US Loan Auditors review: Company reviews 884

For you that think usla is going to sue complaintsboard and get all the user names is silly. Is usla the only company here? We are not communist yet. When this country starts to silence those that have a complaint about a company like this that takes money up front, tells everyone the same thing that they have a strong case and will win in court, but most cases are settled before court (modification) and actually just shops for an attorney and nothing happens except they just keep collecting, then I'm packing up. Fraud can be found in almost every single loan, but that doesn't mean you will win in court and your NOT and your not informing people that. Deception. Lies. Why has not ONE person ever wrote about their case being settled and being positive?

To "need help" now "usla employee": Your always the one calling out names, for a long time you were posting as a customer, did they like you so much that you got a job there? what do u do for them? Post your name and private phone number, I and others have many questions for you. We will call you if you like. Just like J LaMar posted as a customer on the 2nd page, but he works there. Deception. Lies. And what your doing by calling out names and phone numbers can be taken as threatening. I remember reading your posts, you are full of hatred and are unable to reason.

I agree with Steve, bring it on! Sue us all for posting how they stole from us.

So i have started calling the SACRAMENTO branch of USLA

I call and ask them what i can expect and how an audit can help... you would be surprised as to what i hear... Keep in mind i let the person on the other End know that the call is being recorded... they dont seem to care... must be new people or something.

I just hope Shane knows that he can get into a lot of trouble for that kind of stuff. i wonder what he is going to say when someone from the local news stations calls and asks the same questions..."please understand that this is going to happen soon" just a warning to those who say this kind of stuff to people on the phones...

be careful who you "pitch" and what you say... make sure you dont say things like:

"we can save your home and stop foreclosure"

"you dont have to pay your mortgage...if your in litigation"

" there is a mortgage Pause payment system"

"You will get your home down to fair market value at fair market rate"

!best one i heard so far!...

Here is the weird thing... when i call the main company in Rancho Cordova ...they dont tell me the same thing, as a matter of fact...

So can one branch do more than the other branch...
these things dont make sense?

If you dont believe me then call for yourself and see what they can do for you!

Just "food for thought"

Sacramento, CA – Branch Office

[protected] - Direct
[protected] - Fax
10301 Placer Lane, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95827

remember kids, its not slander if its true.

I could be wrong... this is my interpretation of things... just my thoughts... :-)

Next up

Santa Clara, CA – Branch Office

[protected] – Direct
2055 Laurelwood Road, Suite 110
Santa Clara, CA 95054

I will be calling soon to hear what you have to say USLA

thanks for all the help in advance!

just to help those out who keep asking me who i am, and how do i "seem" to know so much about this company and its owners

Sacramento is a small place. If you went to Sac State its even smaller

And if your friends with people in the community who get ripped off,
and happen to take a few classes on LAW, maybe hang out with people in the DAs office... you learn things about finding info...

Hang out at the same restaurants, and "Casinos", and clubs as those who work at USLA,

Even just sound innocent and call the company and ask... who the owner is... and what other companies they have owned...throw in a little Google!

You can learn so much about who your up against.

Just something to think about.

Oh just so all my friends on this site know.

I am going to be getting a fax from a nice girl who works at USLA of there entire employee contact list!
"fingers CROSSED"
"apparently they keep this big list of all the employees and managers and owners... i will try to see the legality's of posting it... if not i will just put it on the internet in a random spot and tell you how to find it!

Lets hope she comes though for me!
so we all can call and ask who can help get your money back

Thank you AuditJoker, I appreciate your postings.

As I mentioned before, I am having a tough time keeping up on the posts of an additional forum, but I'll try to to a little more once in a while.

I'll say that there are some recent cases where the internet decency act did not protect anonymous postings. But it doesn't matter if they are deleted by the forum administrator. They can be retrieved much of the time. For the largest cross section of the internet, the IDA will still apply though.
Anyway, I'd point out that I've been at this for years, and although there have been threats of lawsuits. I've never been on the receiving end of one for slander, libel, or defamation. I'd add that I'm both prolific and bold in my application of public display. I try and keep within the boundaries of lawful and decent speech. Sure it's possible to defame someone, but as mentioned earlier, it's entirely relative to their status and loss. I think GamblingBob will adjust his speech and if there are any losses, and I am encouraging and helping him avoid those, they will be considerably less than what he feels he's entitled to from the plaintiff for the losses and behavior he has experienced from them.
I'd ask you to consider the statements made by USLA employee as a possible feebly contrived ploy to discourage and frighten others from free speech. See how they attempt to portray me as a racist by asking if I am? Aside from the fact it does not pertain to the subject matter here, I don't overreact to this because I know that it is born out of fear. Not fear of racism, but fear of being in the spotlight, and the object of unwanted scrutiny. We refer to this as the shotgun approach. They start firing in all directions and hope they hit something, or that everyone runs for cover. It's in the very least, very predictable behavior, and it divulges a level of quality that I'm actually relieved to see in an opponent.
Not that it matters here, but just for kicks, I don't believe I'm a racist. I have intermarried and there are interracial children from that marriage.
I cannot stop people from suing you; Nor can I beat them all up for you. I'm more along the lines of a growth promoter. I've been nurturing and encouraging the growth of spines within my chosen society and community for a long time. Spineless people will always be prey.
I have been thanked, supported, compensated, loved, respected, heeded, and befriended during the course of my activities. Likewise, I have been dismissed, villianized, attacked, stoned, belittled, slandered, vandalized, and chastised. But on the other hand, I walk with my head up, and refuse to cower before lousy, lying, cheating, scheming, double-dealing, back-stabbing, fraudulent, threatening, weasely four-flushers. It's the spine, you see...Once you grow one, it's hard to hide

I don't think they are going to "sue" complaint board but "subpoena" them. And I very well may be misinformed my only point was that I just don't know what to think anymore. After I saw the lawsuit I went and did the research and what I came up with (keep in mind I am not an attorney or anything) was that there is a fine line between having an opinion and stating something as a fact.

And I wouldn't mind suing them in small claims to see if I could get my money back but that is vastly different than someone suing you in Superior Court. My only point is I "personally" can't afford to fight that type of litigation and there seems to be a ton of people on here who have met with an attorney regarding this company and I didn't know if anyone had more information than I do. I mean when I started thinking about it today these people sue people for a living and I don't, so I'm out of this name calling game and if they sue me, maybe someone will hear my story but I personally have not found all the advice on here helpful.

To date there has been no media, no AG, no BAR, no attorney willing to even listen to my story past 3 mins on the phone NOTHING, so who am I fooling that some stupid complaint board is going to help me rather than possibly hurt me.

Sorry for being a downer but as my Dad use to say (and play the song insistently) You gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run...But if anyone has had success please message me off board I would still be interested in hearing of some kind of success fighting them, not just "call this person and this person or lets get a class action". Class actions are no picnic and all the money goes to the attorney, not the victims. Class actions are stupid and are not even designed to help the victims.

They don't sue people for a living, or they would be very broke, considering how many they have won. All they do is gather your information, money and shop an attorney that knows nothing will happen. The people they sue are their employees that talk. Check out cases with Sandison, he is the one being sued, expect many more. They stole our money, our homes, what more do they want? They win when you quit. There is power in groups, that's why we need to make a stand and help Bob.

That's not what you told me last week AyatollahGondola...I actually came out there and met you! and after your learn your genders (since I am a woman not a man you idiot) perhaps you could borrow some money from Mr. Jackson and buy some teeth.

I actually showed up there to talk with gamblingbob and see if he had an merit to his claim and if we could take this anywhere. But way to alienate people who are TRYING to support him. Maybe now you can recall who you are actually insulting. I was going to continue to support him but when you resort to implying I should [censored], you sound like the idiot you looked and spoke like in person.

I'm sorry Robert, you seemed like a nice man when we met but your little buddy here has just lost you one supporter. Hopefully he won't continue to insult others who may want to lend you support on the back end of things.

And thank you AyatollahGondola for saying over and over last week that I have a right to free speech because I intend on using it as I have seen donkey's with more charm and intelligence than you.

Good luck with Mr. Jackson's quest AyatollahGondola...since you were not even a real client like the rest of us. Why don't you go away and stick to your OWN cause or go find your way to a shower and a dentist. You are WORSE than Barker...way to kick someone when they are down and confused about what is the right thing to do.

Sorry, but I think you are either confused about meeting me, or you are quite dishonest.

And YES Kwitherspoon80 they CAN and most likely WILL subpoena the records. I didn't work with torts, only in bankruptcy law, but it is a matter of filling out a one page document and serving it, if it helps their case they would be fools not to, but I will message you off boards or you can message me and we can discuss if you want. After listening to AyatollahGondola insult me I am officially done with this board. But if you want to talk I would be happy to. I am not opening myself up to personal liability for likes of that uneducated hillbilly.

At bare minimum you may want to discuss with an attorney what kind of case Barker may have if you continue to post on this or any other board. I know I intend to.

No YOU are seriously confused.

Not a racist Huh? Funny I can find this in a matter of 60 sec about you...Oh let me keep digging

Thanks AuditJoker for making me do my homework :o)

Allcare Dental Management, LLC v. Zrinyi, No. 08-407, 2008 WL 4649131 (D. Idaho October 20, 2008)

Plaintiffs filed a defamation lawsuit against some known defendants as well as some anonymous John Doe defendants in federal court over statements posted to Complaintsboard.com. The plaintiffs did not know the names or contact information of the Doe defendants, so they needed to get that information from the Does’ Internet service provider. But the ISP would not turn that information over without a subpoena because of the restrictions of the Cable Communications Policy Act, 47 U.S.C. § 501 et seq. [More on the CCPA.]

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(d)(1), a party generally may not seek discovery in a case until the parties have had a Rule 26(f) conference to discuss such things as discovery. Because of the Rule 26(d)(1) requirement, the plaintiffs found themselves in a catch-22 of sorts: how could they know with whom to have the Rule 26(f) conference if they did not know the defendants’ identity.

So the plaintiffs’ filed a motion with the court to allow a subpoena to issue to the ISP prior to the Rule 26(f) conference. Finding that there was good cause for the expedited discovery, the court granted the motion. It found that the subpoena was needed to ascertain the identities of the unknown defendants. [More on Doe subpoenas.] Furthermore, it was important to act sooner than later, because ISPs retain data for only a limited time.

The Plaintiffs also contended that that the known defendants would likely delete relevant information from their computer hard drives before the parties could engage in the ordinary process of discovery. So the plaintiffs’ motion also sought an order requiring the known defendants to turn over their computers to have their hard drives copied.

The court granted this part of the motion as well, ordering the known defendants to turn their computers over to the plaintiffs’ retained forensics professional immediately. The forensics professional was to make the copies of the hard drives and place those copies with the court clerk, not to be accessed or reviewed until stipulation of the parties or further order from the court.

http://blog.internetcases.com/2008/10/24/expedited-electronic-discovery-includes-subpoena-to-isp-and-imaging-of-defendants-hard-drives/

Let me see how easy it is to find out about Mr. Gondola...be right back!

Next comment:

This is where he works:

5852 88th St

Sacramento, CA 95828

Next Comment:

This is his full name

DAVI ANTHONY RODRIGUES
RANCH CORDOVA (SACRAMENTO AREA)

I have his phone number too if anyone wants it...

http://www.saveourstate.info/archive/index.php?t-14.html

Nice Pic Mr. Gondola

Wow... you sounded so innocent before "not fun anymore" I think Jake and Joker were right on about you, for being as scared as you made it sound; you are now very aggressive
I believe you forgot to sign in as "USLA Employee" not "notfunanymore"

Ah! The shotgun approach again...

Are you implying I am in that photo somewhere notfunanymore?

HAHAHA want my money back..I won't take it out on you...but lumping me in with them is still insulting. This idiot who told me to cut my head off pissed me off and I can't seem to find my Midol :o)

He is (other than the employees) the only one I know of on here that was not a real client so why is this neo-nazi on here in the first place? And who is he to be on here trying to organize anything with us?

Sorry if I don't seem "innocent" anymore but this has been a very stressful time for me. I'm a single mom about to lose my house, confused by what is going on here and then some crazy neo nazi tells me to cut my head off? You can believe whatever...I really don't care anymore. I don't associate myself with people like that just because I'm pissed off about how much I paid for my audit that won't do me any good unless I keep giving them money.

I usually am pretty nice lol

No I am implying that that is your group SOS protesting

Interesting information.

After an exhausted research and reading over the lawsuit against Bob, it turns out Jeffery Yazel the attorney for USLA, is not part of the Pillsbury Law Firm in Sacramento. Pillsbury Law Firm has seemed to be the law firm that has represented USLA in almost all their own cases, not cases for homeowners. USLA wouldn't contract with such a high caliber of attorneys and costly at that. The law firm of Pillsbury is too good for the homeowners. (Sharon Lapin and Jonathan Stein are not part of Pillsbury either and yet they represent clients of USLA & MY US LEGAL. Why didn't they have Pillsbury represent the homeowners?

(Mr. Yazel has a facebook, interesting who his friends are)

We believe Jeffery B. Yazel of Elk Grove is one of MY US LEGAL's contract attorney. We believe he is one of the attorneys that suppose to help file lawsuits against the lenders on behalf of homeowners and clients of USLA & MY US LEGAL. (Bob you should call the State Bar first thing in the morning and see what they have to say. We will do the same). Check at calbar.org for his information

His Bar Number
210057

We find it interesting that Mr. Yazel would represent USLA considering the circumstances with the State Bar Investigation. Maybe he is not aware! We will call him too.

Bob, we are looking for an attorney for you. We hope to have a name and number for you asap. Once we find one, I suggest everyone that supports you and anyone that has a story to tell contact the attorney asap. We want everyone to call the attorney. We will post his name ASAP.

Hopefully those of you that say you support Bob...and those of you that have not received a refund...lost your home after paying legals fees for months...lost your home because a contract attorney with MY US LEGAL failed to appear...failed to file certain documents/answers/motions...filed lawsuit without merit...failed to stop the Trustee Sale...Etc. etc. come forward. This is the time.

Yes, it's Bob's case but when the judge sees ALL of us in court supporting Bob and have testimonies from ALL of us. We all have stories of our own. It may help Bob's case. There is Power in numbers? Please do not let fear keep you from coming forward. You are telling your story, it's personal your experience and it's in a public arena...court.

We will also call the Associated Press, Sacbee and every local news station. We have some connections.

Hopefully, we have more information tomorrow.

notfunanymore: By telling the truth, is not defaming. What dept. do u work at?

Gondola didnt say to cut your head off, he was just saying your over reacting. the white flag.

SmShaw: I actually work for Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, not sure why that matters? but here is his quote maybe you didn't see it;

Notfunanymore should just lop off his own head and post it on a stick out front of USLA's headquarters in an attempt to ward off their enemies. I can gaurantee him that that is the only way I might take him to heart.

I wasn't trying to overreact, I was simply questioning what others are planning on doing at this point and was anyone else worried about being sued. I'm all for a legal protest but aside from a lawsuit being filed against me, in my line of work I can't associate myself with people like Gondola, nor would I. Losing my house is enough, losing my job is something totally different. And that I'm not going to do for some (most likely) parolee dirtbag.

Ha! The Sacramento Sheriff has lots of employees. Some clean the jail bathrooms, and others are sworn deputies.

No, not a parolee. Sorry to disappoint you.

notfunanymore, I have serious doubts as to your authenticity and sincerity, however just for the sake of good relations, I'll say that you are entitled to your opinions. No one is trying to silence you, however it seems you are more inclined to spread fear of reprisal than hope or encouragement for the people who feel they have been misled, derfrauded, lied to, or cheated by the aforementioned company and their personnel. You might try examining your goals overall, and then see if your message(s) actually reflect them

Now that the cats out of the bag your going to see what we call "Clean Up"...

notfunanymore,

My motivations are clearly set forth on FightBackinSac.com

"Welcome to Fight Back in Sac Fight Back in Sac was created as a meeting place for those who seek empowerment, information, and allies to aid in the battle against corruption, malfeasance, and fraud that occurs in our government. Fight Back in Sac welcomes the citizens and legal residents of the greater metropolitan Sacramento area, and also those outside the area when their subjects are located within Sacramento County. Registrants to this website may use the forums to meet others; share ideas and strategies; lend or solicit support; and organize events that will encourage a lawful, responsive, and open government"

also, from PublicDocumentDistributors.com:

"Welcome to Public Document Distributors!

This forum was founded to help distribute important documents and raise awareness among the general public in the greater Sacramento area. Information is the most valuable commodity in the world, yet many obstacles inhibit the spread of it in a timely manner. This website is dedicated to the free distribution of important documents that will hopefully make our communities, friends, and families more secure, and our interractions with businesses and public entities fair.
Many of documents you find on this website are available to the public, however, much of it is not in electronic forms as it is here. In addition, many of the documents made available here have been painstakenly obtained, processed, and paid for by others who value their communities and a free society. Please keep in mind when reading or downloading documents, that someone else thought of others as well as themselves.

You do not have to register to read or download documents from this website

You will be required to register if you wish to comment or ask questions on the forums about documents. Registration is free, and a valid Email address is the only real requirement

Registered users can upload documents they wish to share with the public, however all uploads are moderated first, so it may take a few days for your document uploads to be approved and then have them appear on the forum

Guests wishing to remain anonymous, but would like to have a document uploaded to the forum may email the material to:
Admin@PublicDocumentDistributors.com"

Does that answer your question sufficiently?

Blind Spot Enlargement in Non-Athletes

Abstract
Everyone has a blind spot in the visual field caused by an absence of nerves on the retinal wall where the nerve ganglia enter. Our brains "correct" this blind spot by filling-in the missing information so that we do not notice the blind spot in normal, daily activity. There have been a few studies conducted to determine how the brain compensates for the phenomenon.

Recent studies indicate that in certain people seeking chiropractic treatment, unequal blind spots result from muscoloskeletal misalignments. This research has been controversial; however, it brings up several interesting questions. There are conditions that can damage the retina, causing blind spots in the visual field. It is generally assumed that athletes maintain a better level of general health, via exercise and a healthier diet, than those who do not engage in athletic pursuits.

This study used blind spot mapping techniques of the chiropractic industry to map the blind spots of 10 athletes and 10 non-athletes. The blind spots of athletes and non-athletes showed a statistically significant difference.

Introduction
Every eye has a blind spot. The blind spot is the hole in the retinal wall where the nerve ganglia pass though. This area of the retina contains no photoreceptors and therefore creates a black spot in every person's vision. The gap created by the blind spot is approximately 6 degrees of the total visual field, which is a large area, relatively speaking. We do not see this area in our normal functioning because our brain has a mechanism for "filling in" the missing information. The information that would normally be received by the blind spot is projected onto the other eye and the brain essentially "averages" the image (Lou and Chen, 2003).

The blind spot is a physical structure and given the normal variances in human physiology, it would be expected that there would be little variation in the blind spot from person to person. However, there are certain conditions that could cause damage to the retinal wall, thus causing nerve damage to he photoreceptors, thus causing a blind spot. This damage may cause an additional blind spot in the visual field; of if damage occurs to the retina surrounding the natural blind spot, the natural blind spot could essentially be enlarged. (Windsor and Windsor, 2003; Hall, 2003; and Seddon and Kuijk, 1998).

There are several factors that can effect eye health, such as nutrition and general health. It is generally assumed that athletes have an overall healthier lifestyle that n the general public. They are assumed to engage in habits that promote good health such as eating more nutritiously, exercising and maintaining a generally higher level of health than the general public. It is therefore the premise of this study that athletes would be expected to have fewer eye-related health problems and that these problems would result in fewer visual blind spots or smaller naturally occurring blind spots than in non-athletes.

This study will use methods for mapping blind spots in the chiropractic field to measure the blind spots of a group of athletes and a group of non-athletes. This research will support the hypothesis that the group of non-athletes will be found to have larger blind spots due to decreased general health.

Literature Review
The existence of a blind spot in each eye is a naturally occurring anatomical trait and therefore has received very little academic attention in itself. There has been limited attention to the study of how our brain "compensates" for this phenomenon, however, once explained, it received very little attention. The blind spot can be located if a person trains their attention to it. There is a simple visual test; contained in APPENDIX I that can help a person "see" the blind spot in their right eye.

There have been a group of chiropractors that claim that in persons with certain musculoskeletal misalignments, the blind spot in each eye is unequal. They also claim that adjusting the spine can alleviate this condition. This research will not attempt to confirm or deny these claims, but will rely on techniques derived from the practice of "blind spot mapping" or develop a method for testing the blind spots of a group of athletes and a group of non-athletes. No similar studies could be found, save for one study conducted by an ophthalmologist, using opthamological equipment to assess general retinal scarring in certain persons diagnosed with opthamological disease (Cai and Cavanagh, 2002).

Chiropractors have developed a technique, primarily to be used as a diagnostic technique to detect what they claim is an "unequal blind spot" in the eyes. The claim that an enlarged blind spot can diagnose a malfunction in the brain. These studies have come under heavy criticism as there are several illogical arguments posed by them (Hall, 2003). Hall finds several areas of contention in the design of these experiments. In addition, several chiropractors claim to "cure clumsiness" by increasing the peripheral vision of patients. These claims are completely unfounded, as the blind spot is located in the primary visual field, not the peripheral vision. These doctors are causing confusion with the blind spot when driving that is caused by mirrors, not the eyes (Hall, 2003). These studies have very little academic credibility, however, do provide a useful tool for mapping the blind spot of the groups being studied in this research.

It has been a long held concept that eating certain vegetables can improve eyesight. Recently, physicians have been prescribing leafy green vegetables to prevent a condition called macular degeneration. Other food have also been recently cited as having health benefits for the eyes such as egg yolks, orange juice, and corn (Seddon, and Kuijk, 1998). Macular degeneration causes blindness by the development of "macular hole, " which consists of patches of dead nerves on the retinal well, thus creating blind spots.

It is generally held that athletes tend to follow a more nutritious diet than the non-athletic population. The typical athletic diet is high in carbohydrates, proteins and a balance of the necessary vegetables to maintain overall health. This improved diet has been shown to have a number of health benefits. Athletes are expected to have an improved diet and improved general health as compared to the average population. Therefore, it could be expected that there would be fewer eye problems than in the general population. One effect of this improved eye health would be the occurrence of smaller natural blind spots, due to less scarring from disease, and the occurrence of fewer extra blind spots on the retinal wall. This will be the focus of this research, to detect an improvement in eye health by measuring the size and occurrence of blind spots in a population of athletes and a population of non-athletes.

Methodology
The measurement instrument used in this experiment was a modified version of the blind spot mapping technique used in chiropractic practice. Extra controls from above those described in the literature were instituted to insure greater precision of measurement. The blind spot mapping technique was described in Hall, 2003. It may be noted that opthamologists have a more precise technique for blind spot mapping, but that technique requires a completed degree in opthamology and requires very expensive equipment. This technology was not available for purposes of this study. The technique used was simplistic in design, yet accurate enough to obtain meaningful results.

Test subjects for this study were recruited from senior members of the varsity football team and persons in the general campus population. Senior members of the varsity football team were used due to the assumption that they would be the most likely to adhere to the rules of good nutrition, exercise and general health that were required for dependent variable of this study. The control group consisted of ten general population students, who were screened by asking them if they were involved in regular exercise activity. Test subjects for the control groups were chosen who did not participate in exercise programs.

An apparatus of measurement was devised. The blind spot can be visualized in the following manner. The set of spots in Appendix I can be used to find the blind spot for the right and left eye. The test was set up as in APPENDIX II with the subject sitting at a table. A box was used to rest the chin, so as to maintain a steady height. The subject was instructed to place his chin on the box and look at the screen. They were instructed to keep their head a still as possible once the test has begun.

One set of dots was cut out and mounted in a piece of poster board. An identical set of dots was made for each eye. This was mounted to a board that could be moved closer and farther from the subject until the proper distance for that blind spot could be located for each subject. This was necessary, as everyone's blind spot would be in a different place.

The subject was told to sit on the chair and place their chin on the box and to stay as still as possible. They were told to cover the right eye and fixate on the cross, appropriate for that eye. They were not to move their head, just fixate using their eyes. An assistant would slowly move the screen farther away or closer to the subject until the subject indicated that the large dot had disappeared and the ground appeared solid white. This is where the blind spot is located.

As assistant moved a sharpened pencil horizontally in front of the paper until the tip of the pen disappeared from the subject (was in the blind spot). The assistant then moved the pen horizontally across until the tip reappeared. The subject would indicate that the tip had reappeared and the assistant would mark a dot at the point of reappearance. This process was repeated in a pattern of compass points, starting from the blind spot each time. This process was repeated for the other eye using the appropriate image. This created a picture of the blind spot and the area of the blind spot could be calculated in centimeters. An example of the test results can be found in APPENDIX III.

Results
When the tests were completed, the average radius of the blind spots was estimated using a compass. The radius of the circle was taken as an average of the points from the center. The following raw results were found for the two groups. Results expressed in r-values of the circles.

The difference between the means is 0.15. A p value of a one-tailed z-test was set at 0.5 (95% confidence) with a critical value of 1.65. The z value for these two groups was 1. This would indicate a statistically significant test result and did indicate that the blind spot radius of athletes if significantly smaller than that of non-athletes.

Discussion
The results for this research indicate a significant difference in the radius of the blind spot between athletes and non-athletes. This would tend to support the hypothesis that athletes have smaller blind spots than non-athletes do. It can then be theorized that these differences are due to better eye health. However, before we draw this conclusion it must be noted that the sample size in this research was extremely small for this type of study. Different results may be obtained from a larger sample size. In addition, subjects were not screened for diet, exercise, and general health. Caution must be taken in drawing broad conclusions from this research due to these factors. However, the results will be helpful in further research design. Further research should be done on the subject. A screening survey of the subjects would be helpful in isolating the dependent and independent variables. This survey would include questions on diet exercise and general health.

There are several factors that may explain the results obtained. Cai and Cavanagh (2002) found that a condition called acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement syndrome (AIBSE) would cause a similar result in these patients. A swelling in the optic disc from infection can also cause an enlarged blind spot (Fletcher, 1988). A fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum causes scarring to the retina and can cause an enlarged blind spot. However, this is an unlikely cause as one must be exposed to large amounts of bird droppings to contract it (Windsor and Windsor, 2003). In order for future tests to be more conclusive, these conditions must be ruled out as a cause.

In conclusion, the results of this research support the hypothesis that athletes have a smaller blind spot than non-athletes do. Although this may lead us to the conclusion that this is due to better diet and general health. This conclusion must be taken with caution. Due to the small sample size and failure to eliminate certain confounding variables, this conclusion must be made in a guarded fashion. This research will prove useful in the conduct of future research design. It was helpful in designing a simple and effective instrument of the measurement of this phenomenon. Future research should expand on these results and attempt to account for variables that were beyond the scope of this project.

Works Cited

Ballantyne, R. About that Squinty Eye. [Online] http://www.ballantyne.com/rjb_resume/Squinty.html accessed March 2003.

Cai, R. H., & Cavanagh, P. (2002). Motion interpolation of a unique feature into stimulus gaps and blind spots Journal of Vision, 2(7), 30a, http://journalofvision.org/2/7/30/ accessed March, 2003.

Fletcher WA, Imes RK, Goodman D, Hoyt WF. Acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement: a big blind spot syndrome without optic disc edema. Arch Ophthalmol. 1988;106:44-49.

Hall, H. Blind Spot Mapping. Chirobase.org. March 2, 2003. [Online] http://www.chirobase.org/06DD/blindspot.html March 2003.

Lou, L. and Chen, J. Attention and Blind Spot Phenomenology. January, 2003. Psyche 9 (02). [Online] http://psyche.cs.monash.edu.au/v9/psyche-9-02-lou.html accessed March, 2003.

Sedon, J. and Kuijk, F. Eye-Savvy Eating. Science News. August, 1998. [Online]

http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/8_15_98/food.htm accessed March, 2003.

Windsor, R. and Windsor, L. Common Visual Problems of Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome.

Vision World Wide. 2002. [Online] http://www.visionww.org/drswindsor- hystoplasmosis.htm March, 2003.

APPENDIX I
Blind Spot Test

APPENDIX II
Test Set Up

APPENDIX III
Example Test Results

Chocolate: Behind its Bad Rap
Chapter One — Introduction to the Problem

Introduction to the Problem

In today's society, chocolate is everywhere. It seems that people have developed a love-hate relationship with chocolate. According to the US Department of Commerce, the average American ate 11.7 pounds of chocolate in the year 2000. American adults ranked chocolate as the most-craved food and as their favorite flavor by a three-to-one margin. (Mustad, 2001)

Throughout the world exists a society of chocolate lovers. While Americans consume an average of nearly 12 pounds of chocolate per year, we are not the biggest fans. The British eat 16 pounds each and the Swiss, inventors of milk chocolate, consume the most yearly at 22 pounds per person.

However, while people love it, they can't help feeling a pang of guilt when eating it because over the years, chocolate has gotten a "bad rap" as being an unhealthy food. However, recent research is slowly unraveling the hidden truth about chocolate — that it might actually be beneficial to a balanced diet. (Bloom, Mustad)

Despite its name, a typical "milk" chocolate bar provides less than 10 percent of the daily recommended amount of calcium. But, surprisingly, a government survey shows that chocolate and products containing chocolate make substantial contributions to our daily intake of copper, an essential mineral in the prevention of anemia and, possibly, heart disease and cancer. Chocolate also provides significant amounts of magnesium, which plays a role in regulating blood pressure and building bones. (Edmundson, 1996)

Chocolate Myths

Before examining the possible benefits of chocolate, it is important to understand the myths surrounding the delectable food.

Many people believe that the fat in chocolate will cause high levels of cholesterol in the blood. However, since it is a product of plants, chocolate does not contain cholesterol. It is actually saturated fat that is the culprit of increasing cholesterol in the blood. (Bloom)

Stearic acid, which is the main saturated fat found in chocolate, does not raise blood cholesterol levels. A study in which subjects consumed a 1.4 oz. chocolate bar instead of a high carbohydrate snack revealed that the chocolate bar did not raise low-density lipoprotein levels, known as LDL or "bad cholesterol, " but actually increased high-density lipoprotein levels, known as HDL or "good cholesterol."

Many people also look down at chocolate as completely lacking in vitamins and minerals but this is also untrue. When comparing the nutritional values of chocolate milk with regular milk, it is easy to see that chocolate milk has much more sugar than regular milk. Still, it also contains higher levels of zinc, potassium, copper and magnesium. (Steinberg, 2001)

Solid chocolate is a major source of copper, which helps the body use iron and aids in the development of connective tissue, blood vessels, and skin, and magnesium, which is part of the bone structure and plays an important role in the nervous system and in the break down of protein. Another bonus for chocolate milk is that children are more likely to get more of these valued nutrients when offered chocolate milk because they tend to drink two-thirds more chocolate milk versus plain milk.

Contrary to popular belief, chocolate does not cause acne. In a 1970's study carried out at the University of Missouri, test subjects who believed their acne problems got worse within 36 hours of ingesting the "culprit" food were given the equivalent of 230g of chocolate and then observed every day for the week following. (Steinberg, Bloom)

To the amazement of all, no increases in acne were found in response to the food challenges. In a recent study by the University of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Naval Academy, 65 acne sufferers began to consume large amounts of chocolate. 46 showed no change in their condition, 10 got better and nine got worse. This indicates that acne is not related to chocolate consumption. Further studies show that it is related to hormonal changes that create activity of the skin's oil glands.

Additionally, chocolate is not high in caffeine, as many people think. The amount of caffeine in a typical 1.4 oz. bar or an 8 oz. glass of chocolate milk is equivalent to a cup of decaffeinated coffee with 6 mg caffeine. An ounce of bittersweet chocolate has more; from 5-35 mg caffeine and 1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate has 35 mg. These levels are all well below the 140 mg that is in a cup of brewed coffee. Stimulant effects of caffeine can be initiated after consuming 150-200 mg, but this varies from person to person. (Edmundson)

Almost everybody remembers their parents telling them that chocolate causes cavities. But candy alone does not. Susceptible teeth, dental plaque, and food cause cavities. In fact, chocolate and cocoa have the ability to offset the acid-producing potential of the sugar they contain.

Milk chocolate has a high content of protein, calcium, phosphate and other minerals, which have protective effects on tooth enamel. Also, since it contains fat, milk chocolate clears the mouth relatively faster than other candies, so milk chocolate may be less cavity causing.

There is little evidence that chocolate is addictive, although those craving it would say otherwise. The substances found in chocolate do not appear in high enough amounts to exert any significant influence. The most likely explanation for cravings is psychological or sensory. Researchers have found that chocolate aroma has a powerful calming effect. According to Dr. Neil Martin, a senior lecturer in neuropsychology, the sweet smell "may remind people of certain things that are relaxing - or something could be tapping into the sub-cortical emotional centre." (Vinson, 2001)

Researchers at Dundee University suspect the "craving" is simply due to the deep-rooted pleasure of eating chocolate, a combination of sweet taste and creamy texture. Another possibility is the "naughty but nice" factor many people associate with this delicious snack food. (Vinson, Bloom)

The final basic myth surrounding chocolate is that it makes children hyper. However, both the FDA and 1988 Surgeon General's Report on Sugar and Health support findings that neither chocolate nor sugar causes hyperactivity. It is more likely that the environments in which these foods are served are what cause children to get excited.

Statement of the Problem

Research that portrays chocolate as a healthy food may encourage chocoholics to toss aside their feelings of guilt and indulge to their heart's content. After all, research shows that chocolate is good for the heart. However, many agencies, such as the British Heart Foundation, are arguing that advising people to eat chocolate regularly is a reckless message that should be ignored. A more accurate message would be, according to the British Heart Foundation, to "enjoy a little chocolate in moderation, but ensure you eat five portions of fruit and vegetables daily to get all the flavonoids you need without the added fat." (Steinberg)

For example, research has shown that high amounts of flavonoids, which are found in chocolate, may also positively affect mechanisms involved in the maintenance of cardiovascular health. However, this information does not mean that large amounts of chocolate in the diet are going to prevent heart disease.

The purpose of this study is to show that chocolate can be taken off the "guilty foods" list and added to the list of foods that are a part of a healthy diet. But it is important to also show the damaging effects of eating chocolate, which may be downplayed by the newest research promoting chocolate.

Background

For years chocolate has gotten a bad rap for being a guilty indulgence." Seen as a food with a distinctive and tempting flavor that was resisted by health-conscious individuals, this reputation can be seen in the fact that chocolate cake is often called "devil's food." (Coe, 1996)

There are many reasons that chocolate was seen as an unhealthy food. Many health officials labeled chocolate as being associated with fat and refined sugar. It was also said to have high levels of caffeine, and be a contributing factor in a variety of problems, including heart disease and obesity.

This study will show that a lot of chocolate's bad reputation is undeserved. For example, the link between chocolate and disorders, such as obesity and heart disease, is not due to chocolate itself but rather all the high-fat, high-cholesterol butter and cream that is used in chocolate candies and baked goods.

Interestingly, cocoa has actually been used for centuries as an herbal medicine. Central Americans have used cocoa to treat a great variety of things, including fevers, coughs and discomfort associated with pregnancy. There is also evidence that hints that cocoa can be a digestive aid that boosts blood flow to the heart and is useful in helping victims of chest congestion breathe easier. (Young, 1994)

Tests performed by a professor of nutrition and internal medicine on more than 100 volunteers who ate either small amounts of chocolate or who consumed flavonoid-rich cocoa beverages, indicated that the flavonoids in chocolate—compounds that naturally occur in many fruits and vegetables, but are particularly plentiful in cocoa beans—confer helpful effects similar to those produced by low doses of aspirin.

Public health officials often suggest that individuals over the age of 40 take a baby aspirin a day to reduce their risk for stroke and heart attacks. In the United States, it is estimated that millions of individuals take aspirin on a daily basis for its cardio-protective effects.

Scientists have also found that the flavonoids in chocolate may augment the natural oxidant defense systems in the body, which may reduce the risk for certain diseases.

Still, nutrition experts caution that chocolate, which is rich in sugar and fats, should not be viewed as a substitute for fruit and vegetables. Similarly, flavonoid-rich foods should not be viewed as a substitute for low-dose aspirin. This study will examine both the benefits and risks of chocolate in the diet.

Research Questions

How has chocolate gotten a bad rap for being an unhealthy food?

What proof do we have that is a healthy food?

Are the studies on chocolate biased or incomplete?

What are the positive and negative ingredients of chocolate?

How can chocolate be beneficial to a balanced diet?

In what ways can chocolate be harmful to the body?

How has chocolate been used and abused throughout history?

What do nutritionists say about chocolate?

How is chocolate good for the heart?

How is chocolate good for the brain?

What role do the manufacturers of chocolate and chocolate products play in today's research?

Is chocolate a health food?

What kind of research needs to be done in the future?

Are men and women equally attracted to chocolate?

Hypotheses

The purpose of this study to show that chocolate does not deserve the bad rap that it has gotten as an unhealthy food. With a well-balanced diet, eating moderate amounts of chocolate can be beneficial. Still, this study is aimed at providing a complete picture of the studies that have been conducted on chocolate. It is important to know both sides of the story.

While many myths regarding chocolate have been proven wrong, there are still negative effects of eating chocolate. Chocolate is rich in calories and saturated fat, which can lead to disease and obesity. Also, chocolate can be bad for some people.

Chocolate, as well as red wines and certain cheeses, contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a substance that can dilate blood vessels in the brain. People with sensitivity to PEA might find that eating chocolate triggers headaches, even migraines. (Mustad, 2001)

This study will also examine which types of chocolate are most beneficial and which are lacking in nutritional value. It is my goal to prove that chocolate can be beneficial to the diets of many people, provided that they eat it in moderation and in combination with a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Significance of the Study

While initial research on the benefits of chocolate is encouraging, it is obvious that large-scale, controlled human studies are missing and more research is needed.

Chocolate was long believed to be a source of saturated fats, a type of fat that can have negative effects on overall health. More recently however, a number of studies have identified the fat in chocolate as being stearic acid, a type of fat that the body converts through a series of biochemical changes, into oleic acid, which does not have the same deleterious effects.

The problem lies with the type of chocolate. Rich, dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content is a potential source of antioxidants, but what makes up the remaining 30%?

Also, it appears that many studies that have been performed have been minimal and their results have been somewhat misleading. It is important to examine the facts and the result of the research to come to a conclusion about whether chocolate is good, bad or both.

Definition of Terms

**All definitions taken from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.

Acne: an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the skin that is marked by the eruption of pimples or pustules, especially on the face.

Anandamide: a messenger molecule that plays a role in pain, depression, appetite, memory, and fertility.

Antioxidants: a substance, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, or beta carotene, thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation.

Calories: a unit of energy-producing potential equal to this amount of heat that is contained in food and released upon oxidation by the body.

Catechins: a crystalline substance, C15H14O6, derived from catechu and used in tanning and dyeing.

Chocoholic: a person who craves chocolate.

Cholesterol: a white crystalline substance, C27H45OH, found in animal tissues and various foods, that is normally synthesized by the liver and is important as a constituent of cell membranes and a precursor to steroid hormones. Its level in the bloodstream can influence the pathogenesis of certain conditions, such as the development of atherosclerotic plaque and coronary artery disease.

Conching: a flavor developing process that kneads the chocolate.

Depression: a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death.

Fats: macronutrients which are essential to life and provide a useful source of energy while insulating the body and its organs against the cold. They also build and maintain body tissue while assisting in the transport of fat-soluble vitamins throughout the body.

Flavanoids: a grouping of micro-nutrients are 12 classes that individually total over 20, 000. One plant or herb may contain hundreds of flavonoids. The more well researched flavonoid classes are flavones, flavonols, isoflavones, quercetin, anthocyanidins, and catechins. Flavonoids therefore make up the largest group of anti-oxidants.

Hyperactive: highly or excessively active.

Magnesium: a light, silvery-white, moderately hard metallic element that in ribbon or powder form burns with a brilliant white flame. It is used in structural alloys, pyrotechnics, flash photography, and incendiary bombs.

Nutrient: any substance that provides essential nourishment for the maintenance of life.

Obesity: the condition of being obese; increased body weight caused by excessive accumulation of fat.

Oleic Acid: an oily liquid, C17H33COOH, occurring in animal and vegetable oils and used in making soap.

Palmitic Acid: a fatty acid, C15H31COOH, occurring in many natural oils and fats and used in making soaps.

Phenylethlamine: a chemical that speeds up the flow of information between nerve cells.

Phosphate: a molecule containing a phosphorus atom. Phosphate is used by life to carry energy from one molecule to another in ATP. It is also part of RNA and DNA.

Phytochemicals: non-nutrient plant chemicals that contain protective, disease-preventing compounds.

Plyphenol: a substance made when plants go through photosynthesis. It's contained in most plants. In red grapes, tannin and risberitol are the two main types, and in green tea, it's katekin, which is well known.

Potassium: a soft, silver-white, highly or explosively reactive metallic element that occurs in nature only in compounds. It is obtained by electrolysis of its common hydroxide and found in, or converted to, a wide variety of salts used especially in fertilizers and soaps.

Protein: Protein is a macronutrient, composed of amino acids, that promotes the growth and repair of body tissue such as skin, muscle and hair. The daily-recommended intake of protein, depending upon age and gender, can range between 40 grams and 105 grams. Protein is most often found in meat and animal products such as milk and eggs, but can also be found in plant foods like nuts and beans.

Saturated Fat: a fat, most often of animal origin, that is solid at room temperature and whose fatty acid chains cannot incorporate additional hydrogen atoms. An excess of these fats in the diet is thought to raise the cholesterol level in the bloodstream.

Stearic Acid: a colorless, odorless, waxlike fatty acid, CH3(CH2)16COOH, occurring in natural animal and vegetable fats and used in making soaps, candles, lubricants, and other products.

Sugars: carbohydrates, which are macronutrients that serve as the main source of energy for the body. Most carbohydrates consist of a combination of one or more of three single-molecule sugars: glucose, fructose and galactose. Starch consists of long chains of glucose molecules linked together. Table sugar, or sucrose, consists of two sugar molecules (one glucose and one fructose) linked together.

Theobromine: a bitter, colorless alkaloid, C7H8N4O2, derived from the cacao bean, found in chocolate products and used in medicine as a diuretic, vasodilator, and myocardial stimulant.

Zinc: a bluish-white, lustrous metallic element that is brittle at room temperature but malleable with heating. It is used to form a wide variety of alloys including brass, bronze, various solders, and nickel silver, in galvanizing iron and other metals, for electric fuses, anodes, and meter cases, and in roofing, gutters, and various household objects.

Chocolate: Behind Its Bad Rap

Chapter Two — Review of Related Literature and Research

Review of Related Literature and Research

Despite the fact that chocolate has gotten a bad rap over the years, many studies show that, in many ways, it is a healthy food. Particularly over the past decade, scientists, professors, nutritionists and researchers have completed projects that show that chocolate can be good for people.

Studies on chocolate are varied and each one gives a different reason for the popularity of the food. One conclusion is that this food holds benefits for humans in several different ways. Health wise chocolate has components that help fight heart disease. It also has the ability to make people happier and gives a boost of energy.

All of the studies prove that chocolate is unlike any other sweet. The reasons for these differences are not yet completely understood. However each study is helpful in understanding the science of chocolate. Today, the benefits of eating chocolate outweigh any negative effects of the food, but there are still so many gray areas surrounding the research.

A team of scientists has disproved the theory that if something tastes good, it must be bad. The book, Chocolate and Cocoa: A Review of Health and Nutrition, which was commissioned by the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) and produced in cooperation with the International Cocoa Research Foundation (ICREF), the educational foundation of the American Cocoa Research Institute (ACRI), discusses the latest research on the potential benefits of chocolate and cocoa.

The book has revealed that:

Chocolate lovers can take heart in new research showing that this favorite food is packed with high-quality polyphenol antioxidants that may reduce the risk of developing cancer and heart disease.
Stearic acid, the main saturated fatty acid in chocolate, does NOT raise blood cholesterol levels.
It is chocolate's unique taste and sensory properties that make chocolate the single most craved food in the United States.
Cocoa and chocolate are rich in minerals the body needs, including magnesium and iron.
The vast majority of evidence suggests we dismiss the hypothesis that chocolate is a significant migraine trigger.
Chocolate has relatively little impact when it comes to causing dental caries. Chocolate tends to clear the mouth quickly, limiting the time it is in contact with the teeth.
Allergies to chocolate are extremely rare with the more likely allergens being milk, egg, peanut or tree nut components of chocolate products - not the chocolate itself.
Chocolate and cocoa do not cause obesity. It is the quantity of foods eaten, combined with the level of physical activity and underlying genetics, which determine whether a person will gain weight.

According to several recent studies, chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which are the natural chemicals that make red wine healthy. There are actually more flavonoids in two spoons of cocoa than there are in a glass of red wine.

In addition, chocolate contains stearic acid, which is useful in preventing blood clots. Researchers have also found that chocolate is a potent "happy" cocktail of ingredients. It contains caffeine, which is a known stimulant and mood enhancer; and theobromine, which acts as a muscle stimulant.

Chocolate also contains a small dose of anandamide, which is a chemical that stimulates the same part of the brain that marijuana does. However, a person would have to consume 25 lbs. of chocolate during one sitting to get the same effect as marijuana would provide. This explains why eating chocolate makes people feel good, and why some people crave chocolate all the time.

Chocolate also contains potent doses of the polyphenol antioxidants commonly found in green tea. These polyphenols have been proven to protect chocolate from oxidation, which explains while chocolate does not spoil. They are also proven forms of protection from cancer.

Many myths have contributed chocolate's bad reputation. For instance, many people believe that chocolate adds a lot of calories and fat to our diets. However, research performed by Mars, Inc. and several universities shows that less than two percent of fat in the average diet is actually contributed to fat in most developed countries. (Edmondson, 1996)

In these countries, most of the fat comes from meat and dairy products. As long as the diet includes calories from a variety of food, chocolate can be safely included in a nutritious balanced diet, according to research.

Chocolate For the Heart

Phytochemicals called flavonoids that are found in cocoa have two positive effects. First of all, the antioxidants block arterial damage caused by free radicals. These unstable molecules (free radicals) may damage the arterial walls by blocking the artery wall lining. The second indicates, that chocolate inhibit platelet aggregation which could cause a heart attack or stroke. (Vinson, 2001)

There have also been studies indicating that cocoa flavonoids relax the blood vessels that inhibit an enzyme that causes inflammation.

Flavonoids and the subgroup called catechins are found in dark chocolate at four times the amount that is found in green tea. Antioxidants block the free radicals that are breakdown normal cell reproduction.

Phenylethlamines found in chocolate act as a mood altering mild aphrodisiac. This helps people who suffer from depression.

A recent study by Holland's National Institute of Public Health reveals that chocolate contains up to four times the anti-oxidants found in tea. Researchers found that chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. Catechins are the powerful anti-oxidants that help prevent against cancer and heart disease. By contrast, 100 ml of black tea contains a mere 13.9 mg of catechins. (Steinberg, 2001)

UBA and UC Davis Studies

Teams of researcher from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) have discovered that chocolate contains compounds that may promote heart health.

In one study, directed by Carl Keen, professor and chair of the department of nutrition at UC Davis, subjects drank a flavonoid-rich chocolate cocoa beverage. Flavonoids are the largest group of plant polyphenols, an extensive class of antioxidant phytochemicals found throughout the plant kingdom. The consumption of plant-derived flavonoids has been associated for some time with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. (Edmondson, Steinberg, Rozin)

Analysis of the participants' blood revealed that over a six-hour period after drinking the beverage there was a decrease in platelet activation and aggregation, factors that may play a role in the progression of heart disease.

In another study, researchers in the laboratory of Cesar Fraga, professor of physical chemistry at UBA's school of pharmacy and biochemistry, fed participants M&M's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Baking Bits. Fraga and colleagues found that within two hours after ingestion the chocolate led to better absorption of some procyanidins, in addition to an increase in blood antioxidant capacity.

Procyanidins are polyphenolic compounds found in several plant species and commonly consumed foods, including cocoa, tea, grapes, almonds, apples, wine and strawberries. It is believed procyanidins act as antioxidants, modulating key biological pathways in mammals. They may also help protect cells in the body from the potentially harmful effects of free radicals, which have been linked to certain age-related chronic diseases.

That's not all. The researchers also saw a decrease in blood lipid damage by free radicals, a positive development associated with the prevention of heart disease.

"The findings of these studies are consistent with what we might expect to see based on work with other flavonoid-rich foods, such as green tea and red wine, as well as other fruits and vegetables, " says Keen. And, he adds, the results of these pilot human trials on chocolate's potential health benefits correspond nicely with earlier in vitro research.

Previous test tube studies have suggested polyphenols found in chocolate may decrease LDL cholesterol oxidation and modulate platelet activity, two potential contributors to cardiovascular disease. In addition, earlier epidemiological studies have associated the consumption of chocolate with improved cardiovascular health. Even so, Keen was somewhat surprised to see the platelet effect to the extent they did.

Saturated Fat

In Keen's study, the fat content of the cocoa beverage was 10%, with a saturated fat level of around 5%-7%. But there is a big difference between the cocoa beverages and some commercial chocolates. (Steinberg, Rozin)

The fat in chocolate from cocoa butter is comprised of oleic acid, a monosaturated fatty acid, as well as stearic and palmitic acids, chemically classified as saturated fatty acids. In previous studies, oleic acid was shown to possibly have beneficial cardiovascular effects.

Several studies have also provided evidence that unlike other saturated fats, stearic acid has a neutral effect on blood cholesterol. Other test tube and clinical feeding studies have shown that stearic acid can decrease platelet activity.

So it appears that the potential benefits of chocolate outweigh the negatives. Mars, makers of M&MS, and Snickers and Milky Ways, provided the funding for this project, which leads skeptics to believe that it may be biased.

Research on Tooth Decay and Chocolate

Chocolate could help prevent tooth decay, according to scientists at Japan's Osaka University. The husks of the cocoa beans from which chocolate is made contain an antibacterial agent that fights plaque. These husks are usually discarded in chocolate production, but in future they could be added back in to chocolate to make it dental-friendly. (Mustad, 2001)

They concluded that the cavity-fighting action of cocoa bean husks isn't enough to offset decay caused by chocolate's high sugar content, however, so chocolate isn't going to replace toothpaste any time soon.

AAAS Preliminary Findings

At a symposium held during the 2000 Annual Meeting and Science Innovation Exposition of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in February, researchers presented preliminary findings from human trials that suggest that the consumption of certain chocolate products have a positive impact on blood markers associated with heart health. (Mustad)

In one study, subjects who had consumed "M&M's"Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Baking Bits displayed a dose-response effect (the more eaten, the more flavonoids seen in the blood) in flavonoid levels in the blood within two hours, and an increase in blood antioxidant capacity.

Antioxidants are important because they are believed to help protect tissues and cells in the body from the potentially harmful effects of free radicals, which are suspected of contributing to certain age-related chronic diseases. The researchers also observed a decrease in the oxidation of blood lipids, which is considered positive for heart health.

Another study suggested that platelet activation and aggregation (factors that are believed to be markers in the progression of heart disease) decreased over a six-hour period after consumption of a cocoa beverage. (Steinberg)

The promising results of these pilot human trials correspond with earlier test tube research and justify further research to confirm the suggestion that, with balance and moderation, chocolate consumption as part of a healthy diet may support heart health.

Platelets are the smallest of the red blood cells that when activated can clump together and form clots to stop bleeding. It is thought that overactive platelets play a role in the progression of heart disease

Can Chocolate Provide a Long Life?

Researchers at Harvard University have carried out experiments that suggest that if you eat chocolate three times a month you will live almost a year longer than those who forego such sweet temptation. (Mustad)

However, Harvard research also suggested that people who eat too much chocolate have a lower life expectancy. Chocolate's high fat content means that excess indulgence can contribute to obesity, leading to an increased risk of heart disease.

The study suggests eating chocolate in moderation and to opt for dark chocolate. It's higher in cocoa than milk chocolate and helps to increase levels of HDL, a type of cholesterol that helps prevent fat clogging up arteries.

Chocolate and Endorphins

According to recent studies at New York University, chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins, natural body hormones that generate feelings of pleasure and well-being. (Piotrowski)

There are also many chemical elements specific to chocolate that may help to stimulate cravings. In fact, chocolate contains over 300 chemicals and it is not known how all of these affect humans.

Many women report particular chocolate cravings when pre-menstrual. This is possibly because chocolate contains magnesium, a shortage of which can exacerbate pre-menstrual tension. Similar cravings during pregnancy could indicate mild anemia, which chocolate's iron content may help to cure.

Central nervous stimulants such as caffeine are also present in small amounts, and this has a mild effect on alertness as we know from drinking coffee. Another mild stimulant present in chocolate is theobromine, which also serves to relax the smooth muscles in the linings of the lung. Chocolate also makes people feel good by reacting with their brains.

Allergies May Be A Hoax

Further studies show that true chocolate or cocoa allergy is rare even though many people claim to be allergic to it. According to research funded by Hershey products, only one out of every 500 people who thought they were allergic to chocolate actually tested positive. Because people complain of headaches and migraines after eating chocolate, they assume it is an allergic reaction. These reactions may be due to a food intolerance or sensitivity not an actual food allergy. (Mustad)

It is also possible that ingredients added to chocolate during processing, such as corn syrup, milk, soybeans, lecithin, gluten, and nuts could cause adverse reactions.

On the Negative Side

With all the hype about chocolate and how good it can be, it is important to include research that looks at the negative side of eating chocolate.

Scientists have discovered over the last few decades that chocolate may cause headaches, obesity, heartburn, rectal itching, coronary problems, and emotional problems such as feelings of anger, irritability, confusion, and depression. (Coe, 1996)

Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause anxiety, sleep problems, heartburn, restlessness, and difficulty with concentration. Headaches and fatigue are usual signs of withdrawal from caffeine. Although there is much less caffeine in chocolate than in a cup of coffee, small amounts can add up. (Dillinger, 2000)

Theobromine occurs naturally in cacao beans and stimulates the nervous system and heart rate. It may affect emotional moods as a natural antidepressant. It is also a mild diuretic.

Phenyethylamine affects mood swings by causing an initial emotional high then a short time later an emotional low. It causes blood pressure and blood-sugar levels to rise, resulting in a feeling of alertness and contentment.

Unhealthy In the Minds of Most

A 2002 Healthy Living survey sponsored by Speak Out showed that people still consider chocolate an unhealthy food, and their favorite one at that. The chart below shows the top favorite "unhealthy" foods of the respondents. (Speak Out)

Favorite "Unhealthy" Foods

Food

Frequency

Percent*

Chocolate

70

29

Chips

43

18

Candy

30

12

Ice Cream

23

9

Fried foods

21

9

Soda

16

7

Fast food

9

4

Cookies

8

3

Cake/baked goods

8

3

Pizza

8

3

Breakfast foods

3

1

Everything

2

1

Other

2

1

A research report titled "Chocolate: Food or Drug?" says that although addictive behavior is generally associated with drug and alcohol abuse or compulsive sexual activity, chocolate may evoke similar psychopharmacologic and behavioral reactions in susceptible persons. (Bruinsma, 1999) A review of the literature on chocolate cravings indicates that the appeal of chocolate, such as fat, sugar, texture, and aroma, is likely to be a predominant factor in such cravings.

Other characteristics of chocolate, however, may be equally as important contributors to the phenomena of chocolate cravings. Chocolate may be used by some as a form of self-medication for dietary deficiencies or to balance low levels of neurotransmitters involved in the regulation of mood, food intake, and compulsive behaviors.

According to the study, chocolate cravings are often episodic and fluctuate with hormonal changes just before and during the menses, which suggests a hormonal link and confirms the assumed gender-specific nature of chocolate cravings.

Still, the study shows that chocolate contains several biologically active constituents, all of which potentially cause abnormal behaviors and psychological sensations that parallel those of other addictive substances.

Most likely, a combination of chocolate's sensory characteristics, nutrient composition, and psychoactive ingredients, compounded with monthly hormonal fluctuations and mood swings among women, will ultimately form the model of chocolate cravings. It emphasizes that dietetics professionals must be aware that chocolate cravings are real. (Kurzer, 1999)

The psychopharmacologic and chemosensory effects of chocolate must be considered when formulating recommendations for overall healthful eating and for treatment of nutritionally related health issues.

During a double-blind study of headache at the University of Pittsburgh, scientists used chocolate as the active agent and carob as the placebo. (Scharff, 1997) The chocolate and carob samples were formulated to duplicate products used in an earlier study in which strong differential effects between the ability of chocolate and carob to trigger headache in migraine were shown. Sixty-three women with chronic headache (50% migraine, 37.5% tension-type, 12.5% combined migraine and tension-type) participated in the study. (Steinberg, Kurzer)

After 2 weeks of following a diet that restricted vasoactive amine-rich foods, each subject underwent double-blinded provocative trials with two samples of chocolate and two of carob presented in random order. Diaries were maintained by the subjects throughout the study, monitoring diet and headache.

The results demonstrated that chocolate was not more likely to provoke headache than was carob in any of the headache diagnostic groups. These results were independent of subjects' beliefs regarding the role of chocolate in the instigation of headache. Headache diagnosis and the concomitant use of additional vasoactive amine-containing foods were also not associated with chocolate acting as a headache trigger.

Thus, contrary to the commonly held belief of patients and physicians, chocolate does not appear to play a significant role in triggering headaches in typical migraine, tension-type, or combined headache sufferers.

According to a Northwestern University study, individuals' ratings of the pleasantness of eating chocolate were associated with increased blood flow in areas of the brain, particularly in the orbital frontal cortex and midbrain, that are also activated by addictive drugs such as cocaine. (Small, 2001)

The researchers of the study gave 15 study participants, who classified themselves as "chocoholics, " between 16 to 74 squares of chocolate (or about 40 to 170 grams) that had to melt slowly in the mouth. The researchers measured brain activity of participants, as they became full and then beyond full to the point where they ate despite no longer wanting to.

The researchers learned that the brain regions activated by eating chocolate when it is rewarding are quite different from those areas that are activated by eating chocolate when it is perceived as aversive, as a result of having eaten too much chocolate.

Many food scientists have reported chocolate to be the single most craved food. Some researchers have even argued that chocolate is addictive.

In a 2000 report by the Laboratory of Toxicology, a case was presented involving chocolate cannabinoid mimics, which have been utilized in court by the defendant's lawyer in order to clear the accused of smoking and dealing in marijuana after he was found positive for cannabis in a routine urine immunoassay screening test. (Tytgat, 2000)

The argumentation in this case was that the accused had supposedly eaten a massive amount of chocolate, which contained anandamide-related lipids. These lipids inhibit anandamide hydrolysis in the brain, act as cannabinoid mimics and, according to the lawyer, were the cause of the positive cannabinoid test.

To investigate this in detail, we synthesized N-oleoyl- and N-linoleoylethanolamide and spiked these compounds together with N-arachidonoylethanolamide in urine for immunological investigations. None of the samples were found positive, indicating that no cross-reactivity occurs with cannabinoids. As a result, the lawyer's claim could be refuted and the accused was convicted.

A study by the University of Canterbury was conducted in 1999 to test if suppression frequently results in subsequent hyperaccessibility of the suppressed thoughts. (Bulik, 1999) This study investigated whether this effect transfers to behavior. Does suppressing thoughts result in a subsequent increase in the performance of behaviors related to those thoughts?

Twenty chocolate cravers and 22 noncravers were instructed to suppress chocolate-related thoughts in an articulated thoughts task or they were given no specific instructions. Participants then completed a computer-based task which yielded chocolate rewards.

The results showed that both the cravers and noncravers could suppress chocolate-related thoughts when instructed to do so. Both groups of participants showed greater performance, and hence earned more chocolate, in the suppression than control condition.

A University of Califonia, Davis study says that the medicinal use of cacao, or chocolate, both as a primary remedy and as a vehicle to deliver other medicines, originated in the New World and diffused to Europe in the mid-1500s. (Dillinger) These practices originated among the Olmec, Maya and Mexica.

The word cacao is derived from Olmec and the subsequent Mayan languages; the chocolate-related term cacahuatl is Nahuatl, derived from Olmec/Mayan etymology. Early colonial era documents included instructions for the medicinal use of cacao. The Badianus Codex noted the use of cacao flowers to treat fatigue, whereas the Florentine Codex offered a prescription of cacao beans, maize and the herb tlacoxochitl to alleviate fever and panting of breath and to treat the faint of heart.

Subsequent 16th to early 20th century manuscripts produced in Europe and New Spain revealed 100 medicinal uses for cacao/chocolate. Three consistent roles can be identified:

to treat emaciated patients to gain weight
to stimulate nervous systems of apathetic, exhausted or feeble patients
to improve digestion and elimination where cacao/chocolate countered the effects of stagnant or weak stomachs, stimulated kidneys and improved bowel function.
Additional medical complaints treated with chocolate/cacao have included anemia, poor appetite, mental fatigue, poor breast milk production, consumption/tuberculosis, fever, gout, kidney stones, reduced longevity and poor sexual appetite/low virility.

Chocolate paste was a medium used to administer drugs and to counter the taste of bitter pharmacological additives. In addition to cacao beans, preparations of cacao bark, oil (cacao butter), leaves and flowers have been used to treat burns, bowel dysfunction, cuts and skin irritations.

The Latest Research

A 2002 report from France shows that certain substances in cocoa powder inhibit 70 percent of cancer cells during a critical phase of their growth cycle. Japanese researchers have shown that tiny amounts of a cacao bean extract are more toxic to human tumor cells than to normal cells.

In some regards polycaphenol was even more effective than vitamin C. Pretreatment of mice with polycaphenol also protected them from lethal E. coli infections.

In 2001, food researcher John Weisburger, PhD stated: "The cocoa bean, and tasty products derived from the cocoa bean such as chocolate, and the beverage cocoa, popular with many people worldwide, is rich in specific antioxidants. " (Piotrowski, 2001)

The regular intake of such products, he continued, would increase the level of antioxidants, prevent the oxidation of "bad" LDL cholesterol, and probably prevent heart disease. "It would seem reasonable to suggest inhibition of the several phases of the complex processes leading to cancer, " Weisburger said.

Summary of Research

The recent findings on chocolate, including the presence of stearic acid in chocolate, do not make chocolate a health food. Based on studies of isolated fatty acids, some scientists have found that stearic acid, unlike other saturated fatty acids, doesn't raise blood cholesterol.

Stearic acid occurs combined with other fatty acids in our foods, however, and a recently published study doesn't support the notion that foods containing stearic acid are necessarily better for our hearts and arteries. (Steinberg, 2000)

The present knowledge about antioxidants, how they interact, and what their presence in the diet as food and as supplements accomplishes, is limited. Multiple studies have shown that people who consume diets rich in fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants, but not other types of foods with antioxidants, have greater longevity. There is at present no firm evidence that antioxidant supplements can decrease one's risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Some limited studies have suggested that antioxidant supplements can prevent heart disease or the aging process, but the results have been mixed, with some populations who took supplements even doing significantly worse than those that didn't. (Steinberg, Bloom)

There are no explanations at present for these results. A recently study with thousands of patients showed that a large Vitamin E supplement, a much-touted antioxidant, had no apparent effect on heart disease.

Aside from the notion of good dietary fats and bad dietary fats, all fats, whether saturated, such as stearic or palmitic, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, contain nine calories per gram. If a person eats enough chocolate to get high amounts of either stearic acid or antioxidants, he/she will undoubtedly consume excess calories that will turn up as body fat.

Obesity itself is a strong risk factor for several diseases, including heart disease. In addition, most chocolate confections contain other ingredients that cannot be classified as heart-healthy. In addition, behavioral studies show us that craving for a particular food is a learned activity and therefore can be unlearned. (Rozin, 1991)

Chocolate: Behind Its Bad Rap

Chapter Three — Design of the Study

Design of the Study

There are several factors that were taken into consideration when designing the methodology for the study. It is important to address the history of chocolate, the making of chocolate, the positive and negative effects of chocolate, who loves chocolate and

Wow Loud noises! You just opened a complaint board and this is the first thing you post. Come on!

Spam advertiser. Could be an intentional diversion too.

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Welcome
Updated January 11, 2009
This website is owned and operated by Hormel Foods Corporation ("Hormel Foods, " "we, " "us, " and "our"). Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how Hormel Foods protects your privacy when you visit this website, and the other Hormel Foods websites that display this Privacy Policy (our "Site(s)"). This Privacy Policy describes what types of information we gather and track when you use our Sites, how this information is used and with whom it is shared. If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please send us an email at cresponse@hormel.com or write to us at Hormel Foods Corporation, 1 Hormel Place, Austin, MN 55912
Scope of This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy covers the "personal information" we collect through our Sites. For a list of our Sites, click http://www.hormelfoods.com/familyofsites.aspx.
"Personal information" is information that identifies you personally, either alone or in combination with other information available to us. Examples of personal information include your name, address, email address, credit card information, image and the information you provide when you use one of our Sites to create an account or a personal profile.
Your Consent
Please take a few minutes to review this Privacy Policy. By accessing or using one of our Sites you are consenting to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information as set forth in this Privacy Policy.
IF YOU DO NOT CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AS SET FORTH IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY, PLEASE EXIT AND DO NOT USE THIS SITE.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
As we add new features and functionality to our Sites, we may need to update or revise this Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to do so, at any time and without prior notice, by posting the revised version on our Sites. These changes will be effective as of the date we post the revised version on our Sites. They will apply only to the personal information we collect after we have posted the revised version. Your use of one of our Sites following any such change constitutes your consent to the terms of the revised Privacy Policy. For this reason, it is important to review this Privacy Policy regularly. If we modify this Privacy Policy, we will provide a notice at the top of this Privacy Policy for at least 30 days after the new effective date.
You may access the current version of this Privacy Policy at any time by clicking on the link marked "Privacy Policy" at the bottom of each page of our Sites. For your convenience, we post the effective date of this Privacy Policy at the top of this page, so that you can see at a glance whether this Privacy Policy has changed since your last visit.
Privacy Notices
This Privacy Policy may be supplemented or amended from time to time by "Privacy Notices" posted on our Sites. Generally, Privacy Notices provide details about the personal information we collect on particular pages or particular areas of a Site, why we need that information, and choices you may have about the ways we use that information.
Agreements Governing Your Use of Special Features and Password-Protected Areas of Our Sites
Some of our Sites include special features and password-protected areas. For example, you may be able to use our Sites to apply for a job, to share recipes, or to design and email a "gram" to a friend, and send and receive text messages.
When you sign up to use a special feature or password-protected area, you may be asked to agree to special terms governing your use of the special feature or password-protected area. In such cases, you will be asked to expressly consent to the special terms, for example, by checking a box or clicking on a button marked "I agree." This type of agreement is known as a "click-through" agreement. If any of the terms of the click-through agreement are different than the terms of this Privacy Policy, the terms of the click-through agreement will supplement or amend this Privacy Policy, but only with respect to the matters governed by the "click-through agreement."
What Personal Information Do We Collect Through Our Sites?
Information You Provide. We collect the personal information you knowingly provide (using your mouse and keyboard, cellular or mobile phones) when you use our Sites. The information we collect depends on how you use our Sites. For example, if you sign up to receive email communications from us, we collect your email address and any related information you provide. If you communicate with us using the "Contact Us" feature, we collect the information you provide when you complete the "Contact Us" form.
Credit Card Information. If you make a purchase on Spamgift.com, Hormel Foods will collect and verify your credit card information. When you provide credit card information through our other Sites, the information you provide goes directly from your computer to a server operated by one of our service providers. The service provider uses your credit card information only to process your transaction and is bound by contract to treat all of your personal information as confidential. Although our service providers send us most of the information you provide when you complete a transaction (so that we know, for example, who has purchased a product and where to ship it), for your security, our service providers do not share your credit card information with us.
Supplemental Information. From time to time, we may supplement the information you give us with information from other sources, such as information validating your address or information based on your zip code. We may also supplement the information you give us with information we collect from you through other Hormel Foods websites or other channels.
Information Sent to Us by Your Web Browser. We collect information that is sent to us automatically by your Web browser. This information typically includes the IP address of your Internet service provider, the name and version of your operating system, the name and version of your browser, the date and time of your visit, and the pages you visit. Please check your browser if you want to learn what information your browser sends or how to change your settings.
This information does not identify you personally. Generally, we use this information to improve our Sites and make them more compatible with the technology used by our visitors. In most cases, we do not link the information sent by your browser to information that identifies you personally. We do, however, review our server logs – which contain visitors' IP addresses -- for security purposes, such as detecting intrusions into our network. If we suspect criminal activity, we may share our server logs with the appropriate investigative authorities who could use that information to trace and identify individuals.
Cookies and Similar Technologies. We use "cookies" and other Web technologies to collect information and support certain features of our Sites. For example, we may use these technologies to collect information about the ways visitors use our Sites – which pages they visit, which links they use, and how long they stay on each page;
to manage and determine the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns;
to support the features and functionality of our Sites – for example, to save you the trouble of reentering information already in our database or to prompt the settings you established on previous visits to our Sites; and to personalize your experience when you use our Sites.
Generally, the information we collect using these Web technologies does not identify you personally. If, however, you have created a user identity, for example, by signing up to use a password-protected area on one of our Sites, we may link the information we collect using Web technologies to other information that identifies you personally.
If you do not wish to receive cookies, you may set your browser to reject cookies or to alert you when a cookie is placed on your computer. You may also delete our cookies as soon as you leave a Site. Although you are not required to accept our cookies when you visit our Sites, if you set your browser to reject cookies, you will not be able to use all of the features and functionality of our Sites.
Our marketing and advertising consultants also use cookies and other Web technologies to collect information about visitors to our Sites. To learn more, click here.
Nielsen: http://www.nielsen-online.com/privacy.jsp?section=leg_scs Web Trends Privacy Policy: http://www.webtrends.com/AboutWebTrends/ PrivacyPolicy.aspx?promo=TI_silopriv_FT&WT.svl=ftr_privacy here.
How Does Hormel Foods Use Your Personal Information?
Generally. We use the personal information we collect through our Sites
to provide the products, information and services you request;
for security, credit or fraud prevention purposes;
to provide you with effective customer service;
to provide you with a personalized experience when you use our Sites;
to display personalized advertising when you visit our Sites;
to contact you with special offers and other information we believe will be of interest to you (but only with your permission);
to contact you with information and notices related to your use of our Sites;
to invite you to participate in surveys and provide feedback to us;
to better understand your needs and interests;
to improve the content, functionality and usability of our Sites;
to improve our products and services;
to improve our marketing and promotional efforts; and
for any other purpose identified in an applicable Privacy Notice or other agreement between Hormel Foods and you.
Direct Marketing. Before we use your personal information for direct marketing purposes, we will offer you the opportunity to choose whether or not to have your information used in this way. To learn more about the choices you have about the ways we use your personal information, please click here.
"Email a Friend" Features. Some of our Sites include "Email a Friend" features that allow you to forward information or customized communications to your friends. When you use one of these features, we will ask you to provide your friend's name and email address. We use this information only to customize and deliver your message. We do not add your friend's name or email address to our mailing lists. Some of our Email a Friend features permit you to upload photographs to customize your communication. We use the photographs you upload only to customize your communication. We do not use your photographs for any other purpose.
How Does Hormel Foods Share My Personal Information?
Service Providers. We share personal information with companies and organizations that perform services on our behalf, for example, companies that provide support services to us (such as credit card processing services, data storage services, and web hosting services) or that help us market our products and services (such as third-party e-mail marketing companies). These third parties are required by contract to use the personal information we share with them only to perform services on our behalf and to treat your personal information as strictly confidential.
Within Hormel Foods. We may share your personal information within Hormel Foods (that is, among the business divisions within Hormel Foods) for the purposes and as set forth in this Privacy Policy. For example, we may store the personal information we collect through our Sites in central database used by all of our business units and brands. We will not share your personal information with our affiliates (that is, subsidiaries and other business entities controlled by Hormel Foods), except as provided in a privacy notice or click-through agreement.
Business Transfers. Your personal information may be transferred to a company that has acquired the stock or assets of Hormel Foods or one of our businesses, for example, as the result of a sale, merger, reorganization or liquidation. If such a transfer occurs, the acquiring company's use of your personal information will still be subject to this Privacy Policy and the privacy preferences you have expressed to us.
Compliance With Laws and Protection of Our Rights and the Rights of Others. We may disclose personal information when we, in good faith, believe disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law, a court order or a subpoena. We may also disclose personal information to prevent or investigate a possible crime, such as fraud or identity theft; to enforce or apply our online Terms of Use or other agreements; or to protect our own rights or property or the rights, property or safety of our users or others.
As Described in a Privacy Notice. We reserve the right to disclose your personal information as described in any Privacy Notice posted on the Web page (or area) where you provide that information. By providing your personal information on that Web page you will be consenting to the disclosure of your personal information as described in that Privacy Notice.
As Described in a Click-Through Agreement. We reserve the right to disclose your personal information as described in any click-through agreement to which you have agreed.
Your Choices
In General
We respect your right to make choices about the ways we collect, use and disclose your personal information. In most cases, we will ask you to indicate your choices at the time we collect your personal information. We will also include an "opt-out" link in newsletter or promotional email we send you so that you can inform us that you do not wish to receive such communications from us in the future. If you have created an account or a personal profile on one of our Sites, you may be able to update some or all of your privacy choices by changing the settings on your account settings or profile page.
Direct Marketing
Before we use your personal information for direct marketing purposes (or permit our affiliates to do so), we will offer you the opportunity to choose whether to have your information used in this way. If at any time you wish to be taken off our direct marketing mailing lists, please send us an email at cresponse@hormel.com or write to us at Hormel Foods Corporation, Consumer Response, 1 Hormel Place, Austin, MN 55912 Please provide your full name, address and email address so that we can find you on our mailing lists. Once we have the information we need, we will remove you from our mailing lists. Please give us a reasonable amount of time to honor your request.
How Can You Access, Update or Correct Your Personal Information?
If you have created an account or a personal profile on one of our Sites, you may be able to access and update some or all of your personal information on your account settings or profile page. In most cases, however, you will need our help. If you wish to access, update or correct your personal information, please send us an email at cresponse@hormel.com or write to us at Hormel Foods Corporation, 1 Hormel Place, Austin, MN 55912 We will respond to you within a reasonable time and within the time limits established by applicable law. We may ask you for additional information to verify your identity. In most cases, we will provide access and correct or delete any inaccurate information you discover. In some cases, however, we may limit or deny your request if the law permits or requires us to do so or if we are unable to verify your identify.
How Does Hormel Foods Protect Personal Information?
We take reasonable precautions to provide a level of security appropriate to the sensitivity of the personal information we collect. Although we use reasonable measures to help protect your personal information against unauthorized use or disclosure, we cannot guarantee the security of information provided over the Internet or stored in our databases.
Password Protected Areas of This Site
For your protection, certain areas of our Sites are password protected. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your passwords. We have the right to assume that anyone accessing our Sites using a password assigned to you has the right to do so. You will be solely responsible for the activities of anyone accessing our Sites using a password assigned to you, even if the individual is not, in fact authorized by you. If you have reason to believe that your password has been compromised or used without authorization, you must promptly change it using the functionality provided on the Site.
Links to Other Hormel Foods websites
Hormel Foods operates many different websites, each with its own content, features, and functionality. Each Hormel Foods website serves a different purpose. For this reason, not all of our websites are governed by this Privacy Policy. When you use a link on one of our Sites to access another Hormel Foods website, please take a minute to review the privacy policy posted on that website. For a list of the Sites that are governed by this Privacy Policy, click here http://www.hormelfoods.com/familyofsites.aspx
Links to Third-Party websites
This Site may also contain links to websites operated by other companies, including websites operated by our third-party service providers, our affiliates, and other third parties. This Privacy Policy does not apply to personal information collected on any of these third-party websites. When you access third-party websites through a link on this Site, please take a few minutes to review privacy policy posted on that site.
Use of Cookies, Web Beacons and Similar Technologies by Third Parties
Marketing Consultants. Our marketing consultants may use Web beacons, cookies and other Web technologies to collect information about visitors to our Sites. For example, our consultants may count how many visitors access our Sites, what links they use, and what pages they view. They may also track which websites and advertisements refer traffic to our Sites and the URLs of the sites to which our Sites refer traffic (that is, the websites on which our visitors land when they leave our Sites). Our consultants use this information to compile statistics and prepare reports that provide the feedback and analysis we need to understand the needs and interests of our visitors, improve the content, functionality and usability of our Sites, and improve the effectiveness of our advertising and marketing efforts. The information our consultants collect does not identify you personally.
Advertising Companies. We use third-party advertising companies to manage our online advertising campaigns. Our advertising companies use cookies and other Web technologies to target and measure the effectiveness of our advertisements. For example, our advertising companies place Web beacons on their clients' websites, including our Sites. When you visit these websites, the Web beacon "tags" your computer with a "cookie." The information stored on the cookie does not identify you personally and is not combined with any information that identifies you personally, but it does permit our advertising companies to recognize your computer when you access one of their clients' sites. Our advertising companies use the information they collect about your use of their clients' websites to customize the advertisements you see when you visit their clients' sites. Our advertising companies' use of cookies and other web technologies is covered by their privacy policies, not by this Online Privacy Statement. If you do not wish to receive our advertising companies' cookies, you may "opt-out" by following the directions in our advertising companies' privacy policies. For more information, click here. Nielsen: http://www.nielsen-online.com/privacy.jsp?section=leg_scs ; Web Trends Privacy Policy: http://www.webtrends.com/AboutWebTrends/ PrivacyPolicy.aspx?promo=TI_silopriv_FT&WT.svl=ftr_privacy
Children
Our Sites are not directed nor targeted to children under the age of 13. We do not use our Sites to knowingly solicit data from or market to children under the age of 13. If you are under the age of 13, do not provide us with any personal information. If we learn that someone under 13 has provided personally identifiable information through one of our Sites, we will use reasonable efforts to remove such information from our databases.
Special Notice for Visitors Who Reside Outside the United States
Hormel Foods is a U.S. corporation. Hormel Foods and its affiliates do business in more than 40 countries. Our headquarters are in Austin, Minnesota in the United States of America. Our Web servers and databases are located in the United States or in other countries. We may transfer your personal information to our service providers and others located in the United States or other countries for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. Different countries have different privacy laws and requirements, and some, including the United States, provide less legal protection for your personal information than others. Please know, however, that no matter where your personal information is collected, used, transferred or stored, if it was collected through our Sites, it will be protected by the terms of this Privacy Policy and any privacy notices or click-through agreements that apply to you.
BY USING THIS SITE, YOU ARE CONSENTING TO THE COLLECTION, USE, AND TRANSFER OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN OR TO THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed under the laws of the State of Minnesota, United States of America without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.
Questions Concerning Our Privacy Practices
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices:
Send an e-mail to cresponse@hormel.com and write "Privacy" in the subject line
Write to us at
Hormel Foods Corporation
1 Hormel Place
Austin, MN [protected]
Attn: Legal Dept.

AuditJoker, did you get any information about a manager at USLA's Sacramento Branch named JR Taitano? I've heard he was unlicensed and worked for Voyage and also managed a Loan Mod scam at one point. A friend that used to also work at the mod company claimed that this guy made things up for the sake of closing business and consulted people to just tell the consumer what they want to hear to get the business closed. That's pretty Skeezy.

AuditJoker, what about JR Taitano though? I've heard really bad things. Surely, you've heard of him and have information regarding his antics?

i have not had a chance to look into that name...is he a bad guy?

Why would he be a factor involving complaints on this forum regarding US Loan Auditors?...

it seems like i am outa my league here and need to step back for a few.
too many peoples names getting thrown around now.