What Can We Do ?

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Poor Uncle Sam               (Photo: presstv.ir)

 

 This is the final post for awhile on the subject of a potential impending financial collapse in the United States.

  Over five posts, I have examined the reasons the United States may be headed for a financial crash.  I have skipped the post on how many people with an entitlement mentality are driving the national debt upwards, as we all already know this.  Houston, we have a problem, along with Denver, New York, Miami, Detroit, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta, Austin, Fargo, Taos and everywhere in between.  We touched on mis-structuring in our housing and banking sectors and in the attitudes of Americans which fuelled a housing market collapse which hasn't ended yet.  I did not mention a similar issue in commercial building, with defaults coming, although that would also be true.  We touched on runaway taxation as a phenomenon which has made it difficult for many to pay their own bills. It has also begun to socialize some to the idea that "the government has my money, and will therefore have to take care of my needs".   Then, I mentioned the serious issues of unemployment which have plagued our nation, most acutely from 2008 and forward.  I believe the unemployment situation to be inadequately reflected in governmental figures, and therefore inaccurately reported to us. Then, without getting into the complete stupidity of "Quantittative Easing" by the Federal Reserve, I tried to impart that the very bank entrusted with trying to keep the economy from crashing, may be part of the problems we are facing as a nation. (See below)   The printing of money, unbacked by anything, can only fuel inflation. (More paper money chasing the same amount of goods and services.)  The only reason inflation isn't a larger problem than it is, is that the banks are reluctant to lend money, thus holding back runaway inflation.  In the last post. I touched on our nations crushing debt, and how a default is a possibility.

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      As individual families there is not much we can do to impact the changes which need to be made in our government.  The game continues to be played in much the same way a compulsive gambler plays, unable to stop and sure that next time, he will get his losses back.   We can be politically informed, registered to vote, and do our best to know what is going on. We can seek people of like minds for ideas and for support.  We can be active supporters and thorns in the side of our Congressmen. Both Democrats and Republicans in my state know my family and I well. We make our ideas known to them on a regular basis, with I am afraid, limited impact. We can make sure we vote, and ensure that every family member we have is informed, and votes also.
      Then, we need to get down to serious brass tacks.  How likely is a financial collapse in the US in the next one to two years or even before that ?  Each of our families must take a serious look at choices we make.  If your primary income or a substantial part of it ended, what would your plan be ?   If your adjustable credit, or credit cards went from a 9% to a 27% rate, what would you do ?   What is your financial disaster back up plan ?  Where would you live, and where would you go ?   It isn't necessary to tell me, but it is necessary that you, your spouse and your children have some idea what that "worst case scenario plan" is for your family.  The absolute worst case scenario rarely happens, but some version of it often does.  If your income ceased next month, how would you eat ?  Do you have long term food stored for major emergencies ?   Do you have medications set aside should your employer collapse ?   I know that few of us had the funds to set up a perfect and adequate retreat, but plans of any kind made now, may do a great deal to minimize the misery of an economic disaster the likes of which cannot be fully anticipated.
       I have personally and seriously looked at leaving the United States.  I don't know that in my research I found anywhere I thought would be insulated from civil unrest, financial collapse, or governmental problems. It may be that for most of us, where we are, is where we are, and we will need to survive somehow, exactly where we are. I do know that once a cascading failure of our domestic systems begins that it will be too late to leave. The point is that nations and governmental systems are so interdependent and interlocked that a failure in one location will appreciably ripple in another.   A financial crash in the US adversely impacts England.  A great loss of wealth in the US trips a recession in Russia. Australia could see a crash in visitors and in tourism if the European Union collapses. A financial collapse in the US may well lock the borders down to Canada.
        I have no advance warming of what might occur.  I know that those who manage our finances in the great machine that is the US economy, don't seem to understand it.  I know that the US economy is a resilient entity generally as many of the things done in the past would have destroyed a less tenacious machine.  However, there is a point of no return.  There is a point at which the machinations and failures will destroy the "Middle Class" and turn many into paupers.    I have no idea whether a natural disaster coupled with a terrorist act will beget a financial collapse and whether the US will experience a perfect storm.  I know only that it might be desirable for everyone to fashion a family emergency financial back-up plan.  Decide what you can pay off, what you should keep, and what you could part with should things become difficult.

Asthma

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Asthma can stem from acombination of causes. There is often an allergic component that triggersasthmatic attacks. In some cases the cause is purely genetic while in others itmay be an acquired reaction to exposure to an irritant. The state of thenervous tone of the body can also lead to bronchial spasms. In predisposedpeople, tension, anxiety, hyperactivity or exhaustion can cause so much stressthat an asthma attack is triggered off.The rate of asthma in theWestern world is rising rapidly, especially among children. Reasons often givento explain this phenomenal rise include: increased stress on the immune systemdue to greater chemical pollution in the air, water and food; earlier weaningand earlier introduction of solid foods to infants; food additives; and geneticmanipulation of plants, resulting in food components with greater allergenictendencies. The latest findings link the chlorine in swimming pools withincreased asthma.It has been known for over60 years that most asthmatics produce too little hydrochloric acid in theirstomachs. In 1931, Bray showed that 80% of sufferers had below normal acidamounts and that asthma can be improved by supplementing acid intake: glutanicacid, betaine and pepsin, stomach bitters and other digestive enzymesupplements. Many asthmatics also have poor pancreatic function and inadequatesecretion of digestive enzymes.As a result, high proteinfood may not be digested completely and, when absorbed into the bloodstream,may evoke an allergic reaction such as wheezing. Aspirin and non-steroidal,anti-inflammatory drugs can induce asthma attacks in sensitive individuals.Following an asthma attack,drink a large amount of liquid as soon as you are able in order to encouragethe coughing out of secretions. To prevent and reduce the severity of asthmaattacks, make it a habit regularly throughout the day to help liquefy mucus. Aperiodic juice fast, three days a month, helps rid the body of toxins andmucus.A diet rich in raw fruitsand vegetables and free of animal products is recommended. Milk and dairyproducts tend to increase mucus production. Animal products produceleukotrienes, which contribute to inflammatory reactions.Vitamin C is an importantnutrient, as it helps to stabilise cell walls in all types of allergic responseand has an anti-histamine effect. Vitamin C further protects the body from theeffects of toxins and increases resistance to infections. Taking 1g of timedrelease vitamin C each day can be a great help to a sufferer of asthma.Taking the herb Astragalusin tablet or tincture form will assist the immune system in such a way as tolessen the allergic reaction of the body. This herb is often used to treat hayfever, allergic sinusitis and asthma, as the basis of those diseases is thesame as a dysfunction of the immune system.A very useful combination ofherbal juices to treat asthma is Plantain, Coltsfoot and Thyme. Thiscombination will often help the asthma sufferer by reducing the congestion ofmucus in the lung as well as strengthening the lung tissue in order to ease thesymptoms of breathlessness and wheezing, Prevention of chest infections in asthmaticsis very important. To prevent infections, use Echinacea tincture at the firstsign of a cold or sore throat: taking 5-10ml every couple of hours will oftenhelp to clear a cold in 12-24 hours.
David FoleyMNIMH, MRCHMMedical Herbalist

Treating Food Poisoning

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With the amount oftravelling we are doing now, especially during the summer months, thepossibility of food poisoning is ever more likely to affect us and ourfamilies. Unless the whole family is affected, it is often difficult to distinguishsymptoms of food poisoning from a stomach or gastric flu, which can affect manyin the community - a tummy bug doing the rounds.With both food poisoning andgastric flu, the symptoms can be very similar - discomfort and diarrhoea (whichdisappear within a few days). Salmonella is the most common source of foodpoisoning and can be life-threatening in severe cases. Symptoms of salmonellapoisoning are typical of other types of food poisoning, including stomachcramps, watery diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. A fever may be present. In thecase of salmonella, stomach discomfort and diarrhoea occur between 6 hours anda full day after consuming food, and often continue for up to 5 days withouttreatment. Symptoms from other poisons can start within half an hour or not fora full two days.Food poisoning occurs when atoxic substance has contaminated a particular food and is then eaten, causingsickness. Poisons can be bacteria or toxins produced by bacteria, but someplants and mushrooms can also be poisonous by nature. Fish and shellfish can bepoisoned by toxins in the water. In most cases, however, bacterialcontamination is caused by handling food with unclean hands. If the food isthen kept at room temperature, the environment is ideal for bacteria to grow.To prevent poisoning, eatperishable food only when it has been kept cold or hot (near boiling), but notif it has been left at room temperature for any length of time. Cook poultry,seafood and meat thoroughly before it is ready to be put in the oven. It maydevelop bacteria, which contaminate the meat. Barbecues are a leading cause offood poisoning due to the meats not being cooked well enough or left to standfor long periods uncooked in the sun. Never eat food from bulging or damaged tincans. Honey given to infants under I year of age can cause infant botulism.If food poisoning occurs,drinking a broth made from garlic and onions, which acts as a detoxifier, andpotassium-rich vegetables like parsley and celery, will help the body riditself of toxins. Drink citrus juices diluted with water to provide Vitamin C,which helps detoxify the body. Blueberries or Bilberries will kill the bacteriaand can prevent diarrhoea that results from eating food which is no longerfresh.Ginger Root Tea will stopthe nausea and cleanse the digestive tract. Black tea made very strong workswonders to stop diarrhoea in food poisoning; it will also help kill thebacteria causing the diarrhoea.The natural bacteria inAcidophilus are very helpful in fending off harmful germs. Acidophilus can betaken as a preventative. I remember once a group travelling to rural China. Theindividual in the group who had the chance to take Acidophilus with him didn’tget tummy upsets while the rest of the group did suffer from the dreadedtravellers’ diarrhoea.

David FoleyMNIMH, MRCHMMedical Herbalist

Cholesterol

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  Cholesterol is a necessary ingredientfor building cell membranes and hormones and for producing vitamin D and bile. Highcholesterol levels, however, can lead to the development of heart attacks and strokes.  Because high-density lipoprotein(HDL) is capable of removing cholesterol from the blood to the liver and out throughthe bile, it is called “good” cholesterol. Low-density cholesterol (LDL), on theother hand, carries cholesterol to the cells, and it is here that it is more likelyto contribute to the development of plaques and arteriosclerosis (narrowing of thearteries).   Although, in most cases, elevations of blood cholesteroland/or triglyceride (another blood fat) levels are due to dietary and lifestylefactors, elevations can also be due to genetic factors. These conditions are referredto as Familial Hypercholesterol, Familial Combined Hyperlipidaemia and FamilialHypertriglyceridaemia. These disorders are among the most common inherited diseases,as they affect one in every five hundred people.  Most of the cholesterol in our blood does not comefrom dietary sources; a diet aimed at eliminating cholesterol will reduce it by10 per cent only. Most of the body’s cholesterol is produced by the body itself.In fact, a deficiency in cholesterol is associated with a higher risk of cancerand immune disorders. This is because the role of cholesterol is a protective one,binding toxic mycotoxins in the blood.  Researchers at the World Health Organisation (WHO)have found that a diet of mostly refined carbohydrates (sugar, white flour, etc.)increases the presence of fungal mycotoxin blood levels, which in turn trigger theliver to increase its production of circulating cholesterol.  Many health factors raise cholesterol levels: hyperthyroidism,smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol abuse and a diet low in fibre and high inprocessed, refined foods. The most important approach to lowering a high cholesterollevel is a healthful diet and lifestyle. The dietary guidelines are straightforward.

• Eat less saturated and cholesterol by reducing or eliminating the amount of animal products in the diet.
• Eat more fibre-rich plant foods (fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes).
• Lose weight, if necessary. Get regular aerobic exercise. Don’t smoke. Reduce or eliminate consumption of coffee (both caffeine and decaffeinated).

  In many cases, dietary therapy aloneis not sufficient to get fat levels into the desired ranges. Fortunately there areseveral natural compounds that can lower cholesterol levels.  Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) willlower “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and increase “good” cholesterol by 10 to 15 per cent.Take 900 mg per day. Vitamin C directly promotes the breakdown of triglycerides.Take 1 to 3g per day.  Lecithin will help in the properbreakdown and transport of fats. Take 4-6 tablespoons per day.  Taking 1 tablespoon of flaxseed oil will help reducecholesterol and triglyceride levels. 1-4 cloves of fresh garlic or 4,000 mg of allicinper day in tablet form will also help reduce cholesterol by 15 per cent.

David FoleyMNIMH, MRCHMMedical Herbalist

Bladder Infections

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Bladder infections in womenare surprisingly common: 21% of all women have urinary tract discomfort atleast once a year.     Frequent urges to urinate, accompanied byburning, stinging pain during and at the end of urination, are the typicalsymptoms of a bladder infection. The onset of a bladder infection can be slowor sudden, and cramping pains intensify the suffering. Since kidney infectionscan result from untreated bladder infections, seek professional care if thepain is severe or if the infection does not respond to treatment. Other signsto be treated seriously are fever, lower-back pain or blood in the urine.     Many factors are associated with increasedrisk of bladder infection - pregnancy (twice as frequent), sexual intercourse(nuns have one-tenth of the incidence) and perhaps most important, structuralabnormalities of the urinary tract which block the free flow of urine. Refluxof the urine from the bladder up to the kidney is an important factor inrecurrent kidney infections.     In women, bladder infections are morecommon than in men due to the short distance between the anus and urethra, sobacteria can enter the bladder easily. E. Coli, which is beneficial to thelower bowels but hazardous if it finds its way to the urinary organs, is themost common bacterial cause of bladder infection. Genital hygiene is crucial inwomen who are predisposed to, or suffer from, recurrent bladder infections.     Men also get bladder infections as aresult of a chill or possible link to a prostrate problem. Antibiotics, oralcontraceptives, stress and poor diet all weaken the immune system and create atendency for recurrent infections.     Cranberries and cranberry juice have beenused to treat bladder infections and have been shown to be quite effective inseveral clinical studies. Recent studies have shown components in cranberryjuice to reduce the ability of bacteria to cling on, or adhere, to the liningof the bladder and urethra. In order for bacteria to infect, they must firstadhere to the mucosa (the lining of the bladder wall). By interfering withadherence, cranberry juice greatly reduces the likelihood of infection andhelps the body fight off infection.     It must be pointed out that most cranberryjuices on the market contain one third of cranberry juice mixed with water andsugar. Since sugar has such a detrimental effect on the immune system, use ofsweetened cranberry juice cannot be recommended.     Another herb with most research is thebearberry or upland cranberry, Ulva Ursis, which has powerful antisepticproperties that are marvellous for easing a bladder infection. Garlic isanother powerful antiseptic of great use in bladder infections.    A herb to strengthen the urinary tract andcure bladder infections is called Horsetail. Horsetail increases the excretionof urine by 30% and strengthens the elastic tissue of bladder walls.     During the acute stage of an infection,avoid salty, spicy foods as these irritate the bladder. Drink plenty of water,especially barley water. To make, boil 100g/4 oz. of barley in 1 litre of waterfor 30 minutes. Add lemon juice to taste. 

David FoleyMNIMH, MRCHMMedical Herbalist

The Fisherman's Technique To Dig For Sand Worms For A Fishing Trip

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For the fishing enthusiast who does not wish to use peeled fresh prawns or shrimps as bait, sand worms is the preferred alternative.

Here's how you can learn the Fisherman's method to dig for sand worms to use as bait.

Trip

You merely need some very basic tools, and these are a spade with a pointed tip, and a squeeze bottle which can be fashioned out of any drinking water bottle with a hole punched in the cap.

We shall use some chicken feed as bait for the sand worms and also a small container to store the sand worms that we are going to catch.

First, we shall prepare our bait for the sand worms. To do this, we simply add the chicken feed into the squeeze bottle that is filled with some seawater, and we shake the bottle to form a chicken feed solution.

Next, we will stand near the edge of the beach, and wait for the tide to come in. As the water comes into the beach, squeeze the bottle of chicken feed over a wide arc, this forming the feed for the worms.

The next thing to do is to watch with a keen eye for worms that will come up to feed. Now the characteristic feature to identify the location of these worms is the special water formation that looks like a "V" pattern caused when the worms come up to feed and the water moves around its head to form such a pattern.

Do not search for them exactly at their home spot, because these worms are very fast and can hide back into the sand before you can even catch them.

The key is to quickly dig deep where you see the "V" formations, and bring the sand up to a dry part of the beach and then to spread the sand out to get the worms.

It is a skill of speed, and after you have done this a few times, you should be pretty fast.

Digging for the worms is something your kids will love, and if you are bringing your children along, ensure they have a good dose of sunburn lotion before letting them have fun catching the worms for you.

Who says the fun is in the fishing itself? Digging for the bait forms the prelude to a wonderful time of fishing. Try it out the next time you go for fishing!

The Fisherman's Technique To Dig For Sand Worms For A Fishing Trip

Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner who enjoys fishing and is never tired of hearing the exciting fishing stories from his sister who is another avid fishing enthusiast. For more free information and tips on fishing places and techniques, visit " The Big Fishing Guide" at [http://dynamic-guides.info/fishing]

Nassau - Bahamas

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No trip to the Caribbean would be complete without a stop in Nassau. Located in the Bahamas, it is the main tourist attraction in the area.

Many new attractions have been added in the last few years to make this a destination well worth spending several days.

Tour

Probably the most luxurious is Atlantis, covering 141 acres, this resort features more than 20 million gallons of water and 50,000 sea creatures!

It features several restaurants, a casino, water rides, as well as your standard beach and shopping.

Probably one of the best tours available is the Pirates of Nassau and Historical Highlights tour. Billed as the best pirate tour in the world, traveling in a taxi van the excursion begins with a tour of the islands historical sites. First on the agenda is the Queen's Staircase, along with the Water Tower and Fort Fincastle.

From there Parliament Square, the Governor's Mansion, Gregory's Arch and other attractions.

Then discover life in the 1700's at the Pirates of Nassau, you will find a three quarter length replica schooner. You may even come face to face with Blackbeard, or Anne Bonny.

Afterwards you can enter the courtyard to relax and purchase a pirate cocktail!

Nassau is well known for it's pristine beaches, dolphin encounters, carriage rides, and of course the "Straw Market".

The Straw Market is well known for their shopping bargains, bartering is not only acceptable, but expected. After a day of beach hopping, shopping and sightseeing, the perfect finish is enjoying a cool drink at Senor Frogs before retiring for the evening or making your way back to your waiting cruise ship!

Nassau - Bahamas

Experience a modern day Walkabout!
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