Pamela Q. Fernandes's Blog, page 11

COVID Vaccine: Everything You Need To Know

Here’s everything you need to know about the COVID vaccine. I decided to do a post because there are so many theories and interviews floating out there. Many of the people giving these interviews have failed to disclose their conflict of interests. That is, having shares in said pharma companies creating these vaccines or working on them prior which makes their endorsement questionable.

So my own involvement. I don’t have a dog or cat in this fight. I’m not involved with any company or have investments with pharma. I do not work with any company mentioned here. I’m just providing an unbiased view of the vaccines and their mechanism of action (MOA).

COVID Vaccine: Everything You Need To Know: Terms

Immunity: This is the the ability to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.

Herd Immunity: ‘Herd immunity’ is also known as ‘population immunity.’ Here a population is immune indirectly through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection. Polio and several other vaccines work based on herd immunity.

HIT =Ro -1/ Ro

Case: The WHO has changed its definition several times over the last year. As far as the thinking, intelligent scientific community is concerned, a case is defined as a person with symptoms plus a confirmatory diagnostic test. This includes an assay. Different countries have bungled this up and so have a high number of cases. A positive Antigen test is not a case especially if only tested via PCR. I’ve personally had friends who tested positive on the PCR only to have tested negative the following day. The CDC guidelines also confirm this as they’re definition is based on the presence or absence of symptoms.

R rate/Basic reproduction number = Rox

Where Ro is infections producing contacts per unit time and X is the mean infectious period.

The effective reproduction number (R) is an indicator of how fast an infection spreads in a population. The R number must be sustained under 1 for an epidemic to come to an end.

Vaccine: A preparation that triggers your immune response and prepares it for future infections.

Types of Vaccines

Unfortunately, the media hasn’t been reporting on the sheer variety of vaccines that are available today.

Here’s a table from the CDC with a list of approved vaccines.

Vaccine NameTypeDeveloperOriginApproval1. Comirnaty (BNT162b2)mRNA-based vaccinePfizer, BioNTech; Fosun PharmaMultinationalUnited Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, Mexico, US, Singapore, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jordan, Panama, Chile, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Switzerland, Kuwait, EU, Philippines, Pakistan, Colombia, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Malaysia, Norway, Serbia, Hong Kong, Albania, Australia2. Moderna COVID‑19 Vaccine (mRNA-1273)mRNA-based vaccineModerna, BARDA, NIAIDUSCanada, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, EU, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway3. CoronaVacInactivated vaccine (formalin with alum adjuvant)SinovacChinaChina, Bolivia, Turkey, Indonesia, Brazil, Chile4. COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (AZD1222)Adenovirus vaccineBARDA, OWSUKUK, Argentina, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Hungary, Thailand5. No name announcedInactivated vaccineWuhan Institute of Biological Products; China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm)ChinaChina6. Sputnik VNon-replicating viral vectorGamaleya Research Institute, Acellena Contract Drug Research and DevelopmentRussiaRussia, Belarus, Argentina, Guinea (experimental use), Bolivia, Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Hungary, UAE, Serbia, Iran7. BBIBP-CorVInactivated vaccineBeijing Institute of Biological Products; China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm)ChinaChina, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Pakistan, Serbia, Peru8. EpiVacCoronaPeptide vaccineFederal Budgetary Research Institution State Research Center of Virology and BiotechnologyRussiaRussia9. CovaxinInactivated vaccineBharat Biotech, ICMRIndiaIndia

Now, I didn’t add in the efficacy for each vaccine. I think the Indian vaccine is at 65% while the Moderna had an effectiveness of 94%.

Just to put things in perspective, a normal seasonal flu vaccine has about 75% effectiveness.

Now many of these vaccines are still in trials also phase 3 etc. While others have never been successfully tested in humans. They also have not published data yet. Some have had press releases but no actual published data. The usual regulatory process of studying the cycle, and side effects has been cut out altogether to fast track these vaccines.

What are mRNA vaccines?

So, mRNA vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This material instructs our cells how to make a protein that is unique to the virus. After copies of the protein are made, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine. Our bodies recognize the foreign protein and build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that will recall how to fight the virus if we are infected in the future.
Alternatively, Protein subunit vaccines contain harmless protein pieces of the virus that cause COVID-19. After vaccination, our immune system recognizes the foreign proteins and begins making T-lymphocytes and antibodies. In the future, memory cells will recognize the virus and fight it.
Vector vaccines contain a weakened version of a live virus—a different one that causes COVID-19. It has genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19 inserted called a viral vector. Inside our cells, the genetic material instructs cells to make a protein unique to the COVID-19 virus. Our cells make copies of the protein. It prompts our bodies to build T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes to fight that virus in the future.

DEVELOPMENTAL VACCINE

There are currently 58 vaccines being studied. The sheer variety of all of them will leave your head spinning. They include the following:

VACCINEMECHANISMINSTITUTIONJNJ-78436735 (formerly Ad26.COV2.S)Non-replicating viral vectorJohnson & JohnsonNVX-CoV2373Nanoparticle vaccineNovavaxConvidiceaRecombinant vaccine (adenovirus type 5 vector)Tongji Hospital; Wuhan, ChinaBacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccineLive-attenuated vaccineUniversity of Melbourne and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Radboud University Medical Center; Faustman Lab at Massachusetts General HospitalINO-4800DNA vaccine (plasmid)Center for Pharmaceutical Research, Kansas City. Mo.; University of Pennsylvania, PhiladelphiaVIR-7831Plant-based adjuvant vaccineMedicagoCVnCoVmRNA-based vaccineCureVacZF2001Recombinant vaccineVariousZyCoV-DDNA vaccine (plasmid)Zydus CadilaBNT162mRNA-based vaccineMultiple study sites in Europe, North America and ChinaEuCorVac-19nanoparticle vaccineEunpyeong St. Mary’s HospitalMambisa (CIGB 669)Protein subunit vaccineFinlay Institute of VaccinesIIBR-100Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) vaccineHadassah Medical Center; Sheba Medical Center HospitalSoberana 1 and 2Monovalent/conjugate vaccineFinlay Institute of VaccinesVLA2001Inactivated vaccineMultiple NIHR testing sitesAG0301-COVID19DNA vaccineAnGes, Inc.; Japan Agency for Medical Research and DevelopmentGX-19NDNA vaccineARCT-021 (LUNAR-COV19)Self-replicating RNA vaccineDuke-NUS Medical School, SingaporeHDT-301 (HGCO19)RNA vaccineAdCLD-CoV19Adenovirus-based vaccineKorea University Guro HospitalAV-COVID-19Dendritic cell vaccineRumah Sakit Umum Pusat Dr KariadiPTX-COVID19-BmRNA-based vaccineAbdala (CIGB 66)Protein subunit vaccineFinlay Institute of VaccinesCORVax12DNA vaccine (plasmid)Providence Portland Medical CenterMVA-SARS-2-SModified vaccinia virus ankara (MVA) vector vaccine candidateUniversity Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfCOH04S1Modified vaccinia virus ankara (MVA) vector vaccine candidateCity of Hope Medical CenterpVACMulti-peptide vaccine candidateUniversity Hospital TuebingenAdimrSC-2fProtein subunit vaccineAdimmunebacTRL-SpikeMonovalent oral vaccine (bifidobacteria)Symvivo CorporationCOVAX-19Monovalent recombinant protein vaccineRoyal Adelaide HospitalDelNS1-2019-nCoV-RBD-OPT1Replicating viral vectorJiangsu Provincial Centre For Disease Control and PreventionGRAd-COV2Adenovirus-based vaccineLazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious DiseasesUQ-CSL V451Protein subunit vaccineSCB-2019Protein subunit vaccine
Linear Clinical Research (Australia)UB-612Multitope peptide-based vaccineUnited Biomedical Inc. (UBI)VXA-CoV2-1Recombinant vaccine (adenovirus type 5 vector)
VaxartAAVCOVIDGene-based vaccineAdCOVIDIntranasal vaccineUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamChAd-SARS-CoV-2-SAdenovirus-based vaccineWashington University School of Medicine in St. LouisHaloVaxSelf-assembling vaccineMGH Vaccine and Immunotherapy CenterLineaDNADNA vaccineTakis BiotechPittCoVaccRecombinant protein subunit vaccine (delivered through microneedle array)University of PittsburghT-COVIDTMIntranasal vaccineMRT5500Recombinant vaccineUnnamedIi-Key peptide COVID-19 vaccineGenerexUnnamedProtein subunit vaccineUniversity of Saskatchewan Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine CentreUnnamedgp96-based vaccineUniversity of Miami Miller School of MedicineUnnamedInactivated vaccineShenzhen Kangtai Biological ProductsUnnamedProtein subunit vaccineVariousUnnamedInactivated vaccineWest China Second University Hospital, Yunnan Center for Disease Control and PreventionDo They Contain Fetal Cells?

The COVID-19 vaccines do not contain aborted fetal cells per se. However, Pfizer and Moderna performed confirmation tests with fetal cell lines.

What are fetal cell lines? Fetal cell lines grow in a laboratory. They come from cells taken from elective abortions back in the 1970s and 1980s. Those individual cells have since multiplied creating fetal cell lines. Current fetal cell lines are thousands of generations removed from the original fetal tissue.

Vaccine makers use fetal cell lines during three stages of vaccine development:

Development: To see what works
Confirmation: Ensuring if it works
Production: Manufacturing the formula
In the COVID-19 vaccines currently approved, neither the Pfizer nor Moderna vaccines used fetal cell lines in the confirmation phase. In particular, the fetal cell line HEK 293. All HEK 293 cells are descended from tissue taken from a 1973 elective abortion that took place in the Netherlands.

So, this is a personal choice for Catholics and other prolifers as you choose a vaccine.

Risks and Side effects

The one issue with all of these vaccines is that their long term side effects are not known. Even back in 2018, mRNA studies proved to have some immunogenicity and toxicity that was not trivial.

Long term side effects are completely unknown. Temporarily, most people have reported feeling well with mild flu like symptoms. There have been deaths but there’s no clarity yet. Norway changed its guidance following the deaths. The death rate in the UK has escalated despite the vaccine program. Its not clear if these are hidden clusters or its just post vaccination side effects.

COVID Vaccine: Everything You Need To Know

Personally, the people at most risk like the elderly and those with preexisting conditions should consider getting vaccinated now. The data shows that most healthy individuals will get better without intervention.

Here’s a figure showing the case fatality rate of CVOID versus SARS and Influenza. Surprisingly, its less than SARS. No surprise that SARS countries have done well during this pandemic.

At this point, if you’re part of the healthy population you can wait until there are more choices available in the free market. Then you can choose a vaccine. Many countries are purchasing vaccines from various countries/companies to plug any gaps. By then you can choose a single dose or double dose vaccine, the vector, the type and mechanism.

There’s also lots of controversy over the fact that pharma is exempt from any legal responsibilities should you suffer any long term side effects. Several countries are working on alternative agreements, so you will have to see what your country’s agreement is. It may not seem important now but ten years down the line, it might be a different story. You may think what difference does one case of paralysis/whatever major side effect make? But if you’re that one person who does suffer it, it makes all the difference, doesn’t it?

There’s a ton of information that I can’t write about but research is ongoing. There will be more data but it is slowly being published. However, this is all I could read into for now. If there’s something you want me to look into let me know.

What is your opinion of the COVID 19 vaccine? How has your experience been with it so far?

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70 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton & New Beginnings

“All her many struggles make her more compassionate to people. “

Catherine O’ Donnell

WHO IS CATHERINE O’DONNELL?



Catherine O’Donnell

Catherine O’Donnell is an historian of religion and early America.  She is professor of history at Arizona State University and the author of Elizabeth Seton: American Saint (Cornell University Press, 2018).  She can be reached at codonnell@asu.edu

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton & New Beginnings

In this episode, Catherine O’Donnell tells us about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton & New Beginnings. She explains:
– Who was St. Elizabeth Ann Seton?
– How difficult was her life?
– What gave her the strength to endure and start again multiple times in her life?
– What can we learn from her writings and her life?

I actually only heard about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton when I came to New York. Even then I was barely interested in her life. As I looked at the year and everything the whole world has been through I was looking forward to doing a podcast that could inspire people. And who better than Mother Seton. For an ordinary woman beset with so much tragedy, she beat the odds to establish the Daughters of Charity.

In fact, she’s such an inspiration according to me simply because she started over and over again despite the may setbacks. Grief is also so central to her life and anyone who is grieving would find her words comforting. On what is her 200th anniversary on 5th Jan 2021, it seemed like an apt episode.

I appreciate Catherine for talking to us. She’s obviously spent a lot of months researching St. Seton. She’s familiar with her writings and her letters. She had also spent time with the sisters of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton so she has spoken to the people that still carry on her legacy.

It was really great to talk to her as her enthusiasm shows. She’s so honest about her initial and final impressions of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. I’m sure many people who want to read more about this American saint would be happy to pick up her book.

ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?

We hope you enjoyed this podcast. Finally, check out our podcasts on Gratitude and Mother Teresa. If you liked this podcast, like us, leave us a comment and share our episodes on social media with those who may benefit from it. If there is a particular saint that you would like to hear about us, tell us and we’ll add him or her to our future episodes.

Additionally, we are on iheartradio, Stitcher, Itunes, and tunein.com.We’d love to hear from you. If you hear us on Itunes, please rate and review us.

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20 BEST ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVELS

Ever since my book FIND ME IN THE SNOW came out, I’ve been asked about other books in the genre. And there are lots of books out there but a few authors and book really stand out. I’ve done my fair share of reading romantic suspense novels. Here are the top 20 romantic suspense novels according to me. And of course, I added my own book to the list.

My Interview on the Reading & Writing Podcast

Here’s my interview with Jeff Rutherford on the Reading & Writing Podcast. I remember interviewing somewhere during the early days of the pandemic. In Other Words had just been released and I was promoting it enthusiastically. Fast forward to the end of 2020, and the podcast was released last week. It sounds fantastic! Humble brag.

What is the Reading & Writing Podcast?

This is a podcast of interviews with authors and writers about their books, writing habits, favorite novels, and how they got started writing.

I talk about my beginnings and how I write. Jeff is a good interviewer and I recall having finished his interview in 15 minutes. It was all so quick. Now that Find Me In The Snow is out, it feels almost a lifetime ago that I spoke to him. Time flies so fast or we’re being sucked into a black hole that we don’t even realize it!

69 How to Trust God and Overcome Fear

“Faith is a gift. I can’t make myself have more faith.”

Gary Zimak

Who is Gary Zimak?

Gary Zimak is the author of several books, including Stop Worrying and Start Living, From Fear To Faith, Give Up Worry For Lent, A Worrier’s Guide To The Bible, Listen To Your Blessed Mother, Find A Real Friend In Jesus and Faith, Hope and Clarity.

Furthermore, he is a frequent speaker at parishes and conferences across the country and is recognized as the leading Catholic speaker on the topic of overcoming anxiety. In addition, Gary is a regular guest on EWTN TV & Radio, Relevant Radio, the host of The Gary Zimak Show podcast on Breadbox Media and was the creator and host of Spirit In The Morning, which aired on Holy Spirit Radio in Philadelphia from 2016-2018. His work has appeared in The National Catholic Register, Catholic Digest, Catholic Exchange, Catholic Philly and Seton Magazine.

Currently, Gary resides in South Jersey with his wife Eileen and daughters Mary and Elizabeth. They are members of Saint Mary of the Lakes parish in Medford, NJ. You can read more on his website.

How to Trust God and Overcome Fear



PQF · 69 How to Trust God and Overcome Fear

In this episode, Gary Zimak tells us about the steps to trust in God and overcome our fear.
-Why should we have faith and not fear and what does God tell us about this virtue?
-What are your steps for not worrying/dealing with fear but having faith instead?
-How much time will it take for us to develop this?
-What can we learn from the saints and biblical figures about faith?

Five Steps to Trust God

I first came across Gary’s book as it was mentioned on a priests blog. And since there were so many people I met and knew who were dealing with anxiety from being cooped up due to the pandemic, this was a topic I was praying about. I reached out to various people and wrote to Gary half afraid he wouldn’t respond. Moreover, my mom was interceding in earnest for the next guest on our podcast. And by God’s grace, Gary replied almost immediately.

Surprisingly, he had written a book about this and he mentions in the podcast, that he specializes in talking about this having dealt with this area of trust personally. What a miracle!

Needless to say, all his advice comes from personal experience. And I love that he breaks down the steps to overcoming fear and trusting God through five steps. Clearly, he goes on more detail in his book From Fear to Faith.

-Step 1: Prepare. Do what you can do.

-Step 2: Present. Stay in the present moment. Focus on just this day.

-Step 3: Pray. Take everything to God in prayer and surrender.

-Step 4: Participate. In God’s word, His Eucharist, His prayer. Him

-Step 5: Prize. Keep your eyes on the prize. Heaven. Everything else passes.

Sounds simple enough isn’t it? However, how to trust God is more than just five steps though. Personally, I believe that we should be like Jesus asks to be. Childlike in our approach to Our Father. Knowing that He knows what’s best and only interested in giving us good things. It takes time and I know that with Jesus, things don’t feel like a battle when I say, “I can’t Lord, but You can. Here it is, make what you will of it.”

In conclusion, as you go through this pandemic season, I remind you of my favorite verse from James 4:8, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”

ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?

We hope you enjoyed this podcast. Finally, check out our podcasts on Gratitude and Mother Teresa. If you liked this podcast, like us, leave us a comment and share our episodes on social media with those who may benefit from it. If there is a particular saint that you would like to hear about us, tell us and we’ll add him or her to our future episodes.

Additionally, we are on iheartradio, Stitcher, Itunes, and tunein.com.We’d love to hear from you. If you hear us on Itunes, please rate and review us.

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Book Launch: Find Me In The Snow

Today is Book launch day for Find Me In The Snow from Melange Publishing. You can order your copy here.

Amazon



Kobo



Smashwords




DIY Bookmarks

Here are the bookmarks I created. You can download and print your own bookmark.

Book Blurb

When Althea meets Morgan Hunter at Muldoon’s pub for the first time, she thinks he’s a handsome, ego tripping, prissy-pants executive. She quickly rebuffs him only to find him thundering at her in the operation theater, the very next day. He’s dogged in his censure of her, but not immune to her allure. Through a snowy December Morgan courts Althea and wins her heart but not her trust.

When she travels with him at his request for Christmas to his home in Finesse, a tumble in the snow leads to the discovery of Morgan’s missing ex-girlfriend. Dead. Morgan pushes Althea away and she doesn’t understand his reasons.

Althea returns to build the new rural clinic in Finesse. She discovers the truth about Morgan’s heritage, the murdered ex-girlfriend and the secrets about the Hunter clan.

Can she save the man she loved from going to prison?

Print Giveaway

I’m giving away signed print copies of my book. There are various competitions taking place on Twitter and FB.

Find Me In The Snow is released today. As we celebrate a book birthday, I'm giving away 5 print copies to readers in the US.
Q: What makes snow so romantic?
Top 5 answers get a signed print copy!#bookbirthday #author #writing #IARTGhttps://t.co/v31yHyeQ4I via @amazon

— Pamela Q Fernandes (@PamelaQFerns) December 1, 2020

Book Gratitude

I have mentioned and acknowledged all the people who made this book possible. And I’m grateful for the team at Melange for everything they have done to support this book right through this pandemic working to publish it.

I didn’t know a launch was possible this year for fiction and their team and a small army of people have helped me with this launch. So thank you to everyone. And to all my readers, thank you for reading.

Lots of Book Love,

Pamela

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My YouTube Channel Is Here!

After months of work, my YouTube channel is finally here. I wasn’t sure what to do initially with a Youtube channel. Back in April, I was advising someone else about their platform and thought to myself, “why don’t I have my Youtube channel?”

I had to work on it for so long because uploading all the trailers, book interviews and podcasts shows took so much time.

What’s on my channel?

The first question when I first decided to start the channel was what to put on it? I had all this content and it was just a question of what to do with it?

Book Trailers

All my trailers are here. Over the years, I’ve had so many books that all their trailers would need a separate page. On my Youtube channel, I have a dedicated area for all my book trailers. It’s like a one-stop shop for all my trailers. Right from my first book to the latest one. And here’s the trailer for Find Me In The Snow, that will be out on December 1.

Podcast Episodes

I’ve been doing podcasts from 2017 and that’s a long time. However, I’ve only just started uploading them on my Youtube channel. I still haven’t had the courage to video record our podcasts. I’m not sure why. One of the reasons is because of the bandwith but that’s something I’m definitely looking forward to doing in 2021, God willing.

Book Information

I’ve definitely had many interviews since I’ve been talking about my books and I’ve shared those as well. I’ve never done video interviews but next year, I’d be keen to do those. I’m now definitely more Zoom friendly.

What’s Coming?

I’m hoping to do more book discussions, unboxing videos, and reading book chapters. I honestly don’t want to do videos just for the sake of it. I want readers to feel happy or get to know my work.

Tell me what you’d like to see?

Q & A’sBook DiscussionsBook Chapter Reads

I know when we were shooting for other episodes I was so nervous, my hair was flying everywhere and I had a hard time doing stuff like talking a piece in public. So, as an introvert my youtube channel is a bit daunting but I’m getting there. However, I’d like to know what you’d like to see. Leave a comment below.

In the meantime, hop on over to my Youtube channel and subscribe or just give me a thumbs up.

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What Are The Various Traditions of Mass?

The Eucharist is what sets apart the mass from every other service.

Charles Johnston

Who is Charles Johnston?

Charles Johnston is a father and husband in Phoenix, Arizona. His conversion journey has taken years, as he felt God pulling him toward His Church but he resisted until he couldn’t take it anymore. He gave in and fell in love with His Church.  He blogs for ‘Now that I’m catholic.wordpress.com’

Charles Johnston

In this episode, Charles tells us about the various traditions of Mass in the Catholic Church.
– What is mass and the the various traditions of mass?
– The unique aspects of each tradition?
– What are the biggest similarities?
– How is this different from what other denominations celebrate?
– How can everyone participate in the Eucharist?

What Are The Various Traditions of Mass?



PQF · What Are The Various Traditions of Mass?

There are over two thousand various traditions within the Catholic Church. 6 major ones are important. I grew up within the ordinary form mass. I’ve witnessed the Maronite, Syrian and Latin traditions.

Different rites of masses have different languages and traditions. At the heart of them all is the Eucharist that unites us. As we go through lockdown, many people are now partaking in the Eucharist. Whether they are Catholic or not. People have come to realize the miracle working power of the Eucharist. I myself watching the Vincentian fathers and am amazed at how the Holy Spirit is working all over the world. If you would like to watch mass with adoration online here’s a link.

Which Tradition is better?

I’m surprised people even ask. I believe our Christian journey is constantly evolving and often God is seeking us. He is looking for us and He meets us at our point of need. The various traditions of mass as long as in communion with the Pope have their own beauty. What I loved as a twenty year old in mass is different from what I appreciate now given that I’ve grown and matured. And so I feel like that is the same with mass. God wants to minister to us and different traditions appeal to us based on our personal walk with Him.

As I said in the podcast, at the heart of it Jesus in the Eucharist is the same. It almost pained me to hear when Charles says it grieves him to see so much division. And as Christ’s body, all of us feel this pain from being separated from our Christian siblings. Let not our traditions divide us. Instead let us dwell on the uniqueness and unifying power of Jesus.

ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?

We hope you enjoyed this podcast. Check out our podcasts on St Augustine and Mother Teresa. If you liked this podcast, like us, leave us a comment and share our episodes on social media with those who may benefit from it. If there is a particular saint that you would like to hear about us, tell us and we’ll add him or her to our future episodes.

We are on iheartradio, Stitcher, Itunes, and tunein.com.We’d love to hear from you. If you hear us on Itunes, please rate and review us.

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10 Steps To Eliminate Medical School Debt

I grew up in a country (Kuwait) where income was tax free. Additionally, having an Indian education means the finer points of a saving economy are drilled at school. We were taught how to calculate tax in the 9th grade. No kidding! The tax problem carries the highest points on our math exam; 10 points. Medical school debt is uncommon among Asians in general. School is cheaper and parents invest in education.

I was also blessed with parents who were very budget focused and so trained us at it. My father never had a credit card and my mother taught me to write a check at 12. So basic accounting in many Indian homes is part of homeschooling.

That said exams, applications, licensures in different countries, memberships to professional societies and running a medical practice can be expensive. It can be challenging to stay debt free. I’ve been in the black and solvent despite my business expenditures. Here are the ten best steps to eliminating debt.

10 Steps To Eliminate Medical School Debt?

Here are my ten steps which helped me. See if they work to make you debt free.

1. Decide to pay medical school debt off

That’s the first step. There are many schools of thought. The most popular I’ve heard is that you don’t pay it off. Let it accumulate and you don’t know what political and economic change will happen. Medical student loans are a crisis. The belief is that somewhere down the road the banks will forgive the debt or the interest. As a depositor I will not forget the interest owed to me by my bank especially if I’ve chosen a higher ROI against longer investment periods. And neither will the banks. They won’t “let go” of what’s owed to them. That’s why this pay slowly, or never pay back is scary advice.

So, with time your debt keeps snowballing as the interest accrues. There is a lot of power in compound interest. Remember the longer you’re paying the loan, the lesser time you have to make investments. Financial gurus always suggest that you need to start investing early. My retirement fund started the day I got my first job not because I wanted it but my employer did. You can invest only if you are debt free. So decide to pay it off, just to keep the interest from crippling you and to be able to invest early.

Example: If you have $350,000 in medical student loan debt. With a typical 6.5% interest rate and a 15-year loan term, you’d be looking at a minimum monthly payment of about $3048. Because of interest, your total repayment amount would be $548,797—that’s $198,797.64 more than your original loan!

Book Trailer: Find Me In The Snow

The book trailer for FIND ME IN THE SNOW is here. A few weeks ago I shared what went into making the cover for this book. Since this is a romantic suspense, this trailer isn’t like my usual trailers. I honestly wanted all the winter feels with this one. And every image and tiny little thing is important as you piece together the culprit of this romantic whodunit.

Book Trailer: FIND ME IN THE SNOW

The music is themed Winter. And the images all hold clues. So the book trailer is like a map of things to watch out for. As you read the book, you’ll remember the trailer and everything that unfolds in this small town.

In fact, the lead detective says something that’s pretty much true, “It’s always someone close who commits the crime in small towns.”

Snow is also pretty central and so its featured all throughout the cover and the book. And has been like a theme running through. In an artistic sense, its kind of an element or even a character in this story.

I hope the book trailer for FIND ME IN THE SNOW gives you all the romantic suspense feels. I’m doing a last line edit and then we’ll be moving to physical proofs. Its like warp speed from now on. Bwahaha.

Also, I’m hoping to do a new video on how this book unfolds and my reasoning behind the plot. Stay tuned for that! If you subscribe to my Youtube channel, you’ll get the notifications right away.

Facebook Giveaway

In the meantime, we’re kicking off a giveaway until launch day. Leave a comment on what makes snow romantic on my Facebook page to enter a raffle draw.

We’re giving away free copies and some other lovely prizes on book launch day!

Yay or Nay?

Do you like the book trailer for FIND ME IN THE SNOW? Tell me why. I’d love to hear what you liked or didn’t like about it.

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