I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, “Come and see.”

There’s really nothing remotely clever or interesting that I can say about Babi Yar, aside from the fact that it’s a horrifying place to visit. Family members were murdered there, along with roughly 100,000 others, and I thought I could easily compartmentalize that. After all, I never knew them, right? But Babi Yar doesn’t really work like that. It has this crackling, living aura, and you can’t keep it at an arm’s length. You duck into the warm metro afterward, but it follows you.

What a poignant story written by Marina Lewycka, where to begin?  This book “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian” depicts a dysfunctional family in the many layers she produces in this quick read of 324 pages.  For those who know their Soviet history in Ukraine, there will be nothing new about the different locations mentioned and what the Ukrainians underwent during the famine of 1932-33, Great Patriotic War and post war year repressions. 

For those people from the West who know little to nothing about the Soviet period of collectivization, industrialization, famine, purges, repressions, the reader is compelled forward, the author deftly records historical fact.  The reason you read on through the somber details is really the underlying fabric with the bright ornamentation of the character development of the 46 year old daughter Nadia who writes in first person about her Big Sis Vera.  The two sisters team up to help their 84 year old father struggle against the demon 36 year old hussy from Ukraine, Valentina who marries him to improve her lot in life in England.

Meanwhile, the engineer father who is probably certifiably crazy is paranoid and love starved, writes a short history that is woven throughout about tractors.  The eccentric father was the Big Idea guy who was married to the two sisters mother for 60 years, she was the one who had the Ukrainian friends in their community in England. Masterfully composed from beginning to end, this book reminded me once again that I had just finished reading another book (The Help) that was layered with family stories tied up in political big picture drama in the U.S. in the 1960s. 

Not sure I can read too many more of these emotional books about families being so far away from my own family during this Thanksgiving season.  I just learned that a colleague lost a one year old niece to swine flu. The one fear we as foreigners have is losing a loved one while living so far away.  It happens. Family is very valuable and blood does run thicker than water.

Here is one painting at the TENGRI-UMAI art gallery, here in Almaty, Kazakhstan that I enjoyed looking at. It reminds me of my Mom and three sisters, our sitting around the piano making music with singing and stringed instruments.  Looking back, I came from a fairly normal family.  For that I am thankful.

La pand�mie de grippe porcine commence de plus en plus � sortir des sentiers battus. En effet, ces derniers jours, nous sommes inond�s par une multitude d�informations graves concernant la mutation du virus H1N1 vers une forme beaucoup plus l�tale. Pourtant ces informations ne font pas grand bruit dans les m�dias grand public et cela n�est pas surprenant, �tant donn� qu�ils ne sont que de vulgaires relais de communication pour les puissantes �lites corporatistes.

La mutation du virus a �t� en premier constat�e en Ukraine ou en � peine 1 mois de pand�mie, on totalise d�j� 1 636 000 infections pour un total de 388 morts par infection pulmonaire virale aig�e.

http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20091124/156960614.html

Episode 1 : En Aout 2008, Joseph Moshe, agent du Mossad et expert en arme biologique, annonce sur une radio Am�ricaine que Baxter s�appr�te � lib�rer � partir de son usine en Ukraine, une � r�plique � du virus de grippe de 1918, pr�textant que le virus a mut�.

http://www.alterinfo.net/Baxter-a-l-origine-d-un-virus-mortel-en-Ukraine_a38745.html

Episode 2: le 30 Octobre au soir, des Ukrainiens observent de petits avions volant � basse altitude au dessus des grandes villes, pulv�risant une substance a�rosol inconnue. Plus de 200 000 Ukrainiens sont infect�s par jour par un nouveau virus inconnu, provoquant au quotidien une vingtaine de d�c�s.

http://www.alterinfo.net/Panique-en-Ukraine-substance-inconnue-puverisee-au-dessus-des-villes_a38747.html

Episode 3 : L�OMS envoie le 2 Novembre une �quipe d�experts pr�lever des �chantillons sur les patients infect�s par le virus inconnu. Le virus a �t� test� en laboratoire en Ukraine et s�av�re n�gatif au H1N1.

http://www.alterinfo.net/Mysterieux-virus-en-Ukraine,-l-OMS-analyse_a38758.html

Episode 4: 3 semaines plus tard, toujours pas de r�ponse de l�OMS !!!! le 16/11/09, le Dr. Victor Bachinsky, Docteur en M�decine et coroner dans la r�gion de Chernivtsi en Ukraine a identifi� le virus comme �tant un � m�lange de H1N1 et de ParaInfluenza �, les poumons noir comme du charbon de bois des patients d�c�d�s, ne laissent plus aucune place au doute que la souche de ce virus est diff�rente de celle du virus H1N1.

http://www.alterinfo.net/Nouvelle-Souche-identifiee-en-Ukraine_a39348.html

Episode 5: Le LENDEMAIN, le 17/11/09, l�OMS publie son bulletin n�2 sur l�Ukraine, stipulant que le virus n�a pas mut� en Ukraine et que la souche serait toujours la souche pand�mique. Ce qui est totalement contradictoire avec la r�alit� du terrain et avec les analyses de nombreux scientifiques.

http://www.alterinfo.net/OMS-le-Virus-en-Ukraine-est-le-H1N1!!!!_a39426.html

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_11_16/fr/index.html

Episode 6: Les m�mes �v�nements se� produisent en Pologne, des t�moins rapportent avoir vu de petits avions voler � basse altitude, quelques jours plus tard, une forme de pneumonie bubonique aig�e fait son apparition en Pologne et on commence � compter les premiers morts, toujours le m�me diagnostic post-mortem sur les victimes: � poumon noir imbib� de sang �

http://www.alterinfo.net/Avions-volant-a-basse-altitude-en-Pologne-nouveaux-cas-de-peste-pneumonique_a39512.html

Episode 7 : l�OMS publie le 23/11/09 son bulletin n�17, annon�ant une mutation de virus H1N1 en une forme qui va plus en profondeur au niveau des poumons, et pouvant selon les sujets tuer en quelques jours par h�morragie pulmonaire aig�e. Le plus dr�le dans ce bulletin c�est qu�il contredit totalement le pr�c�dent bulletin, de plus il annonce en vrac une mutation du virus OBSERVEE DEPUIS AVRIL aux USA, en Chine, en Ukraine, en Norv�ge, au Japon, au Mexique, au Br�sil�

D�un seul coup la mutation du virus n�est plus seulement rattach� � l�Ukraine, mais semble venir simultan�ment de plusieurs pays � travers le globe, alors que jusqu�� pr�sent les autorit�s gouvernementales des pays concern�es et l�OMS n�ont pas prononc� un mot pour d�clarer une quelconque mutation du virus dans ces pays l�, ni pour signaler la moindre victime d�h�morragie pulmonaire.

Voila comment d�un seul revers de main, l�OMS a balay� toutes les histoires pr�c�dentes (l��pisode 7 a balay� les 6 �pisodes pr�c�dents, comme s�ils n�avaient jamais exist�), rachetant une l�gitimit� naturelle � la mutation du virus H1N1 que l�OMS et Big Pharma nous faisaient depuis si longtemps miroiter.

Voila on y est, le virus H1N1 a mut� un peu partout dans le monde et voila qu�on nous pr�sente cela comme si de rien n��tait dans les articles d�aujourd�hui, faisant fi que jusqu�� pr�sent aucune allusion n�a �t� faite concernant la mutation du virus� H1N1, et aucune victime d�h�morragie pulmonaire aig�e n�a �t� signal� comme �tant li� � la mutation du virus H1N1 (except� en Ukraine).

Selon un article du jour, on d�nombre aujourd�hui 670 morts du nouveau virus H1N1 mutant en Europe.

http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/Documents/091123_Influenza_AH1N1_Situation_Report_0900hrs.pdf

Les bruits courent que le virus mutant est �galement pass� aux USA, en Iowa.

http://www.infowars.com/has-hemorrhagic-black-lung-arrived-in-america/

Bravo � l�OMS et aux gouvernements complices d�avoir r�ussi � brouiller les pistes concernant l�origine de cette mutation du virus H1N1.

L�OMS a d�un seul coup switch� son mode de communication, reconnaissant du jour au lendemain une mutation du virus un peu partout dans le monde, leur but est de faire comme si c��tait un ph�nom�ne mondial, qui ne soit pas propre � un pays en particulier, comme ce fut longtemps le cas avec l�Ukraine.

Il est int�ressant d�analyser l�attitude de nos m�dias et de nos gouvernements depuis le d�but de cette pand�mie, afin de comprendre ce qui se passe actuellement avec la mutation du virus et ce qui risque d�arriver plus tard.

Pendant des mois, les m�dias officiels se sont �vertu�s � cr�er la confusion la plus totale autour de la pand�mie, du vaccin, des mesures gouvernementales�.les m�dias nous ont donn� l�image d�un gouvernement incomp�tent, qui a mal organis� son plan contre la pand�mie, qui aurait m�me des connivences avec les entreprises pharmaceutiques, ayant d�pens� 800 millions d�Euros en vaccin contre un virus H1N1 totalement innofensif, pendant ce temps les m�chants m�dias alternatifs ont eu le champ libre et ont profit� de l�� absence � du gouvernement pour propager la panique dans la population, comme quoi� le vaccin serait bien plus dangereux que le virus lui-m�me. Les vilains ont semble-t-il rempli leur mission, car c�est bien connu les m�dias alternatifs ne sont que des affabulateurs ringards qui jouent sur les peurs pour faire entendre parler d�eux (voila le discours des glorieux m�dias pro-gouvernementaux).

Hier en regardant l��mission � Mot Crois� � avec Yves Calvi(tie), il semblerait que l�on soit entr�e dans une nouvelle phase du plan orchestr� par l�OMS et reproduit par tous les gouvernements en fonction de l�agenda qu�ils suivent.

La nouvelle image donn�e est que le gouvernement a repris la main, Roselyne Bachelot, avec un air de fiert� qu�elle a eu beaucoup de mal � cacher, a triomphalement dam� le pion � la m�chante Mich�le Rivasi, seule � repr�senter ce qu�ils ont baptis� comme �tant � le lobbie anti-vaccin �.
lobbie de quoi ? Pour qu�il y ait un lobbie il faut qu�il y ait un de l�argent derri�re, ici, pas d�argent pour les anti-vaccins.

Roselyne a pris grand plaisir � d�truire les nombreuses th�ories conspirationnistes du Web, soigneusement d�natur�es de leurs contextes et de leurs sens par le fid�le et tr�s d�vou�Yves Clavi. Roselyne a ni� que les adjuvants sont dangereux, a ignor� qu�il existe un rapport entre le Squal�ne et le Syndrome de la Guerre du Golfe (c�est pourquoi le vaccin US ne contient pas de Squal�ne), a ni� le danger du Thimerosal (Mercure), a refus� de reconna�tre que le vaccin a subi tr�s peu de tests en laboratoire et qu�il est donc moins s�r ne serait-ce que pour cette raison.

Foutage de gueule ultime, Roselyne �tait tr�s� fi�re de nous dire que contrairement aux USA, la France n�a pas sign� de close prot�geant les producteurs de vaccins contre d��ventuels d�sagr�ments li�s au vaccin.
Titill�e la dessus par l�excellente Mich�le Rivasi, Roselyne Bachelot a �t� oblig� de reconnaitre en fin de compte la v�rit�, que les entreprises pharmaceutiques peuvent seulement �tre poursuivi en cas de d�faillance du vaccin, mais en aucun cas, ils ne pourront �tre bl�m� concernant d��ventuels effets secondaires, alors que c�est bel et bien la qu�on les attends.

Donc, exactement comme aux USA, personne ne pourra porter plainte contre les entreprises pharmaceutiques s�il subit des complications, graves ou pas, suite � sa vaccination.

D�autre part, � voir le casting de l��mission, Mich�le Rivasi, Roselyne Bachelot, Yves Calvitie, Michel CHASSANG, Patrick PERETTI-WATEL, Jean-Fran�ois DELFRAISSY et Jean-Daniel FLAYSAKIER, on se retrouve avec une unique personne en le nom de Mich�le Rivasi, totalement diabolis�e, neutralis�e et rabaiss�, contre 6 autres se relayant la parole et l�interrompant d�s sa moindre prise de parole.

Soyons s�rieux, cette �mission semble � 100% taill� pour mettre dans l�esprit des Fran�ais que le gouvernement a repris la main concernant la pand�mie, les pauvres Fran�ais n�auront plus � s��garer sur les vilains sites d�informations alternatives, qui ne comprennent rien � rien et qui ne sont que des marchands de peur. Si vous n��tes pas arriv� par vous-m�me � cette m�me conclusion, le bon sociologue Patrick PERETTI-WATEL est la pour vous expliquer comment vous avez per�u les choses et comment vous devez les percevoir, donc pas d�inqui�tudes.

Pour en revenir � un cadre plus g�n�ral, il est extr�mement important de remarquer que les m�dias officiels ont minimis� au minimum la nouvelle tr�s s�rieuse et inqui�tante d�une mutation du virus H1N1 vers une forme plus l�tale. Quasiment aucun m�dia n�a repris l�information, ce qui semble tr�s bizarre �tant donn� la gravit� de cette nouvelle.

Comme nous le savons tous, les m�dias officiels fonctionnent sur ordre et ne sont pas des m�dias libre de parole, ils ne sont qu�un moyen de communication privil�gi� pour permettre aux �lites d�imposer leurs vues, leurs politiques, � leur v�rit� fabriqu�e de toute pi�ce, � l�ensemble des populations.

On peut donc, sans trop prendre de risque, penser que les m�dias officiels � travers le monde minimisent, voire ignorent d�lib�r�ment la mutation du virus H1N1. Il n�est pas encore temps selon le plan initial de l�OMS et Big Pharma de profiter de cette information pour faire avancer leur � op�ration pand�mie �. L�heure n�est pas � la panique pour le moment.

En effet, le taux de mortalit� du virus H1N1 mutant se situe entre 0.5 et 0.7% des personnes infect�es, ce qui donnerait un nombre de 10 000 d�c�s en Ukraine, nous sommes tr�s loin de ce chiffre avec moins de 400 morts jusqu�� pr�sent d�clar�s en Ukraine.

Beaucoup de rapports venant d�Ukraine indiquent qu�un grand nombre de d�c�s n�ont pas �t� comptabilis�s comme �tant dus � la nouvelle souche du virus H1N1, ceci vient confirmer qu�il existe bel et bien un trucage des r�sultats en Ukraine pour minimiser le nombre de mort.

La strat�gie dict�e aux gouvernements par l�OMS est pour le moment de minimiser au maximum le nombre de d�c�s dus au nouveau virus, de parler le moins possible de la mutation du virus, d�attendre que l�OMS d�clare successivement que la souche mutante s�est propag�e tous les jours dans un nouveau pays. Une fois la mutation ayant officiellement atteint la totalit� du globe, les m�dias et les gouvernements se mettront � donner les vrais chiffres concernant le nombre de d�c�s du nouveau virus H1N1. Une compagne de terreur suivra pour convaincre les dernies r�calcitrants.

Cette p�riode risque de co�ncider avec le gros de l�arriv�e des vaccins, ce qui peut varier d�un pays � l�autre. En France cela est pr�vu entre fin D�cembre et Janvier, la premi�re vague de vaccination se terminant � la mi-F�vrier, leur marge de man�uvre est donc assez grande pour ajuster leur timing le moment venu.

[http://www.infowars.com/hold-off-on-calling-this-pandemic-overblown-or-a-dud-just-yet/]url: http://www.infowars.com/hold-off-on-calling-this-pandemic-overblown-or-a-dud-just-yet/

Au final, le vaccin quoique �dangereux� ne semble pas destin� � d�cimer les populations, il a d�j� rempli son objectif en rapportant des milliards de dollars aux fabricants de vaccins, utiliser le vaccin contre la nouvelle souche du virus est totalement inutile, voire empirerait les choses, affaiblissant davantage votre syst�me immunitaire sans apporter de contreparties. La panique cr��e par un virus mutant, plus l�tal, pourrait server � r�duire directement la d�mographie, ou du moins pourrait servir de vecteurs pour les �lites pour atteindre leurs objectifs eug�nistes.

Pastor Pavlo started thinking about church planting in 2002.  They have 8 new churches and 6 of them are still up and going.  they want to reach unbelievers.  they believe the most effective way to reach people is through social works (handicap ministries, drug abuse ministries and homeless ministries).  They have 1000 people all together.  450 people attend Pastor Pavlo’s church.  2/3 of the people involved are not necessarily christians.  they have 5 daughter churches in Lutsk and 1 outside of the city.  In 2003 they began church planting.  They have started at least 1 church every year since.  Their first vision was to open new church plants in the city.  they also have 15-17 small groups.  They want each small group to view themself as a church.  they have communion in these small groups.  They have developed a training manual about pastoral care that small group leaders go through.  They are working to create a process within the church to prepare leaders to go church plant from within this mother church.  They possibly even want to create a church planting school.  They need help with this training.  Their current situation is that only 1 of the 6 church plants is financially able to support the pastor.  They say they have never seen a church launch large and had alot of questions about Aviator Church.

Their financial need:  $200/month for salary per church.  $1,000/year for ministry per church.

Pastor Pavlo’s church as 40 ministries they financially support and the church is financially strapped.

Most of their leaders for church planting come from the drug rehab centers.  They are at a point where they are assessing the situation and praying about the vision and direction for the next 5-10 years.  They will probably have a clear vision by September 2010.

In their state they have 127 Baptist churches.  10 years ago there were 80.  Only 10 of these new churches were church plants.  The rest were church splits.  Most Baptist churches in the state say it’s not necessary to church plant.  One new church plant is not even being recognized by the association as a church because an existing church is throwing a fit.

Their plan for the next 10 years is as follows:

1.  Want to plant churches that will plant churches.

2.  Want to train people from their church to plant in Lutsk.

3.  They want to use the next 2 years to create a union with people on board with the vision to church plant.

4.  They also want to plant in Russia, Central Asia, Azerbijon & Muldova.

5.  They want to plant in cities, suburbs, states & internationally.

6.  They want to be more aggressive and progressive.

7.  They currently have 2-4 people identified to lead teams to start churches.

Klappentext:
Ein toter Nobelpreiskandidat und eine verstümmelte Leiche in einem Stockholmer Freizeitpark – haben sie etwas miteinander zu tun? Fieberhaft suchen die Sonderermittler um Paul Hjelm und Kerstin Holm nach dem Verbindungsglied in einer bizarren Mordserie. Der Fall führt sie durch halb Europa bis hin zu einem monströsen Verbrechen vor langer Zeit.

Inhalt:
Wo ist der Zusammenhang zwischen dem bestialischen Mord an einem international agierenden Zuhälter, der in Skansen – einem Zoo in Stockholm – den Vielfraßen zum Fraß vorgeworfen wurde und dem Mord an einem 90jährigen Gehirnforscher und Nobelpreiskandidat, der aufgehängt an einem Baum auf dem jüdischen Friedhof gefunden wird? Paul Hjelm und Kerstin Holm, Ermittler bei der A-Gruppe, einer Spezialeinheit der schwedischen Kriminalpolizei – die Verbrechen von internationalen Charakter auflösen, machen sich mit ihren Kollegen an die Arbeit das Rätsel zu lösen. Erst der Mord an einem Kleinkriminellen in der Stockholmer U-Bahn, der kaltblütig von einer Frau zusammengeschlagen und auf die Gleise geworfen wurde, bringt sie auf eine erste Spur. Diese Spur führt sie durch halb Europa und das was sie herausfinden schockiert sie zu tiefst…

Meinung:
Arne Dahls “Tiefer Schmerz” ist der vierte Band um die A-Gruppe, einer Spezialeinheit der schwedischen Polizei. Wie auch seine Vorgängerromane brilliert er durch temporeiches erzählen und den verschiedenen Handlungssträngen. Auch die derbe und heftige Art der Beschreibung einzelner Szenen ist wiederum vorhanden. Arne Dahl wirft auch in diesem Krimi um Paul Hjelm und Kerstin Holm wieder einen kritischen Blick auf die schwedische Gesellschaft und scheut auch nicht davor zurück der Gesellschaft den Spiegel vorzuhalten.
Nicht nur das kritische fasziniert einen, sondern auch das er die einzelnen Charakter immer deutlicher darstellt. Sei es Hultin, den alten Chef der A-Gruppe, mit seinen Gedächtnisproblemen oder Waldemar Mörner, der Polizeidirektor, mit seinem Hang zur Überheblichkeit und Selbstdarstellung. Die einzelnen Charaktere gewinnen immer mehr an Konturen und kommen so dem Leser näher.
Ein spannendes Buch mit vielen Handlungssträngen, die sich zum Ende hin auflösen. Empfehlenswert!

Buchinfo:
Arne Dahl: Tiefer Schmerz (Europa Blues)
Taschenbuch: 416 Seiten
Piper 2006
ISBN-13: 978-3492246972

We spent the morning at a Slavynsk Orphanage.  The kids seemed to be happy and well cared for.  I fell in love with all of htem.  We were told of the rats they grow in the back for food.  Meat is expensive in the country and the kids need protein.  Heartbreaking.

Considering the massive sweep of news about swine flu, and swine flu vaccines, in the mainstream media, it seems absolutely remarkable the Ukraine Pandemic Flu Outbreak has received so little coverage in the Western mainstream media.

There is so much that is going on that it makes my head spin. Last night I appeared on the Cursed Net Radio show with Byron Lebaeu. It was a rousing 90 minutes that flew by. He asked me at the start of the interview to give my overview of what was going on in the world. Here’s a repeat off the top of my head this morning. I’ll do this in bullet points as I think it will be easier to go from one point to another that way.

* The Pakistan – Taliban civil war is expanding with no end in sight. What happens if the Taliban gets a hold of one nuke?

* The US dollar continues to slide while gold has reached an all time high. Our dollar gets weakened every week and it wouldn’t take much to put us over the top and send us into a depression.

* Unemployment figures are estimated to be around 17% not the 10.5 that the government has hoisted up the flag pole. The economy has not turned around and continues to be sluggish.

* Iran marches forward with its pursuit of a nuclear bomb. Recently, the nut case I’m-in-a-Jihad stated that America and Israel don’t have the nerve to attack! Saber rattling a-go-go.

* The Ukraine has reported that the H1N1 flu has mutated into what may be a bio weapon. Byron discussed this on last  nights show. Was this something that was manufactured? The death count continues to climb. Remember  Stalin systematically killed 20 million Ukrainians by starving them to death.

* Turkey has stated that Israel needs to account for war crimes concerning their war in Gaza. How about Turkey acknowledging the forced marches and the 1 million Armenian men, women and children that were killed during WWI. It is known as the Armenian genocide and it is a black mark against Turkey. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

* The Senate is going to try to pass the Health care bill. In my opinion this would put is over the financial cliff.

* Israel is now surrounded on all sides by hostile neighbors. Even Egypt and Jordan who have peace treaties with her have distanced themselves.

* The anniversary of the Kennedy Assassination was a few days ago. I’m amazed that there is still not closure. I believe that the fatal shot came from the grassy knoll.

* UFO sightings are up this month. They’re not going away are they? Will we see disclosure soon?

With all this going on, and I could continue, we have much to be thankful for. We live in the greatest country in the history of the world. We enjoy our freedoms. We enjoy our God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We have the true word of prophecy that tells us, when we see the above items happening, like they are today, to look up, because He’s coming soon!

Please visit our Christmas Store! Lot’s of inspiring and informative gifts!

WWW.lamarzulli.net

International Horizons will be attending the UK Snow Film Fest, we are sponsors at the UK Snow Film Fest. We have some fantastic Ski Apartments in Ukraine for sale prices start from £30,350 in this up and coming ski resort, which is already really popular with the Ukrainians so much so there is not enough accomodation in the area for all the skier & snowboarders. These apartments are located only 400m from the lifts.

If you would like tickets to the event please visit the UK Snow Film Fest webiste.

More about the event:-

As the first of its kind, the UK SNOW FILM FESTIVAL is breaking new ground – this won’t be a conventional, ‘sit still in your seats and clap politely’ film fest. No,  you can expect a festival-like atmosphere, with beer, wine and food throughout the night, as well as various competitions and giveaways. Following the films – which start at 6pm each evening – there will be a banging after-party with big name guest DJs.

Get excited and celebrate the start of a new season with a Two day movie festival of the latest and greatest snow movie productions from across the world.

OFFICIAL ‘UKRAINE CRISIS’ NUMBERS 11/23/09

1,635,654 SICK

97,192 HOSPITALIZED

388 DEAD

τττ

Ukraine H1N1 mutation now HIGHLY SUSPECTED in Houston, Texas – YouTube

τ

Troubling Reports Out Of Iowa And North Carolina Raise Fears That Deadly H1N1 Swine Flu Mutations Have Already Reached The United States

τ

Iowa: Polk County Coroner – We’re Seeing Hemorrhagic Lungs – YouTube

Dr. Niman On Swine Flu D225G ‘Perfect Cytokine Storms’

Ukraine H1N1 Mutation now in Iowa, USA – State Officials LIE to stop panic – Media Blackout Soon? – YouTube

τ

NYTimes CHANGES story to downplay H1N1 mutation – YouTube

1918 RBD D225G In Lung Cases In The US

1918 Spanish Flu Has Been Recreated and is around the World in Cases – great ‘big-picture’ article

τ

6 SoCal Schools Closed – 4 Confirmed H1N1, 17 Suspected

H274Y Tamiflu Resistance Explodes In The US

West Virginia Judge rules kids must take swine flu jab at school – No matter what the parents want

τ

What Really Happened In Ukraine?

τ

AlJazeera: H1N1 vaccinations under scrutiny – YouTube

Euro Swine Flu Deaths Doubling Every Two Weeks

First UK Swine Flu Vaccine Death Reported

Uzbekistan closes border with Kazakhstan due to swine flu

τ

Ukraine H1N1 Mutation: Oracle software and the Reverse-Engineered 1918 Spanish Flu – YouTube

Oracle Corporation: Founded by CIA and friends – YouTube

τττ

Reported flu stats by country

(courtesy of Flu News Network)

Canada
•  Newfoundland confirms 8th death, 40 yr old woman from Labrador West (Link)
•  ’Second week of November’ had ‘more deaths than entire spring’ (Link)

•  Overuse of antivirals risking ‘resistance’ (Link)

China
•  Hong Kong SAR: Monitoring of human swine influenza virus (Link and link)
•  More than 20 mln people vaccinated against A/H1N1 flu in China (Link)

Costa Rica
•  Two More Swine Flu Deaths, Bringing Total to 40 (Link)

Czech Republic

•  Confirmation of 5th death (Link)

Egypt
•  Egypt reports 10th death case of A/H1N1 flu (Link)

Greece
•  2 new deaths confirmed from H1N1 (Link)

India
•  2 more deaths confirmed in Rajasthan (Link)

Japan
•  Teenager Yamaguchi girl died Saturday of confirmed H1N1, 70th deceased (Link)

Maldives Islands
•  Maldives Islands confirm local H2H spread of H1N1, 1 death, 3 more cases (Link)

Saudi Arabia

•  Braving flu threat, Muslim faithful descend on Mecca (Link)
•  Hajj pilgrims in Saudi unfazed by swine flu (Link)

Sri Lanka
•  Confirmation of 8 deaths, 260 patients with H1N1 so far (Link)
•  Polonnaruwa confirms surge of cases there (Link)

Sweden
•  Sweden confirms 14 swine flu deaths (Link)

Ukraine
•  Panic over hundreds of flu deaths exploited by Ukraine’s politicians (Link)

United Kingdom
•  5yo boy dies from suspected swine flu (Link)

United States

•  US: New flu plant to open (Link)
•  US: Vaccine system remains antiquated (Link)
•  IA: Polk Coroner: H1N1 Deaths Understated (Link)
•  MA: 15 Needham firefighters, 32 others got wrong vaccine (Link)
•  ME: 7 Confirmed H1N1 Deaths In Maine (Link)
•  MI: In the news today: What’s happening with H1N1 flu (Link)
•  OR: 3 new deaths, 7 new hospitalizations (Link)
•  PA: New Death on PA DOH Website 11.22.09 (Link)
•  SD: South Dakota confirms 12 yr old boy was 20th death from H1N1 (Link)
•  NC: As state battles H1N1, syphilis cases rising (Link)
•  SC: 6 more deaths last week in South Carolina, 56 new cases (Link)

Uzbekistan
•  Border closed with Kazakhstan to all but citizens (Link)

General
•  Can your doctor spot H1N1?  (Link)

•  ECDC situation report on outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) 23 Nov 2009 (Link)

Commentary
•  Effect Measure: Trying to understand the Norwegian swine flu mutations (Link)

Even though I was in charge of the Book sale for the AIWC Charity Bazaar, I only bought TWO paperbacks.  One book I knew about when I lived in Kyiv, Ukraine several years ago and was intrigued by the title: “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian.”  It is a hilarious fiction novel that must have been built around a real life situation.  An author just can not make something like this up.  Layers of Ukraine’s sad historical reality are packed into every page with the development of each character.

Having lived and taught in Ukraine for about 7-8 years and interviewed and befriending older members of the Ukrainian community in Minneapolis, I know a bit about what went into this book.  It’s written from the 46 year old daughter’s perspective who teaches at Cambridge, about her 86 year old Ukrainian father who marries a 30 something voluptuous tart from Ukraine.  The family dyanmics become even more wild when two estranged sisters after their mother’s death fight together to usurp the brassy lady from their father’s home.  I’m in the middle of this book and the tension continues to build.  Funny, funny, but sad really.

I’m looking forward to reading my other nonfiction book once the Christmas vacation arrives but that will happen only after all powerpoint presentations are complete, all grades turned in, all chances of appeals by students elapsed.  Reading books is a nice escape from the funny/sad reality I am living in in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Lourdes Segade is a Barcelona based photographer whose work appears in newspapers and magazines all over the world. In Spain, Lourdes confronts common modern day issues of AIDS, child obesity and dwarfism through the perspective of motherhood. Internationally, she has documented life after the Chernobyl meltdown, the daily relationship of women and water in Malawai and a glimpse at Nepal and Bhutan. Lourdes is a founding member of Eve Photographers and member of the French collective PictureTank (where you can see over 25 of her portfolios.)

My friend Egon is in town and I am busy being a terrible host, alongside the usual activities, such as trying to crawl under from beneath a pile of work. Still, Monday music is sacred.

Lorge – El Ten Eleven
Lapland – Ratatat
Thorn-torn Lips – Robert Berkman
Pretty Good Year – Tori Amos
In My Life – Johnny Cash
Heart of Gold – Neil Young
Profit – Ebba Grön
To the Dancers in the Rain – Emilie Simon
Slip – Deadmau5
Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream) – Crew Cuts

I’ve heard all about this band, Radio 4, recently. Me likey.

Pandemic Alert Map Ukraine

374 deaths as of November 23, 2009

WHO Confirms D225G in Lung Cases in Norway and Ukraine

Norway reported finding a mutated virus in three people who died or were severely ill. The mutation, known as D222G on the receptor binding domain, allow the virus to grow deeper in the lungs.

The mutation does not appear to be circulating and may have spontaneously arisen in the three patients, said Geir Stene-Larsen, director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Only 3 of Norway’s 70 tested samples had it.

Asked about that, Dr. Schuchat said the same mutation had also been found in mild cases in several countries, and it did not make the virus resistant to vaccine or to treatment with drugs like Tamiflu. She said she did not want to “underplay” it, adding that “it’s too soon to say what this will mean long term.”

-

-

The D222G mutation allows the virus to bind to receptors on cells lining the lungs, which are slightly different from those in the nose and throat. Henry L. Niman, a flu tracker in Pittsburgh, has been warning for a week that D225G – the same mutation under a different numbering system – has been repeatedly found in Ukraine, which is in the grips of a severe outbreak and where surprising numbers of people have died with lung hemorrhages – the kind of pneumonia that can be caused by an immune system’s “cytokine storm” attacking a new virus.

The above comments from the Donald McNeil update in tomorrow’s New York Times are the first direct acknowledgement that the receptor binding domain change in Norway and Ukraine are the same.  Earlier the WHO had put out an update on the change in Norway and noted that a similar change had been seen elsewhere, and included Ukraine in the list of countries.

In earlier Ukraine updates WHO did not acknowledge any receptor binding domain changes, but the sequences released at GISAID by Mill Hill had D225G in four of the ten HA sequences, which precisely matched the four fatalities, raising concern that the previously described “destruction of both lungs” was driven by the acquisition of D225G.  The group in Norway also found the change in dead or dying patients, further supporting a significant role of this change the the cytokine storm associated with this acquisition.

This change has been reported in a number of recently described cases including two fatal cases in Sao Paulo, a seriously ill case in China, and cases in Sydney, Australia and Vladivostok.  The polymorphism had also been seen in earlier isolates in the United States, Mexico, Spain, and Japan.

The role of this change in fatal cases may be dependent on the viral load. The cytokine storm is precipitated by high levels of virus, and lower levels may produce milder disease.

The above report, noting the identity between Norway and Ukraine should lead to more detailed analysis of tissue samples from fatal cases, which may contain an increased frequency of D225G, a receptor binding domain change identified in 1918 and 1919 samples.

1918 RBD D225G in Lung Cases in Ukraine and Norway

For the two 1918 HA variants, the South Carolina (SC) HA (with Asp190, Asp225) bound exclusively alpha2-6 receptors, while the New York (NY) variant, which differed only by one residue (Gly225), had mixed alpha2-6/alpha2-3 specificity, especially for sulfated oligosaccharides.

The above description is from a paper analyzing receptor binding domain differences in sequences from the 1918 pandemic.  The New York variant had D225G, the same change found in lung tissues from fatal swine H1N1 sequences in Brazil, Ukraine, and Norway.  The above result clearly demonstrated a change in receptor specificity for D225G, which was present in A/New York/1/1918 and A/London/1/1919, demonstrating the same change I 1918 that has been described in 2009.  Although WHO stated that this change was “not significant” in the Ukraine samples, it was associated with the fatal cases and is cause for concern.  The concern was increased by the announcement from Norway indicating the same change was found in fatal H1N1 lung infections there also.

Although there have been comments that this change was “spontaneous” and did not spread, the finding of the same change in all four deceased patients in Ukraine from two distinct locations, indicates it did spread, as did the finding of the same change in multiple cases in Brazil and Norway.  Although the concept of “random mutation” has been used to explain away the sudden appearance of the same polymorphism on multiple backgrounds, the appearance via recombination is a much stronger argument for the same change to appear at multiple locations at the same time.

The spontaneous mutation theory, which is the foundation of WHO policy and statements on significance of changes relies heavily on a “selection” component, arguing that the same change keeps appearing on different backgrounds because of string selection pressure.  However, this same phenomenon was described for a silent mutation on H5N1, which offers no clear selection pressure.  Similarly, a silent change was also found in seasonal H1N1 in sequences that had acquired the Tamiflu resistance marker, H274Y.  Thus, these silent (synonymous) changes string argue against a coincidental spontaneous mutation, and instead argue that this acquisition is concurrently acquired because of a widespread common donor.

The concept of acquisition via recombination has serious implications for the current pandemic.  It was used to predict the D225G change, in part because the change was “in play” and appearing in July/August sequences at increasing frequency, even though the H1N1 sequences represented different genetic backgrounds.  Similarly the clusters of Tamiflu resistance in Wales and North Carolina are also driven by recombination, as happened when the identical change was acquired in H1N1 seasonal flu in patients who were not taking Tamiflu (oseltamivir).

Thus, the concept of recombination predicts that the D225G receptor binding domain change, and the H274Y Tamiflu resistance change, which continue to spread via recombination

Public health significance of virus mutation detected in Norway

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note 17

20 NOVEMBER 2009 | GENEVA — The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has informed WHO of a mutation detected in three H1N1 viruses. The viruses were isolated from the first two fatal cases of pandemic influenza in the country and one patient with severe illness.

Norwegian scientists have analysed samples from more than 70 patients with clinical illness and no further instances of this mutation have been detected. This finding suggests that the mutation is not widespread in the country.

The virus with this mutation remains sensitive to the antiviral drugs, oseltamivir and zanamivir, and studies show that currently available pandemic vaccines confer protection.

Worldwide, laboratory monitoring of influenza viruses has detected a similar mutation in viruses from several other countries, with the earliest detection occurring in April. In addition to Norway, the mutation has been observed in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine, and the US.

Although information on all these cases is incomplete, several viruses showing the same mutation were detected in fatal cases, and the mutation has also been detected in some mild cases. Worldwide, viruses from numerous fatal cases have not shown the mutation. The public health significance of this finding is thus unclear.

The mutations appear to occur sporadically and spontaneously. To date, no links between the small number of patients infected with the mutated virus have been found and the mutation does not appear to spread.

The significance of the mutation is being assessed by scientists in the WHO network of influenza laboratories. Changes in viruses at the genetic level need to be constantly monitored. However, the significance of these changes is difficult to assess. Many mutations do not alter any important features of the virus or the illness it causes. For this reason, WHO also uses clinical and epidemiological data when making risk assessments.

Although further investigation is under way, no evidence currently suggests that these mutations are leading to an unusual increase in the number of H1N1 infections or a greater number of severe or fatal cases.

WHO investigating Norway swine flu mutations

 The World Health Organization said Friday it is investigating samples of variant swine flu linked to two deaths and one severe case in Norway, but that so far the significance of the mutation is unclear.

Norway’s Institute of Public Health announced Friday that the mutation “could possibly…cause more severe disease” because it infects tissue deeper in the airway than usual.

The mutation was found in three of 70 analyzed swine flu cases, said Geir Stene-Larsen, the institute’s director.

Stene-Larsen said he does not believe the mutant virus is circulating in the general population in Norway, where about 680,000 people are estimated to have been infected with swine flu to date and 23 have died.

The same mutation has been found in both fatal and mild cases elsewhere, including in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Ukraine, and the United States, said WHO.

In addition, “worldwide, viruses from numerous fatal cases have not shown the mutation,” the global body said. “The public health significance of this finding is thus unclear.”

“Just to say that the mutated virus infects deeper tissue doesn’t really tell us very much,” WHO spokesman Thomas Abraham told The Associated Press. “What we really need is more clinical and epidemiological data.”

WHO said the anti-viral drugs still appear to be effective against viruses with the mutation, and studies show that currently available pandemic vaccines confer protection against the variant strain.

Virus mutations occur spontaneously and many have no effect on the danger a virus poses to humans.

“Although further investigation is under way, no evidence currently suggests that these mutations are leading to an unusual increase in the number of H1N1 infections or a greater number of severe or fatal cases,” said WHO.

Meanwhile the Geneva-based agency updated its global tally of deaths caused by the virus to over 6,750.

It said transmissions appear to have peaked in some parts of the United States and Western Europe, but elsewhere the number of cases is still increasing, including in eastern Europe, and Central and Western Asia.

New H1N1 mutated virus now in the USA

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa has officially recorded 21 H1N1 deaths, including seven in Polk County alone. But the county’s medical examiner said he has performed autopsies on some residents who were never diagnosed with H1N1, but actually had it.  

“In the autopsy, what we’re seeing is very heavy, wet hemorrhagic lungs, lungs with a lot of blood in them,” said Dr. Gregory Schmunk.  

He said the official count of seven H1N1 deaths is inaccurate, but patient rights laws prohibit him from giving specific numbers. 

He said there are two reasons for the discrepancy. First, not all sick patients get tests and second, the virus is difficult to detect. Some patients may be too sick to receive the most accurate H1N1 test.  

“They’re not always done and it can be hazardous to the patient if they’re in a respiratory critical situation,” Schmunk said.  

He also said that some tests reveal a false negative.  

“Because of our limitations on testing, sometimes the tests aren’t positive,” he said. “They do appear to fit clinically the course of a H1N1 viral-type pneumonia.”  

He said the cases he’s seen in Polk County were all middle-aged adults with a few underlying health conditions. 

“These may be the patients that are obese,” Schmunk said. “Obesity restricts your ability to breathe and clear the virus from your upper respiratory.”  

He also said that some of the patients had diabetes. 

Schmunk said his urging people to get the vaccine.  

“The thing that concerns me the most is, you still have people out there they believe that if I get the vaccine, the shot, then I’m going to get the flu,” he said. “You can’t get the flu from the shot.”  

He said that in the meantime, remember to wash your hands, sneeze into your sleeve and stay home if you’re sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one person who goes to work sick with the virus will infect 10 percent of his or her co-workers.

1918 RBD D225G in Lung Cases in the United States

Betsy McKay: I just wanted to follow-up on the question about the mutation in norway.  I wondered if you could talk a little bit more about is it possible that this mutation has produced a more virulent form and what has CDC uncovered through its own work? 

Anne Schuchat:  this mutation has been seen sporadically here and there around the world.  Sometimes it’s been seen in patients who had very mild disease and sometimes it’s been seen in people who had more severe or fatal disease.  And, of course, lots of virus without this mutation has been seen in the fatal as well as the milder forms of H1N1 influenza.  There’s some theoretical reasons why this particular mutation might lead an influenza virus to live easier in the deep part of the lungs and cause lower respiratory infections, but we’ve actually seen lower respiratory infections in a severe viral pneumonia without this mutation.  So I think it’s too soon to say what this will mean long term.  It’s an important finding and they’re looking into it, but I don’t think it has the public health implications that we would wonder about.  Did you have a second question?  Oh, what have we seen so far?  I believe it’s been seen in the U.S. But associated with mild disease.  I believe.  I might need to verify that.  Do we have another from the room?  Okay.  We’ll go back to the phone. 

The above comments are from the latest CDC update and regard the receptor binding domain change, D225G, which has recently been reported in Ukraine and Norway.  This change was also identified in 1918 and 1919 fatal lung cases and the change has been targeted in receptor binding domain studies.  These studies showed that the 1918 H1N1 with D225G was able to bind to gal alpha 2,3 and gal alpha 2,6, in contrast to the 1918 sequences with wild type D225, which targeted alpha 2,6.

Recent studies have also demonstrated that alpha 2,3 receptors are on alveolar epithelial type II cells, which regulate lung surface tension as well as immunological defenses which include the release of cytokines.  Binding of H1N1 to these cells could have significant clinical implications, which is supported by the recently published sequences which identifies D225G in lung and trachea samples form fatally infected patients.  The cases in Ukraine were also linked to hemorrhagic disease and the CDC sent out a warning on such cases due to sporadic reports in the United States.

The above response fails to note the identity between the receptor binding domain change in Norway and Ukraine and responses to that alert.  Moreover, media reports on fatal cases that develop ARDS in association with hemorrhagic disease in the United States continue to increase.

Details on the number and location of cases reported in response to the CDC alert would be useful.

Conclusion :

Conclusively , by the recent mutation from Norway and the USA and the amount of fatal cases in Canada and the US :

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/09-10/w45_09/index-eng.php#il

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/us/#totalcases

H1N1 looks out of control and on the same road  then ”the 1918 great pandemia , get some food ready, it’s more then likely coming our way !

Sources :

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssPharmaceuticals%20-%20Diversified/idUSLK71202920091120

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gAG8JIi-BG6_KX_oghVIpFGidP8wD9C3EQKG0

http://theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2021%3Adoctors-in-the-ukraine-accuse-president-of-genocide&catid=41%3Ahighlighted-news&Itemid=105&lang=fr

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11230901/D225G_1918_US.html

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11200906/D225G_Norway_Ukraine_WHO.html

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/briefing_20091120/en/index.html

http://www.kcci.com/news/21670309/detail.html

http://www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2009-11-19/flu-ukraine-aid-russia.html#

more on related subjects :

H1N1 D225G in Russia Raises Pandemic Concerns (11/20/09 15:05)

D225G in Fatal H1N1 Cases in Norway? (11/20/09 15:19)

Ukraine Dead Increase to 354 – Fatal H1N1 Cases Have D225G (11/20/09 13:38)

D225G Lung Tropism Driving H1N1 False Negatives? (11/19/9 21:17)

Media Myths Cloud Joint Hearings on Pandemic Vaccine (11/19/09 17:17)

All Fatal Ukraine H1N1 Cases at GISAID Have RBD D225G (11/19/09 14:17)

Ukraine Dead Increase to 344 – Sequences Released (11/18/09 22:45)

RBD Change D225G in Ukraine Lung Raises Concerns (11/18/09 21:55)

Receptor Binding Domain Change D225G Confirmed in Ukraine (11/18/09 18:35)

RBD D225G in China and Australia Raise Ukraine Concerns (11/18/09 14:41)

Ukraine Dead Increase to 328 – Still No Sequences (11/17/09 19:17)

Ukraine H1N1 Sequence Changes Raise Concerns (11/17/09 13:17)

Ukraine Dead Increase to 315 -Still No Sequences (11/16/09 19:17)

Record Number of Lab Confirmed H1N1 Pediatric Deaths in the US (11/16/09 16:09)

Cluster of Tamiflu Resistance Near Edinburgh Scotland (11/16/09 13:45)

Ukraine Dead Increase to 299 – Still No Sequences (11/15/09 22:55)

WHO Evades Ukraine Sequence Questions at News Conference (11/15/09 12:25)

Ukraine Dead Increase to 282 – Still No Sequences (11/15/09 07:32)

Ukraine Dead Increase to 239 – Still No Sequences (11/12/09 20:21)

CDC Estimate of US H1N1 Pediatric Deaths Raised to 540 (11/12/09 19:45)

Ukraine Dead Increase to 213 – Still No Sequences (11/11/09 21:14)

Media Myths on Swine Flu in Ukraine Raise Concerns (11/11/09 13:40)

WHO Appeals to Ukraine for Help with Hemorrhagic Pneumonia (11/11/09 11:40)

Belarus Reports Almost 1/4 Million Flu Cases (11/10/09 23:35)

189 Deaths Reported in Ukraine – Belarus to 223K Cases (11/10/09 21:35)

Suspect H1N1 Death in Romania Near Ukraine Border (11/10/09 15:06)

Timeline on WHO Silence on H1N1 Sequences (11/09/09 23:21)

Hello, eta Elder Belyeu,

I’m glad to hear that you’re all doing well.

Things are going fine on the Eastern front. I don’t remember if I said that I got transferred to another area on transfers (same apartment, but a different branch). Before you ask, no the church is not just huge here, we have to ride a bus for about half an hour to get to our area. I miss my car (sigh). My new companion is Armenian, but his family moved to England when he was 8. He’s really cool, I like him. He has the most baptisms of any missionary in the mission (He served a transfer in Provo before he came out here and baptized 15 people.) and is a good missionary. The work is going well.

Interestingly enough, in our mission there are people from the US (obviously), England, Armenia, Germany, Sweden, and Russia. I have actually been in the same district with an Armenian/Brit and a Swedish elder–all people who you don’t meet in Alabama.

As a note to Joseph, my companion’s dad actually owns a MIG-22. It is functional, and they both have jet-pilot licenses. Also, his great grandfather was a chess grandmaster (See if you can find him in the chessmaster listing. Before you ask, yes I have played him, and yes, he beat me. He said I played pretty well, though, it took about an hour).

All right, I’m running out of time, so I’d better start to wrap this up.

If you don’t mind, could you tell Estevan hey, and say that I’ve been planning to write, but haven’t quite figured out the mail here. (Did I mention that everyone here speaks Russian?).

I tried to send pictures today, but for some reason, the computer didn’t let me, so I’ll have to try again next week–sorry.

Also, could you find Jimmy Newland’s Facebook mission group- think and:
(1) get me his address off of it, I lose everything, I know.
(2) Tell them hello, and
(3) copy off any interesting news to me. I’d like to see how he’s doing.

Also, as a matter of interest, I get to make a phone-call home around Christmas (I don’t exactly know when). The way that this works is, I send you my number and you call my missionary cell phone at a time arranged before hand. More on that later, I’m out of time.

Tell everyone hello, I am still not sure how to arrange individual letters to brothers and sisters. It’s hard to smuggle them out past the Iron Curtain, but I’ll figure it out. Like said before, individual emails would be easy…

Well, I’m out of time, have a good week…
Elder Belyeu
Старейшина балу

Amazon's Global Kindle Reader

I heard that Amazon now has a global version of Kindle. I was disappointed to find this morning that the new version still will not work in my country.

Since I’ve wanted one for some time, but have been waiting until they got a version that would work in my country, I checked out their website this morning, only to be disappointed again. Apparently the new global version will only work in SOME countries.

In case you are thinking of purchasing the new Global Kindle for a Christmas gift this year, since the new version will only work in SOME countries, I thought it would be helpful to most expats to have a complete list of which countries it will, or will not work in.

STARRED (*) countries marked below indicate that Kindle needs to be ordered from a SPECIAL PAGE on the Amazon site.

The Global Kindle version DOES work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Aland Islands, Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia*, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Boznia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldovia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozembique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Réunion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands – British, Virgin Islands – U.S., Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Global Kindle version does NOT work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Afghanistan, Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, French Southern Territories, Gambia, Guinea, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea – Democratic People’s Republic of, Korea – Republic of, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including the Western Sahara), New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Pitcairn, Qatar, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, Sudan, Svalbard and Jan Mayan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

The Flu Case

Doctors in the Ukraine have accused the President, Viktor Yushchenko, and his agents of committing genocide in a letter published on the Ukrainian website Rupor Info, sparking fears that the reports of the deaths of thousands of people from artificially created pandemics and vaccinations are true.

The doctors accused the Yuschchenko of deliberately creating "epidemics" in specific regions for political reasons.
By the ploy of pandemics, the doctors say Yushchenko was able to postpone elections he would have almost certainly lost, declare martial law and remain in power as president.

The doctors who signed the letter have been forced to withdraw it.

The letter has ignited fears that many more people have died inside the quarantine zones set up in the Ukraine than the government-controlled media is reporting.

Sources in Poland are reporting that many people who are sick in the Ukraine received vaccinations.
One source reported that 99% of the people who came down with an unusually severe sickness were vaccinated.
After a vaccination with what appears to be the seasonal flu with an HIN1 virus, they became sick in 2 to 3 weeks and infected their family.

According to sources, 200,000 people in the Ukraine got a flu shot, resulting in an epidemic of sickness.
An especially severe flu gripping Poland also appears to be associated with the seasonal flu jab, with an H1N1 virus, according to the package.
Last week a woman reported thousands of people had been killed by vaccines inside closed-off quarantine zones inside western Ukraine.

Link to letter

Overall today was a great day.  It’s flippin’ awesome to see God at work…and today we were definitely able to see people with a passion to serve him.

We started the day by driving from Kiev to Lutsk.  It took us 6 hours.  On the way we passed numerous horse and buggies…unbelievable.  All of the land in Ukraine is still owned by the government.  Farmers rent the land and farm it.  Many of them do not own tractors so they farm the land with horses.  They then take their crops to a nearby city or simply to the edge of the nearest highway to sell them.

I’m encouraged by the ministry going on here in Lutsk.  We visited a 2 drug rehab centers this afternoon.  One for men and one for women.  We also visited a free physical therapy clinic.  All 3 exist to meet a physical need in order to lead people to Jesus.