Typhoons Surge: Mother Earth Is Sweeping Her Skirt
Posted by Michelle Moquin on October 4th, 2009
Good morning….. How is every one doing?
I know I mentioned to Ruth yesterday that I was busy and that when tuning in to my blog the question always arises, “Okay, is this going to be an easy morning for me or??” Well….after seeing only two comments this morning, the answer is “Yes.”
Anna: Hafa Adai. I have no idea why it was so difficult to get in but thanks for informing me, and recognizing that it isn’t my fault. I thought all of my readers were just giving me an easy morning this morning :) Anyway, how are you doing? I don’t know about the rest of the world, but in our neck of the woods it felt like a typhoon was over our head last night. I’ve rarely seen the winds blow as they did. Mother Earth is sweeping her shirt. I can’t even imagine what it must be like living on the islands.
I’m posting this article that I found. It’s an overview of the impact of these typhoons. It saddens me to see death and destruction. Our world is going through enough challenges right now.
To all of my islander readers: I’m thinking of you and wishing you and your families safety. I hope that all of you are able to reach the storm shelters, and that a quick return to your homes, to some state of normalcy, happens soon. If you’re having troubles communicating to your peeps because of the state of the weather, feel free to use my blog to connect. I hope that the channels are free flowing today.
Islanders evacuate as typhoons surge
Meteorologists, who have described one of the storms – Typhoon Melor – as a ”super typhoon”, predicted it would then surge towards the already storm-ravaged Philippines after hitting the Mariana Islands.
There were fears that Typhoon Parma was heading towards Taiwan after skirting the northern-most island of Luzon in the Philippines yesterday.
Taiwanese authorities have urged residents to take precautions as Parma, with winds of up to 230km/h, churned towards the island, less than two months after a typhoon claimed more than 600 lives there. Residents of six villages have already been evacuated.
Although Parma was starting to weaken, the Philippines declared a national ”state of calamity” as it headed for Luzon, sending thousands to shelters already crowded with victims of tropical storm Ketsana.
In central and eastern Luzon more than 33,000 had been evacuated from their homes.
The US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre said Melor was expected to cross the Mariana Island chain ”at near super typhoon intensity”, bringing with it open-water waves of more than eight metres and winds reaching 258km/h by Sunday.
Up to 20 centimetres of torrential rain was possible from the storm, which was expected to hit the islands about 5900 kilometres south-west of Hawaii with 4.8-metre surf and a storm surge up to 2.4 metres above high tide.
Yesterday, Melor was centred 280 kilometres east-north-east of the island of Saipan.
Some airlines cancelled flights in the Northern Marianas as residents stocked up on supplies.
The Government has opened six shelters on Saipan and one on the island of Tinian. Most workers were told to leave work on Friday, and many went to board up and stock their homes.
Guam villagers living in tin-and-wood homes were urged to seek refuge in storm shelters.
Robert Lizama, the mayor of Yigo, the northernmost village on Guam, said hundreds of people already have relocated to 12 public schools that have been designated as storm shelters.
The US Coast Guard advised mariners not to leave shore until the storm passes.
Last week flooding rains from Ketsana killed 293 in the Philippines and 107 in Vietnam.
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Laura: I had one of my closet friends read my article yesterday and tell me that she has been having trouble with her mat in her Prius too. She too hadn’t even heard of the recall. So I’m glad that she, as well as you, saw my write before anything dire happened. I am so happy that your mother is safe.
Ah..I see more comments are flowing in
Penny: I am so sorry to hear that your medical bills are near bankrupting you. It is just not right that we don’t have a system that takes care of our own….a system that supports our life, not one that threatens it. hang in there. I hope something comes through for you and others unfortunately in your same situation.
Peter: No worries. How are you doing? Hafa Adai.
Clark: My pleasure. Happy to hear I have acquired a new reader. Welcome!
Readers: Have a safe Sunday where ever you happen to be!
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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October 4th, 2009 at 9:48 am
G’day Michelle
What happened? The picture didn’t come out for me. Thanks for thinking of us. You can come to Australia any time. We love you here.
Sofie
October 4th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Lighten up a little Peter.
Those of you on the Island who know those who are always behind the benefit curve on our island please notify them about this.
+++++++++++++++++++
Nasal-spray vaccine due Tuesday
BY GAYNOR DUMAT-OL DALENO • PACIFIC SUNDAY NEWS • OCTOBER 4, 2009
Read Comments(3) RecommendPrint this pageE-mail this articleShare
The first H1N1 vaccine doses being sent out by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are of the nasal-spray kind, which is recommended only for healthy individuals 2 to 49 years old, according to the local health department.
The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services placed its first order Friday for the H1N1 vaccine, the department announced. The first shipment is expected to arrive Tuesday.
It wasn’t Guam Public Health’s call to have the nasal-spray vaccines shipped before the injectable doses.
CDC is shipping the nasal spray shipment first, and then the injectable H1N1 vaccines will ship next, according to the federal government’s flu awareness Web site, http://www.flu.gov.
The nasal spray H1N1 vaccine FluMist isn’t recommended for pregnant women or individuals with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, according to the local health department.
Such high-risk patients will need to wait for the injectable H1N1 vaccine, which is expected to arrive not too long after the first nasal-spray vaccines come in.
“The injectable vaccine doses will be available in weekly shipments to states beginning in mid-October,” according to the local health department.
Guam was allocated 2,400 doses of vaccine to be able to draw from with its first order, according to the local health department.
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Hafa adai
Anna
PS; Thanks Michelle for the shout out.
October 4th, 2009 at 9:57 am
TURMERIC: MEGA INFLAMMATION FIGHTER
As Yogi Berra so famously said, “It’s déjà vu all over again” when I pick up yet another report singing the praises of the spice turmeric, with its many and varied health benefits. Just recently I’ve seen research reporting that turmeric (in combination with vitamin D) helps fight Alzheimer’s disease and obesity (by suppressing growth of fatty tissue) and is soothing to skin burned by radiation therapy. And those are just some of the newer reports. Researchers have been examining the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, made from the roots of a plant in the ginger family (Curcuma longa), for many years.
For the details on this versatile healing botanical, I spoke with registered herbalist David Winston, RH (AHG), a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild and author of Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief.
MULTIPLE HEALING BENEFITS
Winston told me that turmeric has a wide variety of healing abilities…
Powerful anti-inflammatory components safely reduce the pain and swelling of arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis and tendonitis.
Anti-inflammatory benefits also extend to gastrointestinal (GI) problems, such as gastric ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis.
Potent antioxidants help squelch unstable oxygen molecules that can otherwise run amok, damaging cells and opening the door to dangerous diseases, such as cancer. Curcumin, an active compound of turmeric, has been shown to modify more than 250 oncogenes and processes that trigger cancer tumorigenesis, proliferation and metastasis.
Turmeric helps curb excessive immune responses that characterize conditions such as allergies, asthma and possibly even multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, where (in animal studies) curcumin appears to inhibit development of amyloid plaques.
Studies suggest a still wider range of healing benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, preventing atherosclerosis and protecting the liver against chemicals and viral damage.
TURMERIC OR CURCUMIN?
Don’t confuse turmeric with its most well-known active compound, curcumin. Turmeric contains a variety of inflammation-fighting compounds known as curcuminoids — the most widely known and extensively studied of which is curcumin. Importantly, large doses of curcumin can cause gastric upset, while the herb turmeric contains a number of active ingredients that combine to have a gastro-protective effect.
Winston told me he prefers the herb turmeric (commonly in capsule or tincture form) for some uses (gastritis, gastric ulcers, arthralgias) and standardized curcumin for others (cancer prevention and treatment, Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment, and protecting the liver against hepatitis B and C). Both types can be purchased at the health-food store.
A typical dose of turmeric is two to four milliliters (ml) of the tincture three times a day, or two capsules of the powdered herb two to three times daily. An average dose of curcumin consists of 400 mg (containing 95% curcumin) in capsule form up to three times daily. Note: Turmeric should be used with caution in individuals prone to bleeding and, because it stimulates bile secretion, it should not be used by people with a bile duct blockage.
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE
Developing your taste for Indian food over, say, pizza is one way to incorporate more turmeric into your diet. The spice also can be a wonderful enhancement to the flavor of an array of foods, including soups, meats and grains. The editors of Eating Well magazine shared a few interesting recipes using turmeric to give flavor to a variety of foods, meats and grains…
Spicy Turmeric Rub
Curry, cumin, coriander, mint, turmeric and ginger make a delicious Indian-inspired rub for tofu or chicken breast or with sautéed potatoes. Simply rub or sprinkle onto foods and cook.
Makes about 1 cup.
ACTIVE/TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
6 Tablespoons curry powder
3 Tablespoons coarse salt
4 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon ground coriander
1 Tablespoon dried mint
2 teaspoons turmeric
2 teaspoons ground ginger
Combine curry powder, salt, crushed red pepper, cumin, coriander, mint, turmeric and ginger in a small bowl.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per teaspoon: 5 calories; 0 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrate; 0 g protein; 0 g fiber; 211 mg sodium; 19 mg potassium.
MAKE-AHEAD TIP: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to six months.
Tangy Indian Marinade
Here we combine traditional Indian spices like cumin, coriander, mustard and paprika with yogurt and lime for a tangy marinade. Marinate seafood in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to one hour; marinate chicken for as long as eight hours.
Makes about 11/3 cups, enough to marinate 2 pounds of fish or chicken.
ACTIVE/TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 Tablespoon paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon turmeric
½ cup nonfat plain yogurt
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 small onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1. Toast cumin, coriander and mustard seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, and grind to a fine powder. Add paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and turmeric.
2. Combine yogurt, lime juice, onions, garlic and ginger in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add spices and pulse to combine.
It can be used as a sauce, condiment, marinade or rub.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per teaspoon: 3 calories; 0 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrate; 0 g protein; 0 g fiber; 19 mg sodium; 8 mg potassium.
From http://www.eatingwell.com with permission.
© 2009 Eating Well Inc.
You can’t eat enough turmeric to have a real therapeutic effect — that is, to cure what ails you — but Winston notes that eating this spice regularly can help prevent inflammatory problems, such as ulcers, GI tract cancers and atherosclerosis. So add a little spice to your life and give your health a boost at the same time… not a bad combination.
Source(s):
David Winston, RH (AHG), a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild and author of Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief (Healing Arts).
October 4th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Thanks Michelle for the 411 on Toyota.
I left my car with my sister back in the states. I’m stationed in Iraq. You cause a riot here sometimes. We have you as a pin up and some have you as a picture they stick pins in.
You’re my pin up.
Some of your articles keep us up at night arguing the facts. My black friends say you tell it like it is. I say you are one fine smart lady.
No worries Doug. I’m only 20. Way to young for Michelle’s taste I bet. I would love to meet you though MIchelle. You make a fine bikini pin up in my tent.
Northan
October 4th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Hi Michelle,
Your blog is not working right. 2nd time I didn’t get the picture and/or video with your post.
To those facing the storm, hunkerdown good and be safe
Al