tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69873372024-03-05T09:22:00.844-08:00American Panic AttackKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12924236744693317286noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-6762133161517978232013-04-25T16:17:00.002-07:002013-04-25T16:17:30.710-07:00Three Signs<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/04/24/chinas-bird-flu-outbreak-3-good-signs-3-bad-signs-and-3-very-bad-signs/" target="_blank">China's Bird Flu Outbreak</a>Randolph Heardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353512333792877803noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-74333233573040752372013-03-05T16:42:00.002-08:002013-03-05T16:45:00.932-08:00Super Bugs Are Here!<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/05/superbugs-infections-hospitals/1965133/" target="_blank">And there is nothing anyone can do...</a>Randolph Heardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353512333792877803noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-79363979535860202392011-12-18T01:51:00.000-08:002011-12-18T01:54:32.363-08:00Neti Pots & Brain Eating Amoebas<a href="http:/">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2074957/Deaths-brain-eating-amoeba-linked-sinus-remedy-colds.html</a>Randolph Heardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353512333792877803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-12785821086691651422011-09-23T13:12:00.000-07:002011-09-23T13:15:28.496-07:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; "><div id="post-title-area" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; position: relative; clear: both; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div id="post-title-area-inner" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: none; font-weight: normal; font-size: 15px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Bacteria Show Up in Hospital Rooms, Again</h1><div class="entry-meta" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; color: rgb(136, 136, 136); font-size: 12px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="author vcard" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">By <a href="http://healthland.time.com/author/ssong0648/" title="Posts by Sora Song" rel="author" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); cursor: pointer; outline-style: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Sora Song</a></span> <span class="date" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Friday, September 23, 2011</span> | </div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; "><br />We get it — hospitals are crawling with germs. If it's not your <a href="http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/01/study-potentially-dangerous-bacteria-found-on-hospital-patients-cell-phones/" target="_blank" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); cursor: pointer; outline-style: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">cell phone</a>, the <a href="http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/05/study-hospital-staff-clothing-carries-disease-causing-bacteria/" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); cursor: pointer; outline-style: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">doctor's coat</a> or even the hands-free <a href="http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/31/hands-free-faucets-spread-more-germs-than-manual-taps/" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); cursor: pointer; outline-style: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">water faucet</a>, then it's the privacy curtain around the bed that's tainted with unwanted bacteria.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; "><div id="container" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: -333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 2150px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div id="content" role="main" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 347px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; clear: both; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div id="post-43491" class="post-43491 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-medicine category-prevention tag-bacteria tag-enterococcus tag-hand-washing tag-hospital tag-mrsa tag-privacy-curtain tag-staphylococcus tag-vre has-image author-ssong0648" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1804px; clear: left; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); min-height: 90px; float: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div id="featbox" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: left; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial, san-serif; position: relative; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img width="307" height="200" src="http://timewellness.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/hospital-privacy-curtain.jpg?w=307&h=200&crop=1" class="alignleft post-image" alt="Silverstock / Getty Images" title="hospital privacy curtain" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 16px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: inline; float: left; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /></div><div class="entry-content" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: left; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span id="more-43491" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></span></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Researchers from the University of Iowa <a href="http://www.abstractsonline.com/Plan/ViewAbstract.aspx?sKey=4994d2ba-706f-463b-84ef-194d4a55c330&cKey=9ead0880-53ae-4c04-9107-608f88a107d3&mKey=0C918954-D607-46A7-8073-44F4B537A439" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); cursor: pointer; outline-style: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">presented data</a> at a scientific conference in Chicago this week showing that they had found disease-causing bugs, including drug-resistant varieties like MRSA (methicillin-resistant <em style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Staphylococcus aureus</em>) and VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus), on 95% of hospital room privacy curtains tested. Brand new curtains were contaminated within a week, the researchers said.</p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The team tested 43 curtains in 30 hospital rooms twice a week for three weeks, taking 180 swab cultures total. They found:</p><ul style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: square; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><li style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">12 of 13 new curtains were contaminated within 7 days</li><li style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">41 of 43 curtains were contaminated on at least one occasion</li><li style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">MRSA was found on 21% of curtains</li><li style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">VRE was found on 42% of curtains</li></ul><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">One of the authors of the study received consulting fees from PurThread Technologies, a company that makes antimicrobial fabrics for hospitals — including, hey, privacy curtainss.</p></div></div></div></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; "><div style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: -333px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; float: left; width: 2150px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div role="main" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 347px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; clear: both; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div class="post-43491 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-medicine category-prevention tag-bacteria tag-enterococcus tag-hand-washing tag-hospital tag-mrsa tag-privacy-curtain tag-staphylococcus tag-vre has-image author-ssong0648" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 36px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1804px; clear: left; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); min-height: 90px; float: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><div class="entry-content" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: left; font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Luckily, there's an easier and cheaper way for doctors to prevent the spread of disease-causing bacteria from curtains (or anywhere) to patients: by washing their hands.</p></div></div></div></div></span><a href="http://healthland.time.com/2011/09/23/bacteria-show-up-in-hospital-rooms-again/"></a>Randolph Heardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353512333792877803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-91595626183395527422011-09-23T11:24:00.000-07:002011-09-23T11:27:22.048-07:00Killer Canteloupes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(26, 26, 26); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; "><div class="entry-header" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><h1 style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 24px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: ff-meta-web-pro-1, ff-meta-web-pro-2, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; line-height: 30px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Killer Cantaloupes: 8 Deaths Attributed to Contaminated Melons</h1></div><div class="entry-body" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; line-height: 18px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; display: inline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></span></p><div class="image-none" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); width: 640px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img alt="cantaloupe-sliced.jpg" src="http://laist.com/attachments/lindsayrebecca/cantaloupe-sliced.jpg" width="640" height="425" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /><br /><i style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Photo by <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-311737p1.html" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); text-decoration: underline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Layland Masuda</a> via <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); text-decoration: underline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Shutterstock</a></i></div><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">An <a href="http://laist.com/2011/09/20/fear_the_melon_contaminated_cantalo.php" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); text-decoration: underline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">outbreak of illness caused by listeria</a> found in one Colorado company's cantaloupe has now killed eight people, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/listeriosis/092111.html" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); text-decoration: underline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">according to the Centers for Disease Control</a> (CDC). So far, no deaths have occurred in California, though as of yesterday's CDC update, one person has been sickened in our state.</p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">A total of 55 illnesses associated with the contaminated fruit have been reported in 14 different states.</p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">One distributor, Colorado's Jensen Farms, has been linked to the outbreak. They recently issued a voluntary recall of all their Rocky Ford Cantaloupe, shipped between July 29 and September 10 to at least 17 states. All of the illnesses were reported after August 4th, says the CDC.</p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The FDA urges consumers who have cantaloupes affected by the recall to just toss the fruit, rather than try to wash them off then eat them, since the contamination be inside the melon as well.</p><p style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Listeriosis is a rare, but sometimes fatal, infection. Pregnant women, people over the age of 60, and consumers with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to infection. The <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/listeriosis/" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-size: 13px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); text-decoration: underline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">CDC has more information about listeriosis</a>.</p></div></span><br /><a href="http://laist.com/2011/09/22/killer_cantaloupes_more_deaths_attr.php"></a>Randolph Heardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353512333792877803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-55347982743407590722011-06-12T06:12:00.000-07:002011-06-12T06:14:49.327-07:00'Bizarre' rabid beaver attacks 3 in Philly parkBy Jennifer Welsh <br />LiveScience <br />updated 6/6/2011 6:24:42 PM ET<br /><br />A rabies rabies-ridden beaver that wreaked havoc in a Philadelphia park, biting three residents over the last week, likely contracted the virus after a scuffle with a rabid raccoon, park rangers say. <br /><br />While beavers rarely transmit rabies in the area, residents should try to avoid the park and nearby areas of northeast Philadelphia where rabid raccoons might be hiding. <br /><br />A single animal loose in the city's Pennypack Park first bit a married couple fishing on Wednesday, then a child on Thursday. The three victims were admitted to the hospital and treated for the infection. <br /><br />After Thursday's attack, the animal was found and killed by a park ranger. It tested positive for rabies at the Pennsylvania Health Department lab, and also showed signs of blunt force trauma, consistent with the first attack, when the bitten husband claimed to have hit the beaver with a rock to chase it away. <br /><br />"At this point, we do have reason to believe it was the same animal," Pennsylvania Game Commission spokesperson Jerry Feaser told LiveScience. "It's unusual that it was beavers, it was unusual that there were two incidences so closely together and it was truly bizarre it was in Philadelphia." <br /><br />A 'truly bizarre' beaver <br />The park officials are stumped by what they called a "truly bizarre" set of circumstances, as beavers aren't the usual source of rabies bites in the area. They are searching the park for any additional animals that might have contracted the disease from either the rabid raccoon or the beaver. <br /><br />Rabies is a virus found in mammals and is spread through their bite. It attacks the brain and nervous system. Rabies is endemic in raccoons in most of the eastern United States, and when a rabid raccoon bites, it can transfer the disease to other animals, including humans, pets and other wildlife. <br /><br />Other animals don't tend to spread the disease further, though, because in the United States, rabies is specifically adapted to living on raccoons, Pennsylvania Health Department epidemiologist Marshall Deasy told LiveScience. <br /><br />Even when beavers do get the bug, there's not a big concern they'll transmit it. "Beavers have never been known to transmit rabies to anything, including other beavers," Deasy said. "But raccoons are extremely common; they bite people and pets, so it's an issue for vets and pet owners as well." <br /><br />Uncommon attacks <br />The attack in Philadelphia follows close on the heels of an earlier attack in late April on White Clay Creek (located in the suburbs of Philadelphia), where a fisher was bitten on the leg. The beaver was killed in the following struggle, and its carcass tested positive for rabies. <br /><br />Those two cases are the only known transmission of rabies by a beaver during the last 12 years in the state, though rabies has been found in other mammals — mostly raccoons, skunks, cats, bats and foxes — between 350 and 500 times per year mostly in raccoons.<br /><br />Typically, rabies isn't confirmed until after the animal becomes aggressive and is killed by park rangers or the game commission.<br /><br />Many more thousands probably die from the disease in the wilderness, according to Deasy. <br /><br />Only a few cases a year are found within Philadelphia city limits. <br /><br />No humans have died of rabies in Pennsylvania since 1984, when a 12-year-old boy was bitten by a bat and died in Lycoming County.jyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04785283594734461241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-69064074998455809412011-06-11T16:26:00.000-07:002011-06-11T17:20:22.353-07:00Bad News for Brazilian BlowoutsThis month the National Toxicology Program added formaldehyde as a 'known carcinogen' in their 12th Report on Carcinogens. The official report <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/roc12">here</a></span>.<br /><br />Interestingly, Canada declared it a toxic substance back in 1999, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared it a known carcinogen in 2006. (Clearly we in the US must enjoy a different or less toxic variety of formaldehyde than our North American neighbors and the rest of the world, as it took a decade for us to reach the same conclusions.)<br /><br />Here's a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/19/fashion/19skin1.html">NY Times article</a> about Brazilian blowouts from 2007. Although the Times does mention the risks and refers to formaldehyde as carcinogenic, they also helpfully provide two links to help the reader locate salons that offer the treatment, and basically provide gushing testimonial to how liberating and revolutionary it is (and is it weird to mention that there appears to be an undercurrent of marketing to Jewish women in this article?--<span style="font-style: italic;">editors' note: the writer of this post is herself Jewish and is thus allowed to make this somewhat spurious leap</span>).<br /><br /><br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12924236744693317286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-12672990298384628712010-09-20T06:06:00.000-07:002010-09-20T06:08:59.127-07:00energy efficient light bulbs: killing us?From the CBC: the dangers of energy efficient bulbs. Asthma, neurological disorders, mercury...<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3YrEMlmE9Eannie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-12819294089325368462010-09-09T15:59:00.000-07:002010-09-09T16:01:26.406-07:00autism hysteria hits the courtsan autism/vaccination case actually WINS. God help us!<br /><br />http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20015982-10391695.html<br /><br /><br />"In acknowledging Hannah's injuries, the government said vaccines aggravated an unknown mitochondrial disorder Hannah had which didn't "cause" her autism, but "resulted" in it. It's unknown how many other children have similar undiagnosed mitochondrial disorder. All other autism "test cases" have been defeated at trial. Approximately 4,800 are awaiting disposition in federal vaccine court."annie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-54375674573431312222010-04-25T16:28:00.000-07:002010-04-25T16:32:02.479-07:00Killer fungus infecting healthy people in Northwest UShttp://www.thespec.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/757300<br /><br /><strong>Thomas H. Maugh II<br />Los Angeles Times</strong><br /><br />LOS ANGELES — A potentially lethal fungus normally found only in the tropics has established a foothold on the Pacific Coast of British Columbia and has slowly made its way southward into Washington, Oregon and Idaho, researchers said Thursday.<br /><br />Health authorities are not unduly alarmed by the fungus because the number of cases so far remains small, but both federal and state officials are monitoring its progress in the fear that it will spread more rapidly as it reaches warmer climates.<br /><br />“Overall, I don’t think it is a large threat at this time,” said molecular biologist Edmond J. Byrnes III of the Duke University Medical Center, the lead author of the report appearing in the online journal PLoS Pathogens. “But the fact that it is continuing to spread geographically and the number of cases is rising makes it a concern.”<br /><br />The spread is also a concern because the strain of the fungus that moved into the United States in 2004 has mutated to become more lethal than the original strain that invaded British Columbia in 1999.<br /><br />Five of the 21 people who contracted the fungus in the United States have died (about 25 percent), compared to 8.7 percent of the 218 infected people in Canada. The fungus also has infected many different species of mammals.<br /><br />“This is really big news in the world of people who study (fungi),” said mycologist Karen Bartlett of the University of British Columbia, who was not involved in the current research but who is one of the leading experts on the outbreak. “It’s of clinical health importance because of the fact that the diagnosis can potentially be missed by physicians and veterinarians” because they don’t know about this new fungus.<br /><br />The fungus in question is called Cryptococcus gatii, which is found primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. It is a close relative of Cryptococcus neoformans, which kills more than 600,000 people annually in such regions. C. gatii’s primary habitat in Canada is about 10 species of trees, primarily Douglas fir and western hemlock.<br /><br /><br />C. gatii seems to infect primarily healthy people, while its close relatives — for which it can easily be mistaken — primarily infect those with a compromised immune system. Physicians seeing its symptoms in an otherwise healthy person thus might not think to look for it.<br /><br />It is not transmitted from person to person or carried by insect or animal vectors. C. gatii, like all fungi, forms spores that are blown in the wind or moved around by disturbances of the soil. They can easily be carried on the soles of shoes, for example.<br /><br />The spores are inhaled and colonize the lungs, then they spread throughout the body. The primary symptoms include prolonged coughing, night sweats, pneumonia and weight loss over a period of weeks. Meningitis can occur, which produces severe headaches. Treatment involves six to eight weeks of intravenous antifungal medications, such as amphotericin B, followed by up to six months of oral fluconazole.<br /><br />“We need physicians to be aware of this and think about it when they see symptoms of infection,” said epidemiologist Julie Harris of the mycotic diseases branch of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “This is a serious infection, but so far it’s a rare infection.”<br /><br />The primary victims of infection have been people who spend a lot of time outdoors, often in contact with soil, and those who do woodwork and construction, Harris said.<br /><br />So far, researchers have found almost no instances of the fungus in the environment in the U.S., Byrnes said. The 21 cases in humans and about three times that number in animals have been widely dispersed, in cities, suburbs and rural areas. The animals that have contracted it are species that don’t travel, and there are no common denominators to any of the infections, he said.<br /><br />The fungus is not traveling eastward “because we don’t think it will ever be able to live in the Sierra Nevadas,” Bartlett said. “Could it go down the Central Valley of California? Yeah, probably. But it will be intermittent, not a homogenous spread.”annie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-41126140864566632462010-03-27T06:57:00.000-07:002010-03-27T07:01:21.929-07:00Air Freshener Plug Ins: Worse Than Smog!http://healthinmotion.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/air-fresheners-create-toxic-air-soup/<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Air Fresheners Create Toxic Chemical Soup<br /></span>Jorg Mardian, RHN</strong><br /><br />Did you know that by using an air freshener in your living room, you are probably breathing in more toxic substances than you would in the middle of a traffic jam in Los Angeles?<br /><br />Few people understand how bad air fresheners are for their health, and fewer seem to care. North Americans love their scent neutralizers: those air fresheners, plug-in room deodorizers, odour sanitizers, room sprays, and aromatherapy candles. Advertisements are geared to make us feel that we don’t have a clean home unless some type of freshener is hanging on various outlets.<br /><br />But in spite of what manufacturers would have us believe, air fresheners do not “purify” the surrounding air, nor do they add natural fragrances. In fact, they coat the nasal passages with an oil film (such as methoxychlor – a pesticide that accumulates in fat cells) or by releasing a nerve deadening agent (www.consumerlawpage.com), to drown out whatever smells may be deemed offensive.<br /><br />Various harmful substances in air fresheners include allergens, potential carcinogens such as acetaldehyde or styrene, dangerous substances such as toluene and chlorbenzene, glycol ethers, phthalates and artificial musk.<br /><br />Paradichchlorobenzene (a white, solid crystal) has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals, and phenol (carbolic acid) is flammable, corrosive and very toxic. (Alive: Something in the Air, February 2004)<br /><br />Even more dangerous, formaldehyde, (admitted by the EPA to be a cause of cancer), and benzene (a carcinogen for which the WHO recommends zero exposure), may hang around the air after the use of several types of incense or electric scenter. Not to mention all the other chemicals not mentioned here and about which we know nothing. (WECF, 2005)<br /><br />Most of these chemicals have never been the subject of an in-depth toxicological study, and the effects on health and the environment have not been subjected to sufficient evaluation before the products were launched onto the market. When used in a confined area, like a homes, at work, or cars, they create an intense amount of toxins in a small area.<br /><br />The following list of ingredients that may be found in air fresheners is taken from “Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products“, by Gosselin, Smith and Hodge, 1984.<br /><br />Spray Type Deodorizers:<br />•ethyl or isopropyl alcohol<br />•glycol ethers<br />•surfactant (quaternary ammonium salts)<br />•perfume<br />•water<br />•propellants<br />•metazene (4.0%)<br />•petroleum distillates (6.0%)<br />•aluminum chlorhydrol<br />•bromsalicylanilide 2,3,4,5-BIS(2-butylene) tetrahydrofural<br />•cellosolve acetate<br />•dichlorodifluoromethanol<br />•ethanol<br />•fatty esters<br />•lauryl methacrylate<br />•methoxychlor<br />•methylene chloride<br />•o-phenylphenol<br />•p-dichlorobenzene<br />•pine oil (toxicity like turpentine)<br />•piperonyl butoxide<br />•pyrethrin<br />•synthetic surfactants<br />•trichloromonofluoromethane<br />•wax<br />•zinc phenolsulfonate<br />Wick Type Deodorizers:<br />•formaldehyde (37%)<br />•water-soluble perfume<br />•coloring<br />•water<br />•emulsifiers<br />•essential oils<br />•aromatic chemicals (xylene)<br />•chlorophyll<br />Several of these components are well-known carcinogens, and others have a wide range of immediate and long-term toxic effects on vital organs. The cumulative effect their mix has on human health is largely unknown. But it is safe to say that these products represent a real risk to health not only of allergy sufferers, asthmatics, pregnant or nursing women and children, but also to anyone using them continuously.<br /><br />According to a September 2007 report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), these noxious chemicals may even affect hormones and reproductive development.<br /><br />“As part of its “Clearing the Air” study, NRDC researchers tested 14 brands of common household air fresheners and found that 12 contained chemicals known as phthalates, which are “hormone-disrupting” chemicals. Phthalates can affect normal hormonal processes-those that control brain, nervous and immune system development, reproduction, mental processing and metabolism-by blocking them altogether, throwing off the timing or “mimicking” natural hormones and interacting with cells themselves, with very unhealthy consequences. The State of California notes that five types of phthalates-including one commonly used in air freshener products-are “known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm.” (Kansas City Infozine, October 11, 2007)<br /><br />Scented and aromatherapy candles are no better at clearing the air, and bear little or no relation to true aromatherapy. Such candles, are of questionable benefit regardless of the flowery implications of their names, and have negative effects on air quality and health. Aromatherapy candles:<br /><br />•are usually made of chemical (paraffin) waxes & toxic synthetic fragrance oils.<br />•usually contain metal wicks made of lead or zinc. 100% is inhaled in the black soot which ends up in the bloodstream and can be particularly damaging to children.<br />•create toxic byproducts. Burning scented oils, and even candles with pure essential oils, chemically converts the combustion into unhealthy byproducts.<br />Source: www.deliciousorganics.com<br /><br />Electric air fresheners also problematic<br /><br />One of the most innovative, and popular formats of purifiers is the electric air freshener. These use heat generated by electricity to spread fragrance through the air. It consists of a tiny plastic tray containing a gel-like fragrance concentrate. The consumer simply peels a multilayer barrier film from the top of the tray, leaving a permanent membrane layer that allows the fragrance to diffuse into the air. The tray is inserted into a warmer unit, which then is plugged into an electrical outlet. As the warmer unit heats up, fragrance permeates at a controlled rate through the film membrane, dispersing into the air. (gale-edit.com)<br /><br />Researchers at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) say that potentially harmful smog could accumulate inside homes through the reactions caused by electric air-fresheners and ozone. Experts believed the reactions produced formaldehyde, (at a concentration level of approximately 50 micrograms in each cubic meter of air), which is classified as a probable carcinogen that is believed to cause respiratory problems. This measurement was nearly equivalent to the EPA’s outdoor particle limit, which is considered to be an unhealthy level of particle exposure. (Nature May 10, 2004)<br /><br />Air fresheners may damage your lungs<br /><br />Another harmful ingredient is called 1, 4-dichlorobenzene, or 1,4-DCB, which could harm your lungs, according to a study by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.<br /><br />The study — published in Environmental Health Perspectives — analyzed the effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as 1,4 DCB on the lung function of 953 adult men and women. Of the 11 chemicals studied, only 1,4 DCB was linked to a reduction in pulmonary function; a link found to be significant even when smoking was factored in. This could be serious for those with asthma or other lung problems. Reduced lung function is also a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. (WebMD July 27, 2006)<br /><br />This chemical is usually found in space deodorizing products, such as room fresheners, urinal cakes and toilet bowl fresheners, and is used as an insecticide for moth control. It can also be found in things like tobacco smoke, paints, cleaning products and vehicle exhausts, and is detectable in 96 percent of population blood samples. (www.newstarget.com)<br /><br />The American Lung Association (ALA) website at lungusa.org points out that commercially made room deodorizers are a contributing factor to the 56 percent increase in asthma cases since 1979. And the Canadian Lung Association (CLA) also lists air fresheners as a hazardous product.<br /><br />What can we do?<br /><br />We need to realize that “clean” does not have a “scent.” We have been brainwashed to believe that “clean” means some kind of toxic fragrance – whether it’s in our air, clothes, or body. But “clean” actually has a very “neutral” smell: non-offensive and non-toxic.<br /><br />If you’re trying to eliminate unpleasant scents, try (pure) therapeutic essential oils instead. Most essential oils have antibacterial qualities and have varying physical and emotional effects depending on the oil, such as stimulation, relaxation, pain relief and healing.<br /><br />You can purchase an atomizing diffuser, an electrical air pump, and a nebulizer. Use a blend of essential oils such as orange, marjoram, lavender, basil and chamomile to help you relax. Most importantly, these don’t produce harmful chemicals like traditional air fresheners that could result in respiratory problems.<br /><br />The best way to avoid the problem is to simply open a window instead of reaching for one of these harmful products. You can also try:<br /><br />•burning 100% pure beeswax candles with 100% cotton wicks<br />•using a drop or two of pure essential oils and distilled water, make a spritzer and mist the air.<br />•using an “ash tray”– Zeolite, a mineral formed from volcanic ash, works the same way as baking soda.<br />•adding drops of orange, lemon or lavender essential oils to organic cotton balls and put them around the house<br />•simmering spices like cinnamon and cloves, organic lemons, fresh ginger or herbs such as rosemary or basil in a little water on the stovetop<br />•adding a drop or two of pure essential oils to some hot water<br />•use organic herbal sachets and potpourris<br />•using freshly cut fragrant organic flowers or potted plants as air freshening factories. They clear carbon dioxide from the air and can even remove toxins.annie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-61151554473732015372010-02-03T09:46:00.000-08:002010-02-04T06:28:38.165-08:00Lancet retracts vaccine-autism link findings as junk scienceThe Lancet retracts the infamous 1998 article linking autism and vaccinations. They label the 1998 study as junk science, and connect the erroneous findings to a rise in measles deaths in the UK.<br /><br />cbc.ca/health/story/2010/02/02/autism-mmr-lancet-wakefield.html<span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"></span>annie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-36627218260206143872010-01-12T20:49:00.000-08:002010-01-13T09:10:36.886-08:00Swedish Girl Grows Back Face After It Turns Black and Falls Off<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuIrir9nfL-5oC8_aopur8zxyta0gF-7lf9ZvjsHVrMDltWE6qOYjCcvPW3EsdmBNd089AKAnwcxjDyRaLyug5MBWMXbGZMM8ORFrpEAEcO0T_36a2R17QFeZFVMFFA6jAmf3/s1600-h/ten.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuIrir9nfL-5oC8_aopur8zxyta0gF-7lf9ZvjsHVrMDltWE6qOYjCcvPW3EsdmBNd089AKAnwcxjDyRaLyug5MBWMXbGZMM8ORFrpEAEcO0T_36a2R17QFeZFVMFFA6jAmf3/s200/ten.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426272941832269874" border="0" /></a><br />So odd to find this item because I had never conceived of the idea that one's face could turn black and fall off. Now that I know, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/sweden/6974596/Swedish-girl-grows-back-face-after-reaction-to-Paracetamol.html">I'll be waiting...</a>Randolph Heardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353512333792877803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-59891854670555916012010-01-11T15:57:00.000-08:002010-01-11T16:08:40.470-08:00AMERICAN FEVER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-97gDwJ6Gckr7PyyBblkOanGYLRv_YX86FVavpkEu4DbFIn3w9aj2WCu5Ky6xHpnURvpdZgpayTjjDIovJQaWFMDDzNVdyekeLxzwzGenpQtesvZAEPn7DsJt-AIFop0_MMfN/s1600-h/AmericanFeverCover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-97gDwJ6Gckr7PyyBblkOanGYLRv_YX86FVavpkEu4DbFIn3w9aj2WCu5Ky6xHpnURvpdZgpayTjjDIovJQaWFMDDzNVdyekeLxzwzGenpQtesvZAEPn7DsJt-AIFop0_MMfN/s200/AmericanFeverCover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425636938669196754" border="0" /></a><br />I'm jealous of you, Peter Christian Hall. You blog about swine flu for the Huffington Post. You wrote a movie with a Gang of Four soundtrack. You've visited (nearly) 50 countries. And last but not least, you've written an online blog novel about pandemic flu entitled <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://americanfever.squarespace.com/">American Fever</a>. </span><br /><br />You're genius, Peter Christian Hall. I can't stop reading you!Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12924236744693317286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-85602591474605935732009-10-21T14:19:00.000-07:002009-10-21T14:22:58.435-07:00Swine Flu: A Pregnant Woman's Ordeal (NYT)For anyone who is doubting getting vaccinated, read about a pregnant woman who came down with H1N1. Pregnant women are at higher risk because their immune systems are suppressed to protect the fetus.<br /><br />"In the four months she was hospitalized, she spent five weeks in a <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Consciousness - decreased." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/consciousness-decreased/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier">coma</a>, suffered six collapsed lungs and a near-fatal <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Generalized tonic-clonic seizure." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/generalized-tonic-clonic-seizure/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier">seizure</a>. High-pressure ventilation blew her up like a molten balloon until “she looked like she weighed 400 pounds,” her husband, Bryan, said, and she has <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Striae." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/striae/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier">stretch marks</a> from her neck to her ankles. Her muscles and lungs are still so weak that she uses a walker.<br /><br />While hospitalized, she missed seeing her 4-year-old daughter, Hope, learn to swim and start pre-school.<br /><br />And, most important, she lost her baby (27 weeks)."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/health/20pregnant.html?em">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/health/20pregnant.html?em</a>annie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-30309757659778864962009-10-13T05:57:00.000-07:002009-10-13T06:03:41.721-07:00Insect Parts and Rodent HairsThat chocolate bar that you're eating may contain a rodent hair and insect parts, but don't worry because the FDA says it's okay. <a href="http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/Sanitation/ucm056174.htm">Read more...</a>lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13385153400301859581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-72186505796373764082009-09-21T06:51:00.000-07:002009-09-21T06:57:27.819-07:00Anticipating H1N1, Government of Canada Sends Body Bags to First Nations ReservesFirst Nations leaders expressed outrage when dozens of body bags were delivered to remote northern communities by the Canadian Government in anticipation of H1N1. Health Canada apologized the following day.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/body-bags-sent-to-flu-stricken-reserves/article1290332/">http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/body-bags-sent-to-flu-stricken-reserves/article1290332/</a>annie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-85016296198558696322009-09-09T14:23:00.000-07:002009-09-09T14:45:28.472-07:00Not in my Herd: Part OneSo, the media reports that health care workers in NY are upset that they are <a href="http://bit.ly/fYxcA">required to be immunized against both seasonal and swine flu</a>.<br /><a href="http://bit.ly/fYxcA"><br /></a>I have a suggestion for you, NY health care workers: perhaps you might consider a new line of work. Maybe your local Waldorf school is hiring?<br /><br />I think that people who refuse vaccinations for themselves or their children for serious infectious disease are, at best, irresponsible and, at worst, criminal.<br /><br />There are better sources than me for the public health perspectives involved in this issue, e.g. community health vs. individual rights regarding the concept of vaccination and herd immunity.<br /><br />But what I will say: the onus is on the government to properly--and sensitively--educate the public about the benefits and risks regarding immunization against H1N1 virus. And it's on the people not to be such kneejerk dumbasses. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">This means you, NY health care workers!</span><br /><br />And here are the recommendations for swine flu vaccination. They change week to week, so consider bookmarking <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm">this page.</a>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12924236744693317286noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-74633844957835476312009-09-08T21:19:00.000-07:002009-09-08T21:49:03.090-07:001976: Swine Flu Virus: History Repeats?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lcJt4jX1Vo"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79ovJ2gILjncxxLR62Pk9F16jyKG1xJHON4A7rYUtHsFZzExxPLRZIKcItrN8KU0TOtG2vz9neuvAYwDvlhQBImYqOrEOlAUSf8AhWNO9H4d1we96B_xV5hLcAowfeQqYW0UU/s200/Picture+10.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379322615164035458" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lcJt4jX1Vo"></a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lcJt4jX1Vo"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Part I: "60 Minutes" piece about the 1976 Swine Flu Outbreak Back Then</a> [Youtube]<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4c9Is1T3z4&feature=related">Part II</a> [Youtube]<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillain-Barr%C3%A9_syndrome">Click here to learn more about Guillain-Barré syndrome.</a> [Wikipedia]Antoine Charvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15207089146174452781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-2226299822659313262009-09-03T09:39:00.000-07:002010-01-11T16:05:31.815-08:00swine flu plush toyGiantMicrobes makes stuffed animals that look like common microbes.<br /><br />Here is their latest: little Swine Flu.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/products/swineflu.html">http://www.giantmicrobes.com/us/products/swineflu.html</a>annie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-39222451819211346032009-08-02T17:14:00.000-07:002010-01-11T16:06:56.480-08:00Eugenicist Advising the President?<p face="arial" class="style1">The <a href="http://americanpanic.blogspot.com/2009/07/hysterical-pregnancy-endocrine.html">previous</a> American Panic Attack post dealt with poisons in our water that adversely affect reproductive health when people are exposed to them. Coincidentally, at around the same time that the story broke, <a href="http://zombietime.com/john_holdren/">a blogger broke a related story</a>, one that had been hiding in the plain sight for 32 years: A 1,052-page policy manual called “Ecoscience” <span style="font-size:100%;">(<a href="http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=98156598">link to full text of book</a>)</span> co-authored in 1977 by President Obama’s top science and technology advisor <span style="font-size:100%;"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Holdren">John P. Holdren</a>. (Holdren co-wrote the book with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ralph_Ehrlich">Paul Ehrlich</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_H._Ehrlich">Anne Ehrlich</a>.)</span><br /><br />“Ecoscience” proposes tyrannical (and currently illegal) measures to prevent human overpopulation, one of them being “[a]dding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods”.</p><p face="arial" class="style1">Another policy advocated in “Ecoscience” is forced abortions (as performed in Communist China). Speaking of China, <a href="http://www.questia.com/read/98157350?title=Chapter%2013%20%20Population%20Policies">Chapter 13</a> of "Ecoscience" starts with the following quote:</p><blockquote style="font-family: arial;"><blockquote><p class="style1">“Of all things people are the most precious.”<br /><em>-- Mao Tse Tung</em></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="font-family: arial;" class="style1">Ironic in that Mao holds the title of <span style="font-size:100%;"> <a href="http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/NOTE2.HTM">most prolific mass murderer in modern history</a></span>, it would be like starting a chapter with a quote from Hitler (who acknowleges his debt of gratitude to <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Eugenics_Society">American eugenics movement </a>in his book "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mein_Kampf">Mein Kampf</a></span>"). </p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="style1">After the defeat of Nazi Germany, "eugenics" was exposed to the world for what it was: a bogus science used as a pretext for wholesale murder. Re-branded as "Ecoscience" the central conceit remains the same: a cadre of elite scientists and technocrats will decide who gets to live and who gets to die, who gets to have kids, and who will be infertile, to save the earth for whoever is still alive once their "Final Solution" is complete.</p><blockquote><blockquote><p class="style1"><em style="font-family: arial;"><br /></em></p></blockquote></blockquote>Antoine Charvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15207089146174452781noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-17834415038265993082009-07-12T16:11:00.000-07:002009-07-12T19:46:59.421-07:00Hysterical Pregnancy: Endocrine Disruptors in Our Water Supply<div align="left">In 2008, the NYT reported that "there are traces of sedatives in NY's water<span style="color:#000000;">. Ibuprofen and naproxen in D.C. </span><span style="color:#000000;">Anti-epileptic and anti-anxiety drugs in southern California</span>..."<br /><br />And now it's reporting that there are artificial estrogens in the water that contribute (like Bisephenol in plastics) to hormonal disruption in unborn children and women of reproductive age.<br /><br />Nick Kristoff writes on June 27: <span style="font-size:85%;">In </span><a title="A PDF" href="http://www.sjrwmd.com/publications/pdfs/fs_lapopka.pdf"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">heavily polluted Lake Apopka</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">,</span> one of the largest lakes in Florida, male alligators developed stunted genitals. In the Potomac watershed near Washington, male smallmouth bass have rapidly transformed into “intersex fish” that display female characteristics. [M]ore than 80 percent of the male smallmouth bass in the Potomac are producing eggs. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Now scientists are connecting the dots with evidence of increasing abnormalities among humans, particularly large increases in numbers of genital deformities among newborn boys. For example, up to 7 percent of boys are now born with undescended testicles, although this often self-corrects over time. And up to 1 percent of boys in the United States are now born with hypospadias, in which the urethra exits the penis improperly, such as at the base rather than the tip.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Apprehension is growing among many scientists that the cause of all this may be a class of chemicals </span><a title="More information" href="http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/home.php"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">called endocrine disruptors</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">.</span> They are very widely used in agriculture, industry and consumer products. <strong>Some also enter the water supply when estrogens in human urine — compounded when a woman is on the pill — pass through sewage systems and then through water treatment plants.</strong></span><strong><br /></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">These endocrine disruptors have complex effects on the human body, particularly during fetal development of males.</span><br /><br />Some are even positing that the decrease in male children is a result of this phenomenon. And there is a big fossil fuel link... no surprise there, I guess.<br /><br />How does a woman who wants children or who is pregnant even respond to this? Can't drink bottled water, the plastic is full of estrogens. Can't drink tap water, now we learn that it ,too, has estrogens. Paddle to the middle of a lake, lean over and drink? God!...<br /><br />Visit the Endocrine Disrupters Exchange for even more troubling reportage...<br /><a href="http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/home.php">http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/home.php</a></div>annie bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16222407246850524628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-8724324270590726522009-06-30T22:43:00.000-07:002009-06-30T22:59:00.303-07:00Peak Oil Blues Blog<a href="http://www.peakoilblues.com/">The Peak Oil Blues Blog</a>: "Exploring Emotional Reactions to Peak Oil, Climate Change, and Economic Collapse"<br /><br />A one stop shop for your American Panic Attack.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.peakoilblues.com/blog/"></a>Randolph Heardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06353512333792877803noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-85703023733700185942009-06-29T19:13:00.000-07:002009-06-29T20:09:15.929-07:00Raw Deal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0iur47JQIwBXS5DJW6gCoIHDbWV5l7ZKrMJHCgjzGqxsyTPwJp4eSAiwwxoor_W-ndjUeVqkIzhnEeYzjED_6u7UJC4gJK28lxoNGDchz_bgdqk0WvbRLwelUnB8Eaahk16d/s1600-h/safe1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0iur47JQIwBXS5DJW6gCoIHDbWV5l7ZKrMJHCgjzGqxsyTPwJp4eSAiwwxoor_W-ndjUeVqkIzhnEeYzjED_6u7UJC4gJK28lxoNGDchz_bgdqk0WvbRLwelUnB8Eaahk16d/s200/safe1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352947095858794210" border="0" /></a><br />So I'm reading Bill Marler on the Nestle cookie dough <span style="font-style: italic;">e. coli</span> outbreak. While I agree with his stance on blaming the victim (apparently, Nestle is faulting the parents who let their children eat the raw dough--nice, right?), I'm also wondering who are these freaking people who eat raw dough or let their kids eat raw dough? At my house, my child has to don a Biohazard suit whenever she's near anything raw. Meat, when I allow it to cross my threshold, is cooked to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.<br /><br />What really got me, however, was <a href="http://www.marlerblog.com/2009/06/articles/lawyer-oped/who-poisoned-the-cookie-dough/">this post</a> on his blog. His point in listing the numerous food terrorist incidents is to point out how inadequate and inept our current food safety systems are no matter the cause. It's so incredibly infuriating, particularly when you read about the severity of the illness, and most particularly in children.<br /><br />BUT, what really got me was the food terrorism list in that post. I mean, I'm aware of Alexander Litvinenko and his polonium-laced food. FINE. That kind of thing happens when you're a KGB agent. It's an occupational hazard. But wait...what's this about cyanide-laced grapes from Chile, or a Michigan supermarket employee tainting hundreds of pounds of ground beef with an insecticide. Say what?? Why didn't I hear about that?<br /><br />When he gets to the botulism modeling at Stanford, I could barely keep reading, because I was totally freaking out. It's things like this that edge me closer than ever to Julianne Moore-at-the-end-of-the-movie-<span style="font-style: italic;">Safe</span>-porcelain-igloo territory.<br /><br />But really, there's nothing funny about it. And tonight I'm having spaghetti for dinner--again.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12924236744693317286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6987337.post-1874866000725513592009-06-12T19:17:00.000-07:002009-06-12T19:43:33.674-07:00Coyotez in the 'HoodWhile the nation is focused on the active shooter scenario and the weird DHS booklet that identifies what an active shooter is (<span style="font-style: italic;">"...an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area," </span>just FYI), I'm more worried about the 2009 coyote uprising.<br /><br /><i>Canis latrans </i>is mad as hell and he's not going to take it. <a href="http://au2012.blogspot.com/2009/03/coyote-sniper.html">This blog</a> is keeping tabs on this phenomenon and other animal uprisings. In Denver it's been building to a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/29/urban-coyote-attacks-on-r_n_180501.html">fever pitch</a> all spring. Here's my favorite quote:<br /><blockquote>"These are coyotes that were born and raised in the 'hood," said Liza Hunholz, an area manager with the Colorado Division of Wildlife.</blockquote>Soundtrack by Eazy-E.Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12924236744693317286noreply@blogger.com0