SCIENCE IS BEING SMOTHERED

Years ago, working in a mental hospital, I watched what happened to good treatment when insurance and the hospital administrators of money got involved as they had never been before.  When non-medically trained people make medical decisions, patient care deteriorates.  Today I listened to Science Friday on NPR when the discussion was how independent scientists have been prohibited by lawyers and 'the government' (whoever that may be) from doing research they have been doing all along.  Their samples and notes have been appropriated by these 'authorities'.  Ludicrously, one scientist reported being told it was for National Security!

There are many considerations that have not been sufficiently aired to the public.  Some of the studies are about the affect The BP Oils Spill is having on the environment.  However, if the lawyers stifle all independent research, where should one expect to get the truth.  It was pointed out that independent researchers were prohibited from testing cigarettes and offering their results when there were trials about the affects of smoking.  It has only been some several years later that we have seen that the tobacco companies were their own fox in the hen house. 

The question has been raised again as to how we can ignore the conflict of interest issues when the regulators are the same who are doing the research.  At the end of May it was announced that BP Grant money was expected to finance dispersant research at LSU (Louisiana State University).  It is not clear how BP can do research on chemicals that will be entered into litigation.  It would suggest that no independent researchers will be party to their own research.

On August 4, 2010,  it was declared that the BPO oil spill was the largest anywhere, ever.  This information came from new data compiled by a team of government-sponsored scientists.  Might this not be adding difficulty that by a team of government-sponsored scientists.  Might this not be adding an encumbrance to their litigation greater than allowing accredited independent scientists to do their own testing?

It certainly seems a great pity that litigation will prevent the scientific work needed to have started by now to properly evaluate what was done and what needs to be done to minimize the worst effects.  But who is to remove all the impediments that are preventing such action?

SO MANY AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE FALSELY AND SO EASILY LED

On the way in convey to Kuwait, a soldier yells out to the camera..."We're going back. We won! We won!" Get beyond the Priceline commercial and watch the video. He sounded like a conquering hero and, indeed, they are heroes. They conquered their survival but little else was achieved for 7 years of lives about 4500 live lost and 32,000 brave men and women injured...too many irreparably.

As I hear it from military speakers, many of these combat troops, possibly after some respite, will be sent to Afghanistan where our purpose for being there is as unclear as it was in Iraq. It is believed that there are more Al-Qaeda in Iraq now than there are in Afghanistan. That was not true when we sent our troops there in 2003. It is also clear that the war should no longer be a military war but a war such as we have never fought before.  The atomic bomb was new in its day.Our robot planes and their deadliness are new military tools for our new times.

The insidiousness of the hold on our country by the propaganda servers is terrifying as it will cost us the United States as represented by our current Constitution, currently under grave threat.  It is sad to believe that so many who are adored by their public are set to ruin the country in their mistaken pursuit of 'bringing down' Obama along with the Republican politicians who have refused to pass anything that will improve our country and the economy significantly in the near future.

So what will be next?  Will the Republican perpetrators of the lies they have spewed for the past more than 12 years be allowed to dupe the gullible American public, the 50% below average in so many areas? Will anyone be able to stop the evil which has infiltrated our society.  Will we ever find the hold Osama bin Laden has on the puppets who don't realize their destruction of our society.  Will I live long enough to see some of the world with which I grew up, its values, its freedom from the excessive greed and lack of integrity we are enduring daily in many of the people we should have been able to expecrt tpo trust from their words and their positions?

THE FOX NOOSE CHANNEL

It is amazing that 'Fair and Balanced' has been such effective camouflage for the NewsCorp of Fox News kindred.   While Glenn Beck was busy showing charts of contributions to and from the DNC. he simply neglected to mention that News Corp was not mentioning that they had given one million dollars, yes that is $1,000,000.  One can hardly consider that a token donation.  There is also no record of the 'fair and balanced' equal donation to the Democrats. " The contribution from Mr. Murdoch’s News Corporation, which owns Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and other news outlets, is one of the biggest ever given by a media organization, campaign finance experts said."  The entire article can be read here. 

That money would have been better spent giving it to the servicemen who tonight left Iraq, many of them simply to move to Afghanistan to continue to risk their lives and have some of them die or get maimed.  It sounded so wonderful on MSNBC tonight to hear that all but the 50,000 troops to stay on as peace keepers and teach and train.

Meanwhile, the Fox News channel has a noose around the American people who listen and believe their propaganda.

OLD LADIES NEED POWER TOOLS

If your grandmother lives alone, don't send her flowers, send her a survival kit.  It should contain a  round, rubber gripper for opening jars  as well as a strap wrench for really stubborn ones. These two items save many hours of frustration and feeling helpless without a strong man around the house. 

It is useful to remember the Boy Scout slogan to be prepared.  Not having strong male hands around requires tools and ingenuity or young male friends.  However, some things  can't wait for the cavalry to arrive.  In those cases, it is wise to equip yourself for all exigencies.  The stress avoided makes the minor effort expended to supply yourself well worth it.

No household should be without a good hammer and screwdrivers, normal and Phillips head.  Door knobs get loosened, and screws every where eventually need re-tightening.  Some things need to be installed.  

This should give grandma a start at independence and, in lieu of a course in high school which was not offered to her as a female, it is now time to show her she can do-it-herself.  

Consider this a starter kit and give instructions.  When these tools are mastered, you can consider more. I am sure they will be appreciated, such as a computer with access to YouTube where she will find directions for fixing everything she might need to do, as well as tools needed to do it. 

One of these days, we can talk about the next Survival kit to send her.

.

 

SAME BOOK: DIFFERENT TITLE

For the past couple of years I have been buying a lot of used paperbacks and have also continued my search for Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice sequels.  I've noticed some interesting new (at least to me) publishing ploys.

The same book is being reprinted under a new title.  Pemberley's Promise and Darcy's Voyage is identical and by the same author though as few more pages have been added to introduce the story.  It is very easy to be misled if one doesn't read the inside pages and other details of a book before purchasing it.  As I tend to buy all P&P sequels, I've been stung but don't like repeating the experience.  I follow the rule,' those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it'.

Another set of the same book under a new title and cover but with the same story and cast of characters seems to be Pemberley by the Seas and The Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice.

Another trick being used by publishers who reprint paperbacks is to rename a book and in small print put two titles of old books in it.  It seems that many of the writers of romance novels, writing for years, seem to be being sold in this fashion.  In fact, at times it is difficult to buy one title so one is forced to buy the double books to get a single title for which one has searched.

Ah well, I guess everyone is out to fleece the innocent.  Just remember, "Buyer Beware"

WE ARE IN SOLAR CYCLE 24

Solar cycles are very important to the earth and its weather.  They seem to last around 11 years though the next is predicted to be longer.  We are in 24 right now, 23 having ended in 2008.It is predicted to reach its peak in 2012.   Click here for the full article

In 2006, there were predictions being made about 23 and its ending and what was to follow. "By analyzing recent solar cycles, the scientists also hope to forecast sunspot activity two solar cycles, or 22 years, into the future. The team is planning in the next year to issue a forecast of Cycle 25, which will peak in the early 2020s.
The researchers expect that predicting the Sun's cycles years in advance will lead to more accurate plans for solar storms, which can slow satellite orbits, disrupt communications, and bring down power systems."

If you know what it is to have a freezer stocked with frozen food and have the power go off with no generator of your own, you can imagine the importance of the sunspots that happen.  Not all things are man-made nor from aerosol cans.  Science daily writes:in a science reference  "Sunspot numbers have been recorded since 1700 AD and estimated back to 11,000 BP. The recent trend is upward from 1900 to the 1960s, then somewhat downward.  The Sun was last similarly active over 8,000 years ago.."

A recent study shows the importance of better understanding the result to our Earth from these changes in solar flow.  This blog should whet the appetite for anyone interested in this sort of knowledge.  Read here.

One can spend much more time on this subject.  Just use Google and search for 'sunspots'   That kept me out of trouble for a bit.