sacrum down her legs to her feet.

The energy circulation that this student experienced last night is directly related to Bone Marrow Washing Qigong.   What this student experienced is what many qigong students practice years and years to accomplish, and  few will actually ever experience this level of healing and internal upgrades to their energy system (but with Genesis Qigong this level of development is available to just about anyone who has invested adequate time into the classes and their personal practice, the lady who had this experience has been practicing periodically for the past two years and over the past couple of months she became very devoted and attended the following classes/ seminars):

  1. 1- level one weekly series
  2. 1-level one weekend seminar
  3. 1-level two weekly series
  4. 1-Jing and Rou weekend seminar
  5. 1-level two weekend seminar

We all know the saying, “you will get out of it what you put into it” and her time investment is paying off for her…  In fact, the lady that had the experience last night is in her mid 50’s, has made her mid life change and has experienced severe exhaustion and depletion over the past 5-10 years.  She told me that over the last couple of weeks her friends have been commenting how strong and vital she appears these days!

Based on both my intellectual understanding and personal experience Bone Marrow Washing Qigong refers to an upgrade of the bone marrow inside the long bones of the legs and arms and the spine (Upgrade– meaning replacing the undesirable fatty Yellow tissue built up in place of the Red  Bone Marrow with older people and initiating the internal change to replenish and restore the depleted Red bone Marrow)

What are the functions of:

  1. Red marrow- makes blood cells
  2. Yellow marrow- makes fat, http://mgraviss.org
  3. Do You want to be healthy and full of vitality or depleted and fatty?
What are the functions of: (Red marrow- makes blood cells) (Yellow marrow- makes fat) (http://mgraviss.org)

Bone marrow (Latinmedulla ossium) is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg (143 lbs), bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg (5.7 lbs). The hematopoietic compartment of bone marrow produces approximately 500 billion blood cells per day, which use the bone marrow vasculature as a conduit to the body’s systemic circulation.[1] Bone marrow is also a key component of the lymphatic system, producing the lymphocytes that support the body’s immune system.[2]

There are two types of bone marrow: medulla ossium rubra (red marrow), which consists mainly of hematopoietic tissue, and medulla ossium flava (yellow marrow), which is mainly made up of fat cells.

Red blood cellsplatelets and most white blood cells arise in red marrow. Both types of bone marrow contain numerous blood vessels and capillaries.

At birth, all bone marrow is red. With age, more and more of it is converted to the yellow type; only around half of adult bone marrow is red.

Red marrow is found mainly in the flat bones, such as the hip bonebreast bonecraniumribsvertebrae and shoulder blades, and in the cancellous (“spongy”) material at theepiphyseal ends of long bones such as the femur and humerus. Yellow marrow is found in the medullary cavity, the hollow interior of the middle portion of long bones. In cases of severe blood loss, the body can convert yellow marrow back to red marrow to increase blood cell production.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_marrow

istockphoto.com

When Genesis Qigong practitioners Marrow Gate and Sacrum areas reach the right stage of development then the refined energy can begin to circulate from the Sacrum up the spine into the arms and from the sacrum down both legs to the feet.  Once practitioners begin to feel this level of circulation they should know that there body/ bone marrow and internal energies are in the process of important internal health upgrades that will allow them the boost up their deep vitality and work on deep internal healing.

In the View of Genesis Qigong the Marrow gate has the following benefits:

  • Enhances the Reproductive System
  • Helps to nourish the Bone Marrow
  • Increase the Vitality of our Immunity
  • Rejuvenates the Blood
  • Enhances overall Strength and Health
  • Slows down the ageing process
  • Assists in grounding process
  • Most importantly, The Marrow Gate Connects to the Root of the Will.  Activating and energizing the Marrow Gate enhances the individuals Self-Awareness and supports Personal-Will.

“Bone Marrow Washing”, Student update #1 (original article 12/20/2011)

By Brendan Thorson 1/17/2012,

About a month ago I wrote about a female student, in her mid 50’s, who had experienced very strong and intense heat in her Sacrum and lumbar spine and then the energy shot/ circulated up her spine and into arms ending at her hands and down her spine into both legs and down to the feet.  That experience was related to Bone Marrow Washing, See previous article for further details.

The same lady attended the level-1 weekend seminar this past weekend and she had a very similar experience again.  After the class completed the Parasympathetic Nervous System Empowering Exercise, she shared that during the exercise her sacrum got so hot again it almost felt like it was burning and she felt so hot that she wanted to strip down to her t-shirt.  (Keep in mind that this lady is normally cold much of the time and we were doing a standing exercise without any physical movement to create any muscle heat.)

We spoke today and she let me know that she had a massage from a Massage Therapist, she has seen regulary over the past 15 years, and the massage therapist told her that if she did not see her face on her body she would not have believed that this was her body she was working on.  The Therapist could feel the energy moving through her body unlike anything she had ever felt from her before hand, and her muscles and soft tissue were also unlike anything she had ever felt from her before too.

Last month a few hours before she had her first Bone Marrow Washing Experience she also saw the same massage therapist and the therapist told her that day that she looked more vibrant than she had in years and she also felt more energy in her sacrum than she had ever felt there over the previous 15 years she has been working on her.

This wonderful student in her mid 50’s is in the process of reversing her aging process and biologically she is getting younger and younger.

Stay tuned for future updates of her health upgrades and healing process.

Student Experiences Real Microcosmic Orbit (Small Universe)

By Brendan Thorson 1/17/2012,

This past weekend at the level-1 weekend seminar a student who has been taking classes regulary for the past couple of years began to feel the Small Universe Circulation reach a deeper level than he had ever felt before hand.  After we completed the Small Universe Enhancing Exercise, the gentleman told the class that he felt the ciculation of his small universe deep inside his body and he could follow a flow of energy up his back and then down the front and that circulation continued the same path…

Microcosmic Orbit http://pureyoga.wordpress.com/page/4/

Prior to this past Sunday he had felt the Microcosmic Orbit–(name used by Mantak Chia to describe the circulation of the energy flow of the combination of the Du and Ren Meridians) before, but it was much more superficial.  This time he could actually feel/ follow a warm sensation travel/ circulate inside of his body (the circuit of the small universe).

  1. Benefits of the Small Universe Circulation:
  2. Create Internal Energy
  3. Create balance between all the different energy centers
  4. Balance the Yin and Yang Energies
  5. Circulate the refined reproductive energies from the reproductive area up the spine to nourish:
  • the brain, energy centers, organs, or other areas of the body where the energy can enhance health and vitality

“Bone Marrow Washing”, Student update #2 (original article 12/20/2011)

By Brendan Thorson 1/27/2012,

On 12/20/11 I wrote about a female student, in her mid 50′s, who had experienced very strong and intense heat in her Sacrum and lumbar spine and then the energy shot/ circulated up her spine and into arms ending at her hands and down her spine into both legs and down to the feet.  That experience was related to Bone Marrow Washing, See previous article for further details.  & 1st follow up article

Currently as of 1/26/11, she is taking two weekly classes Level-3 and Moving W/Qi (a moving qigong class with taichi style movements) during this  session of classes.  During this past week’s level-3 class, (class #2), while we were doing the Energy Holding Meditation she told me:

  1. She began to clearly feel her Ovaries, have a dialogue with them and also feel the energy stimulating her ovaries to wake up from their slumber, be happier and have the ability to function at a more youthful state. Ovaries and Hormone Imbalances
Kidneys: bartleby.com

Also, during the level-3 class she noted while we were doing an exercise that focuses on bringing energy to the Chong/Endocrine Gland Meridian (pathway) that she was able to feel energy encircling her Kidney’s/Adrenal glands.  While prior to that class she was only able to feel her kidney area as the energy was working from the outside in, from her lower back inward to her kidneys.  But in this last experience she clearly felt the energy deep inside her body in front of the spine and behind the organs in front of them.  Benefit of  healthy Kidneys.    Adrenal Glands and Hormone Imbalances.

Muscle Fascia: moondragon.org
Example of Physical compensation (injury to leg) and affect if has on Muscle Fascia of whole body: hellerwork.com

Then, the following day in her Moving W/Qi class she shared that she was realy feeling the energy work through areas on her glutes/hips/low-back and Sacral area that she has experienced weaknesses in her past.  Also, was feeling new energy filling up her muscle-fascia between her skin and muscles–a process of deep re-hydrating of the body.

Transcending Fears and Stress with Genesis Qigong

By Brendan Thorson, 3/4/2012

Would you like to transform your Fears to Self-Empowerment and Transcend your Stress to Self-Confidence?  Fears can lock us into imaginary prison cells that steal our freedom, make us small, weak and prevent us from living our life to the fullest.  While long term excess stress robs our mind and body of essential internal energies causing exhaustion, lack of internal peace and a strain on the relationships with the one’s we love most.  Genesis Qigong can assist you to transform your fears and stress to help you become self-empowered and confident—leading to greater internal happiness and a higher quality of life.

drvl.org

Some fears are real and valid like knowing that jumping off a big rocky mountain cliff could result in a tragedy to your life.  But most fears that people have are not life threatening at all, in fact they are old unhealthy programs that need to be deleted out of their system.  Not much different than a computer’s antivirus system finding and deleting a threat to your computer, but if the threat is not found it could lead to an infected and damaged computer/ or person.

Fears are negative emotions related to the Kidneys and when one has fears, they leak energy from the Kidneys like air leaking out of a tire with a hole in it.  With Genesis Qigong we energize and empower the Kidneys so one will begin to have greater Internal-Power and determination.  This will allow one to improve their internal strength and naturally overcome many things that once caused them fear and support them to achieve their goals and dreams.  In addition, as one gets more advanced with their internal martial arts they can begin to find old internal viruses (fears) and delete them out of their system just like computers antivirus system.

pawfun.com

Similar to fears, Stress can also be good or bad.  Good or the appropriate amount of stress for an individual can help them to get stronger and build up their stress capacity just like how the appropriate stress of weight training can help one to build up their muscular stronger.  However, if someone has to regularly experience a significant amount of stress beyond their bodies capacity then they will eventually get stuck in the “fight or flight” response.  “If stress continues, the adrenal glands produce cortisol within ten minutes to raise blood sugar and insulin levels, move blood to muscles and away from digestion, lower levels of sex hormones and break down protein stores for energy.”  “Continued stress eventually leads to the Maladapted stage, in which the body starts to break down from the effects of elevated cortisol.”  “Cortisol imbalance can lead to fatigue, weight gain, immune suppression, and susceptibility to colds and flu, joint pains, mood swings, anxiety, depression, insomnia and digestive symptoms”.1

Qigong can quickly help someone to get out of being stuck in the fight or flight stage where the Adrenals are stuck-on-go.  We begin to correct this imbalance in the level-1 course and in my introductory classes by activating the Kidneys and Life-Gate Center which resets the Adrenals so one can begin to feel energized but very calm at the same time.  Then with continued practice of Genesis qigong one will be able to transform their system and learn how to manage their body like people know how to take care of their cars if they want it to have longevity with vitality—so you know when to hit the breaks, step on the gas, fill up the tank of gas, and change the oil…

When you are ready to transform your life, find your internal freedom and overcome obstacles in the road like fears and stress then jump on the Genesis Qigong bus and learn how to drive yourself to a brighter future for your health, happiness and life.

  1. Charles A. Moss MD Power of the Five Elements. North Atlantic Books. Berkley, CA: 2010

Qigong and Taichi classes and seminars taught in Seattle, WA and throughout the Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest.

Secrets to Thyroid and Adrenal Fatigue

Transforming Thyroid and Adrenal Fatigue with Genesis Qigong

By Brendan Thorson 3/25/2012,

Thyroid and Adrenal Fatigue is a serious health problem significantly compromising the life quality of millions of Americans and people throughout the world.  It is estimated that 59 million Americans suffer from Thyroid issues and many of them are not aware of it.1   Adrenal Fatigue is a stress syndrome caused in large part by the modern man’s faced paced stressful lifestyle.2  As a result, It is estimated that Adrenal Fatigue will affect 80% of Americans at one point in their life.2

Scientists’ have found a clear connection between excess Stress compromising both the Adrenal and Thyroid Glands and compromised Adrenal glands further compromising the Thyroid function.3  The Ancient Masters who created Chinese Medicine understood the true internal medicine (natural internal energy flows/ patterns), the root of these diseases and the appropriate steps necessary to regain health and vitality.  Genesis Qigong can connect one to the Ancient Masters Energy Medicine for true internal healing and upgrades of the vital energies, organs and glands to assist one to regain a higher quality of life.

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms

  1. Energy crashes at different points of day
CRH = corticotrophin-releasing hormone; TRH = thyrotropin-releasing hormone; ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone; TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone; T4 = thyroxine; T3 = triiodothyronine. http://www.womentowomen.com/adrenalhealth/thyroid-stress-hormones.aspx

AnxietySugar/salt cravingsPoor appetite in the morningsSensitivity to loud noisesTremblingDisturbed sleepHypoglycemic episodesFrequent colds/infectionsPalpitations/chest painsThin, brittle nails

Hypothyroidism Symptoms

  1. Hair loss
  2. Dry skin
  3. Eyebrow hair thinning
  4. Persistent fatigue
  5. Depression
  6. Under-reactive to stimuli
  7. Intolerant of heat

Both

  1. Low energy
  2. Cold hands
  3. Low body temperature
  4. Weight gain
  5. Sluggish digestion.4

Adrenal Glands:

The Adrenal glands are famous for their role in helping us deal with stress.  “The main hormones of the stress response are adrenalin (epinephrine) and cortisol.  When a person responds to any long-term stressful situation, they first ramp up production of epinephrine, then cortisol to deal with that life challenge, whether illness, family issues, job stress, or physical or emotional trauma.  If the stress continues these hormonal changes are hard to undo”.5  “Elevated cortisol levels have been linked to all major chronic illnesses of our society: heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, and premature aging.”5

In acute cases of stress, like an accident or when the body believes it is a life or death situation the body will release adrenalin to ensure survival.  “If stress continues, the adrenal glands produce cortisol within ten minutes to raise blood sugar and insulin levels, move blood to muscles and away from digestion, lower levels of sex hormones and break down protein stores for energy.”  Continued stress eventually leads to the Maladapted stage, in which the body starts to break down from the effects of elevated cortisol.”  “Cortisol imbalance can lead to fatigue, weight gain, immune suppression, and susceptibility to colds and flu, joint pains, mood swings, anxiety, depression, insomnia and digestive symptoms”.  Prior to learning Yi Ren Qigong I suffered for years from fatigue, joint pains, anxieties, mild depressions, terrible sleep and I would catch a cold or a flu almost every week, as soon as I would get over one cold flu or sinus issue I would catch another one.  It was a very frustrating part of my life; however, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise since it led me to find Yi Ren Qigong, the greatest blessing of my life.5

In today’s faced-paced world, many people deal with stress on a daily basis. This fast-paced lifestyle can include stress from driving, work, family and relationships.  This type of hectic lifestyle has the potential to trigger the Adrenals, which release the hormones of Adrenalin and Cortisol to deal with the stress. However, although these hormones may be beneficial in dealing with a stressful situation, after a person reaches a certain point based on his or her body’s capacity, the body is unable to reset itself to an unstressed state, even after the stressful situation has long since passed.5

Life Gate point between Kidney’s (www.marcomalaca.com)

In the Genesis Qigong training we begin by Resetting the Adrenal Glands by activating the Kidneys/ Life Gate Center.  This resetting relaxes the Adrenals and the stress response of the Adrenals so one can feel more relaxed.  While simultaneously empowering the Life Gate/ Kidney Center to improve internal energy levels and stress capacity.  With continued practice we build up the Kidney energies to higher and higher levels—allowing one to enhance their internal energies and become more grounded—further strengthening one’s stress capacity.

Yesterday, Sunday 3/25/2012 I had an introductory class at East West Bookshop in Seattle, WA.  The title of the class was Thyroid and Adrenal Fatigue.  There were 7 new students at the class that all said they had Thyroid and or Adrenal issues.  I was delighted to hear from all the students that after we activated the Life-Gate/Kidney center they all felt a big energy transformation occur in themselves–the common words I heard from them were I feel great, more relaxed, peaceful feeling and energized at the same time.  Also, 6 of the 7 students felt a very clear and significant energy feelings between their hands and arms (palpable–magnetic or taffy like feelings) during the Energy Field Construction Exercise and the 1-student who did not clearly feel the energy between her hands said she felt a tingling sensation on her hands and throughout her whole body–a clear indication her energy system was getting energized.  I was very happy the participants had a good experience and now personally know that Yi Ren Qigong can transform their life and health if they choose to pursue the training.  I also shared with them that in some situations (if someone’s energy levels are really low) they could truly benefit from one or more Qigong healing sessions, in addition to the classes, which from my experience significantly helps one to more quickly upgrade their internal energies (stabilize their Internal Battery).

Thyroid Gland:

“The thyroid hormones control your metabolism, which is the body’s ability to break down food and store it as energy and the ability to break down food into waste products with a release of energy in the process.”6  Fatigue is the highest complaint of people suffering from Thyroid issues including depression, anxiety, poor sleep, weight issues, and joint and muscle issues too.7

The Adrenals and Thyroid:

“There is an intrinsic relationship between thyroid function and adrenal function. The adrenal glands are largely under control of the sympathetic nervous system. The thyroid is strongly influenced by the parasympathetic nervous system. Often it is the case that someone with hypothyroidism is in a parasympathetic-dominant state, which means the sympathetic nervous system is weaker.”3

“A deeper look at adrenal, hypothalamus and thyroid relationships shows how weakened or burned out adrenal glands will cause a cascade of problems for thyroid functioning.”3

As one continues with the Genesis Qigong training going through all of the core classes levels 1-3 we activate and energize the complete internal enrgy network (all of the major energy centers, chakras, organs, glands, Brain, Nervous system and internal energy pathways.  Thus, we are able to upgrade all of our vital internal energies, organs—organ systems, and glands—endocrine systems.  Then with further development and practice one will gradually improve all of their internal energies including their Adrenals and Thyroid glands and all their supporting and complimentary energies.  In addition, someone with Thyroid and or Adrenal Fatigue will be able to create their own personalized exercise program to bring them to greater internal energy, balance and health.

Lifestyle, Personal Awareness and Health:

In addition, usually one ends up with problems like Thyroid or Adrenal issues because their lifestyle, foods, thoughts–emotional health, were not in harmony with their body.  Internal conflicts and many lifestyle choices people make can cause one to drain their internal energies.  Genesis Qigong practitioners begin to develop a greater connection between their mind and body.  Thus, with time one increases their internal awareness which allows one to be able to see how the choices they make with their lifestyle, foods, thoughts… truly effect them positively or negatively.  As a result, with time one is able to make changes to their life that can be a major factor in helping one to achieve better energy levels and harmony in their life.

In conclusion, Genesis Qigong can help one overcome Adrenals and Thyroid fatigue by allowing and supporting one to improve all of their internal energies to give them an opportunity to dramatically improve their quality of life.  I know from my own personal experience that this training can help one to transform their health and life potentially back to the internal balance one normally has as a child.  If you want to overcome your Adrenal and Thyroid issues this may be the best choice to help you truly regain balanced health.

For more information on hormones and Genesis Qigong please visit Balancing Hormones for Improved Energy

1. http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/10signs.htm

2. http://www.adrenalfatiguefocus.org/index.html

3. http://metabolichealing.com/key-integrated-functions-of-your-body/hormone-and-endocrine/hypothyroidism-and-the-adrenals-the-intrinsic-link/

4. http://www.adrenalfatiguefocus.org/adrenal-fatigue-vs-hypothyroidism.html

5.  Charles A. Moss MD Power of the Five Elements. North Atlantic Books. Berkley, CA: 2010

6. ”The Endocrine System: Endocrine Glands & Types of Hormones.”  2012. http://www.hormone.org/Endo101/page2.cfm  23 Jan. 2012

7. “Top 10 Signs That You May Have a Thyroid Problem:

Millions of People Have Undiagnosed Thyroid Conditions.”  2009. Mary Shomon

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/basics_starthere/a/10signs.htm 23 Jan. 2012