Dr. Richard Schabas, who was Ontario’s chief medical officer of health from 1987 to 1997, is quoted as saying “Sometimes some of us think WHO stands for the ‘World Hysteria Organization,’ There seems to be a culture at WHO where they’ve convinced themselves that a pandemic is such an imminent danger that they overreact.”

The following appeared in an article in The National Post titled WHO’s credibility questioned as pandemic fears fade
written by Andrew Mayeda and published: Friday, May 08, 2009.

WHO officials have again raised the spectre of 1918, noting the Spanish flu originally appeared in a mild form in the spring of that year, before returning with a vengeance in the fall.

But skeptics such as Dr. Schabas dismiss such warnings as speculation.

Dr. Schabas argues WHO should have a much more complete picture of a disease’s origins and severity before raising its alert level. “Their credibility is suffering. How many more times do they have to ring the alarm before people stop paying attention?”

Part of the problem might lie in the apparent gulf between the public’s perception of a pandemic and WHO’s technical definition.

WHO’s original version of its alert scale, developed in 1999, said a pandemic involves “serious morbidity and mortality.” But its current system makes no explicit reference to the deadliness of an outbreak.

In other words, it’s possible WHO could declare a pandemic that would be no more lethal than the seasonal flu, which kills 250,000 to 500,000 people globally every year.

Technorati Tags: chief medical officer of health, Dr. Richard Schabas, flu, H1N1, Swine Flu, WHO, World Health Organization, World Hysteria Organization

I arrived home from Brussels to find a package from Mary Ann, a Christmas gift, of two Mystic Harmony albums Mystic Christmas and Kindle a Flame. How thoughtful! You can listen online to a number of the songs.

I have been enjoying listening to the albums often… they transport me.

Mary Ann Brundage

Mary Anne is a classically-trained musician whose first love is folk music.

She has undergraduate and masters degrees in music performance from George Mason University and has spent over a dozen years working as a professional music director for churches. All the while she had been hearing a certain musical “sound” in her head that she longed to express.

Eight years ago she was lucky enough to come together with two other people that shared a musical vision and desire to create that sound in the world as Mystic Harmony. It began a journey of weaving friendships, lives, music, collaboration, leading and being led, and constant attempts to create that “sound” that would not go away.

Each album is the next step of realizing it with more clarity and purpose. A vision that continues to unfold…

Mystic Harmony Trio

Mystic Harmony is a trio of musicians described as having beautiful voices and instrumental artistry, who began playing Celtic-influenced folk music together in 2000. They write about their music:

Our songs combine both old and new melodies with words that offer inspiration and comfort to listeners. Listening to bending and bittersweet notes and the mix of minor and major keys, we are lifted up by music that touches the heart and soul. We hope our music inspires a sense of mystery, wonder and connection for you.

Comments on Mystic Harmony Performances

“It has been some time since a vocal group has happened upon the scene to test the long standing position held by three or four of the world’s more prominent Celtic artists and performers. Mystic Harmony, a trio made up of Mary Anne Brundage, Janet Booth and Janice Mawson are very likely contenders. Their silky blending of Celtic, World and even, yes, opera on their new album Kindle a Flame will lull you into a megacosm of sweet emotion and crystalline beauty. Traditional Celtic songs, hymns, instrumentals, and folk music are their mainstay. Their cathedral-filling sound and elaborate echoing arrangements are contemplative and uplifting. I think that Mystic Harmony has hit upon a winning combination of songs and instrumentals that testify daily that there is still a strong dependence on faith in the world. There is always hope. Kindle a Flame is one of the best debut CDs I’ve heard in a while.” - RJ Lannan, The New Age Reporter

“When I first received Kindle a Flame by Mystic Harmony, I was already dreading listening to it. With a name like Mystic Harmony, I thought I was in for some new-age torture. Am I ever so glad that I was wrong! I was caught off guard by Mystic Harmony’s three beautiful voices and, as a lover of Celtic music, I instantly knew I had a CD treasure in my possession…If you enjoy Celtic music and can appreciate strong, passionate, yet spiritual harmonizing vocals, you now know about some mystics that can kindle your flame.” - Wil Owen, Rambles (cultural arts magazine)

“The band Mystic Harmony played to a SRO crowd at Jammin’ Java…CDs were flying off the shelves after the concert.” - Daniel Brindley, Jammin’ Java music club, Vienna VA

“Celtic inspirational music is the theme that Mystic Harmony explores throughout “Kindle a Flame”. They beckon you to take a journey, and a spiritual one at that, towards the center of your soul via their enigmatic melodies and lush instrumentation. Peaceful and cathartic, Mystic Harmony reside in Northern Virginia and have played Celtic-inspired folk music and ambient New Age for years. Truly an album that will make your body tingle.” - J-Sin, Smother Magazine

Check ‘em Out

Check out the Mystic Harmony website or the Mystic Harmony Blog.

Technorati Tags: Kindle a Flame, Mary Anne Brundage, Mystic Christmas, Mystic Harmony

One of the most exciting parts of this busyness has been my return to working full time as a recruiter / headhunter with a focus on information technology.

And I have returned to the recruiting firm that I had begun my recruiting career with in 1998 and had left in 1999 to set-up my own shop- Innovative Managment Solutions Group that is owned by Mike Grady.

I have created my personal recruiting blog at richardward.ca.

My recruiting career fell apart following a car accident and the resulting Subtle Acquired Brain Injury problems in 2000 and a heart attack in 2004.

Returning to recruiting represents a major, a quantum, leap in getting my life back on track and would not have been possible without the Shamanic healing, help, guidance and love of my teachers Jeannette McCullough and Martha Lucier and beginning last year the inspired medical treatment of Dr. John Thornton, M.D. a colleague of Dr. Daniel Amen plus the loving prayers of Michele Blood and my loving Soul Friends in the Mystical Success Club.

Of course my Spirit Guides and Teachers and Power Animals are with me constantly and help me to strengthen my connection with the Great Mystery in every moment.

While the 8 years following the car accident and the 4 years since the heart attack have been very, very difficult, a real struggle, it has been through these experiences that I have begun to truly experience my connection to the Source. Who would have thought such a Blessing possible.

Technorati Tags: headhunter, recruiter, Richard Ward

I arrived at Pearson a couple of early to avoid standing in line for hours. I was through checkin in about 15 minutes and made my way to the Continetal gate. Beautiful clear skies and sunny. Perfect. My flight was scheduled to depart for Newark, the first leg of my trip, at 2:10pm.

Started to notice flight delays and cancellations on the monitor. Hmmmmmm. Turns out that there was lots of snow and freezing drizzle in Newark. Yikes. Then we were told that our flight was delayed and there would be an update at 1:30. I had almost three hours between arriving in Newark to get connected to Brussels.

We then told that our plane would be late but that it had left Newark. The plane would reach Toronto at 3:00 and we would depart at 3:30. Lots of time.

The plane did arrive at 3:00 but 3:30 became 4:00 and then 4:30. We were told there were delays in Newark as well so connections could be made. OK.

We board the plane. The turboprops wind up and we - don’t move. Ground crew moves around the plane with shovels. There is a strong wind outside but not a lot of snow except for drifts. The engines wind up again and we go - nowhere. The flight deck announces that the brakes are frozen. We sit and wait for a fix. 40 minutes passes. We are deplaned.

I am offered a standby on Lufthansa to Dusseldorf at 9:55pm that night with a guaranteed seat to Brussels. However, all the planes have been full that day and no standbys had been getting on. So I opted to get rebooked on Continetal. Nothing available for today - December 22 - so I am scheduled to fly out tomorrow morning December 23.

hohohohoho - A merry Christmas to all.

Technorati Tags: air travel

Read and learn how to…
Become A Magnet To Money
by Bob Proctor and Michele Blood

and

And learn how to raise your awareness and enter…
The Sea of Unlimited Consciousness!
by Michele Blood

This book holds powerful lessons to help you become a wealthy independent soul.

If you have been on the path and feel that your spiritual studies and practices are no longer working this book may illuminate you, that is the intention.

Every book of true spiritual wisdom we have read has brought about some measure of higher awareness to our consciousness, what might be called the melting down of ice or peeling of an onion to who we really are.

Each book, seminar, or spiritual experience has been taken into consciousness and has prepared us for the next spiritual realization.

As we awaken more to the Truth of who we really, we begin to live in two worlds: one of Light and one of the so called real world. This can be a challenge to an open heart. Those who have had a true spiritual awakening, discover coming back down to earth where bills have to be paid and business conducted to be very challenging and even painful.

It changed my life. Great book, with a holistic approach to success and abundance. In my life as a scientist and also as a student for many years of eastern philosophy I found this to be the most simple explanation of great, timeless, spiritual truths about success and consciousness.

Nandini V. Katre, Ph.D.
award winning scientist and
author of “What’s Science Got To Do With It”

You can find out more detailed information about this fascinating book at
Become a magnet to money.

Technorati Tags: Bob Proctor, Michele Blood