Next potential disaster and we have a 'Brownie' to coordinate the relief effort -- Stewart Simonson is now in charge of "the protection of the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies," according to his government biography. He also is in charge of ensuring the country has adequate vaccines and and anti-viral medicines to combat an avian flu epidemic. Unfortunate ly for us his qualifications are as a political attorney. As he recently told a congressional subcommittee, "We're learning as we go." What the hell is at the head of this government?
It's going to be a dog fight -- Representative John Murtha (D. Pa.), a highly decorated Vietnam veteran with 37-years of service, made a passionate plea to remove our soldiers from now (a six month deployment plan). What happens? This administration calls him a coward -- Rep. Jean Schmidt (R.Ohio) said . . . "cowards cut and run, Marines never do". He justifiably shoots back that no one in this administration has had any military experience and are trying to make military decisions and dismissing military advice. I mean, to me that's like putting your attorneys to work in accounting offices and vice versa. That's the way this administration is running. The good thing out of this is that the Democrats are starting to show some teeth.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
Sunday, November 13, 2005
HOW DO YOU ADDRESS OR PRIORITIZE THIS ADMINISTRATION'S SCREW UPS
This administration has screwed up everything it has touched. In the current news is Iraq, the indictments and when George needs a distraction avian flu -- which is a threat I fear they don't recognize in any context than to take the heat off something else.
An issue that is of apocalyptic importance is global warming. This administration takes it no more seriously than a guy who gets no exercise, eats entirely unhealthy foods, drinks and smokes heavily but insists that if the doctor can only guess at all the problems he's likely to have in the future and can't tell him the exact day he will become sick, with what disease and the day he will die, then there's no reason to take the threat seriously.
With the warning we've been given just recently in the gulf coast this is one of our most pressing problems. Consider . . . .
An issue that is of apocalyptic importance is global warming. This administration takes it no more seriously than a guy who gets no exercise, eats entirely unhealthy foods, drinks and smokes heavily but insists that if the doctor can only guess at all the problems he's likely to have in the future and can't tell him the exact day he will become sick, with what disease and the day he will die, then there's no reason to take the threat seriously.
With the warning we've been given just recently in the gulf coast this is one of our most pressing problems. Consider . . . .
- Last year, the science textbooks had to be rewritten. They used to say, "It's impossible to have a hurricane in the South Atlantic." We had the first one last year, in Brazil. Japan also set an all-time record for typhoons last year: ten. The previous record was seven.
- This summer, more than 200 cities in the United States broke all-time heat records. Reno, Nevada, set a new record with ten consecutive days above 100 degrees. New Orleans -- and the surrounding waters of the Gulf -- also hit an all-time high.
- This summer, parts of India received record rainfall -- 37 inches fell in Mumbai in 24 hours, killing more than 1,000 people.
- The new extremes of wind and rain are part of a larger pattern that also includes the melting glaciers worldwide, increasing desertification, a global extinction crisis, the ravaging of ocean fisheries and a growing range for disease "vectors" like mosquitoes, ticks and many other carriers of viruses and bacteria harmful to people.
I guess my point is that with this administration, if you don't keep your eyes and ears and mind on point we are almost certainly headed for disaster in the form of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Monday, November 07, 2005
COCK FIGHTING AND THE AVIAN BIRD FLU
I've read a number of stories lately concerning the avian flu virus being spread thru cockfighting. The logic being that it's an event that is not regulated let alone legal in most places. It surprised me to find out that it is legal in Louisiana and New Mexico. By not being legal or regulated the spread to humans is more likely in this venue than in poultry farms. Consider that while fighting there is a lot of blood, feces and bird's organs getting tossed around an arena.
That said, a cockfighting bill aimed at stemming the spread of bird flu to the United States has stalled despite support from the Bush administration and the poultry industry. The bill would restrict trade from Southeast Asia, where the sport is suspected of spreading the disease from chickens to humans. The bill would increase penalties for transporting the birds across state lines and from other countries. The bill passed the Senate but the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee hasn't brought the bill to a vote.
Jeff Lungren, spokesman for Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) said he thought it was a stretch that the bill would do much to prevent the spread of the disease, even though Agriculture Department officials have made just that case. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns also supported the bill and added that the bill made sense from an "animal welfare standpoint."
Bird flu aside, don't you think banning this 'torture sport' makes sense? I do.
That said, a cockfighting bill aimed at stemming the spread of bird flu to the United States has stalled despite support from the Bush administration and the poultry industry. The bill would restrict trade from Southeast Asia, where the sport is suspected of spreading the disease from chickens to humans. The bill would increase penalties for transporting the birds across state lines and from other countries. The bill passed the Senate but the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee hasn't brought the bill to a vote.
Jeff Lungren, spokesman for Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) said he thought it was a stretch that the bill would do much to prevent the spread of the disease, even though Agriculture Department officials have made just that case. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns also supported the bill and added that the bill made sense from an "animal welfare standpoint."
Bird flu aside, don't you think banning this 'torture sport' makes sense? I do.
JUST A THOUGHT
the last time the white sox won the world series in 1917 it was followed by the worst avian flu pandemic ever in this country.if the cubs win will that signal the end of the world?
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