Tag Archives: food

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Health food nuts victorious! Hostess Twinkies have bitten the dust! 18,500 U.S. workers laid off! Incompetent unAmerican Corporate America to blame! Twinkie the Kid to be replaced with Pancho Villa?

“…Hostess Brands, Inc. has been forced by a Bakers Union strike to shut down all operations and sell all company assets.”-Gregory F. Rayburn, CEO Hostess

18 November 2012, the iconic maker of U.S. snack foods, Hostess, is no more!  It’s being shut down and sold off by the corporate executives who ran it into the ground!

No more Wonder Bread, Twinkies or Ding Dongs for Pocatello, Idaho!

Oh, but many anti-labor commentators are blaming the unionized employees. Bull shit, Hostess can’t survive a strike?

No more Eddy's Bakery in Chubbuck, Idaho!

A Forbes article points out that it’s the corporate management that ran Hostess into the ground, not the unionized employees.  This happened because the corporate leaders tried to make up for dropping profit margins by running the company on debt financing.

Also, after the 2004 Interstate Bakeries bankruptcy (which the company emerged from in 2009, renamed officially as Hostess) the highly educated company leaders made no attempts to change how Hostess did business: “The obvious problem is leadership kept trying to sell the same products, using roughly the same business model, long, long, long after the products had become irrelevant.”-Adam Hartung, Forbes

Sales were constant, but only because Hostess execs kept prices artificially low, which lead to loss of profits.  This was because U.S. consumers are not willing to pay more for junk food.

By 2011 the bad economy finally affected Hostess sales; according to Mintel in the past year Twinkie sales dipped 0.8%, Ding Dongs fell 8.7%, Ho Ho’s down 6.3%.

Back during the first bankruptcy the unions made $110 million USD worth of concessions.  In May and October 2012, a bankruptcy judge gave Hostess the authority to impose more concessions by cutting pay and benefits, that’s what lead to the worker strikes.   Hostess was enacting more concessions without input from employees!

The Teamsters Union blamed the need for concessions on incompetent corporate officials: “Unfortunately, the company’s operating and financial problems were so severe that it required steep concessions from a variety of stakeholders but not all stakeholders were willing to be constructive.”-Ken Hall, Teamsters General-Secretary

According to a CNN report, the average Hostess worker made $20 per hour (and many Hostess factories are located in areas where $20 per hour is barely a living wage).  This is starting to look like just another step in unAmerican Corporate America’s plans to drastically reduce the cost of labor across the country, as part of the long term plan to return the United States to top export status.  The problem is that the cost of living is still too high, even for many making $20 per hour.  The elitists will make huge profits off their export sales, while the domestic economy will continue to fall (more Sears & Kmart closings to say the least) because more and more workers in the U.S. can’t make enough money even for basic necessities.

Don’t worry, your favorite Hostess junk food might survive, as the rights to those brands are being sold off.  But will you be able to afford them?

The most recent Christian Science Monitor report says that Mexican snack food giant (and world’s largest bread maker), Bimbo, is considering buying the rights to most of the Hostess brands.  Bimbo took over Sara Lee, Entenmann’s and Thomas English Muffins in 2010 (did you hear about that one? Start calling them Mexican Muffins).  They also tried to take over Hostess a few years ago.  If Bimbo does buy the Hostess brands analysts say most of the jobs will be in Mexico.

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology

Government, Corporate & Media Incompetence! Radiation monitoring devices shown to be inaccurate! $1.8 million to fix the problem!

08 November 2012, Japan’s Science Ministry discovered that 675 radiation detectors, placed around Fukushima Daiichi, are reading at least 10% below actual radiation levels!

Since April 2011 the monitors have been uploading radiation readings to the internet, in real time.

The Science Ministry investigated their devices because independent radiation detection by local governments, and individuals, were consistently higher than the national Science Ministry’s data.  Something I’ve pointed out in past postings, but of course the main stream media goes with official national government data.

In March 2012, residents of Fukushima Prefecture reported that the national government data was too low.  They were ignored.  In April 2012, Green Peace reported that radiation levels were much higher than what the national government was reporting.  Green Peace was blown off.   Even independent Japanese reporters risked their lives going into the radiation contamination zone, then posted their video on YouTube, in some cases showing their radiation detectors pegging at higher than officially reported levels.  They were ignored.

The Science Ministry now says the data from individuals and local governments are correct. The 675 defective official radiation monitors were constructed with the battery housing blocking the radiation detectors’ sensors!

It will now cost Japanese taxpayers $1.8 million USD to fix the problem!

U.S.

U.S. West Nile Virus update, 07 November 2012: Reported cases continue to increase! Some state Health Departments not fully involved! Officials still don’t understand how it spreads! Cold weather not coming soon enough!

“As of November 6, 2012, 48 states have reported West Nile virus infections in people, birds, or mosquitoes. A total of 5,054 cases of West Nile virus disease in people, including 228 deaths, have been reported to CDC.”-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

In South Carolina, three people have died this year.  State health officials also say that West Nile has also been found in 24 birds, five horses (one horse found dead) and nine mosquito samples.  Related eastern equine encephalitis has been found in 15 horse, and one person.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reminded people that colder weather does not necessarily reduce the changes of getting the disease: “Despite the approaching cooler weather, you still need to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Mosquitoes can be active in the fall, even after extended periods of cold weather. Bites to humans and other animals from infected mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus, La Crosse encephalitis virus, and eastern equine encephalitis virus, which have been found in higher numbers this year.”-Chris Evans, entomologist

The Georgia Department of Public Health reports another possible human case of West Nile, but admitted they don’t really keep track: “Public Health does not follow cases clinically. We get information strictly for surveillance purposes.”–Sally Silbermann, spokeswoman

Oklahoma health officials hope that West Nile cases will level off.  So far the state has seen a record 176 human cases, with 12 deaths.  They warn that unusually warm weather will extend the mosquito season.

In Pennsylvania, officials say, for the second year in a row, York County has the highest number of infected mosquitoes than anywhere else in the state.  york County also saw a huge jump from 2011.  In 2011 there were 154 groups of infected mosquitoes caught, so far for 2012 534 mosquito groups have tested positive for the virus.  One official said they are getting better at catching mosquitoes, but not at understanding how West Nile spreads: “This virus, it’s really hard to get a handle on how it moves….We’re really having a hard time seeing any rhyme or reason why it jumps to one area or another.”-Matt Stough,  Adams County Conservation District

On 05 November, Louisiana reported more cases.  Six new human cases, two of which are infected with the deadly neuroinvasive West Nile.  The southern state has at least 344 cases.

Today, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported three new human cases. The neighbor of Louisiana has a record number of cases of at least 236.

In North Carolina, a seventh human case has been reported.  A ten year old boy.

South Dakota State University is experimenting with using satellites to predict West Nile virus outbreaks.

Reported today in Florida, a sentinel chicken (a chicken used to test for disease) tested positive for West Nile: “The flock is on Zebrafinch Avenue, west of U.S. 19 near the Hernando-Citrus county line.”-Tampa Bay Times

As of 07 November, California reports 395 human cases, 16 people have died.

Texas continues to get hammered. As of 05 November Department of State Health Services reports 1,737 human cases (79 deaths).  Just in the past 24 hours another human death was reported in Tarrant County.

 

 

 

Opinion

What Democracy? The late great George Carlin was right! If you vote it’s your fault!!!

Video

“I have solved this political dilemma in a very direct way: I don’t vote. On Election Day, I stay home. I firmly believe that if you vote, you have no right to complain. Now, some people like to twist that around. They say, ‘If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain,’ but where’s the logic in that? If you vote, and you elect dishonest, incompetent politicians, and they get into office and screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You voted them in. You caused the problem. You have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, who did not vote, who did not even leave the house on Election Day, am in no way responsible for what these politicians have done and have every right to complain about the mess that YOU created.“-George Carlin

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, U.S.

Some Economic Recovery? Idaho’s $1 billion per year meat industry will get boost from Japan!

06 November 2012, the Japanese Health Ministry decided to ease restrictions on U.S. beef imports.  Seven years ago Japan banned U.S. beef from cows older than 20 months, because of the Mad Cow disease.

They will now take beef from cows as old as 30 months.  There is one condition, the brain and spinal column must be removed.

Japan is a major buyer of beef from the U.S. state of Idaho, and even with the 20 month age restriction, sales to Japan has helped Idaho's meat industry make about $1 billion USD per year ($2.5 million of that is from exports of beef)!

Japanese health officials say they’re raising the age restriction because there has been no Mad Cow reported in the U.S. for ten years.  Unfortunately that is not true, back in April it was confirmed that a cow in the U.S. state of California had the disease.

The real reason is probably economic: Japanese officials claim that more than 90% of U.S. beef exports to the rest of the world are from cows 30 months of age or younger, and their decision to increase their age restriction will help drop the outrageously high beef prices in Japan: “They say U.S. beef prices will come down about 20%, once the ban is eased and imports increase. I think our customers will be happy.”-Grocery store manager in Japan

Another reason could be that U.S. officials, backed by the U.S. beef industry, has been threatening to retaliate by restricting the sale of Japanese beef in the U.S.

 

 

 

U.S.

U.S. West Nile Virus update, 23 October 2012: Despite colder weather, more cases & more deaths! Media making confusing reports regarding numbers of West Nile cases! Blood donors spreading virus? Deaths in Canada for first time! Proof that insecticide is not safe for humans!

“We’ve never seen deaths in Ontario before.”-Neha Gandhi, Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Canada

23 October 2012, while Canada is not a state of the U.S., and this posting is about U.S. West Nile cases, it must be noted that much colder Ontario, Canada, has just had four people die from the virus.  It’s the first deaths since West Nile first appeared in Ontario back in 2002!

The state of New Jersey just reported five more human deaths from West Nile virus.  The state reports at least 45 human cases.

As of 16 October the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had been notified of 4,531 cases.  This is almost 300 cases more than the week before.  On 04 October the CDC had been notified of 4,249 cases, which is more than the high number of cases in 2003.  Yet I’ve seen many news articles since then that continue to say 2012 is still not as bad as 2003!

Here’s what the CDC said: “The 4,531 cases reported thus far in 2012 is the highest number of West Nile virus disease cases reported to CDC through the third week in October since 2003.”

The CDC said basically the same thing in their 04 October report.  So why are the media reporting confusing numbers?  For one, they’re going by total yearly numbers and 2003 hit 9,862 for the entire year.  The CDC is making their claim based on the number reported for the same time period, and there’s a couple months left to go.

A second reason why it’s hard to report numbers is that many cases take weeks to months to confirm, so we could see 2012 cases being confirmed a couple of months into 2013.  It’s the same when it comes to determining cause of death.

It takes weeks or months of lab testing to determine if the cause of death was the virus, or not.  This is why some local health officials are clarifying that they don’t know for sure how many people have died from the virus.

At this point the death toll, as reported to CDC, is at least 183 (does not include those people who died since 16 October), and 51% of those who get infected get the more deadly neuroinvasive (meningitis or encephalitis) virus.

Another reason for confusing media reports is because some media sources are reporting only the cases of the more deadly neuroinvasive (meningitis or encephalitis) form of the West Nile virus.

Arizona reporting three deaths since the 16 October CDC report.

Florida reporting another human case of West Nile. There are at least 26 cases.

Mississippi State Department of Health reported eight new human cases on 22 October. So far the southern state has 233 cases, with five deaths.  Local media says the peak time of year for West Nile is normally July through September.

Michigan reports 223 human cases (one local media source is reporting 196 cases, but that might be from CDC numbers which are about a week behind), 13 deaths.  The midwestern state is parked near Canada, and is much cooler than Mississippi, yet continues to have West Nile cases. In 2011 there were a total of 34 cases reported in Michigan.

Three new cases in Georgia. Last week a man died after fighting West Nile for two and a half months. He had been paralyzed, and finally asked to be taken off life support.  Officials there say you can’t rely on cooler weather to stop the virus:  “Folks do kind of think since its cooler the mosquitoes aren’t biting but that’s not so…..”-Jackie Jenkins, Southwest Public Health District

A Pennsylvania media source investigated state and local officials’ claims that the anti-mosquito insecticide they’re using is safe for humans.   Their investigation revealed a big FAIL.  The warning label for Zenivex E20 (aka etofenprox) states: “Hazardous to humans and domestic animals”

Also in Pennsylvania, health officials are reporting high numbers of infected mosquitoes, despite colder weather: “That worked out to an infection rate of somewhere just under seven mosquitoes per thousand, which is about as high as we’ve ever had it.”-Phil Hall, Lebanon County virus surveillance officer

Louisiana reports nine new human cases, four of which are the more deadly neuroinvasive (meningitis or encephalitis) virus.  The southern state is at 321 cases, just short of their 2002 numbers.

On 18 October Texas reported 1,683 cases with 77 deaths.

On 20 October California reported another death from West Nile (at least 11 deaths this year).  There are 35 new human cases, the west coast state now has 301 cases. But it’s not just humans.  21 horse cases, more than 1,500 dead birds tested positive, as did chickens and squirrels.  State health officials also warn that at least 52 blood donors tested positive for West Nile!

In Illinois, people are upset over the death of an eight years old girls.  Just months after being diagnosed with leukemia she got West Nile.  One of her aunts said things were looking up when she suddenly died: “She had been improving. We got a call to go up to the hospital in the afternoon and stayed until she was gone. We’re just in shock. No one expected this.”-Lorie McElheny

Illinois has at last 139 human cases.

Oklahoma reports a 12th human death, and 173 cases.

In Minnesota, one man’s struggle with West Nile shows that it doesn’t go away.  Jerry Livermore got infected back in 2010.  He survived, but hasn’t fully recovered.  He now uses a walker, and he’s lost all memory of the 43 days he spent in the intensive care unit at the local hospital.   He has to use a walker because the virus affected his ability to balance.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, U.S.

Global Food Crisis & What Economic Recovery? Crops being destroyed by weather, disease and plagues of Red Squirrels! Crop prices going up, good for Idaho farmers with crops to sell, bad for you at the grocery store check out! Is it all smoke & mirrors bull shit?

17 October 2012,  despite reports indicating crop destruction worldwide, and within the U.S., the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports (in their newly released October 2012 report) that overall crop production in the United States is way up (if you throw out corn & soybeans).

A major indicator of crop destruction is the announcement by Farm Credit Service of America (FCSA) that insurance payouts, to U.S. farmers who’ve lost crops, will be at least $25 billion USD, but could hit $40 billion for 2012.

FCSA blames the insurance claims for most of the U.S. crop losses on drought.  Even the USDA reported that the entire state of South Dakota is suffering severe to exceptional drought.  South Dakota farmers, alone, have filed more $149 million in insurance claims.

Some states are now experiencing corn crop destruction because of early freezing temps.  So, in states like Arkansas and Kentucky, not only have drought and cold weather hurt corn production, but the October/Halloween corn mazes aren’t happening because the stalks are too short. The result is that revenue from agritourism is going down (the USDA does agritourism surveys every five years, the last one in 2007).

It’s so bad that corn crops from the Midwestern states are considered destroyed (U.S. corn production is at its lowest point since 1995).  The result is corn prices are soaring.  By 15 October, corn commodity prices increased 5% at the Chicago board of trade.

Last year U.S. corn prices averaged $6.22 per bushel, this year the average is now $7.80!  Some analysts say it’ll hit $8.25 before the end of the year.

The U.S. corn crop destruction is part of a worldwide decline in corn crops. Currently international corn stockpiles are 14 million metric tons below what was expected!  (keep that in mind; “what was expected”, research UN data and you’ll learn that there’s still a lot of corn out there)

Apples are down as well. My own apple tree (here in Idaho), as well as my neighbors’ apple trees, have produce only a fraction of what they normally put out.  In the state of Michigan apple farmers are reporting the same thing, saying their trees produced only 10% of normal output!  An apple farmer in Michigan reports his agritourism revenues way down at his U-Pick apple farm.

In Indiana, apple farmers report getting only 25% of their normal apple harvest.  The Washington Growers Clearing House reports that apple commodity prices are 13% higher than last year.  But that’s good news for Washington state apple farmers; they’re reporting a record harvest.

Even with their record harvest, apple growers in Washington can not make up for crop loses in the rest of the U.S.  As a result, with the high commodity prices for apples, Washington apple farmers could see a record $7 billion in revenue for 2012!  By the way, if your willing to pick apples reports say Washington apple farmers are unable to fill 700 apple picking jobs.

Why the decrease in apples in the rest of the country?  Some states are blaming earlier than normal freezing temps, but several states are reporting a plague of red squirrels.  In Vermont some apple farmers report the squirrels ate half their crop.  In South Carolina, squirrels are blamed for killing more than 100 apple trees.

While biologists suggest that warmer than normal temps caused an increase in squirrel populations (causing an increase in food sources), they admit no one could have predicted this year’s huge numbers of squirrels.  The squirrels are now devouring apples because their normal food source, acorns and beechnuts, are way down this year.

Around the world, in Russia, Ukraine, Finland, Korea (north), India, Pakistan, and in African countries, crops have been destroyed by drought, or other extreme weather events like flooding.

In Japan, domestic agriculture has not only been affected by weather but by the ongoing nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi.

In Afghanistan, farmers report hundreds of acres of crops destroyed by disease.

In Zimbabwe, farmers who couldn’t pay their electric bills had the power cut off to their irrigation pumps.  A farmer said the power was cut without warning, even thought they tried to make payment arraignments with the utility company: “We admit we owe ZESA a debt of $3,000 but they should not have disconnected us without discussing our payment arrangements which we had submitted. The farmers were willing to settle their debts after harvesting their crop during the first week of November.”-Newton Gwetu

In India it’s not just weather, but animals.  Farmers are reporting that their crops are being destroyed by rampaging wild boars and elephants. Elephant rampages have been reported since August.

It’s not just elephants in India, but elephants in African countries are also rampaging.  In Tanzania, officials report elephants have destroyed villages and crops: “Up to now people are helpless and TANAPA [Tanzania National Park] rangers are just watching the destruction without taking any action.”-Jumanne Kwiro, Serengeti District Council

In Australia, the climate change is being blamed for driving feral pigs to eating farmers’ crops: “We’re seeing enterprises being destroyed, also pressure in grazing lands that we haven’t seen before. Going into drier seasons we’re really looking at grazing problems as well as destruction of crops.”-Rachel Pratt, Queensland’s AgForce

Australian ag officials are also concerned the exploding feral pig population will affect cattle: “Pigs carry diseases like bruscellosis, leptospirosis and paracites and also they can also carry potentially exotic diseases like foot and mouth.”-Ben Gardiner, Australian Veterinary Association

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) recently reported that corn and wheat crops in Central America are expected to continue their downward trend, averaging a loss of $120 million per year by 2020: “Even with our most conservative estimates, it’s clear that climate change could transform the agricultural landscape across Central America.”-Anton Eitzinger, CIAT

One activist said farmers need to be more adaptable to radical changes in climate: “Extension services across the region need to be reinvigorated to train small farmers in soil and water management. And governments need to lead, they have the ability to make a real difference through setting climate-smart agricultural policies.”-Paul Hicks, Catholic Relief Services

War can be blamed for crop destruction as well. Not just the obvious destruction by bombing and gunfire, but illegal Israeli settlers, in Palestinian territory, have been actively destroying Palestinian olive trees.  More than 500 Palestinian olive trees destroyed by illegal Israeli settlers, so far in 2012!

But what about crops that we don’t eat?  The clothes on your back could be threatened as well.  Cotton crops in Pakistan and India have been destroyed by recent floods.  However, Indian officials have stated that many cotton farms that survived the floods will actually produce bumper yields.  (also, cotton production in the U.S. is up, according to the October 2012 USDA report)

Again, those areas that are not suffering from crop destruction tend to be enjoying bumper crop yields, which means those farmers will also enjoy the higher revenue due to the higher commodity prices, created by speculators supposedly fearful of crop destruction.

While researching Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) I noticed that their most recent graph of global food production shows a steady increase, year after year.  Yet back in August, the UN actually asked the United States to stop bio-fuel production so those crops could be used for food!

The problem isn’t a lack of crops, the problem is the increasing cost to people who need to eat those crops.

There are several examples from the 1990s, such as U.S. rice rotting on Haitian docks because Haitians couldn’t afford to buy it, and African tomato farmers who left their crops to rot in the field because forced competition from Italian companies drove down tomato prices so low it wasn’t worth harvesting the fruits.

Is that what’s happening now, but on a global scale?  Is this what our leaders  mean by leveling the playing field of globalization?

I live in a state that is experiencing bumper crops: Idaho.

Idaho’s dry bean production is up 61% from 2011 (in fact bean production for the entire U.S. is expected to be 56% more than last year).  Despite bean production being so high, speculators are also keeping prices for beans high. Commodity prices for beans are currently about 40 cents per pound, some bean prices are down from last year but they’re still near record highs: “That’s still the best price I’ve ever got myself! I’m not going to complain.”-Dana Rasmussen, Idaho bean farmer

The USDA says Idaho’s canola production has doubled from last year (canola production is also up in Washington & Oregon).  Ag officials attribute this directly to higher commodity prices driven by speculators: “The number one  reason for this increase is there have been excellent and very competitive prices available for farmers.”-Jack Brown, University of Idaho

Idaho’s alfalfa production was down 7%, but that reflects those hay farmers who do not have irrigated fields.  Idaho hay farmers with irrigation actually saw bumper alfalfa yields: “I would say our yields were up a half to a ton per acre. It was a warm summer, and alfalfa loves heat and water.”– Will Ricks, Idaho Hay and Forage Association

Even though Idaho hay farmers with irrigation had bumper crops, the demand for those crops far exceeded supply: “Hay producers were getting calls from dairies in the Midwest. They were willing to pay $300 per ton plus shipping, but nobody had any hay to sell.”-Glenn Shewmaker, University of Idaho

Ag Officials from other states are lamenting just how much Idaho’s ag industry has grown: “Idaho has increased in just two years the equivalent of the entire state of Maine’s production. The July 2012 U.S. Department of Agriculture’s crop production report showed Oregon at 41,000 acres, Colorado at 55,000, Michigan at 46,000, Minnesota at 51,000, Maine at 59,000, New York at 17,000 and Wisconsin at 63,000 acres.”-Bob Davis, Maine Farmers Exchange

What is Bob Davis talking about?  Idaho’s farming acreage has grown, in just two years, to 345,000.   That’s 13,000 more than Oregon, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, New York and Wisconsin combined!!!

You might say Idaho’s ag industry is good for the economy, providing jobs for Idahoans.  But that ain’t so.  Most ag workers are migrants, and even though there’s a shortage of migrant workers many Idaho farmers complain that Idahoans aren’t willing to work for the peanuts they pay.

Idaho law states that farm workers must be paid minimum wage (currently $7.25 per hour in Idaho), however, if a farm laborer is “contracted” that’s a different story: “When I first talked to the farmer about work, he told me that he would pay me $14 per acre. I worked nine hours every day for over a week, but the work was so hard I was only able to do three acres a day. On payday, my boss made up all kinds of excuses and ended up paying me just $11 per acre, which comes out to about $3.60 an hour…. I didn’t know what to do. I have two children to feed.”–Gloria Paniagua, Cassia County, Idaho

Being a contracted farm worker is similar to being on salary, a really bad salary.

According to a report by Idaho Community Action Network, and the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations, the average wage earned by farm workers in Idaho is $5.97 per hour, working ten hours per day, six days per week.

So what’s the point of all this?  There is no food shortage!  Reports show that while there are massive crop losses, those farms still producing are producing record yields!  UN agencies (FAO) report record global ag production almost year after year!  Crony capitalist speculators (who’re probably working for the corporate farms) are driving up food prices, even when there is no shortage of the resources!  Farmers with crops to sell are making big money because of the increased commodity prices and because of the dirt wages they pay their workers!  Don’t forget to add in escalating transportation costs! The net result is everyone is going to pay unjustifiably more for their food at the grocery store or restaurant!

Did you get a pay raise?

U.S.

U.S. West Nile Virus update, 14 October 2012: Record number of cases! Victims relapsing! Golf official dies from virus! Watch for Canaries in the coal mine.

“I don’t know if she is going to be permanently crippled or paralyzed or memory loss, and there’s a thing on the back of her eye.”-Ebonie Conner, mother of West Nile virus victim

14 October 2012, an Arlington, Texas, teenager has become sick for a second time.  The 17 years old girl first got sick in August, was showing signs of recovery, but has relapsed.

The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) stated that the number of cases has exceeded the West Nile outbreak of 2003.   As of 09 October, 4,249 cases have been reported to the CDC.  At least 168 people have died.  Half of all cases are the more severe neuroinvasive diseases, such as meningitis or encephalitis.

Nearly 70% of cases in eight states: Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Dakota, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

In Oklahoma, a victim has a warning for people, just ’cause you don’t see mosquitoes doesn’t mean you won’t get sick:“I don’t remember getting bit. I don’t remember where, when, why or how!”-Bob Matthews

Matthews got sick back in July, he’s been in a wheelchair ever since.  Doctors even told his wife to call a priest for last rites, after he fell into a coma for two weeks.

Also In Oklahoma, on 12 October Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) official, Doug Brecht, died after fighting the virus for three months.  He got sick while in Ohio.

In Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, state health officials found another infected horse.  The state ranks third in the United States for veterinary cases.

Some reports say most of the cases involving horses, are horses that have not been vaccinated.  There is a vaccine for horses, but not for humans.  A veterinarian in Missouri says horse owners have gotten lack in vaccinations: “We had a pretty good outbreak about seven years ago and everybody vaccinated at that point.  Well, since we vaccinated, the disease kind of went away, so people stopped vaccinating. Well, now it’s coming back, so a lot of these younger horses haven’t been vaccinated…”-Scott Espy

A veterinarian from Louisiana says it’s not pretty when a horse gets sick: “Supportive care for horses that cannot eat, drink, or get up on their own include IV fluids, sling support, or feeding through a stomach tube. Complications may arise from being down, including colic, pressure sores, and muscle injury. Unfortunately, even with the state-of-the-art, round-the-clock care, horses that go down and cannot rise usually do not survive.”-Kristi Gran, Baronne Veterinary Clinic

Gran adds that about 60% of horses with West Nile survive, but about 90% of horses with related Eastern Equine Encephalitis die, or have to be killed.

On 13 October, Louisiana reported another human death, and nine more cases.  12 people have died from the virus in that state.

Massachusetts media could be jumping the gun, when they reported cases of West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis “on its way out”.  They made the claim based on freezing overnight temps, but state health officials continue to urge caution.

On 13 October, officials in Suwannee County, Florida, issued an alert, saying the risk of getting West Nile was actually increasing.

A man from Box Elder County became the first person to die from the virus in Utah.

In New Jersey, Ocean County Health Department reported an eighth human case.

In California, health officials warning of increased cases.  Recently, dozens of dead birds have tested positive for West Nile, and the number of mosquitoes testing positive for the infection has surpassed last year’s numbers, in some counties.

Illinois health officials are reporting the first case of a dead bird testing positive for West Nile.  No dead birds tested positive for the virus in 2011.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3 & What Economic Recovery? IMF says U.S. led War on Terror destroying hopes of economic recovery! World Bank says bailing out big corporations is not the answer!

“Perhaps the greatest roadblock will be the huge legacy of public debt, which now averages almost 110% of GDP for the advanced economies, the highest level since World War Two!“-Christine Lagarde, IMF managing director

12 October 2012, officials with the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, issued dire warnings about any possible economic recovery, and they blamed the worsening economy on war and big corporations!

The IMF’s Lagarde said government spending on war prevents government spending on true economic growth: “This leaves governments highly exposed to subtle shifts in confidence. It also ties their hands, especially as they seek to build the infrastructure of the 21th century while respecting social promises.”

The IMF and the World Bank held meetings in Tokyo, Japan, this past week.  The new President of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, said big corporations should not be counted on to create jobs: “I’ve learned that the best solutions to economic and social problems lie with individuals and communities coping with these challenges in their daily life.”

According to Kim, one of those solutions would be to make loans easier to get, for emerging economies: “We’re developing new diverse instruments [loans] customized to their needs. As emerging economies take on a growing role in the global economy, I am personally committed to ensuring they have a strong voice within our institution.”

And that’s the point, this new financial help is not intended for countries like the United States, in fact the IMF says the U.S. and Europe need to get their acts together: “Whether you turn to Europe, to the United States of America, to other places as well, there is a level of uncertainty that is hampering decision makers from investing, from creating jobs….We need action…”-Christine Lagarde, IMF managing director

For the most part World Bank’s Jim Yong Kim played good cop, confidently presenting hope for recovery, while the IMF’s Christine Legarde played bad cop, hitting the audience with a dose of reality: “The recovery is still too weak.  Job prospects, for untold millions, are still too scarce.  And the gap between the rich and poor is still way too big.”  

International, U.S.

World War 3: Syria officially apologizes. Russia blocks UNSC vote against Syria! Turkey approves use of military outside its borders!

“As far as the incident between Syria and Turkey goes, it is of great concern for us. The situation is deteriorating with every coming day.”-Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister

04 October 2012,  Russia has blocked a anti-Syria draft statement by the UN Security Council.  The UNSC is discussing the cross border fighting between Syria and NATO member Turkey.

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Besir Atalay, says Syrian officials have officially apologized, saying the mortar attack on Turkey was a dreadful accident.

This has not stopped the Turkish parliament from voting to allow the Turkish military to be used outside Turkey’s borders.  The new mandate will be in effect for one year.

The accidental mortar shelling of Turkey happened on 03 October 2012.  Reports say that Turkey has been retaliating with ongoing artillery attacks, at least 14 barrages fired as far as six miles inside Syria until 06:45 this morning.

On 02 October 2012, Russian officials warned that NATO was looking for an excuse to go to war with Syria: “In our contacts with partners in NATO and in the region, we are calling on them not to seek pretexts for carrying out a military scenario…”-Gennady Gatilov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister