Urgent information, not sure whether or not news media is reporting this.....

Because we don't watch TV news, I'm not sure this is being reported. This info. was found on The Tree of Liberty( I have a link on my favorite links widget) It's important, whatever you may think to inform yourself for your protection as well as that of your family. In an earlier post( should show up under Recipes in my TAGS) I posted a Four Thieves Vinegar and how to make Elderberry tinture. I pray you've already done so, as these items will become scarce if an epidemic or pandemic comes steam rolling our way. Please read the info. below and check out the added links at the bottom. Human Swine Flu Spread to Texas and Likely Import from MexicoRecombinomics Commentary 00:55April 24, 2009(MODS...please merge this thread with the Ominous signs coming from Mexico thead) Thanks in advance.http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04...ne_Mexico.htmlNow, five more cases have been seen -- all found via normal surveillance for seasonal influenza. None of the patients, whose symptoms closely resembled seasonal flu, had any direct contact with pigs."We believe at this point that human-to-human spread is occurring," Schuchat said. "That's unusual. We don't know yet how widely it is spreading ... We are also working with international partners to understand what is occurring in other parts of the world."Two of the new cases were among 16-year-olds at the same school in San Antonio "and there's a father-daughter pair in California," Schuchat said. One of the boys whose cases was reported on Tuesday had flown to Dallas but the CDC has found no links to the other Texas cases.Only one of the seven cases was sick enough to be hospitalized and all have recovered, Schuchat said.The above comments in Reuters describe several points made in today’s CDC conference call. The additional confirmed cases leave little doubt that the swine flu is transmitting human-to-human and has now been confirmed in three distinct locations in two states (see updated map), confirming sustained transmission.The infection of classmates in San Antonio, as well as the father and daughter in California further highlight efficient transmission. The hospitalization of one patient, who had been on a ventilator, raises concerns that infections will produce a wide range of presentations.The location of the confirmed cases in states that border Mexico, as well as media reports of pneumonia in Canadian travelers returning from Mexico, strongly suggests that the outbreak of influenza in Mexico is also swine flu.The confirmed cases in the United States likely represent a pandemic of H1N1 swine flu. At this point, most confirmed cases in the United States have been mild and there have been no confirmed fatalities. However, in Mexico there has been a high case fatality rate among young adults, 25-44, with atypical pneumonia, which has similarities with the 1918 pandemic.Moreover, the 1918 pandemic was composed of eight gene segments representing recombination between H1N1 seasonal flu and H1N1 swine flu.An efficiently transmitted swine flu can lead to co-infection with H1N1 seasonal flu. Oseltamivir resistance (H274Y) has become fixed in H1N1 seasonal flu, raising concerns that recombination or reassortment will lead to Tamiflu resistance in the swine flu, which is already resistant to amantadine and rimantadine. Moreover, the existing trivalent seasonal flu vaccine will likely offer little protection.The spread of swine flu in the United States, and likely import from Mexico, creates a major cause for concern. Canada Issues Alert on Severe Respiratory Disease in MexicoRecombinomics Commentary 02:22April 23, 2009http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04...ico_Alert.htmlThe Public Health Agency of Canada has told quarantine services to be on alert for travellers returning from Mexico after a number of severe respiratory illnesses (SRI) were reported in some regions of the country.PHAC, in an April 20 report, said Mexican officials informed the Canadian health agency that the "case-fatality rate was relatively high" and that most cases involved healthy adults between the ages of 25 and 44. A number of health-care workers were also affected.Although no cause has been confirmed, some samples were positive for influenza A and B.The above comments on an alert issued by Canada offer some insight into the situation in Mexico. The reports out of Mexico are decidedly mixed. Some reports describe an increase in influenza cases which is attributed to a late spike in influenza B, which when combined with influenza A, gives an abnormally high number of cases this late in the season. Other reports discuss revaccinating at risk groups with the current trivalent vaccine.Samples have been sent to Canada for a comprehensive analysis.The increased influenza-like illness and fatalities was announced as the CDC issued an MMWR dispatch on H1N1 swine flu. Two cases have been confirmed in children (9F and 10M) and family members had mild symptoms but were not tested. The precise location of the clusters in southern California has not been released, but one cluster is in San Diego Country, while the other is 100 miles away in Imperial County (see updated map). Additional suspect cases in Imperial County have been noted and it is likely that these cases are near the border with Mexico. Some media reports also note that some contacts have not been interviewed because they were in Mexico.It remains unclear if these two outbreaks are related. All reported cases in California have been mild, and the two confirmed cases were influenza A positive, but failed to sub-type for seasonal flu. It is unclear if sub-typing failures have led to the confusing reports out of Mexico.More information on these cases, and results of analysis in Canada, would be useful. Similarly, a more precise location and number of confirmed and suspect cases in the United States would be useful. More info. Links; http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04...ne_Mexico.html http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04...ico_Alert.html http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...,25.488281&z=5

Why it is important......

...now more than ever to support your local farmer. Big food industry is trying to stop the ever increasing wave of people searching our a local source for their food supply; IE: CSA gardens, planting your own garden, Food Coops, farmer's markets, etc.... Here is a link to an informative article. http://articles.mercola.com:80/sites/articles/archive/2009/03/28/Say-Goodbye-to-Farmers-Markets-CSAs-and-Roadside-Stands.aspx We urge all of you to be in contact with your state representatives about this very issue. The bill being pushed leave to much open for interpretation.

Some friends and family are having a difficult time....

leaving a Comment on our blog, so.... I investigated and this is the information I came up with; How do I leave comments on a blog? If someone has comments enabled on his or her blog, then you can usually find a "comments" link at the end of each post, like this: If you click this link, you will go to the comment posting page. (Note: in some templates, this link may take you to the post page first. From there you should be able to find the "Post a Comment" link which will take you here.) The comment posting page looks like this: In the upper left corner, there is an option to show or hide the original blog post that the comments relate to. The rest of the left-hand column contains any comments that have already been made. The profile photos of the comment authors may also display, depending on the blog's settings. On the right hand side of the page is the space for you to enter your comment. Beneath that are the identity options. (Some of these may not be available, depending on the blog's settings.) The options are these: Blogger username: Your display name will appear, along with a link to your profile and your photo (if you have one). Other: You can enter your name and a link to your website, without having to have a Blogger account. Anonymous: No identifying information is displayed. The comment is credited to "Anonymous" without a link. The owner of a blog also has the option to have comments open in pop up windows. In this case, all the primary features will still be present, just arranged a little differently: Notes: This article only covers Blogger's commenting system. Some Blogger users have installed third-party comment systems (e.g. Haloscan, Enetation, etc.) which will work differently. If anyone who is able to COMMENT would please give an added information to my family and friends about how they might make comments it would be such a blessing. I'm not sure if they need to register somewhere first or what, again any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance :o) I hope to see more comments from friends and family, soon!

How well are you prepared for.......

an emergency situation? It could be weather related,loss of a job, it could be terror related, how about a pandemic! We've found a good way to make sure your preparation bases are covered is to prepare for the worst and pray for the best. Do you have enough water and food for a minimum of 30 days? Water and the ability to access water, then purify it is and should be your first priority. Just stop for a moment and think of all the water you use in a day, not just for drinking or cooking, but washing, bathing, flushing, animals, etc..... Storage of water is relatively simple, it's finding the space. This is why we store enough for our family to function for several weeks and then have alternative means to gain access to water( if no electricity we have a hand pump for our well), we also have the river just at the back of our property. Food; "Store what you eat and eat what your store". Rotation is a very important part of a good food storage plan. You'll want to store food items you are accustom to eating, a stressful time, is not the time to begin eating and cooking with dehydrated foods, or eating grains, beans and such that your system isn't used to. Don't forget to include some comfort items as well. We store our canned produce, grains, flours, sweeteners, herbs and spices, basic pantry items( yeast, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, salt, etc....) We also cook 98% from scratch and eat seasonally. Preparing for basic hygiene is often overlooked. Deodorant, toothpaste, feminine needs, razors, soap, lotion, etc.... You'll want a good first aid pack, band aids( various sizes) bandages, sterile gauze, antiseptic ointment( herbal alternative ointment), alcohol, splint, pressure bandage( for heavy bleeding), antibacterial soap, betadine/ iodine, tape( different types, as some people are allergic to the adhesives), benadryl( or homeopathic alternative), aspirin or other pain alternative, etc... We also have suture kits, good herbal remedy books, homeopathic remedies, as well as good medical training( Mike is a licensed EMT) Building your immune system is and should be every one's personal priority. To do this you need to cleanse your body of immune suppressors; Preservatives, food dyes, GM foods, soy, immunizations, etc..... by changing your diet and avoiding these items. You should seek to ingest foods the way God created them, whole, not processed and full of chemicals. Many people complain about organic and natural foods being so expensive and they are but, if you take into account immune suppression, your medical costs begins to add up. What kind of price do you put on good health? Mike, Cortney and myself haven't had a major illness( cold, flu or otherwise) for 5-6 yrs. When we feel symptoms coming on, to lets say a flu bug or cold virus going around, we take 1000mg of natural vitamin C, echinachea( recommended dosages) and 1-2 tbsp. elderberry tincture a day. This gives a quick boost to our immune function and 99% of the time the symptoms disappear within 12-24 hours. We also have a tincture for super immune building( possibly needed during a pandemic) The recipe was handed down through generations from the catastrophic flu pandemic of early 1900's Here is the recipe, store in a cool dark place. Four Thieves Vinegar Use equal parts of the following herbs: Lavender Sage Rosemary Thyme Melissa (lemon balm) Hyssop Peppermint A handful of garlic cloves( crushed and peeled) Blend ingredients in a glass jar and cover completely with organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, which is available in most health food stores. Cold infuse (let sit at room temperature in a cool place) for six weeks and then strain off herbs and garlic. You can take Four Thieves Vinegar by the teaspoonful, use it as a salad dressing, or even add a spoonful to your bath water for personal protection. You can also use it as a topical spray to disinfect surfaces -- including skin -- and/or you can take it as a tincture. All of the ingredients in Four Thieves Vinegar are potent antibacterials and antivirals! Elderberry tincture is easily made as well, if you prefer a non alcoholic version, substitute cider vinegar for vodka. Simply gently crush elderberries, place in a jar and pour vodka filling jar. Let set for 4-5 weeks in a cook dark place. Strain out berries and seal the liquid in a jar and keep in a cool dark place or refrigerate. We feel being able to care for our own medical needs is a blessing, especially in these times of uncertainty.