wakingtimes--2020-02-20--When US Hospitals and Military PUBLICLY Brace for a Coronavirus Pandemic, You Should Pay Attention

If you trust the numbers coming out of China ( I don ’ t ) it appears that they ’ re getting their coronavirus epidemic contained .
Yesterday they reported the lowest number of new cases in ages , with 349 newly confirmed patients , in a dramatic drop of more than 1300 fewer cases than Tuesday .
NHC spokesperson Mi Feng made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing Wednesday , citing the epidemic data in the province over the past week .
The daily count of newly cured and discharged cases in Hubei , excluding the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of newly confirmed cases for four consecutive days as of Wednesday , said Mi .
He also noted that the number of newly confirmed cases has decreased significantly since Feb. 13 in areas besides Wuhan , and the increase in the cumulative number of confirmed cases has remained flat .
( source ) Of course , there ’ s plenty of evidence that China has toyed with the numbers all along , so it ’ s difficult not to take this “ good news ” with a grain of salt .
Particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Diamond Princess yesterday to make their ways home to 50 different countries via a wide variety of public transportation options .
And particularly when our own government is busily ( and visibly ) preparing for the potential of a massive outbreak in the United States .
We didn ’ t even see these kinds of preparations when we were being warned by the CDC to get ready for an Ebola outbreak back in 2014 .
Mercifully , we dodged the bullet on that one but it certainly wasn ’ t because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing was handled so poorly that it could have resulted in disaster .
Perhaps we learned from that ?
Anyone who is a prepper knows that medical items like gloves , N-95 masks , and other PPE are in short supply right now , and hospitals are also concerned about shortages .
The CDC issued a warning last week : In a separate interview , Dr. Nancy Messonnier , director of the CDC ’ s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases , told reporters , “ At some point , we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. or in other countries.
” How are hospitals bracing for impact ?
Across the country , hospitals are taking steps to prepare for an onslaught of patients who may or may not have the infectious disease .
Considering that it ’ s influenza season and many of the symptoms are similar to those of Covid-19 , surge capacity could be reached very quickly .
Here ’ s how some hospitals are preparing , according to a CNBC article : • San Diego-based Scripps Health is consolidating medical supplies such as masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been ordered .
( Expect that orders to healthcare facilities will be shipped long before ours . )
Health-care workers are being taught how to safely reuse N95 respirator masks , in the event of shortages • Northside Hospital in Atlanta is watching patients for clinical symptoms and potential exposure to the virus .
If they suspect a patent could have been exposed , they will be given a mask and be immediately moved to an airborne isolation room , where they will remain while in the hospital .
“ Infection control and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” spokeswoman Katherine Watson said .
• NYU Langone Health in New York City has classified Covid-19 as a “ Level 1 Priority.
” A level 2 or 3 scenario would be when “ there is transmission in the city and it begins to impact hospital operations .
The health-care system has implemented a conservation plan and medical supplies , especially respirator masks , are only given to staff as needed.
” Cat Ellis , the author of The Wuhan Coronavirus Survival Manual , warns that hospitals could reach surge capacity very quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people with potential cases of Coronavirus .
The latest data I could find for how many hospital beds are available in the United States is for 2018 from the American Hospital Association .
They put the total number of hospital beds in 2018 at 924,107 .
This is similar to the data from Stastisca.com , and it confirms that there was still a downward trend in the number of available hospital beds in 2018 .
Assuming the downward trend has continued since 2018 , we have less than 924 thousand available beds for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
We are facing the potential worst-case scenario of 2,697,300 hospitalizations for Wuhan coronavirus alone .
This would raise the death toll from all causes as hospitals reach surge capacity .
Surge capacity occurs when there is a sudden influx of patients that a hospital becomes overwhelmed and can not treat any additional sick people .
In this situation , there are no more beds , and there is not enough hospital staff to treat any more patients .
Often , during a pandemic , it is not the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the 2014 Ebola pandemic , it was common for people to die of some other health problem , and not Ebola , simply because doctors and nurses were too afraid to come to work .
In other places , health care workers also became sick and unable to care for patients , as they were now patients themselves .
Imagine going into labor in the middle of a pandemic crisis .
While homebirth attended by a skilled midwife has consistently proven to be safe and have better outcomes than hospital births @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong .
What if that were to happen during a pandemic with no beds available ?
What if you or a loved one experienced a heart attack or stroke ?
What if you were in a car accident or injured in a mob trying to get the last supplies off a grocery store shelf and needed emergency room care ?
( source ) Being prepared to treat minor issues at home is very important when hospitals are overflowing with people who may or may not have a potentially deadly illness .
The US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive order was issued by the Joint Staff and approved by Defense Secretary Mark Esper to officially initiate pandemic plans , the Military Times reports .
On Feb. 1 , U.S. Northern Command was directed the Joint Staff “ to commence prudent planning in their assigned role synchronizing the department ’ s plans for pandemic flu and disease.
” However , Navy Lt. Cmdr .
Mike Hatfield says that in no way “ does the planning indicate a greater likelihood of an event developing .
As military professionals , planning for a range @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people.
” But in other military news , the Department of Defense has announced that eleven military bases near major airports across the country have set up quarantine camps for possible coronavirus patients .
Before you panic and scream “ FEMA CAMPS – THEY ’ RE ROUNDING US UP !
” relax .
These quarantine areas , at this point , are meant to house only 20 patients .
Of course , as the situation evolves , these facilities could always be expanded .
There are already DoD quarantine facilities for up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for these quarantine facilities are the 168th Regiment , Regional Training Institute , Fort Carson , Colorado ; Travis Air Force Base , California ; Lackland Air Force Base , Texas ; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , California .
These bases are where recently evacuated from Wuhan and from the ill-fated Diamond Princess cruise ship are waiting out their quarantines .
What does it all mean ?
First of all , it doesn ’ t mean that you should panic .
Let ’ s get that out of the way first .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not lead to good decision-making .
You can be aware of what is going on and add it to your arsenal of information to help you make the best choices in the future .
What it does mean is that the US government is taking this outbreak extremely seriously .
Since generally , the party line is “ everything will be just fine , ” recent actions taken publicly should definitely spark some awareness that this could become serious .
Preparing for the potential of a Covid-19 pandemic is strongly advisable .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep in mind all the other things that could go wrong during a long-term siege of illness .
The panic of other people ; the fall of systems like utilities , police , fire , and hospitals ; and shortages of supplies are all things you should take into account .
Personally , I ’ m glad they ’ re taking it seriously because the handling of the Ebola threat was a near-disaster .
It ’ s impossible to say whether this virus will be contained before it becomes widespread in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s also very difficult to predict the ramifications if it does .
Viruses mutate , different health systems may handle it better than others , and containment efforts in different areas may be more successful than others – or less .
But I ’ d say that the preparations being undertaken by hospitals across the nation and by our own military are a blinking neon sign that we ’ d be foolish to ignore .
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging , gun-toting blogger who writes about current events , preparedness , frugality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberty on her website , The Organic Prepper .
She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site , PreppersDailyNews.com .
Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and runs a small digital publishing company .
She lives in the mountains of Virginia with her family .
You can find her on Facebook , Pinterest , and Twitter .

When US Hospitals and Military PUBLICLY Brace for a Coronavirus Pandemic, You Should Pay Attention
Daisy Luther, The Organic Pepper
Waking Times
If you trust the numbers coming out of China (I don’t) it appears that they’re getting their coronavirus epidemic contained. Yesterday they reported the lowest number of new cases in ages, with 349 newly confirmed patients, in a dramatic drop of more than 1300 fewer cases than Tuesday.
Xinhuanet, the official Chinese government propaganda news outlet reported:
NHC spokesperson Mi Feng made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing Wednesday, citing the epidemic data in the province over the past week. The daily count of newly cured and discharged cases in Hubei, excluding the capital city of Wuhan, has exceeded the number of newly confirmed cases for four consecutive days as of Wednesday, said Mi. He also noted that the number of newly confirmed cases has decreased significantly since Feb. 13 in areas besides Wuhan, and the increase in the cumulative number of confirmed cases has remained flat. (source)
Of course, there’s plenty of evidence that China has toyed with the numbers all along, so it’s difficult not to take this “good news” with a grain of salt.
Particularly when hundreds of potentially infected people disembarked the Diamond Princess yesterday to make their ways home to 50 different countries via a wide variety of public transportation options.
And particularly when our own government is busily (and visibly) preparing for the potential of a massive outbreak in the United States.
We didn’t even see these kinds of preparations when we were being warned by the CDC to get ready for an Ebola outbreak back in 2014. Mercifully, we dodged the bullet on that one but it certainly wasn’t because of well-thought-out protocols and procedures. The entire thing was handled so poorly that it could have resulted in disaster. Perhaps we learned from that?
CDC warned American hospitals are warned to prepare
Anyone who is a prepper knows that medical items like gloves, N-95 masks, and other PPE are in short supply right now, and hospitals are also concerned about shortages. The CDC issued a warning last week:
“This is the time to open up your pandemic plans and see that things are in order,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, a top official of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, urged hospitals last week. “For instance,” she continued, health-care providers need to plan for a “surge at a hospital, the ability to provide personal protective equipment for your workforce, the administrative controls and so forth that you might put place in a health care setting.” (source)
In a separate interview, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters, “At some point, we are likely to see community spread in the U.S. or in other countries.”
How are hospitals bracing for impact?
Across the country, hospitals are taking steps to prepare for an onslaught of patients who may or may not have the infectious disease. Considering that it’s influenza season and many of the symptoms are similar to those of Covid-19, surge capacity could be reached very quickly.
Here’s how some hospitals are preparing, according to a CNBC article:
San Diego-based Scripps Health is consolidating medical supplies such as masks, gloves, and gowns and backups have been ordered. (Expect that orders to healthcare facilities will be shipped long before ours.) Health-care workers are being taught how to safely reuse N95 respirator masks, in the event of shortages
Northside Hospital in Atlanta is watching patients for clinical symptoms and potential exposure to the virus. If they suspect a patent could have been exposed, they will be given a mask and be immediately moved to an airborne isolation room, where they will remain while in the hospital. “Infection control and prevention measures are always a priority,” spokeswoman Katherine Watson said.
NYU Langone Health in New York City has classified Covid-19 as a “Level 1 Priority.” A level 2 or 3 scenario would be when “there is transmission in the city and it begins to impact hospital operations. The health-care system has implemented a conservation plan and medical supplies, especially respirator masks, are only given to staff as needed.”
Cat Ellis, the author of The Wuhan Coronavirus Survival Manual, warns that hospitals could reach surge capacity very quickly and that it will impact more than people with potential cases of Coronavirus.
The latest data I could find for how many hospital beds are available in the United States is for 2018 from the American Hospital Association. They put the total number of hospital beds in 2018 at 924,107. This is similar to the data from Stastisca.com, and it confirms that there was still a downward trend in the number of available hospital beds in 2018. Assuming the downward trend has continued since 2018, we have less than 924 thousand available beds for every sick person from all causes in the United States. We are facing the potential worst-case scenario of 2,697,300 hospitalizations for Wuhan coronavirus alone. This would raise the death toll from all causes as hospitals reach surge capacity. Surge capacity occurs when there is a sudden influx of patients that a hospital becomes overwhelmed and cannot treat any additional sick people. In this situation, there are no more beds, and there is not enough hospital staff to treat any more patients. Often, during a pandemic, it is not the pandemic illness itself that will kill a person. During the 2014 Ebola pandemic, it was common for people to die of some other health problem, and not Ebola, simply because doctors and nurses were too afraid to come to work. In other places, health care workers also became sick and unable to care for patients, as they were now patients themselves. Imagine going into labor in the middle of a pandemic crisis. While homebirth attended by a skilled midwife has consistently proven to be safe and have better outcomes than hospital births, things can and still do go wrong. What if that were to happen during a pandemic with no beds available? What if you or a loved one experienced a heart attack or stroke? What if you were in a car accident or injured in a mob trying to get the last supplies off a grocery store shelf and needed emergency room care? (source)
Being prepared to treat minor issues at home is very important when hospitals are overflowing with people who may or may not have a potentially deadly illness.
The US Military is preparing as well.
An executive order was issued by the Joint Staff and approved by Defense Secretary Mark Esper to officially initiate pandemic plans, the Military Times reports. On Feb. 1, U.S. Northern Command was directed the Joint Staff “to commence prudent planning in their assigned role synchronizing the department’s plans for pandemic flu and disease.”
However, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mike Hatfield says that in no way “does the planning indicate a greater likelihood of an event developing. As military professionals, planning for a range of contingencies is something we owe the American people.”
But in other military news, the Department of Defense has announced that eleven military bases near major airports across the country have set up quarantine camps for possible coronavirus patients. Before you panic and scream “FEMA CAMPS – THEY’RE ROUNDING US UP!” relax. These quarantine areas, at this point, are meant to house only 20 patients.
The DOD installations and the airports they could support as tertiary backups are: JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI (HNL)
Great Lakes Training Center Navy Base, IL (ORD)
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, TX (DFW)
March ARB, CA (LAX)
Travis AFB, CA (SFO)
Dobbins ARB, GA (ATL)
Fort Hamilton, NY (JFK)
Naval Base Kitsap, WA (SEA)
Joint Base Anacostia, DC (IAD)
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ (EWR)
Fort Custer Training Center (DTW) Under the request, DOD support at each location will be limited to providing housing support for up to 20 people as they undergo a period of quarantined observation. The department will also provide office space for several HHS personnel and their equipment through February 22, 2020. (source)
Of course, as the situation evolves, these facilities could always be expanded. There are already DoD quarantine facilities for up to a thousand patients.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Saturday approved a request from the Department of Health and Human Services for the possible use of military facilities to accommodate 1,000 people who may have to be quarantined upon arrival from overseas due to a new virus. A Defense Department statement said HHS officials requested the use of several facilities capable of housing at least 250 people in individual rooms through Feb. 29. HHS would be responsible for all care, transportation and security of the evacuees, according to the statement. (source)
The locations for these quarantine facilities are the 168th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, Fort Carson, Colorado; Travis Air Force Base, California; Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. These bases are where recently evacuated from Wuhan and from the ill-fated Diamond Princess cruise ship are waiting out their quarantines.
What does it all mean?
First of all, it doesn’t mean that you should panic. Let’s get that out of the way first. Panic, as Selco writes, does not lead to good decision-making. You can be aware of what is going on and add it to your arsenal of information to help you make the best choices in the future.
What it does mean is that the US government is taking this outbreak extremely seriously. Since generally, the party line is “everything will be just fine,” recent actions taken publicly should definitely spark some awareness that this could become serious.
Preparing for the potential of a Covid-19 pandemic is strongly advisable. (Learn more here.) You have to keep in mind all the other things that could go wrong during a long-term siege of illness. The panic of other people; the fall of systems like utilities, police, fire, and hospitals; and shortages of supplies are all things you should take into account.
Personally, I’m glad they’re taking it seriously because the handling of the Ebola threat was a near-disaster.
It’s impossible to say whether this virus will be contained before it becomes widespread in the United States and elsewhere, and it’s also very difficult to predict the ramifications if it does. Viruses mutate, different health systems may handle it better than others, and containment efforts in different areas may be more successful than others – or less.
But I’d say that the preparations being undertaken by hospitals across the nation and by our own military are a blinking neon sign that we’d be foolish to ignore.
About the Author
Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, gun-toting blogger who writes about current events, preparedness, frugality, voluntaryism, and the pursuit of liberty on her website, The Organic Prepper. She is widely republished across alternative media and she curates all the most important news links on her aggregate site, PreppersDailyNews.com. Daisy is the best-selling author of 4 books and runs a small digital publishing company. She lives in the mountains of Virginia with her family. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.


wakingtimes--2020-02-20--Study Shows Rain Could Be A Viable Source Of Renewable Energy

The planet is overflowing with energy , and humans are just in the beginning stages of figuring out how to harness that energy in the safest and most efficient ways .
Scientists all over the world have been experimenting with different renewable energy options for many years , and significant progress has been made in bringing some of these technologies to market .
For example , solar energy continues to become more common and affordable , as are things like electric cars , and there are likely many other technological advances in this field that we have yet to even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by scientists from the City University of Hong Kong recently issued a press release proposing a new way to harness the planet ’ s energy .
The statement announced the development of a new form of droplet-based electricity generator ( DEG ) , which promises to harness the kinetic energy of falling rain .
The team ’ s findings were published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature under the title “ A droplet-based electricity generator with high instantaneous power density ” .
Professor Wang Zuankai from CityU ’ s Department of Mechanical Engineering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the study , believes that this method of collecting energy could help to create energy on any space that water falls on or moves through , even things like water bottles or umbrellas .
Still , according to Engadget , there is still much more research and development to be done before this concept is utilized for a marketable product .
This is because in the study the researchers were able to get only short bursts of energy , which establishes the proof of concept and shows that there is potential in developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture , and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems .
He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast .

Study Shows Rain Could Be A Viable Source Of Renewable Energy
John Vibes, Truth Theory
Waking Times
The planet is overflowing with energy, and humans are just in the beginning stages of figuring out how to harness that energy in the safest and most efficient ways.
Scientists all over the world have been experimenting with different renewable energy options for many years, and significant progress has been made in bringing some of these technologies to market.
For example, solar energy continues to become more common and affordable, as are things like electric cars, and there are likely many other technological advances in this field that we have yet to even think of.
A research team led by scientists from the City University of Hong Kong recently issued a press release proposing a new way to harness the planet’s energy. The statement announced the development of a new form of droplet-based electricity generator (DEG), which promises to harness the kinetic energy of falling rain.
According to the press release, the device features “a field-effect transistor (FET)-like structure that allows for high energy-conversion efficiency, and its instantaneous power density is increased by thousands of times compared to its counterparts without FET-like structure.”
The team’s findings were published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature under the title “A droplet-based electricity generator with high instantaneous power density”.
Professor Wang Zuankai from CityU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, one of the lead researchers on the study, believes that this method of collecting energy could help to create energy on any space that water falls on or moves through, even things like water bottles or umbrellas.
“Our research shows that a drop of 100 microlitres [1 microlitre = one-millionth litre] of water released from a height of 15 cm can generate a voltage of over 140V, and the power generated can light up 100 small LED lights,” said Professor Wang.
Still, according to Engadget, there is still much more research and development to be done before this concept is utilized for a marketable product. This is because in the study the researchers were able to get only short bursts of energy, which establishes the proof of concept and shows that there is potential in developing the idea.
About the Author
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture, and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems. He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast.


wakingtimes--2020-02-20--Study: College Grads Would Spend A Week In Jail To Erase Student Debt

Unfortunately , going to college in the United States results in many years of debt for most students once they graduate .
A recent study of 1,000 undergraduate and 1,000 postgraduate degree holders conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Splash Financial , showed that 39 % of the respondents would be willing to go to jail for a week to have their student debt erased .
In fact , 4 in 5 of those who responded said that they see their student loans as another type of “ life sentence , ” and an overwhelming majority see them as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illustrations some of the most interesting findings from the study .
Splash Financial CEO Steve Muszynski said that student loan debt has a broad impact on the everyday lives of students and graduates .
According to debt.org , the average college tuition cost ranges from $ 9,410 for an in-state university to $ 32.410 for private schools , which has resulted in college students and graduates in the United States owing a total of $ 1.4 trillion in student loan debt .
According to the financial website Motley Fool , as of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an estimated 5.2 million federal student loan borrowers in default , 3.4 million federal student loans in deferment and another 2.7 million in forbearance .
The report also indicated that roughly 92 % of student loans are federal loans , not private ones .
People between the ages of 35 and 49 have the highest level of student debt with a total of $ 548 billion in debt .
The average student loan borrower graduated college with $ 28,650 in student loan debt in 2017 , according to the Institute for College Access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture , and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems .
He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast .

Study: College Grads Would Spend A Week In Jail To Erase Student Debt
John Vibes, Truth Theory
Waking Times
Unfortunately, going to college in the United States results in many years of debt for most students once they graduate.
A recent study of 1,000 undergraduate and 1,000 postgraduate degree holders conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Splash Financial, showed that 39% of the respondents would be willing to go to jail for a week to have their student debt erased.
In fact, 4 in 5 of those who responded said that they see their student loans as another type of “life sentence,” and an overwhelming majority see them as a serious financial burden.
The infographic below illustrations some of the most interesting findings from the study.
Splash Financial CEO Steve Muszynski said that student loan debt has a broad impact on the everyday lives of students and graduates.
“These survey findings support the fact that the burden of student loans negatively impacts a person’s financial well-being and it often seems inescapable. From grocery shopping to relationship building, it is shaping everyday life. If we’re not careful, it could have massive cultural implications,” Muszynski said.
According to debt.org, the average college tuition cost ranges from $9,410 for an in-state university to $32.410 for private schools, which has resulted in college students and graduates in the United States owing a total of $1.4 trillion in student loan debt.
According to the financial website Motley Fool, as of the first quarter of 2019, there are an estimated 5.2 million federal student loan borrowers in default, 3.4 million federal student loans in deferment and another 2.7 million in forbearance. The report also indicated that roughly 92% of student loans are federal loans, not private ones.
People between the ages of 35 and 49 have the highest level of student debt with a total of $548 billion in debt.
The average student loan borrower graduated college with $28,650 in student loan debt in 2017, according to the Institute for College Access and Success.
About the Author
John Vibes is an author and journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture, and focuses solutions-oriented approaches to social problems. He is also a host of The Free Your Mind Conference and The Free Thought Project Podcast.


wakingtimes--2020-02-20--The Many Benefits of Meditation

The Many Benefits of Meditation

There is growing evidence to show that meditation can make you healthier and happier .
For example , mindfulness-based cognitive therapy ( MBCT ) is sometimes used to treat depression , and brain imaging technology suggests meditation actually changes your brain in a number of beneficial ways .
MRI scans have shown that long-term meditation can alter the structure of your cerebral cortex , the outer layer of your brain .
Additionally , brain regions associated with attention and sensory processing have been shown to be thicker in those who meditate .
Previous studies have linked meditation to benefits such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speed , creativity and more .
Recent research also suggests that meditation helps counteract age-related loss of brain volume .
In short , meditation can be viewed as a form of brain exercise that strengthens it and keeps it “ younger ” longer .
Other studies reveal the benefits of meditation are not limited to your brain ; it also has anti-inflammatory effects and affects gene expression — all of which can boost overall physical health and longevity .
One of the most recent studies in this field looked at 50 long-term meditators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 24 and 77 .
Among the controls , advancing age correlated with a loss of brain volume , as expected .
Those who meditated , however , were found to suffer less age-related brain atrophy .
As reported by GMA News : Meditation expert Emily Fletcher gives lectures and interviews on the differences between two popular styles of meditation , and how they affect your brain .
She also discusses the similarities between meditation and caffeine .
Both have the effect of energizing you and boosting your productivity , but meditation accomplishes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caffeine .
As explained by Fletcher , caffeine is similar to the chemical adenosine triphosphate ( ATP ) , produced by your brain throughout the day .
Adenosine makes you sleepy , and caffeine effectively blocks the adenosine receptors in your brain , thereby disallowing your brain from recognizing how tired it is .
While this may not be harmful in and of itself in the short-term , caffeine also stimulates more neural activity in your brain , which triggers your adrenal glands to release the stress chemical adrenaline .
Eventually ( whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or not ) , remaining in a chronic state of “ fight or flight ” that adrenaline engenders can lead to any number of stress-related disorders .
Meditation , on the other hand , energizes you and makes you more productive without triggering an adrenaline rush .
According to Fletcher , meditation provides your body with rest that is two to five times deeper than sleep .
Meditating for 20 minutes also equates to taking a 1.5-hour nap , but you won ’ t have that “ sleep hangover ” afterward .
Instead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refreshed and , as she says , “ more conscious.
” Meditation de-excites your nervous system rather than exciting it further .
This makes it more orderly , thereby making it easier for your system to release pent-up stress .
It also makes you more productive .
She notes that many are now starting to recognize meditation as a powerful productivity tool .
Contrary to popular belief , taking the time to meditate can actually help you gain more time than you put into it , through boosted productivity .
In a previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hear so often people say , Emily , I want to meditate , I ’ ve tried to meditate but I can ’ t stop my mind from thinking .
You don ’ t understand my brain .
It ’ s so crazy .
Everyone ’ s mind is crazy .
We have like 75,000 thoughts a day , and the only time the brain actually flat lines is when we ’ re dead .
The point of meditation is not to stop your mind from thinking .
The point of meditation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the way that we do that in this style is that we de-excite the nervous system which creates order and we give the body very deep rest .
The body wants to thank us for that , and it thanks us by dissolving our stress.
” Stress is a well-recognized culprit that can promote ill health across the board , and the ability of meditation to quell stress is an important health benefit .
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University recently published a study claiming they ’ ve found the biological mechanism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a nutshell , meditation impacts your biology and physical health via “ stress reduction pathways ” in your brain .
As explained in a press release : Such effects may explain why meditation can help to relieve stress-related diseases such as : Other research , such as that at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine , has sought to quantify the benefits of the relaxation response by assessing gene expression before and after meditation , and have compared effects of short- and long-term meditation routines .
Among their findings , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In one study , participants who participated in both short and longer-term meditation , saw increases in antioxidant production , telomerase activity and oxidative stress .
The researchers noted that benefits appear to be dose-related , with changes even after one session .
According to Fletcher , there are two common styles of meditation : 1.Mindfulness , a directed-attention , waking state practice in which you keep bringing your attention back to the now .
It ’ s a practice of single-tasking , originally developed for monks , who remain focused on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improving your focus and boosting your mental cognition , mindfulness training has also been found to reduce levels of stress-induced inflammation,10 which could benefit people suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis , inflammatory bowel disease , and asthma .
It also helps relieve feelings of stress and anxiety .
2.Self-induced transcendence is a nondirected style of meditation , in which you access a fourth state of consciousness that is different from waking , sleeping and dreaming .
Transcendence-style meditation , which is what Fletcher teaches , strengthens your corpus callosum , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Your left brain is in charge of the past and the future , language , math and critical thought , while your right brain is in charge of “ right now , ” intuition , inspiration , connectedness , creativity and problem solving .
By strengthening the connection between your right and left hemispheres , you gain access to more creative problem solving , and increase your productivity without adding stress .
Fletcher discusses the value of using a fitness tracker that tracks your sleep , noting that meditation can significantly improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fitness tracker can help you gauge your progress .
I ’ m a major fan of this type of technology , as it can be very difficult to change a behavior unless you ’ re able to track it your progress .
When I first started using a fitness tracker , I was striving to get eight hours of sleep , but my Jawbone UP typically recorded me at 7.5 to 7.75 .
I have since increased my sleep time , not just time in bed , but total sleep time to over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fletcher , meditation may actually boost the quality of your sleep to the point that you don ’ t need to sleep as long , as you can become more fully rested in a shorter amount of time when you ’ re not waking up in the middle of the night .
Slowing your breathing through meditation and/or using the Buteyko breathing technique also increases your partial pressure of carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) , which has enormous psychological benefits .
Emily Fletcher of @ zivameditation , is my friend and meditation teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Stress Less , Accomplish More : Meditation for Extraordinary Performance , ” and I believe this is the thing that will finally get you to stick to meditation .
In these pages , she ’ s put her 12 years of experience training over 20,000 high performers , with the goal of teaching you a type of meditation designed for people with busy minds and busy lives .
The book is USA Today best seller and made it to No .
7 out of all books on Amazon .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perhaps , it will change yours .
Get it > > bit.ly/slamthebook .

The Many Benefits of Meditation
Dr. Mercola, Guest
Waking Times
There is growing evidence to show that meditation can make you healthier and happier. For example, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is sometimes used to treat depression, and brain imaging technology suggests meditation actually changes your brain in a number of beneficial ways.
MRI scans have shown that long-term meditation can alter the structure of your cerebral cortex, the outer layer of your brain. Additionally, brain regions associated with attention and sensory processing have been shown to be thicker in those who meditate.
Previous studies have linked meditation to benefits such as improved attention, memory, processing speed, creativity and more. Recent research also suggests that meditation helps counteract age-related loss of brain volume.
In short, meditation can be viewed as a form of brain exercise that strengthens it and keeps it “younger” longer. Other studies reveal the benefits of meditation are not limited to your brain; it also has anti-inflammatory effects and affects gene expression — all of which can boost overall physical health and longevity.
Long-Term Meditation Tied to Reduced Loss of Brain Volume
One of the most recent studies in this field looked at 50 long-term meditators and 50 control subjects between the ages of 24 and 77. Among the controls, advancing age correlated with a loss of brain volume, as expected.
Those who meditated, however, were found to suffer less age-related brain atrophy. As reported by GMA News:
“People who reported meditating for an average of 20 years had higher brain volumes than the average person … [T]he study’s senior author told Reuters Health that the team of researchers expected to see more gray matter in certain regions of the brain among long-term meditators. ‘But we see that this effect is really widespread throughout the brain,’ said Dr. Florian Kurth … [T]he meditators’ brains appeared better preserved than average people of the same age. Moreover, the researchers were surprised to find less age-related gray matter loss throughout the brains of meditators.”
How Meditation Increases Productivity
Meditation expert Emily Fletcher gives lectures and interviews on the differences between two popular styles of meditation, and how they affect your brain.
She also discusses the similarities between meditation and caffeine. Both have the effect of energizing you and boosting your productivity, but meditation accomplishes this without the adverse effects associated with caffeine.
As explained by Fletcher, caffeine is similar to the chemical adenosine triphosphate (ATP), produced by your brain throughout the day. Adenosine makes you sleepy, and caffeine effectively blocks the adenosine receptors in your brain, thereby disallowing your brain from recognizing how tired it is.
While this may not be harmful in and of itself in the short-term, caffeine also stimulates more neural activity in your brain, which triggers your adrenal glands to release the stress chemical adrenaline.
Eventually (whether you’re drinking lots of coffee or not), remaining in a chronic state of “fight or flight” that adrenaline engenders can lead to any number of stress-related disorders.
Meditation, on the other hand, energizes you and makes you more productive without triggering an adrenaline rush. According to Fletcher, meditation provides your body with rest that is two to five times deeper than sleep.
Meditating for 20 minutes also equates to taking a 1.5-hour nap, but you won’t have that “sleep hangover” afterward. Instead, you’ll feel awake and refreshed and, as she says, “more conscious.”
Meditation de-excites your nervous system rather than exciting it further. This makes it more orderly, thereby making it easier for your system to release pent-up stress. It also makes you more productive.
She notes that many are now starting to recognize meditation as a powerful productivity tool. Contrary to popular belief, taking the time to meditate can actually help you gain more time than you put into it, through boosted productivity. In a previous interview, Fletcher stated:
“… I hear so often people say, Emily, I want to meditate, I’ve tried to meditate but I can’t stop my mind from thinking. You don’t understand my brain. It’s so crazy. Everyone’s mind is crazy. We have like 75,000 thoughts a day, and the only time the brain actually flat lines is when we’re dead. The point of meditation is not to stop your mind from thinking. The point of meditation is to be a stress relieving tool, and the way that we do that in this style is that we de-excite the nervous system which creates order and we give the body very deep rest. The body wants to thank us for that, and it thanks us by dissolving our stress.”
Benefits of Meditation Beyond Brain Health
Stress is a well-recognized culprit that can promote ill health across the board, and the ability of meditation to quell stress is an important health benefit. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University recently published a study claiming they’ve found the biological mechanism by which mindfulness affects physical health.
In a nutshell, meditation impacts your biology and physical health via “stress reduction pathways” in your brain. As explained in a press release:
“When an individual experiences stress, activity in the prefrontal cortex — responsible for conscious thinking and planning — decreases, while activity in the amygdala, hypothalamus and anterior cingulate cortex — regions that quickly activate the body’s stress response — increases. Studies have suggested that mindfulness reverses these patterns during stress; it increases prefrontal activity, which can regulate and turn down the biological stress response. Excessive activation of the biological stress response increases the risk of diseases impacted by stress (like depression, HIV and heart disease). By reducing individuals’ experiences of stress, mindfulness may help regulate the physical stress response and ultimately reduce the risk and severity of stress-related diseases.”
Such effects may explain why meditation can help to relieve stress-related diseases such as:
High blood pressure Sleep disturbances and fatigue Chronic pain Gastrointestinal distress and irritable bowel syndrome Headaches Skin disorders Respiratory problems such as emphysema and asthma Mild depression and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Other research, such as that at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, has sought to quantify the benefits of the relaxation response by assessing gene expression before and after meditation, and have compared effects of short- and long-term meditation routines.
Among their findings, they discovered that meditation has anti-inflammatory effects. In one study, participants who participated in both short and longer-term meditation, saw increases in antioxidant production, telomerase activity and oxidative stress. The researchers noted that benefits appear to be dose-related, with changes even after one session.
Two Styles of Meditation
According to Fletcher, there are two common styles of meditation:
1.Mindfulness, a directed-attention, waking state practice in which you keep bringing your attention back to the now. It’s a practice of single-tasking, originally developed for monks, who remain focused on the present moment in all activities.
Besides improving your focus and boosting your mental cognition, mindfulness training has also been found to reduce levels of stress-induced inflammation,10 which could benefit people suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and asthma. It also helps relieve feelings of stress and anxiety.
2.Self-induced transcendence is a nondirected style of meditation, in which you access a fourth state of consciousness that is different from waking, sleeping and dreaming. Transcendence-style meditation, which is what Fletcher teaches, strengthens your corpus callosum, the bridge between your two brain hemispheres.
Your left brain is in charge of the past and the future, language, math and critical thought, while your right brain is in charge of “right now,” intuition, inspiration, connectedness, creativity and problem solving.
By strengthening the connection between your right and left hemispheres, you gain access to more creative problem solving, and increase your productivity without adding stress.
Helpful Tools
Fletcher discusses the value of using a fitness tracker that tracks your sleep, noting that meditation can significantly improve the quality of your sleep. A fitness tracker can help you gauge your progress. I’m a major fan of this type of technology, as it can be very difficult to change a behavior unless you’re able to track it your progress.
When I first started using a fitness tracker, I was striving to get eight hours of sleep, but my Jawbone UP typically recorded me at 7.5 to 7.75. I have since increased my sleep time, not just time in bed, but total sleep time to over eight hours per night.
According to Fletcher, meditation may actually boost the quality of your sleep to the point that you don’t need to sleep as long, as you can become more fully rested in a shorter amount of time when you’re not waking up in the middle of the night.
Slowing your breathing through meditation and/or using the Buteyko breathing technique also increases your partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2), which has enormous psychological benefits.
Stress Less, Accomplish More
Emily Fletcher of @zivameditation, is my friend and meditation teacher. She’s written a book, “Stress Less, Accomplish More: Meditation for Extraordinary Performance,” and I believe this is the thing that will finally get you to stick to meditation.
In these pages, she’s put her 12 years of experience training over 20,000 high performers, with the goal of teaching you a type of meditation designed for people with busy minds and busy lives. The book is USA Today best seller and made it to No. 7 out of all books on Amazon. It’s changed a lot of lives and, perhaps, it will change yours. Get it >> bit.ly/slamthebook.


wakingtimes--2020-02-21--Scientists Finally Figure Out How Stress Turns Hair Gray

Is it true that stress can cause our hair to turn gray ?
For decades , scientists could not figure out how this happens , often theorizing that stress hormones such as cortisol must play some role in the process .
However , researchers have finally discovered where graying comes from , and the answer lies in hair cells called melanocytes .
Melanocytes are a type of cell that determine the amount of melanin in a given hair follicle .
These cells define our hair color and are derived from melanocyte stem cells ( MeSC ) , which are located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bulge .
As we age , the number of MeSC ’ s gradually deplete , leaving us with increasingly less color until all MeSC ’ s are gone , turning our hair completely gray , then white .
There are other ways our hair can turn gray besides aging , including malnutrition , disorders like vitiligo , but the most common reason is stress .
In a study published by the journal Nature , Bing Zhang , et al .
discovered that our sympathetic nervous system ( SNS ) , which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is the key to understanding how stress causes our hair to cahnge color .
As the SNS releases high amounts of noradrenaline in response to stress , the hormone agitates MeSC cells , accelerating their depletion .
In contrast , suppression of noradrenaline from the SNS of mice prevented whitening under stress .
Unfortunately , after all MeSC ’ s have depleted from a hair follicle , they never come back .
“ And once they ’ re gone , pigment can not be generated anymore , ” says Ya-Chieh Hsu , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biology at Harvard .
Now that we understand what causes our hair to turn gray , it ’ s likely that companies will jump on this discovery in an attempt to sell products that claim to prevent hair graying .
Other studies have highlighted the dangers of hair dyes , specifically in their ability to increase a patient ’ s risk of breast cancer .
However , it ’ s interesting to think about why hair turns color in the first place .
Some theorize that whitening occurs to signal trust , leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community .
Hair whitening may actually be an evolutionary advantage which places older individuals in a position of authority due to their perceived experience by others in the community .
We can observe this quality in male silverback mountain gorillas , which often only lead a gorilla troop after reaching a mature enough state that facilitates hair whitening .
Or , it is equally possible that white hair is a signal to younger individuals that you are no longer reproductively capable or of an age to take care of potential offspring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this discovery opens up an interesting discussion about community , the advantages or disadvantages of having white hair over colored hair , and the broader implications ( and dangers ) of hair coloration as a whole .
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times .
If you would like to see more of his work , you can visit his website , or follow him on the free speech social network Minds .
This article ( Scientists Finally Figure Out How Stress Turns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com .
It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution , author bio , and this copyright statement .
Like Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

Scientists Finally Figure Out How Stress Turns Hair Gray
Phillip Schneider, Staff Writer
Waking Times
Is it true that stress can cause our hair to turn gray? For decades, scientists could not figure out how this happens, often theorizing that stress hormones such as cortisol must play some role in the process.
However, researchers have finally discovered where graying comes from, and the answer lies in hair cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes are a type of cell that determine the amount of melanin in a given hair follicle. These cells define our hair color and are derived from melanocyte stem cells (MeSC), which are located in a part of each hair called the bulge.
As we age, the number of MeSC’s gradually deplete, leaving us with increasingly less color until all MeSC’s are gone, turning our hair completely gray, then white. There are other ways our hair can turn gray besides aging, including malnutrition, disorders like vitiligo, but the most common reason is stress.
In a study published by the journal Nature, Bing Zhang, et al. discovered that our sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which is responsible for the “fight-or-flight” mechanism, is the key to understanding how stress causes our hair to cahnge color.
As the SNS releases high amounts of noradrenaline in response to stress, the hormone agitates MeSC cells, accelerating their depletion. In contrast, suppression of noradrenaline from the SNS of mice prevented whitening under stress.
“Here we report that, in mice, acute stress leads to hair greying through the fast depletion of melanocyte stem cells…hair greying results from activation of the sympathetic nerves that innervate the melanocyte stem-cell niche.” – Bing Zhang, et al.
Unfortunately, after all MeSC’s have depleted from a hair follicle, they never come back. “And once they’re gone, pigment cannot be generated anymore,” says Ya-Chieh Hsu, a professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard.
Now that we understand what causes our hair to turn gray, it’s likely that companies will jump on this discovery in an attempt to sell products that claim to prevent hair graying.
Other studies have highlighted the dangers of hair dyes, specifically in their ability to increase a patient’s risk of breast cancer.
However, it’s interesting to think about why hair turns color in the first place. Some theorize that whitening occurs to signal trust, leadership, and experience to other members of the community. Hair whitening may actually be an evolutionary advantage which places older individuals in a position of authority due to their perceived experience by others in the community.
We can observe this quality in male silverback mountain gorillas, which often only lead a gorilla troop after reaching a mature enough state that facilitates hair whitening.
Or, it is equally possible that white hair is a signal to younger individuals that you are no longer reproductively capable or of an age to take care of potential offspring.
Perhaps both are true. Regardless, this discovery opens up an interesting discussion about community, the advantages or disadvantages of having white hair over colored hair, and the broader implications (and dangers) of hair coloration as a whole.
Read more articles by Phillip Schneider.
About the Author
Phillip Schneider is a student as well as a staff writer and assistant editor for Waking Times. If you would like to see more of his work, you can visit his website, or follow him on the free speech social network Minds.
This article (Scientists Finally Figure Out How Stress Turns Hair Gray) as originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Phillip Schneider and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this copyright statement.


wakingtimes--2020-02-21--New Study Shows How Eating a Western Diet Impairs Brain Function and Leads to Overeating

Could it be that our Western-style diet laden with saturated fats , added sugars , and processed grains could actually impair our brain functions while weighing us down with a tendency to continuously over-indulge ?
According to researchers , this is very much the case .
Gluttonous diets in the West could transform otherwise healthy and slim young people into mildly scatter-brained overeaters .
The new study , published in the journal Royal Society Open Science , is among the first studies looking into how the Western diet impairs memory and appetite control in humans .
The results of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , high-sugar diets caused volunteers to perform worse on memory tests while nursing a continuous craving for junk food even after they had finished a meal .
In fact , the desire for junk food only grew after they had eaten the meal .
The research suggests that self-control in regards to food consumption is harder for those who cling to a Euro-American or Western diet , with the array of foods involved in the diet causing havoc for the hippocampus—the part of the brain which regulates memory and appetite control .
Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macquarie University in Sydney , told the Guardian : “ After a week on a Western-style diet , palatable food such as snacks and chocolate becomes more desirable when you are full .
This will make it harder to resist , leading you to eat more , which in turn generates more damage to the hippocampus and a vicious cycle of overeating.
” To investigate the Western diet ’ s impact on humans , researchers recruited 110 participants aged 20-23 who were generally lean and healthy and stuck to a good diet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that ate their normal diet for a week , while the other team was assigned a calorie-heavy western-style diet filled to the brim with fast food and Belgian waffles .
At the beginning and end of the week both groups ate a breakfast in the lab that was bookended by word memory tests and rating how much they enjoy sugary foods like Froot Loops and Coco Pops , as well as how much they want to continue eating them .
Prof. Stevenson noted that their findings suggest the disruption of the hippocampus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Continuing , Stevenson explained that when the hippocampus isn ’ t functioning to its full capacity , memories flood the brain which makes food more appealing than it should be—even when our bellies are full .
The findings echo earlier research done on animals which showed junk food ’ s ability to impair the hippocampus .
While there is no concrete reason as to why this is the case , the hippocampus is known to block out or blur our memories and daydreams about tasty food when we are full .
Scientists now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our sugary , processed diets could lead to long-term effects including increased tendencies toward obesity and diabetes , both of which have been linked to dementia and cognitive decline .
Stevenson feels that in light of the findings , governments are likely to find themselves in a position to control the unrestricted consumption of junk food as a simple matter of public safety—not unlike government attempts to restrict the smoking of tobacco .

New Study Shows How Eating a Western Diet Impairs Brain Function and Leads to Overeating
Elias Marat, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
Could it be that our Western-style diet laden with saturated fats, added sugars, and processed grains could actually impair our brain functions while weighing us down with a tendency to continuously over-indulge?
According to researchers, this is very much the case. Gluttonous diets in the West could transform otherwise healthy and slim young people into mildly scatter-brained overeaters.
The new study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, is among the first studies looking into how the Western diet impairs memory and appetite control in humans.
The results of the research are shocking and show how high-fat, high-sugar diets caused volunteers to perform worse on memory tests while nursing a continuous craving for junk food even after they had finished a meal. In fact, the desire for junk food only grew after they had eaten the meal.
The research suggests that self-control in regards to food consumption is harder for those who cling to a Euro-American or Western diet, with the array of foods involved in the diet causing havoc for the hippocampus—the part of the brain which regulates memory and appetite control.
Richard Stevenson, study co-author and psychology professor Macquarie University in Sydney, told the Guardian:
“After a week on a Western-style diet, palatable food such as snacks and chocolate becomes more desirable when you are full. This will make it harder to resist, leading you to eat more, which in turn generates more damage to the hippocampus and a vicious cycle of overeating.”
To investigate the Western diet’s impact on humans, researchers recruited 110 participants aged 20-23 who were generally lean and healthy and stuck to a good diet. The group was split into one control group that ate their normal diet for a week, while the other team was assigned a calorie-heavy western-style diet filled to the brim with fast food and Belgian waffles.
At the beginning and end of the week both groups ate a breakfast in the lab that was bookended by word memory tests and rating how much they enjoy sugary foods like Froot Loops and Coco Pops, as well as how much they want to continue eating them.
Prof. Stevenson noted that their findings suggest the disruption of the hippocampus by the foods. He added:
“The more desirable people find the palatable food when full, following the Western-style diet, the more impaired they were on the test of hippocampal function.”
Continuing, Stevenson explained that when the hippocampus isn’t functioning to its full capacity, memories flood the brain which makes food more appealing than it should be—even when our bellies are full. The findings echo earlier research done on animals which showed junk food’s ability to impair the hippocampus.
While there is no concrete reason as to why this is the case, the hippocampus is known to block out or blur our memories and daydreams about tasty food when we are full.
Scientists now fear that the subtle impairments caused by our sugary, processed diets could lead to long-term effects including increased tendencies toward obesity and diabetes, both of which have been linked to dementia and cognitive decline.
Stevenson feels that in light of the findings, governments are likely to find themselves in a position to control the unrestricted consumption of junk food as a simple matter of public safety—not unlike government attempts to restrict the smoking of tobacco.
Stevenson added:
“Demonstrating that processed foods can lead to subtle cognitive impairments that affect appetite and serve to promote overeating in otherwise healthy young people should be a worrying finding for everyone.”
By Elias Marat | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


wakingtimes--2020-02-21--Couple Has Been Buying Land Near a Tiger Reserve and Letting Forest Grow Back so Big Cats Can Roam

Some twenty years ago , photographer Aditya Singh resigned from his job in civil services in Delhi and moved to the city of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan with his wife and artist Poonam so they could be closer to nature .
It was there that they started a tourist resort to earn a living .
Over the years , the couple bought about 35 acres bordering the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve on one side .
Farmers were selling their land because of predators , including tigers , in the area .
The area , called Bhadlav was barren and had little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lush green forest frequented by wild animals , including tigers .
After settling in Ranthambore , Aditya first visited the Bhadlav area with a BBC filmmaker and became aware that the farmers were selling their land because of the risk of predators searching for prey .
For Poonam it was love at first sight when she visited Ranthambore with her husband .
“ My first sighting was a tigress with three cubs on a hill .
It was magical .
At the end of the trip , I just asked him if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted it too and within months we moved .
As far as this land is concerned , it was a dream that we both saw an achieved together to have our own area of wilderness , ” she told Mongabay-India .
Poonam managed the tourist resort with Aditya for twenty years and closed it in 2019 .
An aerial photograph of their land shows the stark contrast between their lush green forest and the barren land surrounding them , including the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve , with whom they share a boundary .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to let the natural habitat renew itself , they also created several water holes to ensure the wild animals have enough drinking water even during the hot summers .
Although they have had many offers from buyers for the land , the Singhs are not interested in selling because of their love for nature and wildlife .
‘ ‘ Money was never the consideration .
It is just about our love for nature and wildlife , ’ ’ they said .
Aditya and Poonam ’ s story has inspired others in the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also been receiving inquiries from people across India who want rehabilitate their land and create a comparable model in their own states .
May Aditya and Poonam ’ s success , achieved through their love for nature and dedication to their project , be the first link in a strong chain of like-minded people in India , and indeed the world , transforming the barren areas on our planet back to its natural state for the sake of wildlife and humanity .
Like Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter @

Couple Has Been Buying Land Near a Tiger Reserve and Letting Forest Grow Back so Big Cats Can Roam
Jade Small, The Mind Unleashed
Waking Times
Some twenty years ago, photographer Aditya Singh resigned from his job in civil services in Delhi and moved to the city of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan with his wife and artist Poonam so they could be closer to nature. It was there that they started a tourist resort to earn a living.
Over the years, the couple bought about 35 acres bordering the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve on one side. Farmers were selling their land because of predators, including tigers, in the area.
http://www.facebook.com/limelighthighlight/posts/3013400775361016:0
The area, called Bhadlav was barren and had little vegetation but has since been transformed into a lush green forest frequented by wild animals, including tigers.
After settling in Ranthambore, Aditya first visited the Bhadlav area with a BBC filmmaker and became aware that the farmers were selling their land because of the risk of predators searching for prey.
‘’As a result, farmers were selling their land,” Singh told Mongabay India. ‘’I just bought this and did nothing to it except removing the invasive species. We allowed the land to recover and now after 20 years it has become a lush green patch of forest which is frequently visited by all kind of animals, including tigers, leopards and wild boars.’’
For Poonam it was love at first sight when she visited Ranthambore with her husband. “My first sighting was a tigress with three cubs on a hill. It was magical. At the end of the trip, I just asked him if we can move to Ranthambore. He wanted it too and within months we moved. As far as this land is concerned, it was a dream that we both saw an achieved together to have our own area of wilderness,” she told Mongabay-India.
Poonam managed the tourist resort with Aditya for twenty years and closed it in 2019.
An aerial photograph of their land shows the stark contrast between their lush green forest and the barren land surrounding them, including the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, with whom they share a boundary.
http://www.facebook.com/mongabayindia/photos/a.260040424524634/331433534051989/?type=3
Not only did the couple have the patience to let the natural habitat renew itself, they also created several water holes to ensure the wild animals have enough drinking water even during the hot summers.
Because of the Singh’s efforts, the threat to the farmers in the area has drastically reduced as the tigers from the Reserve prefer the forest. ‘’It is simply because the animals understand that in this patch of the forest they get prey, water and safe shelter without any disturbance,’’ Aditya explained.
Although they have had many offers from buyers for the land, the Singhs are not interested in selling because of their love for nature and wildlife. ‘‘Money was never the consideration. It is just about our love for nature and wildlife,’’ they said.
Aditya and Poonam’s story has inspired others in the area to follow their example. Aditya has also been receiving inquiries from people across India who want rehabilitate their land and create a comparable model in their own states.
May Aditya and Poonam’s success, achieved through their love for nature and dedication to their project, be the first link in a strong chain of like-minded people in India, and indeed the world, transforming the barren areas on our planet back to its natural state for the sake of wildlife and humanity.
By Jade Small | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com


wakingtimes--2020-02-21--Nano-technology: one world, one brain

Nano-technology: one world, one brain

The recent arrest of Harvard pioneer in the field of nanotechnology , Charles Lieber—on charges of lying to federal authorities about his business connections to China—has exposed wide-ranging relationships among American and Chinese researchers .
These relationships include , above all , the open sharing of sensitive technologies that , once upon a time , would have been considered closely guarded state secrets .
( See my recent piece , “ Behind the explosive Charles Lieber scandal.
” ) Here are quotes from the journal Nano Today , from a 2019 paper titled : “ Nanowire probes could drive high-resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese and American : “ …advances can enable investigations of dynamics in the brain [ through tiny sensor-implants ] and drive the development of new brain-machine interfaces with unprecedented resolution and precision.
” “ …output electrical signals of brain activity or input electrical stimuli to modulate brain activity in concert with external machines , including computer processors and prosthetics , for human enhancement… ” Aside from research into prosthetics and , perhaps , the reversal of certain paralyses , this avenue of investigation also suggests “ modulation ” of the brain , hooked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control .
Control of thoughts , sensations , emotions .
And along with the Internet of Things , why couldn ’ t that control eventually be extended , in order to “ harmonize ” many , many brains with one another ?
Who would be interested in such a thing ?
Think Chinese government , DARPA ( the technology arm of the Pentagon ) , and numerous other international actors .
Think Rockefeller medical researchers .
Think technocracy and Brave New World .
Over the past few decades , the flow of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US and China , hasn ’ t consisted of rare leaks .
It ’ s a flood , out in the open , in labs and universities .
All part of the new share-and-care Globalist agenda .
Nanotechnology , to choose one branch of such research-exchange , has applications in weaponry , transportation , surveillance , medicine , etc .
And of course , mind control .
How did US-China relations get to this point ?
At one time , it appeared the two governments were involved in a cold war .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Nixon opened up China to trade , in 1972 , after 25 years of no diplomatic relations .
Nixon was the agent of David Rockefeller , who , years earlier , had rescued him from a broken career as a politician .
David Rockefeller , arch Globalist .
Here ’ s what Rockefeller blithely wrote in 1973 , a year after Nixon had worked his China miracle : Millions of people dead , freedom crushed , a whole population under the boot of the Communist regime , but somehow that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretended to see .
He , like other of his elite Globalist colleagues , admired the Chinese government for the capacity to control its own people , to such a high degree .
Flash forward 47 years .
Scientists from both countries are blowing each other kisses , as they collaborate on developing a technology that has the potential to gain intimate influence inside the human brain itself .
—Of course , remember , when political push comes to shove , and it always does , China is the friend of China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ government big shots , hometown loyalty tends to be conditional , depending on which sources and countries are putting money on the table .
Jon Rappoport is the author of three explosive collections , THE MATRIX REVEALED , EXIT FROM THE MATRIX , and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX , Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29thDistrict of California .
He maintains a consulting practice for private clients , the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power .
Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize , he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , writing articles on politics , medicine , and health for CBS Healthwatch , LA Weekly , Spin Magazine , Stern , and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe .
Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics , health , logic , and creative power to audiences around the world .
You can sign up for his free emails at NoMoreFakeNews.com or OutsideTheRealityMachine .
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Nano-technology: one world, one brain
Jon Rappoport, Guest
Waking Times
The recent arrest of Harvard pioneer in the field of nanotechnology, Charles Lieber—on charges of lying to federal authorities about his business connections to China—has exposed wide-ranging relationships among American and Chinese researchers.
These relationships include, above all, the open sharing of sensitive technologies that, once upon a time, would have been considered closely guarded state secrets. (See my recent piece, “Behind the explosive Charles Lieber scandal.”)
Here are quotes from the journal Nano Today, from a 2019 paper titled: “Nanowire probes could drive high-resolution brain-machine interfaces”. Its authors are Chinese and American: “…advances can enable investigations of dynamics in the brain [through tiny sensor-implants] and drive the development of new brain-machine interfaces with unprecedented resolution and precision.” “…output electrical signals of brain activity or input electrical stimuli to modulate brain activity in concert with external machines, including computer processors and prosthetics, for human enhancement…”
Aside from research into prosthetics and, perhaps, the reversal of certain paralyses, this avenue of investigation also suggests “modulation” of the brain, hooked to machines, for the purpose of control. Control of thoughts, sensations, emotions.
And along with the Internet of Things, why couldn’t that control eventually be extended, in order to “harmonize” many, many brains with one another?
Who would be interested in such a thing? Think Chinese government, DARPA (the technology arm of the Pentagon), and numerous other international actors. Think Rockefeller medical researchers. Think technocracy and Brave New World.
Over the past few decades, the flow of all sorts of ultra-sensitive scientific information, between the US and China, hasn’t consisted of rare leaks. It’s a flood, out in the open, in labs and universities. All part of the new share-and-care Globalist agenda.
Nanotechnology, to choose one branch of such research-exchange, has applications in weaponry, transportation, surveillance, medicine, etc. And of course, mind control.
“Look, I’m certainly willing to share my latest research on nano-brain implants. But I need your, ahem, assurance that your government won’t use this for dark purposes.” “I understand completely. My government would no more do that than your government would.” “All right. Then we’re good.” “Yes. Good.”
How did US-China relations get to this point? At one time, it appeared the two governments were involved in a cold war. Oh, that’s right, President Nixon opened up China to trade, in 1972, after 25 years of no diplomatic relations. Nixon was the agent of David Rockefeller, who, years earlier, had rescued him from a broken career as a politician. David Rockefeller, arch Globalist.
Here’s what Rockefeller blithely wrote in 1973, a year after Nixon had worked his China miracle:
“Whatever the price of the Chinese Revolution, it has obviously succeeded not only in producing more efficient and dedicated administration, but also in fostering high morale and community of purpose. The social experiment in China under Chairman Mao’s leadership is one of the most important and successful in human history.” (“From a China Traveler,” New York Times, August 10, 1973.)
Millions of people dead, freedom crushed, a whole population under the boot of the Communist regime, but somehow that’s not what David Rockefeller saw, or pretended to see. He, like other of his elite Globalist colleagues, admired the Chinese government for the capacity to control its own people, to such a high degree.
Flash forward 47 years. Scientists from both countries are blowing each other kisses, as they collaborate on developing a technology that has the potential to gain intimate influence inside the human brain itself.
—Of course, remember, when political push comes to shove, and it always does, China is the friend of China. In the case of American corporate and government big shots, hometown loyalty tends to be conditional, depending on which sources and countries are putting money on the table.
About the Author
Jon Rappoport is the author of three explosive collections, THE MATRIX REVEALED, EXIT FROM THE MATRIX, and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29thDistrict of California. He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the world. You can sign up for his free emails at NoMoreFakeNews.com or OutsideTheRealityMachine.
(To read about Jon’s mega-collection, Exit From The Matrix, click here.)


wakingtimes--2020-02-20--The Power of Viruses and the Power of You

In this article , I depart , for a moment , from the strategy of citing evidence in my coverage of the “ China epidemic.
” ( For my series of articles on the “ China epidemic , ” click here . )
Instead , I want to make a few brief notes on the subject of power .
For many or most people , there is a kind of programming in the mind which urges the acceptance of viruses as powerful .
This programming results in visceral emotional reactions toward microbes .
The collection of sensations would be something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward a possible break in the tracks .
Each person on board has been warned .
No one is sure whether the tracks , a few miles in the distance , have actually been ripped apart .
The train ’ s engineer in the cab isn ’ t stopping .
There is fear , of course .
But there is also something else .
An almost wild feeling .
Where does it comes from ?
It comes from the realization that power is SOMEWHERE .
Where ?
In the potential break in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience a sensation of power .
For that reason , they don ’ t want to minimize the importance of the tracks up ahead .
They don ’ t want to throw away that feeling .
At some level , they believe that , if they do throw it away , there will be no power anywhere .
And THAT would provoke panic .
The idea that they might be coddling an ILLUSION—and the whole warning they received was a monstrous fabrication to begin with—well , this prospect is entirely out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , under any circumstances .
That would be too , too much .
If you were so foolish as to approach such a person and suggest he could , first and foremost , look to his OWN power , he would stare at you as if you were speaking a language from another planet .
To say that your advice , under the circumstances—the speeding train , the tracks , the warning—was inappropriate…this would be a vast understatement .
If a person , for whatever reason , believes he has no significant power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If he can find a train , a warning , and danger , he ’ ll climb onboard .
It ’ s far , far better than nothing .
In our society and present culture , of course , the thought that the individual has a great deal of inherent power , and a right to it , is on the wane .
That ship , to go to another metaphor , is taking on lots and lots of water .
Typical sociopaths in high places , and their bootlickers , apply basic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fifty-thousand-dollars-a-year colleges : People must be able to imagine power is SOMEWHERE .
They don ’ t believe they have it themselves .
So why not invoke images of power in a venue which results in a strange allegiance : That ’ s the speeding train , the warning , the tracks .
Jon Rappoport is the author of three explosive collections , THE MATRIX REVEALED , EXIT FROM THE MATRIX , and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX , Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29thDistrict of California .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ clients , the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power .
Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize , he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years , writing articles on politics , medicine , and health for CBS Healthwatch , LA Weekly , Spin Magazine , Stern , and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe .
Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics , health , logic , and creative power to audiences around the world .
You can sign up for his free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Waking Times on Facebook .
Follow Waking Times on Twitter .

The Power of Viruses and the Power of You
Jon Rappoport, Guest
Waking Times
In this article, I depart, for a moment, from the strategy of citing evidence in my coverage of the “China epidemic.” (For my series of articles on the “China epidemic,” click here.)
Instead, I want to make a few brief notes on the subject of power.
For many or most people, there is a kind of programming in the mind which urges the acceptance of viruses as powerful. This programming results in visceral emotional reactions toward microbes.
The collection of sensations would be something like: riding on a train heading toward a possible break in the tracks. Each person on board has been warned. No one is sure whether the tracks, a few miles in the distance, have actually been ripped apart. The train’s engineer in the cab isn’t stopping.
There is fear, of course. But there is also something else. An almost wild feeling. Where does it comes from? It comes from the realization that power is SOMEWHERE. Where? In the potential break in the tracks.
People don’t often experience a sensation of power. For that reason, they don’t want to minimize the importance of the tracks up ahead. They don’t want to throw away that feeling. At some level, they believe that, if they do throw it away, there will be no power anywhere. And THAT would provoke panic.
The idea that they might be coddling an ILLUSION—and the whole warning they received was a monstrous fabrication to begin with—well, this prospect is entirely out of the question. That couldn’t be, under any circumstances. That would be too, too much.
If you were so foolish as to approach such a person and suggest he could, first and foremost, look to his OWN power, he would stare at you as if you were speaking a language from another planet. To say that your advice, under the circumstances—the speeding train, the tracks, the warning—was inappropriate…this would be a vast understatement.
If a person, for whatever reason, believes he has no significant power, he searches for it elsewhere. If he can find a train, a warning, and danger, he’ll climb onboard. It’s far, far better than nothing.
In our society and present culture, of course, the thought that the individual has a great deal of inherent power, and a right to it, is on the wane. That ship, to go to another metaphor, is taking on lots and lots of water.
Typical sociopaths in high places, and their bootlickers, apply basic psychology they don’t teach in fifty-thousand-dollars-a-year colleges: People must be able to imagine power is SOMEWHERE. They don’t believe they have it themselves. So why not invoke images of power in a venue which results in a strange allegiance:
“I’ll see and feel power in a fearful threat to me. I’ll sign on and remain loyal, no matter what. I’ll cling to my threat, and I’ll feel rising fear and strange rising joy together.”
That’s the speeding train, the warning, the tracks.
That’s the virus.
About the Author
Jon Rappoport is the author of three explosive collections, THE MATRIX REVEALED, EXIT FROM THE MATRIX, and POWER OUTSIDE THE MATRIX, Jon was a candidate for a US Congressional seat in the 29thDistrict of California. He maintains a consulting practice for private clients, the purpose of which is the expansion of personal creative power. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Jon has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic, and creative power to audiences around the world. You can sign up for his free emails at NoMoreFakeNews.com or OutsideTheRealityMachine.
(To read about Jon’s mega-collection, Exit From The Matrix, click here.)