Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord. A bacterial or viral infection to the fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord is typically the cause of the swelling. Injuries, specific drugs, cancer, and other types of infection can also cause meningitis. The cause of meningitis is important to know because there are different treatments depending on the cause. There are six different types of bacterial meningitis. Among the most prevalent are bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis. The types of meningitis are: Bacterial meningitis This type of meningitis can be deadly and requires immediate medical attention. Vaccines are available to protect against some types of bacterial meningitis. Viral meningitis Meningitis caused by a virus can be serious but is less severe than bacterial meningitis. People with a normal immune system tend to get better on their own. There are vaccines to prevent some types of viral meningitis. Fungal meningitis This type of meningitis is rare, but is the result from inhaling fungal spores in the environment. People with medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or HIV are at higher risk of fungal meningitis. Parasitic meningitis Some parasites can cause meningitis or cause other problems with the brain and nervous system. Parasitic meningitis is not as common as bacterial meningitis or viral meningitis. Amebic meningitis A rare infection caused by Naegleria fowleri is called primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic ameba that lives in warm water and soil. Non-infectious meningitis Cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), drugs, head injury, and brain surgery can cause this type of meningitis. The bacteria that can cause meningitis are: Meningococcal Pneumococcal Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Group B Streptococcal (GBS) E. coli Listeria Salmonella Tuberculosis (TB) Symptoms can appear within about five days of picking up the bacteria. It is extremely important to know the signs of meningitis because it can be fatal within a few hours to 24 hours. Medical help should be sought immediately. General symptoms are: Rash Stiff neck Dislikes bright lights Confusion Seizures Cold hands or feet/shivering Paleness or blotchy skin Sleepy Fever Headache Vomiting Two-hundred fifty thousand people are killed by meningitis every year, approximating to about ten to fifteen percent of its victims. Doctors may sometimes diagnose health problems that can be physical, neurological, or emotional, and either temporary or permanent. One in five come out with a permanent disability. Disabilities resulting from meningitis include: Memory loss, lack of concentration, or difficult retaining information Clumsiness/coordination problems Headaches Deafness, hearing problems, tinnitus, dizziness, or loss of balance Epilepsy/seizures Weakness, paralysis, or spasms Speech problems Loss of sight/vision problems There are vaccines that protect against the most common causes of bacterial meningitis, which are safe and effective. The number of cases has been reduced because of the vaccine. The MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine protects against types of viral meningitis. However, not all types of meningitis are preventable through a vaccine. Sources: Bennington-Castro, J., Bennington-Castro, J., Bauer, C., Theobald, M., Orenstein, B. W., & Stewart, K. (2018, April 3). How to treat and prevent meningitis. EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://www.everydayhealth.com/meningitis/guide/treatment/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Meningitis | CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, February 7). Signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/symptoms.html Davis, C. P. (2019, September 30). Meningitis in adults: Definition, types, signs, causes & treatment. eMedicineHealth. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://www.emedicinehealth.com/meningitis_in_adults/article_em.htm Meningitis Research Foundation. (n.d.). What Causes Meningitis & Septicaemia? Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.meningitis.org/meningitis/causes Meningitis Research Foundation. (n.d.-c). Symptoms Checker. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.meningitis.org/meningitis/check-symptoms Meningitis Research Foundation. (n.d.-a). After effects. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.meningitis.org/meningitis/after-effects Meningitis Research Foundation. (n.d.-b). Meningitis Vaccines. Retrieved February 17, 2022, from https://www.meningitis.org/meningitis/vaccine-information SickKids staff. (2009, October 16). AboutKidsHealth. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=761&language=English

There are many different types of government across the world. Some have become increasingly adopted over time, while others have began to diminish with the demise of past societies. Nonetheless, understanding how different countries govern themselves is important to learning how society functions on a national and international level. It can also bring insight into different types of economy and how it interacts with politics and the daily lives of a country’s citizens. To understand governments, it is first important to take a look at the basic types of governments that are seen throughout the world. Authoritarian The government has complete control, and sometimes uses force to instill its power. Sometimes there are elections or branches of government, but power is possessed within a small circle. When this occurs, it can make this type of government difficult to recognize. This can appear in monarchies, communism, or socialism (among other governments). Democracy In this type of government, the people hold power and choose who leads them. Having fair representation and minimizing the risk of abusive power is one of the main focuses. To do this, lots of discussion, debate, and compromise is needed. Fair elections, civic and political participation, protecting the people’s rights, and law and order are encouraged. Democracies can be representative or direct. Parliamentary democracy The head of state differs from the head of government. Presidential democracy While their are several branches of government, a president rules over one. This president is elected by the people, as well as the representatives of some of the other branches. Direct democracy Electorates determine policies without electing representation. Citizens can propose laws passed or propose amendments. Monarchy This type of government used to be the most common form. One person is appointed to rule over the country, and usually remains ruler throughout their life or until they are abdicated. Succession often comes through a bloodline — often royal and limited by gender. The two types of monarchy are constitutional and absolute. Constitutional monarchies outline the monarch’s power, and absolute monarchies grant the monarch endless power. Constitutional monarchy The ruling family serves as figures of the government. Other parts branches of the government, such as the Parliament in the UK, help govern as well. Absolute monarchy The ruler of the monarchy has total control of the government. Oligarchy These types of governments have a unique set of rules, including a group of qualities that grant power to a small group of people. Often, rulers are authoritative. A few people or families are placed into power. Power is placed to those not according to birth, but according to wealth or those who are more prepared to rule. Autocracy The elite and wealthy have overpowering influence over the government. Plutocracy Wealthy men share power similar to a king and enrich themselves by using the common people. They rule city-states. Stratocracy The military becomes the dominating political power. Theocracy The government is based off of a religious ideology, where there is little difference between the two. A ruler, leader, or council exists in governing within these boundaries. Totalitarianism In the type of government, authoritarianism is instilled and the ruler has no limitation to its power whatsoever. The ruler is often a single person that controls the economy, media, law enforcement, politics, and citizens’ personal lives. Citizens’ have no influence in the government whatsoever, and the government forceful. Although the above are governments which have become a solid foundation for many societies, there are other types of government that are very commonly seen when a certain value is held highly. Some of these values consist of representation of the people, wealth and power, or religion. Anarchy Anarchy is the absence of a government. This usually takes place when a government collapses entirely. Aristocracy In this type of government, the country is ruled by a small and elite class. This class is known as aristocrats, which are selected based off of their family history, education, and upbringing. They are often wealthy and have power over those is lower classes. Dictatorship This type of government is similar to totalitarianism and authoritarianism, where dominance is asserted using military power. This is usually called a military dictatorship. Military Dictatorship This type of government is often ruled by a single person with absolute power. A head of state can sometimes gain power when there is an economic or political issue. The military is typically used to instill the law and minimize the rights of the people. This can threaten and even kill the people under this government. Federalism Federalism divides powers so that the federal government has central power, but the regional governments have their own reserved powers. This can cause different regions to have different laws. Republicanism The citizens have power in the government, when it is a true republic. They have the power to vote and change the laws of their government. Representatives are usually elected to represent the citizens and enact policies according to what they want. Theocracy In this type of government, the government is aligned with a specific religious ideology. Often, there is nearly no distinction between political and scriptural laws, and leadership and customs come through the religion. Religous clergymen often have high authority over the country. The ruler in this government can sometimes be considered to be some type of god or deity, and laws are created through religious texts. Other types of governments can be mixed with a theocracy. Colonialism This type of government rules over other territories outside of the central country. Often, this rule is over different types of indigineous people whose resources are made the most of. Economy, culture, religion, government is also introduced into the territory by the colonizer. Tribalism A group of people with the same ideals create a set of rules which the whole society must follow. The group of people can sometimes be a council of elders. This form of government is becoming decreasingly common. It is important to acknowledge why a theocratic government is subcategorized under an oligarchical government, as well as its own type of government. In a theocratic government, the religious leaders of the government is the small group that one would see in a oligarchy. It has a distinction, however, because it focuses around and values religion. Lastly, different types of government can also impact the type of economy a country has. It grants or restricts the rights of citizens, controls what comes in and out of the country, and can lead to the control or freedom of the most personal aspects of life. Capitalism This is a type of economy that helps to control the government and its political decisions and wealth. The government doesn’t run on the economy, but private-run corporations and businesses. Communism This type of government is authoritarian and focused on a single political party. It is inspired by the philosophy of Karl Marx, who believed in public ownership and strict control of the economy. The society of the country is classless. Originally a theory created by Karl Marx, this type of government owns everything and prohibits any private ownership. It usually aims to have a classless society. Socialism In this type of government, competition is not encouraged, and the people are expected to cooperate instead. The central government controls the economy, and each person benefits according to their needs and ability. It is essentially a combination of communism with free-market capitalism. A classless society is also maintained within this type of government. However, making small changes through laws and reforms are encouraged. Links to Sources: Picture: https://blog.close.com/how-to-sell-to-governments/

Ley lines are lines of energy theorized to be underneath the Earth. They are most famously known to connect famous landmarks and historic sites together with a straight line. Some ancient cultures and religions had some form of belief of the leys, such as China. Many people today and in history have also considered these ley lines to have supernatural abilities, such as healing and contacting spirits. Chakras are best known through Hinduism--points in the body to focus on during meditation. The chakras and their locations consist as followed: Root Chakra - base of the spine Sacral Chakra - lower abdomen Solar Plexus Chakra - belly button Heart Chakra - center of chest Throat Chakra - throat Third Eye Chakra - forehead Crown Chakra - top of the head When it comes to ley lines, chakras are the biggest centers of energy where many leys cross over one another. Often, these chakras are located over well-known historic landmarks or manmade monuments. The seven chakras across the Earth are: Root Chakra - Mt. Shasta (California, United States) Sacral Chakra - Lake Titicaca (Peru-Bolivia) Solar Plexus Chakra - Uluru (Kata Tijuta, Australia) Heart Chakra - Stonehenge (England) Throat Chakra - Pyramids of Giza (Egypt) Third Eye Chakra - currently located near Stonehenge Crown Chakra - Mt. Kailas (Himalayan Mountains, Tibet) An important thing to address when understanding the ley lines’ Third Eye Chakra is that is moves according to the movements of Earth’s axis. The chakra moves every 150 to 200 years. Currently, it is located near Stonehenge, but next it is predicted to be located somewhere in Brazil. The stage in which the Third Eye Chakra remains in one place is also given an age name according to star signs. The next age–where the chakra is in Brazil–will be Capricorn. Gates and high points are also center of energy where many ley lines cross over one another, but not as abundant as a chakra. High points are a degree lower than gates. Gates: Four Mountains of Bali Palenque and El Tule Mt. Fuji Haleakaula (Maui) Lake Taupo (New Zealand) Table Mountain (Capetown, South Africa) High Points: Bermuda Triangle Karachi, Pakistan Sedona, Arizona Lake Louis, Canada Findhorn, Scotland Kiev, Ukraine Bali, Indonesia Easter Island Angkor Wat, Cambodia Sarawak, Borneo Gabon (West Africa) China was a culture that commonly believed in dragon lines or lung mei. These lung mei were believed to be straight lines of energy which dragons traveled along. The heart of these lines was thought to be in a valley where male and female currents–the Dragon and the Tiger–came together with a balanced force. From there, these lines would disperse over the mountains, valleys, and plains. Over time, different forms of these beliefs spread. The idea of dragon lines was adopted by the Celts at one point, and integrated itself into pagan traditions and Celtic tales with dragons. They became what we know today as ley lines as Britain came to be. It is also theorized that ancient Egypt kept crystals in their pyramids in order to obtain some sort of energy or electricity. They supposedly did this because they were conscious of some form of energy within the Earth. Australia also believed in a form of these mythical lines of energy, calling them “dream lines”. In South America, shamans called these lines “spirit lines”. Throughout history and continuing on today, many people believe that you can sense these ley lines and use them to your assistance. Some people believe that they have healing powers. This is one reason why people are attracted to Sedona, Arizona–to heal and meditate. It has also been theorized that your sleep quality decreases if you live on top of a ley. In history, it has been thought that ley lines were perhaps the key to contacting the dead or spirits. The idea of ley lines has been preserved throughout history. Today, there is still very little known about them, and even fewer who truly believe in them. Understanding the key components to what makes up these mythical lines and how they have been thought of throughout history and today may help us understand the impact that they have on the world. Fun fact: there is a ley line in Europe which connects several historic sites bearing the name “Michael”. Links to Sources: https://books.google.com/books?id=Qwp-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=spherical+harmonics+and+ley+lines&source=bl&ots=yRznFFd40l&sig=ACfU3U3cq-sMgZ3Qvply7NfTEONyEBkutA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj97-6L7fDnAhVcJDQIHTE-DC8Q6AEwB3oECAkQAQ&authuser=1#v=onepage&q=spherical%20harmonics%20and%20ley%20lines&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=OFkoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT167&lpg=PT167&dq=spherical+harmonics+and+ley+lines&source=bl&ots=ZmMFOmiWYo&sig=ACfU3U2VU3Z278d4AZjHL0IKUCNoZjI6jg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiyleLh8PDnAhVCFzQIHUNzCZAQ6AEwCXoECAoQAQ&authuser=1#v=onepage&q=spherical%20harmonics%20and%20ley%20lines&f=false https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=h4UgaYPIr4YC&oi=fnd&pg=PA2&dq=ley+lines&ots=Xl2Tgz4jxJ&sig=RSjFwqj6o7EYZ6rVc5Y8gBge_R8#v=onepage&q=ley%20lines&f=false https://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art53412.asp Picture: https://foreverconscious.com/chakras-earth-ley-lines