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The government has your baby's DNA
By Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent
February 4, 2010 -- Updated 1411 GMT (2211 HKT)
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/04/baby.dna.government/index.html?hpt=C2
Anne Brown worries that someone could gain access to the DNA sample from her daughter Isabel with Isabel's name attached.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Genetic testing for newborns started in the 1960s
Specimens are often given to outside researchers
Scientists have said the collection of DNA samples is a "gold mine" for doing research
(CNN) -- When Annie Brown's daughter, Isabel, was a month old, her pediatrician asked Brown and her husband to sit down because he had some bad news to tell them: Isabel carried a gene that put her at risk for cystic fibrosis.
While grateful to have the information -- Isabel received further testing and she doesn't have the disease -- the Mankato, Minnesota, couple wondered how the doctor knew about Isabel's genes in the first place. After all, they'd never consented to genetic testing.
It's simple, the pediatrician answered: Newborn babies in the United States are routinely screened for a panel of genetic diseases. Since the testing is mandated by the government, it's often done without the parents' consent, according to Brad Therrell, director of the National Newborn Screening & Genetics Resource Center.
In many states, such as Florida, where Isabel was born, babies' DNA is stored indefinitely, according to the resource center.
Many parents don't realize their baby's DNA is being stored in a government lab, but sometimes when they find out, as the Browns did, they take action. Parents in Texas, and Minnesota have filed lawsuits, and these parents' concerns are sparking a new debate about whether it's appropriate for a baby's genetic blueprint to be in the government's possession.
"We were appalled when we found out," says Brown, who's a registered nurse. "Why do they need to store my baby's DNA indefinitely? Something on there could affect her ability to get a job later on, or get health insurance."
According to the state of Minnesota's Web site, samples are kept so that tests can be repeated, if necessary, and in case the DNA is ever need to help parents identify a missing or deceased child. The samples are also used for medical research.
Video: Government has your baby's DNA Art Caplan, a bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, says he understands why states don't first ask permission to screen babies for genetic diseases. "It's paternalistic, but the state has an overriding interest in protecting these babies," he says.
However, he added that storage of DNA for long periods of time is a different matter.
"I don't see any reason to do that kind of storage," Caplan says. "If it's anonymous, then I don't care. I don't have an issue with that. But if you keep names attached to those samples, that makes me nervous."
DNA given to outside researchers
Genetic testing for newborns started in the 1960s with testing for diseases and conditions that, if undetected, could kill a child or cause severe problems, such as mental retardation. Since then, the screening has helped save countless newborns.
Over the years, many other tests were added to the list. Now, states mandate that newborns be tested for anywhere between 28 and 54 different conditions, and the DNA samples are stored in state labs for anywhere from three months to indefinitely, depending on the state. (To find out how long your baby's DNA is stored, see this state-by-state list.)
Brad Therrell, who runs the federally funded genetic resource consortium, says parents don't need to worry about the privacy of their babies' DNA.
"The states have in place very rigid controls on those specimens," Therrell says. "If my children's DNA were in one of these state labs, I wouldn't be worried a bit."
The specimens don't always stay in the state labs. They're often given to outside researchers -- sometimes with the baby's name attached.
According to a study done by the state of Minnesota, more than 20 scientific papers have been published in the United States since 2000 using newborn blood samples.
The researchers do not have to have parental consent to obtain samples as long as the baby's name is not attached, according to Amy Gaviglio, one of the authors of the Minnesota report. However, she says it's her understanding that if a researcher wants a sample with a baby's name attached, consent first must be obtained from the parents.
More Empowered Patient news and advice
Scientists have heralded this enormous collection of DNA samples as a "gold mine" for doing research, according to Gaviglio.
"This sample population would be virtually impossible to get otherwise," says Gaviglio, a genetic counselor for the Minnesota Department of Health. "Researchers go through a very stringent process to obtain the samples. States certainly don't provide samples to just anyone."
Brown says that even with these assurances, she still worries whether someone could gain access to her baby's DNA sample with Isabel's name attached.
"I know the government says my baby's data will be kept private, but I'm not so sure. I feel like my trust has been taken," she says.
Parents don't give consent to screening
Brown says she first lost trust when she learned that Isabel had received genetic testing in the first place without consent from her or her husband.
"I don't have a problem with the testing, but I wish they'd asked us first," she says.
Since health insurance paid for Isabel's genetic screening, her positive test for a cystic fibrosis gene is now on the record with her insurance company, and the Browns are concerned this could hurt her in the future.
"It's really a black mark against her, and there's nothing we can do to get it off there," Brown says. "And let's say in the future they can test for a gene for schizophrenia or manic-depression and your baby tests positive -- that would be on there, too."
Brown says if the hospital had first asked her permission to test Isabel, now 10 months old, she might have chosen to pay for it out of pocket so the results wouldn't be known to the insurance company.
Caplan says taking DNA samples without asking permission and then storing them "veers from the norm."
"In the military, for instance, they take and store DNA samples, but they tell you they're doing it, and you can choose not to join if you don't like it," he says.
What can parents do
In some states, including Minnesota and Texas, the states are required to destroy a baby's DNA sample if a parent requests it. Parents who want their baby's DNA destroyed are asked to fill out this form in Minnesota and this form in Texas.
Parents in other states have less recourse, says Therrell, who runs the genetic testing group. "You'd probably have to write a letter to the state saying, 'Please destroy my sample,'" he says.
He adds, however, that it's not clear whether a state would necessarily obey your wishes. "I suspect it would be very difficult to get those states to destroy your baby's sample," he says.
NANCY PELOSI'S "SWEATING TO THE SOCIALISTS" WORKOUT VIDEO!
Migrants struggling for work in Texas return to Mexico as a burden
11:26 PM CST on Monday, February 1, 2010
By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News
acorchado@dallasnews.com
CORRAL DE PIEDRAS, Mexico – The leader of this community has a message for its native sons and daughters who work in Texas and dream of returning home: Don't do it. You'll regret it.
To make her point, she has the perfect example: her husband.
Teresa Cadena Moreno, 34, the mayor's delegate in this farming community of 5,000 people in central Guanajuato state, has noticed a troubling trend over the past few months. With the slowdown in the U.S. economy, she is seeing a rising number of expatriates returning home. They're not coming just for a Christmas visit or town celebration, but with every intention of staying permanently. And that has the town in a bind.
They come back with more expectations than they left with. They want better public services – roads, schools, sewer systems – and, more important, jobs. Some complain about the lack of drinking water. Their children often speak only English or broken Spanish.
"It's not easy," Cadena said. "We're a poor community that relies on the remittances of our migrants, not on them returning home to stay."
It's not easy for the returnees, either.
Last fall, Cadena's husband, Jaime Hernández, 32, returned home after working in construction in Tyler. He had every intention of staying put for a while, if not permanently.
As a painter in Texas, Hernández made in one day what he makes here in a week, roughly $100, he said. Yes, food is cheaper here and his home is paid for, but after a few weeks "you miss a good steak," he said.
"You have to watch every peso you spend," he said. "Here you fight to maintain whatever you have, not necessarily to get ahead."
In the third quarter of 2009, the Mexican government recorded an unusual trend: 108,078 emigrants returned home to stay, up 30 percent from 2008. The trend was expected to continue through the fourth quarter, though those numbers haven't been released yet.
Meanwhile, money sent home by Mexicans abroad plunged a record 15.7 percent in 2009, a reflection of the sluggish U.S. economy. Remittances are Mexico's No. 2 source of foreign income after oil, totaling $21.2 billion in 2009 compared with $25.1 billion in 2008, according to the central bank.
For a country that says it wants to see its emigrants return home, these trends put Mexico in a quandary.
For more than two decades, the Mexican government has been trying to re-establish bonds with Mexicans living abroad.
The government even has an agency, the Office for Mexicans Abroad, with a campaign that in part aims not just to lure return investment in Mexico, but to encourage emigrants to return home. Just not now.
"There are a lot of pretty, nostalgic words spoken by the Mexican government," said Primitivo Rodríguez, director of the Coalition for the Political Rights for Mexicans Abroad.
"But where is the substance? The question really is, 'How can Mexico reserve a job for you, immigrant, when the government can't even guarantee a job for your cousin or brother back home?' "
Mexico's long, devastating recession and drought have left millions unemployed or underemployed.
Even as President Felipe Calderón declares the recession officially over, it will take time for many municipalities to rise from financial ruin. Last year, the National Association of Mayors reported that more than 70 percent of Mexico's 2,439 municipalities were broke or near bankruptcy.
Corral de Piedras is no exception.
Jesús Ramírez Ramírez, 42, worked in construction throughout the southeastern United States but returned home last year when work became scarce. Now he sells corn on the cob for 10 pesos, about 90 cents, each.
"There's not much work here either. ... I'd like to go back, but it's hard," he said, pointing to one of his seven children.
And the returning emigrants add to the strain on the community, Cadena said.
"We don't have enough room in our schools, much less bilingual teachers, as some students arrive speaking English, and they can't fit in," she said.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful or offensive," she said, "because here almost everyone has a relative living in the United States."
Cadena runs a neighborhood grocery store with help from the money her husband has sent from the U.S. Recently, she said, he has been edgy, staying up late at night, worried about the difficulty of making a living at home. Finally, he told his wife he had decided to leave again.
"Being away from my wife, my kids, my hometown is very painful," Hernández said. "Living apart is no life. But so is living without a good-paying job."
Comments (66)
Posted by eq | 1 hour ago
open the borders
Posted by rdy4myclosup | 1 hour ago
"Yes, food is cheaper here and his home is paid for, but after a few weeks "you miss a good steak," he said. ""
This USA citizen has not eaten steak in two years. My credit was destroyed by Freddie Mac and a devastating illness. We are lucky if we can afford hamburger meat twice a month, and still pay rent, electricity and water.
Cadena said. "We're a poor community that relies on the remittances of our migrants, not on them returning home to stay."
Remittances?!! Yeah, our USA dollars supporting your country! My heart bleeds for you. Ticks.
0 0Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Wanderer | 4 hours ago
Selling corn cobs dipped in mayonaise is NOT a job.
2 1Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Karmen Nava | 5 hours ago
The "vendidos" sold out politicians do not represent the voice of the average citizen in Mexico. We are glad to welcome them back. Mexicans in general are very ingenius in creating their own self employment which in reality is not as common in the US. That is why when a Mexican goes to the US you many times see them selling fast food in a vendor´s truck or pushing ice cream in a little push cart, etc. In Mexico it is very common to have a home business. As a young man told me recently that there are many legal and enterprising ways to earn money in Mexico. Schools and universities are excellent. These vagabonds do not realize the opportunities that are availble in Mexico.
Why go to a country who is prejudiced and really doesn't want you there? May God bless richly those who are humble enough to return. Sometimes you just have to do without the car of the year. Just buy an older model. Be debt free with no monthly payments or take the buses. The bus transportation in Mexico is great! Walk more and live healthier! The community of Mexican citizens looks forward to your return!
4 2Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by tekiebelu | 6 hours ago
OMG! Is she saying that being in the US has corrupted the emigrants? They speak "broken Spanish" and expect better social services? My God, being in the US has spoiled them! They actually want a government that takes care of them...for free of course. The problem is there's no one in their home country with the money and resources for them to freeload off of. A socialist community requires other people's money to spend. It's so ironic because when they come here (illegally), they speak broken English and fill our schools to bursting and don't fit in and bleed our social programs dry. They should do all those things in their own country.
If you come here illegally when times are good but leave when times are bad, you're a greedy, illegal opportunist whose only goal is to drain our country for all it's worth and send it all back to Mexico. Why is it OK for Mexicans to do this but not Haitians or people from the Dominican Republic? ALL illegal immigration needs to end now! If they can leave on their own when our economy is down, then we ought to be able to deport them under the same circumstances and not let them come back unless they choose a legal route.
6 0Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by JAMIMI | 8 hours ago
Did the Mexican gov. hear about the stimulus plan our gov. thinks is so grand? Maybe if they would try it, they could create all kinds of jobs, build infrastructure, educate kids, just like us. It would be a win win situation. If its a good idea for us, what are they waiting for?
4 0Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by katia | 13 hours ago
Don't come home because the Mexican Gov't . won't take care of you but the American Gov't will.Soon ,Obama will give them amnesty.
6 0Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by CTOK | 19 hours ago
Once again another pathetic attempt to try to make us feel sorry for these people.
You come here legally and are ready to assimilate and contribute, welcome! All others, don't let the door hit you on the way out.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/020210dnintreturn.40d7bb7.html
Migrants struggling for work in Texas return to Mexico as a burden
11:26 PM CST on Monday, February 1, 2010
By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News
acorchado@dallasnews.com
CORRAL DE PIEDRAS, Mexico – The leader of this community has a message for its native sons and daughters who work in Texas and dream of returning home: Don't do it. You'll regret it.
To make her point, she has the perfect example: her husband.
Teresa Cadena Moreno, 34, the mayor's delegate in this farming community of 5,000 people in central Guanajuato state, has noticed a troubling trend over the past few months. With the slowdown in the U.S. economy, she is seeing a rising number of expatriates returning home. They're not coming just for a Christmas visit or town celebration, but with every intention of staying permanently. And that has the town in a bind.
They come back with more expectations than they left with. They want better public services – roads, schools, sewer systems – and, more important, jobs. Some complain about the lack of drinking water. Their children often speak only English or broken Spanish.
"It's not easy," Cadena said. "We're a poor community that relies on the remittances of our migrants, not on them returning home to stay."
It's not easy for the returnees, either.
Last fall, Cadena's husband, Jaime Hernández, 32, returned home after working in construction in Tyler. He had every intention of staying put for a while, if not permanently.
As a painter in Texas, Hernández made in one day what he makes here in a week, roughly $100, he said. Yes, food is cheaper here and his home is paid for, but after a few weeks "you miss a good steak," he said.
"You have to watch every peso you spend," he said. "Here you fight to maintain whatever you have, not necessarily to get ahead."
In the third quarter of 2009, the Mexican government recorded an unusual trend: 108,078 emigrants returned home to stay, up 30 percent from 2008. The trend was expected to continue through the fourth quarter, though those numbers haven't been released yet.
Meanwhile, money sent home by Mexicans abroad plunged a record 15.7 percent in 2009, a reflection of the sluggish U.S. economy. Remittances are Mexico's No. 2 source of foreign income after oil, totaling $21.2 billion in 2009 compared with $25.1 billion in 2008, according to the central bank.
For a country that says it wants to see its emigrants return home, these trends put Mexico in a quandary.
For more than two decades, the Mexican government has been trying to re-establish bonds with Mexicans living abroad.
The government even has an agency, the Office for Mexicans Abroad, with a campaign that in part aims not just to lure return investment in Mexico, but to encourage emigrants to return home. Just not now.
"There are a lot of pretty, nostalgic words spoken by the Mexican government," said Primitivo Rodríguez, director of the Coalition for the Political Rights for Mexicans Abroad.
"But where is the substance? The question really is, 'How can Mexico reserve a job for you, immigrant, when the government can't even guarantee a job for your cousin or brother back home?' "
Mexico's long, devastating recession and drought have left millions unemployed or underemployed.
Even as President Felipe Calderón declares the recession officially over, it will take time for many municipalities to rise from financial ruin. Last year, the National Association of Mayors reported that more than 70 percent of Mexico's 2,439 municipalities were broke or near bankruptcy.
Corral de Piedras is no exception.
Jesús Ramírez Ramírez, 42, worked in construction throughout the southeastern United States but returned home last year when work became scarce. Now he sells corn on the cob for 10 pesos, about 90 cents, each.
"There's not much work here either. ... I'd like to go back, but it's hard," he said, pointing to one of his seven children.
And the returning emigrants add to the strain on the community, Cadena said.
"We don't have enough room in our schools, much less bilingual teachers, as some students arrive speaking English, and they can't fit in," she said.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful or offensive," she said, "because here almost everyone has a relative living in the United States."
Cadena runs a neighborhood grocery store with help from the money her husband has sent from the U.S. Recently, she said, he has been edgy, staying up late at night, worried about the difficulty of making a living at home. Finally, he told his wife he had decided to leave again.
"Being away from my wife, my kids, my hometown is very painful," Hernández said. "Living apart is no life. But so is living without a good-paying job."
Comments (66)
Posted by eq | 1 hour ago
open the borders
Posted by rdy4myclosup | 1 hour ago
"Yes, food is cheaper here and his home is paid for, but after a few weeks "you miss a good steak," he said. ""
This USA citizen has not eaten steak in two years. My credit was destroyed by Freddie Mac and a devastating illness. We are lucky if we can afford hamburger meat twice a month, and still pay rent, electricity and water.
Cadena said. "We're a poor community that relies on the remittances of our migrants, not on them returning home to stay."
Remittances?!! Yeah, our USA dollars supporting your country! My heart bleeds for you. Ticks.
0 0Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Wanderer | 4 hours ago
Selling corn cobs dipped in mayonaise is NOT a job.
2 1Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Karmen Nava | 5 hours ago
The "vendidos" sold out politicians do not represent the voice of the average citizen in Mexico. We are glad to welcome them back. Mexicans in general are very ingenius in creating their own self employment which in reality is not as common in the US. That is why when a Mexican goes to the US you many times see them selling fast food in a vendor´s truck or pushing ice cream in a little push cart, etc. In Mexico it is very common to have a home business. As a young man told me recently that there are many legal and enterprising ways to earn money in Mexico. Schools and universities are excellent. These vagabonds do not realize the opportunities that are availble in Mexico.
Why go to a country who is prejudiced and really doesn't want you there? May God bless richly those who are humble enough to return. Sometimes you just have to do without the car of the year. Just buy an older model. Be debt free with no monthly payments or take the buses. The bus transportation in Mexico is great! Walk more and live healthier! The community of Mexican citizens looks forward to your return!
4 2Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by tekiebelu | 6 hours ago
OMG! Is she saying that being in the US has corrupted the emigrants? They speak "broken Spanish" and expect better social services? My God, being in the US has spoiled them! They actually want a government that takes care of them...for free of course. The problem is there's no one in their home country with the money and resources for them to freeload off of. A socialist community requires other people's money to spend. It's so ironic because when they come here (illegally), they speak broken English and fill our schools to bursting and don't fit in and bleed our social programs dry. They should do all those things in their own country.
If you come here illegally when times are good but leave when times are bad, you're a greedy, illegal opportunist whose only goal is to drain our country for all it's worth and send it all back to Mexico. Why is it OK for Mexicans to do this but not Haitians or people from the Dominican Republic? ALL illegal immigration needs to end now! If they can leave on their own when our economy is down, then we ought to be able to deport them under the same circumstances and not let them come back unless they choose a legal route.
6 0Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by JAMIMI | 8 hours ago
Did the Mexican gov. hear about the stimulus plan our gov. thinks is so grand? Maybe if they would try it, they could create all kinds of jobs, build infrastructure, educate kids, just like us. It would be a win win situation. If its a good idea for us, what are they waiting for?
4 0Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by katia | 13 hours ago
Don't come home because the Mexican Gov't . won't take care of you but the American Gov't will.Soon ,Obama will give them amnesty.
6 0Report Abuse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by CTOK | 19 hours ago
Once again another pathetic attempt to try to make us feel sorry for these people.
You come here legally and are ready to assimilate and contribute, welcome! All others, don't let the door hit you on the way out.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/stories/020210dnintreturn.40d7bb7.html
Now that looks like a program that is a definite win-win for everyone involved. Kudos to them for starting and maintaining a program like that.
Hmmm, maybe it's something we should try here in the U.S.
Thankfully, those are not something I've had a problem with. Now, potato bugs are an entirely different story!
Ah, nice to see someone else loves horse manure! lol
Composted of course.
I think you are absolutely correct. Hope everyone has their seatbelts fastened!
Record Jet Stream Produces Storms of Biblical Proportions
jet stream hitting Southern California is as powerful as has ever been recorded, over 230 mph
January 22, 2010
George Wolfberg, President, Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association
Santa Monica Dispatch
The jet stream that is going to hit Southern California is as powerful as has ever been recorded on this planet before, over 230 mph. The jet is at an extremely unusually low altitude, not 30,000 to 60,000 feet, but coming as low as 8,000 feet. This jet will be traveling over the unusually warm El Nino waters of the eastern pacific, and will be carrying freakish amounts of energy and moisture. A huge series of storms is going to slam into Los Angeles and the surrounding areas just one after another for day after day for up to two weeks.
The initial storms will be very cold, with snow levels as low as 3,000 feet. Heavy rain and snow will be hitting California from San Diego to Eureka. Next week, the driest places will see at least 3 inches of rain, the Los Angeles basin and northern parts of the county and Ventura will see 6 to 10 inches. The wettest areas and cells within the system will hit with up to 20 inches of rain. Snowfall in the Sierras will be measured in the TENS of feet. Powerful winds will be associated with this storm--like a powerful Santa Ana but blowing in the opposite direction, west to east. Gusts up to 80 mph are forecast.
But it gets worse. For the first time that I'm aware of, ALL of the various models are in agreement about the second week of the storm. Normally, beyond a week, the models diverge. But due to the extreme strength of the weather producing factors, this time all of the models produce the same results for the 8-14 day period.
For the week of the 24th, we will be hit with a powerful and WARM series of storms, as strong as any we've seen. This heavy warm rainfall will fall onto the newly laid snowpack and what will be totally saturated ground, especially in the burn areas of LA and will produce tremendous melting and runoff, and the potential for record flooding.
Due to the low altitude of the jet stream, 200+ mph winds will slam directly into the Sierras, producing tornado strength winds over a 200 mile wide front. DON'T head to Mammoth for skiing when you hear about the huge snow fall in the first week.
Planes and helicopters are migrating out of the coastal bases and into the interior bases of Arizona and Nevada. They're taking this very seriously. A friend of Scott's is a Navy weather forecaster and he told Scott that the military is moving assets east out of the way ahead of this storm.
This may sound alarmist, but websites I check related to weather modeling are using the word "Biblical" for this system. If you can work from home or commute by train, please plan on doing so. The LA freeway system is going to be a mess for the next week or two.
From: UC Environmental Protection Services Issues
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 1:24 PM
To: UCEPS-L@LISTSERV.UCOP.EDU
Subject: Winter Storm Warning starting Sunday
Currently, the strong El Nino is reaching its peak in the Eastern Pacific, and now finally appears to be exerting an influence on our weather. The strong jet has been apparent for quite some time out over the open water, but the persistent block had prevented it from reaching the coast. Now that the block has dissolved completely, a 200+ kt jet is barreling towards us. Multiple large and powerful storm systems are expected to slam into CA from the west and northwest over the coming two weeks, all riding this extremely powerful jet stream directly into the state. The jet will itself provide tremendous dynamic lift, in addition to directing numerous disturbances right at the state and supplying them with an ample oceanic moisture source. The jet will be at quite a low latitude over much of the Pacific, so these storms will be quite cold, at least initially. Very heavy rainfall and strong to potentially very strong winds will impact the lower elevations beginning late Sunday and continuing through at least the following Sunday. This will be the case for the entire state, from (and south of) the Mexican border all the way up to Oregon. Above 3000-4000 feet, precipitation will be all snow, and since temperatures will be unusually cold for a precipitation event of this magnitude, a truly prodigious amount of snowfall is likely to occur in the mountains, possibly measured in the tens of feet in the Sierra after it's all said and done. But there's a big and rather threatening caveat to that (discussed below). Individual storm events are going to be hard to time for at least few more days, since this jet is just about as powerful as they come (on this planet, anyway). Between this Sunday and the following Sunday, I expect categorical statewide rainfall totals in excess of 3-4 inches. That is likely to be a huge underestimate for most areas. Much of NorCal is likely to see 5-10 inches in the lowlands, with 10-20 inches in orographically-favored areas. Most of SoCal will see 3-6 inches at lower elevations, with perhaps triple that amount in favored areas.
This is where things get even more interesting, though. The models are virtually unanimous in "reloading" the powerful jet stream and forming an additional persistent kink 2000-3000 miles to our southwest after next Sunday. This is a truly ominous pattern, because it implies the potential for a strong Pineapple-type connection to develop. Indeed, the 12z GFS now shows copious warm rains falling between days 12 and 16 across the entire state. Normally, such as scenario out beyond day seven would be dubious at best. Since the models are in such truly remarkable agreement, however, and because of the extremely high potential impact of such an event, it's worth mentioning now. Since there will be a massive volume of freshly-fallen snow (even at relatively low elevations between 3000-5000 feet), even a moderately warm storm event would cause very serious flooding. This situation will have to be monitored closely. Even if the tropical connection does not develop, expected rains in the coming 7-10 days will likely be sufficient to cause flooding in and of themselves (even in spite of dry antecedent conditions).
In addition to very heavy precipitation, powerful winds may result from very steep pressure gradients associated with the large and deep low pressure centers expect ed to begin approaching the coast by early next week. Though it's not clear at the moment just how powerful these winds may be, there is certainly the potential for a widespread damaging wind event at some point, and the high Sierra peaks are likely to see gusts in the 100-200 mph range (since the 200kt jet at 200-300 mb will essentially run directly into the mountains at some point). The details of this will have to be hashed out as the event(s) draw closer.
In short, the next 2-3 weeks (at least) are likely to be more active across California than any other 2-3 week period in recent memory. The potential exists for a dangerous flood scenario to arise at some point during this interval, especially with the possibility of a heavy rain-on-snow event during late week 2. In some parts of Southern California, a whole season's worth of rain could fall over the course of 5-10 days. This is likely to be a rather memorable event. Stay tuned...
Samuel Y. Johnson
Western Coastal and Marine Geology, USGS
Pacific Science Center
http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/?p=1611
Record Jet Stream Produces Storms of Biblical Proportions
jet stream hitting Southern California is as powerful as has ever been recorded, over 230 mph
January 22, 2010
George Wolfberg, President, Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association
Santa Monica Dispatch
The jet stream that is going to hit Southern California is as powerful as has ever been recorded on this planet before, over 230 mph. The jet is at an extremely unusually low altitude, not 30,000 to 60,000 feet, but coming as low as 8,000 feet. This jet will be traveling over the unusually warm El Nino waters of the eastern pacific, and will be carrying freakish amounts of energy and moisture. A huge series of storms is going to slam into Los Angeles and the surrounding areas just one after another for day after day for up to two weeks.
The initial storms will be very cold, with snow levels as low as 3,000 feet. Heavy rain and snow will be hitting California from San Diego to Eureka. Next week, the driest places will see at least 3 inches of rain, the Los Angeles basin and northern parts of the county and Ventura will see 6 to 10 inches. The wettest areas and cells within the system will hit with up to 20 inches of rain. Snowfall in the Sierras will be measured in the TENS of feet. Powerful winds will be associated with this storm--like a powerful Santa Ana but blowing in the opposite direction, west to east. Gusts up to 80 mph are forecast.
But it gets worse. For the first time that I'm aware of, ALL of the various models are in agreement about the second week of the storm. Normally, beyond a week, the models diverge. But due to the extreme strength of the weather producing factors, this time all of the models produce the same results for the 8-14 day period.
For the week of the 24th, we will be hit with a powerful and WARM series of storms, as strong as any we've seen. This heavy warm rainfall will fall onto the newly laid snowpack and what will be totally saturated ground, especially in the burn areas of LA and will produce tremendous melting and runoff, and the potential for record flooding.
Due to the low altitude of the jet stream, 200+ mph winds will slam directly into the Sierras, producing tornado strength winds over a 200 mile wide front. DON'T head to Mammoth for skiing when you hear about the huge snow fall in the first week.
Planes and helicopters are migrating out of the coastal bases and into the interior bases of Arizona and Nevada. They're taking this very seriously. A friend of Scott's is a Navy weather forecaster and he told Scott that the military is moving assets east out of the way ahead of this storm.
This may sound alarmist, but websites I check related to weather modeling are using the word "Biblical" for this system. If you can work from home or commute by train, please plan on doing so. The LA freeway system is going to be a mess for the next week or two.
From: UC Environmental Protection Services Issues
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 1:24 PM
To: UCEPS-L@LISTSERV.UCOP.EDU
Subject: Winter Storm Warning starting Sunday
Currently, the strong El Nino is reaching its peak in the Eastern Pacific, and now finally appears to be exerting an influence on our weather. The strong jet has been apparent for quite some time out over the open water, but the persistent block had prevented it from reaching the coast. Now that the block has dissolved completely, a 200+ kt jet is barreling towards us. Multiple large and powerful storm systems are expected to slam into CA from the west and northwest over the coming two weeks, all riding this extremely powerful jet stream directly into the state. The jet will itself provide tremendous dynamic lift, in addition to directing numerous disturbances right at the state and supplying them with an ample oceanic moisture source. The jet will be at quite a low latitude over much of the Pacific, so these storms will be quite cold, at least initially. Very heavy rainfall and strong to potentially very strong winds will impact the lower elevations beginning late Sunday and continuing through at least the following Sunday. This will be the case for the entire state, from (and south of) the Mexican border all the way up to Oregon. Above 3000-4000 feet, precipitation will be all snow, and since temperatures will be unusually cold for a precipitation event of this magnitude, a truly prodigious amount of snowfall is likely to occur in the mountains, possibly measured in the tens of feet in the Sierra after it's all said and done. But there's a big and rather threatening caveat to that (discussed below). Individual storm events are going to be hard to time for at least few more days, since this jet is just about as powerful as they come (on this planet, anyway). Between this Sunday and the following Sunday, I expect categorical statewide rainfall totals in excess of 3-4 inches. That is likely to be a huge underestimate for most areas. Much of NorCal is likely to see 5-10 inches in the lowlands, with 10-20 inches in orographically-favored areas. Most of SoCal will see 3-6 inches at lower elevations, with perhaps triple that amount in favored areas.
This is where things get even more interesting, though. The models are virtually unanimous in "reloading" the powerful jet stream and forming an additional persistent kink 2000-3000 miles to our southwest after next Sunday. This is a truly ominous pattern, because it implies the potential for a strong Pineapple-type connection to develop. Indeed, the 12z GFS now shows copious warm rains falling between days 12 and 16 across the entire state. Normally, such as scenario out beyond day seven would be dubious at best. Since the models are in such truly remarkable agreement, however, and because of the extremely high potential impact of such an event, it's worth mentioning now. Since there will be a massive volume of freshly-fallen snow (even at relatively low elevations between 3000-5000 feet), even a moderately warm storm event would cause very serious flooding. This situation will have to be monitored closely. Even if the tropical connection does not develop, expected rains in the coming 7-10 days will likely be sufficient to cause flooding in and of themselves (even in spite of dry antecedent conditions).
In addition to very heavy precipitation, powerful winds may result from very steep pressure gradients associated with the large and deep low pressure centers expect ed to begin approaching the coast by early next week. Though it's not clear at the moment just how powerful these winds may be, there is certainly the potential for a widespread damaging wind event at some point, and the high Sierra peaks are likely to see gusts in the 100-200 mph range (since the 200kt jet at 200-300 mb will essentially run directly into the mountains at some point). The details of this will have to be hashed out as the event(s) draw closer.
In short, the next 2-3 weeks (at least) are likely to be more active across California than any other 2-3 week period in recent memory. The potential exists for a dangerous flood scenario to arise at some point during this interval, especially with the possibility of a heavy rain-on-snow event during late week 2. In some parts of Southern California, a whole season's worth of rain could fall over the course of 5-10 days. This is likely to be a rather memorable event. Stay tuned...
Samuel Y. Johnson
Western Coastal and Marine Geology, USGS
Pacific Science Center
http://www.santamonicadispatch.com/?p=1611
I never felt the need for 'testing'. I've left my son's actions to speak for themselves. That shut them up fast enough by itself!
Good article and hopefully people will sit up and pay attention to finding ways to assure themselves of some food and provisions should they have the need to use them.
Our government really needs to mind to business at home more than it has. Interfering in other countries needs to stop.
I don't mean the aid to Haiti during this calamity, but the regular poking their noses in where they don't belong that goes on all the time.
She'd ask me WHEN he was getting an education. I said, "When is he not?"
Yet, he knew things even a majority of adults can't answer. Like the difference between fission and fusion.
My Mother, a teacher herself then and my Mother -in-Law were like, "How is he going to become socialized?"
I'd say something like, "Socialization occurs in the interactions between adults and children, not children and children,... or have you never read Lord of the Flies?
That usually dropped them in their tracks.
Sounds exactly like my house, only it's my husband that's asking the questions.
Back then, my then 7 year son, had a predilection for astronomy and the sciences, so ALL his studies were geared towards his interests. But he got a powerful education that still provided the full range of readin', ritin' n' 'rithmatic, plus things like handwriting, social behavior and civics. It was very organic. It didn't follow classroom procedure. It was more like Aristotle being followed by his entourage of students. A meandering learning process, it had no set structure.
Are you sure you're not talking about my house here??? LOL
But really, that's one of the beautiful things about homeschooling, the learning can be geared directly towards their area of interest (which holds their attention tremendously) and then all the other subjects come into play because of the one central theme, which can be changed to suit the changing needs and interests of the child.
Much, much better than a 'standard' crapola curriculum at regular school. Heck, while his friends were tied to a desk, we were out digging in the dirt (fossils and Indians). All his friends begged their parents to go to school at our house!
Even birthday parties were learning achievements. One year we had a friend who makes documentaries for Nat. Geo come to the house with a full complement of reptiles, large and small. Needless to say, it was a big hit with the kids. And the best part was that they learned a lot during the 2 hours he was here. But, they kept on learning in the months that followed because their interest was peaked by the hands on 'class'.
Didn't mean to be so long here, but it's a subject close to my heart. Learning occurs everyday here, even though he's technically 'graduated' now.
Take a few minutes and read this, you'll thank yourself later.
http://billstclair.com/blog/stories/handgun.html
Take a few minutes and read this, you'll thank yourself later.
http://billstclair.com/blog/stories/handgun.html
Imagining a Haitian-scale Disaster in the U.S.
Readers don’t get why Haiti relief effort is going so slowly
January 20, 2010
MSNBC
As the people of Haiti grow more desperate, it’s difficult to understand why the outpouring of aid — from individuals, relief agencies, corporations and governments around the world — is apparently working so slowly.
Photo: Maxi Phalone, right, reacts after her sister was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Port-au- Prince. Phalone's sister was one of two earthquake survivors rescued from the building just minutes apart from each other.
The chaos in Haiti has been described by those on the ground as “unimaginable.” But let’s try to imagine what the equivalent devastation might look like in the U.S.
Here’s (roughly) what our country might be dealing in the first week of an equivalent scale of destruction:
The White House and the Capitol have been destroyed. Congress and critical government agencies overseeing finance, health and other domestic services have been critically impaired. Many of the government employees who used to work in those offices are dead.
There is no Pentagon (because there is no Haitian military).
With the risk of aftershocks and doubts about the safety of government buildings still standing, President Barack Obama holds his cabinet meeting outside in a circle of white plastic chairs.
There is no “situation room” set up to coordinate the government’s response. There is no FEMA. The well-financed network of local “first responders” that Americans take for granted is gone. There is no well-supplied National Guard to call up. (Haiti’s limited first response infrastructure was heavily damaged by the quake; many of its trained professionals were killed.)
The U.S. Interstate highway system has been destroyed (there never was one in Haiti), and travel by road is arduous.
The entire air traffic control system has been destroyed. Days after the disaster, it has been replaced by a small makeshift system that includes handheld radios. There is one functioning runway in the entire country at a facility about the size of a small regional U.S. airport. (Before the quake, Haiti’s airport handled about three flights a day. Since the quake, that’s up to 90 flights a day. But cargo planes filled with relief supplies circle for hours waiting their turn.)
The infrastructure to handle marine cargo has been destroyed at the major seaports — New York, Los Angeles, Houston. The only port left operable to serve the entire country is in Charleston, S.C., and it’s not set up to handle large volumes of cargo.
Photo: A Haitian policeman aims his weapon into a crowd during looting in Port-au-Prince. The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved 3,500 extra troops and police officers to beef up security in Haiti and ensure that aid gets to earthquake victims. (Francois Mori / AP)
Police and foreign troops are trying to maintain order on the streets, but looting and fires have broken out. The FBI building (in Haiti's case, the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission) has been destroyed, and hundreds of people, including the man in charge, have been killed.
As much as one third of the population (in the U.S., roughly 100 million people) are without food, water or shelter and limited means of acquiring it.
The death toll can only be guessed. In a country of 9 million, the loss of 100,000 souls in a single disaster is a little more than 1 percent of the Haitian population, or the equivalent of 3.3 million Americans.
Millions of survivors are in need of urgent medical attention; many simply won’t receive it — even if relief efforts proceed flawlessly. Most local hospitals have been destroyed. The ones that remain have no supplies. Doctors have resorted to using hacksaws and vodka in place of surgical instruments and alcohol.
You probably don't have a savings account or credit card to tap to go live in a hotel for awhile — even if there were enough hotels left standing to get a room. You might try to stay with friends or relatives in the countryside (where, in Haiti, most people live on less than $2 a day). Or you might decide to flee across the border to Canada or Mexico, but you’ll likely be turned back. If you do make it out, you’ll need to find a friend or relative to take you in. You’ll also have to figure out how to get there.
You are powerless to help your friends and family. Even though the world has responded to the horror by sending money, equipment, trained rescue and medical teams, there are massive logistical bottlenecks preventing people and cargo — food, water and medical supplies — from getting to those in need.
We seem to have supplies, food, water, personnel and such on the ground. So why it is that no one appears to be in charge?
- James H.
Where is the Red Cross? I have heard about all the money that has been contributed by Americans but I have yet to see any Red Cross help from news crews who haven't seemed to have any trouble getting in.
- Mark R.
As a result, many relief workers and their supplies have to fly into Canada or Mexico, and then try to find a truck and drive across country — dodging impassable roads and bridges. They also need to bring their own fuel. Most gas stations across the country are out of gas; many of those with remaining supplies have no power to pump it out of the ground. (And they can’t go to Home Depot and buy a generator.)
Foreign troops have arrived to help, but they are coordinating their efforts with dozens of other governments. There is no global “command center” to help things run smoothly.
If you're lucky, your house wasn't destroyed — but it may be in danger of collapsing. So you're probably huddled with friends and relatives in a makeshift “tent” city with little more than a blanket to shield you from the sun and rain.
If you’re lucky enough to get food, water or medical attention, it will likely be from one of the rescue or relief workers who just arrived from dozens of countries from around the world. These workers are also trying to cope with the chaos. They probably haven’t slept for days. Like you, they have limited access to information about what’s going on.
You may or may not be able to use your cell phone — though that will probably be one of the first services restored. When it is, expect it to be overwhelmed again by millions of people from outside the country trying to find out if their loved ones are dead or alive. Because many of those lost have been buried in mass graves, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers may never know how their loved ones perished. (A few may learn the horrific details by seeing a photograph or video clip of an identifiable body on a foreign news report).
With all of the money, people and supplies flooding in, you might expect the chaos to subside in a matter of weeks or months as things begin getting “back to normal.” That’s not going to happen in Haiti. For one thing, “normal” before the quake was a country just beginning to try to emerge from decades of dysfunctional government and abject poverty.
The greatest risk to Haiti’s long-term survival (if not revival) is that the world’s 24-hour news cycle turns its attention to the next disaster, and the opportunity is lost to rebuild Haiti as a viable state. In a wealthy, industrialized nation like the U.S., it’s hard to imagine the world turning its back after a disaster of such epic proportions. (Though readers in New Orleans might take issue with that statement.)
The past week’s outpouring of money and aid is a good start. But rebuilding Haiti will take years. Once the dead are buried, the wounded attended to and food and water supplies restored, the real work will begin. That will be the truest test of the world’s response to this horrific disaster.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34923036/ns/business-answer_desk/
Imagining a Haitian-scale Disaster in the U.S.
Readers don’t get why Haiti relief effort is going so slowly
January 20, 2010
MSNBC
As the people of Haiti grow more desperate, it’s difficult to understand why the outpouring of aid — from individuals, relief agencies, corporations and governments around the world — is apparently working so slowly.
Photo: Maxi Phalone, right, reacts after her sister was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Port-au- Prince. Phalone's sister was one of two earthquake survivors rescued from the building just minutes apart from each other.
The chaos in Haiti has been described by those on the ground as “unimaginable.” But let’s try to imagine what the equivalent devastation might look like in the U.S.
Here’s (roughly) what our country might be dealing in the first week of an equivalent scale of destruction:
The White House and the Capitol have been destroyed. Congress and critical government agencies overseeing finance, health and other domestic services have been critically impaired. Many of the government employees who used to work in those offices are dead.
There is no Pentagon (because there is no Haitian military).
With the risk of aftershocks and doubts about the safety of government buildings still standing, President Barack Obama holds his cabinet meeting outside in a circle of white plastic chairs.
There is no “situation room” set up to coordinate the government’s response. There is no FEMA. The well-financed network of local “first responders” that Americans take for granted is gone. There is no well-supplied National Guard to call up. (Haiti’s limited first response infrastructure was heavily damaged by the quake; many of its trained professionals were killed.)
The U.S. Interstate highway system has been destroyed (there never was one in Haiti), and travel by road is arduous.
The entire air traffic control system has been destroyed. Days after the disaster, it has been replaced by a small makeshift system that includes handheld radios. There is one functioning runway in the entire country at a facility about the size of a small regional U.S. airport. (Before the quake, Haiti’s airport handled about three flights a day. Since the quake, that’s up to 90 flights a day. But cargo planes filled with relief supplies circle for hours waiting their turn.)
The infrastructure to handle marine cargo has been destroyed at the major seaports — New York, Los Angeles, Houston. The only port left operable to serve the entire country is in Charleston, S.C., and it’s not set up to handle large volumes of cargo.
Photo: A Haitian policeman aims his weapon into a crowd during looting in Port-au-Prince. The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved 3,500 extra troops and police officers to beef up security in Haiti and ensure that aid gets to earthquake victims. (Francois Mori / AP)
Police and foreign troops are trying to maintain order on the streets, but looting and fires have broken out. The FBI building (in Haiti's case, the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission) has been destroyed, and hundreds of people, including the man in charge, have been killed.
As much as one third of the population (in the U.S., roughly 100 million people) are without food, water or shelter and limited means of acquiring it.
The death toll can only be guessed. In a country of 9 million, the loss of 100,000 souls in a single disaster is a little more than 1 percent of the Haitian population, or the equivalent of 3.3 million Americans.
Millions of survivors are in need of urgent medical attention; many simply won’t receive it — even if relief efforts proceed flawlessly. Most local hospitals have been destroyed. The ones that remain have no supplies. Doctors have resorted to using hacksaws and vodka in place of surgical instruments and alcohol.
You probably don't have a savings account or credit card to tap to go live in a hotel for awhile — even if there were enough hotels left standing to get a room. You might try to stay with friends or relatives in the countryside (where, in Haiti, most people live on less than $2 a day). Or you might decide to flee across the border to Canada or Mexico, but you’ll likely be turned back. If you do make it out, you’ll need to find a friend or relative to take you in. You’ll also have to figure out how to get there.
You are powerless to help your friends and family. Even though the world has responded to the horror by sending money, equipment, trained rescue and medical teams, there are massive logistical bottlenecks preventing people and cargo — food, water and medical supplies — from getting to those in need.
We seem to have supplies, food, water, personnel and such on the ground. So why it is that no one appears to be in charge?
- James H.
Where is the Red Cross? I have heard about all the money that has been contributed by Americans but I have yet to see any Red Cross help from news crews who haven't seemed to have any trouble getting in.
- Mark R.
As a result, many relief workers and their supplies have to fly into Canada or Mexico, and then try to find a truck and drive across country — dodging impassable roads and bridges. They also need to bring their own fuel. Most gas stations across the country are out of gas; many of those with remaining supplies have no power to pump it out of the ground. (And they can’t go to Home Depot and buy a generator.)
Foreign troops have arrived to help, but they are coordinating their efforts with dozens of other governments. There is no global “command center” to help things run smoothly.
If you're lucky, your house wasn't destroyed — but it may be in danger of collapsing. So you're probably huddled with friends and relatives in a makeshift “tent” city with little more than a blanket to shield you from the sun and rain.
If you’re lucky enough to get food, water or medical attention, it will likely be from one of the rescue or relief workers who just arrived from dozens of countries from around the world. These workers are also trying to cope with the chaos. They probably haven’t slept for days. Like you, they have limited access to information about what’s going on.
You may or may not be able to use your cell phone — though that will probably be one of the first services restored. When it is, expect it to be overwhelmed again by millions of people from outside the country trying to find out if their loved ones are dead or alive. Because many of those lost have been buried in mass graves, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers may never know how their loved ones perished. (A few may learn the horrific details by seeing a photograph or video clip of an identifiable body on a foreign news report).
With all of the money, people and supplies flooding in, you might expect the chaos to subside in a matter of weeks or months as things begin getting “back to normal.” That’s not going to happen in Haiti. For one thing, “normal” before the quake was a country just beginning to try to emerge from decades of dysfunctional government and abject poverty.
The greatest risk to Haiti’s long-term survival (if not revival) is that the world’s 24-hour news cycle turns its attention to the next disaster, and the opportunity is lost to rebuild Haiti as a viable state. In a wealthy, industrialized nation like the U.S., it’s hard to imagine the world turning its back after a disaster of such epic proportions. (Though readers in New Orleans might take issue with that statement.)
The past week’s outpouring of money and aid is a good start. But rebuilding Haiti will take years. Once the dead are buried, the wounded attended to and food and water supplies restored, the real work will begin. That will be the truest test of the world’s response to this horrific disaster.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34923036/ns/business-answer_desk/
Imagining a Haitian-scale Disaster in the U.S.
Readers don’t get why Haiti relief effort is going so slowly
January 20, 2010
MSNBC
As the people of Haiti grow more desperate, it’s difficult to understand why the outpouring of aid — from individuals, relief agencies, corporations and governments around the world — is apparently working so slowly.
Photo: Maxi Phalone, right, reacts after her sister was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Port-au- Prince. Phalone's sister was one of two earthquake survivors rescued from the building just minutes apart from each other.
The chaos in Haiti has been described by those on the ground as “unimaginable.” But let’s try to imagine what the equivalent devastation might look like in the U.S.
Here’s (roughly) what our country might be dealing in the first week of an equivalent scale of destruction:
The White House and the Capitol have been destroyed. Congress and critical government agencies overseeing finance, health and other domestic services have been critically impaired. Many of the government employees who used to work in those offices are dead.
There is no Pentagon (because there is no Haitian military).
With the risk of aftershocks and doubts about the safety of government buildings still standing, President Barack Obama holds his cabinet meeting outside in a circle of white plastic chairs.
There is no “situation room” set up to coordinate the government’s response. There is no FEMA. The well-financed network of local “first responders” that Americans take for granted is gone. There is no well-supplied National Guard to call up. (Haiti’s limited first response infrastructure was heavily damaged by the quake; many of its trained professionals were killed.)
The U.S. Interstate highway system has been destroyed (there never was one in Haiti), and travel by road is arduous.
The entire air traffic control system has been destroyed. Days after the disaster, it has been replaced by a small makeshift system that includes handheld radios. There is one functioning runway in the entire country at a facility about the size of a small regional U.S. airport. (Before the quake, Haiti’s airport handled about three flights a day. Since the quake, that’s up to 90 flights a day. But cargo planes filled with relief supplies circle for hours waiting their turn.)
The infrastructure to handle marine cargo has been destroyed at the major seaports — New York, Los Angeles, Houston. The only port left operable to serve the entire country is in Charleston, S.C., and it’s not set up to handle large volumes of cargo.
Photo: A Haitian policeman aims his weapon into a crowd during looting in Port-au-Prince. The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved 3,500 extra troops and police officers to beef up security in Haiti and ensure that aid gets to earthquake victims. (Francois Mori / AP)
Police and foreign troops are trying to maintain order on the streets, but looting and fires have broken out. The FBI building (in Haiti's case, the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission) has been destroyed, and hundreds of people, including the man in charge, have been killed.
As much as one third of the population (in the U.S., roughly 100 million people) are without food, water or shelter and limited means of acquiring it.
The death toll can only be guessed. In a country of 9 million, the loss of 100,000 souls in a single disaster is a little more than 1 percent of the Haitian population, or the equivalent of 3.3 million Americans.
Millions of survivors are in need of urgent medical attention; many simply won’t receive it — even if relief efforts proceed flawlessly. Most local hospitals have been destroyed. The ones that remain have no supplies. Doctors have resorted to using hacksaws and vodka in place of surgical instruments and alcohol.
You probably don't have a savings account or credit card to tap to go live in a hotel for awhile — even if there were enough hotels left standing to get a room. You might try to stay with friends or relatives in the countryside (where, in Haiti, most people live on less than $2 a day). Or you might decide to flee across the border to Canada or Mexico, but you’ll likely be turned back. If you do make it out, you’ll need to find a friend or relative to take you in. You’ll also have to figure out how to get there.
You are powerless to help your friends and family. Even though the world has responded to the horror by sending money, equipment, trained rescue and medical teams, there are massive logistical bottlenecks preventing people and cargo — food, water and medical supplies — from getting to those in need.
We seem to have supplies, food, water, personnel and such on the ground. So why it is that no one appears to be in charge?
- James H.
Where is the Red Cross? I have heard about all the money that has been contributed by Americans but I have yet to see any Red Cross help from news crews who haven't seemed to have any trouble getting in.
- Mark R.
As a result, many relief workers and their supplies have to fly into Canada or Mexico, and then try to find a truck and drive across country — dodging impassable roads and bridges. They also need to bring their own fuel. Most gas stations across the country are out of gas; many of those with remaining supplies have no power to pump it out of the ground. (And they can’t go to Home Depot and buy a generator.)
Foreign troops have arrived to help, but they are coordinating their efforts with dozens of other governments. There is no global “command center” to help things run smoothly.
If you're lucky, your house wasn't destroyed — but it may be in danger of collapsing. So you're probably huddled with friends and relatives in a makeshift “tent” city with little more than a blanket to shield you from the sun and rain.
If you’re lucky enough to get food, water or medical attention, it will likely be from one of the rescue or relief workers who just arrived from dozens of countries from around the world. These workers are also trying to cope with the chaos. They probably haven’t slept for days. Like you, they have limited access to information about what’s going on.
You may or may not be able to use your cell phone — though that will probably be one of the first services restored. When it is, expect it to be overwhelmed again by millions of people from outside the country trying to find out if their loved ones are dead or alive. Because many of those lost have been buried in mass graves, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers may never know how their loved ones perished. (A few may learn the horrific details by seeing a photograph or video clip of an identifiable body on a foreign news report).
With all of the money, people and supplies flooding in, you might expect the chaos to subside in a matter of weeks or months as things begin getting “back to normal.” That’s not going to happen in Haiti. For one thing, “normal” before the quake was a country just beginning to try to emerge from decades of dysfunctional government and abject poverty.
The greatest risk to Haiti’s long-term survival (if not revival) is that the world’s 24-hour news cycle turns its attention to the next disaster, and the opportunity is lost to rebuild Haiti as a viable state. In a wealthy, industrialized nation like the U.S., it’s hard to imagine the world turning its back after a disaster of such epic proportions. (Though readers in New Orleans might take issue with that statement.)
The past week’s outpouring of money and aid is a good start. But rebuilding Haiti will take years. Once the dead are buried, the wounded attended to and food and water supplies restored, the real work will begin. That will be the truest test of the world’s response to this horrific disaster.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34923036/ns/business-answer_desk/
Imagining a Haitian-scale Disaster in the U.S.
Readers don’t get why Haiti relief effort is going so slowly
January 20, 2010
MSNBC
As the people of Haiti grow more desperate, it’s difficult to understand why the outpouring of aid — from individuals, relief agencies, corporations and governments around the world — is apparently working so slowly.
Photo: Maxi Phalone, right, reacts after her sister was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Port-au- Prince. Phalone's sister was one of two earthquake survivors rescued from the building just minutes apart from each other.
The chaos in Haiti has been described by those on the ground as “unimaginable.” But let’s try to imagine what the equivalent devastation might look like in the U.S.
Here’s (roughly) what our country might be dealing in the first week of an equivalent scale of destruction:
The White House and the Capitol have been destroyed. Congress and critical government agencies overseeing finance, health and other domestic services have been critically impaired. Many of the government employees who used to work in those offices are dead.
There is no Pentagon (because there is no Haitian military).
With the risk of aftershocks and doubts about the safety of government buildings still standing, President Barack Obama holds his cabinet meeting outside in a circle of white plastic chairs.
There is no “situation room” set up to coordinate the government’s response. There is no FEMA. The well-financed network of local “first responders” that Americans take for granted is gone. There is no well-supplied National Guard to call up. (Haiti’s limited first response infrastructure was heavily damaged by the quake; many of its trained professionals were killed.)
The U.S. Interstate highway system has been destroyed (there never was one in Haiti), and travel by road is arduous.
The entire air traffic control system has been destroyed. Days after the disaster, it has been replaced by a small makeshift system that includes handheld radios. There is one functioning runway in the entire country at a facility about the size of a small regional U.S. airport. (Before the quake, Haiti’s airport handled about three flights a day. Since the quake, that’s up to 90 flights a day. But cargo planes filled with relief supplies circle for hours waiting their turn.)
The infrastructure to handle marine cargo has been destroyed at the major seaports — New York, Los Angeles, Houston. The only port left operable to serve the entire country is in Charleston, S.C., and it’s not set up to handle large volumes of cargo.
Photo: A Haitian policeman aims his weapon into a crowd during looting in Port-au-Prince. The U.N. Security Council has unanimously approved 3,500 extra troops and police officers to beef up security in Haiti and ensure that aid gets to earthquake victims. (Francois Mori / AP)
Police and foreign troops are trying to maintain order on the streets, but looting and fires have broken out. The FBI building (in Haiti's case, the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission) has been destroyed, and hundreds of people, including the man in charge, have been killed.
As much as one third of the population (in the U.S., roughly 100 million people) are without food, water or shelter and limited means of acquiring it.
The death toll can only be guessed. In a country of 9 million, the loss of 100,000 souls in a single disaster is a little more than 1 percent of the Haitian population, or the equivalent of 3.3 million Americans.
Millions of survivors are in need of urgent medical attention; many simply won’t receive it — even if relief efforts proceed flawlessly. Most local hospitals have been destroyed. The ones that remain have no supplies. Doctors have resorted to using hacksaws and vodka in place of surgical instruments and alcohol.
You probably don't have a savings account or credit card to tap to go live in a hotel for awhile — even if there were enough hotels left standing to get a room. You might try to stay with friends or relatives in the countryside (where, in Haiti, most people live on less than $2 a day). Or you might decide to flee across the border to Canada or Mexico, but you’ll likely be turned back. If you do make it out, you’ll need to find a friend or relative to take you in. You’ll also have to figure out how to get there.
You are powerless to help your friends and family. Even though the world has responded to the horror by sending money, equipment, trained rescue and medical teams, there are massive logistical bottlenecks preventing people and cargo — food, water and medical supplies — from getting to those in need.
We seem to have supplies, food, water, personnel and such on the ground. So why it is that no one appears to be in charge?
- James H.
Where is the Red Cross? I have heard about all the money that has been contributed by Americans but I have yet to see any Red Cross help from news crews who haven't seemed to have any trouble getting in.
- Mark R.
As a result, many relief workers and their supplies have to fly into Canada or Mexico, and then try to find a truck and drive across country — dodging impassable roads and bridges. They also need to bring their own fuel. Most gas stations across the country are out of gas; many of those with remaining supplies have no power to pump it out of the ground. (And they can’t go to Home Depot and buy a generator.)
Foreign troops have arrived to help, but they are coordinating their efforts with dozens of other governments. There is no global “command center” to help things run smoothly.
If you're lucky, your house wasn't destroyed — but it may be in danger of collapsing. So you're probably huddled with friends and relatives in a makeshift “tent” city with little more than a blanket to shield you from the sun and rain.
If you’re lucky enough to get food, water or medical attention, it will likely be from one of the rescue or relief workers who just arrived from dozens of countries from around the world. These workers are also trying to cope with the chaos. They probably haven’t slept for days. Like you, they have limited access to information about what’s going on.
You may or may not be able to use your cell phone — though that will probably be one of the first services restored. When it is, expect it to be overwhelmed again by millions of people from outside the country trying to find out if their loved ones are dead or alive. Because many of those lost have been buried in mass graves, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers may never know how their loved ones perished. (A few may learn the horrific details by seeing a photograph or video clip of an identifiable body on a foreign news report).
With all of the money, people and supplies flooding in, you might expect the chaos to subside in a matter of weeks or months as things begin getting “back to normal.” That’s not going to happen in Haiti. For one thing, “normal” before the quake was a country just beginning to try to emerge from decades of dysfunctional government and abject poverty.
The greatest risk to Haiti’s long-term survival (if not revival) is that the world’s 24-hour news cycle turns its attention to the next disaster, and the opportunity is lost to rebuild Haiti as a viable state. In a wealthy, industrialized nation like the U.S., it’s hard to imagine the world turning its back after a disaster of such epic proportions. (Though readers in New Orleans might take issue with that statement.)
The past week’s outpouring of money and aid is a good start. But rebuilding Haiti will take years. Once the dead are buried, the wounded attended to and food and water supplies restored, the real work will begin. That will be the truest test of the world’s response to this horrific disaster.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34923036/ns/business-answer_desk/
Consequences of the Mass. Election
Submitted by Bruce Krasting on 01/19/2010 23:43 -0500
Ben Bernanke CRAP Monetary Policy White House
I was watching the election results from Mass. with some people who know history better than I. None of us could come up with a historical parallel to the development that took place this evening. This one is going to go down as one of those ‘water shed’ events that you hear about.
The TV guys are all talking about what this could mean to the health care legislation. At this point, I could care less. I thought it was dead before and I think it is deader now. What I care about is what this means for some of the other significant issues that we face.
In my opinion the vote in Mass was a vote against the status quo. It was a loud enough vote for everyone in D.C. to hear. If there was any doubt that Americans are sick of the "same old, same old", this was it. The message was clear to me, “If you want to keep your job as an elected official you have to do things differently.” This will force changes across the board. Some things outside of health care that I think may be impacted:
-The days where the Fed and Mr. Bernanke get to establish broad economic policy without taking into consideration the mood of the public is over. This is not to suggest that the Fed is going to jack up rates anytime soon. But to me it means that the possibility of QE2 is done. There was a time when you might have said, “The American people don’t understand their monetary policy and have know idea how much debt has been created in their name”. Well that was then and this is now. Americans do understand how much debt there is. They are shocked, dismayed and angered. They’re a lot of everyday citizens who are well aware that the Fed printed 2 trillion in the last year or so. The vote in Natick Mass showed their dislike and distrust of Fed policy. While I don’t think this will result in Bernanke failing to get a second term in the upcoming vote, it just got a bit more uncertain. In many ways this election will tie Ben’s hands.
-There is has been some discussion on a second stimulus bill. Those like me who see weakness before this year is over were pushing for that. Some big voices in the public and private sector are going to be disappointed. There will be no second stimulus bill. Not in 2010 at least. There is no stomach for that any longer. There are many Congressmen and Senators who are up for reelection in ten months. They are not going to stick there neck out for something the White House wants and they know the people don’t. I doubt the administration will even ask for a stimulus bill after this shellacking.
-I read the election result as being dollar positive. Somewhere inside this vote tonight is a call for fiscal conservatism. We are going to hear rhetoric to that effect in the coming months and we will see legislative steps that at least give lip service to the idea that we aught to tighten our belt a few notches. To the extent that I am right by calling this dollar positive, you have to also think that it is a gold negative development. For those that love the yellow metal and hate the dollar take heart. Any positive impact to dollar will be short lived. The inability to put a second stimulus together will show up in all of our numbers by midyear. At that point it will be more clearly understood that the US is broke and there really aren’t any viable options that don’t entail a lot time and pain.
-Tim Geithner’s ship went down in Massachusetts. I am convinced that he now must go. The Administration will have to make changes after this vote. They have to show that they are being responsive. The beating the WH took tonight was biblical. So will their response be. It will take a month, but changes and heads will roll.
-I am sure that all the stock pundits are going to read this evening’s results good for the broad market averages. I have been skeptical of this for a while. But not any longer. The stock market looks six months ahead. It will soon be sensing the next economic slowdown soon. I would not say the market is a screaming short. It is not, yet. It just got closer however.
-I can see how some health care companies might see a pop in their stocks for a few days. This group I would short. The absence of a health care deal is actually bad for them in my opinion. Give that a week at best.
-There will be no fix on Social Security this year. Mr. Goss who runs that shop has said that the issues facing SS have to take a back burner to finding a fix to health care. Well, we have not found that elusive solution. And now it is farther away then ever. Mr. Goss will have to wait at least another year. That will prove to be a devastating delay.
-There will be no significant steps to address the problems at the mortgage Agencies; Fannie, Freddie and FHA. The reason is simple. If you wanted to address the problems with these dogs you have to owe up to the fact that it is a $500 billion dollar sinkhole. Who would want to put that bad news on the table after getting your ass kicked in a crucial election? The answer to that is that no one in Washington would. And no one will. Having said that, I would not be at all surprised to see an effort to cut the outrageously rich compensation packages for the big shots at Fannie and Freddie. There may have been some belief that these two companies were in the private sector where salaries have no caps. But now there will be those in Congress that want/need an election edge. What could be a better edge than to beat up on a bunch of fat cat D.C. bankers?
-We have several states that are on the edge of a fiscal crisis. I thought that there would be some form of Federal assistance for them this year. That may still come, but it is now much less likely. You can’t just help NY and Cali. Those States will simply have to cut their deficits the old fashioned way, by cutting expenses. There is no way the folks in Texas are going to let Federal dollars be used to bail out TBTF States. And no one in Congress is going to stand up to that.
-If you were a TBTF institution you just hated this vote. This is bad for the Citi’s and BoA’s, but it just downright terrible for the likes of GS. The more successful you are, the more crap that you will have to take. Washington knows that Americans hate their banks. Now Washington is going to take sides with the people and lean on the TBTFs even harder.
-The bailout mentality is over. If GM needed a handout today, they would not get it. If a company runs into difficulty in the future they will just go down. There is no will left for the bailout thinking. If you are a legislator and you support a bailout, you will lose you right to vote in Washington. The voters will take you out back and shoot you on Election Day.
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/consequences-mass-election
I too am thrilled that they finally voted out the Dems in MA. About time really.
You know sometimes I wonder who they are trying to kid, the population or themselves. Like are their egos so inflated that because they say it in public, it has to happen? You're right, they are from another dimension.
Americans won't go down without a fight is true. Lots more spunk out there than folks realize sometimes. Public officials really do need a kick in the pants once in a while to keep them remembering who they work for.
Hey, glad Texas is agreeing with you!
even though the recession is all but over
Sure, the recession might almost be over, but the depression is starting.
I swear, these people live in la-la land half the time. Oh wait, maybe they live there full time.
It will be Years before this fiasco is repaired, if ever.
They just can't stand it when parents turn out better educated kids than the public schools. Gotta keep churning out those 'good little workers' you know. Sad, really.
Edible Gardens and Less Lawn Are Top Garden Trends in 2010
January 19, 2010
By Melody Parker
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
There's a great deal of pride in being able to say, "I grew it myself."
Apparently, more Americans want to experience the satisfaction and pleasure of uttering that phrase because edible gardens are "in." The National Gardening Association reports a nearly 20% increase in urban edible gardens in the past year.
Photo: Growing your own groceries promises to be a popular project in the garden for 2010.
The Garden Media Group's 2010 trends report cites several reasons for the increase, including a practical response to economic uncertainty, a return to small-town values, a desire for locally grown produce and a rising demand for organic foods.
GMG President Susan McCoy points to American's inherent "can-do" spirit and desire for self-sufficiency that is "defined more by nostalgia rather than geography" as part of the shifting priorities.
Edible gardens are no longer banished to the backyard, either. Enthusiastic gardeners are tearing up front lawns and installing vegetable beds or planting cottage gardens where tomatoes, peppers, beans and other plants happily grow alongside perennials, roses, herbs and annual flowers. Container gardening continues to be a sensible option for people with limited space and time or physical limitations.
Other "ins and outs" for 2010 from the GMG:
Slow gardening is in. Instant gratification is out. Seed sales are up 30 to 50%, according to Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability, and home canning increased by 45%. Fruits and berries are on the must-grow list, too, particularly raspberries.
Eco-boosting is in. Chemical-dependent gardens are out. People want earth-friendly over scorched-earth products, including fertilizers, animal and insect repellents, potting soil, etc.
Multi-tasking is in. Single-purpose gardening is out. A greater range of plants and uses, such as cottage gardens, rain gardens, wildlife habitats, house plant collections, etc., will be popular.
Perennials and shrubs are in. Divas are out. Translate this into selecting native perennials, ornamental grasses and shrubs, as well as creating low-maintenance gardens and sustainable landscapes and choosing drought-tolerant and pest-resistant plants.
Mindfulness is in. Bling is out. Gardeners want value, price and performance.
http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/dn/free/304941853956520.php
And that's a good thing.
Now that's the best article I've read in a loooong time.
God help those poor people. But this kind of reporting makes me angry. As far as I'm concerned, this is not looting. Looting is stealing big screen TV's, etc. Taking food from destroyed or empty stores to feed yourself and your family is surviving, not looting.
As the days pass without food and water, looting is reported to be on the rise in Port-au-Prince. NPR's Northam saw looters carrying off bags of rice from wrecked stores in one neighborhood, and rescue teams have been warned of the danger of violence in so-called red zones of the city.
I didn't. I ordered the other one. Thanks!
Sorry about the delay, busy around here today. Anyway, what's inside is like the picture that you posted.
I'll order the one on the link from the other message and hopefully I'll be able to transfer the data without a problem.
Thank you again for all the help everyone offered! This is the best board when there is a problem with a computer (and Lord knows they sure do get them~!)
Ok, just got back in from the barn. I'll check it out in a little bit and let you know.
Again, I appreciate the help soooo very much!
The previous message is essentially saying the same thing?
Sorry to be a dolt, just want to make sure I haven't left out something important.
I know the machine is old, but it functions well and it's really a pain in the butt to have to change over completely to a new computer, especially if I can't save all my data to use on the new one.
Thanks for your help, it's appreciated!
So I would order this and then clone it via the USB port? Then replace the old hard drive with the new?
Thanks for your help.
Thank you, I have a plug in drive similar to that for pictures, etc. But what I'm needing now is a complete hard drive back-up/replacement option.
Thank you soooo much for the help! I'll keep an eye out for your thoughts and suggestions.
This is the info that I found a while ago when considering adding RAM. Older than I remembered! Thanks!
This document provides specifications for the HP Media Center m377n computer.
Model number
DT379a
Introduction date
28 Dec 2003
Hardware
Processor
Intel Pentium 4 2.6 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS P4SD without on-board graphics: Motherboard Specifications
Memory
Comes with two 256 MB (512 MB total) PC2700 or better dual-inline memory modules.
Motherboard accepts DDR400/PC3200, DDR333/PC2700, or DDR266/PC2100 DIMMs. Dual channel supported only when identical pairs are used.
Motherboard contains four memory sockets in two pairs (sockets 1:3, and 2:4).
Upgradeable to a maximum of 4 GB (Maximum of 1 GB DIMM per slot).
Motherboard requires a minimum of one 64 MB module.
Drives
3.5-inch, 1.44 MB floppy drive
120 GB, 5400 rpm, Ultra-IDE hard drive
48x CD drive
4x DVD+R/RW drive
Drive bays
Two 5.25 drive bays for optical drives (both in use)
Two 3.5 drive bays for hard drives (both in use)
One 3.5 drive bay for a floppy drive (in use)
Modem
56K data fax modem
Network
On-board RealTek 8101L 10/100 Ethernet
Audio
On-the-motherboard 5.1 sound.
Video
ATI Radeon 9200 with 128 MB memory
Television
TV tuner card
Memory card reader
7-in-1 card reader with four slots that supports the following card types:
Compact Flash I or II
Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro
Microdrive
MultiMedia
Secure Digital
SmartMedia
External communication ports
Serial (1294) port
Two PS/2 ports (one keyboard, and one mouse)
EPP/ECP Parallel port
Six USB 2.0/1.1 ports (two in front and four in back)
Two FireWire (1394) ports (one in front and one in back)
RJ-45 network interface port
RJ-11 connector (on the modem)
Expansion slots
Three PCI slots (two in use, one open)
One AGP slot (in use)
Two serial ATA connectors
Power
200 watt (max) power supply for ATX style motherboards
Bruce,
I'm wondering if you can help me on this one. I remember reading on here somewhere about it, but with a gagillion posts....
Anyway, I have a feeling that my hard drive is going (starting to make funny noises, etc.) and I'd like to get a new one that I can copy my old one to and then if it goes, just swap the old for the new.
It's an HP Media Edition desktop, probably about 4 or 5 years old. It runs XP.
Any help is appreciated on this one! Thanks.
The cashless society
January 12th, 2010
Author: Jeff Taylor
According to the Telegraph there is the distinct possibility that the ‘cashless society’ may be just around the corner. In the report, Steve Perry of Visa Europe argues that card payments are cheaper than cash. What our Steve hasn’t hoisted in is that cards ARE cash. Or maybe he has but does not want us to realise the concept. The main reason for a noteless and coinless society he says is that electronic is cheaper.
In the same way that coloured beads, split sticks and ‘ Wampum’ were used as immediate vehicles for transferring value, printed notes and coins do the same but so do credit and debit cards.
But here’s the crux of the matter. Beads, sticks, Wampum, notes and coins were physically held by the owner. The contents of a debit or credit card account are held and controlled by a third party on the ‘owners’ behalf. And that third party will have to account for the movement of that value to a government for tax (and other) purposes.
Getting rid of notes and coins is not getting rid of ‘cash’. It is getting rid of one type of cash, the type of cash that ensures anonymity. Because all transactions by debit and credit card will be monitored and analysed by computers linked to whoever.
Great you say. No more unaccountable payments to dodgy plumbers. No more prostitution that relies so much on notes and coins. No more drug pushers on street corners. No more tax evasion. ‘If you’ve nothing to hide you’ve nothing to fear’ from the computer snoopers.
“Ah! But Mrs Smith, we notice you’ve purchased more that the health recommendations allow for chocolate éclairs. You’ve also smoked over 20 cigarettes a day and had three MacDonalds fatty burgers this week. I also see that your husband has a penchant for the local newsagent ‘top-shelf’ products and that your son has bought a book that is on our ‘suspect list’. Also, looking at your overall spend, we see a discrepancy with your tax return.So you can understand why we are doubling your personal taxes, freezing your assets and raiding your house. After all if you’ve nothing to hide …….. .”
Sound a bit over the top? Alarmist? Of course that wouldn’t happen here? Well, governemnt and local authorities have a history of misusing laws and information to their own ends. All that data exists for card payments already. Supermarkets and card issuers (banks) use it for marketing purposes. With all payments electronically based do you really think we can keep the government’s grubby paws off of the data? There is also already talk of imposing a ‘Tobin tax’ on financial services transactions. A society where only electronic transactions took place would be a temptation no government could resist. And the new tax would only take the cost of transactions back to about the level of when we used notes and coins so what’s the problem?
Every aspect of our lives bar-coded and reduced to digits that any busy-body can scrutinise. A nation (if not a world) of digitised consumers and taxpayers.
1984 is breathing fire down our necks, cash in the form of notes and coins may actually be the last refuge of our real individual freedom. But only for the poor of course.
There will be many people who will want to evade this system. Those who are wealthy and don’t want their children’s inheritance taxed out of existence for example. The rich will accumulate other means of transfer such as rare metals. They after all won’t be allowed to get caught in the tax trap. A whole parallel system, a new form of ‘cash’ could evolve for them. For the rest of us I see a lot more bartering and direct swapping of goods and services returning to society as we try to eke out our living.
Read more: http://www.economicvoice.com/the-cashless-society/5005449#ixzz0cW6hBIxS
The cashless society
January 12th, 2010
Author: Jeff Taylor
According to the Telegraph there is the distinct possibility that the ‘cashless society’ may be just around the corner. In the report, Steve Perry of Visa Europe argues that card payments are cheaper than cash. What our Steve hasn’t hoisted in is that cards ARE cash. Or maybe he has but does not want us to realise the concept. The main reason for a noteless and coinless society he says is that electronic is cheaper.
In the same way that coloured beads, split sticks and ‘ Wampum’ were used as immediate vehicles for transferring value, printed notes and coins do the same but so do credit and debit cards.
But here’s the crux of the matter. Beads, sticks, Wampum, notes and coins were physically held by the owner. The contents of a debit or credit card account are held and controlled by a third party on the ‘owners’ behalf. And that third party will have to account for the movement of that value to a government for tax (and other) purposes.
Getting rid of notes and coins is not getting rid of ‘cash’. It is getting rid of one type of cash, the type of cash that ensures anonymity. Because all transactions by debit and credit card will be monitored and analysed by computers linked to whoever.
Great you say. No more unaccountable payments to dodgy plumbers. No more prostitution that relies so much on notes and coins. No more drug pushers on street corners. No more tax evasion. ‘If you’ve nothing to hide you’ve nothing to fear’ from the computer snoopers.
“Ah! But Mrs Smith, we notice you’ve purchased more that the health recommendations allow for chocolate éclairs. You’ve also smoked over 20 cigarettes a day and had three MacDonalds fatty burgers this week. I also see that your husband has a penchant for the local newsagent ‘top-shelf’ products and that your son has bought a book that is on our ‘suspect list’. Also, looking at your overall spend, we see a discrepancy with your tax return.So you can understand why we are doubling your personal taxes, freezing your assets and raiding your house. After all if you’ve nothing to hide …….. .”
Sound a bit over the top? Alarmist? Of course that wouldn’t happen here? Well, governemnt and local authorities have a history of misusing laws and information to their own ends. All that data exists for card payments already. Supermarkets and card issuers (banks) use it for marketing purposes. With all payments electronically based do you really think we can keep the government’s grubby paws off of the data? There is also already talk of imposing a ‘Tobin tax’ on financial services transactions. A society where only electronic transactions took place would be a temptation no government could resist. And the new tax would only take the cost of transactions back to about the level of when we used notes and coins so what’s the problem?
Every aspect of our lives bar-coded and reduced to digits that any busy-body can scrutinise. A nation (if not a world) of digitised consumers and taxpayers.
1984 is breathing fire down our necks, cash in the form of notes and coins may actually be the last refuge of our real individual freedom. But only for the poor of course.
There will be many people who will want to evade this system. Those who are wealthy and don’t want their children’s inheritance taxed out of existence for example. The rich will accumulate other means of transfer such as rare metals. They after all won’t be allowed to get caught in the tax trap. A whole parallel system, a new form of ‘cash’ could evolve for them. For the rest of us I see a lot more bartering and direct swapping of goods and services returning to society as we try to eke out our living.
Read more: http://www.economicvoice.com/the-cashless-society/5005449#ixzz0cW6hBIxS
I also like www.seedsofchange.com I've used them for years and never had a problem. The seeds are certified organic and heirloom, which means that you will be able to save your own after your plants have grown.
I would also recommend their seed potatos and garlic!
Spring Food Crisis May Trigger Economic Collapse
farmers across America and in many other parts of the world are calling 2009 the worst harvest they’ve ever seen – largely due to extended bouts of bad weather
January 7, 2010
By Michael Hampton
You have maybe two months to stock up on the necessities of life before food prices rise dramatically, potentially prompting a food panic, widespread famine, and quite possibly the long-expected collapse of the U.S. economy.
Farmers across America and in many other parts of the world are calling 2009 the worst harvest they’ve ever seen in their lives, owing largely to extended bouts of bad weather. At the same time the U.S. Department of Agriculture is officially forecasting bumper crops, while grain elevators stand nearly empty and close to three-fourths of the country’s farmland is in areas declared eligible for federal disaster assistance due to failed crops.
A popular farmers’ Web site is chock full of stories of entire crops of soybeans rejected for moisture damage, long delays in harvesting corn only to find out the corn is moldy, damaged or too light to be used as animal feed or even ethanol, and farmers unsure if they’ll even have a farm for another year due to the losses they’ve taken.
Most agricultural products are purchased in futures, which are promises to deliver a quantity of a commodity at a future date. Futures carry many risks, prominent among them the possibility that the commodity simply won’t be available at the promised delivery date. While futures prices are set by the market, some of the information used to set the prices comes from the USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates reports. The unrealistic 2009 bumper crop predictions in its recent reports, which may have seemed reasonable months ago before 2009’s long string of bad weather but which USDA has failed to revise, drove futures prices artificially low.
But grain futures prices have already risen well above the USDA’s latest projections as the corn harvest threatens to drag on into March in some areas of the country, thanks to an unusually wet 2009 and unprecedented fall flooding in the Midwest.
The good news is that even with 2009 being the worst harvest in human memory, there will still be plenty of food in the U.S. to feed everyone in the U.S. The bad news — if you’re in the U.S. — is that the food won’t be used to feed everyone in the U.S.
It seems China has finally figured out what to do with all the U.S. dollars it’s holding. You’ll recall that the Federal Reserve took some pretty extreme measures over the last two years, ostensibly to save the U.S. economy. In fact, those measures have set us up the bomb. For decades China has been buying U.S. debt and financing Americans’ credit addiction as well as the government’s massive spending on millions of projects it has no business being involved in. But, it seems, they’ve had enough of the dollar and are about to pull the plug.
In the meantime, China has been using those dollars to buy every morsel of American food it can get its hands on. Combined with 2009’s bad weather and the USDA’s ridiculous numbers, this prompted a late August soybean shortage which is expected to continue through 2010.
The U.S. has a very good reason to fudge the numbers on crop estimates. If it published realistic numbers, and crop futures prices rose sharply, three things would likely happen: Wall Street would take massive losses, inflation fears would cause investors to dump bonds, frustrating the government’s attempts to finance its incredible expanding debt, and most importantly, China, whose currency is tied closely to the U.S. dollar, would allow it to appreciate. That alone would likely send the U.S. dollar into freefall; all three would mean utter economic collapse.
Of course, you can’t fool the market for long; as noted above, futures prices are already well above the USDA’s numbers. All they really managed to do with their numbers game was buy the U.S. dollar another year of life.
One market analyst believes that the 2010 food shortage will be the catalyst which not only brings about the collapse of the U.S. economy, but takes down Great Britain and Japan with it.
While a food crisis was unavoidable to some extent because of the abnormal weather and financial crisis, the total panic which will soon grip world agricultural markets is a creation of the USDA and its fictitious production estimates. If not for the USDA’s interference, food prices would have risen in the first half of 2009 in anticipation of the 2009/10 shortage. The United States Department of Agriculture has caused incalculable damage to the world economy by encouraging overconsumption of rapidly diminishing food supplies.
Once the 2010 Food Crisis starts, confidence in the US government will be shattered as a result of the USDA’s faulty estimates. The starvation and misery caused by higher food prices will also create a lot of anger . . . — Market Skeptics
In this scenario, rural banks will begin failing rapidly, especially in the Midwest, and the inevitable bailouts will drive up U.S. debt further. These bailouts, combined with the Chinese allowing the yuan to appreciate, will erode confidence in the U.S. dollar to the point that foreign banks and investors begin dumping U.S. debt at fire sale prices. At that point the Federal Reserve will have no choice but to print money, leading directly to hyperinflation.
I shouldn’t have to tell you what hyperinflation will look like, but in case you need a reminder, it will likely make the Great Depression look like a minor recession. Tens of millions of people who have never known want in their entire lives are going to be shocked to wake up broke and hungry, with no idea what happened or why it happened to them. The government will almost certainly be unable to fulfill its promises of food stamps, social security and other such welfare programs. Food riots are likely and people will almost certainly die when the government attempts to put them down.
Worst of all, almost nobody will assign blame where it truly belongs: central banks and fiat currency.
Market Skeptics and many other foreign investors I’ve seen quoted widely in foreign media but virtually never in the U.S., recommend investing in agriculture, except derivatives, and in precious metals. I also recommend you invest in as much nonperishable food as you can lay hands on in the next two months, at least a year’s supply if you can manage it. If there’s no collapse, you can eat it, and if there is, you’ll at least have something to eat. And when you read a headline such as “Yuan allowed to rise versus dollar,” it’s time to head for the hills.
http://www.homelandstupidity.us/2010/01/07/spring-food-crisis-may-trigger-economic-collapse/