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February 27, 2010
Politics: A Broken Record
Like a broken record, politicians in D.C. continue their bipartisan song and dance over healthcare reform. Nancy Pelosi, speaking for her party, pledges to pass comprehensive reform this year. Republicans, who want to begin anew with an incremental approach, vow to block it. Pelosi professes confidence that Democrats can enact reform without Republican votes.
She plans to finalize a revised bill’s details with Democratic leaders and then round up the votes needed for passage. Pelosi has successfully used this tactic in the past but it remains to be seen whether it will work again. Especially in an election year with heavy public opposition. It will come down to whether members of Congress fear her wrath more than the voters.
Check our sources: Wall Street Journal
Economy: Consumer Confidence – Not So Much
The high unemployment rate caused consumer confidence to fall in February to its lowest point since last April. And when consumers aren’t confident they don’t spend their money. Without consumer spending, the recovery, such as it is, cannot be sustained.
The prospect of increasing consumer confidence is dim. The jobless rate is expected to remain at 9.8% throughout the year. With the stimulus bill stimulating very little employment and the political wrangling continuing unabated in D.C., consumers will likely keep their wallets closed.
Check our sources: Business Week
Science: The Maxieffects Of Ministrokes
New medical research indicates that ministrokes cause up to 8 times more brain damage than previously believed. Function-specific testing revealed that many who suffer these strokes lose some ability to process abstract thought, reason things through and make quick calculations. These impairments translate into difficulty putting digits in numerical order and drawing a clock with hands pointing to a specific time. In terms of everyday tasks, they inhibit activities such as taking phone messages and keeping track of car keys.
Up to seven percent of people aged 67 years and older suffer these impairments. Once thought to be normal age-related deterioration, science now classifies them as impaired behaviors. The symptoms of ministrokes are similar to full-blown strokes including numbness, confusion, vision problems and dizziness or headache. With the mini versions, the symptoms subside within 24 hours, but not the consequences.
Check our sources: Science News
Health: Oh, To Be A Caveman Again
A Stone Age subculture is growing in the U.S. with members living like our long ago ancestors. Well, maybe not in caves exactly. But, they do mimic the caveman diet and exercise patterns. The goal is to live healthier lives. The theory is that, since evolution advances at a slow pace, our bodies are still best suited to prehistoric eating and living.
What did cavemen eat? A diet of 60 to 80% fat and protein with the rest consisting of fresh vegetables, seeds and fruit. In order words, food that predates the invention of agriculture. And exercise? Short, strenuous bursts of activity a couple of times a week.
Does science agree? Yes, at least the eating part. Even a few days on the caveman diet reduces blood pressure and lowers insulin levels. And, if one modern Stone Ager is an indication, it also preserves youth. The 72 year old really does have the body of a man 30 years younger. Happy eating.
Check our sources: Spiegel
Life: Get It Right The First Time
A man who failed in a suicide attempt has been stuck with the bill for the damages he caused. During an argument with his ex-wife, he decided to end it all by jumping out the window of a ninth story apartment. Unfortunately, he survived by hitting a 7-year old girl, resulting in months of hospitalization for the child and thousands of dollars in medical bills. All paid by the wannabe suicide.
Check our sources: Reuters
Animals: World's Tallest Dog?
Giant George, a 250-pound blue Great Dane from Tucson, Arizona, is the world’s tallest dog according to the Guinness record folks. George, standing at 3 feet, 7 inches, barely beat out Titan, another Great Dane, from San Diego, California. However, Titan’s human is not taking the Guinness ruling lying down. According to Dianna Taylor, Titan is actually 4 inches taller than George, a fact allegedly concealed by Guinness using different measurement points on the dogs.
George’s record has earned him an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Taylor would like both dogs to appear side-by-side on the program so that television viewers can judge for themselves.
Check our sources: L.A. Times
February 20, 2010
Politics: Is Hope Really Gone?
Evan Bayh’s announced retirement from the Senate at the end of his current term this fall is very bad news. Especially for those who still have a shred of hope that Congress will get a grip on reality sometime soon. One of the very few centrists in the Democrat Party, Bayh has grown weary of politics as usual in DC. Worse, he sees no chance for improvement in the near term and has chosen to leave rather than suffer through more of the same.
Prior to Obama’s State of the Union address, Bayh struggled to get the President to take a fiscally responsible tone. He failed. With out of control spending creating huge deficits, the President persists in his foolhardy agenda. It will drive us to the poor house unless it’s stopped. And to Bayh, it seems there’s no stopping it for now. It is our loss that he will no longer be fighting that fight.
Check our sources: CNN, Wall Street Journal
Economy: Inflation At Bay
Whether you call what we’re in right now a recovery or not, it’s generating very little inflation. The consumer price index, or cost of living, in the U.S. rose less than expected in January. The increase, at 0.2 percent, was due primarily to higher fuel costs. However, the cost of new cars, clothing and shelter fell from the previous month, which is something that hasn’t happened since 1982. Retailers, such as Wal-Mart, are doing their capitalist part by reducing prices to keep consumers shopping in the face of high unemployment.
What does this mean? The Fed will not have to increase interest rates to control inflation, which is very good news. As they teach in Econ 101, maintaining low rates is necessary to support economic recovery.
Check our sources: Bloomberg
Science: Man-Made Global Warming Hype
After explosive revelations this week, it seems that the only man-made impact on global warming is the hype. Astonishingly, the leading “expert” on global warming admitted that it may have been warmer in the Middle Ages. Dr. Phil Jones, who stepped down as Director of the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit after the Climategate scandal, also launched other salvos. He stated that there has been no statistically significant warming since 1995. And, he has lost track of the raw data collected over the years that allegedly support his man-made warming hypothesis. Without it, there can be, and has been, no peer-reviewed validation of his claims. In scientific research, the lack of peer validation sounds the death knell. Jones’ claims remain simply that.
His admissions came only a few weeks after the debunking of the U.N. claim that global warming would melt the Himalayan glaciers by 2035. Turns out, this claim was based on a single article in a popular science journal published in 1999. In the article, one obscure scientist was quoted as making the prediction. He now claims that he was misquoted.
Finally, the U.N.’s claim that 40% of the rain forest will disappear due to global warming was also discredited at the end of last month. The claim was based on an article commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund that had nothing to do with global warming. And it was written by a freelance journalist and green activist, not a scientist. In case you’re wondering, it doesn’t get any worse than this for those who have claimed the scientific high ground. It should be a very long time before anyone accepts any scientific claims coming out of the UN. Good-bye Cap and Trade.
Check our sources: Daily Mail, London Times, Climate Realists
Health: What Killed Tut?
Scientists now believe they know what killed King Tut, the teenage Pharaoh of Egypt who captured international curiosity when his tomb was discovered in 1922. The 19-year old Tutankhamun died from the complications of a broken leg, exacerbated by a bout of malaria. The findings are based on two years of DNA studies and CT scans of Tut and 15 other mummies who last breathed 3,300 years ago.
The study highlights the role genetics plays in disease. The members of Tut’s 18th dynasty were closely inbred. The DNA studies uncovered common genetic disorders in the mummies such as clubfoot and scoliosis. Tut suffered from both of these conditions, as well as a cleft palate and weakened bones, and probably needed canes in order to walk. His parents were brother and sister, which made getting a date a lot easier, but also really gnarled the family tree.
Check our sources: Miami Herald
Life: ...Oft Go Awry
If you hear about scientists importing an animal or plant from a distant land in order to eradicate a current problem, stop them. As Robert Burns once observed, “the best laid plans of …men, oft go awry.” No one knows that better than the Australians who have suffered through 75 years of the worse environmental mistake their Country has made. In 1935, Australia introduced toxic toads from Hawaii to eradicate cane beetles. The toads have since become the major pest of the Country, killing large numbers of native snakes, goanna lizards and quolls, a cat-sized marsupial. Despite their best, and very expensive efforts, environmentalists have failed to reduce the toad population.
Until now. A cheap solution may have been found to the heretofore-intractable problem of controlling the toxic toads. Cat food. Not for the toads but as a lure to really vicious, but native, carnivorous ants. Drawn to consume the cat food, the ants also devour baby toads in nearby ponds. So far, the ants have a 98% kill rate.
Check our sources: Reuters
Animals: West Hollywood Bans Sales Where None Exist
The City Council of West Hollywood voted unanimously this week to ban the sale of dogs and cats in the city. However, since no pet store in the City sells dogs or cats, the vote is seen as symbolic opposition to puppy mills and kitten factories.
The City is famous for its animal rights activities. In 2003, it became the first city in the country to prohibit cat declawing, a prohibition that spread to dozens of other municipalities. Once the sales ban goes into effect, pet stores can only offer animals from shelters. Perhaps this ordinance, like the prohibition against cat declawing, will spread to many other cities and put the mills and factories out of business.
Check our sources: MSNBC
February 13, 2010
Politics: D.C. – Playground Of The Childish
On Friday, the Senate approved 27 Obama nominees after he threaten to use “recess appointments” to put them in place. Presidents can bypass Senate confirmation and appoint nominees directly while the Senate is in recess. Previously, Republicans had blocked the confirmation process, an act that, Obama claimed, “enraged the American people.”
Apparently, he did not feel the same way when Senate Democrats blocked Bush nominees in 2007. At that time, Harry Reid prevented a Thanksgiving recess by employing an obscure parliamentary technique called “pro forma” sessions. While most Senators were home enjoying turkey, a couple of them remained to open brief sessions twice a week until all Senators returned in December. The use of these pro forma sessions averted recess appointments because there was no recess.
Opposing nominations on the merits is one thing, but frustrating them because you can or to get even is petty and abusive. What will it take to end the childishness? Apparently not the Massachusetts vote, a lesson that both parties should have taken to heart.
Check our sources: Forex TV, Washington Post
Economy: The Stock Market – Emotional Barometer
Thursday’s gain in the market is a perfect example of the roller coaster of emotional that fuels the Dow Jones. The market rose over 100 points in reaction to “positive news” about European support for Greece, moderating inflation in China and unemployment in the U.S. Regarding Greece, in particular, the EU leaders’ pledge of support for that very troubled economy sent chills of excitement through our market. Greece will not default on its loans.
However, those who actually study the economic situation in Greece have a different reaction. To them, there was no good news in the pledge of EU support. First, no specifics were included in the announcement. Second, providing Greece with monetary assistance requires an increase in taxes for the populations of contributing countries. It also means delayed retirement for them and higher interest rates. And, European economists predict that these effects will ripple out far beyond the EU borders including to our own shores. When that happens, there will be no joy on Wall Street or anywhere else in the Country.
And Friday? The market was down again, partly due to concerns over the global economy.
Check our sources: Wall Street Journal, BBC, Wall Street Journal
Science: Chocolate's Preventative Power
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, researchers have some sweet news for chocoholics. Although further study is required, eating the stuff may lower both the risk of having a stroke and of death from a stroke. Eating one serving of chocolate each week appears to lower the risk of stroke by 22% compared to eating no chocolate at all. And eating as little as 2 ounces of chocolate once a week seems to reduce the risk of dying from a stroke by 46%.
Chocolate is high in antioxidants, called flavonoids, which may have a protective effect against strokes. Or, perhaps it’s just that healthy people eat chocolate. Either way, you might want to go for it this Valentine’s Day.
Check our sources: Science Daily
Health: Intelligence And Longevity
According to a 20-year study just concluded in the UK, lower IQs are associated with higher risks of heart disease and death. In fact, other than smoking, a lower IQ is the best indicator of potential heart disease. The study followed 1,145 men and women over a 20-year period. It found that the top five heart disease risk factors are: smoking, lower IQs, low income, high blood pressure and low physical activity.
These results may impact the approach to public health campaigns. The messages of healthy eating and moderate exercise can be simplified so the entire audience properly understands them. There is also the prospect of increasing an individual’s IQ through early education and training.
Check our sources: IOL
Life: That's Amore
As a Valentine’s Day gesture of love to his wife of 37 years, a Minnesota farmer made a half mile-wide heart out of manure. Using his tractor and manure spreader, Bruce Andersland worked for two days to create the masterpiece. His wife, Beth’s, reaction? She was ecstatic. It’s the biggest and most original Valentine she’s ever received. And, to her, it’s also cute and not the least bit gross. Happily, love is still very much in the eye of the beholder.
Check our sources: Associated Press
Animals: 2 Dogs, 2000 Miles
Luke Robinson and his two Great Pyrenees “boys” are nearing the end of a 2,300-mile walk to raise awareness of canine cancer. The walk, which began in Austin, Texas in March 2008, is set to conclude in Boston, Massachusetts in June of this year. The walk honors Robinson’s first dog, a Great Pyrenees named Malcolm, who died of osteosarcoma in 2006 after two years of battling the disease. The relationship between dog and man touched Robinson’s soul. So he walks each day, committed to Malcolm’s memory and to finding a cure for the disease that took him.
The journey has attracted a lot of Internet and media attention. Luke and the boys were on the Today Show in New York last week and are now back on the road, north to Boston. It has been a slow, steady, and arduous, trek. And it has also met its purpose of raising awareness of canine cancers, their causes and treatments. For more information, please visit Robinson’s website: http://www.2dogs2000miles.org/.
Check our sources: University of Pennsylvania
February 6, 2010
Politics: The Public's Mood
According to a Fox News poll released this week, 70% of Americans reject the healthcare bills passed by the House and Senate last year. 47% of responders want Congress to begin again with a new approach while 23% want nothing done this year. Only 23% of those polled support the current bills. 57% of responders believe the legislation is politically motivated rather than the result of good policy decisions.
A Rasmussen poll conducted later in the week complements the findings of the Fox poll on the mood of voters. There, 83% of those polled believe the deficit is the result of political decisions rather than good fiscal management. And, when a brand new President Obama assured voters that he would be a wise steward of our money, 46% of the country believed him. Today, 78% believe the government spends our money unwisely. Will politicians ever wise up? The polls are still open on that one.
Check our sources: Fox News, Rasmussen Reports
Economy: Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Improves
Surprising the experts yet again, the jobless rate improved in January, climbing to 9.7% from a 26-year low of 10%. Jobs were added in several industries, including manufacturing and retail. But, economists expect this rebound to be weak because employers are still reluctant to hire in large numbers. Their restraint is due to the regulations and taxes coming out of Washington and the uncertainty in the recovery itself. And, historically, high unemployment also restrains consumer spending, which usually leads us out of bad economic times.
Many economic reports still ignore the 800 lb. gorilla in the room. The construction industry lost another 75,000 jobs in January while home building suffered its deepest decline in seven months. A tight credit market is the culprit there and nothing out of Washington has been truly stimulating. We have to wonder whether our current “leaders” have a clue about how to kick-start a capitalist economy.
Check our sources: Crescent News, NPR
Science: Exploding Cancer Cells
Scientists are getting the upper hand in the fight against cancer by using tiny, laser-created nanobubbles. The technique singles out cancer cells and bursts them through the injection of the bubbles. The idea is to destroy the unhealthy cells before the disease progresses to an untreatable stage.
Single-cell targeting is one of the most critical advantages of nanomedicine. It means that treatment can be localized to individual cells. In research conducted last year, nanobubbles were used to break apart plaque deposits that block arteries.
It gives a whole new meaning to bursting your bubble.
Check our sources: Science Daily
Health: Getting A Grip On Consciousness
According to recent research, people in vegetative states are confounding the medical definition of “conscious”. People in these states breath unaided and have good reflexes but seem completely unaware. However, it now seems that medical science is the one that’s unaware. In a study conducted in the UK and Belgium, researchers verbally asked vegetative patients to imagine performing specific activities. Their brain patterns were then monitored for reactions. Those patterns corresponded precisely with the reactions of conscious people imaging the same activities.
One patient was then asked a series of questions. To answer them, he was told to imagine playing tennis (“yes”) or walking around his house (“no”). Using this technique, he correctly answered the questions. In order to do that, he understood speech, followed instructions and remembered what tennis is and how to play it. The results of the study undermine long-held medical beliefs on the state of the human brain. It’s time for medical science to get a better grip on consciousness.
Check our sources: New Scientist
Life: A Bad Idea Goes Wrong
A 62-year old Michigan man is recovering from burns covering more than 20% of his body. An avid sledder, he wanted to heighten the experience by adding more power. So, he filled a car muffler with gas and gunpowder, strapped it to his back and had a friend light it up. He thought it would have a “rocket-launch” effect. And it sort of did. It launched him right into the local burn ward. He’d make this year’s Darwin Awards, except he’s expected to recover. What was he thinking?
Check our sources: Yahoo
Animals: Back To Nature
Fur coats, the scourge of animal lovers everywhere, are now being used in a comforting, back-to-nature way. The Coats For Cubs Program of the Humane Society of the United States encourages people to donate their fur coats to assist animals in distress.
The coats are used as nests, bedding and cuddly comfort for animals that have suffered injury or illness or have lost mom and dad. The coats act as furry surrogates of maternal comfort. In 2009, 2,687 fur coats were donated. If you have a coat to add to the pile, please visit the HSUS website for details, http://www.humanesociety.org/.
Check our sources: MSNBC
January 31, 2010
Politics: Nancy Steamrolls On
Ignoring public opinion and skepticism in her own Party, Nancy Pelosi proposed a costly reconciliation bill on Thursday. The measure would modify the Senate’s version of the Healthcare bill in a way acceptable to House liberals. It would also add $300 billion to its cost over the next ten years. Reconciliation bills require simple majorities since they cannot be filibustered. This means garnering only 51 Senate votes rather than the 60 needed to pass the Senate’s version of the Healthcare bill in December.
The reconciliation bill eliminates the Cadillac tax on union healthcare plans. It also expands the Nebraska Cornhusker deal to a few more states. According to Pelosi, the bill would first have to be passed by both the House and the Senate. Then, the House would vote to accept the reconciliation-modified Senate Healthcare bill. Although not its intended purpose, reconciliation would be used here to ram through a Healthcare bill less than 60 members of the Senate support.
Pelosi is immune from public opinion fallout since hers is among the safest Democrat districts in the Country. She has been elected and re-elected 11 times, averaging 75% of the vote on each occasion. She hasn’t participated in a candidates’ debate since 1987. How about those term limits?
Check our sources: LA Times, Wikipedia
Economy: Senate OKs National Debt Limit Increase
The Senate voted this week to increase the national debt by a staggering $1.9 trillion dollars. The increase will allow the deficit to grow from its current $12.4 trillion to a whopping $14.3 trillion. With today’s debt, 40 cents of every dollar the government spends is borrowed. That percentage will grow with the increased limit. The measure, securing only 60 votes, passed strictly on party lines. And it passed because Scott Brown, the Senator-elect from Massachusetts, has not yet been seated, allowing the appointed Senator to vote for the bill.
To put the limit increase in perspective, $1.9 trillion is larger than the 1999 federal budget. While it took us 230 years to accumulate $10 trillion in debt, that sum has increased by over 20% in just the past 15 months. Rather than the belt-tightening that’s needed, the limit increase permits continued fiscal irresponsibility. Republicans are asking Obama to veto it.
Check our sources: Star Tribune, The Chattanoogan
Science: Second Lives Replace Second Wives
The midlife crisis that hits men particularly hard is becoming a thing of the past. Fast motorcycles, faster cars and second wives are being replaced by graceful transitions to second lives. Longer life expectancies have given mid-lifers the opportunity to move into new careers, which increases satisfaction with life in general. For example, industry trends to hire experienced consultants create new opportunities for independent professionals. And older workers are much less self-critical and more relaxed at the office than their hyper young colleagues.
But, just the fact that life is longer allows many to define new lives even without career shifts. As a result, baby boomers do not feel the immediacy of mortality as their parents did. Increasingly confident and more resilient as the years pass, they’ve pushed the midlife crisis off the “psychology of aging” radar.
Check our sources: The Telegraph
Health: Talking Dinner Plate Scale
How about being browbeaten by a talking dinner plate? Or, actually, a scale underneath the plate. Swedish scientists developed the scale, called a Mandometer, as a weigh-loss aid. It measures the rate of food consumption and, if the rate exceeds the ideal, the scale verbally admonishes the diner to slow down. The goal is to get people to eat more slowly, which makes them feel full with less food, so they end up eating less. Used in an 18-month study in the UK, the talking scale proved an effective tool in reducing obesity in children and teens.
Check our sources: My Digital Life
Life: Second Hand Smoke Kills Smokers, Too
The long-held belief that second hand smoke has a negligible impact on the smoker has gone up in smoke. In particular, people who smoke in confined spaces, such as smoking lounges, make a bad habit much worse. The effect of smoking 14 cigarettes in a lounge is the equivalent of smoking 16.6 cigarettes in the open air. If other smokers are also puffing away in the lounge, the total impact is almost 18 cigarettes or a 29% increase in consumed carcinogens. Second hand smoke also affects smokers outside of confined spaces. On average, in these environments, it increases consumed carcinogens by 14 – 20%.
So, not only should non-smokers avoid smokers, smokers should avoid each other and themselves. Or, they could just avoid cigarettes.
Check our sources: NPR
Animals: Top Dogs
The American Kennel Club released its list of the ten most popular breeds this week. For the 19th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever sits at the top. However, the German Shepherd is quickly moving up in popularity. Surpassing the Yorkie, the breed of Rin Tin Tin has claimed second place for the first time in 30 years. Rounding out the top five are the Yorkshire Terriers, Golden Retrievers and Beagles. That means eighty percent of the first five are breeds that make us feel safe (sorry, Yorkies).
Completing the list are: the Boxer, the Bulldog, the Dachshund, the Poodle and the Shih Tzu.
Check our sources: AKC
January 23, 201
Politics: Bay State Smack Down
On Tuesday, the voters of Massachusetts elected their first Republican senator since Edward Brooke won at the polls in 1972. In an upset of historic proportion, Scott Brown claimed the seat occupied for 47 years by an icon of the Democrat Party. Why? A timeline of the projected election outcome is probably the best indicator. In a pre-race poll conducted in November, Martha Coakley had a 31 percentage-point lead over Brown. On December 19, her lead, at 20%, still seemed ironclad. But by January 4, it was cut to 11%. And in the days immediately preceding the election, Brown edged ahead.
What gave Scott Brown his stunning victory? Coakley’s fortunes began their head first dive around the Christmas holiday and she never pulled out of it. So, what happened after December 19? Graft, corruption and arrogance happened, and all of it connected to the healthcare bill. From the Cornhusker Kickback that secured its passage by the Senate through Democrat-only negotiations to the free union ride on the Cadillac tax. Then there’s the fact that the bill would put 1/6th of the nation’s economy under government control and cost more than we could ever afford. And there was only one way to stop it. So a State many shades bluer than most stepped up and did just that.
Check our sources: Newsweek, Greta Wire, Rassmussen Reports
Economy: Experts Caught Off Guard – Again
Like a deer caught in the headlights, economists are surprised by the continuing increase in new unemployment claims. As of Thursday, those claims hit 482,000 for the year – or the month, since it’s still January. The increase dashed expert hopes that January would generate a net gain in jobs. The false optimism was due, in part, to artificially low reports of jobless claims in November and December. Will they ever get it right?
On a related note, over 4.5 million people are currently filing unemployment claims. That does not include the 5.9 million who are receiving extended benefits for up to 73 additional days paid by the federal government. The number of those receiving extended benefits increased by 600,000 from the previous week. This means that, even if employers were slowing lay offs, they aren’t rehiring. It also means that Washington had better come up with some wholesale, capitalistic solutions to our failing economy rather than their targeted, social welfare band-aids.
Check our sources: MSNBC
Science: Survival Of The Cutest
In a study published this week, scientists compared the skull shapes of domestic dogs with those of other species in the order Carnivora. Along with dogs, the order includes cats, bears, weasels, civets, seals, walruses and about 260 others. The study found the skulls of dogs varied as much as those of the entire order. So, for example, there is more variation in the skulls of dogs than there is between, say, cats and walruses.
Why? The selective breeding of dogs, particularly the breeding frenzy of the past 150 years, has produced the wide variation in skull shapes. And while domestic dogs are thriving, many wouldn’t be if left to their own devices. Bred for appearance as often as for function, many breeds could not survive in the wild because of physical limitations. Why are they flourishing in domestication? They’re so cute that they’ve captured our hearts. And who needs to hunt in the wild, when you can belly up to a bowl – full of kibble, water or treats.
Check our sources: Science Daily
Health: FDA Warns Of Counterfeit Alli
On Monday, the FDA warned consumers of a counterfeit version of the weight-loss drug, Alli. The counterfeit has been purchased online through auction sites such as eBay. To date, there is no evidence of the fake drug being sold through retail stores. The phony product is packaged much like the real thing and passes too easily as authentic. But, it does have differences. Like, the lack of a ‘Lot’ code, a variation in the expiration date format and a modified foil seal on the top of the bottle.
And, the phony capsules are different and much less effective. Far worse, the powder in the counterfeits should not be taken without a doctor’s supervision. Alli is the only over-the-counter weight loss drug approved by the FDA. Approximately 7.5 million people use it daily.
Check our sources: Health News
Life: How About A Human Bed-warmer?
As a promotional in three of its U.K. hotels, the Holiday Inn is offering guests the use of human bed-warmers. Staff, dressed in all-in-one fleece sleeper suits, will warm beds to a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit before the guests retire. The innovative, and wildly quirky, method of warming a bed is in response to the recent chilly weather in Britain. The hotel chain cites scientific evidence that sleep is induced by a warm bed and impeded by a cold one.
O.k., but whatever happened to a water bottle, electric blanket or just a heavier duvet?
Check our sources: Reuters
Animals: Dogs To The Rescue
Search and rescue dogs were a large part of the rescue operation in Haiti. Although robots are used in some efforts, the dog is still man’s best rescue friend. Canines are quicker and more agile than their hardware-bound colleagues. And, in Haiti, where the collapsed structures fell in a pancake configuration, there weren’t enough void spaces for the hi-tech devices to maneuver.
Because scents can waft up through tons of rubble, the dog’s job is to find the scent of a living human, not the human himself. Once the dog barks to indicate a scent, cameras and listening devices take over. The best SAR candidates are Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, border collies and German shepherds. Unfortunately, the Haitian rescue operation is now a recovery effort and cadaver dogs have replaced their SAR brothers.
Check our sources: MSNBC, Ice News
January 16, 201
Politics: Old Dog Learns New Trick
On the eve of the healthcare bill’s final passage, Bill Nelson, the Senator from Nebraska, has learned a valuable new trick. When ridiculous rhetoric doesn’t sell and lawsuits are in the offing, try whistling a different tune. In December, Nelson was the swing vote in the passage of the Senate’s version of the bill. His vote was purchased with a provision giving Nebraska a free Medicaid ride – in perpetuity.
Universally excoriated, Nelson first claimed that his acceptance of the bribe was an act of courage on behalf of states everywhere. When that didn’t sell, and 13 state Attorneys General threatened to sue to enjoin the enforcement of a bill containing the provision, Nelson reneged. He is now asking that the bribe be eliminated from the final version. But, he’s merely grandstanding. The provision renders the bill unconstitutional and was sure to be gone anyway. The real question is what Nelson has gotten in exchange for his vote on the final bill. It may be a long time before we know.
Check our sources: Fox News
Economy: Politics And Economics Don't Play Well Together
In a move of strictly political proportions, Obama is proposing a 10-year tax on the 50 largest financial institutions. Why? $117 billion in TARP money has not been repaid, and people really don’t like banks. Plus, Obama really, really needs to look like he’s doing something besides spending trillions of dollars we don’t have.
Obama’s right about the fact that we don’t like banks. But, there are two things that are very wrong with his proposal. In the first place, most of these Banks did not take any TARP money and those that did have paid it back. So, the proposal is just more of the same-old, same-old taking from those with money just because they have it. Then there’s the fact that the banks will simply recover their tax payments through higher consumer transaction fees.
When these two circumstances are put side-by-side, the net effect of the President’s proposal is hard to miss. The TARP debt owed by, say, the auto industry will be repaid by bank customers. Bad for them but a real win for unions. Obama’s response to higher bank fees? He can make an “argument” to the banks that the taxes should be recovered from employee bonuses rather than customers. Oh, please.
Check our sources: Cleveland
Science: Genetics – Gone To The Dogs
In the 10,000 years since domestication first met the Grey Wolf, humans have, through selective breeding, developed over 400 breeds of dog. With so many different breeds descending from the same source in a relatively short period of time, small variations in genes have produced large differences. And this makes purebred dogs a treasure trove of information for geneticists.
The wealth of discrete breed populations allows scientists to find the causes of specific traits and better understand evolution at the molecular level. It also provides critical information on faulty genes and the role they play in disease, a research aspect that benefits both canines and humans.
And, of course, it can also tell us why the Shar-pei is so wrinkly.
Check our sources: BBC
Health: If You Smoke, Drink Green Tea
At least that’s the result of a study just concluded in Taiwan on the benefits of green tea. According to scientists, smokers who drank no tea were 12 times more likely to develop lung cancer than smokers who drank at least one cup each day.
But before you rush out and buy a barrel full, keep in mind that health benefits claimed for green tea seem slightly far-fetched. They include fighting heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, arthritis, high cholesterol, immune system deficiencies, liver problems and much, much more. And, inhabitants of Asia have consumed massive quantities of the stuff for centuries but they’re still mortal. So, green tea may not be the panacea that some say it is. On the other hand, if you can’t give up cigarettes, why not give the tea a try?
Check our sources: Health News
Life: A Taste For Chocolate – Or Not
When much of the Western world is trying to cut it’s sugar intake, the Chinese, or at least their chocolatiers, are heading in the opposite direction. In an effort to get their customers to develop a sweet tooth for chocolate, Chinese confectioners have built the Great (Chocolate) Wall. The 33-feet long, 80-ton replica made entirely of chocolate will be on display at the World Chocolate Wonderland exhibition later this month in Beijing. Complete with crumbling sections that mimic the real thing and 560 Terracotta Warriors – also chocolate – it’s sure to draw a crowd. But, will it turn the Chinese into chocoholics? That’s TBD.
Check our sources: Reuters
Animals: Salmonella Warning Issued For Dog Treats
The Food And Drug Administration has issued a salmonella contamination warning advising consumers not to buy Merrick Beef Filet Squares for dogs distributed by Merrick Pet Care with a package date of “Best By 111911”.
If purchased, the product should not be given to your dog or even handled by you. It should be disposed of in a covered trash receptacle. If your pet has eaten any of these treats or exhibits any symptoms of salmonella poisoning, take him or her to the vet immediately. Symptoms include lethargy, decreased appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. In some cases, infected dogs may be carriers and contaminate other animals or humans so getting them medical treatment quickly is critical. If you have purchased Merrick Beef Filet Squares and cannot determine the “best by” date, discontinue use of the product.
Merrick Beef Filet Squares are distributed nation-wide through retail stores and Internet sales. The salmonella was detected in December during routine FDA testing. A follow-up investigation found deficiencies in the Merrick packaging and manufacturing processes.
Check our sources: FDA
January 9, 2010
Politics: "Private" Opinion Comes At High Price
Jonathan Gruber, the MIT economist who is among the staunchest defenders of the healthcare bill, is also a highly paid consultant with the Department of Health and Human Services. His sole-source consultancy contract has been kept quietly under wraps while he stumps, allegedly as a private citizen, for Obama’s healthcare agenda. The nature of his government work? To consult on the President’s health reform proposal.
Gruber’s failure to disclose his conflict of interest in supporting the controversial plan of his benefactor is rightly being excoriated by all sides. And it gets worse. The contract, in place since June 2009 and due to expire next month, is for the princely sum of $297,600. So, our government is making him “rich” according to the President’s current definition. And Gruber’s current contract follows on the heels of a previous deal worth a paltry $95,000. Apparently, his “private” opinion is worth more to the Administration than the first contract allowed.
Check our sources: Huffington Post, Fox News
Economy: Final Jobless Numbers Are In
And they are a disaster, according to economists who reviewed the revised year-end report. U.S. employers cut 4.2 million jobs in 2009, including 85,000 in December. The average unemployment rate for the year was 9.3% compared with an average of 5.8% in 2008 and 4.6% in 2007. The current rate remains at 10%. 661,000 left the job force, which means they are no longer even looking for work. Uncertainty in the economy is a primary reason for continuing job cuts and halting consumer spending. Washington’s stimulus packages have neither stimulated growth nor confidence.
What about the future? Many analysts estimate that the economy grew at a 4% rate during the last quarter of 2009. However, that rate must significantly increase in order to reduce the record number of unemployed. And, economists are concerned that even the 4% rate is inflated by temporary factors such as government spending. It’s way past time for Washington to stimulate a capitalist economy, rather than create more debt-ridden social welfare programs.
Check our sources: Daily Finance
Science: Up In The Air
Can you guess the sustained flight record for a hand-thrown paper-only airplane? One that’s made by hand from a single sheet of paper? No paste, no tape and no cutting? A few ticks under half a minute, or 26.1 seconds to be exact. In fact, any paper plane flight of 25 seconds or longer is world class. Just how much air time will a little tape on the paper get you? A total of 27.9 seconds, if you’re a world class thrower and air moisture, temperature and the roaring crowds are in your favor. Although the Guinness World Records folks allow some tape, purists eschew it. Tape or not, look for the 30-second barrier to fall sometime soon.
Check our sources: SF Gate
Health: This Might Actually Work
It’s such a downer to list the 25 worst, yet totally delicious, diet-busting foods of all time. Or, decribing, in luscious detail, 20 sky-high cholesterol meals to avoid. And nothing is more tedious, or more quickly abandoned, than calorie-counting and gram-weighing. But, here’s some sidestepping that we might be able to stick with: just avoid the 7 worst mall food choices. After all, there are only 7 of them on the list and we do have plenty of other, better alternatives.
So, what are they? Smoothie King’s Hulk Strawberry Smoothie (whenever you see a food product with the word “Hulk” in the name, just keep going), Starbuck’s Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino Blended Crème with whipped cream (gee, really?), Coldstone’s PB&C Shake (a whopping 2,010 calories), Auntie Ann’s Jumbo Pretzel Dog (dump the Dog), Cinnabon’s Caramel Pecanbon (or Pecanbomb), Wendy’s Sweet And Spicy Boneless Wings (fly right on by) and Dunkin’ Donuts’ Coffee Cake Muffin (try a single glazed donut, instead. Really).
Check our sources: Living Health
Life: The Cost Of Being Bond
Ever wonder what the fine would be if the police caught James Bond racing through a small, mountainous European village? The spectacle is almost cliché, and a mandatory scene in every Bond movie. We’ve all seen at least one, where our hero drives like a maniac through narrow cobblestone streets, barely averting disaster with pedestrians, flower stalls, whatever.
According to Swiss media reports, one wealthy man now does know the cost - $290,000. He was apprehended after racing through a Swiss village at speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour in his red Ferrari Testarossa. His need for speed landed him the record – for a single traffic fine.
Check our sources: Reuters
Animals: Give A Dog A Home
More greyhounds than ever are in need of good homes this year after 9 dog tracks closed in 2009, leaving them homeless.
If you can find room in your home and your heart for a healthy, loving animal, please investigate adopting a greyhound. As a start, you can visit the following website, launched to help get these dogs adopted: http://greyhoundcentral.org/.
Check our sources: MSNBC
January 2, 201
Politics: Brand New Year, Same Old Politics
At the dawn of a new election year, with an increasingly disaffected voter response to Washington’s uncontrolled spending, Democrats are desperate. To change their ways? To bend to the will of the people? No, to find someone else to blame for their predicament. It should be a hard sell. After all, they own Washington. Is White House is their real estate. They hold a 257 – 158 majority in the House and a 60 – 40 majority in the Senate, including two “independents” who vote their party line. They’ve passed bills that total trillions of dollars in social welfare spending. And the only real way to pay for it is by impoverishing, sooner or later, all American taxpayers.
So how are Democrats trying to duck all the flying political shrapnel? They’re resorting to the same Bush Bashing that gave them control of Washington just this past January. Since it worked so well for them then, it’s sure to work again. Right? Only if voters are as easily led and as short on brainpower as these politicians believe us to be. And are we really? That’s one question the fall elections will answer.
Check our sources: Fox News
Economy: It's Not Too Early To Sell Your House
Bucking conventional wisdom that houses sell best in the spring and summer, new economic data indicates that the boon will start much earlier this year. O.k., “boon” might be an optimistic overstatement, especially since house sales are down 28% from the high in 2006. But, interest rates are low now and the credit markets are loosening a bit. So, the busiest sales market may start as early as February. This means that, if you’re a seller and you’re as optimistic as this report, you’ll get your house listed as early in the New Year as you can.
Check our sources: Forbes
Science: The Best In Consumer Tech
Tech products due to be released in 2010 should make life more interesting for consumers who buy them. What are some of these geeky wonders? How about a device that turns your kinetic energy into a power source for your cell phone? Or a flying car? O.k., it’s more like a driving plane, but it’s a start. Then there’s a waterless washing machine, a water-powered battery and a stationary bike that simulates outdoor riding experiences. If you’re really into indoor treats, there’s also a 3-D TV.
Or, how about a corrugated cardboard laptop case? Or, perhaps, a wood case for your cell phone or other hand-held devices? (So much for the anti-deforestation movement.) And there’s much, much more, including a couple of really cool items for which there is no current use. But, someone is sure to think of one.
Check our sources: Business Pundit
Health: Get More Sleep
A study released this week by Columbia University is the first to link teenage depression and suicide to sleep deprivation. A key finding in the study is that fact that lack of sleep is not so much a symptom of depression as a primary cause. Apparently, insufficient sleep affects the brain’s response to negative stimuli, hindering the ability to cope with stress. It also impairs relationships with peers and adults.
The study followed 15,659 teenagers over a two–year period. 71% of the teens who slept for five hours or less each night were more likely to suffer depression. 48% were more likely to have suicidal thoughts. These figures are not that surprising since the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends nine hours of nightly sleep for adolescents.
So, how serious is lack of sleep really for teens? Suicide is the third most-common cause of death for Americans between the ages of 10 and 24 years. In real numbers, about 4,400 of them commit suicide each year. That should give you something to sleep on.
Check our sources: Columbus Dispatch
Life: Home Sweet Jail
For one man, jail was more appealing than spending New Year’s Eve with his wife’s relatives. A lot more appealing. So, he walked into a police station and asked to be arrested, explaining that he wanted to greet the New Year from behind bars. Turned down, he went next door and threatened a shop owner with a box cutter. Then, he waited patiently for police to arrive. And he got his New Year’s wish. Too bad they can’t all be as easily, or quickly, granted.
Check our sources: Reuters
Animals: Kitty Come Home
Like the 1943 movie that featured Lassie the dog finding her way home over hundreds of dangerous miles, a cat in Florida came home. Missing for 11 days, and suffering two broken legs in the interim, Giggle-Blizzard found his way back. Back to his family of humans, seven other cats and two dogs.
His hind legs had been smashed in a car accident. But, two surgeries and $3,000 later, the cat, resting peacefully at home, is on the mend, sporting two Christmas-colored splints. Lassie would be proud.
Check our sources: Miami Herald
December 26, 2009
Politics: Crime Without Punishment
In an article entitled, “Change Nobody Believes In”, the Wall Street Journal excoriates the strictly partisan healthcare bill rammed through the Senate on Christmas Eve. And rightly so. No one has read it. It was cobbled together behind closed, Democrat-only doors, in demonstrations of political arm-twisting and favor-swapping at its worst. But the vote does meet an arbitrary White House deadline that precludes full, fair and non-partisan deliberation. Why? To force an unwanted bill to become law before the political winds blow away these masterminds of a permanent American entitlement state.
The problems with the bill? Despite political claims to the contrary, it increases healthcare costs. For the young, for small businesses, for middle class families and, of course, for people who fall into the ever-expanding definition of “rich”. The quality of healthcare and the available choices fall precipitously. The impact on the Federal budget is staggering. In fact, to pay for the long-term costs, almost everyone who earns a paycheck will see their taxes increase. Welcome to the wonderful world of the rich.
Check our sources: Wall Street Journal
Economy: Construction Spending Falls Through 2010
Total construction spending, which is estimated to have fallen by 12% in 2009, will decline another 5% during 2010. A rebound is expected in 2011 and 2012. The biggest drag on spending is in the commercial sector, while residential construction is expected to do measurably better.
This dichotomy between commercial and residential spending reflects the outlook for the broader economy next year: a higher GDP, while jobs and consumer confidence (spending) trail behind. GDP is the Country’s Gross Domestic Product, or the total value of all good and services produced during a calendar year.
Check our sources: IHS Global
Science: Surprise – Don’t Text And Drive
O.k., so it’s not a surprise. But, it hadn’t been officially, scientifically “studied” either. Now it has. And the result? You are much more likely to crash if you text while you drive. Well, at least if you’re really young, say a teenager or barely an adult. Apparently, the rest of us don’t text that much so our mangled bodies aren’t statistically significant.
The two big problems with texting while driving are slowed reaction time and weaving all over the road. For a really horrific example of the death and destruction that texting can bring, rent “Seven Pounds”. In fact, the scientists should have done the same thing and saved a bunch of research money.
On the bright side, it wasn’t a government funded study.
Check our sources: Science News
Health: Vicks Dayquil Recall
Proctor and Gamble has voluntarily recalled 700,000 units of its Vicks Dayquil cold medicine because the blister packs are not child-proof. The recall affects DayQuil Cold & Flu 24–Count LiquiCaps Bonus Packs. While the outer packaging does resist the efforts of children, the inside packs containing the capsules do not. Without an M.D.’s direction, the medication is not recommended for children under the age of 12 years. Ingestion can cause serious health problems or even death.
For a complete description of the packs included in the recall, please visit the Vicks website referenced below.
Check our sources: Vicks, Health News
Life: 'Tis The Season To Regift
If you’re a recipient of one of this year’s 10 stupidest Christmas gifts, then you really understand the benefits, and relief, that come from regifting. To find out if you’re one of the lucky many who received a gift fit for regifting, here’s the official list: battery operated butler, square egg press, motorized ice cream cone, noggin’ net (anyone for a dead fish on your head?), choke the annoying chicken, dog poo (called Yule Doo), an electronic yodeling pickle, salad flavored dental floss, farting slippers and, finally, jingle jugs (no imagine necessary there).
If the names aren’t enough of a description, just take a look at the photos on the website referenced below.
Check our sources: True Slant
Animals: Snoopy Tops The Pop Culture List
From a list that included cartoon characters, mascots, TV stars, plush toys, paintings and songs, Snoopy was selected as the American Kennel Club’s Pop Culture icon. The star of the Peanuts comic strip bested Reveille, the Texas A&M mascot. 76,000 online voters chose their favorite entry from a pre-determined list. The Pop Culture honor was part of the AKC’s 125th anniversary celebration.
Peanuts was the most widely read newspaper comic in history. It was published in over 2,600 newspapers and in 21 languages. In beating Reveille, Snoopy edged out an impressive competitor. The American Collie is a five-star general and the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M. She is addressed as, “Miss Rev, ma’am”.
Check our sources: Reuters, Aggie Traditions
December 19, 2009
Politics: Never Fear, Boss Tweed Is Still Here
In “Stimulus Facts”, the Mercatus Center At George Mason University reports, in detail, on how the first $157 billion of stimulus money was actually spent. Despite Obama’s claims to the contrary, the money was not doled out with economic recovery in mind. So, what was the motivation? Almost three quarters of it went to Democrat districts – 73.47% to 29.77% for Republican districts. And while, in the 2008 election, Obama carried 25% more districts than McCain, the Obama districts received 190% more money than the McCain districts.
So, not surprisingly, the report found a correlation between how much a district received and its party affiliation. But, what about stimulating the economy? The report found “no correlation between economic indicators and stimulus funding.” In other words, if a district in dire need of jobs actually received any of the money, it was just blind luck. Because the only grand design in spending was politics as usual eee.
Check our sources: Mercatus Center
Economy: How About A Little Stimulus With That Funding?
In a second research article on stimulus funding, the Mercatus Center disputes political claims that the first package had a beneficial effect on job creation. The article then concludes that a second round of stimulus spending is “absolutely the wrong idea.”
Why? Job loss has overwhelmed job creation in the wake of the spending. Moreover, for those jobs that were created, it is impossible to determine whether they would have existed without the spending. So, rather than throwing more money away, the politicians must put politics aside and figure out how to actually stimulate a free economy. Unfortunately for taxpayers, the pols never have proven themselves capable of performing that task.
Check our sources: Mercatus Center
Science: Smart Wheel Chairs Get Smarter
Researchers at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania are developing a wheelchair with built-in real time obstacle avoidance technology that works in outdoor environments. Using sensors and 3-D maps, the chair can avoid parking meters, trees, poles, people and moving cars as well as negotiating corners without a hitch. This is one baby that you can’t fool by re-arranging the furniture.
The real obstacle to this smarter chair is cost. It’s hefty. So, the next challenge is negotiating a cheaper price.
Check our sources: Scientific American
Health: No Pain, Hardwired Brain
Have you ever wondered why some people can play through excruciating pain while others fold at the slightest suggestion of it? Researchers at Oxford University recently provided an answer. They tested the pain responses of 16 healthy volunteers by applying increasingly stronger laser pulses to their feet. As expected, the pain response occurred after ratcheting up the pulses by several levels. But, something very unexpected also happened. When the same painful pulse levels were tested during different sessions on the same individuals, pain was reported only 50% of the time. So sometimes the same stimulus was painful, other times it was not.
Why? It depends on the iffy connection between higher brain functions that process pain and the part of the brain stem that modulates the pain experience. When that connection is strong, there is no pain. When it is weak, pain is felt. What about people who just feel a lot less pain than their fellow human beings? Their brains are hardwired to have a permanently closer connection between the higher brain pain functions and the brain stem area that regulates it. Lucky them? It depends on how you feel about playing to the end of a professional soccer game with a broken neck.
Check our sources: Science Daily
Life: Yet Another Holiday Idea Gone Horribly Wrong
An Anglican church in Wellington, New Zealand has raised the holiday stress level by sponsoring a billboard that depicts Joseph and Mary in bed together. The caption at the bottom of the sign reads, “Poor Joseph, God is a hard act to follow.” The stated purpose of the billboard is to focus attention on the real reason for the season – the power of Christian love.
But, it is a message being missed by most readers, including the Catholic Church, which has roundly criticized it. The Anglican Church has also received many negative phone calls and emails. And the billboard was defaced a few hours after it was put up. So much for the message, which, really, is a little obscure, to say the least. What will good-intentioned folks think of next?
Check our sources: Reuters
Animals: Faith Gives Hope
Faith, a seven-year old, Lab-chow mix, was born without arms – or what most humans call front legs. She just has stubs where those limbs would be. Rescued as a newborn, she learned to walk upright on her hind legs. And walk she does. Briskly. Down city streets, into veterans’ hospitals, onto Army bases and other special places. She brings lots of happiness and hope to disabled humans and anyone who needs their spirits lifted.
Faith takes vitamins and joint supplements and her vets have given her a clean bill of health. Which is great because she’s much in demand. She receives over 200 letters and emails each day and makes dozens of personal appearances every year. And she can run, too. When she does, she adds a hop or a skip to her upright gait, smiling as she goes. May she find presents under her tree and many more years of happiness in helping others.
Check our sources: Associated Press
December 12, 2009
Politics: Would You Like A Little Mustard On that Whopper?
Feeling the effects of his non-starter economic polices, Obama is now mischaracterizing the $700 billion bank bailout as a failure of the last administration. In his jobs speech earlier this week, Obama claimed that the bailout was “flawed” and “launched hastily” under the Bush White House. Nothing seems to work as well in D.C. as blaming someone else for whatever goes wrong.
Fact check: To be sure, Bush was President when the bailout bill passed. But, in making it law, who controlled both houses of Congress? Obama’s party. Who joined a White House conference supporting the bill? Obama. Who appeared on the senate floor urging passage? Obama. Who was among the senators who voted for it? Obama. And through all of this, Obama never uttered a single word or lifted a single finger to change anything in the legislation. So, score Obama a loser in this round of the never-ending blame game.
Check our sources: Fox News
Economy: Short Memories
Congressional Democrats intend to raise the nation’s debt limit by almost $2 TRILLION before the end of this year. Why now when the current debt ceiling of $12.1 trillion has not been reached? They don’t want to raise the limit next year when they’re all up for re-election. They’re banking on the fact that their constituents have very, very short memories so nothing they do today will come back to haunt them tomorrow.
When the national debt, or borrowing, limit is reached, it must be increased to avoid defaulting on loans from creditors. Or, Congress could just cut spending to avoid reaching the limit in the first place. But, in these heady days of soaring deficits, reducing the debt is a thought that never occurs to the Congressional majority.
Check our sources: Wall Street Journal
Science: Powerful Anti-Cancer Drug Discovered
Scientists in Tel Aviv discovered that a drug developed to lessen the effects of a stroke is a highly efficient weapon in the war against cancer. As a stroke inhibitor, the drug was a bust. But, in mice, it kills cancer cells while leaving healthy ones in tact. How? By triggering a self-destruct sequence within the cancers cells that causes them to die within two or three days. And the healthy cells? They didn’t even know that the drug had been introduced into their mice. Very nice.
Next step: more research and, it if continues to go well, testing on humans.
Check our sources: Science Daily
Health: How About A Little Personality Change With That Drug?
A recent study of how some anti-depressant drugs really work has uncovered a surprising bit of information. Before the study, it was believed that personalities became more cheerful after drug use because the anti-depressant works to depresses the depression. But, the study revealed that the drugs actually work by altering personalities directly. You may not be any less depressed, but you’re a lot happier about it. In fact, you’re downright outgoing and chummy with your buds.
Next step? Possibly prescribing the drug to people who don’t need it, just to brighten their day. Wow.
Check our sources: Science News
Life: Rotating House Keeps Family In A Spin
An Australian family wakes up each day to a different view outside the windows of their house. The dwelling, which has an octagonal shape, sits on a motorized turntable, much like a record on an old-style phonograph. Controlled by computer, the turntable rotates the house on command. It can complete one revolution in about 30 minutes. The rotation allows the family inside to follow the sun as it moves across the sky.
Three years ago when it was built, the house cost $614,000 in U.S. dollars. What a head turner.
Check our sources: Reuters
Animals: Thought Before Fashion
About 30% of dogs in California shelters are Chihuahuas. Why? Too many people, who have since abandoned their little charges, were taken in by Hollywood glitz. Irresponsible humans bought into the frenzy created by movies portraying the dogs as human and starlets displaying them as fashion accessories. But when the glamour wore off, the dogs were discarded like last year’s fad.
Shame, shame on us. Dogs are not playthings for our hedonistic enjoyment. They are lives worthy of love and respect and a lifetime commitment. So, before you think of getting one, be very sure your lifestyle fits the dog’s personality and requirements. Then welcome him into your home as a deserving member of your family, one who would never abandon you to a shelter.
Check our sources: USA Today
December 5, 2009
Politics: Gore Still Running
Al Gore has been running away from scientific examination of his man-made global warming claims for almost as long as he ran for political office. And he’s still at it. Scheduled to give a lecture at next week’s international climate change conference in Copenhagen, Gore has just bowed out. Citing “unforeseen” schedule changes, he prefers to run away from hard questions rather than blow hot air to over 3,000 high-priced ticket buyers.
The latest problem for Sir Veep? Email from British and American scientists discussing manipulation of climate change data to support their, and his, agenda. So, when in doubt about the credibility of climate change critics, just check which way Gore is running. It doesn’t get any clearer than that.
Check our sources: Washington Times
Economy: Big Pharma & Medicaid Fraud
A $112 million settlement reached by the Justice Department and two players in the pharmaceutical industry is part of an on-going, widespread Medicaid fraud investigation. The fraudulent activity is in the form of kickbacks received by pharmacies that provide drugs to nursing homes. Paid by drug companies, the kickbacks encourage pharmacies to give the companies preferential treatment. Johnson & Johnson is currently under investigation.
The settlement, reached with Omnicare and IVAX, has been criticized as too little. Kickbacks put patient lives at risk through the prescription of improper medication and drive up costs for government and private health insurers. So, why so lax on the fine particularly since Omnicare is defending its third Medicaid fraud action this decade? No one is saying. But, it does bolter opposition to the sweet deal Obama gave the pharmaceutical giants to gain their support of his healthcare bill.
Check our sources: Business Week
Environment: Watch Out, Window Washers
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed nano–technology that, within a few years, promises to make window washing a thing of the past. The scientists have produced “forests” of tiny peptides that can be used to coat the exteriors of windows and solar panels. These invisible forests repel rainwater, dirt and dust. The technology is especially useful with solar farms since they are usually installed in dusty desert climates. The peptide forests will prevent the collection of dirt that degrades the effectiveness of the panels, improving their efficiency.
What about price? The nano-technology is cheap, about the same cost as aspartame, the artificial sugar sweetener, and a lot better for you. So, look out Windex, your days may be numbered.
Check our sources: Science Daily
Health: Get Up, Get Out and Run Or Something
Scientists have known for decades that regular exercise makes you healthier than being a couch potato. And, that alone is reason enough to develop a daily exercise routine. But, just in case it hasn’t, here’s one that should motivate all couch potatoes. Regular exercise slows the aging process. So, forget Botox, anti-wrinkle cream, facelifts and all that expensive stuff. Just buy a pair of running shoes and go for it, even if it’s just a walk. German researchers have discovered that exercise does a lot more for your body and mind than just making them healthy. It also preserves the fountain of youth found in white blood cells. So, don’t just be healthy. Be young.
Check our sources: Health News
Life: Never A Slow News Day
There’s never a shortage of news stories when it comes to stupid things people do. And, here’s a first. A groom, standing at the altar and about to be the pronounced husband part of husband and wife, delayed the ceremony. Cold feet? Second thoughts? No, just updating his Facebook and Twitter pages. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket while the preacher, the guests and his almost-bride looked on. So much for the sanctity of the ceremony. But, users on the Internet loved it. His postings went viral.
Check our sources: Yahoo News
Animals: What Does Your Cat Do All Day, Anyway?
Do you think you know what your cat does all day? Like, sleep most of the time? You’d be surprised. Fifty house cats were fitted with “cat cams” on their collars that took photos every 15 minutes. What did the cats do while their humans were away? They were much more active than people assume. The most popular kitty activity was watching the world outside their homes. 22% of their time was spent window gazing on the neighborhood. 12% of their day away from humans was spent interacting with other household animals. 8% of the time they were doing their climbing exercises, either on kitty condos or on people chairs.
And what about those cat naps? Only 6% of their time was spent snoozing, probably about the same amount as we do at the office. Much of the rest of the day was spent playing with toys and staring at, or eating, food. Oh, to be a cat.
Check our sources: MSNBC
November 28, 2009
Politics: The Buck Rolls Downhill
As we know, on November 13, Eric Holder, the U.S. Attorney General, announced his decision to try five 9/11 conspirators in a civilian court in New York City. Criticism has been heaped upon him for that decision. For the first time in our Country’s history, foreign military combatants will be tried in a civilian court. They will be afforded the protective due process rights to which only American citizens are entitled. Sensitive information will likely be disclosed. The “defendants” will be given a new voice for their anti-American rhetoric. They will inspire copycats. The City that suffered so horribly from their misdeeds will be put at risk again during the protracted proceedings. It will be a circus no one here wants in town.
So far, Obama has escaped the criticism because he was not consulted about Holder’s decision, merely informed after the fact. But, Obama’s free pass for this mess is wrong. He is the Top Cop, the Commander-In-Chief. The buck should stop at his desk – and not roll downhill to the Justice Department. As Holder told Jim Lehrer,
“[Obama]’s a person who believes that a president’s supposed to have hands off with his Justice Department… [T]here are times when I would like to involve him maybe a little more, but his view is that, in those things that are in the province of the attorney general, all he needs to be is informed.”
The President’s hands-off approach is a hackneyed contrivance. It serves to insulate Obama from the fallout that comes when his subordinates carry out his policies. It shows a critical lack of leadership and appreciation of his role as the American President.
Check our sources: Washington Post, PBS
Economy: Housing Market Still In Free Fall
Home sales jumped last month to the highest level in more than a year, so things are starting to look up in that sector, right? Unfortunately, not. The increase was due entirely to activity in the South, which offset declining sales throughout the rest of the Country. And what does the big Country picture look like? Today, 23% of all homeowners owe more on their mortgages than their property is worth. With housing prices not expected to hit bottom until early 2011, the number of these “underwater” loans will increase. And, they threaten to block economic recovery as homeowners default on their obligations.
So, despite the financial industry’s $787 billion bailout and the $75 billion “Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan”, passed this year, we’re really no better off. It’s time the President figured this out – and tried something that will actually stimulate the housing market. Like, guaranteeing a 3% interest rate to all qualified buyers, regardless of the amount of the loan, with an 80% loan-to-value cap. Wouldn’t that be stimulating?
Check our sources: Fox News, Wall Street Journal, Sydney Morning Herald, IHS
Environment: The Inconvenient Truths Just Keep Coming
In politics, “truth” is determined by majority vote. As long as you can secure a majority, your view prevails. It becomes law. And law is truth. But, with science, majority votes aren’t taken and consensus doesn’t matter because popularity is not a valid test. The difference in these approaches forms the basis for the disagreement between “An Inconvenient Truth” and a new film, “Not Evil Just Wrong”.
Despite the awards and accolades heaped upon Al Gore for his 2006 film, the content is more political, than scientific, truth. In 2007, a British High Court ruled that “An Inconvenient Truth” contains nine major errors. The impact of the ruling? The film cannot be used in British schools unless accompanied by guidance notes that balance Gore’s one-sided views.
Now, “Not Evil Just Wrong” makes further scientific challenges to Gore’s truth. And the ex-Veep’s response? As always, he steadfastly refuses to engage in scientific discourse about the claims in his film. But, of course, he has no need to. As a politician, his word is truth.
Check our sources: Fox News
Health: It’s Not Always A Coma
A 46 year-old man, in a Belgian hospital for 23 years, was incorrectly diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state. In fact, he was conscious and aware of his soundings, and the incorrect diagnosis, from the beginning. Paralyzed and unable to communicate, he was at first very angry but gradually accepted his circumstances. The misdiagnosis was discovered in 2006 during a CT scan. Now living in a nursing home, he communicates by tapping words on a keyboard.
Doctors estimate that as many as 40% of patients diagnosed as being in persistent vegetative states are actually conscious at least some of the time. Research is on going to improve the accuracy of diagnostic techniques. It’s about time.
Check our sources: The London Times
Life: Too Much Fun Ends Benefits
A 29 year-old woman, on sick leave and receiving insurance benefits for eighteen months for “major depression”, has received a reality call. After posting several photos of herself on Facebook, her insurance company terminated her benefit payments. Just what did those photos show? Lots of partying – at Chippendales, her birthday party and on vacation. All fun and games. So, if you’re supposed to be depressed, and your insurance company is paying the bills, keep your party look off Facebook.
Check our sources: L.A. Times
Animals: A Place Where Things Are Rosy
The economy is bad. Humans are out of jobs. Businesses are suffering. Pennies everywhere are being pinched. Well, everywhere but in the world of pets. There, Santa is on his way with a sleigh laden with more presents than last year. 52% of humans will buy their furry companions presents this Christmas season, up from 43% last year. And dogs will benefit more than cats –60% of canines will receive gifts compared to 40% of felines.
While gifts to animals are on the rise, 93% of households will spend the same, or less, this year overall as last year. This means that the amount spent on humans will decrease this year since the amount spent on our animals has increased. Yes, Fido, for at least this year, there is a Santa Claus.
Check our sources: MSNBC
November 21, 2009
Politics: The Substantive Danger Of Superficial Thought
One real danger in American foreign affairs is the tendency to gloss over issues of substance essential to our country’s long-term interests. In place of critical thought, our political leaders often substitute “legitimacy” judgments that too neatly duck thorny issues. Afghanistan is the most pressing case in point. Obama is now threatening to deny necessary troop increases because corruption in the Afghani government has allegedly cost it the support of its people.
But this is faulty logic. In Afghanistan, the manner in which power is used is far more important than how it’s acquired. The country is in need of stability and basic governance. Today, the Taliban has proven far more adept at providing both. Washington should, therefore, focus U.S. efforts on providing the security that stability and governing require. Then, and only then, can Afghanistan be led to build the judicial and administrative infrastructures demanded by its people.
For American interests, a stable Afghanistan is critical. It will marginalize the appeal of the Taliban, of course. But, as importantly, stabilization will keep the country from becoming a power vacuum too easily filled by the Soviets or the Chinese or even Iran. And the problem with that? Pakistan’s nuclear capability – and willingness to use it on unfriendly neighbors.
Check our sources: Foreign Affairs, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs
Economy: Hard Lessons Go Unlearned
The worst recession since the Great Depression was precipitated, in large part, by high loan-to-value mortgages and falling house prices. Whereas, loan-to-value ratios were once kept at 70 to 80%, they were allowed to increase to 100%, and higher, before the recession. Both borrowers and lenders banked on a never-ending upward trend in home prices. When that bubble burst, as they all must, homeowners began defaulting on their loans in record numbers, and the dominos started falling. By the beginning of this year, 25% of all home loans exceeded the value of the houses that secured them. The total amount of these negative equity mortgages exceeded $2.5 trillion.
Old news, right? Hard lesson learned and all that. Go, and don’t do likewise. You’d think. Unfortunately, the difficult lesson was not learned because we’re right back at it. Right back issuing those 95% loan-to-value mortgages. And, these loans are being granted in the face of declining home prices, which are not expected to hit bottom until mid-2010. Negative equity here we come, all over again.
Who has refused to learn the most difficult recession lesson of our generation? The Federal Government through the Federal Housing Administration’s current refinance program. And, these loans are being made “regardless of credit score”. The FHA sounds and acts exactly like a pre-recession mortgage slinger. Except now, the loans are backed by us. And that’s got to make you feel better.
Check our sources: Martin Feldstein in Testimony Before Congressional Committee, National Bureau of Economic Research, FHA, Nation’s Building News
Science: The Eleventh Plague of Ancient Egypt
Most of us are familiar with the story of the 10 plagues of ancient Egypt. In a study published just this month, scientists have uncovered evidence of an 11th, clogged arteries. In the study, 16 Egyptian mummies were given CT scans. Atherosclerosis was found in 9, or more than 56%. The mummies ranged in age from 2,000 to 3,500 years. In life, they were from the upper strata of Egyptian society. And, their arteries were as badly hardened as ours are today, all without benefit of smoking, fast food or faster remotes.
Apparently, humans are plagued with clogged arteries irrespective of place or time. But, does this mean that we can forget being health conscious and dig into all the fat we can find? Probably not. Scientists are yet to examine mummies from lower socio-economic groups. It may turn out that those with lesser incomes had healthier diets – and arteries.
Check our sources: Science News, NPR
Health: Does “Distance Healing” Work?
“Distance Healing” is the technique that uses the positive energy of focused thought to heal the sick. Or claims to. The idea is that good vibes emanating from the healer empower the sick to tap into their own inner healing force, with curative results. Of course, there is no scientific basis for the technique. And there’s plenty of empirical data that it doesn’t work. For example, while voters are positively fed up with Congress, those vibes haven’t healed a single ill bill.
Check our sources: Health News
Life: When Confidence Is A Bad Thing
A man in Seattle, believing he was a Ninja, impaled himself on a fence when his attempt to leap over it failed. Police found the wannabe skewered on the top of a 4 to 5 foot high metal enclosure. Officers supported his weight until paramedics arrived. The man, whose name is being withheld, is in critical condition. Police cited overconfidence, and alcohol, as the main contributing factors.
Check our sources: Associated Press
Animals: Cat Catches Swine Flu
A thirteen–year–old cat in Iowa contracted swine flu earlier this month. The disease was apparently transmitted to the cat by her human companions. Two of the humans were experiencing flu-like symptoms when the cat became ill. Tests confirmed she had the H1N1 virus. Happily, the cat and her humans have fully recovered. While this is the first confirmed case of swine flu in felines, two ferrets in other states died earlier this year from the disease.
The long–term implications of this development are unclear. But, it is certain that people who live with animals should take precautions against spreading the disease to their furry loved ones. The precautions are the same as those used to prevent the spread of swine flu from human to human. And they are especially important in the case of our animals because there is no swine flu vaccine for them.
Check our sources: Web MD, MSNBC
November 14, 2009
Use and Abuse: The Politics of Public Support
While the majority of Americans see big problems with the current healthcare system, they also believe that no reform is better than Congressional reform. Did the lack of public support for their actions stop Congress from passing the $1.2 trillion package last week? No, it didn’t. So, rather than claiming public support, Congressional leaders spoke in self-congratulatory terms about acting on behalf of many Americans.
Contrast that disregard of the will of the people to Obama’s foot-dragging over the military’s request for troop increases in Afghanistan. Once the “good war”, Obama pledged support for the defeat of the Taliban even if it meant putting our troops in harm’s way. Now, with opposition to the war increasing, and much of that due to his dithering, Obama has decided to punt if public support favors it.
Editorial Note: Politicians often disregard public opinion unless it can be used as an excuse for reneging on promises. Very unfortunately, in the Afghan case, not even the need to uproot terrorism from one its hottest beds is reason enough to fulfill commitments.
Check our sources: Rasmussen Reports, ABC News, The Hill, L.A. Times
Pay Attention to the Bill Behind the Curtain
According to a CNN poll published late last month, 73% of Americans want the number of illegal immigrants in this Country drastically reduced through deportation. And the healthcare bill passed last week by Congress seems to support that sentiment. It limits coverage to U.S. citizens and legal residents, thereby excluding those illegally in the Country.
However, currently pending in Congress is an immigration reform bill that would grant legal residency to illegals before the effective date of the healthcare bill. If passed, this reform bill will fulfill Obama’s campaign pledge to Hispanics to legalize the 12 million Latinos currently in the Country illegally. It will also have the effect of providing healthcare for those who, today, are on American soil without benefit of lawful entry.
Editorial Note: With politics, it’s best to keep a close eye on the bill behind the curtain. To politicians bold enough to pass healthcare legislation vigorously opposed by the majority of Americans, enacting the immigration reform bill is a piece of cake.
Check our sources: CNN, CNS News, CNS News, New York Times
Having a Bawl with Language
Do you think all newly born human infants cry alike? They are very tiny and very young and it is just crying, so they should sound pretty much the same, right? Wrong. Researchers in Germany and France have discovered that newborns wail with the same rising and falling melodies used by their parents in ordinary conversation. By the tender age of 2 to 5 days, a baby’s cry carries the tuneful signature of Mommy and Daddy’s native tongue.
So, if you want your baby’s cry to be bilingual, just take turns speaking in front of junior in different languages. You’ll be the envy of the block.
Check our sources: Science News
The Healthcare Costs of Obesity
According to a new study by RTI International and the CDC, obesity costs the nation $147 billion annually, a price tag that rivals smoking. Obesity also increases the likelihood of developing diabetes, some cancers, osteoarthritis, heart disease and stroke. A recent study by the Harvard School of Public health adds multiple sclerosis to that list. These disease specific costs are not included in the $147 billion figure.
Speaking of weight gain, recent studies equate fruit juice with soda in causing obesity in humans. In fact, 100% fruit juice poses the same obesity-related health problems as Coke, Pepsi and other vilified drinks, especially for kids. So, easing off on the orange juice may be just healthy as holding back on the Coke.
Check our sources: Health News, Yahoo, L.A. Times
Stop The Grind
Teeth grinding is a common problem with potentially serious consequences. Most teeth grinding occurs at night and causes fitful sleep, exacerbating stress and anxiety. It also causes headaches and stiff necks.
If you’re one of the many who grind their teeth, you may be in for a shock, of treatment that is. Grindcare, a device developed in Denmark and currently in test in the U.K., delivers a tiny electrical impulse when grinding is detected. Not powerful enough to waken the patient, the shock does cause facial muscles to relax, which stops the grinding.
Check our sources: BBC
How About Training Your Cat
Everyone knows that dogs are easy to train. Cats, on the other hand, are impossible. So, no one ever bothers, right? Wrong. Cat training is alive and doing very well at both the SPCA in Houston, Texas and the Michigan Humane Society. Turns out, kittens love to problem solve so teaching them to work, or perform tricks, for their food is not very difficult.
And, training isn’t just for shelter cats. One cat companion helps train dogs to find lost pets by hiding and waiting to be found. He also can sit, stay, lie down and come on command as well as walk on a leash. So, if you love your kitten, teaching her to problem solve for her supper might just be the best thing you can do for her.
Check our sources: MSNBC
November 7, 2009
No Census Consensus
This week, Senate Democrats, using a procedural mechanism, blocked the inclusion of a citizenship question in next year’s census form. This means that non-citizens who complete the form will be counted, with citizens, in determining the number of congressional representatives from each state. Since census data is also used to distribute billions in federal aid, non-citizens will influence that allocation as well.
In responding to Republican criticism that our representatives should represent the citizens of this Country, Democrats stated that the citizenship question was anti-immigration. Obama’s Commerce Department, which includes the Census Bureau, also claimed that the addition of the question would cost $1 Billion. However, when pressed to support that claim, it produced a single piece of paper with general bullet points followed at the bottom with “$1,000,000,000”. Even if that sum were correct, it seems paltry compared to the trillions in pork barrel “stimulus” now plaguing taxpayers.
Check our sources: Fox News, ABC 26, Wall Street Journal
No End In Sight
Despite the chest-thumping going on in Washington, D.C. about the effectiveness of the stimulus packages, the U.S. jobless rate rose above 10% in October. It hasn’t been that high since 1983 and it has exceeded economists’ predictions. Of all the unemployed who are still looking for work, a record 35.6% have been jobless for longer than six months. And, of all adults in the Country, only 58.5% are employed and that percentage is declining monthly. This means that the rapidly increasing Federal debt is falling on fewer and fewer shoulders.
Speaking of the debt, it has become one of the causes of unemployment. Businesses simply cannot afford to pay for government spending and increasing regulation without cutting costs, which means job loss. At almost 16 million, the number of people seeking work arguably exceeds those without currently affordable health insurance options. With a debt-ridden $1.2 trillion healthcare package about to come out of congress, what are our “leaders” thinking?
Check our sources: Market Watch, The Outlook, Hennessey
Smarter Cars
Not only are our government leaders smarter than we are, our cars are about to pass us in the brain lane as well. Already on the market or introduced for 2010 are cars that can: automatically stay within lane markers, slow down or speed up to keep a safe driving distance and park themselves. Humans are still needed, though.
But, currently in field test are fully autonomous “ground vehicles” in which we are only passengers. Why? Because humans are notoriously bad drivers, causing lots of costly injury accidents. We even kill each other occasionally when we get behind the wheel. With the government taking charge of healthcare, we can expect a federal mandate requiring consumers to purchase these expensive vehicles. The justification of reducing public healthcare costs, even if it bankrupts household budgets, is a mantra we’d better get used to hearing.
Maybe It Could Be A Good Idea
On the other hand, an autonomous car might be the answer to your prayers, at least if you’ve flunked your driver’s test 949 times. This week a woman in Seoul, Korea finally passed her written driver’s test on the 950th try. Four years, and over four thousand dollars, later, the 68-year old grandmother managed to score the minimum number of correct answers. When asked about her perseverance, she replied, “[D]on’t give up your dream.” But, she’s not on the road just yet. She still has to pass the driving part of the exam. Yikes.
Check our sources: BBC, Road Safety
Speaking Of Vehicle Regulations
Last month, a trucker in Ontario, Canada was cited for smoking in his truck – because the truck is his “workplace”. Workplace smoking has been unlawful in Ontario since 2006. But, the citation may not be the end of the story because the law is very complex. For example, if the trucker’s employer does business in another Canadian province, then smoking in the truck is allowed. Or, if the trucker owns the truck and he is the only person who works in it, smoking inside is O.K., too.
Let’s just hope all we mimic is Canada’s public healthcare mess and not its other complications to every day living.
Check our sources: Globe And Mail
No Longer Furry
Spectacled Bears in zoos across Europe are experiencing drastic fur loss, and very itchy skin. Some of the bears have lost so much fur that they are literally skin over bones. Veterinarians have no idea what is causing the condition or how to remedy it. Most speculation about the loss points to the bears’ separation from their native environment. The only relief for them today is ointment applied to reduce the itching.
Found in the Andean Mountains of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, Spectacled Bears in the wild have thick dark coats. Naturally shy, they are the only bears native to the continent. Maybe it’s time to stop using zoos and their inhabitants as substitutes for travel and video tours. After all, watching the Nat Geo channel, or visiting the website and others like it, is like living the experience. And, it lets animals just be animals instead of, well, spectacles.
Check our sources: BBC, Daily Mail, National Geographic
October 31, 2009
Name Games
What’s in a name? In politics, practically everything. The most recent example is the “public option” provision in several healthcare bills currently floating around Congress. The public has rejected this option, along with other provisions of healthcare plans proposed by politicians. Undeterred by the wishes of the American constituency, the public option is making its way through the various voting chambers in the Hallowed Halls.
Still, fearing a backlash, the proponents of the provision have decided to defuse voter anger by simply renaming it. On the short list to replace “public option”: The Consumer Option, The Competitive Option and Medicare E, short for Medicare for Everyone. Given the history of Medicare, that last one is particularly scary. What’s even scarier is the thought that voters can be fooled by such an age-old marketing trick.
Check our sources: Norman Transcript, The Hill, Fox News
Numbers Games
Economic reports are full of numbers. So, in order to understand what any report means, its necessary to understand what the numbers mean. For example, the September jobless rate in the U.S. hit a 26-year high. Sounds bad, but it’s actually worse. The jobless rate is defined to be the percentage of the unemployed who are still seeking jobs. In September, that rate rose to 9.8%. Excluded from the calculation are the jobless who are no longer seeking employment. In September alone, 600,000 people stopped looking for work. If they were counted, the rate for the month would top 10%.
Then there’s the number of existing home sales in September. Were they up or down? It depends on whether your source factors in “seasonal adjustments” (sales rose) or not (sales fell). And don’t forget the tax credit effect, soon to expire, which motivated a lot of first time homebuyers. One thing is clear. The raw sales figures for September are the 3rd lowest for that month since 1963 when the Census Bureau started tracking sales.
There are a couple of things everyone agrees with. Both new homes sales and consumer spending fell in September. So, where’s the recovery that some politicians are touting?
Check our sources: CBS News, Calculated Risk Blog, MSNBC, Bloomberg, Ritholtz
Mind Your Mind
No pain, no gain has always been the reason given to exercise regularly. The idea is that our bodies won’t benefit unless we make the effort. It turns out that our brains also benefit from a little pain, the pain of learning that is. People often shy away from conquering math problems or developing other thought skills. Why? In order to avoid the pain that stress brings when mental effort becomes taxing. However, sticking with it and perfecting that skill will make you much happier in the long run. So, to gain peace of mind, push through the brain pain.
Check our sources: Science Daily
The Cost Of Clunkers
One of the “cash for clunkers” program objectives was to kick-start a very ailing auto industry. How did it do? Not well at all, according to industry reports. September, the month following the program’s end, was the lowest sales month of the year.
While the program benefits were short term, the per-clunker cost to taxpayers was high: $24,000, just about identical to the average price of a car purchased during the program. And, crafty auto dealers reportedly inflated car prices at the start of the program.
To add insult to injury, the top ten clunker trade-ins were all American made. But, eight of the top ten cars sold during the program were foreign.
Check our sources: Edmunds, Edmunds, Auto Observer, Christian PF, ConsumerReports
Cradle To Grave
Wal-Mart has sold baby clothes and accessories for years. And now, the world’s largest retail store is selling coffins on the lay-away plan. Ranging in price from $895 to $2,899, customers can pay for the funerary containers over a 12-month period. Is the biggest box store on the block likely to knock off the neighborhood funeral parlor? Not if the public believes that the human touch is the most important aspect of bereavement planning. Unless the Wal-Mart greeters are pressed into service, it probably can’t compete with the comforting touch of professional funeral directors and their staff.
Check our sources: BBC
Scratching & Allergies
Ever get those itchy, scratchy feelings and simply chalk them up to fleas or ticks? If that’s your choice for you, fine, but if it’s your canine companion who’s scratching constantly, the culprit might be allergies. As with humans, dogs are increasingly plagued by allergies to a variety of things. Such as flea bites (no surprise), pollens, molds, grasses, trees, weeds, dust, dust mites and certain foods. Diagnosis is often a process of elimination. Eliminate all potential causes and then put them back in the dog’s environment one at a time until the allergen is identified.
So, if your dog is scratching uncontrollably, take him to the vet for an exam rather than just slapping on the old flea ointment.
Check our sources: MSNBC
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