Rebel forces in Mali went around national and French troops, on Monday.
In doing so they took the key town of Diabaly, in an hard fought battle with national forces.
French troops joined the war, on Friday, and had forced the rebels main push back.
However this flanking maneuver puts the Al Qaeda supported rebels closer yet to the capital of Bamako, a goal which France has pledged to keep from happening.
It also shows that the war will not be won, simply by the French showing up.
Five hundred and fifty French troops are already on the ground, and fighters and helicopters are being used to strike the rebels, from the air.
On Sunday, Britain and the US had announced they would immediately begin supporting France's efforts, the US with drones and intelligence, and the UK with transport planes.
Other European Union and African countries have pledged help, but they have not said when.
Burkina Faso, which lies to the south of Mali, set up military roadblocks along it's border to keep rebel forces out, while Mauritania, to the west, called up all troops as it went on high alert.
In a public statement he said: "I am deeply grateful for the wonderful doctors and nurses at The
Methodist Hospital who took such good care of me. Let me add just how touched we were by
the many get well messages we received from our friends and fellow
Americans. Your prayers and good wishes helped more than you know, and
as I head home my only concern is that I will not be able to thank each
of you for your kind words."
On November 7, the former President was admitted to Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, due to bronchitis.
He was released, on November 19, only to be readmitted, November 23, when his cough flared back up.
According to a spokesman, he had several setbacks, including a high fever, which required a move to the ICU, on December 23.
After a stay there through New Years he was allowed back to regular care.
At eighty-eight he is the oldest living former President of the United States.
While preparing to write today, I happened to catch a video of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In the video, he is seen playing in the snow with his family.
If you can ignore the security, all around, it looks like any family would on a rare snow, in Israel.
After I was done with my other writing, I randomly decided to go search pictures of snow in Israel, and talk about the joy Israelis were showing for the snow.
Most of the pictures show people building snowmen, like above, or are of the Wailing Wall and other landmarks, in the snow.
Then I happened upon this picture.
It shows a Palestinian man, in front of a mosque, with what he created with the snow.
Instead of joy and snowmen, you see that he made a missile, with the snow.
To add to it he put M75 on it.
For those unaware, M75 missiles were debuted in the latest fighting between Hamas and Israel.
M75 missiles are capable of striking Jerusalem, from the Gaza Strip.
Think that's one isolated incident?
Here's another picture of Palestinians in the snow.
A group of Palestinians made a tank, with snow.
They built it upon the trailer of a truck.
After they finished, they paraded it through the streets of Gaza.
These picture does so much to capture why there is not peace in the Middle East.
Israelis would gladly live in peace, they've even repeatedly offered their own lands, to gain it.
However, for Palestinians there can be no peace, as long as Israel exists.
They base their entire lives upon the death and destruction of their neighbors, even raising their children to have no other thought process.
Not even the magic of a rare snow can shake them from their mindset of war, death, and destruction.
For those that still want to see some of that magic, here's the video of Netanyahu:
Twenty thousand marched through Moscow, on Sunday.
They marched to show their outrage against Russian politicians for voting through a ban on American adoptions.
Other cities saw smaller protests, with only St. Petersburg's gathering more than a thousand.
It is but another sign of the widespread discontent for the Russian government.
Protest organizers are trying to use the public's anger to remind them that the current Russian government may have bought it's seats, rather than being duly elected.
The Kremlin used the protests to continue painting the opposition as anti Russian and being paid by the US.
Fourteen Pakistani soldiers were killed, while on patrol, Sunday.
Their patrol was hit by a roadside bomb, in the North Waziristan region. Twenty-one more were injured by the blast. Mujahideen Ansar, a group allied to the Taliban, claimed the bombing, saying it was in retaliation for Pakistan's allowing US drone strikes. On Saturday, the Taliban had called for a ceasefire, in the region, making it possible that Mujahideen Ansar was also showing no cease fire would be acceptable.
Flu season is here again and nobody wants a cold or the flu. Here are some tips to help prevent the spread of cold or flu and some ways to help you feel better if you get sick.
Symptoms:
Fever *Not everyone with the flu will have a fever.
Cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Headache
Chills
Fatigue
Diarrhea and vomiting *Sometimes
A flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common. This year's vaccine has only been moderately (sixty-two perecent) effective in preventing the flue. So it is important, whether you have had the vaccine, or not, to follow these tips to help prevent getting the flu.
Wash your hands often, with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol base hand rub. This is the number one way to prevent the spread of infection. Teach children to wash their hands.
Clean hands prevent the flu:
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs, like the flu.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If someone is coughing or sneezing, try to stay at least six feet away, from them.
If you are sick with a cold or flu, prevent the spread to others.
The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least twenty-four hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever reducing medicine.)
While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible, to keep from infecting them.
When you sneeze or cough, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sneeze/cough into your elbow, not your hand. Throw used tissues into the trash.
Remember: Colds and flu are viruses and antibiotics will not help you, unless you have a bacterial infection on top of the viral cold/flu infection.
Care for yourself when you are sick:
Get plenty of rest, give your body time to recover.
Eat lightly and keep hydrated. You may have a poor appetite, that is normal when you are sick. It is important to drink and keep hydrated. Hot tea with honey and lemon are helpful, if you have a sore throat and/or cough.
If you are congested, it may be helpful to avoid dairy, which increases mucous production.
There are medicines available, over the counter, to treat fever, cough, and congestion. Read labels carefully and follow directions. Do not take more than the recommended dosage. Pay particular attention to "cold medicines" that have multiple ingredients. Exampe: If a cold medicine has acetaminophen, don't take additional acetaminophen (Tylenol), as you can overdose and damage your liver.
It's prefer to treat symptoms and use medicine for each symptom. Yes, you will be taking more medicine, but you will not be taking more dosage of each medicine and you will customize your medicine to only those symptoms you have. You will not be taking medicine for symptoms you don't have. Example: If you don't have a cough, there's no reason for you to take something that has cough medicine in it. If symptoms persist, or get worse, see a doctor.
Certain people are at greater risk of serious flu related complications. This includes young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with certain long term medical conditions. If you are in a high risk group and develop flu symptoms, it's best for you to contact you doctor. Remind them about your high risk for the flu.
CDC Emergency warning signs:
In children:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:
Inability to eat
Trouble breathing
No tears when crying
Significantly fewer wet diapers, than normal
In adults:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu like symptoms that improve, but then return with fever and worse cough
This video was made for healthcare workers, but it's fun for everyone.
