Saturday, April 25, 2009

Update Re Swine Flu... Pertinent Link... You Tube Video

["Swine flu cases grow in number"; as submitted to You Tube by wavy on April 25, 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c5hQhpzm2Q]

From: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (cdc@service.govdelivery.com)
Sent: Sat 4/25/09 7:46 PM
To: wingedbirdinflight@live.com


"CDC Swine Flu Investigation Continues: 11 Confirmed Cases in U.S.‏"

"...As of April 25 at 7:30 PM ET, CDC has confirmed 11 human cases of swine flu in the United States: seven in California, two in Texas, and two in Kansas. CDC continues to investigate other suspected cases. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with similar swine influenza viruses.

CDC is working very closely with state and local officials in California, Texas, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. On April 24th, CDC deployed 7 epidemiologists to San Diego County, California and Imperial County, California and 1 senior medical officer to Texas to provide guidance and technical support for the ongoing epidemiologic field investigations. CDC has also deployed to Mexico 1 medical officer and 1 senior expert who are part of a global team that is responding to the outbreak of respiratory illnesses in Mexico.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. There are many things you can to do to prevent getting and spreading influenza. Visit the CDC Swine Flu website [ http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ ]to learn more..." [A Direct Link Will Be Placed in the Sidebar.]

Public Health Alert - Possible Swine Flu Outbreak - AP Article... Road Runner... Associated You Tube... Associated Press... Video

["Swine Flu Deaths Spur Global Epidemic Fears"; as submitted to You Tube by AssociatedPress on
April 24, 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGLtVelSNgI]

"WHO declares international concern over swine flu" by Frank Jordans, Associated Press [Published - Apr 25 2009 03:56PM EST]

"... The World Health Organization warned countries around the world Saturday to be on alert for any unusual flu outbreaks after a unique new swine flu virus was implicated in possibly dozens of human deaths in North America.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said the outbreak in Mexico and the United States constituted a 'public health emergency of international concern.'

The decision means countries around the world will be asked to step up reporting and surveillance of the disease, which she said had 'pandemic potential' because it is an animal virus strain infecting people. But the agency cannot at this stage say 'whether or not it will indeed cause a pandemic,' she added.

Chan made the decision to declare public health emergency of international concern after consulting with influenza experts from around the world. The emergency committee was called together Saturday for the first time since it was created in 2007.

In theory, WHO could now recommend travel advisories, trade restrictions or border closures, none of which would be binding. So far it has refrained from doing so.

The agency also held off raising its pandemic alert level, citing the need for more information.

Earlier, Chan told reporters that 'it would be prudent for health officials within countries to be alert to outbreaks of influenza-like illness or pneumonia, especially if these occur in months outside the usual peak influenza season.'

'Another important signal is excess cases of severe or fatal flu-like illness in groups other than young children and the elderly, who are usually at highest risk during normal seasonal flu,' she said.

Several Latin American and Asian countries have already started surveillance or screening at airports and other points of entry.

At least 62 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness in Mexico, WHO says. Some of those who died are confirmed to have a unique flu type that is a combination of bird, pig and human viruses. The virus is genetically identical to one found in California.

U.S. authorities said eight people were infected with swine flu in California and Texas, and all recovered.

So far, no other countries have reported suspicious cases, according to WHO.

But the French government said suspected cases are likely to occur in the coming days because of global air travel. A French government crisis group began operating Saturday. The government has already closed the French school in Mexico City and provided French citizens there with detailed instructions on precautions.

Chilean authorities ordered a sanitary alert that included airport screening of passengers arriving from Mexico. No cases of the disease have been reported so far in the country, Deputy Health Minister Jeanette Vega said, but those showing symptoms will be sent to a hospital for tests.

In Peru, authorities will monitor travelers arriving from Mexico and the U.S. and people with flu-like symptoms will be evaluated by health teams, Peru's Health Ministry said.

Brazil will 'intensify its health surveillance in all points of entry into the country,' the Health Ministry's National Health Surveillance Agency said in a statement. Measures will also be put in place to inspect cargo and luggage, and to clean and disinfect aircraft and ships at ports of entry.

Some Asian nations enforced checks Saturday on passengers from Mexico.

Japan's biggest international airport stepped up health surveillance, while the Philippines said it may quarantine passengers with fevers who have been to Mexico. Health authorities in Thailand and Hong Kong said they were closely monitoring the situation.

Asia has fresh memories of an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which hit countries across the region and severely crippled global air travel.

Indonesia, China, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries have also seen a number of human deaths from H5N1 bird flu, the virus that researchers have until now fingered as the most likely cause of a future pandemic.

The Dutch government's Institute for Public Health and Environment has advised any traveler who returned from Mexico since April 17 and develops a fever over 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit (38.5 Celsius) within four days of arriving in the Netherlands to stay at home.

The Polish Foreign Ministry has issued a statement that recommends that Poles postpone any travel plans to regions where the outbreak has occurred until it is totally contained.

The Stockholm-based European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said earlier Saturday it shared the concerns about the swine flu cases and stood ready to lend support in any way possible."

Associated Press Writer Maria Cheng in London, and AP writers around the world contributed to this report.

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Sources:

"WHO declares international concern over swine flu"; Frank Jordans, Associated Press [Published - Apr 25 2009 03:56PM EST]


"WHO Mexico swine flu has pandemic potential" - Road Runner -http://www.rr.com/news/news/article/9020/7556093

Site (above) Options: Email, Share, Facebook, MySpace, delicious, digg, reddit, StumbleUpon, twitter

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Wash those hands folks! Seriously.

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NS

Tulips... Barbara Streisand... The US Constitution... Human Dignity... William Brennan...

Beautifuly music / tulips video accompanied by Barbara Streisands song, "The Way We Were"...

["Tulips, Tulips, Tulips"; as submitted to You Tube by judibug007 on February 26, 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IQz5-oiUEg]

Quote for Today:

“...The genius of the Constitution rests not in any static meaning it might have had in a world that is dead and gone, but in the adaptibility of its great principles to cope with current problems and current needs... If we are to be as a shining city upon a hill, it will be because of our ceaseless pursuit of the constitutional ideal of human dignity."

William J. Brennan (born 4/25/1906) in a 1985 speech that rebutted "the desire of then-Attorney General Edwin Meese to 'resurrect the original meaning of constitutional provisions'" [news@ffrf.org]

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It is supposed to be hot out there today folks...

So enjoy the tulips (Many thanks to many people!) that are filling the city with vibrant colors!

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Peace, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Alderman Mike Madsen's Fundraiser... You Tube Videos... Blog Updates.... More

[Photo of Jean Jacobs and 9th Ward Alderman Mike Madsen at the Obama Inauguration Party (Former Muddy Cup / Kingston)]

Three things:

My husband and I attended a fundraiser for 9th Ward Alderman Mike Madsen last night - and we found it to be a classy event with good company, good food and high hopes! Mike is a City Alderman plus - in our opinion - as he reaches out to - and serves the people in the City of Kingston in a number of ways - both Ward specific and (via his blog, his constant pursuit of knowledge, etc) in a larger sense of the word. Our thanks go out to Mike (politics, professionalism, integrity, warmth and kindness can all come together in one package) and to all of those that helped put on this inspiring event!

["Welcome to Congress, YouTube"; as submitted to You Tube by househub on January 11, 2009;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avch-fRFmbw ]

Some notable politicians (mostly local) at last night's event were U.C. Comptroller E. Aurerbach (sp?); U.C. Legislature D. Donaldson, U.C. Legislature J. Provenzano, K.C. Alderman T. Hoffay, K.C. Alderwoman S. Whitlock, a former Senatorial candidate (with more to come?)- and a bunch of others (local and statewide) whose names I don't fully know and/or don't trust myself to spell correctly! All in all (Why not come out and get to know some of these people better?) it was a great turnout!

["Ghostbusters Cartoon Intro"; as submitted to You Tube by mikey2455 on October 25, 2006; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xfwz2TRGss]

My old blog is now booked as http://www.spreadingourwings4.blogspot.com [The "4" is new]

This blog (where all future updates will be) is named "Flying Towards the Sun" but booked as http://www.flingingtowardsthesun.blogspot.com [Note the "flinging" / I guess I was having a bad WWW day!]

I apologize for any confusion this has caused. In this case the changes were NOT intentional, so I'll have to lay the blame (lol) on a "ghost in the machine."

If you note any errors here please let me know and I will promptly correct them!

Peace, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS

Great Spirit Prayer... Douglas Spotted Eagle... Native American... You Tube Video

["Great Spirit Prayer - Douglas Spotted Eagle - Native American"; as submitted to You Tube by katydidscorner on October 25, 2008; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dkP_vWEXHo]

As we teach our children well, the wells of life will be replenished...

NS

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Lots to Consider... Torture... Geneva Convention... Your Thoughts... More... You Tube Videos

From 2007:

1. Something You Might Not Have Been Aware Of...

["Mentally Ill Veterans Sent Back To War"; as submitted to You Tube by WCVBtv on November 12, 2007;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPNCrvKo7eU]

2. Lest we forget... [Graphic / Viewer Discretion Advised]

["cia torture in iraq tv3 nz"; as submitted by riverdean7 on December 13, 2007; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThyCwhjRXhg]

From 2008:

1. A student's report on the Geneva Convention...

["The Third Geneva Convention"; as submitted to You Tube by flybirdxz on March 16, 2008; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpJmLYf9yDc]

2. War and PTSD:

["War Veterans Suffer from PTSD"; as submitted to You Tube by NYPost on July 07, 2008; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0DMNpYa3dg]

3. Moving Along...

["Politics: MSNBC First 100 Days Edition"; as submitted to You Tube by TheNewYorkTimes on April 21, 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjbJsD7DBuM]

From 2009

Senator Sheldon and Rachel Maddow...

["Sheldon Applauds Obama for Releasing Torture Memos on MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Show"; as submitted to You Tube by SenatorWhitehouse on April 21, 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo8zwqzt1pA]

2. Your thoughts?

Monday, April 20, 2009

Doris Goodwin: What we can learn from past presidents...Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice... Two Great You Tube Videos

Lots to Think About!

["Doris Kearns Goodwin: What we can learn from past presidents"; as submitted to You Tube by TEDtalksDirector on October 10, 2008; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgGmnHHlIXo]

["Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice"; as submitted to You Tube by TEDtalksDirector on January 16, 2007; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO6XEQIsCoM]

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Rachel Maddow on Torture and Accountability... You Tube

["Accountability for torture - Rachel Maddow pt 1"; submitted to You Tube by cheneywatch on April 18, 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTQq9Ub-yNc]