Thursday, December 10, 2009

Encouragement 15 Days until Christmas

“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”


Johann Wolfgang

Encourage where you can!

Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday....16 days until Christmas

I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.”

William Allen White

Just love the day and your yesterdays will be better, and your tomorrows you can look forward to.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Learning....18 Days until Christmas


I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. The same goes for true love.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

Books:  How to loose all your friends, a puffin book by, Nancy Carlson

Book:   Forgiving the Unforgivable , by, David A. Stoop
Book:   Eat, Pray, Love: One Womans Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by, Elizabeth Gilbert
Book:  Words...Loving Emotions, Poems to Awaken the Soul.  By, Pittershawn Palmer 


 

Coming alive....17 Days Until Christmas


"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
~ Harold Whitman (Is a fictional name....no one know's who really said this)

This quote sometimes is confused with Howard Thurman Whitman (1899 - April 10, 1981) was an influential American author, philosopher, theologian, educator and civil rights leader. He was Dean of Theology and the chapels at Howard University and Boston University for more than two decades, wrote 20 books, and in 1944 helped found the first racially integrated, multicultural church in the United States.

However...Howard Thurman Whitman did say this,"In the conflicts between man and man, between group and group, between nation and nation, the loneliness of the seeker for community is sometimes unendurable. The radical tension between good and evil, as man sees it and feels it, does not have the last word about the meaning of life and the nature of existence. There is a spirit in man and in the world working always against the thing that destroys and lays waste. Always he must know that the contradictions of life are not final or ultimate; he must distinguish between failure and a many-sided awareness so that he will not mistake conformity for harmony, uniformity for synthesis. He will know that for all men to be alike is the death of life in man, and yet perceive harmony that transcends all diversities and in which diversity finds its richness and significance." From The Search For Common Ground; An Inquiry Into The Basis Of Man's Experience Of Community.

Book: Feeding the Animals: Originally published in 1901.
Book:  Community:  The structure of belonging
Book: The Spirit in Man, Art and Literature by Jung
Book:  Creating Harmony: Conflict Resolution in Community

Miracles...19 Days until Christmas

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is. "

Albert Einstein


Monday, December 07, 2009

Bitterness 20 Days Until Christmas


When the days are tough, and bitterness flares up into your heart...
know that it is the bitterness that can tell you that you need to soften your heart!

If we did not have tears, then we would not know laughter.
If we did not have bouts of bitterness, then we would not know sweetness.

We can use our lifes lessons to help us grow.
We can learn to embrace bitterness to make us stronger.

Patience is bitter, but it bears sweet fruit.
Turkish proverb


Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.
William Author Ward

It is a simple but sometimes forgotten truth that the greatest enemy to present joy and high hopes is the cultivation of retrospective bitterness.
Robert G. Menzines

Who has never tasted what is bitter does not know what is sweet.
German Proverb


When you've been wronged. Moving from Bitterness to Forgiveness, by Erwin W. Lutzer


The Root of Bitterness: Documents of the Social History of American Women


In Bitterness and Tears:Andrew Jackson's Destruction of the Creeks and Seminoles


The Lost Art of Fogiving. Stories of healing from the Cancer of Bitterness. By, Johann Christoph Arnold



Friday, December 04, 2009

No Berlusconi Day 5 Dec Rome, Italy



CAN NOT 'BE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
No Berlusconi Day
P.zza della Repubblica - 14.00 hours
December 5, 2009 Una national demonstration to demand the resignation of Silvio Burlesconi
WHY 'WHO:
Denies the equality of citizens before the law
OUTRAGE public ethics and the dignity of Italy
Prepend their interests to the common good
WALK freedom of information
ATTACK Constitution
Harnessing the peaceful and independent from the parties, the first step towards a more dignified leadership!
The public, beyond political affiliations, outside parties, to the streets calling for the resignation of Silvio Burlesconi.


Silvio Berlusconi: Telivision, Power and Patrimony. By, Paul Gensborg



Berlusconi's Italy: Mapping Contemporary Italian Politics. By, Michael E. Shin, John A. Agnew


Be Willing......21 Days until Christmas


Today is the day you hand your troubles to God. Nothing is too big for him to handle. Be willing to consider the possibility that God can do for you what you cannot do for yourself.

We have the unique ability to hold on to everything, old clothes, old notes, old friends things that might put a stress in our lives.

We walk around worring if that boy will really like me, how can I buy the shoes that I must have, worried if our hair will stay right during the day...we can just titter ourselves into a frenzy.

Worry causes anxiety, the worry gets bigger the more you worry!  Sometimes we drain ourselves by doing to much analysing or controlling of situations, or we put too much effort into gathering information before making a decision or feeling at ease. 

Don't you want to get out of the mess?  Get rid of the stress and worry?

Let go and let God do the work!  Lay it all down on the table before him, and be willing to let him take charge. Trust that he will take care of it.  Not when he feels like it, not if you say it enought, because he already knows, and is will do it once you hand it over to him.

This does not mean, you are quitting, or giving up.  When you let go, you are allowing/creating space in your life for change to occur!

Just sit down for a few moments, and give God a list big or small.  Imagine yourself just handing it all over and walking away, while he has the big list in his hands.

Smile and do not look back and relax a little.  Know that HE is bigger than our list, be willing to walk away and let go and let God!  Be willing to be "unstuck" from your troubles.  Don't hold on to them like glue.

Remind yourself, when you get down on things, that you already gave it for someone much bigger to take care of.

Now it is our responsibility to listen, forget and forgive ourselves.
Sit back and watch God work in our lives!

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Moving Mountains....22 days until Christmas


You have heard it said, that if we have faith, we have the power to move mountains!
Know that you have that within you, you are a mountain moving machine!

“ If you have faith as a grain of musterd seed you can say to this mountain : move ! And it will move ! And nothing will be impossible to you. “

How do we get the faith to move the mountains?

Well, it is not by sititng and doing nothing, saying...I have faith that this and this will happen! Nothing happens if you sit still.

First, you have to know that you have God on your side, and he wants nothing but the best for you.  Knowing that the creator of creators is right next to you, should be encouraging enough to know that you already have that faith!

Who is better to sit by your side?  Who loves you more?  Who holds your hands when you are down?  Who jumps for joy when you do? 

It is the knowing, that builds your faith.  There is a difference between knowing and having knowledge.  It is that inner belief, that you already have been created wonderful and perfect!  Because he would made you is wonderful and perfect!  He cannot make mistakes.

With that, then you can have a dream and desire to move forward.  He will be your strengh as you walk your walk. How can you loose?

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

The first step is silence....23 Days until Christmas


The first step in the acquisition of wisdom is silence, the second listening, the third memory, the fourth practice, the fifth teaching others.
Solomon Ibn Gabriol

It is in silence that you discover the truth of interconnectedness, and the priceless jewel of love.
It is the silence that unfolds naturally when you see that all the noise in your mind—the mental chatter—is entirely self-generated. When you see that it is your own story, your own incessant thinking that is getting in the way of your deeper peace and well-being, that seeing brings everything to a stop. Then the exquisite fragrance of stillness, of silence, reveals itself.

More important than outward silence is inward silence, and that is not so easily available to us.  Just as when we look outside and see a vast universe interwoven with activities and quietude, our internal world has both action and silence.  When we look into the mind we ordinarily see only the surface phenomena-thoughts, feelings, and desires. We must mak additional effort to experience that inner silence, the silence of the mind.

Look for it....24 Days until Christmas


"In every difficult situation is potential value.
Believe this, then begin looking for it."


Norman V Peale

When we are going through a difficult moment, look around to see what potential value that moment has for you.
When we do this, then our difficult moments do not seem so difficult anymore and we can gather excitement within ourselves to see what will be next in our lives.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Acts of Kindness...25 Days until Christmas


A follow up to healing a broken heart and to open a closed heart can start with acts of kindness.

Here are some examples for starters:

  • Donate your professional clothes to an organization that helps people get back into the workforce.
  • Reach out to the homebound -- seniors, ill or incapacitate children or caregivers committed to caring for their family members at home. Give them with an inspiring book. Offer to bring them books from the library. Help them take care of their pets. Convince a beautician or barber to make a house-call. Give them a call once in a while for a chat.
  • Give a thank-you card to a bus driver who is driving off-peak hours, or to your postperson, the clerk at the bank who helps you all of the time, your school advisor, your favorite profesor.
  • Tape the exact change for a soda to a vending machine or a payphone.
  • Leave flowers in front of someone's house.
  • Bake cookies for your neighbors.
  • Put quarters in the laundry machine for the next person.
  • Send cards with beautiful messages to anonymous people.
  • Leave chocolate on the desk of your co-workers.
  •  Treat someone to a cup of their favorite coffee.
  • Make some soup or sandwich for a homeless person in your neighborhood and deliver it to them with a smile. Stop and have a conversation with a homeless person. Find out how they're doing.
  • Collect clothes from family and friends and take them to your closest shelter.
  • Collect food cans and take them to a food bank.
  • Buy someone dessert.
  • Pay for the person behind you at a drive-thru.
  • Pick up flowers at the grocery store and after you check out, give them to the cashier or the bagger with a big smile and a smile card.
Remember to make the world a better place, starts with ourselves.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

A Broken Heart...26 Days until Christmas!


We are here to be a vessel of love.  We are meant to fly and look at other with the eyes of love.
The only person that stops that flow of love, is ourselves.

When we are not the vessel of love, something has gone wrong.
When we say someone has hurt us, it temps us to close our hearts.
When are hearts are closed it hurts, because we are meant to have an open heart.
When we have a broken heart, we close our hearts to others and all that pain that is inside only really hurts us.

Our heart is synonymous with love


  • have a heart - be merciful
  • change of heart - change your mind
  • to know something by heart - memorize something
  • broken heart - to lose love
  • heartfelt - deeply felt
  • have your heart in the right place - to be kind
  • cry your heart out - to grieve
  • heavy heart - sadness
  • have your heart set on - to want something badly
What happens when our heart is broken? How do I unclose my heart, and how do I get rid of the pain?

Here is the physical example of how a heart is supposed to function compared to when the heart is not working right:

The heart has three layers. The smooth, inside lining of the heart is called the endocardium. The middle layer of heart muscle is called the myocardium. It is surrounded by a fluid filled sac call the pericardium.

We know that the heart is like a pump, to pump our blood throughout our body and provides the needed oxygen for our system.
We also know that there are valves, ventricles.  This complex muscles goes like this:

The blood flows:
  • to the superior and inferior vena cava,
  • then to the right atrium
  • through the tricuspid valve
  • to the right ventricle
  • through the pulmonic valve
  • to the pulmonary artery
  • to the lungs

When our heart does not function properly, we get weak, short of breath, we get dizzy, cough in the attempt to increase our oxygen, and a weak heart can effect every aspect of our body, our brain, our sleep, and our movements. The most common cause of heart disease is a narrowing of or blockage in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle (coronary artery disease).  Almost 2,000 Americans die of heart disease each day. That is one death every 44 seconds.

This is caused by the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis (sometimes called “hardening” or “clogging” of the arteries) is the buildup of cholesterol and fatty deposits (called plaque) on the inner walls of the arteries that restricts blood flow to the heart. Without adequate blood, the heart becomes starved of oxygen and the vital nutrients it needs to work properly. This can cause chest pain called angina.

Lets go a little deeper: When fat builds up inside your arteries it causes slight injury to your blood vessel walls. In an attempt to heal the blood vessel walls, the cells release chemicals that make the blood vessel walls stickier. Other substances traveling through your blood stream, such as inflammatory cells, cellular waste products, proteins and calcium, begin to stick to the vessel walls. The fat and other substances combine to form a material called plaque.
Many of the plaque deposits are soft on the inside with a hard fibrous “cap” covering the outside. If the hard surface cracks or tears, the soft, fatty inside is exposed. Platelets (disc-shaped particles in the blood that aid clotting) come to the area, and blood clots form around the plaque.
If a blood clot totally blocks the blood supply to the heart muscle, the heart muscle becomes "starved" for oxygen and nutrients in the region below the blockage. Within a short time, an acute coronary attack can occur.
Now, why did I go through all that detail, of things you probably already know?  Because I want to make an analogy, that part of the heart we call ourselves; our other heart.

Now imagine, our "other heart" or ourselves has three layers, a layer deep inside, a middle layer and an outer layer.  We have our own layers too. The surface, with those passing by followed by nod's, and hello's.  You know the small and sweet conversations at the grocery store line. We have our middle layer, the one where we someone in just a bit, our colleagues or our neighbors and sometimes that middle layer for us, could even be our friends and family.  Then we have the deeper layer, the one where no man can hardly go, but a given few.

It is at this layer, where the damage can be the most dangerous.  First, we have a little fatty tissue develop, then our layer, "becomes sticky" but we let it ride, keep on going and if at that point, we do not see the danger, and forgive, look at the other with love...that stickiness, starts to get hard with "calicum..." (plaque) making the deep layer fragile and open for cracks or tears.  And if it goes untended and cared for, BOOM, our hearts become closed and blocked.

This is where the pain comes in, both physically as in a heart attack and emotionally in our other hearts.

When does the person start to heal from a heart attack and is the healing process?

(These facts are taken from: http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/Heart/heart_attack_life-after-2-healing-heart.htm)

When a person heals from a heart attack, the healing starts, as soon as the blood flow is restored.

  • White blood corpuscles enter the damaged heart muscle and remove the dead (heart) cells
  • Gradually, scar tissue forms on the area of your heart that was deprived of oxygen during the attack.
  • This scar tissue is different than the normal heart tissue. It does not contract like normal heart muscle or adds to the heart's pumping action.
  • The amount of tissue that is injured depends on the size of the area that is supplied by the blocked artery and how long the artery stayed blocked.
  • It is normal for you to feel very tired for the first one or two weeks after your heart attack.
  • It takes time to rebuild your strength.
  • Take it easy and get plenty of rest.
  • Slowly resume your normal activities.
  • Space your activities.
  • Take time to rest if you get tired.
For our "other heart" the healing process starts....
  • As soon as we open the doors! As soon as we open our hearts! As soon as the closed heart stops being closed!  As soon as we decide to become vessels of love.
  • Our own blood, heals itself! Imagine.  Once we open the doors, the pain starts to go away and we feel like we can breathe again! The process of healing commences.
  • Yes, there is scar tissue, scar tissue is a sign of healing. Our scar tissue is different than what we had before.  Isn't it wonderful that we can look at that scar as a reminder of something that is healed, a new birth or a death of that old pain, cramping you up inside?
  • The amount of scar tissue, depends on the size of the area...the amount of pain, the amount of hurt, how much our stomach churned and how long we remained closed.
How do we open our closed heart?

The only way that I can have my own heart healed, is to be a healing agent to others.  By being a healing agent to others, I start to open up, and let the blood flow. I start to breathe again, smile again, by giving and forgiving.

Christmas is not the only time for giving...27 Days until Christmas


We should be giving all the time, it makes the world a better place.  From now until Christmas, you should try to help someone each day.  Like helping the little ole lady cross the street, the stranger who seems to be carrying a heavy load, or the client who could use a "free cup of coffee with a smile".

As you go about your days, look around and see who you can help.

Friday, November 27, 2009

The eyes of love...28 Days until Christmas


What is hurting you? A person who did something wrong or the hurt and pain that you are holding when you remember that person? The main root behind anger, is pain. The root to pain is hurt.

If you think of someone in your life and the wrong they have done to you, and you feel that twinge of pain and hurt, then ask yourself if you have forgiven them. Unforgiveness blocks a person from moving forward and it can makes your days really horrible with all that negativity inside.

Instead, try to look at the person with lovingness. Look at the person through the eyes of love. It will be a step to lead you towards forgiveness.

The definition of Insanity is when a person keeps doing the same thing...


29 Days until Christmas....
The definition of insanity is when a person keeps doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results.

Albert Einstein

Now, it has been said that the genius Albert said these words, and it has been said that Benjamin Franklin and then some others think that it came from Rita Brown who wrote, "Insanity is when you keep doing the same things expecting different results".

Psychologist say, "Insanity is defined as repeating the same behavior and expecting a different result".

Notice the difference between doing the same thing and the key word of behavior. There is a big difference between doing the same thing and repeating the same behavior. Doing something is resubmitting the same manuscript to a publisher over and over and over again, not giving up until some kind and gentle publisher decides to give your book a try. Or submitting articles over and over and over again until that magazine decides to open their eyes to you. What would happen if we thought, "Oh, I cannot do the same thing the same way because then I would be insane" Can you imagine how many musicians, painters, writers and artists would not have been known about if they decided to try many ways to go about sharing their talent with the world, and then later giving up?

Sometimes, there is only one way to go about things, like publishing for example. If we gave up, and did not persivere what would happen to our passions and dreams? What would happen to our soul if we compromised ourselves with the thought that we must be insane if we kept trying.

I feel as though I am insane many time, under this definition. For years, I wrote and took photographs of war, oppression, hunger, poverty, desperate people, madness, bombs, tears, displaced people, ripped apart cities, and angry politicians. Why did I do such a thing? Because it was important for me to share the reality of war and conflict. To help get others to see how horrible it really is, how much money is spent on this and how few people get wealthy from the production of war. Why? Because, I could not keep quiet and the main stream media was not reflecting the reality from the ground. I did not give up and as far as I could see there was only one way of doing things and that was to be there. Did it make a difference? I do not know. Did the articles and images that I shared create peace? No. But I kept on trying.

Was this insane? Sometimes I thought so, but for artists, we have to create our passions. We must generate our product otherwise, we will really go insane.

29 Days Before Christmas

It is 30 days before Christmas and my tradition is to send "Words of wisdom" or "Food for thought" each day to my loved ones until Christmas. I thought that I would include the program on my blog.

The greatest contribution you can make to this world is to better yourself. God works directly through you, so his work is an outcome of the person you make yourself out to be.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

6 year limit for the criminal court system and Berlusconi

In a thousand polemics, criticism, fighting on numbers and calls for no vote "laws ad personam" (so to President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano) the bill for short processes (establishing a six-year maximum duration of procedures) begins in the Senate on its passage through Parliament.

So Pier Luigi Bersani, secretary of the Democratic Party: "That is certainly an issue of justice for citizens given the length of trials. We not only are willing to discuss it, but we've already submitted four draft bills. But now weWithdraw these rules are a punch in the eye - he insisted Bersani - because with this law is abolished only white-collar jobs and for us it is not possible. "

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from Doha does not yet know who wants to talk about justice, but that will come proclaiming the 'right time' to do so. And it will come on television, in front of all Italians. The reform and the political controversy in recent days, Berlusconi announced that Italians will explain "what is the situation where we are."

Capezzone - "What happened yesterday on the networks of public service broadcasting would be literally unthinkable in any other advanced Western countries," said Daniele Capezzone today, spokesman of the PDL, about the intervention of Judge Spataro transmission "In 1 / 2 hours. "" The idea that a judge be allowed to determine what government, parliament, majority and opposition can, can not, should or should not do, is simply the moon. And the most disturbing - he concludes - is that the left, blinded by hatred antiberlusconiano not even capable of posing the problem. "

And here is the Italian Parlement, fighting, talking, broadcasting and never really getting anywhere in the real world. There are discussion on all the talk shows, the people talk in the streets what they think about the limitation of the court system. Some wonder about the murders, the real crime, the mafia. But most importantly, it is the immigrants who will not be held by the new law. Their process can last as long as it needs to. So be it. If you are not born Italian, but have the right to live and vote in the country, you are defined by the rule of your birthright. Like it or not.

Berlusconi, has a lot going against him as far as lawsuits are concerned...he passed the law that he cannot be touched by the law while ruling the country. This is his way of trying to get out of the mess he made when his time runs out.

The court system here can lag on for decades...and even more. The Italians have the ability to stretch out just about anything, from a quick snack to enforcing and fighting over justice and lawsuits. Justification is the rule here. It is said that anyone can justify any action, or so it is tried.

H1N1 in Italy

The victims so far in Italy caused by influenza A/H1N1 virus were 82, according to reports by the Ministry of Health in the gazette today, and Campania, with 25 deaths, remains the region where there are the most deaths.

The regions that have been more deaths linked to the virus - which in the week ended November 15 is estimated to have affected 752,000 people - is Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, Lazio and Calabria (seven victims), Piedmont, Umbria and Sicily (five).

The most affected are children and adolescents from birth to 14 years, with an incidence of 3.6%. For youth and adults between the ages of 15-64 is at 0,7%.People 65 and over is at 0,1%.

Until November 20, says the Ministry, about 333,366 people were vaccinated, and vaccine doses delivered are almost four million.

Monday, November 23, 2009

H1N1 Virus outbreak global maps

These maps are hard to find. I do not believe that this map reflects ALL the cases, but only those that contribute to the interactive map. Health Map

This is a great link, live map: The Air DB

So far we have:

The United States: 47957 outbreaks 575 deaths
Australia: 35444 161
Mexico: 21664 193
Thailand: 16876 130

H1N1 and the slow reporting of WHO

I find it interesting that the concern over the H1N1 Virus that caused so much money to be spent, so much time and fear...that the WHO website, latest posting is on 17th of October below:

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_10_23/en/index.html

As of 17 October 2009, worldwide there have been more than 414,000 laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 and nearly 5000 deaths reported to WHO.

As many countries have stopped counting individual cases, particularly of milder illness, the case count is significantly lower than the actually number of cases that have occurred. WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of data.

New Activity:

Mongolia, Rwanda, and Sao Tome and Principe have reported pandemic influenza cases for the first time this week.

Iceland, Sudan, and Trinidad and Tobago reported their first fatal cases.

Situation update:

In general, influenza activity in the northern hemisphere is much the same as in the last week, though respiratory disease activity continues to spread and increase in intensity. In North America, the U.S.A. is still reporting nationwide rates of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) well above baseline rates with high rates of pandemic H1N1 2009 virus detections in clinical laboratory specimens (29% of all specimens tested are positive for influenza A and all of those subtyped are pandemic H1N1 2009 virus. Canada reports increases in ILI rates for the fourth straight week but the highest level of activity is in the western province of British Columbia. Mexico still reports active transmission in some areas of the country. Although influenza activity is low in most countries in Europe, in Belgium, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, and parts of the United Kingdom consultation ILI/ARI rates are above baseline levels. Similarly the number of influenza virus detections relatively high, which may indicate the early start of an influenza season. Rates of respiratory illness in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia are increasing but are not yet at levels normally seen in an influenza season (baseline levels are not defined in many countries of the area). Of note, the proportion of cases in Asia that are related to seasonal influenza A(H3N2) continue to decline globally as the proportion related to pandemic H1N1 2009 virus increases. Currently, only East Asia is reporting any significant numbers of influenza A(H3N2) isolates.

In tropical areas of the world, rates of illness are generally declining, with a few exceptions. Cuba, Colombia, and El Salvador are reporting increases in the tropical region of the Americas. In tropical Asia, of the countries that are reporting this week, all report decreases in respiratory disease activity.

The temperate region of the southern hemisphere has no significant pandemic related activity in the past week.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

World Health Organization and the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus Scam...

One year in prison and 250,000 fine if you do not take the shot...a proposal on the pandemic...
The video says...they, but I am not sure who they is....is this human rights? Don't we have the right to choose?

"They had to find a way to make a profit, on something they could not sell in America, they dumped the aids tainted blood in Japan and many people got sick" "No one has gone to prison over this"

"Surge in shots in children...the effects of this vaccine..as people move forward, is going to manifest itself in many different ways" (10 to 24 vaccines...increase..we are injecting our children 10 times the FDA approval) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"The companies will be safe by a limitation on damages, if anything were to go wrong" In Canada, the public health agency has no plans to compensate the thousands of people that will be injured by the swine flu vaccine" "Hundreds and thousands of people will become sterile, brain damage, by taking this vaccine, they are admitting it and know that they will be sued"

Can you tell me without any doubt that the mercury in the vaccines, will cause any damage in the children? "I cannot tell you, I am not sure", "Then why are you giving these vaccines, when there is an upsurge in autism? And you continue to tell me that you are not sure?"

Watch for yourself:

Friday, November 20, 2009

Swine Flu H1N1 Virus, what is going on?

You know, there are many kinds of wars, war of violence, wars in business, war in the environmental resources and war over the rights of people.




European scientists and health authorities are facing angry questions about why H1N1 flu has not caused death and destruction on the scale first feared, and they need to respond deftly to ensure public support.
Accusations are flying in British and French media that the pandemic has been "hyped" by medical researchers to further their own cause, boost research grants and line the pockets of drug companies.
Britain's Independent newspaper this week asked "Pandemic? What Pandemic?"
France's Le Parisien newspaper ran the headline: "Swine flu: why the French distrust the vaccine" and noted a gap between the predicted impact of H1N1 and the less dramatic reality.
"Although some 30-odd people have died....the disease is not really frightening," it said. "Dangerous liaisons between certain experts, the labs and the government, the obscurity of the contracts between the state and the pharma firms have added to the doubt."
In response, scientists are walking a fine line. They say that although the virus is mild, it can still kill, and that the relatively low fatalities in Europe are in part, the result of official response to their advice.
However, in Britain, health authorities' original worst-case scenario -- which said as many as 65,000 could die from H1N1 -- has twice been revised down and the prediction is now for around 1,000 deaths, way below the average annual toll of 4,000 to 8,000 deaths from seasonal winter flu.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Ferrari's Nice Red Ones


A few weeks ago, the main "fashion" shopping street was closed to traffic so people could walk around and view the new fall collection's in the shops.  At the same time, one could meander through the Ferrari collections parked in the middle of the street.  Do the upscale fashions go hand in hand with Ferrari's? I heard comments from the local Italians who are having a difficult time putting food on the table, and paying their bills, say that the exhibition was like a kick in the face, or spit in the eye.  The economy is horrible everywhere, yet at the same time, they make a big extravaganza of things that no one can afford.  Sure, wouldn't everybody want to buy a $700,000 red Ferrari Enzo?  Wouldn't most women like the opportunity to buy a 2,000 Euro blouse?  However, most of us who walked down this street, cannot even consider of buying such luxuries.  We can only dream of such things.




I have to admit, the cars were beautiful, and I mean beautiful.  To listen to the Ferrari engine roar made me think of the best sexual experience...Actually, I could see myself sitting on the front leather seat with my hair blowing through the wind and a really hot guy sitting right next to me.  He was giving me the look of love with a big smile on his face.  When I finished strolling through dreamland, I woke up and decided that I needed to play the lottery more often.  I wonder how many of the other people were dreaming like I was.

Just about everyone was taking photographs with their cell phones, or small digital camera's.  I saw some professional looking folks bouncing around in the attempt to get that perfect shot.  I took some images myself, just look at them, are they not good?

While glancing around, I had to take a shot of the "model" looking girl standing in front of one of the shops, just look at her stance, is she a professional?  I took a shot of a sweet looking foreign young man with a glint in his eyes.  He was standing proudly by a Ferrari looking as though he just made it to heaven.

I also noticed many "single" women wondering around all dressed in fancy clothes.  A person told me that they are hoping to find some rich man.  I think to myself as a response, "Can money really buy happiness, how can a women be with a person just for money and live with herself?"  I know that I sound a bit naive, and I know that people really do live that way, I just cannot imagine it for myself.  It seems to be a plastic world of unreality.

I know that if I won the lottery, I would not buy a Ferrari, I would pay off my children's and my student loans, pay cash for a nice home...or two.  I am torn between two places, Florence and the states, if I were lucky enough  I would buy two.  Then, I would invest some and continue with my passion of photography projects.  Now that is a dream!

Books:  Ferrari:  "A complete guide to all models" by, Leonardo Lcerbl
Lottery:  "Lottery Master Guide" by, Gail Howard
Student Loan:  "The Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in the U.S. History - and How We Can Fight Back" by, Alan Michael Collinge
Student Loan: "Zero Debt for College Grads: From Student Loans to Financial Freedom" by, Lynnette Khalfani
Student Loan: "How to Wipe Out Your Student Loans and Be Debt Free Fast:  Everything You need to Know Explained Simply" by, Michele Burgh



A Florence Wedding


It looks like a bit of confusion here on top of the hill overlooking Florence.  This is suppose to be the Big Day!  Everyday there are at least 15 Japanese weddings in Florence.  I see them in their trails of cars, walking down the streets in their wedding gowns, smiles, photographers and friends.

H1N1 Virus, old news 2005


I think that it is interesting if we just research some of our recent history we would see that these virus's seem to be changing, and returning.  I found an old posting in 2005 about the bird flu, I posted on my other website (through the lens) a recent update.

Veterinary workers place a dead duck in a plastic bag after killing it on suspicion of bird flu disease in the village of Ceamurlia de Jos (300km east of Bucharest ) in this October 8, 2005 file picture. A strain of avian influenza has been detected in samples from Romanian ducks, confirming that the virus has arrived in Europe , Romania 's chief veterinarian and the Eurpean commission said October 13, 2005 . click here for more about it.
The Italians are going crazy over this virus that is coming our way. I read in the local paper that something like 4 out of 10 people are expected to come into contact with the virus. Those are high numbers and I am living here. Italy processed an order for some of the vaccines, but the statistics show that the amount of shots ordered compared to the population will not protect the virus from spreading. (World Health Org) The elderly and children and pregnant mothers will have the first priority to get the shots.

The Pomegranate



Pomegranate from the Latin pomum granatum, means “apple of many seeds”. Some say that this is the “apple” which eve was tempted with and gave to Adam. The pomegranate is native to Asia and naturalized in the Mediterranean .

As a Jewish symbol the pomegranate is a symbol of bounty, sustenance and power, all three attributes by which women are blessed. There are 613 seeds in a pomegranate which equals the number of mitzvoth in the Torah. It is also a symbol of fertility according to the first commandment      of the Torah, to be fruitful and multiply. In Arabic folklore it is a symbol for the female breast.


In modern Greece , it represents “agatha”, the good things of life. The Greek legend of Persephone, the pomegranate symbolizes fertility, death, and eternity. Pluto abducted Persephone to the underworld to set her on his throne, her mother Demeter-goddess of nature-was not happy. She grieved the world into famine so that Zeus was forced to intervene, requiring Pluto to restore Persephone to the earth. She had not eaten for in the interim. Alas, was as unhappy as she was and Persephone ate 6 pomegranate seeds to quench her thirst. The compromise was that Persephone would return to earth for 6 months, and then Hades for another six. Demeter obliged the weather to match her time, which is when the summer and winter were born.
For the Christians, the pomegranate is a symbol of hope and the Resurrection. The Romans imported pomegranates calling it “malum punicum” or “apple of Carthage .” The pomegranate was chosen as the logo for the Millennium Festival of Medicine because the pomegranate has been revered for its medicinal properties.
The “Garden Song” from the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics is this:
"The pomegranate speaks:
My leaves are like your teeth
My fruit like your breasts.
I, the most beautiful of fruits,
Am present in all weathers, all seasons
As the lover stays forever with the beloved,
Drunk on 'shedeh' and wine.

All the trees lose their leaves, all
Trees but the pomegranate.
I alone in all the garden lose not my beauty,
I remain straight.
When my leaves fall,
New leaves are budding.

First among fruits
I demand that my position be acknowledged,
I will not take second place.
And if I receive such an insult again
You will never hear the end of it...."

(The translation was based on Boris de Rachewiltz literal renderings into Italian of papyri and pottery dating back to 1567-1085 BCE)

independent journalism

Many of you are here because you received a request for donation email that linked to this blog.
If you want to know more and donate go to: my information page
I finished my thesis project titled: The Crossing Borders Project ! (click on the link to view the fieldnotes from the project)
Welcome to my blog. We all need blogs these days. I am away from the computer for a while
so if you happen on to this website, on the left are my "Photograph of the Day" Identity-Photography Project.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Alarm Arrives in a Nutshell H5N1 Virus

Rome, Italy - The Alarm of the Virus in Europe is that the H5N1strain that can be transmitted from birds to human from feces droppings into the sand then transferring into the air. This is how the avian virus can spread from animal to human, and then from human to human. My attempt to see what is happening and the risk for Italy is quite difficult because Italian is not my forte of languages. When I attempted to search on the internet about the virus and Italy, I find only the accounts for the UKScotland andIreland, which are the European English speaking countries.

Concern about the spread is evident in Italy because the newspapers are flooded with maps of the bird migration routes and the bird virus explanations and antiviral possibilities. This concern may be due to the fact that in Italy during 1999- 2001 the H7N1 virus mutated within 9 months to a highly pathogenic form and more than 13 million birds died or were destroyed.

The viral spread occurs when the combination of the normal flu and the avian virus exists at the same time.[1] It is not known for sure if the virus is transmitted from migratory wild birds. Scientists believe that on species of bird may contain the virus and has a natural immunity to it then when they come into contact with other birds, the virus is transmitted to them. Many birds have been found dead not because they are the transmitters but because they lack the immunity to the virus.

A dead bird cannot fly; a sick bird cannot fly 200 kilometers then die. The problem lies in how do they find the carrier? What birds are infected? First, they need to find the carrier in order to know how to stop or restrain the virus from spreading. In the meantime, there are cross border controls not allowing any live produce into Germany from Romania where a strain of the virus was found.

FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) states that the virus spread from Siberia and may carry the virus to the Caspian and Black Sea. The regions are the Balkans and could be a gateway to central Europe. The migration also runs across Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Georgia, Ukraine and some Mediterranean countries. FAO also is concerned that India and Bangladesh seems to be uninfected, but may be at risk because India harbors a large number of domestic ducks and are along one of the major migratory routes.

FAO also states that “the bird flu has killed more than 60 people in Asia since 2003 and more than 140 million birds have died or been slaughtered.” Between April and June 2005, more than 6,000 migratory birds died due to the H5N1 at the Qinghai Lake Nature Reserve in Qinghai Province, China.

There are estimates that up to 50 million people can be killed from the virus with 50,000 in Ireland and the UK alone.[3] WHO spokesman on influenza, Dick Thompson, told a news conference in Geneva that the WHO's official estimate of the number of people who could die was between two million and 7.4 million[4] in a BBC article titled, “Bird Flu could kill up to 150 million people.” There is a bit of confusion here over the estimates in numbers of possible deaths. Either the news agencies do not want a widespread panic, or the pandemic researchers do not really know what they are up against.

If we really do not know what we are up against, then how to we attempt to restrain the spread of the virus? Scotland’s attempt to stifle the spread is by developing an emergency plan for health and security. They have decided that the health boards will have the power to request a medical examination and could force detention in a hospital for quarantine. The authorities could forbid individuals from going to and from work or the children from attending school if they have been exposed to the virus.
The Netherlands are established a month long quarantine on domestic bird to go outside, the chickens and the ducks had to be released into fenced areas with roofs to protect the birds. France is planning to have 14 million doses of antiflu drugs available by 2006 and is stockpiling 200 million protective face masks; 50 million masks have already been delivered to the French hospitals.
On Monday the virus reached Greece and they are banning exports of live poultry, meat and other poultry products. Croatia, Macedonia and Bulgaria are testing possible virus cases. The virus was located in Turkey where 50 turkeys fell sick and died on Money, and another 100 died the next day. So far, 5,000 turkeys have been killed in Turkey.

To calm the situation and the concern for the spread of global panic, Jack Straw chaired an emergency meeting of the EU in Luxembourg reminding everyone that “to date there is no evidence of any transfer of the virus to human beings.”[5]

[1] “The disease could jump species if a person became infected with avian and normal flu at the same time.”http://www.rednova.com/news/health/272539/h5n1_its_here
__killer_strain_of_bird_flu_virus/index.html?source=r_health
[2] “Wild birds expected to spread bird flu virus further”http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/107405/
[3] see link for note one

[4] BBC article: “Bird Flu could kill up to 150 million People”http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4292426.stm
[5] Spiegel Online: “Europe Struggles to Combat H5N1”http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,380362,00.html

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Polermo, Sicily

Polermo, Sicily fit the Italian image that I have always seen in the movies.  Narrow streets, a beautiful sea, people talking in the streets and the best food one can imagine.  Compared to the Northern part of Italy, the people are friendly and even smile!  They are patient with your attempt to speak Italian and listen as though they understand you, even though they may not.  After landing at the airport, it was easy to take a bus into the center.  Along the way, I was informed at the exact place where the famous judge "Giovanni Falcone" was killed by the Mafia, who was fighting against Mafia crime...which by the way is everywhere in Italy and that is not a joke.
     While I was walking down the Polermo streets, I would imagine corruption going on everywhere.  I noticed how the local women would wear their purses under their coats.  I can imagine that I lived there for a while, I would feel the undercurrent of tension that exists for the locals.
     Rumors are:  that every shop, has to pay some money to the Mafia, for "protection" to keep the shop open, not get burned to the ground, and the owner alive.  Compared to Florence, the laws do not seem to be inforced.  I roamed the streets for five days, and only saw three policemen walking together.  I stopped and asked them for directions, and they were very nice.  Otherwise, I did not even see a police car, not a one.  Yet, you do not see any violence or strangeness going on in the city.
     People park their cars where they want to, on the sidewalk for example or in the road.  Motorcycles drive down the sidewalks when the traffic is bad, which seemed like all day long.  They are not very organized and there are many cars.  In fact more cars than motorcycles, unlike Florence.
     The prices were about 1/2 of what they are in Florence.  I could buy a nice sweet and a coffee for 2 Euros.  I purchased a to die for fresh grilled fish dinner for about 20 us dollars, including wine, water, and a side dish.  My hotel room was only 30 Euros, a private room with its own bath, tv and a terrace including breakfast.  Not bad!
      My first hotel was near the bus and train station, and it is not a really desired area.  It never is in Italy.  However, one block from my hotel, was a more "desired" area, clean, quiet and with nice shops.  Along the street near the station, I saw tons of Chinese Stores selling clothes and furniture.  I needed a winter coat and went inside to see what they had.  The woman said that they only sell in large quantities.  My mind went whirling to the story of Gamorrah, the Italian Mafia in Naples (Napoli).  "Oh, this is where the smuggled goods come to", I thought.  I imagined tons of items inside of the shipping boxes getting unloaded with cranes, and moved to another boat for Sicily.  Only a block away from the wholesale shops, were the nicer shops, selling exactly what the wholesale shops were selling but at about four times the amount.
     I found a store, that had good prices for decent products.  I purchased a long winter coat, with a hood and the nice "fur" along the sides for 40 Euros!  When I came back to Florence, the same coat was 180 Euros.  Wow.  The same coat.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Judge Falcone

Mafia fighter, Judge Falcone was killed when he was going home from the airport in Polermo, Italy. Several of those who conspired to assissinate him were released from prison in March 2002, in return for cooperated with the state as "pentiti" by turning in state evidence to convict other Mafia members.

Judge Falcone in court.
In 1986 and 1987, Falcone and others presided over the "Maxi Trial" of 475 alleged Mafiosi in Palermo. The case, a parallel to the Pizza Connection trial, drew international attention by bringing the Mafia out into the open, but sadly, most of the 338 criminals convicted served little more than token sentences before being released under Italy's lax penal code, with its extremely high burden of proof. It did, however, result in the conviction of Mafia kingpin Michele Greco and, eventually, Salvatore Riina, Greco's successor from Corleone.

The Mafia's shadow, whether in the form of the drug trade, money laundering, political corruption (payoffs and kickbacks) or the pizzo (protection money), permeates every facet of the SicilianScene of the explosion near Capaci. economy, and statistically the problem is far worse in Palermo than in Catania. Giovanni Falcone knew this, and so do most Sicilians. Apart from cases of localised interest, Falcone dealt with important narcotics cases, then the Mafia's stock and trade internationally.


Shangai Restaurant, Polermo Italy


Piazza San Marco, Polermo Tree


Polermo Market


Polermo Father and Son


Palermo Narrow Street


St. Johns of the Hermits, Polermo, Italy


Polermo, Sicily

Polermo, Sicily fit the Italian image that I have always seen in the movies.  Narrow streets, a beautiful sea, people talking in the streets and the best food one can imagine.  Compared to the Northern part of Italy, the people are friendly and even smile!  They are patient with your attempt at Italian and listen as though they understand you, even though they may not.  After landing at the airport, it was easy to take a bus into the center.  Along the way, I was informed at the exact place where the famous judge "Giovanni Falcone" was killed by the Mafia, who was fighting against Mafia crime...which by the way is everywhere in Italy and that is not a joke.
     While I was walking down the Polermo streets, I would imagine corruption going on everywhere.  I noticed how the local women would wear their purses under their coats.  I can imagine that I lived there for a while, I would feel the undercurrent of tension that exists for the locals.
     Rumors are:  that every shop, has to pay some money to the Mafia, for "protection" to keep the shop open, not get burned to the ground, and the owner alive.  Compared to Florence, the laws do not seem to be inforced.  I roamed the streets for five days, and only saw three policemen walking together.  I stopped and asked them for directions, and they were very nice.  Otherwise, I did not even see a police car, not a one.  Yet, you do not see any violence or strangeness going on in the city.
     People park their cars where they want to, on the sidewalk for example or in the road.  Motorcycles drive down the sidewalks when the traffic is bad, which seemed like all day long.  They are not very organized and there are many cars.  In fact more cars than motorcycles, unlike Florence.
     The prices were about 1/2 of what they are in Florence.  I could buy a nice sweet and a coffee for 2 Euros.  I purchased a to die for fresh grilled fish dinner for about 20 us dollars, including wine, water, and a side dish.  My hotel room was only 30 Euros, a private room with its own bath, tv and a terrace including breakfast.  Not bad!
      My first hotel was near the bus and train station, and it is not a really desired area.  It never is in Italy.  However, one block from my hotel, was a more "desired" area, clean, quiet and with nice shops.  Along the street near the station, I saw tons of Chinese Stores selling clothes and furniture.  I needed a winter coat and went inside to see what they had.  The woman said that they only sell in large quantities.  My mind went whirling to the story of Gamorrah, the Italian Mafia in Naples (Napoli).  "Oh, this is where the smuggled goods come to", I thought.  I imagined tons of items inside of the shipping boxes getting unloaded with cranes, and moved to another boat for Sicily.  Only a block away from the wholesale shops, were the nicer shops, selling exactly what the wholesale shops were selling but at about four times the amount.
     I found a store, that had good prices for decent products.  I purchased a long winter coat, with a hood and the nice "fur" along the sides for 40 Euros!  When I came back to Florence, the same coat was 180 Euros.  Wow.  The same coat.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Model pose and fashion in Florence


Ferrari Logo and Florence Sky


Looking inside, a place rare to stand


Proud


Ferrari's, nice red ones

A few weeks ago, the main "fashion" shopping street was closed to traffic so people could walk around and view the new fall collection's in the shops.  At the same time, one could meander through the Ferrari collections parked in the middle of the street.  Do the upscale fashions go hand in hand with Ferrari's? I heard comments from the local Italians who are having a difficult time putting food on the table, and paying their bills, say that the exhibition was like a kick in the face, or spit in the eye.  The economy is horrible everywhere, yet at the same time, they make a big extravaganza of things that no one can afford.  Sure, wouldn't everybody want to buy a $700,000 red Ferrari Enzo?  Wouldn't most women like the opportunity to buy a 2,000 Euro blouse?  However, most of us who walked down this street, cannot even consider of buying such luxuries.  We can only dream of such things.

I have to admit, the cars were beautiful, and I mean beautiful.  To listen to the Ferrari engine roar made me think of the best sexual experience...Actually, I could see myself sitting on the front leather seat with my hair blowing through the wind and a really hot guy sitting right next to me.  He was giving me the look of love with a big smile on his face.  When I finished strolling through dreamland, I woke up and decided that I needed to play the lottery more often.  I wonder how many of the other people were dreaming like I was.

Just about everyone was taking photographs with their cell phones, or small digital camera's.  I saw some professional looking folks bouncing around in the attempt to get that perfect shot.  I took some images myself, just look at them, are they not good?

While glancing around, I had to take a shot of the "model" looking girl standing in front of one of the shops, just look at her stance, is she a professional?  I took a shot of a sweet looking foreign young man with a glint in his eyes.  He was standing proudly by a Ferrari looking as though he just made it to heaven.

I also noticed many "single" women wondering around all dressed in fancy clothes.  A person told me that they are hoping to find some rich man.  I think to myself as a response, "Can money really buy happiness, how can a women be with a person just for money and live with herself?"  I know that I sound a bit naive, and I know that people really do live that way, I just cannot imagine it for myself.  It seems to be a plastic world of unreality.

I know that if I won the lottery, I would not buy a Ferrari, I would pay off my children's and my student loans, pay cash for a nice home...or two.  I am torn between two places, Florence and the states, if I were lucky enough  I would buy two.  Then, I would invest some and continue with my passion of photography projects.  Now that is a dream!

Books:  Ferrari:  "A complete guide to all models" by, Leonardo Lcerbl
Lottery:  "Lottery Master Guide" by, Gail Howard
Student Loan:  "The Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in the U.S. History - and How We Can Fight Back" by, Alan Michael Collinge
Student Loan: "Zero Debt for College Grads: From Student Loans to Financial Freedom" by, Lynnette Khalfani
Student Loan: "How to Wipe Out Your Student Loans and Be Debt Free Fast:  Everything You need to Know Explained Simply" by, Michele Burgh