Norman Carr Safaris, Zambia

Who They Are

Norman Carr Safaris consists of Kapani Lodge, an eight-room luxury lodge  adjacent to the South Luangwa National Park, and four seasonal luxurious bush camps, dotted in isolated areas of the park, each with its own personality (some tented, some built with reeds). Even though they are called bush camps, they are completely rebuilt every season, all en-suite with

Elephant Walk

open-air showers and no attention to detail spared. Unlike many camps in the area, which have to be temporary structures because of heavy rain November through May, Kapani Lodge is open year-round. Game drives and boat activities are the norm at Kapani, walks (from camp to camp) or drives are offered at the bush camps.

Mchenja Bush Camp

What They Are Doing

Education

Norman Carr started the Kapani School Project in 1986 to assist a “casual” school already there. Guests are invited to visit the school (if they express a desire), and thereby encouraging them to make donations. The meet the teachers and the children and invariably leave donations. The company provides all administration and support, and employ 1.5 people to run the administration sideof the project. The primary aim is to provide education (including books and clothing) to local children who would otherwise have none.

Yosefe School

NCS also provides the infrastructure for Yosefe School, between Mfuwe and the park, and over the years has built three classroom blocks, six houses for teacher accommodation,  fully stocked library, ablution blocks, a laboratory and a borehole that provides drinking water for the whole community

In addition, Yosefe also has a tree-planting project that is managed by NCS at the school although maintained by the children. There are a couple of “plantations” at Yosefe School, and in the past NCS has given trees to the children to plant in their villages, although this has been dormant for a couple of years.

Medicine

NCS supports (along with about ten other safari operators in the Mfuwe area) the Kakumbi Clinic Project, which brings out a doctor from overseas for up to six months and provides healthcare to the entire community. The project also maintains the local clinic and provides medicines.

Wildlife

NCS is a corporate sponsor and member of the South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS), which works in conjunction with the Zambian Parks Authorities to protect and conserve the natural resources. The society funds an anti-poaching team to patrol the Park, and who are trained, fitted with uniforms and anti-poaching necessities, housed and fed, and are called on whenever there are snared animals that need assistance, when they dart them, remove snares and doctor the animals.

Other

The society also manages a community school in the Mfuwe area. In order to help locals protect their crops from elephants, the society grows chillies that they then teach farmers how to use as a deterrent.

In Their Own Words

Norman Carr

“Ever since Norman Carr first started operating safaris in the Luangwa valley back in 1950, the concept of managing the wildlife and the ecosystem in conjunction with, and for the benefit of, its traditional owners — the local communities — is something that has been very important to our company. He was a pioneer in this approach to conservation and wildlife tourism, and the company is proud to uphold his legacy.“

Norman Carr Safaris consists of Kapani Lodge, an eight-room luxury lodge adjacent to the South Luangwa National Park, and four seasonal luxurious bush camps, dotted in isolated areas of the park, each with its own personality (some tented, some built with reeds). Even though they are called bush camps, they are completely rebuilt every season, all en-suite with open-air showers and no attention to detail spared. Unlike many camps in the area, which have to be temporary structures because of heavy rain November through May, Kapani Lodge is open year-round. Game drives and boat activities are the norm at Kapani, walks (from camp to camp) or drives are offered at the bush camps.

Predicting Drug Response from Brain Waves

Mind reading: The system above was used to predict whether patients should be kept on one antidepressant or switched to another. The strap around the subject’s head contains electrodes that pick up brain waves. The strap hooks up to a hockey-puck-size device that digitizes and filters the EEG signal before sending it on to a laptop for processing.   Credit: Aspect Medical Systems

Brain waves measured using a simple device just one week into treatment can indicate whether a depressed patient should continue taking a medication or be switched to another. The study, which was conducted at nine sites across the U.S., could significantly reduce the time it takes to effectively treat major depression.

“Selecting the right antidepressant medication is a bit of a shot in the dark,” says Andrew Leuchter, professor of psychiatry at UCLA and lead author of the study. “The first medicine we choose only gets the patient well about a third of the time.”

Antidepressants must be taken for approximately eight weeks before it’s clear whether or not the medicine will have an effect. Patients frequently have to try two to three medications before finding an effective one, meaning the search for the right medication can take many months. “This leads to prolonged disability, prolonged suffering, and the chance that the patient may never get well,” says Leuchter. “Some patients say, ‘I don’t need this,’ and drop out of treatment.” The testing process studied by Leuchter and his colleagues, which takes only 15 minutes, could help those suffering from depression find relief faster.

For the study, the researchers used a customized version of a quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) system to study the brainwave patterns of 375 people suffering from major depression. The device, developed by Aspect Medical Systems of Norwood, MA, consists of a few electrodes mounted on a strap that is worn across the patient’s head. (Aspect Medical provided funding for the study and employs Leuchter as a consultant. Leuchter is also a minor shareholder in the firm.) The strap hooks up to a hockey-puck-size device that digitizes and filters the EEG signal, as well as performing some basic processing. That device plugs into a laptop computer, which does the bulk of the signal analysis.

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/23509/

Flu Shot

The CDC website lists the side effects of a flu shot as:

• Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
• Fever (low grade)
• Aches

I was given a flu shot last Friday at my doctor’s office  (having never received one before.)  About fifteen minutes after the injection I became nauseated.  Every day since then, including today, I have had nausea that persists, almost to the point of being never-ending.  I am not certain that the flu shot caused this, as I am on other medication.  However, none of my medication is new, and I have not had uncomfortable side effects like this before with them.  I am also experiencing soreness at the injection site  (feels like I’ve been punched there).  I’m not sure how common this is with people who receive flu shots, or if it is a side effect of it, but it is keeping me from being able to do my normal, everyday activities.  I have been laying down a lot, and small tasks have become very stressful.  I will talk with my doctor if this persists, but hopefully it will be a passing problem.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/FLU/protect/keyfacts.htm

Acute Pancreatitis

Etiology
I GET SMASHED

I diopathic
G allstones
E thanol
T rauma
S teroids
M umps
A utoimmune
S corpion Venom (Trinidad)
H ypothermia / Hyperlipidaemia
E RCP
D rugs

Mgmt

1. Fluid
2. Pain Control
3. Gut rest
4. Abx (if +WBC, +fever, etc.)

Predicting Severity using Ranson’s Criteria

On admission…

G. A. L A W
Age > 55
WBC > 16,000 cells/mm3
Glu > 11 mmol/L or 200 mg/dL
AST > 250 IU/L
LDH > 350 IU/L

@ 48 hrs…

C. H O B B S
Ca 10% drop
O2 4 mEq/L
Sequestration of fluids > 6 L

A Watery Day

note: There is a prayer at the end of this entry. I invite you to invoke it along with me.

Today’s a watery day.

Blue, blue, blue. Wearing the new necklace I designed: blue ribbon, lapis, deep turquoise, crashing wave clasp. Blue shirt, blue hair, blue suede shoes, blue jeans.

Walking across the sound, wind wiping through, choppy tides, seal bobbing; I feel watery. A need for water. Sleep hazy, middle of the night, grateful for cool air and the sound of rain. I need water inside and out. Drinking water, drawing in water, water into my soul.

Walking around Capitol Lake, enjoying the feel of the choppy water, enjoying the sound of water, the tree branches tossing in the water, beating against the cement walls of this manmade lake. Wondering about the legislator who wanted to look down into a lake, tame. Was the Sound too wild?  Feeling drawn in, I must look closer, it’s me. Beating against the walls I’ve constructed in my self. Familiar imagery. Reminiscent of high school and a me I hated. Feeling walled in, beating my head against a wall, didn’t know I could go around it, didn’t know I created it, didn’t know how it protected me. I’ve been tearing down walls inside me and yet more remain.

Step up on the ledge, watching the waves crashing against the edge. Look down. A statue. A goddess. In the water, shimmering gold. It’s Ganesha. Destroyer of Obstacles. A moment of peace, a respite in this mad transition. You are not alone, you are not alone. Ganesh in his watery domain. A watery grave. Gravestones all around. Cardboard tombstones, rows and rows of names.

A seagull cries. A feather in my hand, as I’m walking. Drawn to the grocery store, because I need to eat, eat more than the vegan fare I’ve given myself. I’m thirsty. Thirsting for moreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee than this, craving water, water. Staring at the salmon behind the glass window, wishing I didn’t want it. Wishing my soul and body didn’t crave this animal’s flesh. But it does and I can’t deny myself any longer. I can’t pretend I don’t want it any longer. Two inches, please. I eat it cold. And my Vegan heart is crying, but I’m so grateful. Thank you, thank you, I think over and over. Gratitude pours out of me. I can’t eat it fast enough, my hands are shaking. Still I wish I didn’t need it. Gratitude isn’t enough to alleviate the guilt I feel.

As I watch the tides and wind move the Sound over the stones below me, it occurs to me eating this salmon is yet another way to consume water. I love the sun and the blue skies, the quickly moving fluffy white clouds. But I yearn for rain. Water me. Water my dry parched soul.

Salmon in my dreams. Salmon, my birth totem. Salmon, the magic of this place. Why am I so thirsty?

What am I craving? Why do I need so much water?

Water to sooth. Water: the depths of emotion and subconscious, the well from which inspiration comes.

Water to sooth my burning heart. Too much fire. Too much fire this year, unfinished fire. I can’t finish projects. I realize that I blame myself for leaving Portland, for leaving my temple. I’ve failed. I let my fire burn too hot, too bright, and I’ve burnt myself. Cool, cool water, aloe, sooth my hurts. My fire self ripped open the wounds, too many wounds to deal with. Heal! Now! My fire self wants it all now. Accomplish! Now! My fire self wants it all now. My sun self misses the light. My moon self has gotten all the love this past year and a half. My feminine, my moon. The masculine doesn’t know what to do with itself when not in control. The masculine doesn’t know how to be when not in control.  The masculine doesn’t know how to be second– the moon reflects the sun, patriarchy says. But my moon is the sun. My sun is my moon, we’re all the same.

Balance. Sun becoming moon. Moon becoming male. Fire into water, water into air, air into earth. Move beyond duality, beyond paradox, into something more. It hurts. Transformation. Release the need for hurt and transform with ease and grace. Slip through change like gently flowing waters. Dance through change like a flitting flame. Butterfly. Lovely. Release yourself from bondage. Chains of thought patterns and old ways of being. Live a new life. Allow in adventure.

Ganesh says, let me help. In the waters of your soul and body I am. Goddess, The Dark Moon, Dark Lady: let me change you! Let me transform you. Let me tear you apart, to let your light out. I am Destruction. I am the Breath of Creation. Fire and Water destroy with tenacity. I am all you need. Let me build a new you. From the souls of each molecule, a new you. Accept it. It will happen whether you will or no.

Goddess, Dark Creatrix, Ganesh, I open to accepting the gifts and support you offer. Into the core of my being, into each cell of this body, I accept the change you offer. I recognize my existence as change embodied. I am the dance of fire, flitting through time and experience. I am smooth running water, gracefully slipping across life’s experiences. I am your child. I AM that I AM. I see each experience as Divine expressions of my soul. I am forever grateful to participate in this Great Mystery.

Top 5 Medical Tourism Destinations (U.S. at #5)

From Property Abroad (via Carpe Diem):

Medical tourism is where people travel abroad to receive medical treatments like cosmetic surgery, which they could not afford in their own country.

Those travelling abroad for such treatments usually come from developed countries, where treatments are very expensive. The UK and the US are two of the biggest markets. That said: wealthy people in countries with poor health sectors often travel to countries that offer better healthcare for major treatments.

When people travel abroad for medical treatments they have two main criteria: cost and quality of healthcare.

They are looking for a place that they can both get to and be treated in cheaply, but which has a top-class health sector so that they know they will be safe. Below are three destinations which meet the criteria for perfect medical tourism destinations, and as such are some of the most popular destinations with medical tourists.

Malaysia:

Malaysia was recently found to be the most popular medical tourism destination with the growing numbers of Asia’s wealthiest. They travel to Malaysia for major treatments because it has one of the best health services in, not only Asia, but the world.

Malaysia is also one of the most popular destinations with those travelling from English speaking destinations (US and UK). This is because, as an ex-British colony there is a high prevalence of English speakers in the health sector. Tourism from the two combines to make Malaysia one of the fastest growing medical tourism destinations, and well worth a property investment tailored to that market.

Costa Rica:

Costa Rica is massively popular with American medical tourists. Costa Rica disbanded the military in 1980 because of the safety and stability of the country. This makes people feel safe about visiting the country, but it also freed up billions of dollars to spend on education on healthcare.

For that reason Costa Rica now has one of the best, and most efficient health sectors in the world. Of the top destinations Costa Rica is also among the cheapest for procedures, which makes it very popular with medical tourists from around the world including the UK.

India:

India also benefits from cost effectiveness when it comes to medical tourism. People from around the world can afford surgeries and procedures in India that they would never be able to afford in the UK or even America. India is also an ex-British colony, and for that reason it has a developed, very efficient and safe health service, which again is a draw for medical tourists from abroad and within the region.

Brazil:

Brazil is fast growing into an economic giant, on the back of its massive production and agricultural sectors, and massive growth in the services sector fuelled in part by tourism growth. Though Brazil has been affected by the international downturn, it is a testament to its economic potential that its recession only lasted 2 quarters with growth resuming at 1.9% in Q2.

Over the years of economic growth, developing the infrastructure, including the health services has been a major priority of the government(s). The fact that it has been a success is testified to by FIFA choosing Brazil as host for the 2014 World Cup.

America:

Yes, that’s right. America is a medical tourism destination. In fact it is one of the longest-standing medical tourism destinations in the world. That’s right: Brits have been taking advantage of the dollar exchange rate and travelling to America to get their bits tucked in or pushed out since the 80s.

America’s health service is first-rate. Brits trust it because it is on a par with the UK (please don’t start a politics debate), and procedures are just over half the price they would be in the UK — used to be half the price before the Pound plummeted.

Extras:

Panama is also a popular destination with American medical tourists. Its economy grew by an average 10% every year for the last few years, and a lot of this increased revenue was invested in improving the infrastructure, including the health service. Now Panama has an excellent health service and — despite the dollarized economy — surgery is still cheaper than America.

Many Americans are also travelling to Mexico for cosmetic surgery on the cheap. While Mexico’s health service isn’t known for being world class, there are some decent surgeons and people are finding them through word of mouth. Of course there are some horror stories as well from Mexico, so don’t go unless you know.

Medicate Yourself With Style

If you are looking to make a statement with your medical accessories, you may want to look into this line of “Help Remedies” by Adam Winski and Richard Fine.  The three varieties available contain acetaminophen tablets for headaches, dramamine for sleep, and bandages for cuts, all of which are packaged in these stylish recyclable materials.

I caught these on display at Moss in the Bazaar at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. You could go there for the superb tapas and liquid nitrogen caipirinhas or just some headache medicine.

Enfuego.

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