Open to your sense today. They are very aware of everything that is going on around you. And these are not just the physical sense but also the spiritual and emotional sensitivities that can bring information to you in new ways. There are symbols that will be appearing in some of this, so it would be well to investigate what they mean. Also, you will be finding that some of your friends and colleagues might be looking at you a bit askance right now. That is because you are changing and no longer are the predictable personality that they could depend upon, go to, manipulate, whatever. This can result in some interesting exchanges. All in all, this day brings some revelations and some new information. You are walking forward in your power, and it is time that you saw the effects of how you are changing and the evidence of your own power.
Meanwhile in Italy, Etna had yet another paroxysm, this time less than a week since its last one. This one produced a significant ash plume with lava fountaining, but little-to-no lava flow activity. One of the more impressive videos I’ve seen for the eruption was one taken by hikers on Etna who had basaltic scoria rain down on them. VolcanoDiscovery also posted a time-lapse of yesterday’s eruption.
Occupy Wall Street activists buy $15m of Americans’ personal debt
Rolling Jubilee spent $400,000 to purchase debt cheaply from banks before ‘abolishing’ it, freeing individuals from their bills
‘Our primary purpose was to spread information about the workings of this secondary debt market,’ said Andrew Ross. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
A group of Occupy Wall Street activists has bought almost $15m of Americans’ personal debt over the last year as part of the Rolling Jubilee project to help people pay off their outstanding credit.
Rolling Jubilee, set up by Occupy’s Strike Debt group following the street protests that swept the world in 2011, launched on 15 November 2012. The group purchases personal debt cheaply from banks before “abolishing” it, freeing individuals from their bills.
By purchasing the debt at knockdown prices the group has managed to free $14,734,569.87 of personal debt, mainly medical debt, spending only $400,000.
“We thought that the ratio would be about 20 to 1,” said Andrew Ross, a member of Strike Debt and professor of social and cultural analysis at New York University. He said the team initially envisaged raising $50,000, which would have enabled it to buy $1m in debt.
“In fact we’ve been able to buy debt a lot more cheaply than that.”
The group is able to buy debt so cheaply due to the nature of the “secondary debt market”. If individuals consistently fail to pay bills from credit cards, loans, or medical insurance the bank or lender that issued the funds will eventually cut its losses by selling that debt to a third party. These sales occur for a fraction of the debt’s true values – typically for five cents on the dollar – and debt-buying companies then attempt to recoup the debt from the individual debtor and thus make a profit.
The Rolling Jubilee project was mostly conceived as a “public education project”, Ross said.
“We’re under no illusions that $15m is just a tiny drop in the secondary debt market. It doesn’t make a dent in the amount of debt.
“Our purpose in doing this, aside from helping some people along the way – there’s certainly many, many people who are very thankful that their debts are abolished – our primary purpose was to spread information about the workings of this secondary debt market.”
The group has focussed on buying medical debt, and has acquired the $14.7m in three separate purchases, most recently purchasing the value of $13.5m on medical debt owed by 2,693 people across 45 states and Puerto Rico, Rolling Jubilee said in a press release.
“No one should have to go into debt or bankruptcy because they get sick,” said Laura Hanna, an organiser with the group. Hanna said 62% of all personal bankruptcies have medical debt as a contributing factor.
Due to the nature of the debt market, the group is unable to specify whose debt it purchases, taking on the amounts before it discovers individuals’ identities. When Rolling Jubilee has bought the debt they send notes to their debtors “telling them they’re off the hook”, Ross said.
Ross, whose book, Creditocracy and the case for debt refusal, outlines the problems of the debt industry and calls for a “debtors’ movement” to resist credit, said the group had received letters from people whose debt they had lifted thanking them for the service. But the real victory was in spreading knowledge of the nature of the debt industry, he said.
“Very few people know how cheaply their debts have been bought by collectors. It changes the psychology of the debtor, knowing this.
“So when you get called up by the debt collector, and you’re being asked to pay the full amount of your debt, you now know that the debt collector has bought your debt very, very cheaply. As cheaply as we bought it. And that gives you moral ammunition to have a different conversation with the debt collector.”
There can be some really enjoyable moments today as things seem to relax into some kind of routine. With that, you might just realize that the old routines have by and large become fractured, and you have been living and working day to day without that sense of predictability that comes from having a routine. Today is a day to stop what you are doing and look around you. What it is there on your horizon that you are desiring to come into focus? What are the changes that you are needing to make in order to ameliorate how you are feeling? What are the things you need to say and do in order to know that you can move forward? Peace and action, peace in action, these are some of the themes of the day. Relax into your power.
Submitted by Karl Battams on Fri, 11/22/2013 – 15:52
Comets C/2012 S1 (ISON) and 2P/Encke continue to race through the solar system in this updated sequence! CLICK TO ANIMATE! [Image Credit: Karl Battams/NRL/NASA-CIOC]
Here’s the latest awesome movie I have of Comet’s ISON and Encke in the NASA STEREO-A HI-1 field of view! Click the image opposite and enjoy (it’s about 4.7MB so might take a moment to load)
I’ll spare you a repeat of the details I gave yesterday, and instead will just encourage you to read that blog post, in which I describe some of the background info here, including why this movie is so amazing and why it’ll just keep getting better!
There are a couple of new things I want to say here though. First I received a good question via Twitter that was along the lines of “where exactly is the Sun relative to all this?“. I briefly mentioned it yesterday but it’s worth elaborating on a tad. The Sun sits outside of the field of view of this camera, off to the right as you look at this movie. What I’m not showing you here (purely in the interest of small file sizes) is the full field of view of this camera. Here is a full field image, complete with a CME that appears to be blasting towards the comets… Will it hit them? We’ll have to wait and see, won’t we!
Second, I want to make a note of some interesting dynamics in ISON’s tail. You’ll see that Encke has kind of long waves in the tail, whereas ISON’s seems almost like high-frequency “puffs”. Off the top of my head I can think of two possible reasons, though one is really speculative.
The less speculative (and most likely) is that ISON is simply in a faster stream of the solar wind. Imagine holding a flag on a slightly breezy day. The flag will waft gently in the breeze. Now imagine holding it in really strong winds. The flag will be rippling violently, but those ripples will be smaller in amplitude. We need to look at solar wind velocities in that area to be sure, but that’s the guess I’m planting my flag [unintended] into.
The more speculative one would be that maybe it has something to do with ISON’s rotation. But I really don’t think ISON is rotating that fast or we’d have detected it from the ground. I also don’t know that a fast rotation would show up like that anyway. I’m really just thinking out loud on this one. If anyone asks you, I’d definitely stick with the solar wind speed argument for now – it’s much safer.
I don’t know when I’ll next get more data to update this movie. The STEREO spacecraft are far from Earth and they don’t send down this high-res data in realtime, or anything close to it. Hopefully some point tomorrow I’ll get some more but – just to forewarn you – it can take up to two or three days sometimes. If that happens, it’s because of DSN schedule conflicts and not because of some “omg it’s aliens” reason. Let’s please save the tin-foil for making turkey this week, not hats! [That’s a Thanksgiving Holiday reference, for you non-US folks.] Spacecraft data connections are spotty but we will absolutely do our best to get what we can, when we can. Keep checking back, and follow my Twitter feed (link below) for the latest updates.
A meridian story relating the emotions to a situation that you may be able to relate to. If this is you, then look at the meridian attributes for reassurance. This confirmation offers you insight on knowing which meridian in your body needs the most attention.
Balancing choices for the meridians could be meridian tracing or vibrational remedies.
Meridians and Emotions
The approach to disease in Western allopathic medicine can be likened to the bug spray approach to garbage. You can spray the garbage with bug spray all week but as long as there is garbage, there will be bugs and flies and their eggs. The Eastern meridian approach to disease is to simply get rid of the garbage, the flies will disappear with the garbage.
Let’s consider the notion of disease or discomfort by comparing the philosophy between western allopathic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. With the teachings of allopathic medicine, the belief is that we get sick because of germs. If this was true then we would be dead the minute we were born. Germs remain dormant rather than a threat to us as long as we have a healthy immune response.
Discovering the fundamentals of the immune response, three dimensionally by observing the eastern meridian approach is the key to body balance and your health.
The Eastern Five Element theory teaches us that we have two immune responses. One physical immune system with the endocrine and lymphatic system, same as the allopathic model but also an energy immune system; the meridians. By following the teachings of Allopathic medicine only the physical immune system can be strengthened to gain health, but by considering the effects of meridians from the Traditional Chinese medicine, a secondary resource is adopted to enhance our well being. The flow of the meridian is as critical as the flow of blood; your life and health depend upon it. If meridian energy is blocked or unregulated, the system it feeds is jeopardized.
that exist in our personal environment. The Eastern Meridian and Five Element approach to health theorizes that sickness is caused by “weather conditions” that exist in our personal environment. The weather conditions are described as “external weather”; physical exposure to the outside climate and “internal weather”; emotional vulnerability to your internal atmosphere.
External weather is simply being over exposed to the five elements. Heat, Damp, Dry Cold and Wind. As an example: Being form Canada and going to the equator in the middle of winter may be too much heat, often shown up as small intestine imbalance or loose stools or worse, diarrhea. What about sitting in a fishing boat on rainy day?? Too much damp creates the sniffles. Being over-exposed to dryness often creates breathing issues and being too cold can set off infections in your kidney and bladder and being exposed to constant wind takes toll on the liver.
Internal weather, is emotional stress from being caught up in our personal drama, causing us to fester about scenarios and propelling us into a state of emotional imbalance which eventually affects the physical body in the way of pain or discomfort. The five elements filter emotional themes: with fire it is joy.. too much or too little, if it is out of balance the fire element meridians have to fluctuate to bring resolve to the integrity of the meridian flow. For earth it is sympathy, for metal it is grief, for water it is fear and for liver it is irritation and anger.
Emotions are meant to stir us and move us into appropriate action, this is defined inside the word emotion: emote is to feel and motion is to take action. Emotions move through us every second of the day, it’ s what we do with them that guarantees balance. It’s when we get caught off guard with an incident or situation and we let it fester that the emotion gets stuck and adversely affects a meridian that ultimately affects our harmonious balance. This is what the traditional chinese medical practitioners coin “internal bad weather”.
“Bad weather” from emotional disturbance (internal environment) or overexposure to environmental elements (external environment) causes the body to become sick. The micro-organism balance in the body becomes upset, hence bacteria, fungus and viruses invade the body. This is the time we seek Western medicine but there are no longer the signs of “bad weather” just symptoms. The allopathic medical model then proceeds to treat the symptoms of bacteria, fungus and virus, but never explores the cause or “bad weather”. By understanding the importance of the meridians in regards to our immune system, we can explore the reasons for the bad weather and prevent the micro-organism imbalance in the body. This is like taking the garbage out.
In Energy Kinesiology we can easily explore the causes of bad weather by assessing the integrity of the meridians, offering physical balance and knowing the basic emotional theme of the elements. With further training in kinesiology the knowledge expands to understanding that each meridian portrays a kaleidoscope with shades of emotions, which brings the client closer to moving a stuck emotion.
Offering the body balance on all three dimensions is the new frontier of health. Balancing the physical body with kinesiology techniques (physical dimension) combined with discovering client awareness (emotional dimension) to the blocked emotion and assisting the emotion to take motion, eventually results in a new outlook spiritual dimension) on situations and with life.
This is ultimately a forecast of “good weather”, for both the “external environment” and the “internal environment”.
To follow are 14 meridian personalities representing the meridian emotional status. Pick the one you most resonate and support that meridian. Use the meridian tracing wheel or use vibrational remedies such as Meridian Sound Essence oils
This information is taken from “Western Herbs for Eastern Meridians and Five Element Theory” by Evelyn Mulders.
Strong dangerous earthquake in the Iran / Iraq border area
Last update: November 22, 2013 at 7:24 pm by By Ashish Khanal
Update 19:21 UTC : We do not expect any conclusive assessments before tomorrow morning local time (late night now). Assessment in the dark and probably with difficulty to communicate gives even during daylight many hours of delay.
Update 19:21 UTC : Earthquake-Report.com considers and area of max. 10 km around the epicenter at risk for serious to moderate damage.
Update 19:00 UTC : The image below gives a MMI VII shaking in the epicenter area. MMI VII is considered as dangerous for damage. The reason why these data are giving a higher shaking intensity is the depth of 14 km. Shallower earthquakes (breaking point closer to the surface) are always more dangerous than deeper earthquakes.
Update 18:58 UTC : The theoretical damage engine of Max Wyss expects NO fatalities but 0 to 20 injured people. We agree with him but the number may higher if the depth of 46 km (which we do not trust) is more shallow (like the one from this morning).
Update 18:53 UTC : “The citizens in Sulaimaniyah, Kirkuk, Baghdad and Badra district of Wasit province in addition to Diyala noticed the Earthquake
Update 18:48 UTC : The area had a number of earthquakes earlier today, but the current one will be the most dangerous one. We expect a lot of minor damage in the epicenter area.
149 km NE of Baghdad, Iraq / pop: 5,672,513 / local time: 21:31:02.0 2013-11-22
103 km NW of Īlām, Iran / pop: 140,940 / local time: 22:01:02.0 2013-11-22
34 km SW of Sarpol-e Z̄ahāb, Iran / pop: 51,611 / local time: 22:01:02.0 2013-11-22
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 5.7
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2013-11-22 22:00:59
Strong and very dangerous double earthquake in Changlin, Jilin / Nei-Mongol, China – Lots of damage
Last update: November 23, 2013 at 11:17 am by By Ashish Khanal
Update 11:19 UTC : Jilin Military immediately launched an emergency mechanism and organized more than 300 active duty, reserve militia and police officers into the emergency disaster relief. Fog, snow and temperatures down to -10 C are adding the to damage.
Update 09:44 UTC : 310 rooms collapsed, 16000 were severely damaged and 20000 with minor damage. No injuries or fatalities has been reported so far which is great as the strongest one happened during the nightly hours.
Update 09:24 UTC : The earthquake sequences are that damaging that a national disaster emergency response grade Ⅳ has been called !
Update 01:31 UTC : The first reports from Songyuan City are mentioning some severely damaged houses in the epicenter area. The assessments from specialized teams (Chinese authorities are very experienced and quick rescue operations) are expected the coming hours.
Update 01:27 UTC : In China this earthquake is described as Songyuan City, Changchun, Jilin earthquake
Update 01:23 UTC : On the pictures below which are from the earthquake area (if the sources are right), one can see a) an aerial view of the landscape showing a lot of agriculture fields and suggesting a flat soft surface which is very vulnerable for earthquake waves. On other images (not shown) we have noticed oil pumps suggesting oil is being extracted in the area. We do NOT suggest however that the oil extraction has something to do with this earthquake.
Update 01:16 UTC : The whole area is unstable since also a double earthquake did strike on October 31. the magnitudes at that time were reported as 5.5 and 5.0, versus 5.3, 5.8 and 5.0 today.
Update 01:11 UTC : Adding to the misery will be snow coming soon
Update 01:09 UTC : Xinhua China early reports mention : The epicenter was located at the juncture of Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County and Qian’an county, where two quakes of similar magnitude occurred on Oct. 31 and left 12 people injured. “The earthquake lasted for about 3 seconds. I felt it was more severe than the last time, and my house was partly damaged,” Li Wei, a resident in Yingtu Village of Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County, told Xinhua over the phone.
Li said his fellow villagers ran out of their homes for fear that their houses would collapse.
Update 00:56 UTC : The Chinese seismological Agency reports a Magnitude of 5.8 at a depth of only 9 km = very dangerous and collapsed rooms /houses can be expected
Very dangerous double earthquake in the greater Changlin area, China. These twin earthquakes happened after a similar 5+ earthquake yesterday (local time – today UTC). Based on the USGS data, an intensity of MMI VII is expected. This MMI will lead to further damage at houses and infrastructure.
The earthquake was very shallow based on the same USGS data.
34km (21mi) N of Changling, China
72km (45mi) ESE of Kaitong, China
90km (56mi) SW of Qianguo, China
93km (58mi) SW of Fuyu, China
632km (393mi) NNW of Pyongyang, North Korea
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 5.2
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2013-11-23 06:04:26
The new island of Niijima at Nishino-shima, south of Japan, seen on November 21, 2013. Image: Japan Coast Guard
Somehow as November slipped by, I missed marking the 50th anniversary of the eruption at Surtsey off the coast of Iceland. This eruption started as a submarine one that was large and sustained enough to produce a new island in the North Atlantic. These sorts of events are fairly rare. Most of the time a new volcanic island emerges, it is quickly eroded by wave action. This is due to the nature of the material that constructs those early volcanic island, that being volcanic tephra. The island is more-or-less a pile of loose debris piling up until it reaches the surface. In order for the island to have much lasting power, it needs to emerge from the sea and erupt for long enough to start producing more resistant lava flows that will keep the waves from washing away the island.
Why do I bring this up now? Well, it seems we have an eruption like Surtsey occurring in the middle of the Pacific Ocean south of Japan. A new eruption at Nishino-shima has breached the surface and started to produce a small island (see above) of black volcanic tephra. The new island (being called Niijima) still looks small, with some reports putting the island at a cozy 200 meters (650 feet) across and 20 meters (65 feet) high — likely not something that would survive for long in the rough Pacific if it only grows to this size. The plume hasn’t been noticeable (at least to me) in any satellite imagery, but that could change some now that the island is above sea level. So far, there isn’t really any hazard for people who live near the remote island, but the Japanese Meteorological Agency has warned ships not to approach the crater. You can see the action in this Japanese Coast Guard video of the eruption, along with some great images of the eruption here. The new vent is just off the shores of another small island and some of the stills included in the news report show those classic “rooster tail” eruptions (see below) that go with these Surtseyan eruptions (named after the aforementioned Iceland event).
“Rooster tails” during the eruption of Niijima at Nishino-shima in Japan, seen on November 20, 2013. Image: Japan Coast Guard.
Nishino-shima is part of a caldera within the aptly-named Volcano Island arc (part of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana volcanic arc). There are a number of caldera along the act including Nishino-shima and the more famous Ioto (Iwo-Jima). The last major eruption from Nishino-shima was exactly 40 years ago, when another small island was produced by the volcano — potentially its only eruption in the last 10,000 years. Since then, discolored water has been spotted in the vicinity, suggesting submarine eruptions or active submarine fumaroles have been going since that 1974 eruption. However, this new activity is apparently the first to break the sea’s surface since those events 40 years ago. If you need something to read, there is a fascinating article at how quickly the new island at Nishino-shima was colonized by plants and arthropods after it formed in 1974 — just shows how quickly life will colonize new land.
I did enjoy finding a news report about how Japan is eager for this island to become a permanent feature as it could expand their territorial waters in the Pacific Ocean. It might take awhile before the volcanic island can be truly declared permanent (and I’m not even sure who does that … the United Nations?) The region has been a site of some dispute with China over territorial island, so Japan has a strong interest in expanding their presence in the region. There isn’t much in the way of people in the Ogasawara Islands (Bonin Islands), but the whole region is a UNESCO natural world heritage site, so tourism is important.
Things are actually going to be a lot smoother today than you thought they would. It is important, however, not to over-think, not to over-rationalize, not to bee too logical. There is something that you just know at this point in tie before it gets any later, something that will help you as you move forward in these difficult energies, and that something will come your way today. It may seem anti-climatic. You may be inclined to ignore it, but upon further reflection, the ah-ha moment will arrive, and you will get some clarity on why things have been going as they have. Listen to the voices around you, however they may present themselves – actual voices, a puff of wind, a cry from an animal, the fall of a rock. Today marks a new step in what is going on as the pattern moves towards it completion.
