Update on Swine Flu

I was checking out a new update from Dr. Mercola. It was a video interview with retired pediatric neurosurgeon Russell Baylock. You can find Baylock on Youtube discussing things such as aspartame and all the other little nasty poisons they put in our food.

Apparently Dr. Baylock has been researching the proposed flu vaccine. He's cool. He knows everything I know about how harmful vaccines can be and more. He has particularly looked the one which is currently being mass produced for swine flu.

Let me start out by saying, I have never in my life had a vaccination and I don't intend to. My mother believed them to be harmful, as they are now proving. Back then we had to lie to the school and say it was against our religion. I don't know if you could get away with that today. I might mention I never got sick and went about 15 years without even so much as a cold or flu. In fact someone once said, you could cut Shirley's head off and sew it back on and she would be fine in a week. I thought that made perfect sense at the time.

Unfortunately about 12 years ago I became mortal. Now I get the flu like everyone else and it sucks. I even had a thyroid condition and that really sucked. But I guess I am lucky I made it as long as I did without incident.

Anyway, Dr. Baylock explains how it is well documented that vaccines cause autoimmune disease, such as lupus and brain disease such as Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimers, slow learning, which show up 10 to 20 years down the road.

There has been a lot of scandal associated with vaccines in the past. When they vaccinated for Hong Kong flu that had swept through the US, the vaccination killed a lot of people. The polio vaccine SV40 is another well known scandal.

Anyway, according to Baylock the company that is making the swine vaccine said no one gets the vaccine for free. So I guess the victims have to pay to get brain damage and autoimmune disease.

At least one state is considering mandatory swine flu vaccinations. Guess we know who lined their pockets.

Queen of Massage CEs

Slow Times

The 90s hit a slow period but nothing, I think, compared to now. In the early 90s, the economy was hurting. I stayed at work all day into the evening, every day, hoping someone would call or drop in.

I considered brown bagging my lunch instead of buying out. I considered braving the vicious traffic by biking to work to save on gas.

This time around, I am in fact bringing my lunches to work but not biking because it is too unsafe and not worth dying for. This time things are worse than the 90s. Where is everybody? Where are my clients? What happened to them? Are they hanging on to their money or are they perhaps unemployed? Those that do come in tell me their work is slow.

But just like the 90s, we have to cut back on overhead and dig our heels in and wait it out.

I am grateful to be in this industry. So many are losing their jobs who work for corporations and business that have gone under. Yes our income is generally tied to piece work but we are not likely to be fired. And working for myself is even better because I make the decision when to fire me.

Queen of Massage CEs

Good Ol' MRSA

MSRA, the deadly staph infection that is systematically working its way through schools, gyms and hospitals, has now revealed itself on the beaches of Washington State. Found previously in Florida beaches, it obviously is traveling.

Researchers are recommending people cover scrapes and cuts before entering the water. I think that's a given even if there were no MRSA. The sea is full of microbes of all sorts not opposed to finding a new home in us.

One of the reasons that MRSA is so troubling is that it is immune to antibiotics. Scientists have long warned that this would happen as a result of indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

I wrote a textbook on MRSA for the ce school, which explains how serious it is. One of the ways for massage therapists to avoid contracting it is vigorous hand washing. Singing "Happy Birthday" twice covers the time period in which to achieve this. This is all the more reason to avoid open sores and cuts on the surface of clients' skin.

Queen of Massage CEs

Swine Flu... Close Shop?

I've been thinking about the swine flu. I remember a German measles outbreak in the days before vaccines became popular. I thought I was safe barricaded in an apartment with my newborn, waiting it out. This is how interesting airborne viruses are, without coming in contact with another soul, I caught the mumps instead. It must have come through a window.

Viruses have my utmost respect. I have been asking myself at what point I would lock up and try once more to wait it out.

On the other hand I may be overreacting. The Centers for Disease Control anticipate the worse problem they will have is congestion of hospitals and clinics because of mass outbreaks.

Oddly this flu is more virulent for an age group not normally seen as having problems. In the Mexico outbreak, 87% of the deaths were ages 5-59. This is not unlike the infamous Spanish flu that roared through most of the world in 1918. It was an H1N1 flu as well but a whole lot meaner.

Bottom line...wash hands. The virus can survive on a surface for 2 to 8 hours. We have to be aware not to touch our eyes, mouth or nose if we come in contact with a surface which may be contaminated. Also, if someone with the flu has difficulty breathing, they should not wait but seek medical help right away.

Now if only the clients would be kind enough not to come in when they're feeling sick. Then we massage therapists would have it made. Since there is not much hope in that, I am almost resigned to getting it.

A friend of a friend got it and she was very ill for a week. But what's with that Texas family in the news who had it and were chatting like it was nothing? I think it's like trying to avoid the measles and catching the mumps. It's really up to the virus.

Queen of Massage CEs

Credit Card Processors Are Nuts

My credit card processor for my massage practice wanted everything but my first born. So I went looking.

The well known processor I found presented me with a 46 page contract. Furthermore, the most important elements of the contract were disguised as a procedures manual.

The contract stated they could inspect my business looking at anything they want including my records at any time. I would be responsible for paying the air fare and hotel bill when they came from across the country.

I would have to agree they would be my only processor. The salesperson told me the contract did not mean that, but since the contract was also unamendable, I took it to mean exactly what it said.

They were totally unwilling to negotiate the terms. Even explanations offered by the salesperson were not binding on the company.

I was forbidden from talking about the contract if I signed it.

Beware of early termination fees and the length of the contract. This particular contract called for a three year commitment or an early termination fee of $500.00.

I think there are reasonably priced processors out there with decent contracts. Maybe I'll find one some day. Then I will post it here.

Queen of Massage CEs

California massage therapists left dangling

Update on some of the cities and their moratoriums.

Some of the California cities with moratoriums are including new massage business licenses in their ban.

They think this will give them the time they need to consult their attorneys after they know what protections CAMTC is willing to enforce. This should not prevent a California certificated massage therapist from working at an existing licensed establish in the meanwhile according to an email from the Council. However, some cities are likely to dispute this interpretation.



Queen of Massage CEs

California Massage Certification now taking applications

The California Massage Therapy Council or CAMTC for short, is now taking applications.

Currently their website says cities cannot require operators permits from solo or exclusively certified massage therapists establishments. The cities may have some problems with that as many of them would surely like to have that edge of control over the massage industry.

However, the state statute that put CAMTC in place does says that certified massage therapists "... shall not be required to obtain any other license, permit, or other authorization, except as provided in this section,.." (The law provides that therapists have to obtain a business license if it is required by the city or county, whichever applies.)

Some cities are putting in moratoriums on new massage business permits and massage therapist licenses. The city therapist licenses should not be required by state certified massage therapists in any case. However, the question remains can they open a new massage business. I suppose we will have to see as cases come up.

If anyone is looking for subdivision (h) of Section 4603 as described in the statute, it is not a Penal Code as suggested by the context. They are most likely referring to the Business and Professions Code section: "(h) Committing any act punishable as a sexually related crime."

There may be a problem with Nationally certified massage therapists calling themselves certified, if they are not certified by CAMTC. There is no exact prohibition against nationally certified therapists calling themselves nationally certified therapists. But there appears to be a problem using the word "certified." Hopefully this will be resolved.

The Queen of Massage CEs