The Waco Tornado
This f5 tornado damage hit Waco, Texas on the 11th of May, 1953. That morning dawned hot and muggy across much of Texas and by 9:30 a.m. there were storms moving in and creating a strong outflow boundary. Tornadoes began occurring in other parts of Texas by mid-afternoon, and at approximately 4:10 p.m. the tornado touched down just southwest of Waco. From there, it began to move to the north-northeast. Read more...
The Natchez Tornado
On May 7th, 1840, the Natchez tornado struck Louisiana and Mississippi. Most of the deaths from that particular tornado likely occurred from people that were on the Mississippi River at the time. They had no warning and no time to get off of the river and seek shelter. Because there was no warning system at that time, tornadoes often killed many more people than they do today.
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The Tupelo Tornado
April 5th, 1936 was the day of the Tupelo, Mississippi tornado. It began in Yalobusha County near Coffeeville, leveled hundreds of buildings, and killed many people, including some entire families. In order to treat the wounded, a movie theater was used as a makeshift hospital. The popcorn machine was put into use because it reached temperatures high enough to sterilize the surgical instruments.
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The Gainesville Tornado
The tornado that struck Gainesville, Georgia on April 6th, 1936 was actually a pair of tornadoes. They headed east-northeast through downtown at the beginning of the workday and took separate paths into the city. The two tornadoes converged into an area of only four blocks that was completely destroyed.
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The Woodward Tornado
The Woodward tornado was a deadly twister that occurred in Oklahoma on April 9, 1947. The storm that spawned that particular tornado actually began in Texas and worked its way through Oklahoma and into Kansas before dissipating. At least six tornadoes were produced and their path stretched 220 miles, with the Woodward tornado itself traveling across the ground for approximately 100 miles. That tornado was at times 1.8 miles wide and had a forward speed approaching 50 mph.
The Amite/Purvis/Pine Tornado
The devastation from this tornado occurred on April 24th, 1908 and cut a swath across both Louisiana and Mississippi. The tornado was reported to have been over two miles in width, and traveled for 155 miles before finally dissipating. Out of the 150 homes that the tornado passed by in Purvis County, only seven were still left standing. This tornado is sometime called the Dixie Tornado.
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The New Richmond Tornado
The tornado that hit New Richmond, Wisconsin on June 12th of 1899 actually started out as a waterspout that formed over Lake St. Croix. From there, it headed east in the direction of New Richmond and produced winds so strong that they carried a 3000-pound safe for an entire city block before dropping it again. The amount of flying debris was massive and, coupled with the wind, destroyed or damaged over 300 buildings.

How Does Hypnosis Work?

You can hypnotize others in 2 ways. In first type, you hypnotize people with their permission. In this type, you hypnotize people using hypnotic voice and techniques. So you put a person into a trance state and make your commands.

The hypnotic state can be terminated by the person anytime he (she) wants. It is completely up to him (her) to enter a trance state or leave it.

This type of hypnosis is safe and commonly used in hypnotherapy to heal others (for example, pain control, stress reduction and so on).

The second type of hypnosis is covert hypnosis. In covert hypnosis, you hypnotize others without them knowing. A person does NOT know that you are hypnotizing him (her).

The goal of covert hypnosis is to make your subject to do anything you want without any resistance. A person is unaware of being hypnotized which helps you to achieve your goals quickly. When a person is under hypnosis, you can make your hypnotic suggestions and commands.

It is a sad fact that most people use covert hypnosis for dishonest purposes trying to get advantages from their subjects. We do not recommend using hypnosis for such purposes.

Note: Most experts don’t accept covert hypnosis as one of types of hypnosis. They claim that hypnosis can be done only with the permission and awareness of the subject.
How To Hypnotize Someone NOW

It is time to start your first hypnosis practice. This technique is called handshake induction which is a type of instant hypnosis.

Now, follow the step by step process below:

1- Have the person sit in front of you – face on face. You should sit yourself, too. Have the person put their hand on top yours – palm to palm.

2- Tell him (her): “Look at my eyes and continue looking until I say something”.

3- Tell him (her): “In a moment I am going to count to 3. Press down on my hand and I’ll be pressing up against your energy and simply follow my instructions instantly.”

4- Say “1…2…3….push, push, push”. If he (she) is pushing gently, tell him (her) to push harder.

5. Now with your other hand, put it on top of his eyes, like you are shading them, and slowly caressing down.

6. Then say: “now as you continue to press down on my hand I want you to develop a feeling in your eyes like your up much too late at night watching an old black and white movie, you should go to bed but you’re just so tired. You feel your eyes so droopy …and closing….and drowsy….and….SLEEP !”

The moment you begin to say “sleep” you have to quickly slip your hand away from his (her). This is very important moment and must be done accurately.

Practice this technique on your friends, family members and you will see the results. This is a step by step technique, so everyone who follows it properly can hypnotize people easily.

Home prices have fallen so low in many areas that affording a house is now easier than ever. Mortgage rates are also very low right now, making the deal even sweeter. However, buying a home is a complicated process. To minimize frustration, you need to know what to expect at every stage. There are ways to prepare yourself for buying a home, and it will be much easier in the long run if you take the time to do these things.
Should You Buy?

First, you should evaluate whether this is the best move for you. Most people think buying a home is always better than renting. In many situations this is true, but there are always exceptions to the rule. For people who move frequently for work or other reasons, buying a home is a complicated and risky investment. You can even lose money if you purchase a home and then have to sell it too quickly. Most of your payments early in the life of your mortgage go to to interest, not the principle balance of the loan. If you have to sell in the first year or two and pay closing fees, you can actually come out of the deal owing money. If a move is likely any time in the next few years, buying a home is probably not the best move to make unless you get the home at an unusually low price.

Buying a home right now may not be a good idea if your job is unstable. You may feel you are trying to make a smart investment, but if something happens and you face foreclosure, you won’t be able to purchase a home again for many years. People who currently pay very low rent may also want to wait a bit longer before purchasing. You can use this time to save up a larger down payment, which will help you end up with a more affordable loan in the long run.
Prepare Your Finances

How to Buy a House Buying a home may require more cash on hand than you think. Some people are under the impression that since you are borrowing the money, it’s simply a matter of picking a house, signing the papers, and handing over the first month’s payment. If only it were that easy! In reality, you will need a down payment for your home purchase. This may be as little as 3 percent of the total purchase price, or may need to be as much as 10 or 15 percent. The main thing to remember is to save as much money as possible, and remember to account for moving expenses.

Another very important thing to do is manage your credit wisely. The days of easy lending for home loans are over. Your credit score will need to be in the good or excellent categories to even qualify for a mortgage. Your credit score will impact more than just whether or not you get the loan. It will also help to determine your interest rate and loan terms. Saving money on each monthly payment adds up to thousands of dollars over the life of the loan, so getting your credit in great shape before borrowing is the best idea. For at least six months before purchasing a home, you can take steps to raise your credit score and pay off other debts.

If your credit is poor, you may need debt counseling to clear up some problems on your credit report before pursuing your home purchase. It is important to keep an eye on your credit report and dispute anything on it that may be an inaccurate report. Sometimes negative reports can be removed if you contest them. Other times you may be able to make payment arrangements with creditors in order to improve your credit report. Follow a credit counselors advice when doing this, however. Some negative reports are not removed even after you pay them, and all you have done at that point is spend part of your down payment money.

While you are preparing your finances, don’t take out loans to make other big purchases. Even if you have an excellent credit score, a bank can deny you if your income-to-debt ratio is too high. This means that your monthly payments are more than you can afford, making giving you a mortgage too much of a risk for the bank.
Get Pre-Approved

MortgagesMortgages can vary greatly in terms including length of the loan, monthly payment amounts and interest rates. It’s important to understand the different types of mortgages, especially a mortgage you are being offered. Once you sign on the dotted line you will be committed to the terms of the mortgage, good or bad. For this reason it is very important to learn about the different types of mortgages available, and evaluate the pros and cons of each.

To get started, visit your bank and ask to speak to a mortgage specialist. He or she can teach you about the different loans available at that bank. Then you will be pre-approved for a loan. It is important to remember that a pre-approval does not equal a guaranteed approval, but it is a good starting point for your home search. After this appointment you will have a very good estimate of how much you can afford to spend on a home, which will help your realtor narrow down your search. You will also have an idea of your monthly payment, so that you can plan and budget accordingly.

Loan officers estimate how much you are able to borrow based on several different factors. Obviously your credit rating is important; those with lower credit will appear to be a bigger risk, and will not be loaned as much money. You also, in most cases, cannot borrow more than a house is worth. That may seem obvious, but it can be a problem later in the purchase process if the home you have selected does not appraise for the purchase price. This can work in your favor in some cases, because you may be able to negotiate a lower purchase price. In other cases it will cause the deal to fall through, because the sellers owe too much on their home to lower the price. The bank will also consider the amounts you owe on other loans, so if you drive expensive cars or have a lot of credit card debt, this can lower the amount you are able to borrow for a home.

Your mortgage specialist will advise you on the amount of down payment you will need to purchase your home. This often depends on the type of mortgage you are given, as well as your credit rating. If you have the appropriate amount saved for your down payment, and you are pre-approved for a mortgage, then you can begin shopping for a home.
Additional Expenses

Remember that purchasing a home is not as simple as saving up a down payment and signing some forms. Aside for the down payment and your monthly payment, there will be closing fees when you finalize your purchase. This can mean various bank fees, payment to the real estate lawyers who handle the closing, and a fee for the real estate agent who sold the home. Think twice if you are asked to pay all of the closing fees involved in the transaction. You will, of course, be responsible for your own bank fees, but the sellers should pay part or all of the agent and lawyer fees.

Sometimes a bank will require certain repairs to be done on a home before the loan is approved. Occasionally home buyers have felt pressured to pay for these repairs because they are desperate for the sale to be completed. These repairs are not your responsibility, and should be paid for by the sellers of the home. There have been occasions when the buyers paid for repairs on the home, and then the sale fell through for other reasons. They essentially paid to repair someone else’s home. If anyone asks you to do this, be very suspicious.

Other expenses you should keep in mind are the costs of moving and transferring utilities. Make sure to estimate these accurately before budgeting for your home purchase and move. You don’t want to be surprised with large utility transfer fees after you have spent your last dime on the down payment.
Purchase Your Home

Buying a HouseOnce you have a budget, have saved enough money, and have been pre-approved by a bank, the fun part can begin. Find a real estate agent who is well acquainted with the area you want to live, and tell him or her your budget and requirements for a home. Remember that you do not have to buy the most expensive home you are approved to purchase. Keep in mind your own values and lifestyle; just because a bank says you can afford it does not mean you will be able to do some comfortably. If you like to take a lot of vacations, eat out frequently, or enjoy expensive hobbies, you will not want to stretch your budget so thinly that you can no longer enjoy these things. Remember that ultimately, you are in charge of your budget and your decisions, and you know what is best for your financial health.

Once you select your new home, it usually takes about a month for the process to be completed. The loan has to be processed and receive final approval, and an appointment has to be made for the closing. In the meantime, your real estate agent, the lawyers, and the bank personnel will be preparing documents for you to sign and taking care of all the legal aspects of your purchase. For the most part, your hard work is over. You may be asked to sign a few additional papers or bring a document or two to the bank in the meantime. Once you go to closing, make sure to read each document carefully before signing, and watch for hidden fees and penalties. Once everything is signed, you will receive the keys to your new home, and you can celebrate making it through one of the biggest decisions of your life.

Module 1
This module deals with the basics of a robbery.

Definition of a robbery
What weapons are used in a armed robbery?
Why does a robber pick a target?

Module 2

This module deals with the people who commit the robberies.

Amateur’s
Opportunists
Professional’s


Module 3

This is the most important module as we look at ways to reduce the potential of a robbery, prevention is better than the cure:

Layout of premises
Security equipment
Staff training
Cash handling procedures
Banking and transporting money


Module 4

This module deals with Surviving a robbery safely according to the SCORE principle:

S - Stop
C - Calm
O - Obey
R - Remain safe
E - Evidence

Module 5

This module deals with staying safe and protecting evidence after the robbery;

What to do after the robber leaves
Offender’s profile
Stress
Dealing with the media.

Rescorces

Armed robberies on utbube

These videos show different videos of armed robberies, armed robberies gone wrong and the effects of armed robberies on different people.

Crime trend tools

This is a NSW government site and the crime tools allow you to check crime statistics in your area or the whole of New South Wales.

Crime reduction does matter

A government notice on the importance of crime reduction.

OH&S Company fined

Workcover fines a club for not having propper procedures to cove armed robberies.

Google Alerts

Up to date information on armed robberies in NSW.

Outcome

The main aim of this program is to

Show that armed robberies are a real and regular occurrance intoday's society.
Taking propper precautions will reduce the risk of being involved in an armed robbery.
Regular armed robbery awarness training will reduce the risk of you or someone else being injured or killed if you are involved in an armed robbery situation.
Protecting the crime scene will help the police identify the offenders and bring them to justice.

An 85-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and battered to death by a home invader who also shot her 90-year-old husband in the face with a BB gun.

Nancy and Bob Strait, who had celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in December, were discovered by their daughter at their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Both the pensioners were rushed to hospital where Mrs Strait, who was nearly blind, died from her injuries.
Home invasion: Bob and Nancy Strait were both attacked when burglars broke into their home in Tulsa. Mrs Strait died of her injuries

Home invasion: Bob and Nancy Strait were both attacked when burglars broke into their home in Tulsa. Mrs Strait died of her injuries

Mr Strait, who served in the 101st Airborne Division in World War II, suffered a broken jaw, broken ribs and severe bleeding. He is in a serious condition in hospital.

Police have arrested 20-year-old Tyrone Dale David Woodfork in connection with the case.

The Straits' distraught family today paid tribute to the pair, who grew up in poverty in rural Oklahoma during the Great Depression.

They met each other on a blind date on Thanksgiving 1946, married a month later and went on to have six children, 18 grandchildren and about 50 great and great-great grandchildren. They had recently welcomed a great-great-great grandchild.


More...

'I wish them well': Mother-of-two nearly killed by shopping cart that landed on her head 'feels sorry' for her attackers
'You will always be in our hearts': Tragedy as crash victim on his way to propose to girlfriend dies from injuries

Their daughters Lanora and Andra told Tulsa World that the couple were loving and generous people who would do anything for anyone.

'Dad never talked, and Mama never quit talking,' Lanora said.

'Whatever she did, it came from the heart,' Andra added.

The pair could be found sitting on their porch singing and playing the guitar during warmer summer evenings.

Mr Strait, who had worked for the oil derrick supply company Lee C. Moore before retirement, enjoyed woodwork while his wife loved making quilts and baking.
Suspect: Tyrone Dale David Woodfork, 20, was arrested a day after the attack on complaints of first-degree murder, burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon and two complaints of armed robbery

Suspect: Tyrone Dale David Woodfork, 20, was arrested a day after the attack on complaints of first-degree murder, burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon and two complaints of armed robbery

They had both been struggling with health problems before the attack. Mr Strait had been diagnosed with a terminal kidney illness but had outlived the doctor's prognosis.

'He was living because Mother was alive,' Andra told Tulsa World.

The couple had had food poisoning the week before the attack.

'There is no one else who has been through what he's been through who is still alive,' Lanora said of her father.

'We pray he doesn't remember.'

Tulsa police believe burglars broke into the Straits' home either late Tuesday or early Wednesday last week. They were not found until the Wednesday evening.

The home invaders made off with their Dodge Neon, a television and $200.

Woodfork was later found hiding in a nearby house after a witness spotted the stolen vehicle being driven down the road.

He is being held at Tulsa Jail without bail accused of first-degree murder, burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of armed robbery.

'This investigation is far from over,' Officer Jason Willingham of the Tulsa police department told Tulsa World. 'We've still got a lot of questions that we still need answered.'

Mrs Strait's funeral will be on Friday. The family has set up a fund the Nancy Strait and Bob Strait Support Trust to help pay for the service and her husband's medical care.

Cars are quite complex under the hood. With the physics of the engine as the center of automobiles, any thing else that is connected to the heart of the automobile is subjected to specifications and in accordance with the laws that govern it. You are most probably familiar with the same routine of your car in your day to day activities – drive along the stretches of roads, dodge traffic, and be a road warrior in your own aspect.

But there would come a time when man and machine would not be in synch with each other. In this manner, you may feel that the car would occasionally grunt when you try to shift gears or perhaps hear that familiar and sickening grinding of gears as you unsuccessfully try to move from one gear to another. In other words, bad vibes both literal and figurative are what you get when there is probably something wrong and you may need to check your transmission fluid as a start.

The Definition

Transmission fluid is used primarily in automatic transmission vehicles, and in some modern manual transmission types. Basically, the function of transmission fluid is to provide lubrication. Being oil-based, it serves its function in the transmission of gears in vehicles, as well as valve operations, and brake systems.

Modern composition of transmission fluid also includes other compounds to provide protection and longevity to the systems it services, mainly from rust and corrosion, viscosity and high temperature effects, foam formation, and friction. Without it, it would be very difficult if not almost impossible to switch gears. Transmission systems with a lack or overused transmission fluid are prone to overheating due to the friction of the highly spinning gears and mechanical failure from the massive grinding of components. In any case, lacking or having no transmission fluid could utterly spell disaster for the driver both in safety and in expenses for transmission system damage.

The Mechanics

The way production cars are designed is that the engine is connected to the transmission where drive joint is then connected to the rear tires. Other designs have front wheel drives employing the same series of components. Between the engine and the main transmission gears is the clutch, which allows the changing of gears to provide different gear ratios, and thus produce different forces to enact on the drive wheels.

In manual configuration, the clutch pedal allows the user to time the clutching of the gears to allow smooth gear change. In other words, the clutch allows us a safe and synchronous engagement of the perpetually spinning engine with a non-spinning transmission when shifting gears.

In automatic transmissions, the absence of the clutch pedal from the driver’s side does not mean that there is no clutch in the transmission system, but instead is done automatically and controlled mechanically, and with electronics. Automatic transmissions just allow a more trouble free operation for the driver, who now only has two pedals instead of three to contend with.

Depending on the design oh the gear placement, the most common manual transmission systems have stick gear configuration in double H, where a series of increasing gears are laid out starting from the upper left corner, going down, then middle up, then middle down, then upper right, and finally with the reverse gear at the lower right. Some other configurations have a single H lay out where the reverse gear is situated at the upper left. Automatic transmission systems have gear sticks in a linear fashion, starting with a “park” or lock gear at the top, then followed by neutral, reverse, and a series of drive gears to accommodate different car loads.

The presence of the transmission fluid is like a maintaining lubrication so that the hydraulic processes involved in the levers and gears in the transmission system is smooth, and without unwanted friction. The cooling effect of synthetic transmission fluids nowadays also allows higher revolutions per minute for the transmission shaft as it turns at the same speed with the engine.

The Specifications

Car manufacturers specify the time and duration when the transmission fluid should be replaced. This procedure is done to keep the transmission in a healthy state, and prevent any damage and corresponding big bucks just to have it repaired or replaced. While other transmission fluid makers claim that their formulation can last around a hundred thousand miles, car manufacturers would indicate a healthier 30-thousand mile distance before having to flush and replace the transmission fluid. Experts and mechanics would even advice that heavy duty vehicles having heavy daily use should annually be checked for transmission fluid change.

Transmission fluid is typically red or green to distinguish it from engine oil. In automatic transmission systems, there is a provided dipstick to gauge its level. Usually denoted by a red handle, transmission fluid dipstick is very much similar to its nearby engine oil counterpart that is yellow.

The Checkup

Basic maintenance and regular checkup may be done even with the most novices of drivers. All it takes is a simple know how to have a look-up, assess, and determine the right course of action.

Logically, inspection is the first thing to do. Just before you roll out the driveway and drive to your destination, it is wise to include the transmission fluid in your daily routine along with tire, oil, and radiator checkup. As you pull out the dipstick, observe the color and the texture of the fluid, as well as its level. A low level reading would prompt you to have the transmission fluid replaced, but not without determining first if there is possible leaking. In this case, you may try and a have a quick look under your car for small pools of viscous fluid, especially near the engine and immediately around it. This is especially more visible if you have your car parked overnight, allowing the possible leak to become evident over several hours.

Another probable complication is to have it discolored far from bright red or green, depending on the initial color of the transmission fluid when it was bought. It is natural to have it darker over the course of its usage, due to the chemical reactions taking place in the transmission system, but if the color turns smoky dark you may have to change it already. Waiting for the transmission fluid to turn even darker and having a rather burnt smell instead of a sweet one may already indicate burns, corrosion, and damage within the transmission system. When this happens, it is already considered an automotive emergency and you have to change transmission fluids immediately.

The Maintenance

Changing the transmission fluid requires one to go under the car and manually removing the transmission pan and filter, and draining the transmission fluid off, more often referred to as “flushing”. This service is usually done in automotive and mechanical shops where cars may be serviced better by experienced mechanics.

Expect this procedure to be quite messy as it involves oil-based substances, viscous textures from the base product and its impurities, and stains due to possible burns and discolorations. Even if you are alright with that idea, flushing the old and dirty transmission fluid does not end there. There is still at leas half of the old stock in residual volume and impurities still located within the torque converter, valves, clutch drums, and other areas.

To have a proper flushing procedure, you have to either use a pump to vacuum out the remaining fluid until air starts coming out, or detach the trans cooler line located by the radiator. With the latter, allow the engine to go into idle as you pan out the remaining transmission fluid from the line until air starts spurting as well. When this happens, add fresh transmission fluid in the dipstick tube to properly push out the old one out. When the flushed fluid starts to lighten and become clearer, the transmission fluid change cost may be started. It is time to return the detached line, replace with a new filter, and put the cleaned out and empty pan back into place while refilling with fresh transmission fluid.

The Costs

There is no need to worry in the cost and expense of transmission fluid as they are very cheap. Ranging from a buck for a quart of generic synthetic transmission fluid to around $50 to $70 for a gallon, they are very affordable. Deliberating whether to preserve and overuse the existing fluid to save a few bucks is not an option if the consequence would call for several hundreds to thousands of dollars for transmission repair costs, not to mention several days or weeks of a non-servicing automobile – as it is still being repaired in the auto shop. To furhter illustrate this point, check out this quick video by Monday Morning Mechanic on why having your transmission fluid in good condition is so important:

Just once wouldn't you love for someone to simply show you the evidence for God's existence? No arm-twisting. No statements of, "You just have to believe." Well, here is an attempt to candidly offer some of the reasons which suggest that God exists.

But first consider this. When it comes to the possibility of God's existence, the Bible says that there are people who have seen sufficient evidence, but they have suppressed the truth about God.1 On the other hand, for those who want to know God if he is there, he says, "You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you."2 Before you look at the facts surrounding God's existence, ask yourself, If God does exist, would I want to know him? Here then, are some reasons to consider...
1. Does God exist? The complexity of our planet points to a deliberate Designer who not only created our universe, but sustains it today.

Many examples showing God's design could be given, possibly with no end. But here are a few:

The Earth...its size is perfect. The Earth's size and corresponding gravity holds a thin layer of mostly nitrogen and oxygen gases, only extending about 50 miles above the Earth's surface. If Earth were smaller, an atmosphere would be impossible, like the planet Mercury. If Earth were larger, its atmosphere would contain free hydrogen, like Jupiter.3 Earth is the only known planet equipped with an atmosphere of the right mixture of gases to sustain plant, animal and human life.

existence of GodThe Earth is located the right distance from the sun. Consider the temperature swings we encounter, roughly -30 degrees to +120 degrees. If the Earth were any further away from the sun, we would all freeze. Any closer and we would burn up. Even a fractional variance in the Earth's position to the sun would make life on Earth impossible. The Earth remains this perfect distance from the sun while it rotates around the sun at a speed of nearly 67,000 mph. It is also rotating on its axis, allowing the entire surface of the Earth to be properly warmed and cooled every day.

And our moon is the perfect size and distance from the Earth for its gravitational pull. The moon creates important ocean tides and movement so ocean waters do not stagnate, and yet our massive oceans are restrained from spilling over across the continents.4

Water...colorless, odorless and without taste, and yet no living thing can survive without it. Plants, animals and human beings consist mostly of water (about two-thirds of the human body is water). You'll see why the characteristics of water are uniquely suited to life:

It has an unusually high boiling point and freezing point. Water allows us to live in an environment of fluctuating temperature changes, while keeping our bodies a steady 98.6 degrees.

proof of GodWater is a universal solvent. This property of water means that thousands of chemicals, minerals and nutrients can be carried throughout our bodies and into the smallest blood vessels.5

Water is also chemically neutral. Without affecting the makeup of the substances it carries, water enables food, medicines and minerals to be absorbed and used by the body.

Water has a unique surface tension. Water in plants can therefore flow upward against gravity, bringing life-giving water and nutrients to the top of even the tallest trees.

Water freezes from the top down and floats, so fish can live in the winter.

Ninety-seven percent of the Earth's water is in the oceans. But on our Earth, there is a system designed which removes salt from the water and then distributes that water throughout the globe. Evaporation takes the ocean waters, leaving the salt, and forms clouds which are easily moved by the wind to disperse water over the land, for vegetation, animals and people. It is a system of purification and supply that sustains life on this planet, a system of recycled and reused water.6

The human brain...simultaneously processes an amazing amount of information. Your brain takes in all the colors and objects you see, the temperature around you, the pressure of your feet against the floor, the sounds around you, the dryness of your mouth, even the texture of your keyboard. Your brain holds and processes all your emotions, thoughts and memories. At the same time your brain keeps track of the ongoing functions of your body like your breathing pattern, eyelid movement, hunger and movement of the muscles in your hands.

existence of GodThe human brain processes more than a million messages a second.7 Your brain weighs the importance of all this data, filtering out the relatively unimportant. This screening function is what allows you to focus and operate effectively in your world. The brain functions differently than other organs. There is an intelligence to it, the ability to reason, to produce feelings, to dream and plan, to take action, and relate to other people.

The eye...can distinguish among seven million colors. It has automatic focusing and handles an astounding 1.5 million messages -- simultaneously.8 Evolution focuses on mutations and changes from and within existing organisms. Yet evolution alone does not fully explain the initial source of the eye or the brain -- the start of living organisms from nonliving matter.
2. Does God exist? The universe had a start - what caused it?

Scientists are convinced that our universe began with one enormous explosion of energy and light, which we now call the Big Bang. This was the singular start to everything that exists: the beginning of the universe, the start of space, and even the initial start of time itself.

Astrophysicist Robert Jastrow, a self-described agnostic, stated, "The seed of everything that has happened in the Universe was planted in that first instant; every star, every planet and every living creature in the Universe came into being as a result of events that were set in motion in the moment of the cosmic explosion...The Universe flashed into being, and we cannot find out what caused that to happen."9

Steven Weinberg, a Nobel laureate in Physics, said at the moment of this explosion, "the universe was about a hundred thousands million degrees Centigrade...and the universe was filled with light."10

The universe has not always existed. It had a start...what caused that? Scientists have no explanation for the sudden explosion of light and matter.
3. Does God exist? The universe operates by uniform laws of nature. Why does it?

Much of life may seem uncertain, but look at what we can count on day after day: gravity remains consistent, a hot cup of coffee left on a counter will get cold, the earth rotates in the same 24 hours, and the speed of light doesn't change -- on earth or in galaxies far from us.

How is it that we can identify laws of nature that never change? Why is the universe so orderly, so reliable?

"The greatest scientists have been struck by how strange this is. There is no logical necessity for a universe that obeys rules, let alone one that abides by the rules of mathematics. This astonishment springs from the recognition that the universe doesn't have to behave this way. It is easy to imagine a universe in which conditions change unpredictably from instant to instant, or even a universe in which things pop in and out of existence."11

Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize winner for quantum electrodynamics, said, "Why nature is mathematical is a mystery...The fact that there are rules at all is a kind of miracle."12
4. Does God exist? The DNA code informs, programs a cell's behavior.

existence of GodAll instruction, all teaching, all training comes with intent. Someone who writes an instruction manual does so with purpose. Did you know that in every cell of our bodies there exists a very detailed instruction code, much like a miniature computer program? As you may know, a computer program is made up of ones and zeros, like this: 110010101011000. The way they are arranged tell the computer program what to do. The DNA code in each of our cells is very similar. It's made up of four chemicals that scientists abbreviate as A, T, G, and C. These are arranged in the human cell like this: CGTGTGACTCGCTCCTGAT and so on. There are three billion of these letters in every human cell!!

Well, just like you can program your phone to beep for specific reasons, DNA instructs the cell. DNA is a three-billion-lettered program telling the cell to act in a certain way. It is a full instruction manual.13

existence of GodWhy is this so amazing? One has to ask....how did this information program wind up in each human cell? These are not just chemicals. These are chemicals that instruct, that code in a very detailed way exactly how the person's body should develop.

Natural, biological causes are completely lacking as an explanation when programmed information is involved. You cannot find instruction, precise information like this, without someone intentionally constructing it.
5. Does God exist? We know God exists because he pursues us. He is constantly initiating and seeking for us to come to him.

I was an atheist at one time. And like many atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life.

proof of GodI didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them.

I am not the only one who has experienced this. Malcolm Muggeridge, socialist and philosophical author, wrote, "I had a notion that somehow, besides questing, I was being pursued." C.S. Lewis said he remembered, "...night after night, feeling whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all of England."

Lewis went on to write a book titled, "Surprised by Joy" as a result of knowing God. I too had no expectations other than rightfully admitting God's existence. Yet over the following several months, I became amazed by his love for me.
6. Does God exist? Unlike any other revelation of God, Jesus Christ is the clearest, most specific picture of God revealing himself to us.

Why Jesus? Look throughout the major world religions and you'll find that Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and Moses all identified themselves as teachers or prophets. None of them ever claimed to be equal to God. Surprisingly, Jesus did. That is what sets Jesus apart from all the others. He said God exists and you're looking at him. Though he talked about his Father in heaven, it was not from the position of separation, but of very close union, unique to all humankind. Jesus said that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father, anyone who believed in him, believed in the Father.

He said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."14 He claimed attributes belonging only to God: to be able to forgive people of their sin, free them from habits of sin, give people a more abundant life and give them eternal life in heaven. Unlike other teachers who focused people on their words, Jesus pointed people to himself. He did not say, "follow my words and you will find truth." He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me."15

What proof did Jesus give for claiming to be divine? He did what people can't do. Jesus performed miracles. He healed people...blind, crippled, deaf, even raised a couple of people from the dead. He had power over objects...created food out of thin air, enough to feed crowds of several thousand people. He performed miracles over nature...walked on top of a lake, commanding a raging storm to stop for some friends. People everywhere followed Jesus, because he constantly met their needs, doing the miraculous. He said if you do not want to believe what I'm telling you, you should at least believe in me based on the miracles you're seeing.16

Jesus Christ showed God to be gentle, loving, aware of our self-centeredness and shortcomings, yet deeply wanting a relationship with us. Jesus revealed that although God views us as sinners, worthy of his punishment, his love for us ruled and God came up with a different plan. God himself took on the form of man and accepted the punishment for our sin on our behalf. Sounds ludicrous? Perhaps, but many loving fathers would gladly trade places with their child in a cancer ward if they could. The Bible says that the reason we would love God is because he first loved us.

Jesus died in our place so we could be forgiven. Of all the religions known to humanity, only through Jesus will you see God reaching toward humanity, providing a way for us to have a relationship with him. Jesus proves a divine heart of love, meeting our needs, drawing us to himself. Because of Jesus' death and resurrection, he offers us a new life today. We can be forgiven, fully accepted by God and genuinely loved by God. He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."17 This is God, in action.

Does God exist? If you want to know, investigate Jesus Christ. We're told that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."18

God does not force us to believe in him, though he could. Instead, he has provided sufficient proof of his existence for us to willingly respond to him. The earth's perfect distance from the sun, the unique chemical properties of water, the human brain, DNA, the number of people who attest to knowing God, the gnawing in our hearts and minds to determine if God is there, the willingness for God to be known through Jesus Christ. If you need to know more about Jesus and reasons to believe in him, please see: Beyond Blind Faith.
If you want to begin a relationship with God now, you can.

This is your decision, no coercion here. But if you want to be forgiven by God and come into a relationship with him, you can do so right now by asking him to forgive you and come into your life. Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. He who hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him [or her]."19 If you want to do this, but aren't sure how to put it into words, this may help: "Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. You know my life and that I need to be forgiven. I ask you to forgive me right now and come into my life. I want to know you in a real way. Come into my life now. Thank you that you wanted a relationship with me. Amen."

God views your relationship with him as permanent. Referring to all those who believe in him, Jesus Christ said of us, "I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand."20

So, does God exist? Looking at all these facts, one can conclude that a loving God does exist and can be known in an intimate, personal way. If you need more information about Jesus' claim to divinity, or about God's existence, or if you have similar important questions, please email us.

Maybe you're just really eager on how to get pregnant fast, or maybe you want your baby's birth to happen at a specific time. Here are six tricks to make it more likely that you'll conceive soon after you start trying.

(You'll dramatically reduce the risk of certain birth defects if you begin taking folic acid at least one month before you start trying to conceive. Find out what else you can do ahead of time to give your baby a healthy start.)
Trick #1: Figure out when you ovulate

The biggest secret to getting pregnant faster is knowing when you ovulate (release an egg from your ovary). Think of the egg as a bull's-eye and the sperm as arrows. One of the arrows has to hit the bull's-eye in order for you to get pregnant.
Ovulation Calculator

Find out when you're likely to ovulate – and boost your chances of conceiving.

Since most women release an egg once each menstrual cycle, there are only a few days out of each cycle when sex can actually lead to pregnancy. Knowing when you ovulate means that you and your partner can identify the bull's-eye and then aim for it, instead of just shooting a bunch of arrows and hoping the target happens to be there.

You can figure out when you ovulate using a few different methods. Our article about predicting ovulation walks you through them.

If you notice that you have irregular periods over the course of several months, pinpointing ovulation could be difficult. Ask your doctor for advice.
Trick #2: Get busy at the right time

Once you know when your egg will be released from your ovary, you can plan to have sex during your most fertile days: from three days before ovulation through the day of ovulation. (Starting a little sooner can't hurt; some women have gotten pregnant from sex that happened six days before they ovulated.)

You have a range of days for baby-making sex because sperm can survive for five to six days in your body. (Your egg survives for only about a day.) That means if you have sex on Monday, sperm can survive in your fallopian tubes, waiting for an egg to float by, until around Thursday – or maybe even as late as Sunday.

If you're not sure when your fertile period will be, here's an easy rule of thumb: Hit the sheets every other day. Having sex this often means you'll have healthy sperm waiting in your fallopian tubes every day, ready to spring into action whenever your egg gets released.

(If you want to have sex more often than every other day, that's fine. It won't help you conceive faster, but it won't hurt, either.)

Another tip: If you and your partner are waiting to have sex until your most fertile time, make sure you haven't gone through too long of a dry spell beforehand. Your partner should ejaculate at least once in the days before your most fertile period. If he doesn't, there could be a buildup of dead sperm in his semen when it's go time, and dead sperm can't get you pregnant.
Trick #3: Lie down on the job

For a long time, no one really knew whether lying on your back after sex (to prevent sperm from leaking out) would help boost the chances that a sperm would successfully reach and fertilize your egg.

Now there's reason to believe that staying horizontal can help. In 2009, researchers in Amsterdam found that women who lay flat for 15 minutes after being artificially inseminated (that is, a doctor inserted sperm into their uterus) were 50 percent more likely to get pregnant than women who got up right away after the procedure.

While we can't be sure that the same is true for intercourse, this study suggests that staying put for a bit after sex could help your partner's sperm along. In any case, it doesn't hurt to try.
Trick #4: Enjoy the process

If you're in a rush to get pregnant, you might find yourself feeling anxious about it. While that's totally normal, you actually have a better shot at conceiving if you aren't stressed out. The hypothalamus – the gland in the brain that regulates the hormones of ovulation – doesn't function as well when you're stressed, which means you may ovulate later than usual or not at all that cycle.

So do whatever you can to enjoy the process of getting pregnant. Having fun with your sex life (instead of a "must conceive now," Type-A approach) will actually boost your chances of success. And if you're looking to keep things spicy, good news: No single sex position is more effective for baby-making than another.

Commonly Used Acute Migraine Treatments

Migraine is an episodic, unpredictable headache disorder that presents with disabling attacks. These migraine attacks can be successfully treated with acute medications. Some of these medications are available over the counter and are prescription medications. Acute medications fall into general classes of medicines including analgesics, ergotamines, and triptans.

Analgesics are considered nonspecific migraine medications as they work on pain systems in general, not just activated pain pathways involved in migraine. For example, if a patient has a sprained ankle and a migraine, an NSAID may help reduce the pain of both conditions. In contrast, triptans and ergotamines are more migraine-specific medications. This means they work on the pain pathways involved in migraine, but have no effect on other pain pathways such as those involved in a sprained ankle.

How can you tell you are taking the right medication for your migraine?

You can determine the success of your treatment by asking yourself the following questions:

Are you pain free in 2-4 hours?
Are you functioning normally in 3-4 hours?
Does your headache respond to treatment consistently at least 50 % of the time?
Are you comfortable with taking the treatment prescribed and still able to plan your day?

If you answered “No” to one or more of these questions, your treatment should be reassessed.
You can determine the success of your medication by treating as few as two or three headaches and monitoring your improvement, or lack thereof. Comparing two similar headaches with similar results predicts the 3rd headache result with about 70% accuracy.

To avoid continued failure of a give medication, assess whether you wait too long to take your before treating your headache. Delay in treating your migraine can make it more difficult for your headache to respond to the medication. For many patients, there is a “window of opportunity” during a migraine where there is an increased chance that the headache will respond to treatment. This window of opportunity occurs within the first two hours following onset of headache pain. This is why physicians work with their migraine patients in teaching them to treat earlier in the course of the attack, and if possible, treat when pain is mild.

Two important considerations when managing migraine

Make sure the headache is a migraine and
Restrict your use of acute migraine treatments to no more than 9 days per month. If you find that you need more acute medication than 9 days per month, then migraine prevention therapy is likely needed.

Analgesics & NSAIDs



Nonspecific pain medications
Readily available as over-the-counter remedies (including aspirin, naproxen sodium, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, among others)
Cost affordable
May be given as monotherapy or in combination with other agents (eg. acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine)
Should not be used in patients who have contraindications for using NSAIDs (hyperacidity syndromes such as ulcer, gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease, the triad of aspirin sensitivity, nasal polyps, and asthma and kidney disease)
Regular or even daily use of these medications may make headaches worse due to medication overuse

Ergotamine,
Ergot Combinations
Ergot Alkaloids (Dihydroergotamine)



There are currently several different formulations of ergotamine for the acute treatment of migraine including oral, rectal, or intranasal
Dihydroergotamine is available as an intranasal, intramuscular, or intravenous treatment
May work on more than just activated pathways in migraine
Nausea may be a side effect from these medications and also may be part of the migraine itself. Some patients may benefit in taking these agents with another medication to prevent nausea.

Triptans


Readily available with prescription
Seven different triptans (almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan)
Available as oral tablets, orally disintegrating tablets, nasal sprays and subcutaneous injection, so you may request a specific formulation if you have a preference.
More migraine specific
Some patients may find improved response to triptans if they take their medication early in the course of the attack when pain is mild.
Common triptan side effects may include tingling, sleepiness, flushing, throat or chest tightness




>Preventive Treatments
What are they?

Preventive medications are taken daily to prevent migraine attacks from occurring. They are not intended for use to treat an acute attack. Many different preventive medications are available, and the choice of medication depends on many factors such as co-existing conditions including high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, or pregnancy (among others). Therefore, choosing medications for preventive therapy can be a complex process. Before starting to take medications, several basic principles need to be considered:

The choice of a preventive medication needs to be tailored to meet each person's individual needs.
Co-existing medical conditions (such as depression, obesity, anxiety, among others), drug side effects, other medications being taken, and individual patient needs will help determine which medication a physician chooses.

Do you need migraine prevention?
Migraine patients do not want to suffer from an attack, so prevention is important, even if they suffer from only one attack a year. Those who suffer from frequent attacks will need more aggressive prevention strategies that sometimes include medication. This decision is made by discussing treatment and management options with your physician. Additionally, nonpharmacological prevention may help if you have:

Disabling attacks despite appropriate acute treatment
Frequent attacks (>1 per week)
Insufficient or no response to acute drug treatment
Poor tolerance or contraindications for specific acute pharmacological treatments
History of long-term, frequent, or excessive use of pain medications (analgesics) or acute medications that make headaches worse (or lead to decreased responsiveness to other drug therapies)
Patient preference

Goals of Preventive Therapy
Migraine prevention is intended to reduce the frequency, suffering and disability associated with migraine attacks. Unfortunately, preventive treatment strategies rarely eliminate migraine, but they can reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. The ultimate goals of migraine preventive therapy are to:

Reduce frequency, severity, and duration of attacks
Improve responsiveness to treatment of acute attacks
Reduce level of disability
Maintain cost of care for migraine treatments
Reduce excessive or overuse of acute medications

Which Treatment is right for you?
When deciding on preventive therapies, it is important to review with your doctor several important management principles:

Ask your physician what you can expect from the medication regarding its efficacy. In other words, as “What is the benefit likely to be for me when I take this medication?”
Low doses are used at first and gradually increased to higher doses as needed. Therefore, you may need to increase medication dose until the desired response is achieved.
Lower dosing frequency is often convenient; however, some medications may need to be taken twice or even three or four times a day. Discuss the dosing frequency of the medications and make sure it is a plan that is convenient and easy to follow. Otherwise, you may not take the medication as prescribed and the efficacy benefits may not be achieved.
It may take 2 to 3 months before you notice a decrease in the frequency or severity of attacks even after reaching “the beneficial dose”.
Treatment may be required for 6 to 12 months or longer.
All medications have potential side effects so any unusual symptoms should be reported to your physician. It is important to discuss potential side effects and how they may be avoided or treated if they appear. Different medications have different safety and costs factors and these may play a factor in deciding which medication is right for you.
Side effects can often be limited by using low doses, increasing the dose slowly, or allowing time to adjust to the medication. If you are not tolerating the medication and if you start to have side effects, contact your doctor to discuss changes to the treatment plan.
You should not suddenly stop taking preventive medications because of the risk of rebound headache or other side effects. Preventive medications need to be gradually tapered off after a period of sustained benefit.
Discuss any other possible health condition that may have an influence on your headaches including depression, hypertension, seizures, diabetes, menopause, anxiety, and asthma, among others. These illnesses may play an important role in deciding causes of your headaches and choosing treatment.
Preventive drugs can be used in a variety of different dosing strategies such monotherapy or polytherapy (several different medications) as:

One drug titrated to the ideal dose (monotherapy)
Two drugs typically from different drug classes used to less than maximal dose but used to complement each other and reduce the risk of side effects associated with each of the medications given in high doses
One drug switched for another drug in order to improve tolerance or efficacy
Three or more drugs in either maximal or submaximal doses typically added one after another due to inadequate response. Your preferences can strongly influence the selection of this process This is much like a trial and error process and may take a while before treatment success is identified and the desired efficacy is achieved

Adding different medications may be a preferred treatment strategy as many patients have migraine in addition to another condition that is commonly associated with migraine such as depression, anxiety or obesity. Recognizing that there may be several medical concerns is the first step in making sure each condition is treated optimally. Sometimes this is achieved with monotherapy, but often this may require polytherapy.

Commonly used preventive medications

Type of medication

Medication class

Generic name

Side effects
Blood pressure medications


Beta-Blockers

Atenolol
Metoprolol
Nadolol
Propranolol
Timolol


Fatigue
Depression
Nausea
Insomnia
Dizziness
Calcium channel blockers

Verapamil
Diltiazem
Nimodipine

Weight gain
Constipation
Dizziness
Low blood pressure
Antidepressants


Tricyclic antidepressants

Amitriptyline
Nortriptyline
Imipramine

Weight gain
Dry mouth
Sedation
Decreased libido (sex drive)

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI/SSNRI)

Fluoxetine
Paroxetine
Sertraline

Weight gain or loss
Decreased libido
Anticonvulsants



Divalproex sodium
Gabapentin
Topiramate

Weight gain or loss
Sedation
Skin rash
Serotonin antagonists



Methysergide
Methylergonovine

Blood vessel spasm
Abdominal scarring (very rare)
Unconventional treatments

Magnesium salts

Magnesium oxide, magnesium diglycinate, magnesium chloride slow release

Diarrhea
Vitamins

Riboflavin

Urine discoloration
Herbals

Mig-99 (Feverfew), Petasites

Burping, GI

Chugging cough syrup for an instant high certainly isn't a new practice for teens, who have raided the medicine cabinet for a quick, cheap, and legal high for decades. But unfortunately, this dangerous, potentially deadly practice is on the rise.

So it's important for parents to understand the risks and know how to prevent their kids from intentionally overdosing on cough and cold medicine.
Why Do Kids Abuse Cough and Cold Remedies?

Before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) replaced the narcotic codeine with dextromethorphan as an over-the-counter (OTC) cough suppressant in the 1970s, teens were simply guzzling down cough syrup for a quick buzz.

Over the years, teens discovered that they still could get high by taking large doses of any OTC medicine containing dextromethorphan (also called DXM).

Dextromethorphan-containing products — tablets, capsules, gel caps, lozenges, and syrups — are labeled DM, cough suppressant, or Tuss (or contain "tuss" in the title).

Medicines containing dextromethorphan are easy to find, affordable for cash-strapped teens, and perfectly legal. Getting access to the dangerous drug is often as easy as walking into the local drugstore with a few dollars or raiding the family medicine cabinet. And because it's found in over-the-counter medicines, many teens naively assume that DXM can't be dangerous.

Cherry Cough Syrup Recipe

Honey is the magic ingredient in this soothing syrup, but the cherries and lemon add a zingy punch of vitamin C.

Ingredients:

3 3/4 cups cherries (leave the pits in)
1 lemon, sliced
1 cup honey

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in a pan with enough water to cover. Simmer gently for about 30 minutes, or until the cherries are soft. Remove from the heat and strain out the solids, then allow to cool. Pour into a sterilized bottle.

Take 2 tablespoons, as required, to soothe coughing. Keeps for several days in the refrigerator.
Cranberry and Apple Crush Recipe

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a sharp, sour fruit grown mostly in wet meadows in North America. Although perhaps best known as an accompaniment to Christmas dinner, it has a long history of treating cystitis and other urinary tract infections. It is thought to work by preventing bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract and increasing the acidity of urine. If you suffer recurrent bouts of cystitis, regularly drinking homemade cranberry juice can help prevent further outbreaks (commercial juices are usually high in sugar). Cranberry is also used to help relieve the symptoms of acute attacks of cystitis, but you check with your family doctor first to make sure it is cystitis and nothing more serious.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cranberries
3/4 cup clear apple juice
1 cup water

Instructions:

Put all ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil. Simmer until cranberries are soft. Strain. Drink as often as necessary, adding a little sugar to taste.
Elderberry Throat Gel Recipe

Elderflowers are often made into health-giving cordials and teas, but tiny black elderberries (Sambucus nigra) are less commonly used — perhaps because they have a very short season. However, the berries contain many of the same essential compounds as the flowers and are traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory to soothe coughs, sore throats and bronchial infections, and to make sinus conditions looser. Elderberry has powerful antiviral properties that combat various flu strains and have been shown to shorten the duration of flu attacks, so it is extremely useful for children and the elderly during winter months.