Author Archives: marcia

Hacking Your Pacemaker

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Medical Devices Vulnerable to Hackers, New Report Says

By Tanya Lewis, Staff Writer   |   September 24, 2013 11:00am ET
heart technology, biotech
 X-ray image of a pacemaker.
Credit: khuruzero | Shutterstock

In an episode of the television series “Homeland,” a terrorist organization assassinates the vice president of the United States by wirelessly hacking into his pacemaker. Although the scenario was fictional, the underlying premise is not.

Life-saving medical devices abound in today’s world, and many of these devices are connected wirelessly to hospital networks, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. For example, a malicious person could hack into a pacemaker, causing the device to apply lethal electrical stimulation, or an insulin pump, causing it to deliver a deadly dose of the hormone.

“Just like any other piece of Internet technology, medical devices are susceptible to the same cyberthreats you hear about all the time on the news,” said Russel Jones, a partner at the consulting firm Deloitte, which released a report Monday (Sept. 23) on the subject of cybersecurity in medical devices.

As more and more medical devices go online, device manufacturers and health care organizations will need to address security issues to keep patients and their health information safe. [Image Gallery: The BioDigital Human]

So far, there have been no known incidents of a hacked medical device injuring or killing a person, but researchers have demonstrated that these events are possible “with the right level of skill and understanding,” Jones told LiveScience.

In the Deloitte study, consultants interviewed representatives from nine health care organizations, in areas spanning from information technology to clinical engineering. The participants answered questions about the regulation, risk management and security of networked medical devices.

The majority of organizations surveyed felt their organizations had strategies and frameworks for managing cybersecurity risks. However, there were differences in the degree of preparedness and approaches for handling cyberthreats.

One way to protect information sent to or from a medical device is to encrypt it. The problem is, encryption takes up valuable processing time on the device. The challenge, Jones said, is to develop encryption that addresses cyberrisk without impacting the functionality of the device.

In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released draft guidance for cybersecurity concerns. The FDA’s previous guidance from 2005 was pretty vague, but the new draft lays out specific concerns that must be addressed when applying for FDA approval for new devices.

Ensuring cybersecurity in medical devices will require collaboration, Jones said. “This is going to be a problem that’s jointly solved by health care systems, providers, device manufacturers and the FDA,” he said.

from:    http://www.livescience.com/39889-medical-devices-vulnerable-to-hackers.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Color Vibe for Tuesday 9/24

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Tuesday, September 24:  Red Gold

This is a day for perspective, for seeing things as they fit into the larger picture, for realizing that you are part of that larger whole and that your job as a creator is to be true to yourself within this context.  There can be people coming to you today to ask for advice, to ask for direction, even to criticize some of the things that you have stood for.  It is your task in all of this to see through this momentary illusion into where it all fits together, how it all fits together.  You can find yourself not quite in touch with everything going on, a bit spacy, but that is what the energy is doing right now.  It is tearing apart and bringing together at the same time, and because you are in touch with the flow of these energetic shifts and changes, you are acting and reacting simultaneously.  So, take the day as it comes.  Be ready to laugh at yourself when those Freudian slips occur, those lapses of memory happen.  And do not take anything too seriously right now.  The time is right for observing without judgment.

Extreme Earthquake – Pakistan

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Massive earthquake in Pakistan – At least 50 killed and 100′s injured

Last update: September 24, 2013 at 2:47 pm by By

Update 14:46 UTC : Normally well informed Iranian sources are now reporting an increased death toll of 50. More people remain below the debris which means that the death toll will climb further the coming hours.

Update 14:41 UTC : On the Gwadar coastline, the quake created a small island about half a mile into the sea near an area called ‘Jhanda’, according to Express News. The newly appearing island is said to have a mountainous terrain rising up to a hundred feet. A large crowd was seen gathering at the site to see the new island. This information has been given by normally well informed press sources however ER finds it hard to believe and looks for further confirmation.

Update 14:24 UTC : Around 30% of houses possibly destroyed in the worst parts of Arawan district.

Update 14:20 UTC : We expect the fatalities and injured number still to rise sharply. Our own estimates are better than scenarios of other theoretical engines. Part of the reason is the time of the day the earthquake occurred. We are estimating less than 1000 fatalities based on the current epicenter, Magnitude and depth data.

Update 14:16 UTC : A M5.5 aftershock will probably create more damage and will be possibly life threatening for those buried under the rubble of the collapsed houses. All people who got safely out of their houses will surely not enter them anymore for some time.

Around 200000 people are without power and are in the worst affected epicentral area. This is around 45 times less than the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

32 dead and 54 injured. Balochistan has imposed emergency measures. We are still waiting for confirmation of these figures.

Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 16.06.15

Balochistan earthquake (Courtesy: The Tribe)

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30 dead and 54 injured. Balochistan has imposed emergency measures.

The weather will be around 22 degrees at night, to 35 degrees in the day for the coming week with no rain. Shelter will need to be provided accordingly as well as water supplies.

Many injuries are confirmed.

Around 400 fatalities are expected using theoretical studies and the current USGS shakemap. There still exist huge uncertainties of course.

Nearly 100% of buildings are adobe in this region according to Maqsood and Schwarz (2008). In their mean vulnerability index – this region came up one of the highest in Pakistan. Thus, it can be said that the vulnerability of such housing is high.

A lot of damage has occurred in the Khuzdar district in the Arawan area

The economic losses will be less than $1 billion USD. It is likely they will be around $100 million USD, however further modelling will be done in the coming hours.

Still at 10 fatalities.

Another M5.8 aftershock has struck the area .

The sparse population (about 50 times less populated than that of the epicentral region in Kashmir 2005) and time of day (4.30pm local time), will have reduced casualties significantly. 10 people however are reported dead currently.

It should be remembered that this is a rural area and thus the population is sparse. Given the length of the fault break, it is likely that Arawan district was quite heavily hit. .

Mw7.7 and 20km depth has been reported from USGS..

Update:- As a yardstick – the Pakistan earthquake of 2005 was Mw7.6 and at 10km depth. The fault break for Mw7.8 should be of the order of 150-180km long using scaling laws..

Update:- The duration of the quake was close to 2 minutes .

Update:- At least 2 people have been killed.

Update:- Many houses have collapsed, and no power is reported in parts of Balochistan. It is unknown the extent of these collapsed houses.

Update:- M7.8 and 15km depth has been given by IIEES.

Update:- The maximum intensity in Karachi has been around III so it is highly unlikely that there will be any damage there.

Update:- A number of aftershocks have occurred which is making life difficult for inhabitants. An M5.9 and M4.7 earthquake have been the largest so far, however it can be expected that aftershocks will plague the region in the coming hours and days.

No damage has been reported in Iran. Dubai in the UAE reported swinging of buildings.

Update: PAGER is predicting in excess of 1000 fatalities using a theoretical model. Internal models are predicting less than 1000 fatalities, (around 440) but with huge differences currently due to the uncertainty of intensities (and differences in magnitude)

Update: The earthquake occurred at 16:30 local time, which is one of the best times for an earthquake to strike… many people will hopefully been out of the house and out of schools, and agricultural workers will still hopefully have been outside.

Update: Roofs of schools in Arawan district collapsed.

Update: Pakistani news report that a lot of houses were damaged in Arawan area. Many people were injured and are on the way to hospital.

Update: Reports from Pakistan indicate that a lot of houses in western Pakistan were damaged. We expect more damage, also in other parts of Pakistan.

Update: USGS rose the Magnitude to 7.8 again. The quake was also felt in UAE and Oman. So far, we don’t have any reports from greater epicenter area.

Update: Panic was spreaded in Dehli and other Indian cities. People ran to the streets.

Update: According to PAGER, 16.000 people living in the area of strongest shaking.  105.000 in area of Intensity VII and VIII.

Update: USGS has changed the value from M 7.8 to M 7.4, still very dangerous. The quake was also felt in parts of India.
USGS ShakeMap shows a violent shaking in epicenter area, which is only sparsely populted with some villages (Balochistan Region).

A massive very dangerous earthquake with M 7.5  occurred in southern Pakistan.

Pakistan

Nearby Cities
69km (43mi) NNE of Awaran, Pakistan
118km (73mi) NW of Bela, Pakistan
172km (107mi) S of Kharan, Pakistan
174km (108mi) NW of Uthal, Pakistan
793km (493mi) ENE of Muscat, Oman

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 7.7

Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2013-09-24 16:29:49

GMT/UTC Time : 2013-09-24 11:29:49

Depth (Hypocenter)  : 20 km

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2013/09/24/massive-earthquake-pakistan-on-september-24-2013/

Dr. Masters on August 2013 Extremes

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August 2013 was the globe’s 4th warmest August since records began in 1880, according to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). NASA rated it the 5th warmest August on record. The year-to-date period of January – August has been the 6th warmest such period on record. August 2013 global land temperatures were the 11th warmest on record, and global ocean temperatures were the 5th warmest on record. August 2013 was the 342nd consecutive month with global temperatures warmer than the 20th century average. Global satellite-measured temperatures in August 2013 for the lowest 8 km of the atmosphere were 14th or 11th warmest in the 35-year record, according to Remote Sensing Systems and the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH), respectively. Wunderground’s weather historian, Christopher C. Burt, has a comprehensive post on the notable weather events of August 2013 in his August 2013 Global Weather Extremes Summary. The big stories that he highlights are the intense heat waves that hit Central Europe and East Asia, which brought all-time national heat records to Austria, Slovenia, and Japan. Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, passed its all-time heat record a remarkable five times during the month.


Figure 1. Departure of temperature from average for August 2013, the 4th warmest August for the globe since record keeping began in 1880. Most of the world’s land areas experienced warmer-than-average monthly temperatures, including Australia, northern South America, western North America, Europe, and much of eastern Asia. Far eastern China, part of eastern Russia north of Japan, and part of northeastern South America were record warm for the month. The southeastern United States, Far East Russia, part of South Africa, Paraguay, and Bolivia were cooler than average. No regions of the globe were record cold. Image credit: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) .

The six billion-dollar weather disasters of August 2013


Disaster 1. The most damaging billion-dollar weather disaster of August was in Northeast China, where the Nei River overflowed, killing 54 and leaving 97 missing in Fushuan. The flooding killed 118 people and cost $5 billion. In this photo, workers use an excavator to clean up mud after heavy rain hit on August 19, 2013 in Fushuan, in the Liaoning Province of China. Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images.

Disaster 2. Super Typhoon Utor killed 70 people in China and did $2.6 billion in damage. Utor also did $33 million in damage in the Philippines. This video taken by storm chaser James Reynolds shows debris flying as Typhoon Utor hits Zhapo, China on 14th August 2013.


Disaster 3. Torrential rains, due, in part, to moisture from Typhoon Trami, fell in the Philippines August 18 – 21, causing massive flooding on Luzon Island that cost $2.2 billion. Twenty-seven people were killed, and 60% of metro Manila was under water at the peak of the flood. According to EM-DAT, the International Disaster Database, this was the most expensive natural disaster in Philippine history. In this photo, pedicabs and makeshift rafts ferry office workers and pedestrians through flood waters that submerged parts of the financial district of Makati on August 20, 2013 in Makati City south of Manila, Philippines. Image credit: Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images)


Disaster 4. In Pakistan, torrential monsoon rains caused significant flooding that affected 5,739 villages. At least 208 people were killed, 63,180 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 1.4 million acres (567,000 hectares) of crops were submerged. The government estimated economic agricultural losses alone at $1.9 billion. Pakistan’s four most expensive weather-related disasters in its history have been floods that occurred in the past four consecutive years. In this photo, Pakistani residents hold onto a rope as they evacuate a flooded area in Karachi on August 4, 2013. Image credit: Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images)


Figure 5. Russia experienced its costliest flood disaster in history beginning on August 4, when the Amur and Zeya rivers in the far east of the country along the Chinese border overflowed, flooding 1.7 million acres, damaging or destroying over 11,500 buildings. It was the 4th most expensive natural disaster of any kind in Russian history. These false-color infrared satellite images of Russia’s Amur River taken a little over a year apart show the extent of the extreme flooding that affected the Komsomolsk-on-Amur area (population 500,000) in August 2013. Image credit: NASA.


Disaster 6. A severe weather outbreak in the U.S. Plains and Midwest August 5 – 7 brought baseball sized hail and thunderstorm wind gusts over 80 mph to Minnesota and Wisconsin. Two people were killed, and damage was estimated at $1 billion. In this photo, a severe thunderstorm closes in on Edgemont, South Dakota, on August 7, 2013. Image credit: wunderphotographer ninjalynn.

The world-wide tally of billion-dollar weather disasters so far in 2013 is 25, and the U.S. total is six, according to the August 2013 Catastrophe Report from insurance broker Aon Benfield. This excludes the September Colorado flood, whose damages are preliminarily estimated at $2 billion. Ranked in term of cost, here are the 25 disasters:

1) Flooding, Central Europe, 5/30 – 6/6, $22 billion
2) Drought, Brazil, 1/1 – 5/31, $8.3 billion
3) Drought, Central and Eastern China, 1/1 – 7/31, $6.0 billion
4) Flooding, Calgary, Alberta Canada, 6/19 – 6/24, $5.3 billion
5) Flooding, China, 8/9 – 9/5, $5.0 billion
6) Tornado, Moore, OK, and associated U.S. severe weather, 5/18 – 5/22, $4.5 billion
6) Flooding, China, 7/7 – 7/17, $4.5 billion
8) Flooding, Indonesia, 1/20 – 1/27, $3.31 billion
9) Super Typhoon Utor, China and Philippines, 8/12 – 8/15, $2.6 billion
10) Flooding, Australia, 1/21 – 1/30, $2.5 billion
11) Flooding, Philippines, 8/18 – 8/21, $2.2 billion
12 Tornadoes and severe weather, U.S., 5/26 – 6/2, $2 billion
12) Severe weather, Midwest U.S., 3/18 – 3/20, $2 billion
14) Flooding, Pakistan and Afghanistan, 8/3 – 8/31, $1.9 billion
15) Winter weather, Europe, 3/12 – 3/31, $1.8 billion
16) Drought, New Zealand, 1/1 – 5/10, $1.6 billion
16) Severe weather, U.S., 4/7 – 4/11, $1.6 billion
18) Flooding, Toronto, Canada, 7/8, $1.45 billion
19) Flooding, China, 6/29 – 7/3, $1.4 billion
19) Flooding, China, 7/21 – 7/25, $1.4 billion
21) Flooding, Argentina, 4/2 – 4/4, $1.3 billion
22) Flooding, India and Nepal, 6/14 – 6/18, $1.1 billion
23) Winter weather, U.S. Plains, Midwest, Northeast, 2/24 – 2/27, $1.0 billion
23) Severe weather, U.S. Plains and Midwest, 8/5 – 8/7, $1.0 billion
23) Flooding, Russia, 8/4 – 8/31, $1.0 billion

Neutral El Niño conditions continue in the equatorial Pacific
For the 17th month in row, neutral El Niño conditions existed in the equatorial Pacific during August 2013. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) expects neutral El Niño conditions to last though the winter of 2013 – 2014, and the large majority of the El Niño models also predict that neutral conditions will last through the winter. Temperatures in the equatorial Eastern Pacific need to be 0.5°C below average or cooler for three consecutive months for a La Niña episode to be declared; sea surface temperatures were 0.0°C from average as of September 16, and have been +0.1 to -0.4°C from average since April 1, 2013.

Arctic sea ice falls to 6th lowest August extent on record
Arctic sea ice extent during August was 6th lowest in the 35-year satellite record, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). This was the largest August extent since 2009, and a nice change of pace from last year’s all-time record retreat. The Arctic sea ice reached its minimum extent for the year on September 13, and has now begun re-freezing. I’ll have a dedicated post on this, probably on Tuesday.

Quiet in the Atlantic
In the Gulf of Mexico, the tail end of a cold front off the coast of Texas has developed a few disorganized heavy thunderstorms. This disturbance has some modest spin to it, thanks to absorbing Invest 95L on Saturday. However, wind shear is high, 20 – 30 knots, and I don’t expect this disturbance will develop. The disturbance is expected to bring 1 – 3″ of rain to Florida later this week, and on Saturday, the Army Corps of Engineers has re-opened the flood gates on Lake Okeechobee to dump water out of the lake in anticipation of the heavy rains. None the reliable models for tropical cyclone formation is predicting development during the coming five days.

In the Western Pacific, Typhoon Usagi has dissipated after hitting China about 100 miles east-northeast of Hong Kong. The storm is being blamed for at least 25 deaths in China and 2 in the Philippines. Preliminary damage estimates are over $500 million.

Jeff Masters

from:    http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2531

Weekly Chromoscope

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September 22-28:

The theme this week is expect a change.  Things are moving fast and furiously now, and all the old stuff that you thought was so predictable is no longer so.  Foundations are shifting and things are changing.  You will see a lot of it this week.  Fasten your seatbelt, and enjoy the ride.

Overall Color for the Week:    Rose Indigo

It can be hard to face a lot of things this week, but the energies are going to make you do just that.  You may be ready.  You may not be ready.  Either way it does not matter.  Things are going to be the way they are.  They are all part of the trajectory that moves ever closer to the climax of the year.  This is a week for getting ready for that.  You will need to become aware of that, to know that preparation will make everything so much easier when things comes to pass.  But the choice is always yours.  To believe that the old will always be or to choose unending novelty, to take each moment as it comes, and to rejoice in the newness that it brings.  This is your week for looking at things all over again and choosing what is important, what can be jettisoned, what you really, really are here to do, what you have taken on because of others and their cajoling and what is your truth.  Hey, no right, no wrong.  Choices.  But there are always choices.  It is a good week for taking the longer view, having the wider perspective, and using that for your compass.  Oh, and intuition, intuition, intuition.  Listen to that inner voice.   You can be very much aware of your body this week as it starts responding to foods, environments, people in new ways.  This is not a time for panic, but it is an opportunity to work with your physicality to discover the changes it is going through and the stresses it is dealing with.  Honor your body this week and heed its directives.  You will feel better.

 

On the larger scale, there are some major shake-ups that can happen this week.  The whereabouts will be unexpected, and the results can be either devastating or fulfilling for the areas in which they occur.  We are not speaking here of only the political issues, but also the financial, climatic, and media-touted. You might just find yourself rethinking a lot of the things that you have taken for granted.  There is a new kind of currency on the horizon, and it will be goods based.  This is a week for looking at your personal worth and how your skills translate into marketable items.  There will be some rather large figures out there who are going to try to convince the people in general that things are fine and under control and just to trust them.  Basically, they do not understand what is happening and are trying to ,move away from their own fears.  Interestingly, their egos have kept them from even considering that there might arise some kind of popular outcry on all levels and in all areas which could question, much less threaten, the plans that they have had set up for so long.  There is something stirring in the area of the Balkans that can bring some interesting things to light.  Some of it is related to ancient, ancient times and the original races of Gaia, and some of it is related tot trouble that is being fomented there due to interests that wish to remain hidden.  It should be interesting as time goes on.  It is a good time not to listen to what is being said in the mass media.  Anything that is sponsored, remember this, has an agenda.  Anything that comes forth from the heart is connected to the larger intelligence, and it is there that you can find your truth.  Things are spinning this week as the pattern emerges more and more.  You can see it if you take your focus off what is nearby and allow your perspective to widen.  Weather, there seems always to be a great deal of interest here.  Well, if nothing else, the weather can be capricious this week.  You will see it in many areas throughout the world.  In the high mountains of the Himalayas waters will wash to the surface some artifacts that have been hidden for millennia, but there time is now come to be seen, acknowledged, and utilized.  The Adepts will know the function.  These kinds of thing will be brought forward outside the mass media.

Ummm – Chinese Chicken

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The New Potential Danger Lurking in Supermarket Chicken

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Processed-Chicken China doesn’t exactly have a stellar track record in regard to , earning a reputation for being one of the world’s worst offenders. In January of 2013, the FDA linked the deaths of more than 500 dogs with chicken jerky treats imported from this country.

And this isn’t an isolated incident, as more horror stories spotlighting China’s unsafe food supply have surfaced in just the past year. These include reports of poisonous fake mutton and sales of 46-year old chicken feet.

All of these recent blunders beg one very important question: Why did the just green light China to export to the U.S.?

Coming soon to a supermarket near you: Chicken products that were processed in China with no U.S. inspector present

Until recently the U.S. had a strict ban on the importation of poultry from China. Now, a recent decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow four Chinese poultry processors to ship meat to the U.S. is troubling news to those concerned about the safety of imported food – and with good reason. Food safety standards in many other countries fall markedly short of those in the U.S., a reality that has resulted in food contamination and health risks.

At this time China will be permitted to only export cooked products from chickens raised in the U.S. Chickens will be slaughtered in the U.S. or Canada, shipped to China for processing and then shipped back to the States. Sounds totally safe, right? However, critics predict it is only a matter of time before the government expands the rules, allowing products made from China-bred chickens to end up in American supermarkets as well.

Even before these rules are expanded, this decision by the USDA is cause for concern. U.S. inspectors will not be present in the Chinese processing plants to verify that the food products manufactured in fact came from U.S.-slaughtered chickens. Even worse, the USDA won’t mandate point of origin labels on these products since they are assumedly cooked from U.S. chickens. The bottom line is that consumers won’t know if the chicken nuggets they purchase in supermarkets were processed in China or in the U.S.

What Does China Say About the Poor Safety Standards of its Food Supply?

In a July press conference, a senior Chinese official involved in trying to improve food safety standards was asked if and when the country could conform to safety standards of the developed world. He said since China was still in the process of developing, it should base its food safety regulations on “national conditions” rather than on international standards.

So why did the USDA make this decision to allow chicken processed in China into our country? For a long time U.S. beef and poultry producers have tried to lift restrictions in hopes that the Chinese government would reciprocate by lifting its current ban on imports of U.S. beef.

Tom Super, spokesman for the National Chicken Council, which represents big chicken processors in the United States, stated, “We certainly don’t look forward to any more imports, but we also realize free trade is a two-way street. We’re hoping the Chinese will look a little more favorably on our chicken products and on other U.S. agricultural imports.”

Hoping… that makes us feel better.

While this goal should be pursued, it shouldn’t involve sacrificing the safety of our food supply. American consumers are the big losers in the latest USDA policy ruling.

So how can you make sure your chicken was processed in the U.S.?

Search for organic brands that encourage farm-to-fork food. All food sold in the U.S. is required to have a manufacturer’s name and contact. Don’t be afraid to call manufacturers and ask about their food-processing practices.

from:    http://www.liveinthenow.com/article/the-new-potential-danger-lurking-in-supermarket-chicken

On Plantar Fasciitis

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Top 5 Ways to Relieve Plantar Fasciitis

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Plantar-Fasciitis Anyone who has experienced the debilitating pain of plantar fasciitis will tell you how awful the condition can be. Those suffering from it are typically unable to perform a number of physical activities, and often even have difficulty walking. Fortunately, several natural methods exist to safely treat the condition.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament which runs on the underside of the foot, particularly in the heel. Generally speaking, it is caused by overuse of the ligament, and is commonly exacerbated by physical activity, weight gain and aging. Rebecca Simonds, a Doctor of Physical Therapy Candidate at Emory University, noted that flare ups can also occur as a result of calf tightness or ill-fitting shoes.

It is a fairly common condition, occurring in some two million Americans each year, and can usually be effectively treated with the proper techniques. However, if left untreated, plantar fasciitis can evolve into plantar fasciosis, a more serious, degenerative condition.

The pain resulting from the condition can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (), but this method generally only provides short-term relief, and does not typically heal the condition. With that in mind, consider attempting some, or all, of the following five methods as a superior way to stop a painful case of plantar fasciitis.

1.

Stretches designed to release tension in the heel and foot may help to keep the plantar fascia loose and unstrained. The three most common stretches are to bend your toes upward with your hand, bend your toes downward, and stretch out the back of each heel by pressing against a wall with one foot out behind you. Simonds also recommends stretching your calves off the edge of a step, or by gently pulling your big tow back towards your shin. Typically these stretches are performed one or two times, held for about 30 seconds each, and performed two or three times per day. Use caution in performing stretches, and release the stretch if it results in serious pain.

2. Cold Therapy

Applying ice packs to the affected area can help to reduce inflammation and swelling, and ultimately lead to reduced pain. One effective way to do this, Simonds suggests, is by freezing a bottle of water, putting it on the floor and “self massaging” the bottom of your foot for a few minutes.

Different professionals suggesting varying methods of ice treatment (and sometimes recommend mixing it with heat treatment), but in general, performing a structured ice-on, ice-off regimen over a series of days will be the most effective treatment.

3. Braces, Inserts, and Splints

Varieties of useful contraptions are available to help eliminate the strain on the plantar fascia, and should be considered for relief. Braces designed to tightly wrap around the ankle, heel, and foot can help to relieve the strain on the ligament. Likewise, shoe inserts can be used to provide additional padding and support for the heel. Splints (which are designed to be worn at night) act to stretch the ligament, and keep it from becoming tense. These types of products are widely available, and can be ordered online or purchased in stores.

4. Lose Weight

This option may be easier said than done, but reducing your weight can lessen the pain of plantar fasciitis. As the condition affects the foot and heel, greater amounts of weight to support result in greater demand and strain. Simply put, the less weight, the better. If this method of treatment applies in your situation, consider it additional motivation to improve your health, and an opportunity to improve two conditions with one approach.

5. Rest and Rub

Rest may be the most difficult treatment of all for someone with a busy schedule or an athletic event on the horizon, but in some cases it may be the only treatment that works. One smart approach is to pinpoint a particular activity that triggers the pain, and avoid it for an appropriate period of time. However, in more severe cases, general rest may be necessary, including limiting your amount of walking. Rest in combination with the aforementioned methods, may be a particularly effective mix.

And while you’re getting your due rest, Simonds recommends massaging the foot and the calf using a foam roller, to help relieve any muscle tension that might prolong the pain.

Most people will be able to alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis by following some combination of the methods already described. In particularly severe cases, less natural methods may be considered, such as cortisone injections, surgery, and even extracorporeal shockwave therapy. However, all of these methods have dangerous potential side effects, and should only be considered in rare circumstances after all other methods have been thoroughly exhausted.

Prior to panicking or performing any drastic measures, be sure to try combining some or all of these five methods to eliminate plantar fasciitis. First and foremost, remember that rest may be your best option, and despite the frustration of down time and temporarily giving up some activities you enjoy, it may be the best long-term solution.

from:    http://www.liveinthenow.com/article/top-5-ways-to-relieve-plantar-fasciitis

Technological Delusions

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The Technological Fix Delusion

intelligent earthEnvironmentalists and concerned citizens are increasingly beginning to recognize the delusion of the ‘technological fix’ – the use of technology to remedy problems caused by previous technology.

It is increasingly obvious that a new pesticide won’t finally eliminate the superweeds that evolved to resist the previous pesticide, that new and more powerful antibiotics won’t bring final victory over the superbugs that evolved to resist previous antibiotics, and that massive geoengineering projects like seeding the stratosphere with sulphuric acid or the oceans with iron (to combat climate change) will likely cause horrific unanticipated consequences.What is less obvious is how pervasive the mentality behind the technological fix is. In the United States, we respond to the failure of metal detectors, lockdowns, and other forms of control in our schools by calling for even more control. European countries unable to pay their debts are lent even more money, with the proviso that they try even harder to pay their debts. Imperialist powers apply military violence to fight the terrorism that is a response to previous imperialism and violence. Doctors prescribe drugs to address the side-effects caused by other drugs. Urban planners address traffic congestion by building more roads (which leads to more development and more traffic). And millions of people manage the emptiness of a life of material acquisition by buying more material possessions.

Underneath the technological fix is a way of perceiving ourselves and the world. More than a mere mentality of separation and of control, it comes from a disconnected state of being that is blind to the indwelling purpose and intelligence of nature.

For example, a skilled organic farmer might see weeds or bugs not as interlopers but as a symptom of imbalance in soil ecology. To address them holistically, she must believe there even is such a thing as soil ecology. In other words, she must believe in the wholeness and interconnectedness of all beings that make up soil. She must see soil as a collective, emergent entity in its own right, and not an inert, generic substrate that plants grow in.

Conventional agriculture, on the other hand, sees weeds as kind of an outbreak of badness, similar to the way we have seen terrorism, or violence in schools, or disease. To see it otherwise, as a symptom of a deeper disharmony, presupposes that there is such a harmony, an integrity, a beingness, and not just a senseless jumble. The technological fix addresses the symptom while ignoring the illness, because it cannot see an integral entity that can become ill.

I don’t want to gloss over the profundity of the paradigm shift we are accepting if we are to see nature as intelligent and purposive. To do so is to abdicate the exclusive domain to which we have appointed ourselves: the sole intelligence of the world. It is to humble ourselves to something greater, and seek our place not as Cartesian lords and possessors of nature, but as contributors to an unfolding process beyond our selves. This inescapable conclusion is, perhaps, the reason why teleology is anathema to orthodox science. Purpose was supposed to be our domain! And the king of that domain was the scientist, wielding technology to enact its dominion.

The idea of an inherently purposeful universe is far more radical than religious notions of intelligent design, which agree with mechanistic science about matter and cede intelligence to an external, supernatural being. Such a narrative offers no compunctions to limit the despoliation of nature. It asks us to humble ourselves to nothing of this world.

To be so humbled, we must see that the soul of nature – its purpose, intelligence, and beingness – comes not from without but from within. It is an emergent property borne of non-linear complexity. In non-linear systems, small actions can have enormous consequences. The technological fix is based on linear thinking. The alternative is to develop sensitivity to the emergent order and intelligence that wants to unfold, so that we might bow into its service.

What might that look like? Technology in service to Earth includes things like regenerative agriculture and permaculture to heal the soil, replenish the aquifers, and sequester carbon. It includes green energy technologies, conservation technologies, bioremediation, wetlands restoration, zero-waste manufacturing, anything that contributes to the health of the planet and its ecosystems.

Today, painfully, we are becoming aware of the folly of the delusion that we can, with clever enough technological solutions, avoid the consequences of what we do to the world. We are learning that we are not separate from nature, and that it bears a wholeness that we ignore at our peril. Our techno-utopian dreams and basic scientific paradigms are unraveling in tandem with many of our social institutions, because the underlying narrative of separation is unraveling as well.

These converging crises – social, ecological, and intellectual – are expelling us from our old story. As that happens, none of our fixes, technological or otherwise, are working anymore to control the pain: the grief, the rage, the loneliness we feel as we gaze out upon what we have wrought. Thus begins the healing journey into a new narrative of cocreative participation in the unfolding destiny of our planet.

Source: “Technology and the Intelligence of Nature,” by Charles Eisenstein, from theecologist.org

from:    http://theunboundedspirit.com/the-technological-fix-delusion/

Are you a Starseed?

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Star Seeds
Star Seeds

Last updated on September 21, 2013 at 12:00 am EDT by in5d Alternative News

 

 

 

Are you a starseed? Starseeds (or ‘lightbeings’) is a term used to describe human beings who believe they originated as extraterrestrial life from other worlds or planets, and arrived to Earth through birth or as a walk-in to an existing human body.

Persons calling themselves star seeds find that they share in common feelings of isolation or aloneness, as though they don’t quite fit in to Earth institutions and current events. It is estimated that 65 percent of starseeds are women and that about about one-fourth of these have unusual blood types. In surveys with people thought to be Star People (starseeds), the Science Channel reports that nearly half reported near-death experience and seventy-five percent had out-of-body experience. Nearly all of them say they feel tremendous urgency to fulfill a mission.

Starseeds are defined as evolved beings from another planet, star system or galaxy who have come to Earth with the specific mission of assisting its people to achieve a higher level of civilization.

In reports based on surveys, starseeds (also “beings of light”) incarnate into human lifeforms and suffer the same conditions of helplessness and total amnesia concerning their identity, origins and life-purpose as Earth humans do. Starseeds differ in a theory that their genes contain alien DNA, and are encoded to awaken them and their awareness at a planned time.

The awakening process experienced by starseeds is described as either a gradual series of realizations over time, or an abrupt and dramatic awakening of consciousness. Through the awakening process, starseeds regain their memories about their past, their origins and their missions. An increase in intuition, psychic ability, and the sense of a more universal “self” that transcends mortal identity are also commonly reported experiences.

Some star people speak of communication via telepathy with beings not of this world, either physical or non-physical. Elevated awareness claims that communication or memories recall extraterrestrial or multidimensional life, such as “beings of light” (lightbeings).

Persons who identify themselves and others as starseeds share a belief that life exists on other planets. Most believe they have lived on other planets, and many account having experiences that they claim are memories of life on other worlds. The concepts of star ships, spaceships, intergalactic travel, psychic phenomena and sentient life forms in other galaxies come naturally and seem logical to them.

 

Characteristics and Traits of a Starseed

* Descriptions and comparisons of traits shared by starseeds:
* Feeling like a “stranger in a strange land”
* Compelling eyes; unique and striking physical appearance
* Lower than normal body temperature and low blood pressure
* Sharp hearing
* Little sleep requirements
* A strong sense that Earth is not their home
* Visitations by benevolent and luminescent beings with human-appearance
* Was an unexpected child
* Unusual abilities considered paranormal by peers
* Have “flying” dreams
* Extreme sensitivy to electricity and electromagnetic fields
* Feelings that their biological mother and father are not their real parents
* Ongoing longing for some other home
* Had unseen companions as a child
* A deep knowing their home is someone among the stars
* Often starry-eyed romantics
* Often notice they glance at a clock when it’s 11:11

from:    http://in5d.com/star-seeds.html

Supplements & Cancer Care

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Available for a limited time:

Free Access: Seminal Paper on Integrating Top 10 Dietary Supplements Into Cancer Care

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Sunday, September 15th 2013 at 4:15 pm

Written By:Glenn Sabin

ICT Cover

A new paper titled Integrating Dietary Supplements Into Cancer Care, authored by the Clinical Practice Committee of the Society for Integrative Oncology, will be published in the October/November 2013 edition of SAGE’s Integrative Cancer Therapies, edited by Keith I Block, MD.

SAGE has graciously made the article available, accessible here for 30 days, starting September 1, 2013.

A significant portion of cancer patients are now using dietary supplements. However, patients often don’t report their use of supplementation to their providers. Moreover, physicians have varying levels of understanding and experience with supplements and their use with oncology patients.

“Today’s informed patients truly value physicians who appreciate them as equal participants in making their healthcare choices.” ~Moshe Frenkel, MD

This important paper, written by leading researchers and clinicians with extensive experience using supplements, features the following 10 natural agents as having some of the strongest suggested benefits and evidence of effectiveness for cancer care:

1. Curcumin
2. Glutamine
3. Vitamin D
4. Maitake Mushrooms
5. Fish Oil
6. Green Tea
7. Milk Thistle
8. Astragalus
9. Melatonin
10. Probiotics

As the article states, “The information was constructed to provide an up-to-date base of knowledge, so that physicians and other healthcare providers would be aware of the supplements and be able to discuss realistic expectations and potential benefits and risks.” Read the entire paper here.

This article will be discussed during session conducted by lead author Dr. Moshe Frenkel during 10th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) in Vancouver.

For registration information on the 10th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology, click here.

An excerpt from the Conference website is as follows….

Multidisciplinary oncology practitioners from around the globe, including stakeholders from virtually every major cancer center in the US and Canada, will convene to discuss the translation and evolution of evidence-based integrative oncology in practice, the steadily growing science base, and its continued rise in popularity as patients demand a whole person approach to cancer care that addresses the mind, body and spirit.

Keynotes by
Kerry S. Courneya, PhD
Victoria Sweet, MD, PhD
Frank Meyskens, MD, FACP

Program highlights include a moderated debate on the controversial topic of the role of cannabis in the treatment and management of cancer and related side effects, led by Dr. Donald Abrams from the University of California San Francisco’s Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. And, be sure to join us for our annual SIO Gala on Monday, October 21.

gsabin@fontherapeutics.com

Media and marketing veteran Glenn Sabin is a 22-year cancer “thriver” who created a comprehensive, integrative oncology approach to achieve a complete pathological remission of his CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia)—considered an “incurable” disease—without conventional intervention. Glenn’s case has been chronicled through Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and his personal oncologist, Lee M. Nadler, MD, Dean of Clinical and Translational Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Read More at his website FON Therapeutics.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff.
from:    http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/free-access-seminal-paper-integrating-top-10-dietary-supplements-cancer-care