Tag Archives: food

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? New Kmart & Sears closings for the start of 2013. Store leases worth more than the stores themselves! Stock analyst says it’s time to dump your Sears Holdings stocks!

On 31 December 2012, the 69 employees at a North Carolina Kmart were told they were unemployed.  The Peters Creek store in Winston-Salem had been in operation since 1978.

On 22 December 2012, employees at a franchised Sears Hometown store, in the U.S. territory of Guam, were told they were now unemployed.  The franchise owner refused to comment to local media as to why he was closing the store.  The store had been in operation since December 2010.

A retail property analyst, Britt Beemer (America’s Research Group), said there were still hundreds of Kmarts with leases that are “worth millions of dollars, much more than the profit of the store”.  Those store will most likely be closed.

A stock market analyst, David Zanoni (Seeking Alpha), recently said it was time to short sell shares of Sears Holdings.  Normally he advises to hold onto stocks for the long run, but he says this about dumping Sears: “Sears Holdings is a great candidate for this as it has declining fundamentals with no positive catalysts in sight.” 

Here’s the updated list:

Arizona: Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors.

Alabama: Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

California:   El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (at least 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost).

Colorado:  Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost),  Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40).

Georgia: Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost).

Guam: Recently revealed Sears Hometown Store.

Florida: Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost),  Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway to be closed by 03 February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Idaho: Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost).

Indiana:  Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost).  By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state.  The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Iowa:  Cedar Rapids Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year).

Kansas: Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart (back in May, Rankin Paynter bought out what was left of the inventory and gave it to charity), Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost).

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors.

Michigan: Novi Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials,  Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Flint Kmart (46 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart.

Mississippi: Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line.

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line.

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials.

North Carolina: High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost),  West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), recently revealed Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost).

New Jersey:  Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost).

Ohio: Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost).   Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears.

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (approximately 50 jobs lost).

Tennessee: Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors.

Virginia: Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost),  Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost).

Washington: Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost).

On top of that, Sears Holdings sold stores to General Growth Properties (GGP), of which it has been reported that most of those stores will be closed.

Here’s the list of 11 Sears stores now owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears will be closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

International, U.S.

Norovirus update, 31 December 2012: 1 million sick in U.K.! More deaths in Japan! More cruise ships hit hard! Hospitals refusing service! U.S. prisons getting hit! Mis-diagnosed as flu! New version found in California!

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is trying to find out what made at least 400 people sick, on two xmas time cruise ships.

Officials with the CDC suspect norovirus.  The latest cruise ship outbreaks took place on ships belonging to Cunard and Princess Cruises.

In Japan, people are still dying from norovirus.  In a third outbreak just in the Gregorian month of December, four more people have died.  This latest outbreak is taking place in a hospital in Yokohama.  At least 68 patients are sick, as well as  27 hospital staff.

In United Kingdom, more than one million people are confirmed sick with norovirus like symptoms (3,538 have so far been confirmed as norovirus by lab tests, which takes time), and hospitals are being shut down.  The vomiting bug (as it’s called in Britain) has shut down East Surrey Hospital, for the third time in the past two months!  U.K. is experiencing an 83% increase in norovirus cases, compared to the same time last year.  Just in the past two weeks 70 British hospitals have reported outbreaks! To make matters worse, an average of 5,000 health workers have been calling in sick everyday!  Health officials say it’s a little early for the vomiting bug: “The number of laboratory confirmed cases has risen once again as it appears that we have seen the rise in cases that usually begins in January start a little earlier than we normally expect.”-John Harris, Health Protection Agency

Back in the U.S.A., in Illinois officials are reporting norovirus outbreaks in prisons.  At least 140 inmates were sick in the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet.  Prison officials say the first cases showed up on xmas day.

In Iowa, media in Sioux City are reporting that many cases of norovirus are being misdiagnosed as influenza. In fact, here in the U.S. norovirus is often incorrectly called “stomach flu”.  Another factor is that Iowa doctors and hospitals are not required to report cases of norovirus to state health officials!

A nurse in Maine explains the main differences between norovirus and influenza: “Basically the biggest difference between norovirus and the actual flu is that the norovirus causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. The actual flu that we all are vaccinated against every year is mostly respiratory in nature, with cough, aches, fever and chills. As far as numbers of cases, I cannot say exactly how much of either but will say that this is one of the busiest seasons I have seen in a while for both norovirus and the flu.”-Chris Reeder, York Hospital

In California, officials in San Luis Obispo County are reporting what they think is a new strain of norovirus. They are reporting three outbreaks in the past month. It’s thought to have come from Australia.   California has been dealing with norovirus outbreaks all year!  In October a middle school in Oak Park, Ventura County, saw at least 320 students out sick.  A pizza restaurant, in Contra Costa County, was shut down because of the vomiting bug back in June.  In July the Alisal Guest Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, was investigated after customers got sick at the end of June.

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, since September there have been one confirmed and five suspected outbreaks in several nursing homes.

In Michigan, Lansing area health officials are reporting 75 cases at a local retirement home.

There is no treatment for norovirus, no vaccine, and your body does not develop immunity so you can get sick again and again and again….

Check my previous postings about norovirus.  You’ll notice most outbreaks involve hospitals.  You’ll also read about a recent study that says cleanliness might not have any affect on viruses (it’s actually the first study ever to investigate such claims).

U.S.

U.S. West Nile virus update, 30 December 2012: Resurgence & warning for 2013? Blood donors with no symptoms are carriers! Virus also killing off game birds! Record high average temps being blamed! New version already detected!

“People should be concerned because we found so much more of the virus this year.”-Karen Tobin, Erie County West Nile virus coordinator

Health officials in Erie County, Pennsylvania, are warning that 2013 could be another big year for West Nile virus.

Erie County did not have as many human cases of the virus, as the rest of the Keystone State, but they had a relatively higher percentage of infected mosquitoes: “We didn’t trap as many mosquitoes as we usually do, but a high percentage of the ones we caught had West Nile.”-Jeff Bresslin, Erie County Department of Health

Officials blame it on the weather: “The mild winter enabled many of the mosquitoes to survive through spring.”-Karen Tobin, Erie County West Nile virus coordinator

In South Carolina, officials are also blaming the weather, saying 2012 was a record year for average daily high temperatures. For 2012 the city of Columbia had an average daily high of 67 degrees Fahrenheit (19.4 Celsius).  Normally The Capital of Southern Hospitality, in the Palmetto State, is around 66 degrees for the average.  The National Weather Service has been keeping temp records there since 1887.

Despite stating that they won’t make another West Nile report until Spring 2013, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is already predicting 2012 to be a banner year, but they don’t know why:  “It is not clear why we are seeing more activity than in recent years.”-Marc Fischer, CDC

One CDC official said each state could have its own reasons for West Nile outbreaks: “….the ecology in the United States is extremely varied, so a factor that may affect an outbreak in Colorado may be different than a factor that causes an outbreak in Louisiana. The conditions in an urban area may be different than a suburban area.”-Lyle Peterson, CDC

PLOS Biology reported yet another study that blames lack of bio-diversity for causing all the outbreaks of tropical diseases: “The general logic is that the more organisms you have out there, the more things there are that can interrupt the life cycle of disease, and the less concentration you’ll have of any vector.”-Matthew Bonds, Harvard Medical School, from interview with National Public Radio (NPR)

CDC officials are predicting that by the time the numbers are crunched 2012 will have the most human cases since the Gregorian year of 2004.  More than 80% of cases took place in Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.

In Texas, health officials are hesitant to say the West Nile season is over, they blame the weather: “We’re telling people if you’re going to be outside and the weather is 55 degrees or higher, you should think about using a mosquito repellent. I don’t want to be blamed if someone gets infected after we announce the end of the season and they stop taking precautions.”-Wendy Chung, Dallas County Health and Human Services

Texas are still getting infected with West Nile, even though it’s Winter.  Health officials say a big concern is blood donors:   “….we also started seeing infections among blood donors who had no symptoms. That’s when we started getting worried.”-Wendy Chung, Dallas County Health and Human Services

In Nevada, a Las Vegas woman was diagnosed with West Nile in December.  Her infection is not considered serious.  The Southern Nevada Health District says that despite cooler weather they are still finding infected mosquitoes.

A California woman has died since the beginning of December. She’s the first West Nile death for Orange County.  During the week of xmas, health officials reported six new human cases, for a total of 459.

A college basketball player in Gibson County, Indiana, reports that even when you get over West Nile infection, the symptoms never seem to go away:  “….I still get headaches. If I stand up fast, I get dizzy. The doctors said this could go on for six months, or it could end tomorrow. I never know if I’ll have a good day or a bad day. Three or four days a week are bad days. I always have a constant headache, but I’ve learned to live with that and with the bad days.”-Rachel Sensmeier

The virus isn’t going after just horses and humans, it’s also killing off birds.  So many Sage Grouse have been killed off in North Dakota that Montana is considering sending some of their own grouse to help the Peace Garden State.  40 female Sage Grouse are going to be sent from Montana to North Dakota by 2014/15.  Since 2007 North Dakota’s Sage Grouse population has been cut in half by West Nile virus. Officials are concerned the birds have reached a point where normal reproduction trends will not allow the birds to recover: “One of the thoughts is that with the population as low as it is, we may be experiencing a genetic bottleneck where bringing in new genes from Montana may help.”-Aaron Robinson, North Dakota Department of Game and Fish

However, Montana officials think the 2014/15 date is too late: “We’re supportive of helping North Dakota out, but it might be one of those things where the timing is off.”-Rick Northrup, former Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

How much does it cost to transplant Sage Grouse?  About $4,000 USD per bird!  A similar attempt was tried with sending Montana birds to Canada, and it was considered a failure. Only one of the 40 had chicks.

And staying on the subject of birds, officials with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, say they’ve had a record year for treating sick animals, especially crows.  Some encouraging news; they say they might be seeing a new weaker version of West Nile: “In previous cases, once an animal was infected with West Nile, it was almost 100% mortality. There’s a new strain, though, that there’s a belief that maybe the mortality rate is lower and that there are certain things we can do. Most of the time the treatment is rest and feeding, just like humans need when they have flu.”-Phil Jenni, Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? United Nations says it ain’t gonna happen

A recent economic report from the UN says western economies (Europe, North America, Japan) will not see any recovery of the tens of millions of job losses since 2008, for at least five more years.

UN economists point to low projected GDP numbers as proof: “This pace of growth will be far from sufficient to overcome the continued jobs crisis that many countries are still facing.”-World Economic Situation and Prospects 2013

International, U.S.

Norovirus update: Hospital being blamed!

24 December 2012, prefectural health officials, in Miyazaki Prefecture, say the hospital’s bad hygiene habits, and diagnostic incompetence could be to blame for the latest norovirus outbreak in Japan.

The hospital also delayed reporting deaths.

Officials say the hospital did not report any norovirus infections until three days after the first person died. The hospital did not even mention the death in their first report.  It was another five days, and after several more people had died, before the hospital revealed any deaths.

Six people died between the 14th and 22nd of December.

Hospital staff say they didn’t think the patients had norovirus!

Prefectual officials say the way staff handled the bio-hazard waste from the patients’ discharges (vomiting, etc) could have caused the outbreak in the hospital.  There are still at least 44 people sick, five are in serious condition.

International, U.S.

Norovirus Strikes Back: Cruise ships hit hard, Montana & Colorado & North Dakota & Minnesota put on alert! Deaths in Japan! New study proves dish washing advise to be nothing but old wives tale when it comes to killing viruses! So much for washing your hands!

“I thought I was gonna die.”-63 year old Texan

23 December 2012, the norovirus is making a comeback; cruise ship passengers getting sick in Texas, firefighting crews getting sick in Montana, warnings for Coloradans, local media from Minnesota and North Dakota reporting increased cases of infection, a report showing that standard kitchen disinfecting will not kill the virus, and a new mutation killing people in Japan.

The two latest incidents involve six more deaths in Japan, and a cruise ship off the coast of Texas full of sick passengers.

96 passengers on a Crown Princess cruise got sick with the most common cause of stomach ‘flu’ (aka food poisoning); the single stranded RNA norovirus.  Reports say one passenger had to be lifeflighted to a hospital.  The cruise line provided onboard medical care, but the sick passengers were made even sicker when the cruise line charged them extra for the medical care!

In Japan, the norovirus has taken a turn for the worse.  Japanese health officials now think that the virus has mutated into a more deadly form.

On 23 December, a hospital in Miyazaki Prefecture reported that six patients have died, another 27 patients and 14 hospital staff are sick.  On 05 December, a hospital in Osaka Prefecture reported two people died and 48 patients and hospital staff are sick.  There are reports that five other people throughout Japan have died.

The Japanese National Institute of Infectious Diseases is warning of a norovirus epidemic, saying they are seeing one of the highest infection rates on record.   As of the second week of November, an average of 11 cases per hospital were being reported.

At the end of 2011, Japanese health officials detected an increase in norovirus cases, and that this new version seems to be more easily spread between humans.

Back in the United States, a new Lessons Learned report on firefighting efforts in Montana revealed that several of the firefighting staff were sick with norovirus G1. It involved the crews fighting the Elbow Pass fire in 2011.  At least seven people came down with it, but after closing down the food service line and cleaning everything, health inspectors realized that it was not coming from contaminated food, it was going directly from person to person.

The fire crew supervisors took quick action and avoided what could have been a catastrophe:   “It’s not unusual in fire camps that things get passed around, but this was particularly nasty. There was all kinds of potential there to spread through the whole camp.”-Bob Harrington, Montana State Forester

In Minnesota, health officials are investigating a possible outbreak after a recent wedding party in the city of LeRoy.  They’re also blaming a food service worker, infected with norovirus, for an outbreak that hit the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, back in November.

North Dakota media reporting people being hospitalized with norovirus, and health officials point out that there is no vaccine to prevent it, and no medication for it once you catch it.

In Colorado, cases of norovirus are spreading like wildfire.  Since 01 December 2012 there have been six confirmed outbreaks, just in El Paso County.  Outbreaks do not equate to individual persons, this is six groups of people.  The first five outbreaks resulted in 300 Coloradans getting sick.  Health officials are refusing to reveal where exactly the outbreaks are taking place, but did concede that it involved people living/working along side other people: “…the places where it’s occurred have been long term care facilities, schools, places where there have been large numbers of people. Because it is so highly contagious, it does allow it to spread.”-Danielle Oller, El Paso County Public Health

Winter time (in the Northern Hemisphere) is considered the usual time of year for norovirus outbreaks.  And the standard schtick for defending from the virus is to keep your kitchen clean, but there’s growing evidence that doesn’t work.

According to a report published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE,  researchers wanted to see if standard restaurant dish washing practices really killed the germs that can make you sick, and they found out that it doesn’t (back in my younger days I worked in a restaurant that used an industrial strength dish washing machine that used boiling hot water, and now this study says that ain’t good enough?).  What they discovered is that while bacteria like E.Coli are killed, viruses like norovirus are not!   The norovirus was still present after the dish washing experiment.

But get this, the reason the scientists did the study was that no one has ever proven that dish washing actually killed viruses: “… little information regarding the efficacy of traditional sanitizers for the reduction of foodborne viruses from food contact surfaces is available in the literature. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the sanitization efficacy of quaternary ammonium and sodium hypochlorite for the reduction of murine norovirus…”-Introduction from Efficacies of Sodium Hypochlorite and Quaternary Ammonium Sanitizers for Reduction of Norovirus and Selected Bacteria during Ware-Washing Operations

The study showed that dish washing machines did not reduce viruses: “…the survivability of MNV-1 [norovirus] on the contaminated surfaces before and after mechanical washing……were not statistically different (p>0.0001).”

Oh, but don’t throw your away your time saving machines just yet, hand washing didn’t work either: “The effect of the manual ware-washing and sanitizing solutions…..were not significantly different (p>0.0001) than the reductions achieved by the control.”

The researchers also pointed out signs that indicate that norovirus does not originate with fecal (crap) contamination.

One: Norovirus actually lives longer on clean surfaces than on dirty surfaces: “This result is consistent with those of other researchers who showed that norovirus can survive for up to 30 days on stainless steel…….and [only] 7 days on fecal contaminated surfaces….”

Two:  Most cases of contamination originate with a person who is already contaminated, who then spreads it to other people: “Most documented foodborne viral outbreaks can be traced to food that has been manually handled by an infected food handler. Hence, the hygiene of the personnel who handle food in foodservice establishments is an important preventive measure in minimizing cross-contamination of food contact surfaces and the food itself with norovirus.”

If you think about it, this study would indicate that washing your hands won’t kill the virus either, so much for all that advise coming from your local health officials and incompetent media!

International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan withdraws from Golan Heights, Israel conducting wargames for new kind of enemy, blaming Syrian ‘civil’ war

21 December 2012, the United Nations renewed its peacekeeper observation mission in the Golan Heights, but Japan says no more and is pulling out.

On 19 December, the UN Security Council extended the Golan Heights mission to 30 June 2013.  On 21 December, Japanese media reporting that Japan’s Defense Minister, Satoshi Morimoto, ordered the Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) peacekeeper contingent out of the Golan.  Interestingly, the Israeli media reported on the Japanese pullout back on 11 December!

Japanese officials blame the Syrian ‘civil’ war.

It’s that same reasoning that the Israeli government is using for increased military activity in the Golan.  For the first time ever, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) combat exercises, in the Golan Heights, were held during the Hanukkah holiday.  The Netzach Yehuda battalion, from the Kfir Brigade, now holds that distinction.

Battalion leaders revealed the combat training is for an enemy Israel is not used to fighting: “The fact that the exercise is aimed at fighting against a different enemy, which behaves differently from what we are used to, is a new and special thing for the fighters, and therefore this is a great professional improvement.”-Lieutenant Colonel Telem Chazan

The Japanese SDF had been observing the ‘peace’ in the Golan since 1996, and this is the first time the Japanese government has ended a peacekeeping mission for security reasons.

Israel took the Golan from Syria during the 1967 war, and again during the 1973 war. Then in 1981 Israelis passed the Golan Heights Law, a way of unofficially annexing the territory.  But as far back as 1967 the United Nations passed UNSCR 242, which has as demand number one: “Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied….” 

There is also the UN General Assembly resolution 3414 (XXX) of 05 December 1975: “…immediate, unconditional and total withdrawal of Israel from the Arab territories occupied since 1967.”

UN Security Council resolution 497 of 17 December 1981: “…the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan was null and void and without international legal effect…”

But ironically it’s the U.S./European/Israeli backed Syrian ‘civil’ war that has the UNSC extending the peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights: “Recent incidents across the cease-fire line have shown the potential for escalation of tensions between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic, and jeopardize the cease-fire between the two countries.”

Sounds like a set up, to me.

Business/Economics, Opinion, U.S.

Dumb ‘mericans & Incompetent Media! Fiscal Cliff done deal! Almost the exact same politicians trying to ‘stop’ fiscal cliff are the ones who created it!

21 December 2012, I wonder how many Dumb ‘mericans out there think the “fiscal cliff” is some kind-o-god sent law, like the ten commandments.  Well, it’s a done deal but not because of any divine power, it was created by almost the very same ‘elected’ republicans and democrats who now act like they’re trying to stop it.

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Boehner, cancelled 21 December’s vote on a proposal designed to draw concessions from President Barack Obama.  But don’t blame Obama, that starts with President George W. Bush, and it was Congress who wrote the law!

The tax increases and government spending cuts can be traced back to the Bush tax cuts, aka Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.  But it’s not that simple, as it involves successive Acts passed under the Bush and Obama administrations (Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, Tax Relief American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 [aka Stimulus] Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 and finally Budget Control Act of 2011).

All those ‘Acts’ were intended to save the economy through tax reductions and government spending increases.  However, most of the tax reductions helped only the ultra-rich and the Too Big to Fails (it’s now clear they did not spend it on creating the millions of new jobs economists said were needed), and most spending increases (like the military) came with spending cuts elsewhere (like social programs).

So almost every elected official in the U.S. Congress, now, are the same people that created those Acts, and if not the same person it’s the very same political parties controlling the House and Senate, remember the recent ‘elections’?

In their wisdom they threw in massive ‘automatic’ austerity cuts if their previous efforts to save the U.S. economy failed.  They claim they’re ‘automatic’ because they can through up their hands and say “Oh, we can’t do anything about it, it’s the law!”  Yeah, the very law they created!

And then there’s the incompetent media, who’s giving us daily reports on the ‘progress’ being made to stop the fiscal cliff.  Idiots!  It’s a done deal!  Think about it, what is(are) the plan(s) our elected officials are coming up with?  Tax increases and spending cuts!  In other words what we’re facing is either massive austerity measures or tax increases and government spending cuts.  Austerity is austerity, but if you’ve been paying attention to what’s happening in many European countries then you should know this isn’t over.  Most Euro countries (especially Greece) have been passing austerity measures, only to have to turn around and pass more tax increases and government spending cuts just a few months later.

No matter how you look at it, the Fiscal Cliff is a done deal!

 

Influenza

U.S. Influenza, 19 December 2012: New vaccine, just when more studies say vaccines do not work! Media spreads ignorance! Some school officials ignorant! More evidence of new bird flu! KFC involved?

“The nation is experiencing an early flu season with high levels of activity concentrated in the south central and southeastern regions at this time.”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

New York continues to be a hot spot for influenza.  Onondaga County reports 506 new cases last week, that’s 141 more than the week prior!  Total cases so far for the county is 1,277!

In Main, a six years old girl died from the flu, the first flu death in Main since 2010: “It is very rare for a child that’s healthy to die from the flu, but this is a reminder.”-Sheila Pinette, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) reporting at least 63 confirmed cases of flu.  Michigan usually doesn’t see that many cases until January or February: “It is a concern to see this many cases this early in the season.”-Angela Minicuci, MDCH

Whats happening in the Great Lakes states is being mirrored across the water in Canada: “Usually we see more cases during January and February, but now we’re seeing it in November and December.”-Hamidah Meghani, Hamilton, Ontario, Associate Medical Officer of Health

Illinois reporting flu season actually started before Thanksgiving: “Loyola documented several cases of the flu before Thanksgiving. It is early to start and also a high number.”-Jorge Parada, Loyola University Health System.

Also, a local Illinois TV news program, along with doctors, are spreading ignorance;  recently a report said doctors at hospitals are taking flu precautions by using anti-bacterial soap. The problem?  Influenza is a virus, not a bacteria, so anti-bacterial soap won’t help prevent flu.  Another issue is that the reports stressed obsessive washing of the hands after touching things like door knobs to prevent flu, here’s the problem with that: “Influenza is a very contagious respiratory disease.”-Tim Uyeki, CDC

In the case of influenza, specifically, it is an airborne pathogen, not a door knob pathogen. To top that, the medical experts are not even sure how people actually catch the flu!  Some studies show that 30% of airborne pathogen infections take place in the building where you work (schools were not looked at, I assume they consider schools the same as “office environment”).  The main cause is possibly dirty filters in the air conditioning system.  However, the majority of infections (flus and colds) are considered “unknown” in origin, by 51%!  So much for all that healthy advise from your officials and the media!

In Missouri, one school district (in Marshfield) is reporting that school attendance has dropped to 85% because of the flu.  School officials did not cancel school because they think kids are safer in school: “We decided if we dismiss school, there’s more likelihood that they would be exposed to the flu away from school than in school. So we decided to stay in school for the last few days of the week before Christmas break.”-Mark Mayo, Superintendent (guess he didn’t do his homework regarding the infection studies, see above)

Montana reporting early flu cases. 31 cases with five hospitalizations so far, and parents say that school is not the safest place to be: “Elementary school is probably a petri dish for all the diseases that kids have….”-Justin Winward, parent

In Georgia, the Coweta County Board of Education sent out letters warning of a “flu like illness” after some schools reported attendance below 90%: “We have no way of knowing whether it’s illness-related or otherwise given the season of the year. But we do know we have had a lot of staff and students out. There are a lot of illnesses out there right now, and we’ve sent home some with flu-like symptoms.”-Sally Millians, school system’s head nurse

In Colorado, on 11 December a woman died from the flu. Hospitalizations have also gone up, including children.  There are more than 100 cases: “It started early this year. Often we’re seeing more flu in January and February. We actually have been seeing some since October.”-Christine Darr, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children

In Ohio,  the flu status has been upgraded (downgraded?) to “widespread”.  State and local health officials are reporting a sudden increase in flu related hospitalizations, in just the past several days.

In Texas, children’s health officials are reporting increased cases of flu B: “Flu peaks around mid-February, and if you look at the country as a whole, we’re already seeing 25% of the kids with a febrile illness testing positive for flu.”-Pat Crocker, Dell Children’s Medical Center

In Kansas, in Sedgwick County, a stomach ‘flu’ is being reported.  Health officials don’t really know why the sudden increase in stomach flu cases, but they blame the holidays: “People are socializing a lot during the holidays, so there’s a lot of hand-shaking and sharing food. There are just a lot of friends and family gathering together.”-Claudia Blackburn, Sedgwick County Health Department.

The National Institutes of Health has put on hold their attempts to modify a deadly form of bird flu (H5N1).   This was to create new guidelines for such experiments.

But, no need for the experiments, Mother Nature taking care of that. Indonesia has seen its 160th death this season, when a four years old boy died.  He showed symptoms of H5N1 on 30 November and died on 06 December.  Health officials are blaming the birds around his family’s house, yet no one else in the family is sick.

Indonesia is dealing with what their health officials suspect is a new form of H5N1.  Last week, on the main island of Java, hundreds of thousands of ducks died from the new H5N1.  They think the virus came from imported ducks from other parts of Asia.

But wait, there’s more!  In the regency of Bantul, province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, over the past two months thousands of chickens died, really fast like without showing any symptoms: “They still looked healthy in the evening. Then the next morning, they would suddenly die with their heads turning red.”-Sumarwanto, resident

In the landlocked nation of Nepal, people destroyed shipments of chicken from India. The chicken was for KFC restaurants in Nepal.  The people were afraid the chicken was infected with H5N1.  The Nepalese government banned chicken from India because of bird flu.  KFC swears the chicken comes from Brazil, but police say the truck manifest indicated the chicken was coming from India.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just approved a new flu vaccine. It’s a new “four strain” vaccine as opposed to the older three strain shots.   This comes at a time when there are more studies that show vaccines do not work!

Check this report for more details about how vaccines do not work, and how some countries are accusing the whole vaccine industry of being in it just for the money.

There are reports of Tamiflu shortages in some parts of the United States, but so what, it’s possible it doesn’t work anyway, and scientists have known since 2009: “….some researchers claim there is little evidence it works and have lobbied since 2009 for Roche to hand over all its data from clinical trials.”–Reuters

How about some history to show that all the efforts of modern medicine have been for naught?  Since the 1918 flu pandemic there has been massive efforts by governments to prevent the spread of flu, that’s 94 years of vaccines and washing your hands!  Yet, according to the American Lung Association: “Each year in the U.S., influenza and its related complications result in an estimated 226,000 hospitalizations and anywhere from around 3,000 to 49,000 deaths.”

Obviously it hasn’t worked! We’ve just been lucky enough not to get hit with something like the 1918 flu pandemic!

U.S.

U.S. West Nile virus update, 15 December 2012: CDC ends reports, Oklahoma declares it’s over, yet new cases (and deaths) still popping up! Woman glad she has West Nile, blame incompetent doctors! No more bees?

“This will be the last update for 2012 until final data are available in the spring of 2013.    As of December 11, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,387 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 243 deaths…..”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

14 December,  California Department of Public health reporting eight new human cases in the past week, for a total of 453.  Two new sentinel chicken cases, for a total of 540.  One new positive mosquito sample, for a total of 2,489.

In Texas, a 12 years old boy has been in a coma since 13 November. His family was recently told he could be paralyzed, caused by swelling on his spine.  The Department of State Health Services reports 1,807 human case, up 44 from the end of November.  Dallas area beekeepers are complaining that the anti-mosquito spraying is killing off what little is left of their honey bees.  A Doctor in pest control explained that the spraying took place at the wrong time in the mosquitoes’ life cycle, and had little effect, but did much damage to honey bees.  He says local government officials were tricked by the pesticide industry: “They got sold a bunch of snake oil.”-Gene Helmick-Richardson

As of 11 December, Oklahoma State Department of Health reported 164 non-fatal human cases, and 13 deaths.  It’s a record number of West Nile virus cases for the Panhandle State. Interestingly, state officials declared the West Nile epidemic over on 30 November.

Well it’s not over for Louisiana! On 30 November, 11 new human cases, with one death, were reported.  So far this year the Pelican state has 382 cases, with 17 deaths.

In Florida, the number of human cases continues to increase. Between 27 November and 03 December, local media reported at least two new cases in the Sunshine state.

In South Dakota, a woman recently expressed happiness that she has West Nile, because months ago incompetent doctors had misdiagnosed her symptoms as leukemia:  “What first ran through my mind was: ‘Are you kidding me? I come in here with a sore back and swollen glands and now you’re telling me I got leukemia?’ “-Toni Reber