Tag Archives: u.s.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan moves army HQ onto U.S. base! Preps for war with North Korea/China?

26 March 2013/14 Jumada l-Ula 1434/06 Farvardin 1391/15 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces (GSDF) have moved their headquarters onto the U.S. Army’s Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture.  Camp Zama (FAC 3079) is the HQ of the U.S. Army component of U.S. Forces Japan.

The move was publicized in U.S. military media outlets at the end of February.  The Japanese Air Self Defense Forces (ASDF) HQ moved onto their new location, on Yokota Air Base (FAC 3013), with the U.S. Air Force last April.

Japanese media reports the moves were planned back in 2005-06.  Japanese and U.S. military officials say it’s all part of the plan to realign U.S. and Japanese forces for what is expected to be the next big “security challenges”.

Already Japanese elected (not, because Japanese courts have ruled successive elections void and unconstitutional) members of the Diet have already amended their U.S. imposed constitution to allow Japanese military to take part in ‘peacekeeping’ operations. Just last week Prime Minister Abe told President Obama they would have to amend it again to allow for their personnel to be used in combat alongside U.S. personnel  (the Japanese media reported that Obama asked for Japanese troops in case of a new war with Korea).

Influenza

Influenza update, 26 March 2013: More than 100 children in the U.S. die! Infected chickens sold to public! Naproxen turning out to be anti-flu? More proof vaccines don’t work! Swine flu killing hundreds in the past two months! Warning about Super Flu!

The U.S. CDC says 105 children have died so far this flu season.  They also claim that 90% did not get vaccinated.

In Minnesota U.S.A., deaths have hit 180!  Four in the past week.  compare that to last last flu season when 33 Minnesotans died.

In Pennsylvania U.S.A., doctors are concerned about increasing cases of flu B: “I think the reason it surprises me in March is that it was an early season too. So this season has been going on a long time. This has been a bad flu season.”-Scott Tyson, Pediatrics South Mount Lebanon

In Licking County, Ohio U.S.A., health officials report 2378 flu cases as of 09 March. They expect more.

In South Dakota U.S.A., the state Department of Health says 36 people have died so far.  11% of deaths are Native Americans.

In the world of professional baseball and basketball several players are out sick with flu.

In New Hampshire U.S.A., pet owners are being warned about the new H3N8 dog flu. The new to dogs disease has hit Vermont and Massachusetts.

North Dakota U.S.A. reporting cases of dog flu.

In New Zealand, doctors are urging people to get flu shots.  There have already been some flu cases in Kiwiland, but the official flu season hasn’t started yet.  Kiwi docs say it takes two weeks after getting a flu vaccine before it’s effective.

In Canada, health officials in the Province of Alberta are whining about the lack of people getting flu shots.  The provinces have mandated vaccination goals, and Alberta has reached only half its goal.  Health officials are also complaining about the lack of infants being vaccinated, but one family that got their baby vaccinated says it did no good:  “Even with the vaccination, he has been sick every month. So whether the vaccination worked or not, I’m not sure, but we did it as a precaution.”-Binod Pouyal, father of 19 months old who’s been sick ever since getting the shot

A Canadian company says tobacco protein can be used to grow cultures for flu vaccines.  Currently vaccines are made using chicken eggs, and some people are allergic.  Then there’s the recently approved way using bug guts.  Medicago says their new tobacco based system can grow more cultures in less time.

Researchers in France say naproxen is showing promise as an anti-flu viral medication.  The study was published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.  Apparently naproxen interferes with flu A viruses’ ability to bind with your cells.

In the state of Gurjurat, India, as of 23 March 149 people have died from swine flu! Local media reporting that the swine flu epidemic is so bad that the state government refuses to release anymore health data to the public. Public officials are currently debating how to handle the release of health data.

In the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Indore district, six new H1N1 swine flu cases were reported, four are in critical condition.  So far 31 people are confirmed infected and 12 have died.  And in the state of Maharashtra, Pune district, health officials say 25 people got infected with H1N1, and six of them died, all in the past two and a half months!

In Netherlands, bird flu hit poultry farms in Flevoland province. 24000 chickens were destroyed.

Vietnam reporting bird flu outbreaks across the country.

Bird flu is infecting poultry farms in Bangladesh, and some of the thousands of infected chickens were sold to the public: “We came to know that a large number of poultry farms have been affected by bird flu virus in the northern districts include Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha…..we fear the authorities have allowed the farmers to market the sick chickens.”-Khandokar Mohsin, Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association

At the University of California Los Angeles, researchers have discovered that if you combine bird flu and human flu you’ll get killer “super” flus. This is based on research in Bangladesh, China and Egypt: “The mixing of genetic material between the seasonal human flu virus and bird flu can create novel virus strains that are more lethal than either of the original viruses.”-Thomas Smith, UCLA

 

 

 

 

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

World War 3: South Korea hacked again!

26 March 2013/14 Jumada l-Ula 1434/06 Farvardin 1391/15 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Yet another cyber attack in Republic of Korea.  Websites and affiliated companies of YTN TV network became unviewable to audiences.

Also, live internet services went down in eight municipalities. The National Police Agency is still investigating last weeks cyber attack.  So far they’ve traced multiple attacks to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in Europe, United States and even South Korea.  (previously everyone was blaming North Korea and China)

 

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Virginia losing another Kmart!

Here’s the updated list of store closings since the end of 2011:

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), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many 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:  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 closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost),  Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Hawaii: Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 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).  Naperville Kmart (98 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), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost).

Minnesota: Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji 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), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost).

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

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost).

New York: Depew Kmart (68 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, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants).

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), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost),  one of two Greenville Kmarts (74 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), Clinton South Kmart.

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), recently revealed Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many 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),  Seattle Kmart (85 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 (will be closed, see above)

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

Minnesota: Apache Mall

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center

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

Government Incompetence & World War 3: Now South Korea accuses one of its own for cyber attacks!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“We traced some IP addresses found on MBC and YTN computer networks to overseas sources like the U.S. and a few European countries. We’re still trying to find out who is behind the attacks on the other institutions.”-Korean [South] Communications Commission

Republic of Korea’s (ROK) National Police Agency (NPA) now blaming one of their own corporations for part of the massive cyber attack last week!

In a cyber attack originally blamed on China and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the NPA now says what they thought was a Chinese IP address is actually the IP address of a single employee with the South Korean corporation Nonghyup.

Other attacks have been traced to European and U.S. IP addresses.  However, NPA officials are still claiming the attacks were originally launched from North Korea, although it’s pure speculation because they admit they have no proof at this point.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Japan to amend constitution to allow Japanese military to fight alongside the U.S. in new Korean War!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, agreed to help President Barack Obama in preparations for war with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  Abe is asking the Diet to amend Article 9 of Japan’s constitution.

Currently Japan’s U.S. imposed constitution does not allow the Japanese to take part in military action outside the country.  It has been recently amended to allow for ‘peacekeeping’ operations. Abe reminded Obama that Japan’s constitution would have to be changed in order for Japan to help the U.S. against DPRK.

Abe’s request would allow the Japanese Self Defense Forces (SDF) to be used in Korea, under the guise of collective self defense alongside U.S. troops. This is not the first time that Japan was allowed to change their U.S. imposed constitution, the first time was during the First Korean War.

International, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. & South Korea have new military pact! North Korea is right, U.S. has been building up troops in violation of agreement!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

The United States and Republic of Korea have signed a new military pact, giving South Korea the lead in any reaction to attack from North Korea.  The U.S. Forces Korea would act in a support role (and would involve U.S. Forces Japan and U.S. Pacific Command).

This comes after reports that the United States has been increasing military personnel in South Korea.  According to a 2008 agreement there are supposed to be only 28500 U.S. military personnel in ROK.  However, even the most recent U.S. Department of Defense documents show troop strength has actually been increased over the past few years, exactly as North Korea claims.

The 2012 Base Structure Report shows 37354 U.S. personnel in south Korea as of September 2011.  Some analysts think the increase is from the Iraq pullout, and have pointed out that such increases are being seen in Germany, Japan and even Kuwait.

This suggests that U.S. personnel pulled out of Iraq are not being sent home to the U.S., but are being held in reserve in Germany, Japan, Kuwait and South Korea for future planned wars.

 

International, U.S.

World War 3: France invades CAR, backed up by United States! Will this lead to the first Pan-African War?

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

“The council has decided to suspend with immediate effect Central African Republic from all African Union activities and to impose sanctions, travel restrictions and an asset freeze on Seleka’s leaders.”-Ramtane Lamamra, African Union peace and security chief

Did you already forget about the U.S./U.K. supported French invasion of Mali?  France is still slugging it out in that North West African country, and now they’ve invaded the Central African Republic (with U.S./U.K. help of course).

This is because rebel forces have taken over the country’s capital city of Bangui, and President Francois Bozize is now reported as missing.

Rebel leaders have already declared a new government. The African Union is refusing to recognize the new government.  France actually invaded over the weekend, reporting that they’ve captured (there were no rebel fighters there) the airport near the capital city.

A few days ago French officials had asked for a UN Security Council resolution to prevent the rebels from taking the capital city.  The United Nations now condemns the rebel take over of CAR.

South Africa, a member of the African Union, is reporting that 13 of their troops were killed and 27 wounded, as 2000 CAR rebels stormed the capital city.  One South African ‘peacekeeper’ is missing: “Our soldiers paid the ultimate price in the service of their country. Just over 200 of our soldiers fought bandits who wanted to cause harm…..”-Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa

South Africa still has military personnel in CAR, and at this point officials have decided to keep them in the fight.

While CAR has no significant petroleum deposits it is surrounded by countries that do, and European and U.S. companies have invested a lot of money into those countries.  The fear, as in Mali, is that the ‘extremists’ will spread into the oil rich U.S./European dominated countries.

 

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

World War 3: South Korea changes tune on recent cyber attacks. Now blaming United States!

25 March 2013/13 Jumada l-Ula 1434/05 Farvardin 1391/14 Yi-Mao (2nd month) 4711

A few days ago the Republic of Korea’s (ROK) National Police Agency (NPA) blamed a crippling cyber attack on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) via China.

Now ROK’s National Police Agency has changed its claim and is blaming Europe and the United States!!!

South Korean cops now say the cyber attack that shut down three major TV broadcasters and three major banks, and disabled 32000 computers, came from IP addresses in three European countries and the U.S.

ROK NPA investigators suspect other countries are involved.  The question now is why were U.S. and South Korean officials so quick to blame China and the DPRK?

International, U.S.

Norovirus update 24 March 2013: Nora Virus? A huge unnecessary health care cost in the United States! Unnecessary and costly use of ambulances in United Kingdom! Connection to IBS & nutcracker esophagus?

In Oregon U.S.A., at least 15 people got sick, and one man died, after a state forestry committee meeting.  Lab tests have confirmed norovirus, but investigators have yet to find the source.  Unfortunately the local media is already blaming the food, or employees, at the restaurant, even though there have been many cases this season that did not involve food and has inspectors stumped. So far only the people attending the forestry meeting got sick, no other customers are sick, none of the employees are sick, which suggests it’s not the restaurant.  The restaurant owner is upset: “I prayed to God that we didn’t do anything bad. We’re so diligent about food safety.”-Maggie Pike

The U.S. CDC says the norovirus (first appearing in 1968) is now the number one cause of stomach problems in children.  It’s now blamed for most cases of gastroenteritis. Norovirus has become the leading cause because treatments for the other causes have greatly reduced their occurrence, there is no vaccine or treatment for norvirus. Between 2009-10 one million U.S. kids were sick with it, and it’s estimated that the virus is costing families and insurance companies $273 million per year.  When you realize that there is no treatment for the norovirus itself, and most people are well within 48 hours,  you’ll begin to realize that most of the health care costs associated with norovirus are unnecessary, as long as people drink enough fluids. The main reason for people being hospitalized is dehydration.

The Rhode Island (U.S.A.) Department of Health confirmed an outbreak at Brown University (is that a joke by god or what? Brown…norovirus).   Officials say it’s the first time in ten years. At least 49 students are sick.

In Sacramento County, California U.S.A., a restaurant is being investigated for a stomach bug outbreak back in February.  It’s based on the number of complaints county officials got at the end of February.  The restaurant had just passed its health inspection before the complaints.

In the world of bicycle racing, in South Africa both Topeak-Ergon teams ended their runs (pun) in the Cape Epic race. Some reasons included crashes, but other team members developed gastrointestinal infections.

In the world of Baseball, Roy Halliday, pitcher for Philadelphia Phillies, says he lost ten pounds in two days after getting sick with vomiting bug.  And the Texas Ranges are dealing with a player that keeps getting sick.  Derek Holland is recovering from a recent bout with stomach bug.  Holland was sick with stomach bug last year as well.  Humans do not build resistance to norovirus.

A United Kingdom doctor, Martin Scurr, responded to a question from a woman who began having trouble swallowing after two bouts of stomach bug infections. He said her nutcracker esophagus might be connected to “a type of post-infection irritable bowel syndrome.”

The Queen of England made her first public appearance after getting sick.  It was for the 150th anniversary of London’s “Tube” subway system.

In Whitehaven U.K., the North Cumbria University NHS Hospitals Trust had to move patients from the West Cumberland Hospital, 75 miles away to the Northumbrian hospital, because of ongoing infections.  There are so many sick people in the hospital, that new patients have to be transferred.

In Norwich, England U.K., an academic teaching hospital imposed visitor restrictions. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital reported increased cases.  Also, in London the Lewisham Hospital relaxed visitor restrictions, however there were warnings that restrictions could be re-imposed because of the ongoing infections.

In Eastbourne, East Sussex U.K., the Eastbourne District General Hospital restricted visitation to three wards because of an outbreak.

In Lancashire U.K., the Lindum Hotel closed down for a second time, just five days after re-opening from another norovirus caused shutdown.  This time the hotel management decided to close after three guests became sick, saying they didn’t want to take any chances.

Also in U.K., Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust is closed to new patients because an outbreak has filled all their beds with sick people (and not just sick in the head).  And, an ambulance service is asking people sick with stomach bug not to call.  The service is reporting a 16% increase in calls, mostly for people with vomiting bug.  Ambulance operators are asking people to call only in “real emergencies”.

In the Central American country of Belize, the Ministry of Health is reporting increased cases of norovirus, commonly and incorrectly being called stomach flu.  The Ministry of Health is for some reason calling it Nora Virus.

In Saskatchewan, Canada, visitor restrictions were lifted at Saint Paul’s Hospital.

In Wellington, New Zealand, reports that an outbreak at the Karori Normal School is spreading.  The school’s principal says the outbreak at the school is the result of infections already present in the community.  New Zealand is also dealing with outbreaks of cryptosporidium, and people are being told to stay out of swimming pools if they are sick.