Okay, I am somewhat back…

A lot of stuff has happened the past couple of months. I have neglected this blog, which I will rectify now.

Living in Arkansas now. It is far, far different from Canada. There are some aspects of Canada that I miss, but for the most part, considering myself an Arkansan now. I actually love it here. The funny thing is that the past couple days have been very cold. Err well, cold by Southern standards, anyway. I keep wondering how I even made it in Canada, because now I think 20 degrees is too damn cold and not sufficient for life. I do miss the food in Canada, but hilariously, there is a Canadian restaurant in Memphis called Kooky Canuck’s that is suitable and has poutine. Well, sometimes they have poutine, anyhow…when JM and I went there, there was no cheese curds!! Grr. Hopefully, when we go back to Memphis, there will be copious amounts of cheese curds for the poutine. In the meantime, I gotta try to make it myself.

Been out and about a lot since coming back to the states. Is it different from a few years ago? Yah, it is, in some ways. I appreciate Arkansas for the friendliness factor. The people here are wonderful. East coast and Quebec attitudes don’t come close to what happens here. Always did appreciate the South for that.

Got to see one of my favorite bands on December 7th, Eyehategod at the Downtown Music Club in Little Rock. Goatwhore opened up, as did a grindcore band called Phobia. Totally unimpressed with Phobia. Grindcore just does not do it for me, and I don’t think they appreciated my Burzum shirt. Go figure. Goatwhore put on an incredible show, very much into the crowd. I was very impressed with them. Eyehategod…LOUD. Very LOUD!!! It was good, think they were wasted though…lol.

I caught a pretty bad cold at that show, I am convinced. I am not entirely used to the germs down here, and I am trying to adjust accordingly.

Went up to the Quad Cities to see my parents. My father is not doing well; in fact, he looks pretty bad. I don’t know what to do from here, but we plan on going back relatively soon. JM enjoyed his time in the QC; we went to the casino, he did well, I did okay there on the slots. Had good food and a good time, other than the terrible snowstorm while we were there.

I fell in love with Hot Springs, that place is awesome

Bear with me, not completely 100%, have been so sick lately.

I have a lot to plan for right now. Going to Vegas later in the month. I am a very lucky woman, and I know it, and intend on spreading some of this gratitude.

I hope y’all are good.

PS…my photos are on my flickr account, I have a pro account now. Please check them out

http://www.flickr.com/photos/heidilore/

Arctic freeze and snow wreak havoc across the planet

Arctic air and record snow falls gripped the northern hemisphere yesterday, inflicting hardship and havoc from China, across Russia to Western Europe and over the US plains.

There were few precedents for the global sweep of extreme cold and ice that killed dozens in India, paralysed life in Beijing and threatened the Florida orange crop. Chicagoans sheltered from a potentially killer freeze, Paris endured sunny Siberian cold, Italy dug itself out of snowdrifts and Poland counted at least 13 deaths in record low temperatures of about minus 25C (-13F).

The heaviest snow yesterday hit northeastern Asia, which is suffering its worst winter weather for 60 years. More than 25 centimetres (10in) of snow covered Seoul, the South Korean capital — the heaviest fall since records began in 1937.

In China, Beijing and the nearby port city of Tianjin had the deepest snow since 1951, with falls of up to 8in and temperatures of minus 10C. In the far north of China, the temperature fell to minus 32C. More than two million Beijing and Tianjin pupils were sent home and 1,200 flights were delayed or cancelled at Beijing’s international airport.

The same far-eastern weather system took its toll of Sakhalin, the Russian island off Siberia, which was hit by blizzards and avalanches. Farther west, in northern and eastern India, more than 60 people, mainly homeless, died of exposure. Thousands of schools were closed. In Uttar Pradesh, the state neighbouring Nepal, the authorities spent £1.3 million on blankets and firewood for needy households.

Western Russia suffered a deep freeze as snow swept across the Baltic and north-central Europe, leaving the worst devastation in Poland, where 13 people died, bringing the toll from the cold this winter to 122.

Up to ten skiers died or were missing in avalanches. The worst incident was in the Diemtig Valley in Switzerland on Sunday, when avalanches hit a group of skiers and then the rescuers who went to their aid. Eight people were pulled from the snow alive, but four died, including an emergency doctor, and three more were missing.

In Italy, emergency services struggled with rare cold and ice. Motorways in the northeast were closed and military helicopters were sent to Sicily with medical aid.

In the United States, heavy snow fell again on the northeast.

In Burlington, Vermont, a record 33in of snow fell in a weekend storm. The previous record in a three-day period was set in 1969. Residents of the Northern Plains were warned to expect lethally cold temperatures of about minus 30C.

The icy conditions of Western Europe, which broke records in half a dozen countries in December, are expected to last for at least another week.

Guo Hu, the head of the Beijing Meteorological Bureau, linked this week’s conditions to unusual atmospheric patterns caused by global warming.

Meteorologists were also trying to find a pattern in the heavy rains that have hit equatorial regions and the southern hemisphere in the past week.

At least 20 people have been killed in flash floods in Kenya after torrential rains made thousands homeless.

In Australia, the authorities declared a natural disaster along the Castlereagh River as it peaked after torrential rain, forcing 1,200 residents to abandon their homes for high ground.

In Brazil, the death toll from flooding and mudslides over the past four days rose above 80.

Closer to home, forecasters have warned Britons to brace themselves for a freezing cold, bleak new year — this winter is set to be the coldest for more than 30 years.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/weather/article6975867.ece

I have something to say.

I am sick of isms. TPTB are successfully putting a wedge between all of us. I do not like what America is becoming. It has become painfully worse in the past few months. I have always railed against partisanship, because I knew these days were coming. It is a trap that intelligent, thinking people seem to be falling into.

Suddenly, if someone disagrees with you, you are a racist, nazi, communist, fascist, socialist or pinko. You know, the path to enlightenment is not via pundits, whether it be right wing or left wing. THEY ARE NOT THERE TO SERVE YOUR INTERESTS. THEY ARE THERE TO MAKE MONEY, TO STEAL OUR VERY ESSENCES.

The people at the top are having a great laugh right now. I am not. It is very distressing to watch people who should know better degenerate into sandbox bullies. Come on, people…this is not going to work. In the end, they win, we lose.

Sixty Swine Flu Fatalities In Mexico Confirms Pandemic Start

*I think I will disappear somewhere up north.*

Sixty Swine Flu Fatalities In Mexico Confirm Pandemic Start
Recombinomics Commentary 13:30
April 24, 2009

A rare outbreak of human swine flu has killed at least 60 people in Mexico and spread to the United States where authorities are on alert, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

“To date there have been some 800 suspected cases with flu-like illness, with 57 deaths in the Mexico City area,” Chaib added.

Twenty four suspected cases and three deaths were also recorded in San Luis Potosi in central Mexico.

The above comment confirm that the swine H1N1 in southwestern United States (see updated map) is the leading edge of a H1N1 pandemic that appears to be centered in Mexico.

These deaths should increase the pandemic phase to 6.

Release of sequences from fatal cases in Mexico would be useful.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04240903/H1N1_Swine_Mexico_Pandemic.html

Western military forces turning inward in anticipation of domestic unrest

As the growing world-wide economic crisis deepens, military forces from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom are preparing to meet angry citizens on the street. The economic crisis – and the public outrage it is causing – is at the forefront of intelligence agencies and military forces in the western world.

Prominent trends forecaster Gerald Celente has been sounding the alarm for years, warning that riots and tax revolts are coming to America. The Pentagon, U. K. Ministry of Defense, and Canadian military apparently agree. In November of 2008 the United States Army War College released the report Known Unknowns: Unconventional “Strategic Shocks” in Defense Strategy Development. The report identifies economic collapse as a reason for the defense establishment to conduct domestic operations. The report states,

“Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order and human security. Deliberate employment of weapons of mass destruction or other catastrophic capabilities, unforeseen economic collapse, loss of functioning political and legal order, purposeful domestic resistance or insurgency…”

The CIA and MI5 are both watching the economic situation for signs of unrest and political instability. As the Washington Post reports, the CIA has added an economic situation report to its threat assessment for the White House. A further sign that the United States government is anticipating widespread unrest comes with the domestic stationing of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division. The Army Times reports,

“They may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control or to deal with potentially horrific scenarios such as massive poisoning and chaos in response to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or high-yield explosive, or CBRNE, attack.”

Canadian military forces have been given a nearly identical domestic mission in a synchronized move with the United States. Canada’s National Post reports that,

“The Canadian military has embarked on a wide-ranging plan to turn its reserve soldiers into focused units trained and equipped to respond to a nightmarish array of domestic threats, including terrorist “dirty bomb” attacks, biological agent containment, Arctic catastrophes and natural disasters.”

David Bercuson, director of the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary admits that contingencies exist that “…envisioned scenarios that might require a form of constabulary or policing function for reserves in civilian containment and security.”

Overseas, the United Kingdom’s MI5 is also anticipating widespread unrest in response to economic downturn. The Daily Express reports that the U.K. Army is “on standby” in the event of unrest during a “summer of discontent.”

The United Kingdom’s own Ministry of Defense foresaw middle class revolution two years ago in the 2007 The DCDC Global Strategic Trends report. “The middle classes could become a revolutionary class…,” the report states. “The growing gap between themselves and a small number of highly visible super-rich individuals might fuel disillusion with meritocracy, while the growing urban under-classes are likely to pose an increasing threat to social order and stability, as the burden of acquired debt and the failure of pension provision begins to bite.”

Ominously, legislation was recently introduced to Congress that would authorize “national emergency centers” on military installations that will provide “temporary housing, medical, and humanitarian assistance to individuals and families dislocated due to an emergency or major disaster.” The National Emergency Centers Act can be read here.

As new taxes – like paying by mileage and carbon taxes meant to send “price signals” to consumers – are imposed and more money is demanded from debt laden citizens to save failing banks there is little doubt that resistance will grow. Just how far the bankers can go remains to be seen, but the military is ready when we’ve had enough.

http://oldthinkernews.com/Articles/oldthinker%20news/military_forces_worldwide_turnin.htm

Canada backs Israeli attack on Iran?

*This guy just needs to shut up…*

Canada casts new aspersions on Iran’s nuclear activities, vowing to throw its weight behind Israel in the event of a military conflict.

In his harshest rhetoric so far, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed steadfast support for Israel and claimed that the Iranian government has “evil” purposes for its technological achievements.

“My government is a very strong supporter of the state of Israel and considers the Iranian threats to be absolutely unacceptable and beyond the pale,” said The Canadian prime minister, the Wall Street Journal’s online edition reported.

The comments come while The Islamic Republic has long been a supporter of peace in the region and is among the states that have never invaded or threatened to invade another country.

“It concerns me that we have a regime with both an ideology that is obviously evil, combined with a desire to procure technology to act on that ideology,” Harper said.

Western accusations against Iran gathered pace, after the country staged successful tests at the 1000-megawatt light-water reactor facility in Bushehr, stimulating fuel rods with lead rather than virtual nuclear fuel.

While the pilot operations were seen as a milestone in the construction of Iran’s first nuclear power plant, it provoked a tidal wave of criticism from Israel and its Western allies.

The US, Israel and their European allies accuse Tehran of making efforts to develop a military nuclear program. Iran, however, dismisses the allegations, saying it will prove the civilian nature of its uranium enrichment in future negotiations.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=87162&sectionid=351020104

Israeli Spokesman Says We Control Stupid Americans

*Unfortunately, I am afraid that Tzipora Menache is correct…unless you can prove me wrong. Please, I dare you.*

“Another Israeli spokeswoman, Tzipora Menache, stated that she was not worried about negative ramifications the Israeli onslaught on Gaza might have on the way the Obama administration would view Israel. She said ‘You know very well, and the stupid Americans know equally well, that we control their government, irrespective of who sits in the White House. You see, I know it and you know it that no American president can be in a position to challenge us even if we do the unthinkable. What can they (Americans) do to us? We control congress, we control the media, we control show biz, and we control everything in America. In America you can criticize God, but you can’t criticize Israel.”

Canada’s rejection of peanuts led to recall

*Nice inspection process. Sigh.*

The first sign of trouble for Peanut Corp. of America, the company blamed for a salmonella outbreak that has killed eight people in the United States and led to a massive product recall, was a tainted shipment of chopped peanuts that arrived in Canada last spring.

A customer in Canada rejected the peanuts, an act that may have saved lives here, and prompted officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to turn their attention to sanitary conditions in the Blakely, Ga., peanut plant at the centre of the outbreak.

It would seem to be a victory for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, proof that its system of inspection works. But the CFIA can’t explain why or how it succeeded.

The CFIA presumes the shipment was allowed across the Canadian border, because peanuts are not considered a high-risk product, and are not entered into the agency’s import control computer tracking system.

The CFIA could not say who received the shipment, because it doesn’t keep such records, but believes the buyer rejected the product after opening it and discovering it was unfit for consumption.

The purchaser likely sent the shipment back to the manufacturer, and the U.S. FDA inspected the shipment when it arrived last April at a border crossing at Alexandria Bay, N.Y., across from the Thousand Islands in Southeastern Ontario.

The FDA report said it found a “filthy, putrid or decomposed substance,” later identified as metal fragments.

But why did the FDA intercept the package? Was it warned by the CFIA? The agency can’t say. A spokeswoman said it is extremely rare for peanuts to go from Canada to the United States, and that may have prompted the inspection.

Canada’s rejection of the shipment has prompted criticism of the FDA from U.S. legislators, who wonder how it was that inspectors did not descend on the plant until months after Canada raised a red flag.

It was only in June that inspectors were sent to the plant, and then only to look for the source of the metal fragments, not salmonella.

Meanwhile, a private lab hired by the company to analyze the seized shipment deemed it fit for export. The FDA rejected those findings, and after months of back and forth, the shipment was destroyed.

Not long after, the first signs of a salmonella outbreak were spotted in the United States. Most of the more than 550 people affected fell ill after Oct. 1. Only one person in Canada, a man from New Brunswick, has reported illness related to the outbreak, and it’s believed he ate contaminated food in the United States.

On Monday, U.S. President Barack Obama said he is unhappy with the FDA’s response to the outbreak.

“I think that the FDA has not been able to catch some of these things as quickly as I expect them to,” Mr. Obama said.

More than 800 consumer products were recalled in the United States, making it one of the largest recalls in recent memory, and more are expected.

In Canada, the recall of various peanut products has now grown to 120 items. Another 19 products were added to the recall list late Tuesday. Among them is Kawartha Dairy Heavenly Hash Ice Cream in 1.5 and 11.4-litre sizes. Also included are another 17 American products under Cinch, Detour, Oh Yeah!, Disney, Sinbad Sweets and no-name brands.

Major peanut butter brands sold in Canada are still safe to eat, according to the CFIA.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090204.wsalmonella04/BNStory/International/home

Black Hawk State Historic Site to close in Rock Island

*I’m so sad about this…it is a favourite childhood memory. Sigh…everything is disappearing.*

The John Hauberg Indian Museum is the only facility in the country that tells the history of what was once Illinois’ largest city and capital of the Sauk Nation.

Housed in Black Hawk State Historic Site’s Watch Tower Lodge in Rock Island, it sits within a half-mile of that ghost town’s western edge.

This weekend may give general visitors to the museum a last look at the lives of the Sauk (Sac) and Mesquaki (Fox) Indians in the city of Saukenuk — and even a plaster cast of the head of their leader, Black Hawk. It might be the final peek visitors to the historic site get at most facilities here even though the park itself will remain open.

At least that is how things appear right now.

“We keep hoping for a reprieve. Maybe the Legislature can find a way yet,” said Janet Moline, chairwoman of the Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park.

Victim of budget cuts

Illinois’ elimination of financial support for state historic site personnel has played out for five months. All but four state parks have been spared, but not historic sites. Cuts — which have meant closure for some sites — were threatened on Oct. 1, then Oct. 15.

As of Monday, Black Hawk State Historic Site is slated to lose half of its paid staff of four. Lack of staffing and maintenance effectively means doors will close to the John Hauberg Indian Museum, the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum and Singing Bird Lodge.

“The heat and air conditioning will be on, but the doors are closed except for groups already booked,” Moline said. “(The citizens foundation) pays for a naturalist for groups.”

What will remain available at Black Hawk are the park’s trails and picnic shelters. A popular place for wedding receptions, the Black Hawk Room in Watch Tower Lodge, will be available for rental.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich vetoed a bill that would have provided $2.4 million to keep state historic sites staffed.

“I don’t understand what this governor did. It’s a bunch of baloney,” Rep. Pat Verschoore, D-Milan, said.

Verschoore said historic site employee salaries are not a big burden to the state. “These sites are pretty much (financially) self-sufficient. What else can you say that about?”

Thanks to private grants to Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park, a display about who the Sauk and Mesquaki were, when and how they arrived here and left, will open at the Hauberg Indian Museum on May 9 next year.

“There will be a grand opening,” Moline said.

Site supervisor Beth Carvey added, “Even though we’re in crisis mode, we’re still moving forward.”

Moline is glad grants keep programming afloat, but the state’s actions disappoint her.

“It’s the state’s responsibility — not private groups or citizens — to make the history of Saukenuk available.”

Efforts to stay open

Lack of interest was not the reason funding was suspended.

Black Hawk State Historic Site Supervisor Scott Roman said the facilities draw between 140,000 to 150,000 visitors per year.

In September 2008, Carvey said, 1,200 school children visited the Hauberg Indian Museum.

In 2007, the Illinois Bureau of Tourism named Black Hawk State Historic Site one of the “7 Wonders of Illinois.”

Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, said public support has been strong.

“I have received well over a thousand letters, e-mails and phone calls,” he said. “We have received some for the Hennepin Canal and Bishop Hill, but Black Hawk park has inspired the most response, by far.”

Petitions have been another form of support. Signers and those circulating the petitions included Native American Coalition of the Quad-Cities members, who meet at Singing Bird Lodge.

Regina Tsosie, the coalition’s president, said, “We’ve been concerned about the closures since summer. I guess it’s finally happening, and it’s sad.”

Tsosie, who is also a member of Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park, noted that President George W. Bush has named November as National American Indian Heritage Month.

“The timing is ironic. How can we celebrate? Being a Native American, I feel (the closures at Black Hawk) put a dark cloud over our history, especially for the Sauk and Mesquaki people.”

http://ads.qctimes.com/articles/2008/11/29/news/local/doc4930be3d5935d995110883.txt

Melamine Traces Found in U.S. Infant Formula

*Sigh…*

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it had discovered the toxic chemical melamine in infant formula made by an American manufacturer, raising the possibility that the problem was more extensive in the United States than previously thought.

While few details were available late Tuesday, agency officials said they had discovered melamine at trace levels in a single sample of infant formula. It was also discovered in several samples of dietary supplements that are made by some of the same manufacturers who make formula.

F.D.A. officials insisted that the levels of melamine were so low that they did not pose a health threat.

“There’s no cause for concern or no risk from these levels,” said Judy Leon, an agency spokeswoman. Ms. Leon said the contamination was most likely the result of food contact with something like a can liner, or from some other manufacturing problems, but not from deliberate adulteration.

She declined to name the company that made the tainted infant formula.

Melamine contamination became a major scandal in China after it was added to milk to disguise test results that measure protein levels. Since it was discovered in infant formula in September, it has sickened more than 50,000 infants and killed 4.

The F.D.A. has beefed up its inspections of Asian markets to make sure that infant formula and other products from China are not contaminated with melamine. At the same time, the agency said it had received assurances from American infant formula manufacturers that they did not import ingredients from China.

To date, several products carried primarily by Asian markets have been recalled because of melamine contamination, including certain varieties of Mr. Brown instant coffee and tea, White Rabbit Creamy Candy and Blue Cat Flavor Drink. Two weeks ago, the F.D.A. said all Chinese products containing dairy ingredients would be stopped at the border until importers proved they were not contaminated.

Though manufacturers of domestic infant formula say they do not use Chinese ingredients, the F.D.A. began sampling infant formula anyway, using more sophisticated testing than had previously been available.

Ms. Leon said the agency was testing 87 samples and had completed all but 10 of the tests. Of those, only one contained traces of melamine, she said. The F.D.A. allows anything below 250 parts per billion of melamine in infant formula, and the sample contained less than that, she said.

Ms. Leon said the other products containing trace elements of melamine were also below allowable levels. For supplements, the F.D.A. allows 2.5 parts per million, and she said all of the samples testing positive were below that figure.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/us/26formula.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss&oref=slogin