It seems to me that there is a great deal of mass-media fear mongering going on these days. It can't be denied that our society has painted itself into a corner. The failure of the biosphere is only one of the many life-threatening issues that we are now needing to adapt to and hopefully improvise our way out of.
I'd like to bring attention to some information that speaks to the vast array of other opinions and perspectives that exist outside of this mass-media smoke screen that dominates our world view. It is easy in our modern world to accept the sound-bites spoon-fed to us by popular media, and so it is more important than ever to be aware of the intentions of these information sources.
And in the hope that we don't let dis-ease manifest out of fear itself, let's all support one another in making a concerted effort to do what needs to be done to keep our minds and bodies healthy, balanced, and consciously aware of our actions, influences and power potential.

"It's not the job of the politicians to inform you, it's supposedly the job of the media. But their central concern is to sell you, and therefore, they don't want to upset you. Their primary responsibility is not to their listeners or their readers, but to their owners, the stockholders. And it is in the interest of the military industrial complex that millions remain uninformed, or misinformed." From death row, for Free Speech Radio, Mumia Abu Jamal

In 1983, 90% of major media was controlled by just 50 companies. By 1992, that number had dropped to 12 companies. By 2000, the overwhelming majority of mass media was owned by only 6 companies: AOL/Time/Warner, Disney, Bertelsmann (Nazi party affiliated - news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/busin...08415.stm), Viacom, NewsCorporation (Rupert Murdoch) and Vivendi Universal.
Where is your news coming from? Simple internet searches can help you find out.

So what about the current media pandemic germ-scare?
The news speaks of a global pandemic, but so far we're seeing a whole lot of hype that's all based in speculation. We have reason to be concerned about an outbreak of vast proportions, but stressing out and living in fear is not going to help the situation. It is my feeling that our energies could be much better put to use by focusing our intentions on holistic health. If we help our immune systems (already in peril from the difficulty of living in a world filled with stress, imbalance, foods low in nutrition and high in poisons, etc...) by treating ourselves with the care we deserve, we are much more likely to recover from any illness that crosses our path. This germ-scare is just another great opportunity to practice mindfullness and taking care of ourselves and each other.

I read an article today that listed among its preventative measures: "Social Distancing".
I can't help but find it ironic that such a scare would come at a time like this. We are yet in the wake of our celebration of a new era - the election of a president who would promise a return to freedom of speech, and, ultimately a return of power to the hands of the individuals and grass-roots organizations. All around me I see people beginning to step out of the shadow of fear that has eclipsed our social sphere via political fear-mongering for what seems like ages. We are beginning to place a higher value on the power of the individual, which is in every way a major threat to the powers that be. We accomplish this through our communication. Topics that have been taboo are finding voice once more and people are talking again - in public places, most importantly.
Doesn't it seem timely that a scare would come along, forcing us back inside, back into the shadows. Suddenly we're afraid to speak to one another again. Suddenly we're reduced to getting our news, not from an immediate, local source, but from a mass-media supplier.

Here are a few interesting facts and figures I pulled up to help me maintain a healthy perspective on this current concern:

In 2001, the Oxford Journal of Epidemiology reported that Influenza kills about 41,000 people on average per year.
According to the American Heart Association, the leading cause of death to Americans is coronary heart disease, which claims 865,000 deaths per year (that's one in every 2.6 deaths!)
In 1999, 460,000 Americans died from Sudden Cardiac Death associated with Aspartame (artificial sweetener) consumption. Why is this not considered an epidemic deserving of wide-spread concern?
(www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/m.../mm5106a3.htm.)
The media likes to use colors and numbers to underscore the importance of their warnings. We are being told the pandemic potential of this virus is a 5/6 so far.
By definition, a Pandemic is: "an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads through populations across a large region; for instance a continent, or even worldwide." (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic)
Scary as it sounds, the definition says nothing to the mortality of the virus. Even if it's a fast spreader, it doesn't necessarily mean it's any more deadly than other illnesses. Especially if we start taking precautions and boosting our immune systems now.
In the news I see a panicked frenzy, yet the World Health Organization website update for April 30th reports that only 11 people worldwide have succumbed to the virus.
"The [H1N1 - swine flu] strain in most cases causes only mild symptoms and the infected person makes a full recovery without requiring medical attention and without the use of antiviral medicines." (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_flu)

"The Swine Flu news stories must bring to mind the previous ad campaign to sell Tamiflu.This virus is being made to sound mysterious because the diagnoses are being made in scattered areas. This should merely highlight the fact that... thousands of people... [who] might have this same virus, are getting better and what we really need to do is wash our hands, get rest, stay well-hydrated and stay calm." ("www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-go...6.html)

It gets even more interesting when you start looking at who's to profit from such a mass-scare. Our very own Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld not only used to be head chairman of Gilead Sciences, Inc, but also currently owns a great deal of stock in the Tamiflu Viral vaccine. (money.cnn.com/2005/10/31/...e_rumsfeld/,
www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/39/36/)
Tamiflu was tested as a vaccine against Avian Flu. It showed almost no effect against the virus, and instead created a number of severe side-effects in those who were vaccinated.
It still has shown no efficacy toward these new viral strains, and yet is currently being mass-produced and distributed for use in the United States, should an epidemic erupt.
If the stockholders stand to benefit from increased pharmaceutical production, it's no wonder they would wield their powers of influence to nudge the media into sensationalism. This isn't a new tactic, by any means.

"Although the current trivalent influenza vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against the new 2009 H1N1 strain,[39] vaccines against the new strain are being developed and could be ready as early as June 2009" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_flu)

PLEASE, If there's anything you wish to do to help the situation, DO NOT get vaccinated against this or any flu virus. Like mass-media, the pharmaceutical industry is not in business to help you. They are interested only in lining their own pockets, and those of their shareholders, and will do whatever it takes to do so. They operate under a false pretense of aiding humanity, while only serving to aid the mutation and strengthening of these viruses. I understand these are strong accusations, but I feel very strongly that they need to be brought into the light. VACCINES MAKE VIRUSES STRONGER AND MORE DEADLY!

Living holistically means seeing symptoms of illness as an opportunity to better know ourselves. That goes for symptoms on an individual scale, a societal scale and a global scale. Dis-ease is not isolated within the physical plane. Symptoms that manifest physically can be directly related to the mental/emotional plane and vice versa.
Stress is one of the heaviest impactors on our health. It weakens the immune system and allows dis-ease to manifest. Fear leads directly to stress, consciously or unconsciously. Fearing an illness will only make you more susceptible to its influence.
That being said, I'm going to go meditate on wellness for a while.
I hope this information finds you well and reminds you to keep the lines of communication flowing strong, un-corroded by fear, doubt, or worry.

In Lak'ech

I don't expect my baby-boomer parents to understand what I'm going through. They never found God. They had me too young and became embittered before they even knew themselves. Now they get their world perspective from 60 minutes and sound bites.
But what really gets under my skin is when their response to "I'm great! My life is amazing! I have everything I've ever hoped for!" returns "You need to calm down. You sound mentally ill. You're talking like a crazy-person."
Well, folks, if this is crazy, then I'll take it. My life is a continuous stream of miracles and I'm sticking to it. If it means that I have to get a divorce from my family then fine. That's their choice. They talk to me like they know what's best for me. They don't even know what's best for themselves. They don't know the world I live in. So who are they to pass judgement on my choices?
I understand the stresses they're under. I understand that these are trying times for people who just want to float along and enjoy the view from safety. But when the big waves begin to build, I'm going to be learning to surf, not fretting about the potential for getting swept under.
This is my life; my opportunity to break through the doors of perception and heal the karmic impotency that they have bestowed upon me.
If I had a dollar for every time my mother has told me she can't speak to me anymore because I stress her out too much, I'd have enough money to throw a whopping celebration party for all the wonderful people in my life who love me unconditionally and believe in my spiritual fulfillment.

The skin on my hands is soft and warm, tender from attention. I've been wearing the same shirt for four days - soft, white, stained with evidence of too much fun and not enough sleep. The layers of scent on my fingertips is intoxicating. I smell the citrusy oil of orange peel; the roasty bitterness of cacao; the warm comfort of freshly washed sheets and sacred sexual sweat. I'm awake of body, still dreaming in my mind - dreaming of caressing curves, suckling, fingers entangled in hair.
The night before was a tease, but a window wide to a world I've only wished for. Softness was all; bliss in the sound of breath and voice coming cooly. I painted a boy as he played his guitar, blushing when we caught gaze. His eyes called me in and we sat for hours, feeling our etheric bodies diffuse and expand. There was no sleep to be had - instead, lips to ears, fingers exploring collarbones, hip bones, sacrum. Heavy sighs peeled away the binds of stress; weathered layers sloughing, no longer necessary as we unwrap our cocoons from winter.
In the morning I was still soft. The world was cotton and aahhhhh... At work, I turned on the heat, took off my shoes and stretched like a cat on the squishy carpet. I sat on the trapeeze for hours, relaxing the rope into the tight spots of my shoulders, hanging from my knees and feeling my spine longer than ever before. My mind was soft as well, drifting between ambient dreamscape and the heat blowing gently across little hairs on my face. I felt everything and it felt perfect. Through half focused eyes, I watched snow swirling past the windows and eventually swung down from my perch to run outside and wonder at the fairy-filled sky. I hula-hooped for the better part of an hour, snow melting in my hair, the cold air making my nose run. Then it was back to my perch in front of the heater, feeling like some sort of magical flying creature.
I had intended to return home after work, maybe curl up in bed and find the sleep I've gone without for days on end. But he appeared again, asking questions with silent wandering eyes. We sat in the dark; watched candle flames dance to bass frequencies. I sang into the dimness, projecting enigmas. Before long it was skin on skin, hands exploring, hearts opening. I saw myself as never before - naked, riding, writhing, rounded and well-proportioned. The mirrors next to the bed reflected fantasy but his eyes were real as they come, still questioning but softening with an "Oh my gahhhd!"
We both climaxed, not realizing we'd get so far in such a short time of knowing one another.
But then again, sometimes you meet those people who you could have known your whole life, though may not have met until now. They are the people with whom you share the secret dreams. They are the ones who speak your language and make your soul smile.
Today - still no sleep to speak of - I smell sunshine and hope. Spring is awakening inside me; a rush of tidal wave pulling at my blood and making me long for creativity/creation. I want to feel slippery again, and held as we sit heart to heart, speaking none but breathing into the feeling of love. Happiness is beauty and today I feel beautiful.

How can I sleep at night knowing the injustices within my own circle? I don't want to be the one who bears this responsibility. If I open my fat trap, maybe they would pluck you out of your terror-familiar world. But then what? It wouldn't give you a halo.
I wish I could make it better but I am not the one slotted to save your day!
I've known so many of you. My heart has grown wide to accommodate your pain. I've read stories of your nightmares and they haunt.
And now, to see it here - your fingers seem so fragile, it breaks me to think what they've been made to do.
Sleep now. Close those eyes to the cold. I'll pray you find your peace of mind, somewhere out there, over the rainbow.