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Analysis: Let’s cool the political meltdown over nuclear power plants
By Slate slate Mon Mar 14, 11:56 am ET

By William Saletan
Slate

Less than a year ago, a drilling rig exploded off the coast of the United States, killing 11 workers and pouring 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. No natural disaster caused this tragedy. It was entirely man-made. President Obama halted deep-water drilling but lifted the moratorium less than six months later. On Friday, while fielding questions about Japan's nuclear reactors, he proudly noted that his administration, under new, stricter rules, had "approved more than 35 new offshore drilling permits."

That's how we deal with tragedies in the oil business. Accidents happen. People die. Pollution spreads. We don't abandon oil. We study what went wrong, try to fix it, and move on.

Contrast this with the panic over Japan's reactors. For 40 years, they've quietly done their work. Three days ago, they were hit almost simultaneously by Japan's worst earthquake and one of its worst tsunamis. Not one reactor container has failed. The only employee who has died at a Japanese nuclear facility since the quake was killed by a crane. Despite this, voices are rising in Europe and the United States to abandon nuclear power. Industry analysts predict that the Japan scare, like Chernobyl, will freeze plant construction.

Let's cool this panic before it becomes a political meltdown.

Early reports said four Japanese plants were in trouble. Now it appears only two were disabled. Early reports said three employees had radiation sickness. Now we're hearing only one is sick, and even in that case, the radiation dose appears relatively low. Two reactor buildings exploded, but these were explosions of excess hydrogen, not nuclear fuel, and neither of them ruptured the inner containers that encase the reactor cores. Some radiation has leaked, but according to measurements outside the plants, the amount so far is modest. Any leak is bad, and the area of contamination, even at low rates, will probably spread. Japan needs our sympathy and our help. But let's not exaggerate the crisis.

In advanced countries like Japan and the United States, nuclear plants are built to standards no drilling rig can touch. If a sensor, cable, or power source fails, another sensor, cable, or power source is available. Containers of steel or concrete envelop the reactors to prevent massive radiation leaks. Chernobyl didn't have such a container. Three Mile Island did. That's why Three Mile Island produced no uncontrolled leakage or injuries.

(What's in the radioactive vapors)

Japan's plants were designed to withstand quakes and tsunamis, but not a combination of this magnitude. At the affected facilities, the quake knocked out the primary cooling systems, and the tsunami wiped out the backup diesel generators. Then a valve malfunction thwarted efforts to pump water into one of the reactors. Everything that could go wrong did.

Despite this, the reactor containers have held firm. The explosions around them have blown outward, relieving pressure, as designed. Meanwhile, plant operators, deprived of their primary and secondary power sources for cooling the cores, have tapped batteries and deployed alternate generators. To relieve pressure, they've released vapor. And in some cases, they've pumped seawater and boric acid into the reactors, destroying them to protect the public. Cooling systems are back online at two previously impaired reactors, and a backup pump has averted cooling problems at a third plant.

The reactor where the crisis began, Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1, is one of Japan's oldest. It was two weeks from its 40-year expiration date when the quake hit. Similar plants in the United States have been upgraded to ensure that in the event of power failure, water can still be pumped in to cool them. And nuclear plants are indisputably getting safer. Since 1990, worker radiation exposure and automatic reactor shutdowns worldwide have declined by a factor of three. According to an analysis last year by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, plants being constructed by today's standards are 1,600 times safer than early nuclear plants, in terms of the predicted frequency of a large radiation leak. Even if a reactor core is damaged, as in Japan, the NEA report notes that today, "the probability of a release to the environment is about ten times less than that of core damage," thanks to improvements in fuel, circuits, and containment.

(Follow Slate's coverage of the Japanese devastation)

If Japan, the United States, or Europe retreats from nuclear power in the face of the current panic, the most likely alternative energy source is fossil fuel. And by any measure, fossil fuel is more dangerous. The sole fatal nuclear power accident of the last 40 years, Chernobyl, directly killed 31 people. By comparison, Switzerland's Paul Scherrer Institute calculates that from 1969 to 2000, more than 20,000 people died in severe accidents in the oil supply chain. More than 15,000 people died in severe accidents in the coal supply chain—11,000 in China alone. The rate of direct fatalities per unit of energy production is 18 times worse for oil than it is for nuclear power.

Even if you count all the deaths plausibly related to Chernobyl—9,000 to 33,000 over a 70-year period—that number is dwarfed by the death rate from burning fossil fuels. The OECD's 2008 Environmental Outlook calculates that fine-particle outdoor air pollution caused nearly 1 million premature deaths in the year 2000, and 30 percent of this was energy-related. You'd need 500 Chernobyls to match that level of annual carnage. But outside Chernobyl, we've had zero fatal nuclear power accidents.

That doesn't mean we can ignore what has happened in Japan. Precisely because nuclear accidents are so rare, we have to study them intensely. Each one tells us what to fix in the next generation of power plants. The most obvious mistake in Japan was parking the diesel generators in an area low enough to be flooded by a quake-driven tsunami. The batteries that backed up the generators weren't adequate, either. They lasted only eight hours, and power outage fallback plans at U.S. reactors are even shorter. Moreover, this is the second time an advanced nuclear facility has had to vent radioactive vapor (Three Mile Island was the first). Maybe it's time to require filtration systems that scrub the vapor before it's released.

Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut says we should "put the brakes" on nuclear power plant construction until we figure out what went wrong in Japan. Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts wants a moratorium on new reactors in "seismically active areas" while we study the problem. That's fine. But let's not block construction indefinitely while we go on mindlessly pumping oil. Because nuclear energy, for all its risks, is safer.

Visit Slate for more political news.

A co-host of two popular home improvement TV shows has been accused by Toronto Police of being a chiseler.

Barrington Anthony Sayers, the featured carpenter on all 52 episodes of W Network’s series Me, My House and I, and co- host of The Unsellables show on HGTV, was arrested Saturday by officers from 53 Division.

In a statement Monday, Toronto Police said an investigation was launched after a woman complained about incomplete renovations on her home and accused the owner of Anthony Sayers Custom Builder and Design of doing shoddy work, harassing her and extortion.

Police said the 41-year-old also uses the name Anthony Sayers.

A graduate of George Brown College with 17 years of professional experience in the building trades, he is charged with two counts of criminal harassment, attempted fraud under $5,000 and extortion.

On its website, HGTV promotes The Unsellables as a show that "transforms unsightly and unsellable properties into real estate gems ‹ and encourages homeowners to let go of the past, get smart and prepare for a sale."

It invites viewers to "join property guru and British TV personality Sofie Allsopp and her trusty contractor Anthony Sayers as she coaches and cajoles home sellers through a major clean-up and targeted makeover that will help them seal the deal. There’s plenty of drama and inspiration along the way--and lots of how-to tips for turning real estate lemons into lemonade!"

Allsopp took the show back to the UK in 2009, but returned to Toronto for a subsequent series that began in 13 months ago.

Filmed in Toronto, The Unsellables airs in Canada on HGTV and in the U.S., Real Estate TV in the UK and The Lifestyle Channel in Australia.

A website for Me, My House and I says Sayers, a native of Jamaica, "worked for some of the top custom builders in Toronto," loves to work out at a gymn, dancing at clubs and calls Bingo at a senior's centre.

The latest episode of The Unsellables aired at 7:30 a.m. and will be repeated at 4:30 p.m. on HGTV.

Sayers, who is not in custody, was ordered to appear at College Park Court on March 28.

© NBC Universal
Original Survivor winner Richard Hatch has been ordered back to prison to serve nine months behind bars.

The reality star, who won the first season of the CBS series in 2000, was sentenced on Friday after failing to correct tax issues stemming back from money owed from both his prize fund and subsequent media appearances.

According to The AP, Hatch currently owes $2 million in both taxes and penalties, and his failure to refile his taxes from 2000 and 2001 caused the residing judge to impose the maximum penalty.

"You can continue to proclaim your innocence," Judge William Smith said during the sentencing. "It needs to be a severe punishment. That's the only thing that will deter you in the future."

Hatch served three years in prison between 2006 and 2009 for the same legal problem, after which he claimed that he would pay back everything he owed to the IRS.

Hatch is currently appearing on the NBC series The Celebrity Apprentice, and had been scheduled to appear on the show's live final on May 22.

The former Survivor star must submit himself to the authorities on Monday.

TORONTO — Two suspects are in custody and one gold bar has been recovered but police in Toronto are still searching for 95 other gold bars allegedly bought in Montreal with a fraudulently obtained bank draft worth $1,895,751.

Two people have been detained for trying to sell some of the bars in Toronto, but so far police have only recovered one 300-gram bar. Seventy-four others — from Australia's Perth Mint, with the mint's symbol on one side and a kangaroo on the other — are still missing. Police are also looking for nineteen one-kilogram gold bars and two 100-gram bars.

Police are still seeking the identity of the person or persons who obtained the bank draft.

"We're barking up a few trees; it's an ongoing investigation" said Det. Ruth Moran of the Financial Crimes Unit on Wednesday.

Const. Tony Vella of the Toronto Police asked the public to come forward with any information regarding the incident, and warned jewelry and metal businesses to be on the lookout for the bars.

The first suspect was arrested on Feb. 14 when he tried to sell a bar to a Toronto gold company, said Vella. Two days later, the gold bar was recovered when officers caught a second man allegedly attempting to sell it.

Toronto residents Thevarajah Thambipillai, 55, and Senthuran Kanapathipillai, 32, are charged with possession of property obtained by crime.

The Canadian Bankers Association is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the recovery of the bars.

Devastating earthquake, tsunami hit Japan
By the CNN Wire Staff

Tokyo (CNN) -- The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in at least 100 years unleashed walls of water Friday that swept across rice fields, engulfing towns, dragging houses onto highways and tossing cars and boats like toys.

Local media reported at least 50 deaths, with more casualties feared.

And the 8.9-magnitude quake, which struck at 2:46 p.m. local time, prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a tsunami warning for at least 50 countries and territories.

It also sparked fires in at least 80 locations, Kyodo news reported.

Its epicenter was offshore 373 kilometers (231 miles) away from Tokyo, the United States Geological Survey said.

But residents there continued to feel aftershocks hours after the quake. More than 30 aftershocks followed, with the strongest measuring 7.1.

"I wasn't scared when it started ... but it just kept going and going," said Michelle Roberts, who lives in central Tokyo. "I won't lie, it was quite scary. But we are all OK. We live on the third floor, so most everything shook and shifted."

A spokesman for the U.S. military bases in Japan said all service members were accounted for and there were no reports of damage to installations or ships.

President Barack Obama, while offering his condolences, said the United States was standing by to help "in this time of great trial."

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said an emergency task force has been activated, and appealed for calm. He said there were no reported leaks of radioactive materials from power plants.

Four nuclear power plants closest to the quake were safely shut down, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said.

About 2,000 residents near the Fukushima nuclear power plant were being told to evacuate, Kyodo said.

At Tokyo Station, one of Japan's busiest subway stations, shaken commuters grabbed one another to stay steady as the ground shook. Dazed residents poured into the streets after offices and schools were closed. Children cried.

The quake toppled cars off bridges and into waters underneath. Waves of debris flowed like lava across farmland, pushing boats, houses and trailers. About 4 million homes had no power in Tokyo and surrounding areas.

Firefighters battled a fiery blaze at an oil refinery in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo.

Residents said though earthquakes are common in Japan, Friday's stunned most people.

"This was larger than anyone expected and went on longer than anyone expected," said Matt Alt, who lives in Tokyo.

"My wife was the calm one ... she told us to get down and put your back on something, and leave the windows and doors open in case a building shifts so you don't get trapped."

Richard Lloyd Parry said he looked through a window and saw buildings shaking from side to side.

"Central Tokyo is fine from what we see, people are calm ... and not going inside buildings," he said.

Such a large earthquake at such a shallow depth -- 24.4 kilometers (15.2 miles) -- creates a lot of energy, said Shenza Chen of the U.S. Geological Survey.

As the city grappled with the devastation, a massive tsunami swept across the Pacific Ocean.

An earthquake of that size can generate a dangerous tsunami to coasts outside the source region, the National Weather Service said.

In Philippines alone, the tsunami is expected to hit in the early morning and the government has evacuated coastal areas.

The National Weather Service issued warnings for more than 50 countries and territories.

The wide-ranging list includes Russia and Indonesia, Central American countries like Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica and the U.S. state of Hawaii, where warning sirens were sounded in the morning. A tsunami warning was also issued for areas along the United States and Canadian west coasts.

While some officials feared that waves from the tsunami could be high enough to wash over entire islands in the Pacific, at least one expert said it was unlikely.

The tsunami could cause significant damage and flooding, but "washing over islands is not going to happen," said Gerard Fryer of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Humanitarian agencies were working with rescue crews to reach the people affected.

"When such an earthquake impacts a developed country like Japan, our concern also turns to countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, which might not have the same resources," said Rachel Wolff, a spokeswoman for World Vision.

Wolff said her agency is helping people on the ground in Japan and teaming up to help others in countries along the path of the tsunami.

The tsunami could cause damage "along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii," warned the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property."

Tsunamis are a series of long ocean waves that can last five to 15 minutes and cause extensive flooding in coastal areas. A succession of waves can hit -- often the highest not being the first, said CNN meteorologist Ivan Cabrera.

The quake was the latest in a series in the region this week.

Early Thursday, an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 struck off the coast of Honshu. A day earlier, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake had struck off the same coast, the country's meteorological agency said.

The largest recorded quake took place in Chile on May 22, 1960, with a magnitude of 9.5, the USGS said.

HCG Worthless as Weight-Loss Aid

Stephen Barrett, M.D.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) is a hormone found in the urine of pregnant women. More than 50 years ago, Dr. Albert T. Simeons, a British-born physician, contended that HCG injections would enable dieters to subsist comfortably on a 500-calorie-a-day diet. He claimed that HCG would mobilize stored fat; suppress appetite; and redistribute fat from the waist, hips, and thighs [1]. There is no scientific evidence to support these claims [2-13]. Moreover, a 500-calorie (semi-starvation) diet is likely to result in loss of protein from vital organs, and HCG can cause other adverse effects. Gabe Mirkin, M.D., has noted:

At one time, HCG was the most widespread obesity medication administered in the United States. Some doctors liked it because it assured them of a steady clientele. Patients had to come in once a week for an injection [14].

HCH is also marketed in sublingual (under the tongue) form. No scientific tests of sublingual HCG have been published, but it is safe to assume that it would be no more effective than injected HCG.

In 2009, the American Society of Bariatric Physicians issued a position statement which stated:

Numerous clinical trials have shown HCG to be ineffectual in producing weight loss. HCG
injections can induce a slight increase in muscle mass in androgen-deficient males. The diet used
in the Simeons method provides a lower protein intake than is advisable in view of current
knowledge and practice. There are few medical literature reports favorable to the Simeons
method; the overwhelming majority of medical reports are critical of it. Physicians employing
either the HCG or the diet recommended by Simeons may expose themselves to criticism from
other physicians, from insurers, or from government bodies [15].

Government Regulation

In 1976, the FTC ordered the Simeon Management Corporation, Simeon Weight Clinics Foundation, Bariatrics Management Corporation, C.M. Norcal, Inc., and HCG Weight Clinics Foundation and their officers to stop claiming that their HCG-based programs were safe, effective, and/or approved by the FDA for weight-control. Although the order did not stop the clinics from using HCG, it required that patients who contract for the treatment be informed in writing that:

THESE WEIGHT REDUCTION TREATMENTS INCLUDE THE INJECTION OF HCG, A DRUG WHICH HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE IN THE TREATMENT OF OBSITY OR WEIGHT CONTROL. THERE IS NO SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT HCG INCEASES WEIGHT LOSS BEYOND THAT RESULTING FROM CALORIC RESTRICTION, THAT IT CAUSES A MORE ATTRACTIVE OR "NORMAL" DISTRIBUTION OF FAT, OR THAT IT DECREASES THE HUNGER AND DISCOMFORT ASSOCIATED WITH CALORIE-RESTRICTIVE DIETS [16].

Since 1975, the FDA has required labeling and advertising of HCG to state:

HCG has not been demonstrated to be effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity. There is no substantial evidence that it increases weight loss beyond that resulting from caloric restriction, that it causes a more attractive or "normal" distribution of fat, or that it decreases the hunger and discomfort associated with calorie-restricted diets.

Promotion By Kevin Trudeau

Negative studies and government action reduced the use of HGC injections for weight control close to zero. However, promotion by infomercial king Kevin Trudeau has caused their use to increase. His 2007 book, The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want You to Know About, claims that "an absolute cure for obesity was discovered almost fifty years ago" but was "suppressed" by the AMA, the FDA, and "other medical establishments throughout the world." Trudeau further claims that until now, "this miracle weight loss breakthrough has been hidden from the public so that drug companies can make billions of dollars selling their expensive drug treatments and surgical procedures for obesity." The alleged cure consists of HCG injections plus 50 to 60 required and recommended do's and don'ts [16].

In 2007, the FTC charged Kevin Trudeau with violating a court order by misrepresenting the contents of the book [17]. In infomercials, Trudeau falsely claimed that the book's weight-loss plan is easy to do, can be done at home, and ultimately allows readers to eat whatever they want. Previous FTC action had led to a court order banning from using infomercials to sell any product, service, or program except for books and other publications The order specified that he not misrepresent the content of the books. In 2008, the Court ruled that Trudeau had violated the previous order and ordered him to pay more than $37 million.

References

Simeons ATW. The action of chorionic gonadotrophin in the obese. Lancet 2:946-947, 1954.
Asher WL, Harper HW. Effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin on weight loss, hunger and feeling of well-being. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 26:211–218, 1973.
Bosch B and others. Human chorionic gonadotrophin and weight loss. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. South African Medical Journal 77:185–189, 1990.
Carne S. The action of chorionic gonadotrophin in the obese. Lancet 2:1282–1284, 1961.
Craig LS and others. Chorionic gonadotrophin in the treatment of obese women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 12:230–234, 1963.
Frank BW. The use of chorionic gonadotrophin hormone in the treatment of obesity. A double-blind study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 14:133–136, 1964.
Greenway FL, Bray GA. Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (HCG) in the treatment of obesity: a critical assessment of the Simeons method. West Journal of Medicine 127:461–463, 1977.
Shetty KR, Kalkhoff RK. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) treatment of obesity. Archives of Internal Medicine 137:151-155, 1977.
Lebon P. Treatment of overweight patients with chorionic gonadotrophin: follow-up study. Journal of the American Geriatric Society 14:116–125, 1966.
Lijesen GK and others. The effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in the treatment of obesity by means of the Simeons therapy: a criteria-based meta-analysis. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 49:237–243, 1995.
Miller R, Schneiderman LJ. A clinical study of the use of human chorionic gonadotrophin in weight reduction. Journal of Family Practice 4:445–448, 1977.
Stein MR and others. Ineffectiveness of human chorionic gonadotrophin in weight reduction: a double-blind study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 29:940–948, 1976.
Young RL and others. Chorionic gonadotrophin in weight control. A double-blind crossover study. JAMA 236:2495–2497, 1976.
Mirkin G. Getting Thin. Boston: Little Brown & Co., 1983.
American College of Bariatric Physicians. Position statement: Use of HCG in the treatment of obesity. Approved Dec 2009.
In the matter of Simeon Management Corporation et al. Order, opinion etc., in regard to alleged violation of Secs. 5 and 12 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Docket 8996. Complaint, Oct 15, 1974. Final Order April 29, 1976.
Trudeau K. The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want You to Know About. Alliance Publishing, 2007.
FTC: Marketer Kevin Trudeau violated prior court order. FTC news release, Sept 14, 2007.
This article was revised on May 10, 2010.

A teenage boy had just passed his driving test and inquired of his father as to when they could discuss the boy's use of the car.

His father said he'd make a deal:
‘You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut. Then we'll talk about the car.'

The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he'd settle for the offer, and they agreed on it.

After about six weeks his father said, 'Son, you've brought your grades up and I've observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I'm disappointed you haven't had your hair cut.

The boy said,

'You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair,
John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair...and there's even strong evidence that Jesus had long hair.'

(You're going to love the Dad's reply)



His father replied, 'Did you also notice they all walked everywhere they went?

Kieron Lang, CTV.ca News

Updated: Sun. Mar. 6 2011 7:17 AM ET
Watching events unfold in North Africa and the Middle East, you might think the uprisings there -- aimed at toppling corrupt regimes -- will peter out once democracy takes hold. But political prognosticator Gerald Celente says you're dead wrong.
The founder and publisher of the New York -based Trends Journal believes that way of thinking is so misguided, in fact, anyone who thinks that way won't see what's really coming next.
Celente, who makes a living with his forecasts of where the world is heading, trumpets the success of his predictions on everything from the brewing popularity of gourmet coffee in 1988 to this century's "Great Recession" in 2004.
More recently, Celente says he warned of the current spread of youth-inspired uprisings long before anyone else.
"We had forecast that there would be a wave of protests raging throughout the world in response to three elements: high unemployment, draconian austerity measures and corruption," Celente explains in a telephone interview.
"What you're seeing in North Africa and the Middle East is the same three elements," he insists. "It has nothing to do with autocracy or democracy."
Instead, Celente says anyone who sees the world as he does will recognize that there's actually a form of neo-feudalism at work, pitting oppressed "peasants" against a rich ruling class unwilling to share the wealth.
"You have people between the ages of 18 and 30, their hormones are raging, and they're raging mad. You've got no limits at that age, you're not afraid of anything and you have nothing to lose," he says. "The difference is, these peasants are educated, they know the deal."
'Europe is next'
In an energetic, if somewhat rambling conversation with CTV.ca, Celente explains that the recent conflicts in Tunisia and beyond are more about young people confronting their bleak economic future than it is about a push for elected representation.
"If people are fat and happy they could care less if Mickey Mouse is ruling them," he says. But given the state of the world economy, that doesn't seem an imminent prospect.
"Europe is next," Celente continued, explaining that in his view the uprisings in North Africa and the Mideast were not triggered by events in Tunisia. Instead, he believes they're the inevitable result of political, social and economic conditions shared by a vast, growing array of countries including, but not limited to Albania, Croatia, Romania, Lithuania, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Soaring unemployment, cuts to pensions and benefits, rising fees for diminishing services, across-the-board value-added tax increases and declining minimum wages are all common factors to some degree, he says. Combine those with the numbers of young people who are still living with their parents, struggling to find work and not seeing much hope for the future, and Celente says you've got some powerful reasons to not only get angry over the growing gap between rich and poor, but to do something about it.
The inevitable result will be "the next great war of the 21st century," he says, offering a favourite maxim: "When the money stops flowing to Main Street, the money starts flowing on the streets."
Fascist America
So, how can the world be spared from its apparently bloody destiny?
According to Celente, certainly not in any of the ways governments have tried so far. To start, he says we have to abandon the concept that some businesses are "too-big-to-fail." Recalling the powerful robber barons of 19th century America, for example, he says the same dynamic is at work today. The difference now is, they are no longer the subject of public derision.
"Now people bow down, suck up and congratulate them on how wonderful they are," Celente scoffs, insisting that's the wrong attitude.
"We have to tax the multi-billonaires, we have to stop all of these tax rip-offs of the multinationals, and go back to when it worked better."
According to Celente, that means reinstituting laws that curb banks' abilities "to become like casinos," and generally reverting to the state of affairs before NAFTA.
"It's not free trade. It's manufacturers going to slave labour countries, getting their products made, and shipping them back at a mark-up. Let's call it what it is."
Celente offers a similarly stark view of the steps taken by world leaders to curb the recent global economic slowdown. Rather than fix the world's financial problems, Celente says policies of tax cuts, austerity measures and stimulus spending have instead served to reinflate economic bubbles that are near-bursting.
"This is not capitalism. The merger of state and corporate powers by definition -- from someone who knew a thing or two about it: Mussolini -- is facism," Celente asserts. "And fascism has come to America."
With the world headed towards a great war, and citizens of the western world living under fascism, you might think there's cause for panic. But Celente says the panic hasn't taken hold because, for most people, the facts aren't clear.
"You think they'd care about Libya if it was the Ivory Coast?," Celente asks, suggesting that the public is being misled in terms of what's really at stake. "Do you think the United States would be in Iraq if the major export was broccoli?"
Money is the prime motivator, Celente says, not freedom and liberty. "The people can't see it because they're getting misinformation, because they get caught up in the ideology of it."
War at your door?
The thought of a popular uprising erupting close to home is not totally out of the question, however, especally in light of the 70,000 who recently marched against Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker's bill aimed at stripping public workers of their collective bargaining rights.
Despite Walker's insistence the move would help slash his state's projected US$3.6-billion deficit, the proposed law raised the ire of union supporters across the U.S. who, in a sign of growing discontent among the working class, rallied in several cities including Los Angeles; Topeka, Kansas; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Olympia, Washington and St. Paul, Minnesota.
Indeed, Celente believes the violence will inevitably spread to our shores, as many of the same conditions are at play here in Canada and the United States -- except one.
"The people here don't have the fighting zeal. The young people here are more than mommies' boys -- they're soccer mommies' boys," he said, suggesting that should at least forestall such uprisings on our shores anytime soon.

CTV.news

If you've spent any time online, you've probably seen them: the ads for diet products made with the trendy berry açai. But you may want to think twice about signing up for one of these diets.
The consumer advocacy group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, is warning that not only are the diets questionable, many are offered through an online scam.
There's no evidence whatsoever that diet pills made with açai (pronounced a-sigh-EE) will help flatten tummies, cleanse colons, enhance sexual desire, or perform any of the other commonly advertised functions, the CSPI warns in a news release Monday.
What's more, many of these pills are offered through "free, risk-free" 14-day trial offers that are really part of a scheme called "negative option" advertising.
The companies offer samples of the products but then charge the customer's credit card month after month unless the consumer cancels the order.
CSPI senior nutritionist David Schardt, who authored an exposé of the scam in the April issue of CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter, says oftentimes, there is little that police can do.
"If Bernard Madoff were in the food business, he'd be offering 'free' trials of açai-based weight-loss products," Schardt said in a statement Monday.
"Law enforcement has yet to catch up to these rogue operators. Until they do, consumers have to protect themselves."
The Better Business Bureau in the U.S. released a statement this January warning consumers to be wary of website offering acai berry-related weight loss products, saying it has received "thousands" of complaints from consumers.
In many cases, when customers try to contact the company and cancel their subscriptions, they are forced to sit for more than an hour on hold. Additionally, some consumers have complained of unauthorized charges on their credit card or bank accounts for products they did not order.
Others have had trouble cancelling their subscription using the email addresses provided. In some cases, the address did not work or the complainant continued to be billed despite multiple emails.
Several customers reported they were eventually forced to close bank accounts and cancel credit cards to stop the charges.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has taken up the cause along with the CSPI to expose these scams, reminding consumers of the old adage, "If it looks too good to be true, it probably is."
"There are no magical berries from the Brazilian rainforest that cure obesity -- only painfully real credit card charges and empty weight loss promises," Blumenthal said in a statement.
"Aggressive acai berry pitches on the Internet entice countless consumers into free trials promising weight loss, energy and detoxification. These claims are based on folklore, traditional remedies and outright fabrications--unproven by real scientific evidence. In reality, consumers lose more money than weight after free trials transition into inescapable charges."
He has promised to continue to investigate misleading nutrition and health claims and take action under consumer protection laws when possible.
Acai began attracting attention in 2005 with word that the Brazilian fruit's juice was especially high in antioxidants, which are thought to slow or preventing the oxidative damage from oxygen from free radicals.
The CSPI says in fact, acai juice has no more antioxidants than grape, blueberry, or black cherry juices. What's more, there is no credible evidence that antioxidants in themselves can promote weight loss.
In early 2008, acai got a jolt of publicity when the berry was mentioned in a segment on the Oprah Winfrey show by Dr. Mehmet Oz, who wrote the "You" series of health books with Dr. Michael Roizen. A guest on Rachael Ray also discussed an acai beverage.
Since then, ads on Google, Facebook, and major websites have steered consumers to sites with names such as OprahsAmazingDiet.com, DrOzMiracle.com, rachaelray.drozdiet-acaiberry.com with such teasers as: "Lose weight with Oprah's favorite diet secret!" "Eat the berry that Dr. Oz calls the 'No. 1' superfood!"
Winfrey, Oz, and Ray have all publicly disassociated themselves from the sites that make unauthorized use of their names.
A disclaimer was added to the Oprah website last month that reads: "Consumers should be aware that Oprah Winfrey is not associated with nor does she endorse any açaí berry product or online solicitation of such products."

Leedskalnin's Writings
Latvian immigrant sculptor, scientist and author, Edward Leedskalnin, left behind two important gifts for humanity—Rock Gate, otherwise known as Coral Castle, and Magnetic Current, the universal theory of the individual North and South pole magnet—two gifts that are emerging as perhaps two of the greatest achievements by one man in human history.

In Magnetic Current and complimentary writings, Edward Leedskalnin provides instruction through experimentation and lecture into understanding the interactions of the individual North and South pole magnet, a magnetic unipole. Since the individual North and South pole magnets are considered by Leedskalnin to be the base of everything, he’s able to move in and out of seemingly unrelated scientific topics with ease drawing awakening correlations between them and shedding light on the true inner workings of our world and universe.

http://www.leedskalnin.com/LeedskalninsWritings.html

“Nietzsche says there are two kinds of people in the world. People who are destined for greatness, like Walt Disney and Hitler. And then there’s the rest of us. “He called us ‘the bungled and the botched.’ We get teased. We sometimes get close to greatness, but we never get there. We’re the expendable masses. We get pushed in front of trains, take poison aspirin, get gunned down in Dairy Queens.” - Jack Lucas, “The Fisher King”

Tuesday February 15, 2011
Categories: RNS, research
(RNS) While mainline Protestant churches in the U.S. continue to experience decades-long decline, the memberships of Pentecostal traditions are on the rise, according to new figures compiled by the National Council of Churches.

The Roman Catholic Church (No. 1) and the Southern Baptist Convention (No. 2) are still significantly larger than all other North American denominations, but Catholics posted minimal growth of less than 1 percent, and Southern Baptist membership fell for a third straight year, according to the 2011 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches.

Produced annually by the NCC, the yearbook is considered one of the most reliable recorders of church membership. The figures in the 2011 yearbook were compiled by churches in 2009, reported to the NCC in 2010 and released Monday (Feb. 14).

Mainline Protestant churches that have seen a fall in membership since the 1970s continued their decline; the Presbyterian Church (USA) reported the greatest membership drop (2.6 percent) of the 25 largest denominations.

Other denominations reporting declines include the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Church as well as the more evangelical Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

The membership declines in mainline churches led to a 1 percent decrease in total U.S. church membership, to 145.8 million.

Despite the national decline, some smaller denominations' memberships are increasing.

"Churches which have been increasing in membership in recent years continue to grow and likewise, those churches which have been declining in recent years continue to decline," writes the Rev. Eileen Lindner, the editor of the yearbook.

Pentecostal churches make up four of the 25 largest churches, and both the Assemblies of God and the Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.) increased in membership. Only six of the 25 largest memberships increased over the previous year.

Jehovah's Witnesses experienced the greatest growth percentage overall, gaining 4.37 percent according to the yearbook. Several historically black denominations continued a years-long practice of not submitting fresh figures.

The 10 largest Christian bodies reported in the 2011 yearbook are:

The Catholic Church: 68.5 million, up 0.57 percent.

Southern Baptist Convention: 16.1 million, down .42 percent.

The United Methodist Church: 7.8 million, down 1 percent.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 6 million, up 1.42 percent.

The Church of God in Christ: 5.5 million, no membership updates reported.

National Baptist Convention, USA: 5 million, no membership updates reported.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: 4.5 million, down 1.96 percent.

National Baptist Convention of America, 3.5 million, no membership updates reported.

Assemblies of God: 2.9 million, up .52 percent.

Presbyterian Church (USA): 2.7 million, down 2.61 percent.

- RICHARD YEAKLEY, c. 2011 Religion News Service
Comments (11)
Filed Under: Chuch, Growth, Membership, National Council of Churches, Pentecostal, Protest, Report, Research, RNS, Roman Catholic Church, Southern Baptist Convention, Trends

Coca-Cola’s secret recipe has been a fiercely guarded trade secret since the creation of the carbonated beverage way back in 1886. But a US radio show claims to have sensationally uncovered the ingredients and quantities used to make the iconic American soft drink.

This American Life has unearthed a 32-year-old article from the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Coca-Cola’s hometown paper, which it claims shows a photograph of a hand-written recipe purported to be an exact replica of Coca-Cola creator John Pemberton’s. According to research undertaken by This American Life, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution journalist came across the recipe in dusty book of recipes once owned by pharmacist Everett Beal, Pemberton’s fishing buddy. Coca-Cola historian Mark Pendergrast told the radio show the recipe is “certainly a version of the formula.”

If the recipe does turns out to be the real thing it will send shockwaves around the US firm which has kept stony silent about the recipe for over 100 years. “The only official written copy is supposedly held in a U.S. bank vault and only two company employees at any one time are said to know the whole formula that gives the fizzy drink its distinctive flavour,” reported The Daily Mail, which added that, “Asa Candler, one of the first presidents of the company, was so worried that the ‘Holy of Holies’ would fall into the wrong hands he made sure it was never written down. He removed all the labels from the containers of the ingredients so they were identified only by the sight, smell and where they were put on the shelf.”

Somewhat unsurprisingly, Coca-Cola have denied the secret formula has been made public. “Our formulation is our company’s most valued trade secret, and we will not be coming forward with that formula,” a cagey spokesperson told The Los Angeles Times’ Daily Dish blog.

Currently, a can of Coke lists its ingredients as: “Natural flavourings including caffeine’ alongside carbonated water, sugar, phosphoric acid and colour (Caramel E150d).” But it has long been known that the drink contains a mysterious “7X” flavouring. “The company has always said, and as far as I know it’s true, that at any given time only two people know how to mix the 7X flavouring ingredient,” Coca-Cola historian Mark Pendergrast told This American Life. “Those two people never travel on the same plane in case it crashes; it’s this carefully passed-on secret ritual and the formula is kept in a bank vault.”

So, what’s in a can of Coke? It has two parts. The first includes “fluid extract of coca,” citric acid, caffeine, sugar, water, lime juice, vanilla, and caramel. The second, called “7X,” includes alcohol, orange oil, lemon oil, nutmeg oil, coriander, neroli, and cinnamon. Budding soda makers keen to make megabucks can check out the original recipe here. Thisamericanlife.org said all ingredients are available online.

“Mostly through all this I feel bad for poor Pepsi, about whose secret formula no one cares,” quipped Max Read at Gawker. “When was the last time you wondered about the secret recipe for Pepsi? They probably would just give it to you, if you asked!”

Search Results

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    15 Feb 2011 ... Did she go back to Egypt and then, on the 11th, get assaulted again? ....She was the female reporter that had 2 affairs while reporting in ...

The Voynich manuscript is a handwritten book thought to have been written in the early[1] 15th century and comprising about 240 vellum pages,[notes 1] most with illustrations. The author, script, and language remain unknown: for these reasons it has been described as "the world's most mysterious manuscript".[2]

Generally presumed to be some kind of ciphertext, the Voynich manuscript has been studied by many professional and amateur cryptographers, including American andBritish codebreakers from both World War I and World War II. Yet it has defied all decipherment attempts, becoming a historical cryptology cause célèbre. The mystery surrounding it has excited the popular imagination, making the manuscript a subject of both fanciful theories and novels: numerous possible authors have been suggested for it.

In 2009, University of Arizona researchers performed C14 dating on the manuscript's vellum, which they assert (with 95% confidence) was made between 1404 and 1438.[3][4] In addition, the McCrone Research Institute in Chicago found that much of the ink was added not long afterwards, confirming that the manuscript is indeed an authentic medieval document.[3]

The book is named after the Polish-Lithuanian-American book dealer Wilfrid M. Voynich, who acquired it in 1912. Currently the Voynich manuscript is owned by theBeinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University, and is formally referred to as "Beinecke MS 408". The first facsimile edition was published in 2005.[5]

I came across this on Ellen Roseman's "On Your Side" blog (here: Roseman article in Jan 30 2011 Star

Apparently, "the Sale of Goods Act says that merchandise must be fit for the intended purpose".

To Summarize if you buy something, then find out that it doesn't work right, you are entitled to a refund, regardless of the store "policy" about returns. They shouldn't have sold it to you in the first place.

The act is here: Ontario - Sale of Goods Act : http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90s01_e.htm.

It says (in part), "there is an implied condition that the goods will be of merchantable quality".

Regarding store policies: "An express warranty or condition does not negative a warranty or condition implied by this Act".

And this just won't comply with the Act "Sorry, we aren't responsible 'cause we aren't the manufacturer". The Act says, "whether the seller is the manufacturer or not".

Roseman's Article

Hazel McCallion didn’t want to talk about her recent scolding during an ongoing inquiry into conflict-of-interest allegations. That was just as well, since none of the Mississaugans packed eight rows deep to see their mayor seemed to be interested.

They weren’t there to demand accountability — they were there for the giant bun.

Mississauga’s Square One mall was the site of a fawning bash on Saturday that was meant to serve as both an early celebration of McCallion’s 90th birthday, actually on Feb. 14, and Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb. 3.

Sporting the chain of office and tapping her feet jauntily, McCallion occupied the seat of honour as men in Chinese dragon costumes cavorted and bowed before her and an opera singer flown in from Hong Kong led the crowd in “Happy Birthday.”

In place of a cake, McCallion sliced into a massive Chinese bun symbolizing longevity. One presenter at the event, paid for by Square One, called her “the most popular mayor in the whole wide world.”

The festivities were a significant departure from the recent proceedings of a judicial inquiry into McCallion’s promotion of a land deal brokered by her son that would have brought a convention centre-hotel development to downtown Mississauga. In a written submission released Thursday, city lawyer Clifford Lax blasted her involvement “inappropriate” and “unbecoming of an elected official.”

McCallion refused to comment on Lax’s submission after the celebration. “You can’t get it out of me,” she responded to repeated questioning.

But in comments to the crowd, McCallion referred obliquely to the controversy.

“It’s my prayer that in spite of the failure of us getting a convention centre — which I tried so hard to get, and I’ve taken a lot of flak because of it — I want you to know that we’re going to work hard to get (one) in the city core.”

Asked whether events like Saturday’s bash prove that dirt has trouble sticking to the matriarch of Mississauga, former councillor Carolyn Parrish, who was defeated in last October’s election after spearheading the push for an inquiry into the land deal, insists that McCallion’s popularity is eroding.

But, she said, “Some of the community groups have worshipped Hazel’s shrine for so long, they can’t stop now…. there will always people who say, ‘Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter what happened, to me she’s the queen.’”

Elected to her twelfth term in October, McCallion has been serving as Mississauga’s mayor for over a third of a century, often with overwhelming support.

Fissures only began to appear in the McCallion monolith in 2009, when Parrish and a group of breakaway councillors successfully pushed for a conflict-of-interest inquiry. Yet in October, McCallion was elected with 76 per cent of the vote.

Justice Douglas Cunningham, head of the inquiry, will announce his findings in the coming weeks.

Source

SAN FRANCISCO - Taco Bell Corp is pushing back against a lawsuit that claims the fast food chain’s “seasoned ground beef” is not all it’s made out to be.

Taco Bell, a Yum Brands Inc subsidiary, said that it plans to take legal action against the “false statements” being made about its food. The chain operates, manages or franchises more than 5,600 locations in the United States, according to the lawsuit.

Taco Bell’s tacos, burritos and other Mexican menu items advertised with beef actually contain a filling of mostly non-meat substances like “isolated oat product,” according to the lawsuit filed last week in a California federal court.

“The ‘chicken’ and ‘carne asada steak’ served by Taco Bell is, in fact, chicken or carne asada steak,” the lawsuit says. “The ‘seasoned beef,’ however, is not beef.”

Taco Bell simmers 100% U.S. Department of Agriculture-inspected beef in a “proprietary blend of seasonings and spices” to give it a signature taste and texture, Taco Bell President Greg Creed said in a statement.

All seasoning ingredients are listed on the website, he said.

“Unfortunately, the lawyers in this case elected to sue first and ask questions later — and got their ‘facts’ absolutely wrong,” Creed said.

Dee Miles, who represents the plaintiff, said Taco Bell calls its product “taco meat filling” inside the company, but beef to customers.

“We’re going to move forward and I believe we’re going to be successful,” Miles said.

The proposed class action lawsuit asks Taco Bell to stop misrepresenting its products and engage in a corrective advertising campaign. It also seeks attorneys’ fees and costs.

The lawsuit in U.S. District Court, Central District of California is Amanda Obney v. Taco Bell Corp., 11-00101.

BEST LAWYER/INSURANCE STORY OF THE YEAR,
DECADE, AND POSSIBLY THE CENTURY.

This took place in Charlotte , North Carolina .
A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then
insured them against, among other things, fire.

Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great
cigars, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.

In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost 'in a series of
small fires.'

The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason, that
the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion.

The lawyer sued and WON!

(Stay with me.)

Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that
the claim was frivolous. The judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer
held a policy from the company, in which it had warranted that the
cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them
against fire, without defining what is considered to be unacceptable
'fire' and was obligated to pay the claim.

Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance
company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his
loss of the cigars that perished in the 'fires'.

NOW FOR THE BEST PART...

After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him
arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!! With his own insurance claim and
testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was
convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was
sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

This true story won First Place in last year's Criminal Lawyers Award
contest.

1. Lawyer Commits Insurance Fraud With Box of Cigars? - BreakTheChain.org

   4 Feb 2003 ... 25, 2005. We read or hear daily of unscrupulous folks benefitting ... The lawyer sued....and won! In delivering the ruling the judge ... This is a true story and was the 1st place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest. ... There is no such thing as the "Criminal Lawyers Award Contest" ...
   www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/cigars.html - Cached - Similar

2. Burned Cigars Insurance Claim Hoax

   Last updated: 5th November 2010. First published: 19th August 2008 ... Subject: FW: BEST LAWYER STORY OF THE YEAR - Only in America ... This is a true story and was the First Place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest! ... Incidentally, the "Criminal Lawyers Award Contest" does not appear to exist. ...
   www.hoax-slayer.com/lawyer-cigar-arson.shtml - Cached - Similar

3. Up in Smoke! (The Cigar Arsonist) - Urban Legends

   The lawyer sued.... and won! In delivering the ruling the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. ... This is a true story and was the 1st place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest. ... Fantastic Tales Guardian (UK), 15 Oct. 2002. Last updated: 09/13/07 ...
   urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcigar.htm - Cached - Similar

4. This Is A True Story!!! Must read [Archive] - David Icke's ...

   7 posts - 6 authors - Last post: 18 Feb 2009

   This true story won First Place in last year's Criminal Lawyers Award contest. Souce from http://www.reseaumondial.org/recommends/jokes ...
   www.davidicke.com › ... › Main Forums › General - Cached

   Get more discussion results

5. Lawyer story/joke/it's safe [Archive] - Calguns.net

   9 posts - 6 authors - Last post: 23 Mar 2009

   This true story won First Place in last year's Criminal Lawyers Award contest. You don't really believe that, do you? ...
   www.calguns.net/calgunforum/archive/index.php/t-165730.html - Cached

This year we will experience 4 unusual dates....

1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11 ....

NOW go figure this out.... take the last 2 digits of the year you were born, plus the age you will be this year and it WILL EQUAL .... 111

THIS IS SO STRANGE......NO MATTER HOW U DO IT, OR WHAT AGE YOU ARE ........ ITS 111......