Sabbath Day, March 30, 2008

John 14:27 - Jesus, quoted by John

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

We can apply these words to our lives today. We live in tumultuous times and can be dragged down by the despair that we see around us, especially on the news, in these last days.

While it is important to be critically aware of what is happening in the world around us so that we can provide our talents to reach out and serve our family, community, and country, it is important to retain peace within ourselves.

Search out those uplifting things each day that can create the internal peace you desire. Good music, uplifting literature, meditation, prayer, exercise. Look at the beauty that is all around. The beauty in the simple things such as the blue sky, the flowers that are beginning to bloom, the sounds of birds flying over, the smile of a neighbor, and so many others. All of these things were put on this earth by our loving Heavenly Father to remind us that all is not lost, that there is beauty even in the turmoil of the world.

Gratitude can help create an awareness of the beauty. When you wake in the morning, be thankful that you can rise from a bed, that you have shelter, that you have running water, that you can have a warm shower, that you have employment, that you have reliable transportation, or any of those "simple" things that can be easily taken for granted. For many, those things I just listed would be considered luxuries.

Keep peace within yourself and within your home and you will carry that throughout your day, affecting others with your positive energy in ways that you never thought possible.

Ignorance of a Plaque. Conclusion.

Concluding from the past two Fridays, the following is information regarding a report written by Dr. Scott Taylor called "Lyme Disease (Borreliosis), A Plague of Ignorance Regarding the Ignorance of a Plague".

The more research I do, the more I come into contact with interesting bits of information that I can relate to my own experiences with Lyme. One such piece of information was this.

"Lingering Lyme: The Chronic Persistent Infection

Some symptoms and signs of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks, months, or years after a tick bite. This stage typically involves intermittent episodes of joint pain or numerous neurological symptoms such as: meningitis, Bell's palsy, dysfunction of cardiac rhythm, and migratory pain to joints, tendons, muscle and bone. Arthritis is most likely to appear as brief bouts of pain and swelling, usually in one or more large joints, especially the knees. In some patients, the first and only sign of Lyme disease is arthritis. In others, nervous system problems are the only evidence of Lyme disease. However, any combination of symptoms can be present.
...
The course of the disease can best be described as persistent, with periods of worsening symptoms, often cyclical every few weeks or monthly. Especially disconcerting are persistent symptoms such as pain, headaches and fatigue. Some patients are more symptomatic than are others, which may reflect gender and genetically-determined differences in response to infection. The disease is progressive, destructive, and debilitating, and in severe untreated cases, it can be fatal.
...
Lyme disease causes metabolic/endocrine dysfunctions that lead to weight loss or commonly chronic weight gain.

Generally, women struggle with chronic Lyme disease more severely than men do. It is not known for sure why."

In the past, I have written posts that have included lists with Lyme disease symptoms. However, my lists have not been as inclusive as the following from this report.

Lyme Disease Symptoms

"As I mentioned before, every organ and organ system can be affected, here’s a list of some of the LD symptoms as they relate to specific areas of the body:

Head – headache, neck pain, facial pain and paralysis, difficulty chewing, pain in teeth, dry mouth, loss of taste/smell, numb tongue/mouth. Peculiar metallic or salty taste is also common in LD. This is likely due to the BLPs present in the system.

Bladder -- frequent or painful urination, repeated urinary tract infections, irritable bladder, interstitial cystitis.

Lung -- respiratory infection, cough, asthma, pneumonia, pleurisy, chest pains

Ear -- pain, hearing loss, ringing (tinnitus), sensitivity to noise, dizziness & equilibrium disorders.

Eyes -- pain due to inflammation (scleritis, uveitis, optic neuritis), dry eyes, sensitivity to light, drooping of eyelid (ptosis), conjunctivitis, blurry or double vision, swelling around eyes / bags below the eyes.

Throat -- sore throat, swollen glands, cough, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing

Neurological -- headaches, facial paralysis, seizures, meningitis, stiff neck, burning, tingling, or prickling sensations (parathesia), loss of reflexes, loss of coordination, equilibrium problems/dizziness (these symptoms mimic an MS, ALS, or Parkinson’s like syndrome)

Stomach -- pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, anorexia

Heart -- weakness, dizziness, irregular heart-beat, myocarditis, pericarditis, palpitations, heart block, enlarged heart, fainting, shortness of breath, chest pain, mitral valve prolapse.

Muscle & skeletal system -- arthralgias (joint pain), fibromyalgia (muscle inflammation and pain)

Other Organs -- liver infection / hepatitis, elevated liver enzymes, enlarged spleen, swollen testicles, and irregular or ceased menses.

Neuropsychiatric -- mood swings, irritability, anxiety, rage (Lyme rage), poor concentration, cognitive loss, memory loss, loss of appetite, mental deterioration, depression, disorientation, insomnia

Pregnancy -- miscarriage, premature birth, birth defects, stillbirth

Skin – EM, single or multiple rash, hives, ACA

Another interesting symptom often noticed is an increased susceptibility to electrostatic shock. This is likely due to the BLPs causing a change in the electro-potential in our cells/nervous system. Some of these toxins are likely sodium channel agonists and can change the electrical potential of our body. Thus, the likelihood of electro-static shock."

During his section regarding the diagnoses of Lyme, Taylor states the frustrating issues with the tests, such as ELISA and Western Blot, which often have false negative results. Clearly, Western Blot has fewer false positives. However, many doctors will stop at the ELISA test when that proves negative, not following up with the Western Blot. Again, an emphasis needs to be placed on the percentage of false negatives and re-testing should always be the clear consideration upon a negative result.

Taylor suggests that treatment be multifaceted.

"The best approach to therapy is a multifaceted and comprehensive treatment regimen that includes conventional antibiotics, numerous complimentary and alternative therapies, and a nutritional regimen specifically designed to reduce inflammation, aid the liver in detoxifying the BLPs, decrease the risk of yeast infections, repair damage caused by the disease and strengthen the immune system."

One source he sites for better treatment than the basic course of antibiotics as offered as the conventional treatment is protocol for sarcoidosis found at www.sarcinfo.com.

Sources for therapy that are listed as "Papers for Physicians" at the www.sarcinfo.com site are the following.

"Antibacterial Therapy induces Remission

Implications for Autoimmune Disease
(Here is Fulltext preprint)

Antibacterial mechanisms for ARBs

Antibiotics in Sarcoidosis- The 1st Year

Rationale for abx in Sarcoidosis

1,25-D and Angiotensin II

"New Treatments Emerge.."

Jarisch-Herxheimer in Sarcoidosis

Vit.D and Calcium in Sarcoidosis

Protocol Phase 1-First 3 months"

If you are familiar with the conventional treatment plan, these plans listed are much more multifaceted and comprehensive.

One treatment, often used with Doxycycline is Metronidazole (Flagyl).

"Metronidazole (Flagyl) is a very effective antimicrobial for treating chronic Lyme disease. It distributes well throughout the body and is able to penetrate tissue and cells. This ability allows metronidazole to reach the cryptic borrelia throughout the body and kill it. Metronidazole is also effective at attacking the cyst form of borrelia. This may be the single most effective antimicrobial pharmaceutical for treating Lyme disease. The disadvantage of metronidazole is it’s toxicity to the liver and neurological system. It can raise liver enzymes and cause peripheral neuropathies similar to LD itself. These side-effects must be prudently monitored."

...
"Several antibiotics work together synergistically to improve the therapeutic effect against borreliosis. Examples of antibiotics that work well together when combined include: amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin or zithromycin, and co-trimoxazole. Co-trimoxazole works well in late stage Lyme disease, especially when given in combination with other antibiotics like amoxcilliln and/or a macrolide such as azithromycin. Earlier, one exception to antibiotic combinations was the use of metronidazole and the tetracyclines together. It is now believed that these two antibiotics do work well when combined. For example, there are reports of good result when doxycycline is used with flagyl."

Additional therapies recommended in Taylor's report are "Hyperthermia", or hot baths, showers, or saunas that raise the body temperature, "Pulse Electro-Magnetic Fields" (pemfs), "Rife Machine", "Beck Electrification", "Lauricidin", "Colloidal Silver", "Cat's Claw/Samento/Saventero", "Artemisinin", "Goldenseal root", "Teasel", "Olive Leaf Extract", "Garlic", European (or Hungarian Mistletoe", "Peroxide", and "Ozone".

This report is amazingly detailed. Taylor has remedy recommendations for controlling inflammation and the immune dysfunction, protection of the nervous system from neurotoxins, detoxifying, etc.

Additionally in his report, Dr. Taylor explains and emphasizes tick protection and prevention.

I conclude with his conclusion, as I have no way of wording my feelings any more concisely or clearly.

"As the word spreads about the complex nature of this disease, the hope is that more doctors will begin to learn about Lyme, and will take the actions necessary to fight this disease. It is critical that the public and the medical community are made aware of the true prevalence and dangers of borreliosis. Until this gap of ignorance is filled, many unfortunate individuals will suffer needlessly with Lyme disease."

Sources:
www.autoimmunityresearch.org
www.sarcinfo.com

Contaminated Drinking Water. Are You Prepared?

This article is now located at Emergency Preparedness Now

Thank you for visiting!

Sabbath Day, March 23, 2008

jesuschrist.lds.org

JESUS CHRIST

The Bread of Life“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. … I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever” (John 6:35, 51).

The Feast of the Passover commemorates the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt and includes the eating of unleavened bread. As this celebration drew near, Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. Many who saw this miracle followed Him because He had given them food, so He taught them to seek for the food “which endureth unto everlasting life” (John 6:27). He then taught them about manna, reminding them that it came from heaven to feed the Israelites in the wilderness. He declared, “I am the bread of life,” telling them of the spiritual nourishment Heavenly Father sent through Him, as well as the promise of eternal life He brought.

At a later Passover feast, Jesus used bread to signify His body as part of the sacrament. When we partake of the bread each week during the sacrament, we are reminded of Jesus Christ—His sacrifice, His Resurrection, and the promise of constant spiritual nourishment through the companionship of His Spirit.

The Light of the World“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Our minds and spirits are illuminated through Jesus Christ. His light guides our path, helping us tell the difference between good and evil and showing us the way to eternal life.

The Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14).

The main duties of a shepherd are to lead the sheep to food and water and to return them to the safety of the fold. A shepherd also protects the sheep from dangers such as wild animals and thieves. Because he knows his flock, he can tell when a sheep is missing, and then he goes to find it. His sheep are submissive to him and trust him completely.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls out to us when we stray, and if we learn to heed His voice, He leads us to the safe pastures of salvation and eternal life, protecting us from the dangers of death and sin.

In a way, simply by saying, “I am,” Jesus said it all. With this, He declared that He is the Creator of the world and Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, whose name literally means “I am” (see Exodus 3:14).

Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah and Savior, who saves us from sin and death. Because of who He is and what He did for us, we can have everlasting life and become who we are meant to be."

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer Lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my everliving Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives, to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav'nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to preapre.
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
"I know that my Redeemer lives!

Sources:
www.lds.org
jesuschrist.lds.org

Ignorance of a Plague. Continued.

Continuing from last Friday, the following is information regarding a report written by Dr. Scott Taylor called "Lyme Disease (Borreliosis), A Plague of Ignorance Regarding the Ignorance of a Plague".

In his report, Dr. Scott Taylor explains some of the quandaries regarding the reporting procedures for the CDC regarding Lyme disease. Additionally, he explains the problems with finding a "Lyme Literate Doctor" or an LLMD. Adding to this, one of the main correlations with finding the correct doctor will be asking whether they have a background in Parasitology or parasites. If they have not dealt in that area, they are not going to help you get rid of Lyme disease or its co-infections.

Lyme disease expresses itself much the same as Sarcoidosis. That is that it presents itself as inflammatory disorders.

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

"What Is Sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis (sar"koi-do'sis) involves inflammation that produces tiny lumps of cells in various organs in your body. The lumps are called granulomas (gran"u-lo'mahs) because they look like grains of sugar or sand. They are very small and can be seen only with a microscope.

These tiny granulomas can grow and clump together, making many large and small groups of lumps. If many granulomas form in an organ, they can affect how the organ works. This can cause symptoms of sarcoidosis."

Because of the similarities between the two disease presentations, Dr. Trevor G. Marshall, Ph.D, and Frances E. Marshall, Grad. Dipl. Pharm, have a theory that there may be the possibility that both could be treated with the same medications.

"In summary, Dr. Marshall’s discovery reveals that during the pathogenesis of borreliosis the BLPs of borrelia trigger inflammation via TLR signaling pathways or by other intracellular activation of NF-kappa B, which stimulates the gene expression for inflammatory cytokines. When the inflammatory cascade goes chronic, it eventually goes into the self-perpetuating cycle described by Marshall. This cycle will continue to produce disease until it is stopped by intervention.

In my opinion, Dr Marshall’s discovery that A-II perpetuates a TH1 inflammatory cascade is nothing short of major medical breakthrough.

Dr. Marshall’s work has not only given us the model for the pathogenesis, he has also given us the therapeutic approach that breaks the perpetual cycle that maintains the inflammatory cascade.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockade. The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) called Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) has specific ARB properties that block this self-perpetuating inflammatory cascade.

Benicar therapy is a medical miracle for those suffering with chronic borreliosis."

I have yet to find this being used as a therapy in the forums, blog journals and other sites I've investigated. It would be interesting to find feedback regarding this method of therapy. I will do more research for another post on this therapy.

Another interesting point made in his report...

"Killing of Borrelia burgdorferi by macrophages is dependent on oxygen radicals and nitric oxide and can be enhanced by antibodies to outer surface proteins of the spirochete."

"Borrelia lack the microbial toxins called lipopolysaccharides (LPS) however, they have over 150 genes that encode for the BLPs that are the key to their pathogenicity. This is over 50 times greater than other pathogenic bacteria. That is, other bacteria usually only have 3 genes for lipoproteins, while borrelia have 150!

With this many BLPs [Bacterial Lipoproteins] triggering an imbalance of the immune system and other innate responses in the body, it’s not hard to see how a cascade of chronic problems can arise from this."

The above terms may seem extremely complicated. However, later he goes through a question and answer sequence that is very interesting. One of the question and answer items is particularly interesting.

Q: It seems that many people are not even symptomatic until years after the original tick exposure.

A: This is true with borreliosis...(this happened in my case). It's also true with syphilis.

This may be due to borrelia's ability to code for so many different BLPs. They have the genetic code for over 150 different BLPs.

Depending on which ones and how strong the expression of these BLPs genes are may determine how virulent the borrelia is at different times

.

We know that borrelia change the expression of these genes when exposed to different environmental factors such as temperature.

They express different BLPs in ticks since they are in ambient temperature, but once inside a mammal, they begin to change the BLPs that they express.

They also have an effective ability to accept plasmids and pick up other pathogenic genes in this way.

Work has shown that removing certain BLPs from virulent strains makes the borrelia avirulent.

The evidence is very suggestive that BLPs determines the pathogenesis of borrelia."

There are so many fascinating aspects to this incredibly detailed report.

"Gulf-War-Syndrome (GWS) has very similar symptoms to chronic borreliosis."

Dr. Taylor states that the bacterial lipoproteins of borrelia "have the ability to turn our own immune system against the extracellular proteins of our body".

What does that mean? It means that our immune system is fighting against the very "mortar" that holds our cells together. Borrelia "have the ability to grow slowly and avoid attack by the host's immune system", as well as suppress the host's immune system.

For many, Lyme disease is characterized by the "bulls-eye" rash, along with flu-like symptoms. However, when there has been no rash detected (only detected in 50% of Lyme cases), Lyme can remain dormant for months to years before presenting itself with "mystery illness"-type symptoms.

"Lyme disease is an extremely challenging infectious/toxic disease for both doctor and patient. It can exhibit many different symptoms. The clinical picture of LD can be similar to fibromyalgia, including: chronic fatigue, joint pain (arthralgias), muscle, fibrous tissue and tendon pain. Lyme disease can also manifest primarily as a neurological disorder, including fatigue and many neurological symptoms. It is important to remember that there are hundreds of symptoms that are caused by LD and it can mimic many diseases; for this reason, LD is often called, "the great imitator."

Because there is so much to this report, I am continuing this information in next Friday's post.

Note: I've been on Doxycycline for 5 months. I was having headaches whenever I wore my contacts (my glasses weren't so bad because the prescription was outdated). I went to my eye doctor and my vision has improved considerably in both eyes. If you are experiencing headaches while being treated, please visit your eye doctor to see if your vision may be a contributor.

Sources:
www.autoimmunityresearch.org
www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Hado. Universal Power Described by A Hado Master.

I've read an informative and fascinating book recently called

"The Healing Power of Hado", by Toyoko Matsuzaki

I really love books like this one that discuss the universal energy that flows around and between all living things.

Toyoko Matsuzaki helps her readers understand "hado" by asking simple questions...

..."Have you ever entered a room full of people and sensed the mood, without anyone saying a word?"

..."Or felt calm and lighter after receiving a warm hug from a friend when your spirits were down?"

Definition:

"Hado is the life force found in everything."

Many people may not understand this energy or find that the topic seems contrary to their religious beliefs. However, if you ponder this topic and talk with your religious clergy, you may be surprised to find how closely this bonds to your beliefs.

Particularly in this book, Toyoko Matsuzaki relates many of her own beliefs to those basics found within many religions.

...her belief that there is a thin veil between this life and the next...that life does not end after this life...

"Further, the line between this world and the other is very thin...They (departed loved ones) are happy when we are happy and they share the sadness we feel and help us from the other world..."

...that there could be no such thing as reincarnation...that one life on this earth is enough for each of us to endure...

"I am often asked about reincarnation. I think it is too painful for each spirit to repeat the fate and sorrow of this world. Previous lives are our ancestors, and future lives are our offspring."

...that we each have a purpose in this life...each of us is important...

"If you are fully aware of the consequences of your conduct and behavior, you will realize how important it is to live your life to the fullest, regardless of success or failure, with a good heart and good intentions.

..."If a thousand people pray for the same thing with good will, the power of the prayer is magnified."

..."Nothing is stronger than love"

...She essentially believes in the idea of karma, i.e., doing to others or for others as you would like them to do to or for you.

"I firmly believe that what we call "karma" exists. Whatever you have done to others will return to you somehow, good or bad."

...that babies are unconditionally innocent...

"...I believe that babies, especially those who leave this world before starting to talk, go directly to God."

This author goes into great detail relating to diverse ways "hado" energy is released by various items and how it affects the environment around you and I, along with stories for the readers to understand "hado" energy better.

This "Hado Master" hones her powers of positive energy for healing and helping others and throughout this book empowers her readers to discover the benefits of the positive energy they possess.

An uplifting book, I give this book a very high rating for bringing another positive aspect to connect people throughout the world with the knowledge of the energy that we all share...that it can be positive energy if we choose. We have that control and can make that choice.

Sabbath Day, March 16, 2008

Here are some links that may be of interest to you regarding service provided by the LDS Church, this Sabbath Day.

New Zealanders spruce up neighborhoods in Auckland on March 12, 2008. Over 5,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their neighbors joined together to give service, painting bus shelters, schools, etc.

Young Australian Mormons clean up Sydney Park. "Cleanup projects supported by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are frequently organized in many countries around the world, including Mongolia, the United States and Tonga."

Volunteers help restore Wells, Nevada, March 5, 2008. "Over 300 Mormon volunteers endured a whiteout snowstorm on Saturday as they helped residents repair their town following a series of earthquakes. After an initial 6.0 quake 12 days ago, several aftershocks have hit the town, damaging homes and other buildings."

These examples of service go on and on. To view more, please see http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/

Get involved in service. Being involved helps you bond with your neighbors, your community, your state, and your country.

Life and Death. What do you want your life to say?

Ignorance of a Plague

Doing research for Lyme disease, I found an extremely detailed report, by Dr. Scott Taylor from 2004. The title of his report is very agreeable to those suffering with Lyme, "Lyme Disease (Borreliosis): A Plague of Ignorance Regarding the Ignorance of a Plague". Link Here

Through this report, his primary objective is to "help inform the layman and the medical community about the extremely complex infection called Lyme disease." He wrote this following his own diagnoses and experience with fighting the disease.

"The disease affects every tissue and every major organ system in the body."

"Physicians not familiar with the complex clinical presentation of Lyme disease frequently misdiagnose it as other disorders such as: Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS), Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Motor Neuron Disease (ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis -Lou Gherig's disease), Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS) and numerous other psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety."

Lyme disease is something that most will agree that they have heard of, however the majority don't realize the impact it has on the body, most especially the impact following years of misdiagnoses.

"This report is an urgent warning for everyone. Lyme disease is devastating the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals and we are all at risk. Many patients are suffering with chronic Lyme disease and continue to be misdiagnosed and mistreated. In many cases of Lyme disease, a correct diagnosis doesn’t occur until after several months or more often many years of suffering with the disease. By then it has caused severe illness, disability and permanent damage. The disease is widespread and the prevalence is significantly higher than reported by health officials."

Dr. Taylor extends further into awareness with key factors regarding why Lyme is misdiagnosed and mistreated.

One very important point is that "there are more carriers of LD (Lyme disease) than just the deer tick".

Regarding treatment Taylor reports,

"Patients need longer and more comprehensive treatment. The standard therapy of 4 -6 weeks of antibiotic treatment is not sufficient to treat chronic Lyme disease. Chronic Lyme disease is often a life-long illness. Months, years, and often indefinite antibiotic therapy may be necessary to manage the disease. Ignorant physicians often use the standard treatment and consider the patient cleared of Lyme disease afterwards. Often these patients are not treated long enough to clear the stubborn Borrelia from the body. So, when the standard regimen of antibiotics is finished, the patients relapse with Lyme symptoms soon after the residual Borrelia reemerges. Unfortunately, the relapse is often not recognized by doctors and the patients are misdiagnosed with a different disorder. Not only does treatment be directed at the infection; it must also manage inflammation, help eliminate the BLPs produced, support the immune system, and many other associated problems such as hormone deficiencies."

Did you know that the first case of borreliosis in the U.S. was made by Dr. Rudolph Scrimenti in 1970? It wasn't until the early 1980's that it was named Lyme disease. Not a wonder there are few physicians with the knowledge regarding the disease. After all, how often are text books updated?

"Spirochetes are very difficult to grow (fastidious), identify, and study in the laboratory. In the laboratory we still cannot grow the spirochete that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum. This makes it very difficult to perform research and develop better diagnostic tests and therapies for borreliosis. Borrelia species grow extremely slowly; they even grow slower than many fungi and mycobacteria. Their growth rate is also slower than Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis. Borrelia’s slow growth partially explains its ability to cause chronic disease and the difficulty identifying it in the laboratory.

Borrelia exists in three different life forms: 1) the cyst, 2) the spheroplast or "L form", which doesn’t have a cell wall (commonly called: cell wall deficient (CWD)), and 3) the typical spiral-shaped bacteria form that has a cell wall and flagella as seen in figures 1 & 2. Spirochetes have a unique mode of motility that allows them to easily travel through tissues of the body. By rotating their axial filament (endoflagella) the flagellum rotates causing the spirochete to actually move in a cork-screw fashion. This mode of motility allows spirochetes to literally "screw" themselves into and through the tissues of the body. They can also contract like a spring and move through tissue as they uncoil. Spirochetes hide their flagella from the host’s immune defenses, which are normally antigenic and would trigger an immune response if detected."

Did you think that ticks were bugs? I did.

"Ticks are bloodsucking external parasites that feed on humans, wild and domestic mammals, and birds. Ticks are not insects; they are 8-legged arachnids along with chiggers, spiders, and mites."

"Ticks are carried by a number of different host animals, not simply deer. The hosts for adult ticks are numerous and include: fox, coyote, dogs, cats, cattle, rabbit, skunk, raccoon, rats, squirrels, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and humans. Nymphs get on many of these same animals as well as larger animals typical for adults. Ground nesting birds including bobwhite quail, pheasants, turkeys and chickens are also tick hosts. Forty-nine species of migrating birds have been found to carry ticks, transporting them large distances and contributing to the national spread of Lyme disease. Potential minor vectors for Borrelia species include: chiggers, mosquitoes, biting flies and fleas. Cases of LD being contracted from infected pets are well documented; likely due to the pet bringing infected ticks into the home. Borrelia can also be transmitted in utero from an infected mother to a child during pregnancy. Congenital transmission can cause miscarriages, severe neurological disabilities, or other major system dysfunctions to the baby. Other modes of transmission probably exist that we are not aware of. I am personally concerned that transmission may occur through blood transfusions without authorities knowing about it."

According to Taylor, in order to understand how to treat Lyme disease, you must understand how borrelia causes disease. A key factor regarding borreliosis is Bacterial Lipoproteins (BLPs), which have a key component, Pam3cys. This triggers "an innate immune response that cascades into the disease borreliosis...The inflammation triggered by the fat-soluble BLPs toxins is responsible for most, if not all symptoms of borreliosis."

TO BE CONTINUED...

For the next half of his findings and summary of his report, please see next week's Friday Lyme disease post.

Stimulus Package Details. American Dream?

Where are you going to spend your rebate check?

Facts regarding the controversial economic stimulus package as found on the IRS Internet site at www.irs.gov are summarized here.

Stimulus checks begin being mailed in May, 2008.

To qualify, you must file your 2007 tax return.

Checks will be available via direct deposit if that is the option provided on your 2007 income tax return.

Eligibility.

"In most cases, the payment will equal the amount of tax liability on the return with a maximum amount of $600 for individuals ($1,200 for taxpayers who file a joint return) and a minimum of $300 for individuals ($600 for taxpayers who file a joint return).

...Low-income workers who have earned income above $3,000 but do not have a regular filing requirement must file a 2007 tax return to receive the minimum stimulus payment. Similarly, Social Security recipients, certain Railroad retirees, and those who receive the veterans’ benefits mentioned above must file a 2007 return in order to notify the IRS of their qualifying income."

"Parents and anyone else eligible for a stimulus payment will also receive an additional $300 for each qualifying child. To qualify, a child must be eligible under the Child Tax Credit and have a valid Social Security number."

Note: Limited to those with Social Security Numbers only! Please read all exclusions.

Once U.S. citizens receive the package rebate checks, instead of paying off debt, they are reportedly going to turn around and spend most of it at places like Wal-Mart.

What is wrong with shopping at Wal-Mart, you ask? For some, it remains their only option. This is understood.

However, the money spent at Wal-Mart will most likely go straight to China.

Here is the reason that the rebates may most likely go straight to China if spent at Wal-Mart. Click Here For Link To Article

"China is Wal-Mart's most important supplier in the world. The overseas procurement home office in Shenzhen, a city of South China's Guangdong Province, has played a key role in the firm's global purchasing business.

Wal-Mart shifted its overseas procurement centre from Hong Kong to Shenzhen in February 2002 to better serve the purchasing and exporting business.

"If Wal-Mart were an individual economy, it would rank as China's eighth-biggest trading partner, ahead of Russia, Australia and Canada," Xu said."

The word is getting out about our free trade issues, however. More Americans are realizing that our trade issues are directly affecting our economy. For instance, the jobs that are now at stake regarding the $40 billion contract for Air Force aerial refueling tankers that has been awarded to a partnership between Northrop Grumman and the European parent of Airbus, instead of the American manufacturer, the Boeing Company (refer to this link to The New York Times article.

An article on CNN.com relates the feelings of the American population quite eloquently. Click Here For Link To Article

"We are a nation crawling into a fetal position, cramped by fear that America has lost control of its destiny in a fiercely competitive global economy. The fear is mostly about jobs lost overseas and wages capped by foreign competition."

"Median household income in 2006, at $48,201, was barely ahead of where it was eight years earlier. So the prospect of a recession has made the anxious middle class even more so. Coming in a presidential election season, the approaching storm clouds have turned the economy into the No. 1 issue on the campaign trail. Fear is a potent force in American politics, and Democratic Party leaders have astutely tapped into rising voter unease about globalization."

"No matter which candidate or which party takes control of the White House one year from now, free trade will - in the words of Hillary Clinton - take a "time-out." That's because Congress - which will most likely remain in the hands of the Democrats regardless of who wins the White House in November - took away President Bush's ability to negotiate trade deals by quietly letting so-called fast-track authority lapse last summer. And lawmakers won't hand that power back to any new President - Democrat or Republican - without major new federal programs (and new trade rules) designed to ease the stress of globalization on U.S. workers."

What do you and I do in a time like this?

For one, we stop borrowing money. Additionally, we remain aware of the economy, the trade, and the large companies that are involved. We make wise choices regarding our spending so that the money can actually bolster the U.S. economy, instead of a foreign economy.

On the Glenn Beck show on CNN, he has addressing this issue head-on. Click Here for Transcript Page

"Once again, our politicians have shown that needlessly spending billions more of your tax dollars has a bipartisan appeal. They can come together on spending your cash."

"For once, I really wish our do-nothing Congress would have actually lived up to their name. Your children’s future is much, much worse off tonight...."

"...does anyone know what values these parties stand for anymore? I used to think that Republicans stood for smaller government and free markets, but that’s almost laughable now. Under this package, the people who paid no income tax will get full, as they like to call them, rebates. My grandfather would have called them what they really are, handouts."

"...it allows government-chartered lenders like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to double the size, or almost, of the loans they’re allowed to buy. Never mind that those companies may have over $16 billion in bad loans already on their books, which are your books."

"Deficit, deficit. Where I have heard that deficit? Oh, I remember it was from the Congressional Budget Office, which just announced...the 2008 deficit is expected to grow to $250 billion, and that is without the stimulus package or a recession factored in."

"Free markets create wealth. Governments destroy it. Look around the world if you want proof. Twenty percent of the countries that have the most economic freedom have five times more wealth per person than the bottom 20 percent."

"STEPHEN MOORE, SENIOR ECONOMIC WRITER, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: ... We haven’t talked about the housing component. It’s, you know, I call this Uncle Sam subprime lender. Because what we’re going to do in this package, now that all the banks have finally smartened up and said, you know, "Maybe we shouldn’t be making these -- these loans to people who can’t repay them, who don’t have good credit ratings, who can’t make a down payment...

And now under this package what’s going to happen is the Federal Housing Administration, which is insured by you and me, Glenn, and Amity, we’re now going to be the subprime lenders. And you’re going to have another catastrophe in housing. But now, it’s not going to be the banks that are going to be losing money; it’s going to be the U.S. taxpayer."

"BECK: Yes. Stephen, I don’t know if you saw in "The New York Times," but Hillary Clinton revealed herself today as a spooky socialist, where she was talking about all the things that she wants to do, and she wants massive control on the markets and bigger, stronger government."

"MOORE: Yes. And this is my point. I mean, Hillary Clinton, this wasn’t yesterday, but a few months ago, she said America can’t afford all my ideas. And finally, she said something truthful."

Now that the question of the economy (which was in trouble before Bush came into office) is now in play, who do we vote for during these Presidential Elections? This is a seriously, thought provoking, mind-bending, brain-teasing, keep-you-awake-at-night question. The candidates certainly haven't lessened the stress. Instead of thinking of what will sound good coming out of their mouths, they may want to start thinking about what will actually function on paper going through the U.S. Congress to make changes once they are in office.

Sources:
www.irs.gov
www.chinadaily.com.cn
CNN.com
www.nytimes.com
The Glenn Beck Show on CNN
www.glennbeck.com

Sabbath Day, March 9, 2008

When things have become so chaotic lately, the words that have come to my mind are, "Be still and know that I am God".

I think of these words in the chaos and begin to see the beauty. I see the blue in the sky, realize the beautiful view I have of the Rocky Mountains (on all sides of my home), and hear the beautiful song of the geese as they fly overhead.

God has placed marvelously beautiful things on this earth. He wants us to notice them and enjoy them. Through doing this, I find peace among the chaos.

Lyme Disease and Hyperbaric Treatment

Here is one interesting option for treatment for Lyme disease. Please pay close attention to the woman's story at the end of the video. This is still new treatment, as well as expensive treatment, however it seems to be helping many patients.



Source:

YouTube

Will Your Next U.S. President Promote The New World Order?

Will your next United States President promote The New World Order?

Perhaps you might like a glimpse back in history (which ultimately takes you into the future) for each candidate as they relate to the topic of The New World Order and/or Global Government. Perhaps you might like to see which candidate will fight for your constitutional rights if they were to become President?

Here is a little glimpse into Hillary...



Additional information regarding the Clintons is widely available. One intriguing piece is located on infowars.net from May 2006.

This piece cites multiple hypocritical moves lead by the Clintons, the Bushes and by elitists that once turned away from Hillary. One such elite is Rupert Murdoch.

"Rupert Murdoch, the conservative media mogul whose New York Post tabloid savaged Hillary Clinton’s initial aspirations to become a US senator for New York, has agreed to host a political fundraiser for her re-election campaign, reports the Financial Times."

"Hillary Clinton today holds the new North American record for fakery," wrote Newsday columnist Jimmy Breslin. "She copies. She sneaks and slithers past you with her opinion on a war that kills every day."

Another article by the Jeremiah Project represents the Clintons in the elitist membership of the Bilderbergs. Following this is a YouTube video describing the Bilderbergs on CNN World Business Today.

"Among the elitist membership or attendees at Bilderberg meetings is...Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Dan Quayle, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin L. Powell, John Edwards...Alan Greenspan (former Chairman of the Federal Reserve), H. J. Heinz II (CEO of H. J. Heinz Company), Peter A. Thiel (Co-Founder, PayPal), Eric E. Schmidt (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Google), Lloyd Blankfein (CEO of Goldman Sachs), Rupert Murdoch, Donald E. Graham (Chairman of the Board of The Washington Post Company), William F. Buckley, Jr. (founder of National Review and former host of Firing Line)..."

So, what about Obama? The Chicago Defender quotes Dr. Cornel West of Princeton University as saying,

“We have been living for 40 years in a political, moral and spiritual ice age,” he told the congregation that included a number of candidates vying to take or retain office in the Super Tuesday elections. But a melt down, a phenomenon West, 54, said he didn't think he'd witness in his lifetime, is on the horizon. The professor of Religion called for a new world order, one that would begin with the election of Obama."

Here is a video showing a bit of the Obama agenda...



Additionally, who is Barack Obama's foreign advisor? Zbigniew Brzezinski. The same person who "published an essay in the summer issue of the journal Foreign Policy, defending a controversial new book about the power of the “Israel Lobby” in American politics", as stated in Politico

A little more on Zbigniew Brzezinski...

"In his 1970 piece Between Two Ages: America's Role in the Technetronic Era, Brzezinski argued that a coordinated policy among developed nations was necessary in order to counter global instability erupting from increasing economic inequality. Out of this thesis, Brzezinski co-founded the Trilateral Commission with David Rockefeller, serving as director from 1973 to 1976. The Trilateral Commission is a group of prominent political and business leaders and academics primarily from the United States, Western Europe and Japan."

"After 9/11 Brzezinski was criticized for his role in the formation of the Afghan mujaheddin network, some of which would later form the Taliban and would shelter Al Qaeda camps. He asserted that blame rightfully ought to be laid at the feet of the Soviet Union, whose invasion he claimed radicalized the relatively stable Muslim society."

"...a foreign policy advisor to Barack Obama"

Well, the republican candidate, John McCain must have some dirt, doesn't he? Who doesn't?! The following video is an example of his change in opinion on certain issues.



An article entitled "Hillary of the Bilderberg Group Vs McCain the Rising Phoenix, A New World Order Change of Plans?" steps into McCain's background here.

"Lets take a step back and reflect on McCain through the words of the Time Magazine cover story.

“In the past decade he has joined with Democrats on a series of crusades in Congress — with Russ Feingold on campaign-finance reform and Ted Kennedy on immigration reform — that a majority of Republicans have opposed. He voted against President Bush’s tax cuts in 2001 and ‘03, each time citing the need for fiscal restraint. And during his 2000 campaign, he labeled Pat Robertson and the Rev. Jerry Falwell “agents of intolerance.”

Here we have a so called Republican that has stood on the wrong side of “free speech” as was attacked via campaign finance reform and he tried to push illegal immigrant amnesty through a la the McCain/Kennedy immigration reform bill that was shot down last year."

There are plenty of videos and articles both for and against each candidate. Each candidate "flip-flops" on issues throughout their years in Washington or other Government roles. Let's call it a "learning curve".

As far as the existing candidates, McCain has less to be unearthed than do those in the Democratic arena. It looks like we'll be forced to choose the candidate who is the lesser evil. Who will your lesser evil be?

Sources:

YouTube.com
infowars.net
www.jeremiahproject.com
www.chicagodefender.com
www.politico.com
wikipedia.org
salvationrevelation.com

Organizing the Paper Monster

I appologize that I have not posted for a few days. Our internet service has not been working correctly so I have been taking the time to organize my paper monster. If you want a closer look at the cartoon, please feel free to click directly on the picture.