What a lovely setting.
May well be too shady for a greenhouse, but what if some of the dead branches were removed, the west gives the most sun that there is.
The year that I had a complete garden in the far side added on room, it had only a good north window and an Eastern small window and my peppers, greens and tomatoes grew just fine.
You might play with the cheap plastic and see if you think it is worth going into more expense.
Thanks for the photo of the birdhouse, now I can show Bob the man who came to fix a couple leaks what I meant.
I suggested he make for sale, also suggested solar cookers and solar greenhouses, which your next post proves that I am right, 6 weeks without electric is a long time.
Bob is a neighbor of Scott’s Lady Friend, LOL, I like him, he talks like he has been reading the Free Republic.
I was afraid he wouldn’t come back, I slipped yesterday and voiced my opinion, and Debbie said no politics...so I feared he was one of “them”....LOL, he made it clear that he is not.
He is a cabinet maker, and is interested in things to make and sell.
I suggested the bird houses for bird lovers, solar ovens and solar greenhouses, will also suggest the earth type boxes for planters.
What other survival items should I add to my list? LOL, yes there is a piece of paper here that says “Bob” on it.
Selfish me, if he stays in the valley, instead of going east to find work, I will have someone to call for help.
With drought expected to worsen, water officials drawing up rationing rules
Preparing for dry days ahead
[end of article...Ventura county, Calif.]
Rationing could be harder this time around because since the 1991 drought, many of the easy conservation measures such as low-flow toilets have been implemented.
“It’s going to require rethinking about how we use water,” said Jeff Reinhardt, a spokesman with Las Virgenes.
As always, the biggest water waster is landscaping. From 50 to 80 percent of all water used in Southern California is used on landscaping.
It isn’t just the people who get their water directly from the state who could be affected by the rationing.
Mike Solomon, general manager of United Water Conservation District, which gets all its water from the Santa Clara River, said that once rationing happens, more people start to rely on groundwater. If they start pumping from the Oxnard Plain, the groundwater level drops and there is a greater risk of saltwater intrusion into the aquifers. The district uses Lake Piru to recharge the aquifers.
But with Lake Piru at one-quarter capacity — compared to being full this time last year — United doesn’t have a lot of water to spare and has already warned farmers that there may be less water available this fall.
“I think people are really starting to wake up,” he said. “This is serious.”
Find more water conservation tips at http://www.bewaterwise.com.
Source: http://venturacountystar.com/news/2009/feb/03/preparing-for-dry-days-ahead-turning-off-the-tap/
Folks, it will be a good idea to start gathering up all the buckets, etc that you can, so you will be ready to plant your food in planters and use less water....
Makes a greenhouse look even better.
Las Vegas is almost and may be, on year around water restriction so are other towns, San Diego has big problems.
granny
Oh fabulous, this man sounds like a God send. I hope he can patch your roof!!
I would be very interested in a solar cooker. I saw plans for one somewhere that I can’t remember now. :) When my electricity went out I was out of luck as my gas BBQ seems to have bitten the dust.
Cutting the trees may be difficult. The man who owns this owns two full streets out here in the country of various houses and he’s always busy fixing something. He’s got property in other states as well, sometimes I can’t catch up with him.
Tamiflu no longer works for dominant flu strain
U.S. health officials say almost 100% of the type A H1N1 strain showed resistance to the leading antiviral drug. So far, the influenza season has been mild.
By Mary Engel
February 4, 2009
A milder than usual U.S. flu season is masking a growing concern about widespread resistance to the antiviral drug Tamiflu and what that means for the nation’s preparedness in case of a dangerous pandemic flu.
continued..........
Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-flu4-2009feb04,0,6558106.story
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=47405
Advisory: FEMA Assists with Food Recall Notification Efforts
Release Date: February 4, 2009
Release Number: FNF-09-004
» En Español
Related Photos
Picture of a peanut butter packet
Download Original Photo
Picture of a food label
Download Original Photo
Picture of a peanut butter packet
Download Original Photo
Peanuts Recall Document (PDF 52KB)
Atlanta, GA. — As part of the disaster relief effort in Kentucky and Arkansas, commercial meals kits manufactured by Red Cloud Food Services, Inc., under the Standing Rock label, have been provided to disaster survivors in impacted communities, and these kits may contain peanut butter which is part of the precautionary national recall underway in accordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The attached recall memo from Red Cloud Food Services includes further details. The main course of the meals can be of different types. The portion of the meal that may pose the risk are packets of peanut butter. A photograph of the outside of these commercial meals as well as photos of the types of peanut butter packets are attached.
People who have received commercial meal kits are asked to inspect the kits in their possession and immediately dispose of any peanut butter packets.
FEMA continues to maintain close coordination with the states as well as constant vigilance regarding any industry notices to ensure we have not and are not issuing any meals subject to recall. Individuals with concerns over this or any recalled product should address them with local health officials and/or Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and FDA. More guidance is available at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium/update.html#forconsumers. Consumers without internet access may telephone 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for product recall information.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and man-made disasters.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 04-Feb-2009 19:51:40
US-CERT Current Activity
Mozilla Releases Firefox Updates
Original release date: February 4, 2009 at 8:57 am
Last revised: February 4, 2009 at 8:57 am
Mozilla has released Firefox 3.0.6 to address multiple
vulnerabilities. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities may allow an
attacker to execute arbitrary code, obtain sensitive information, or
conduct cross-site scripting attacks. As described in the Mozilla
Foundation Security Advisories, some of these vulnerabilities may also
affect Thunderbird and SeaMonkey.
US-CERT encourages users to do the following to help mitigate the
risks:
* Review the Mozilla Foundation Security Advisory.
* Update to Firefox 3.0.6.
Relevant Url(s):
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/
http://www.mozilla.org/security/known-vulnerabilities/firefox30.html#firefox3.0.6
[I use Firefox, and like it, once you switch, you will never go back to Explorer, it is faster, cleaner and has fewer problems.
granny]
[dated 1-17-09]
CLENBUTEROL FOOD POISONING - MEXICO
***********************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: 17 Jan 2009
Source: Informador.com.mx [edited]
http://www.informador.com.mx/primera/2009/70827/6/confirman-brote-de-clembuterol-en-zapotlanejo.htm
The Ministry of Health Jalisco (SSJ) has reported 9 confirmed cases of
poisoning by clenbuterol in the city of Zapotlanejo, and there are still 5
more [likely] to be confirmed. The outbreak occurred on Monday [12 Jan
2009], and the affected people were taken to a hospital in Guadalajara;
after receiving treatment, they are in good health.
The director of the Health Regulatory SSJ, Juan Carlos Olivares Galvez,
said this morning [17 Jan 2009] that the outbreak occurred in the butchery
“The Aztec” in Zapotlanejo, which was immediately closed down. It also
reiterated that the health alert for clenbuterol remains in effect in the
state, which continues the ban on the sale and purchase of beef liver.
In 2008, there was an outbreak of poisoning in 21 people from the town of
Tlajomulco de Zuniga.
Clenbuterol is a toxic substance and is not allowed for use in feed for
fattening cattle because it can cause severe damage to consumers or even death.
—
communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via
ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
[Clenbuterol is a beta 2 adrenergic agonist drug with some anabolic
effects. It appears to redirect metabolism from fat to muscle. The drug is
approved for veterinary use as a bronchodilator in horses. In humans, it is
used as a weight loss drug. When the drug is used in animals and humans
ingest liver or muscle containing the drug, they may experience an increase
in heart rate, nervousness, headache, muscular tremor, dizziness, nausea,
vomiting, fever, and chills, typically resolving within 2 to 6 days. As a
result of such consequences in humans, the United States and Europe
actively monitor urine and tissue samples from livestock for the presence
of clenbuterol.
Since the metropolitan area is involved in tracing the animals, it would
appear that Mexico has some tracking system for clenbuterol as well.
Of note, a similar incident occurred in Hong Kong in 1998 involving 9
people eating pork lungs found to have concentrations of clenbuterol
ranging between one and 24 micrograms per kilogram (See: Pork,
contaminated, clenbuterol - China (Hong Kong) 19980505.0876). - Mod.TG]
[see also:
2008
....................tg/msp/sh
Fun Projects for THE HAT!
~ Make THE HAT into a Play - Reader’s Theater
http://www.janbrett.com/the_hat_play.htm
~ Animal Character Masks for THE HAT
http://www.janbrett.com/hat_animal_masks_main.htm
~ Hedgehog Paper Plate Project
http://www.janbrett.com/the_mitten_project_page.htm
~ How to Draw a Hedgehog
http://www.janbrettvideos.com/how_to_draw_a_hedgehog.htm
~ Iron on T Shirt Transfers
http://www.janbrett.com/transfers/the_hat_transfers_main.htm
~ Hedgehog Coloring Costumes
http://www.janbrett.com/costumes_main_choice.htm
~ Design your own Hat
http://www.janbrett.com/design_your_own_hat.htm
~ Hedgie Headband Coloring Project
http://www.janbrett.com/hedgie_hat_project_page.htm
~ THE HAT characters Coloring Page
http://www.janbrett.com/hat_coloring_page.htm
~ All About THE HAT
http://www.janbrett.com/newsnotes/the_hat_newsnotes_page_1.htm
~ THE HAT and THE MITTEN Bookmarks
http://janbrett.com/bookmarks/bookmarks_mitten_and_hat.htm
It’s a pleasure to be in touch.
Sincerely,
Jan Brett
Download a Free Jan Brett How to Draw Video -
http://janbrett.com/video/video_main_page.htm
Read all about Jan Brett’s books and get the best bookstore prices -
http://www.janbrett.com/bookstores/hedgies_lets_go_shopping.htm
Carrot City: Designing for Urban Agriculture
This exhibition will show how the design of cities and buildings is enabling the
production of food in the city. It will explore the role that creative design professionals
have in relation to the food system of cities, and the impact that agricultural
issues will have on the design of urban spaces and buildings as society addresses
the issues of a more sustainable pattern of living. The focus will be on how the
increasing interest in growing food within the city, supplying food locally, and
food security in general is changing urban design and built form.
1940 - Ploughing Land Beside Parliament Building in Northern Ireland - part of ‘Grow
More Food’ Campaign
A tractor ploughing land beside Parliament Building (official residence of the Speaker
of the House of Commons in Northern Ireland) on the Stormont Estate. The Northern
Ireland Government is having the land ploughed as part of the ‘Grow More Food’ campaign.
Landshare in the UK - Linking people who want to grow their own food to space where
they can grow it
With allotment waiting lists massively over-subscribed and people right across the
country keener than ever to grow their own fruit and veg, the aim for Landshare
is to become a UK wide initiative to make British land more productive and fresh
local produce more accessible to all. But all of this depends on people like you
registering their interest now.
Growing Grains in the City - kids learn to make bread
Ian Lai, a chef and urban agriculture consultant, has been teaching children how
to make bread. But what is so unusual and especially in a city, is that all the
grains used to make the bread are grown in the city. Wheat, barley, spelt, flax,
buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa are grown at the Terra Nova Garden site in Richmond.
The Independent (UK) says - Grow your own: The seeds of change
The nation’s landscape is changing before our eyes. Record numbers of people are
preparing to dig up their manicured lawns and privet hedges. Even the most modish
gardens are sporting freshly dug vegetable beds, sapling fruit trees and nascent
compost heaps.
Fruit and vegetable seed sellers last week reported record sales, with many saying
that they cannot keep up with a sudden rise in demand. Meanwhile, the landscape
gardening industry is in crisis, with many firms laying off staff.
Urban agriculture in Mwanza, Tanzania
Many people living in Mwanza, Tanzania, provision themselves through urban agriculture
- the planting of crops and raising of animals in urban and peri-urban areas, as
well as in the countryside. This article compares Mwanza’s urban farmers with those
in Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Like Zimbabwe’s urban agriculturalists, more
and more of Mwanza’s are not among the poorest of the poor. Much like Ghana’s urban
farmers, those in Mwanza are often middle and upper-class males with access to scarce
land and inputs. Urban cultivators in Mwanza differ from those in Kenya and Zambia
with regard to gender, socio-economic class and the factors motivating their farming
activities.
The Case for Agricultural Urbanism and Municipal Supported Agriculture
Agricultural Urbanism espouses the full integration of agriculture and the food
system within the planning, design, development and function of our communities.
It is an agri-food system intended to connect urbanites, in real and meaningful
ways, to their environment and a human enterprise undeniably crucial to their well-
being. It is also a way of reducing vulnerability and dependence on an ecologically
unsound and increasingly vulnerable global agri-food system.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All stories here:
City Farmer News [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102423973208&e=001KRVrGex9aSzsanbR4H-9cn9VJSU6FX4Sod6mLlX2tGjWv2mh_tVRlIDFj3ywmO2mKZGUW1GabNgx2ZyY2xkOewnQ1T5hp6gXVnnG2l0PoagVvO2jp9Y7gA==]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael Levenston
City Farmer - Canada’s Office of Urban Agriculture
1. U.S. Nuclear Detection and Counterterrorism, 1998-2009
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:50:03 -0500
From: National Security Archive archive@GWU.EDU
Subject: U.S. Nuclear Detection and Counterterrorism, 1998-2009
National Security Archive Update, January 23, 2009
U.S. Nuclear Detection and Counterterrorism, 1998-2009
New Book and Declassified Documents Describe Once-Secret Nuclear Counterterrorism Unit
For more information contact:
Jeffrey T. Richelson - 202/994-7000
Washington, D.C., January 23, 2009 - When the 9/11 hijackers crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the U.S. nuclear bomb squad was out of the country on its first foreign deployment since 1998, at a British air base in the Cotswolds, according to the new book “Defusing Armageddon” and key primary sources posted today in the National Security Archive’s Nuclear Vault by Archive senior fellow Jeffrey T. Richelson.
The after-action report from that deployment, “DOE EXERCISE 03-01 JACKAL CAVE,” notes the early termination of the exercise because of the terrorist attacks, but finds some useful “strengths and weaknesses” including the need to “[i]ssue secure international cell phones to control members and team leaders.” According to the book, the exercise involved more than 500 personnel, 62 aircraft, 420 short tons of cargo, and the CIA, as well as a special operations force that would seize a mock nuclear device that the squad would disable.
The documents were obtained by Archive Senior Fellow Jeffrey T. Richelson while conducting research for his new book, “Defusing Armageddon: Inside NEST, America’s Secret Nuclear Bomb Squad.”
Visit the Web site of the National Security Archive for more information.
FOOD POISONING, PESTICIDE - CHINA: (HEBEI), REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
******************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.isid.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society of Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
[1] Japanese newswire - food poisoning incident reported
[2] Chinese newswire - food poisoning incident denied
******
[1] Japanese newswire - food poisoning incident reported
Date: 24 Jan 2009
Source: Mainichi Daily News [edited]
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20090124p2a00m0na022000c.html
Chinese workers poisoned by dumplings recalled after Japan outbreak
The local authorities instructed state-run firms in Hebei to buy
gyoza dumplings produced and later recalled by Tianyang Food Plant in
order to bail out the firm, now in crisis following the food safety scandal.
The Japanese government has asked the Chinese government for details
about the incident, but Beijing has so far refused, pending a full
investigation.
About 150 000 packets of gyoza dumplings produced by Tianyang Food
Plant — which were recalled after their pesticide-tainted gyoza
caused food poisoning in Japan — were sold to state-owned companies
in Hebei Province between April and June last year [2008], according
to the sources.
One of the companies, Tangshan Iron and Steel Co., gave out tens of
thousands of packages to employees, who — apparently due to scant
media coverage on the story in China — ate the dumplings unaware of
the health risks. It was earlier learned that 4 employees of another
steelmaker suffered food poisoning in June last year [2008] after
eating frozen gyoza produced by Tianyang.
—
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org
******
[2] Chinese newswire - food poisoning incident denied
Date: 24 Jan 2009
Source: Xinhua [edited]
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/24/content_10715202.htm
China denies serious food poisoning cases involving recalled dumplings
After investigation, a worker with Chengde Iron and Steel Company
showed discomfort after eating dumplings delivered by the company but
this man did not go to a hospital for diagnosis and was Ok after a
rest, said Zhang Jinying, a Hebei Provincial State-owned Assets
Supervision and Administration Commission.
Japan’s Kyodo News reported Saturday [24 Jan 2009] that the frozen
dumplings, recalled after food poisoning cases involving them in
Japan, were delivered to a steel maker in Hebei Province and some
employees showed symptoms of food poisoning.
“Our company has never had food poisoning cases in connection with
staff’s eating of the dumplings made by Tianyang Food Plant,” Yu
Yong, general manger of Tangshan Iron and Steel Company in Hebei,
told Xinhua Saturday.
Some 20 companies in Hebei bought Tianyang Food’s dumplings in April
last year [2008], after Tianyang Food recalled all its dumplings
exported to Japan in the wake of a poisoning accident. In January
last year, Japanese media reported that 10 people fell ill after
consuming frozen meat dumplings produced by Tianyang Food Plant based
in Hebei Province.
Japanese authorities found methamidophos in the vomit of those
poisoned and in food packages at their houses. But sample tests by
China quality watchdog showed that the rest of the same batch of
dumplings and other batches made at about the same time by the
Chinese company were safe, as were the raw materials used in
production. Zhang said Tianyang Food had been suspending production
since February last year.
—
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org
[As a reminder, the implicated food mentioned in the above newswires,
gyoza (dumplings) had been recalled by the Japanese as having
resulted in a food poisoning incident in Japan, that when
investigated revealed pesticide contamination of the product. (see
prior ProMED-mail postings listed below. The above newswires have
contradictory information as to whether there was a food poisoning
incident in China associated with eating food that had been recalled
in Japan and returned to the production factory in
China. ProMED-mail would greatly appreciate clarification on the situation.
For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of China with links to other
recent ProMED-mail postings from China and surrounding countries, see
http://healthmap.org/promed/en?v=36.5,103.9,4
Mod.MPP]
[For more information on the effects of the chemicals found in the
dumplings, please see ProMED-mail post 20080208.0519 - Mod.TG]
[see also:
2008
Food poisoning, dumplings - Japan ex China (02) 20080208.0519
Food poisoning, dumplings - Japan ex China 20080205.0471]
...................mpp/tg/ejp/mpp
[A few minutes ago, the Las Vegas Police scanner, issued a call for emergency services, for a one month old baby, that was having trouble breathing.....
granny]
HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE, TYPE B, FATAL - USA: (MINNESOTA)
********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Fri 23 Jan 2009
Source: WebMD Health News [edited]
http://children.webmd.com/vaccines/news/20090123/hib-outbreak-kills-unvaccinated-child?src=RSS_PUBLIC
An Hib [_Haemophilus influenzae_ type b] meningitis outbreak has
killed one Minnesota infant and sickened 4 others, prompting the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to warn parents to
make sure their kids have had their basic Hib vaccinations.
Before a vaccine became available in 1992, some 20 000 U.S. children
under age 5 got severe Hib infections every year, resulting in about
1000 deaths. Minnesota hadn’t had a Hib death since 1991. Now the
state is facing its biggest outbreak since 1992 — and it may not be
just that one state, warns Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the CDC’s
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “The
situation in Minnesota might be isolated, or it might be the
beginning of a trend in other places,” Schuchat said at a news
conference. “We are working hard to determine which of these stories
is the right one.”
One of the 5 Minnesota Hib meningitis cases was in a 5-month-old
child too young to have finished its 1st series of Hib shots. Another
case was in a child who got all the shots but who turned out to have
an immune deficiency. The other 3 cases — including the death —
were in infants whose parents refused to vaccinate them. Parents of 2
children objected to vaccines; the parents of the 3rd child were
waiting to vaccinate until the child was 5 years old.
“We had a death from a child who was unvaccinated. We want to
encourage parents who have delayed or refused vaccination to
reconsider,” Kristen Ehresmann, RN, MPH, of the Minnesota Department
of Health, said at the news conference. “Hib vaccine not only
protects your child, but also protects babies who have not completed
their primary series or those who have immune compromise.” The CDC is
warning all parents of young children to make sure their kids have
finished their primary Hib vaccination. Parents who aren’t sure are
urged to check with their doctors as soon as possible. “Parents who
wondered whether Hib vaccination is really necessary need to know the
disease is still around,” Schuchat said. “It is a very dangerous
disease and we have a vaccine that can protect children. The
situation where community protection kept unimmunized kids at low
risk of disease does not appear to be holding.”
There has been a Hib vaccine shortage since December 2007, when Merck
shut down its vaccine manufacturing plant because of possible
bacterial contamination. Merck made about half the Hib vaccine used
in the U.S. It won’t have new vaccine at least until this summer [of
2009]. Sanofi’s Hib vaccine is still available, and there should be
enough to cover the basic 3-shot series for infants as well as
catch-up shots for latecomers. Unlike the 2-shot Merck vaccine, the
3-dose Sanofi vaccine is given at 2, 4, and 6 months [of age].
There’s supposed to be a booster shot at 12-18 months for either
vaccine, but the CDC has asked parents to hold off on that shot until
the shortage is over (unless their child is at high risk of Hib
illness). Children who have not had their Hib shots and who are at
least 1 year old need only one Hib shot, Schuchat says.
Why is there a Hib outbreak now? Minnesota data suggest that the Hib
vaccine shortage is playing a role. A quick study shows that 18
percent of 7-month-old Minnesota kids who got other vaccines did not
complete their primary Hib vaccination. “We interpret this as a
shortage of vaccine. Providers did not have the vaccine in their
offices,” Minnesota state epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield, MD, said at
the news conference. That has probably created a pool of children
vulnerable to Hib infections. Before the shortage, widespread Hib
vaccination kept infection rates low enough to protect even
unvaccinated kids — a phenomenon called “herd immunity.” But now
that protection has ebbed below the level needed to maintain herd
immunity, unvaccinated kids pose a threat to kids whose age or immune
status make them extremely vulnerable to serious Hib complications.
[Byline: Daniel J. DeNoon]
—
Communicated by:
ProMED Rapporteur Brent Barrett
[The above news release was prompted by a CDC MMWR (23 Jan 2009 / 58
(Early Release); 1-3) titled “Invasive _Haemophilus influenzae_ Type
B Disease in Five Young Children -— Minnesota, 2008” that is available at
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58e0123a1.htm?s_cid=mm58e0123a1_e
_H. influenzae_ is a small, at times pleomorphic, gram-negative
bacillus that requires blood-derived factors for in vitro growth.
Strains of _H. influenzae_ may be either encapsulated or
non-encapsulated. There are 6 antigenically distinct capsular
polysaccharide types, designated a-f. Type b strains are important
invasive pathogens in non-immune humans, primarily in children aged
less than 2 years, particularly in infants, causing, for example,
meningitis, bacteremia, epiglottitis, facial cellulitis, pneumonia,
empyema, and septic arthritis.
The Hib vaccines currently licensed for use in infants consist of
polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) (the capsular polysaccharide of
Hib) conjugated to a protein carrier. Before the introduction of
conjugate _H. influenzae_ type b vaccination in the USA, this
organism was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in
children in this country. A dramatic decrease in incidence of
invasive infections due to _H. influenzae_ type b has occurred
following widespread use of conjugate _H. influenzae_ type b vaccines
in infants and children since 1987.
The follow is extracted from the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record
(2006, 81, 445-452), available at:
http://www.who.int/immunization/REH_47_8_pages.pdf
The 1st dose may be given to infants as young as 6 weeks of age, and
the 2nd and 3rd doses may be given at 4-8 week intervals. In many
industrialized countries, administering a booster dose during the
child’s 2nd year of life has provided additional benefit. If given,
the booster dose should be administered to children aged between 12
months and 18 months. For children aged more than 12 months who have
not received their primary immunization series, a single dose of the
vaccine is sufficient. The vaccine is not generally offered to
children aged more than 24 months owing to the limited burden of Hib
disease among children older than that age.
Some older children or adults with special health conditions, such as
sickle cell disease, HIV/AIDS, removal of the spleen, bone marrow
transplant, or cancer treatment with drugs, should also be vaccinated.
The CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58e0123a1.htm?s_cid=mm58e0123a1_e
says that “the current Hib vaccine supply in the United States is
sufficient to ensure completion of the primary series for all
children, but not yet to resume the booster dose. Regardless of brand
or product used, full vaccination with the primary series of Hib
vaccine by age 7 months is critical to protect children from disease.
Providers who have questions regarding Hib vaccine supply needed to
complete the primary vaccine series should contact their state health
departments. Combination products may be used for any or all doses of
the Hib primary series. Further, if combination vaccines are the only
vaccines available to providers, a combination product should be used
to complete the primary Hib series, even when this results in receipt
of additional doses of another antigen.”
The state of Minnesota can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail
interactive map of the USA at
http://healthmap.org/promed/en?v=40,-97.6,4
. - Mod.ML]
[see also:
2008
US-CERT Current Activity
IRS Stimulus Package Phishing Scam
Original release date: February 6, 2009 at 10:03 am
Last revised: February 6, 2009 at 10:03 am
US-CERT is aware of public reports indicating that phishing scams are
circulating via fraudulent U.S. Internal Revenue Service emails
offering users stimulus package payments. These emails include text
that attempts to convince users to follow a link to a website or to
complete an attached document. The website and document request that
the user provide personal information.
US-CERT encourages users to do the following to help mitigate the
risks:
* Do not follow unsolicited web links received in email messages.
* Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document
for more information on avoiding email scams.
* Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks
(pdf) document for more information on social engineering attacks.
Relevant Url(s):
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST04-014.html
http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/emailscams_0905.pdf
[How many have been planned?]
(UK) Revealed: The ‘truth’ behind the Briton ‘tortured in Guantanamo Bay’
— “An FBI document outlining the case against a British ‘resident’ held
at Guantanamo Bay has revealed how he allegedly met Osama bin Laden while being trained for jihad at an Al Qaeda camp.”
— “Investigators also believe Binyam Mohamed was planning to
blow up an apartment block in the United States when he was arrested.”
— “U.S. authorities claim Mohamed fought against anti-Taliban
Northern Alliances forces and, because of his UK residency, was
selected by Al Qaeda and trained to construct and detonate a radioactive ‘dirty bomb’.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1135491/Revealed-The-truth-Briton-tortured-Guantanamo-Bay.html?ITO=1490
-— UK: High Court urged to reconsider torture ruling
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/4539305/High-Court-urged-to-reconsider-torture-ruling.html
40 Blooms Hummingbirds Can’t Refuse
You’ll love the traffic these flowers provide.
by Joe Kegley, Birds & Blooms
Imagine several gorgeous hummingbirds hovering around your garden, each vying for a dining spot. Once they’ve found your flowers, it’s likely they’ll come back all season long. That was the case in Joe Kegley’s Charlotte, North Carolina yard, when he snapped this picture (right) of a hummingbird at his bee balm.
Planting a hummingbird garden is no different than creating a perennial border, mixed container, or any other garden. There are dozens of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs from which hummingbirds feed. Which ones should you choose? It’s easier than you think! Here are our top 40 picks, spotlighting 10 favorites, to get you started...
Red Flowers
People often associate hummingbirds with the color red, and for good reason. These inquisitive birds can see red from a great distance, so offering a patch of red flowers to hummingbirds is like a neon “EAT” sign on a lonely highway.
Mix in Annuals
Annuals ensure long-blooming flowers that immediately produce nectar. From the time the migratory hummingbirds return north from their tropical winter grounds until they leave in the fall, the birds are sure to stay well fed.
Plant in Clusters
To get the attention of hummingbirds, cluster blooms together so they shout, “Dinnertime!” Combining plants with staggered heights will bring depth to your garden, as well as providing hummers with a nectar buffet.
Cascading Blooms
Hummingbirds have the ability to fly forward, backward, and even upside down! Some nectar flowers have adapted specifically to accommodate the agile fliers. The blooms hang downward, so only hummingbirds can reach the sweet treat.
Tube-Shaped Blooms
These flowers provide large amounts of nectar deep at the base of their blooms. Hummingbirds can easily reach this food with their long, tubular tongues, while bees and most other nectar-loving insects are left out.
Top 10
1. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
* Perennial; Zones 4 to 10.
* Color: Red.
* Blooms: Summer.
* Size: 3 to 5 feet tall; spreads 18 to 36 inches.
* Care: Moist, moderately fertile soil; light shade to full sun. Deadhead flowers to keep them blooming and to limit reseeding.
2. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
* Perennial; Zones 2 to 8.
* Color: Red.
* Blooms: Summer.
* Size: 3 to 4 feet tall; 2 feet wide.
* Care: Fertile and moist soil, partial shade to full sun. Works beautifully with other native plantings.
3. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja species)
* Shrub; Zones 4 to 9.
* Color: Purple, pink, and white.
* Blooms: Summer to fall.
* Size: 6 to 15 feet tall; 4 to 10 feet wide.
* Care: Grow in sun to light shade. Considered invasive in some regions.
4. Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)
* Perennial; Zones 4 to 9.
* Color: Orange-red.
* Blooms: Summer.
* Size: Climbs to 40 feet.
* Care: Grow in full sun in moist to dry soil. Tolerates poor soil. Blooms better with little or no fertilizer.
5. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
* Annual.
* Color: Varies with variety.
* Blooms: Until frost.
* Size: 6 inches to 4 feet tall; 6 inches to 2 feet wide.
* Care: Grows in full sun to part shade in moist soil. Regular deadheading needed.
6. Salvia (Salvia spledens)
* Annual.
* Color: Red, purple.
* Blooms: Until frost.
* Size: 1 to 3 inches tall; 9 to 14 inches wide.
* Care: Keep soil at roots cool and moist; grow in full sun or part shade in southern regions. Deadhead flowers to keep blooming.
7. Fuchsia (Fuchsia species)
* Perennial; Zones 10 and 11; annual to north.
* Color: Red, pinks, purple, white.
* Blooms: Until frost.
* Size: Trailing to 3 feet or available in shrub form.
* Care: Requires moist soil: check pots twice a day in hot weather. Pinch back flowers.
8. Columbine (Aquilegia species)
* Perennial; Zones 3 to 9.
* Color: Red, pink, blue, purple.
* Blooms: Spring to early summer.
* Size: 1 to 3 feet tall; 6 to 24 inches wide.
* Care: Low-maintenance plants that prefer moist, but not wet, soil. Reseeds itself.
9. Phlox (Phlox species)
* Perennial; Zones 3 to 8.
* Color: Pink, red, blue, and purple.
* Blooms: Spring to fall.
* Size: Up to 3 feet tall; 12 to 24 inches wide.
* Care: Needs well-draining soil in full sun. Deadhead to extend their bloom time.
10. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
* Perennial; Zones 4 to 9.
* Color: Orange.
* Blooms: Summer to fall.
* Size: 1-1/2 to 3 feet tall; spreads 12 inches wide.
* Care: Well-drained soil; full sun. These plants will wander to where they’re best suited in your garden.
sponsored by our partners at Birds & Blooms
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More Sure-Fire Hummingbird Flowers
Shrubs, Trees, and Vines
Dropmore scarlet honeysuckle
Lilac
Mimosa
Morning glory
Rhododendron
Scarlet runner bean
Weigela
Annuals
Cleome
Flowering tobacco
Geranium
Hollyhock*
Impatiens
Lantana*
Nasturtium
Petunia
Zinnia
Perennials
Gayfeather
Gladiola*
Hosta
Penstemon
Primrose
Yucca
*In some climates
bee balm
fuchsia
columbine
butterfly weed
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Crackers Cleanup Shuts Down Springs School
Salmonella Case Reported At Corpus Christi School
POSTED: 12:18 pm MST February 6, 2009
UPDATED: 12:45 pm MST February 6, 2009
[Peanut butter that was brought from home]
THE GANG THREAT
Get Educated
02/06/09
National Gang Threat Assessment 2009
Gangs are morphing, multiplying, and migrating—entrenching themselves not just in our inner cites but increasingly in our ever-sprawling suburbs and wide-open rural spaces.
In some communities, they are responsible for as much as a staggering 80 percent of all crimes. They are selling drugs to your kids, shooting up your neighborhoods, invading your homes, robbing your banks and stores, stealing your identities and money, and sowing plenty of fear and violence along the way.
share.gif
There are gangs in the military…gangs in prison…gangs all over the Internet (recruiting, communicating, intimidating)…gangs on Native American reservations…and gangs on motorcycles roving the countryside. More and more women are joining gangs, too, sometimes leading their own subsets of larger criminal groups.
At last count (this past September), our nation had at least 20,000 gangs with at least one million total members from coast to coast.
podcast icon Podcast: Inside the FBI
FBI agents discuss gangs.
These conclusions—and many more—are all part of the just released National Gang Threat Assessment 2009.
Now matter how you slice it—locally, regionally, nationally—it’s a sobering portrait. And well worth reading for its insights, statistics, and predictions…whether you are a law enforcement professional, a community leader, an educator, a social services provider, or just a concerned citizen.
Mouse over each gang to learn more about them. And see the full report for more details.
The report is based on law enforcement’s collective intelligence—the product specifically of the National Gang Intelligence Center, the National Drug Intelligence Center, and a host of other local, state, and federal agencies.
Besides contributing to this report, we in the FBI—working with our partners more closely than ever—continue to put a lot of time, energy, and resources into tackling the growing gang threat. That includes:
* Synthesizing information on gangs from around the nation and even from around the globe (largely through the National Gang Intelligence Center) and pushing that out as intelligence assessments to our law enforcement partners to help them make cases and get a better handle on local threats;
* Leading the multi-agency MS-13 National Gang Task Force, which coordinates investigations and prosecutions of this extremely violent gang, including with law enforcement officials in Central America, its birthplace overseas;
*
Taking part in the Department of Justice’s National Gang Targeting Enforcement and Coordination Center, or GangTECC, a task force that looks for ways to make the most impact through multi-jurisdictional investigations involving federal law enforcement; and
*
Putting boots on the ground, so speak—hundreds of highly trained special agents nationwide who work to dismantle gangs from the top down through more than 200 multi-agency Safe Streets Task Forces, including about 150 that specifically target gangs.
Of course, we need your help. Please report crimes and potential criminal activity to us. Please be alert to common gang warning signs in your children and in your neighborhoods. And please get involved and stay involved in anti-gang activities and proactive outreach initiatives in your community.
Resources:
- FBI Violent Street Gangs website
- Department of Justice Resources and Publications
- Advice from an Expert on Street Gangs
Headline Archives home
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/feb09/ngta_020609.html
Insecticides Found In Peanut Plant In 2001
Inspectors say a Georgia peanut plant linked to a deadly salmonella outbreak
exposed equipment to insecticides in 2001.
MORE DETAILS: http://www.fox5vegas.com/tu/5Eoo7OP0c.html
FDA: Ga. Plant Knowingly Sent Tainted Products
The FDA says Peanut Corp. of America knowingly shipped salmonella-tainted
products.
MORE DETAILS: http://www.fox5vegas.com/tu/5EovU2X0Q.html
4-Year-Old Strangled In Trampoline Netting
Denver Boy In Foster Home Found By Younger Sister
POSTED: 2:26 pm MST February 6, 2009
a snippet.
Consumerreports.org listed trampolines as the number one product not to buy for kids. In 2003, some 98,000 trampoline-related injuries resulted in emergency room visits, according to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission. At least 6 deaths have been reported since 1990.
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2009
Release #09-120 CPSC
Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
CPSC Spells Out Enforcement Policy For New Lead Limits In Children’s Products Effective February 10
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Starting on February 10, 2009, consumer products intended for children 12 and under cannot have more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part. This new safety requirement is a key component of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) aimed at further reducing children’s exposure to lead.
In an effort to provide clear and reasonable guidance to those impacted by this important law, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing its enforcement policy on the lead limits established by the CPSIA.
Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers should also be aware that CPSC will:
*Not impose penalties against anyone for making, importing, distributing, or selling
**a children’s product to the extent that it is made of certain natural materials, such as wood, cotton, wool, or certain metals and alloys which the Commission has recognized rarely, if ever, contain lead;
**an ordinary children’s book printed after 1985; or
**dyed or undyed textiles (not including leather, vinyl or PVC) and non-metallic thread and trim used in children’s apparel and other fabric products, such as baby blankets.
(The Commission generally will not prosecute someone for making, selling or distributing items in these categories even if it turns out that such an item actually contains more than 600 ppm lead.)
Sellers will not be immune from prosecution if CPSC’s Office of Compliance finds that someone had actual knowledge that one of these children’s products contained more than 600 ppm lead or continued to make, import, distribute or sell such a product after being put on notice. Agency staff will seek recalls of violative children’s products or other corrective actions, where appropriate.
*Issue an interim final rule effective February 10, 2009, which establishes alternative lead limits for certain electronic devices, in order to prevent unnecessary removal of certain children’s products from store shelves.
*Accept a manufacturer’s determination that a lead-containing part on their product is inaccessible to a child and not subject to the new lead limits, if it is consistent with the Commission’s proposed guidance or is based on a reasonable reading of the inaccessibility requirement. Paint and other coatings or electroplating are not considered barriers that make a component inaccessible.
This enforcement policy will remain in effect until superseded by action of the Commission.
CPSC still expects companies to meet their reporting obligation under federal law and immediately tell the Commission if they learn of a children’s product that exceeds the new lead limits starting on February 10, 2009. Companies also should know that the CPSIA generally prohibits the export for sale of children’s products that exceed the new lead limits.
As announced on January 30, 2009, the Commission approved a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers. Significant to makers of children’s products, the ‘stay’ provides limited relief from the testing and certification for total lead content limits, phthalates limits for certain products and mandatory toy standards. Manufacturers and importers - large and small - of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will still need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements. Certification based on testing by an accredited laboratory is still required for painted children’s products and soon will be required for children’s metal jewelry, as well as certain other products for non-lead issues.
********************************************************
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC’s web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.