Tammy Bruce: Health & Fitness Archives

Health & Fitness Archives

Warning of New Measles Outbreak

And the Feds are sure, just sure, that it's the fault of the French and the Joooooz! Boy, if that's not a double-header for both Islamists and Amnesty Shills I don't know what is! No matter how much they try to avoid it, the truth of the matter is, the flood of people coming in at the southern border are from third-world countries with no national health care of immunization system. As a result, we've seen epidemics of mumps and measles and other diseases we thought the civilized world had vanquished. Another perk brought to you by those who want a new slave class, which now saddles your children with a potentially deadly disease.

CDC: Measles cases in US top 70, highest in 6 years

Measles outbreaks in several states have led to more than 70 cases so far this year, the worst in six years, health officials said Thursday. Most of the cases have been traced to outbreaks overseas and are mainly in children who were not vaccinated for religious or other reasons [Other reasons? Yeah, like the "being from Mexico" reason] or were too young, according to the Centers for Disease control and Prevention. Since measles vaccinations began in the early 1960s, cases have dramatically declined in the U.S.

So far this year, the CDC has confirmed reports of 64 cases in nine states. There were no deaths, but 14 people were hospitalized, said CDC spokesman Curtis Allen...Measles is caused by a virus that normally grows in cells that line the back of the throat and line the lungs. It spreads through contact with a sneezing, coughing, infected person.

Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. But about 1 in 5 measles sufferers experience more severe illness that can include diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis and even seizures and death.

Of the 64 cases reported to the CDC as of last week, 63 were unvaccinated or it wasn't known if they were vaccinated. At least 54 of the cases stemmed from outbreaks in Switzerland, Israel or other countries, Allen said. [Gee, I wonder what the breakdown is, and what those other 'unnamed' countres are. Hmmm.]

For more information about measles and what you can do to protect your family, visit the CDC.

Posted by Tammy · May 3, 2008 05:48 PM · Permalink · Comments (3)
Border Security | Health & Fitness | Politics

Typhoid Fever in New York

A New York food service worker has been diagnosed with Typhoid Fever. And of course the 'authorities' are refusing to tell us from what underdeveloped country the man is from or from where his friends and families were 'visiting.'

Food worker at Hicksville pizzeria has typhoid fever

A kitchen worker at a Hicksville pizzeria has contracted typhoid fever, putting more than 100 customers at risk for the .potentially deadly bacterial infection, the Nassau County Department of Health and the restaurant said Saturday...

Authorities would identify the kitchen worker only as a New York City man. He worked without symptoms on March 14 and 15, and had some symptoms on March 16, authorities said. He called in sick on March 17, Steinberg said.

Typhoid is a bacterial infection passed on through eating food or drinking water containing infected feces or urine. It is rare in developed countries...The disease may have been passed to the kitchen worker from relatives visiting from overseas, authorities said, though they would not say from what country or when the relatives visited.

Let's see, a kitchen worker at Sbarros. Yeah, absolutely a Swede. From overseas? How about from 'overboarder'? And the relatives visited? So suddenly we have illegal aliens who just came for a minute, go all the way to New York, and go back? Now that is a story! It's amazing what the Establishment Media and so-called authorities go through in a ridiculous attempt to cover-up how illegal aliens are one of the primary health threats to this country.

How exactly a 'guest worker' program is supposed to change this situation and protect us from people who come from a nation with no national immunization program, no national sanitation standards, and no national healthcare network or database (and that would be Mexico, now Sweden) is beyond me.

Posted by Tammy · March 23, 2008 10:57 AM · Permalink · Comments (4)
Health & Fitness | Immigration | Mainstream Media

Britney 'Screamed Throught the Night'

Yeah, and I probably will, too, until November. And then who knows, maybe afterward.

Sectioned Britney Spears: Now court lets father takes control of her millions

Britney Spears has lost control of her assets after a Los Angeles court commissioner placed her estate under temporary conservatorship.

This follows the actions of her desperate parents Jamie and Lynne Spears who went to court this morning to try regain control of their daughter's finances from her manager Sam Lufti.

He is now banned from seeing her under a 22-day civil harrassment restraining order that will prevent him from visiting the hospital she is being treated in...Britney was committed to a hospital in Los Angeles in the early hours of Tuesday morning following months of erratic behaviour that saw a court deny her access to her two sons....

Miss Spears, who reportedly had not slept for five days before being committed, endured a traumatic first night under psychiatric care following her hospitalization.

"She hasn't adjusted well," the source said, adding: "The first night, she barely slept. She was up most of the night screaming for Adnan. It's obvious she really loves him – or she thinks she does, anyway." [...]

Since her admission, Britney has been branded "gravely disabled," a term used to indicate a patient is unable to properly care for themselves as a result of a mental disorder.

Posted by Tammy · February 1, 2008 04:10 PM · Permalink · Comments (3)
Celebrity | Health & Fitness | Mental Health, Lack Of

No Wonder the World Hates Us

Sometimes we must simply admit how evil we are. Running roughshod over the world, caring only about ourselves, not considering for one second the negative impact we have on the world, to say nothing of ruining the lives of little children. Yeah, with stories like this, isn't it about time we stop messing around with other peoples lives and retreat so the world can once again have a good time?

Five-Year-Old Boy Feels 'Very Well' After Having Peach-Sized Brain Tumor Removed

NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. — A 5-year-old Peruvian boy rushed to Long Island for surgery to remove a peach-sized brain tumor said he felt "very well" less than a week after the procedure.

Sebastian Jimenez Pina praised the doctors who treated him -- and the congressman who helped get him to them -- at a news conference Wednesday at Schneider Children's Hospital, where he underwent the operation Dec. 27.

"The hospital and the doctors were very good," the boy said in Spanish.

His physicians, Dr. Mark Mittler and Dr. Mark Atlas, said Sebastian would have died quickly without the surgery. It removed the tumor protruding from his right temple and two other, smaller ones on his head.

Yeah, and I bet you we waterboarded that little boy ahead of time to make sure he said nice things about the doctors.

Posted by Tammy · January 3, 2008 09:58 AM · Permalink · Comments (3)
Children | Good News | Good Samaritans | Health & Fitness

Sweet God No! 'Livestrong' Band Might Hasten Your Death

File this under Irony of the Year, so far.

Patients' Near Misses: Some Hospital's 'Do Not Resuscitate' Wristbands Look Like Lance Armstrong 'Livestrong' Bracelets

Methods to identify a patient with a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order are incredibly varied across hospitals...There are currently no standards of color choice for hospitals using color-coded wristbands, and each hospital has a different set of colors for different indications. This lack of standardization creates the potential for errors. For example, some hospitals have used yellow to signify “Do Not Resuscitate,” leading to several near-misses with patients wearing yellow Lance Armstrong “Livestrong” bracelets. If a standard color choice existed for DNR orders, the potential for errors with either personal patient wristbands or those used by hospitals would be averted.

Rut row.

Posted by Tammy · January 2, 2008 06:04 PM · Permalink · Comments (2)
Health & Fitness | Just Wrong | Sweet God No!

Seven Great Medical Myths

According to the British Medical Journal include reading in dim light will not hurt your eyes and shaving will not make your hair grow back faster. But then how do we explain those tattoo and motorcycle issues?

Revealed: The seven great "medical myths"

LONDON (Reuters) - Reading in dim light won't damage your eyes, you don't need eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy and shaving your legs won't make the hair grow back faster.

These well-worn theories are among seven "medical myths" exposed in a paper published Friday in the British Medical Journal, which traditionally carries light-hearted features in its Christmas edition. Two U.S. researchers took seven common beliefs and searched the archives for evidence to support them.

Despite frequent mentions in the popular press of the need to drink eight glasses of water, they found no scientific basis for the claim...

Here's the whole list:

* Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight
* Shaving makes hair grow back faster or coarser
* You need to drink 8 glasses of water a day to remain healthy
* Eating turkey makes you drowsy
* We use only 10 percent of our brains
* Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death
* Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals

Oh, wait! There are actually 8 medical myths. Shockingly, Chuck Norris's tears won't cure cancer. Who knew?

Posted by Tammy · December 23, 2007 01:00 PM · Permalink · Comments (7)
Celebrity | Health & Fitness | Science & Technology

Babe News Anchor Punches Cop

Alycia Lane. Just watch out for the right hook.

Sends cop to hospital. Which may get babe sent to jail. Babe then wishes she watched more "Bad Girls" when she had the chance.

News anchor busted for punching cop

An Emmy-winning news anchor from Philadelphia is in hot water for punching a police officer here in New York, officials said.

Alycia Lane, a Long Island native who co-anchors the nightly news for a local station in the City of Brotherly Love, was arrested for hitting a female police officer in the face early this morning in Manhattan, and charged with assaulting a police officer...

Earlier this year, 35-year-old Lane made headlines when she e-mailed photos of herself clad in a revealing bikini to NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen. The images were discovered by Eisen's wife, but Lane insisted the pictures were only meant as a good-humored joke.

I don't think she'll be going where Martha went. But those pics might get her a few more smokes.

The Tiny Gay Squirrel says: "Wow, two Babe posts in a row. It's good to move past Huckanut rage (for a moment) to things that are really important...like Babes."

UPDATE:

Apparently Alycia used a derogatory phrase against the woman cop that a) could also be used in prison, and b) get her sent to the hospital, just after she becomes everyone's wife. For at least an hour.

Philadelphia News Anchor Alycia Lane Calls Officer 'Dyke', Lands in Jail

Alycia Lane, the evening news anchor on CBS affiliate KYW-TV in Philadelphia, was arrested on early Sunday morning in Manhattan after an altercation with a female police officer, according to the New York Times. Lane and her boyfriend Chris Booker, and another unidentified couple were reportedly traveling in a taxi through Manhattan and became upset over a slow vehicle blocking their way. Philly.com reports Lane confronted the passengers of the slow vehicle, which happened to be a group of police officers in plainclothes. [Oops.]

When one of the officers asked Lane, who was taking photos with her iPhone, to step back, the news anchor reportedly began verbally assaulting the officer. According to Philadelphia Weekly, Lane screamed at the officer, saying "I don't give a f*ck who you are, I am a reporter you f*cking dyke." Lane then punched the female officer in the face, according to the Associated Press, resulting in several lacerations and swelling. The officer was treated at a local hospital and released.

News from Planet Obvious: Republicans Report Better Mental Health Than Others

The real news--even Democrats know they're not well. At least that's a start. It's rather obvious that the wing of politics that romanticizes and empowers victimhood will attract those who feel victimized or are otherwise unhappy about themselves and the world.

The right, on the other hand, which emphasizes personal responsibility and and actual individual freedom, naturally appeals to people who are not threatened by that message. Those struggling with mental illness, depression, paranoia and narcissism are not exactly ready to embrace ideas which, by their very nature, promote concepts that require confidence, self-esteem, and and expectation of personal success.

Now the question for 2008 becomes, which group of people know who's best to run this country--those who personally identify as mentally ill, or those who do not?

Republicans Report Much Better Mental Health Than Others

PRINCETON, NJ -- Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats or independents to rate their mental health as excellent, according to data from the last four November Gallup Health and Healthcare polls. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans report having excellent mental health, compared to 43% of independents and 38% of Democrats. This relationship between party identification and reports of excellent mental health persists even within categories of income, age, gender, church attendance, and education.

Posted by Tammy · November 30, 2007 02:37 PM · Permalink · Comments (3)
Health & Fitness | Politics

The Story That Could Single-Handedly Stop Illegal Immigration

We need this reported in Mexico. I'm just sayin'. And hey, maybe this finally explains Hillary's obsession with nationalizing health care.

Suit: Man Loses Penis After Cancer Went Untreated

Salvadoran man with terminal cancer is suing the government, claiming he was denied proper medical treatment when he was detained at an immigration facility...Castaneda, 35, claims the cancer wouldn't have reached the terminal stage if he'd received proper treatment. [Or, of course, if he hadn't broken the law by illegally entering this country]. His penis was amputated after he was freed from federal custody in February and he's undergoing chemotherapy...

Castaneda eventually had a biopsy and surgery at a Los Angeles County hospital, but the cancer has continued to spread. While his attorneys said they couldn't explain why Castaneda was freed, the suit speculates the government wanted to avoid paying for the biopsy.

It's important to note-- the man still had his surgery here, which we paid for, and we continue to pay for his cancer treatment.

Posted by Tammy · November 3, 2007 05:17 PM · Permalink · Comments (11)
Health & Fitness | Immigration

Need a Flu Shot?

A post by Maynard

Every year, I weigh the merit of theoretical protection against the penalty of a sore arm and maybe feeling a bit down as I process the vaccine. But I end up getting the shot on the theory that then I'll have one less thing to worry about. (I never run out of stuff to worry about.)

All your favorite health care providers offer flu shots. But if you're like me and just want to get the shot like you buy a bottle of coke, look for the roving clinics that visit your local pharmacy. As a public service, here are links to the schedules at Sav-on/Osco and CVS. Select the "Flu clinics" option and enter your ZIP code. Show up, hand over $30, and assume the position.

Update: Some people have posted comments suggesting that a flu shot has little or no real-world utility. I would think this question has been answered by hard data obtained from double-blind tests: What is the statistical probability of a random person coming down with the flu with and without a flu shot? Of course this changes from year to year and person to person, but the statisticians should be able to crunch some results nevertheless. What are those numbers? Does anybody know??

Update 2: Thanks to REDC1C4, who posted this link to vaccine efficacy per the CDC. In particular:

Overall, in years when the vaccine and circulating viruses are well-matched, influenza vaccines can be expected to reduce laboratory-confirmed influenza by approximately 70% to 90% in healthy adults <65 years of age. Several studies have also found reductions in febrile illness, influenza-related work absenteeism, antibiotic use, and doctor visits.

In years when the vaccine strains are not well matched to circulating strains, vaccine effectiveness can be variably reduced. For example, in a study among persons 50-64 years during the 2003-04 season, when the vaccine strains were not optimally matched, inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza was 60% among persons without high-risk conditions, and 48% among those with high risk conditions, but it was 90% against laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalization (Herrera, et al Vaccine 2006).

So, according to the CDC, if my chance of contracting the flu is significant, then the protection afforded is also significant.

Posted by Maynard · October 21, 2007 03:58 PM · Permalink · Comments (13)
Health & Fitness | Maynard Post

Your Trick for the Day

Baby Sydney
A Message from Sydney Bruce:

Humans, this short and sweet trick is easier if you've had a beer or two. Otherwise, don't even try.

Posted by Tammy · September 29, 2007 12:59 PM · Permalink · Comments (3)
Animal Issues | Education | Health & Fitness | Inspiration

Like Stealing Donuts From Seniors

Big Government vs. Big Donut

You can consider the Nanny State out of control when they decide to take away donuts from a senior center because they're bad for the residents. The very same seniors, who in their 60s, 70s and 80s, one way or another fought and won World War II, and defended this nation during the Korean and Vietnam wars. They survived the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the drug-haze of the 60s, the disasters of Nixon and Carter in the 70s, Carter's recession, malaise and Iranian hostage taking. The didn't kill themselves, die of alcoholism or drug abuse, die in a car wreck, or get killed by some freak. They survived the 20th century.

And what do we do to honor and celebrate our seniors? We treat them like babies and take away their donuts. Yet we're so obsessed with making sure potheads can get their dope we open up "medical marijhuana" stores. Un-Effing-Believeable.

Seniors Protest Doughnut Ban

MAHOPAC, N.Y (AP) — It was just another morning at the senior center: Women were sewing, men were playing pool — and seven demonstrators, average age 76, were picketing outside, demanding doughnuts.

They wore sandwich boards proclaiming, "Give Us Our Just Desserts" and "They're Carbs, Not Contraband."

At issue is a decision to refuse free doughnuts, pies and bread that were being donated to senior centers around Putnam County, north of New York City. Officials were concerned that the county was setting a bad nutritional precedent by providing mounds of doughnuts and other sweets to seniors. The picketers said they were objecting not to a lack of sweets but that they weren't consulted about the ban.

"Lack of respect is what it's all about," said Joe Hajkowski, 75, a former labor union official who organized the demonstration. He said officials had implied that seniors were gorging themselves on jelly doughnuts and were too senile to make the choice for themselves.

"I'm 86, not 8," added C. Michael Sibilia...

Caregivers there and elsewhere say the doughnut debate illustrates the difficulty of balancing nutrition and choice when providing meals to the elderly.

"Senior citizens can walk down to the store and buy doughnuts. Nobody's stopping them," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington.

That's respect for you.

Hay Fever Attack!

A whine by Maynard

This hits me every year at this time, when the furnace of the Southern California summer subsides and the plants celebrate the onset of autumn by spewing pollen everywhere. I spend the next six weeks sneezing and cursing the day we outlawed greenery-destroying smog.

In recent years I've taken to gobbling Singulair and snorting Rhinocort, and these seem to provide some small degree of relief. I've also added this air filter to the coffin in which I conceal myself during daylight hours.

Are you all suffering like I am? Misery loves company.

Posted by Maynard · September 19, 2007 01:52 AM · Permalink · Comments (8)
Health & Fitness | Maynard Post

Thank You, John Edwards

A post by Maynard

Socialized Hair Care

No, I don't like Edwards. He's a preening hypocritical ambulance chaser who made his fortune on "junk science" lawsuits. His specialty was suing hospitals for babies born with cerebral palsy, an infirmity caused by genetic rather than environmental factors. But nothing melts the heart of a jury like a sick baby in the arms of a slick lawyer. Tens of millions of dollars went into Edwards' pocket. Where do you think that money came from?

So it's more than a little disgusting that Edwards, having done so much to alienate doctors and render health care unaffordable, has jumped onto the socialized medicine bandwagon in a big way.

The fundamental problem with socialism is, although it promises to help you, it ultimately controls you. How could it be otherwise? The government cannot giveth unless the government taketh away. Most of the advocates of "socialism lite" try to weasel around this inevitable consequence. My sincere thanks to John Edwards for this moment of clarity.

I'm not just talking about the dollar price (which Edwards promises will be paid by taxes on "the rich"). This gets down to control of your own body. You know; that thing that the abortion rights advocates tell you is constitutionally yours to do with as you like. As quoted by the Associated Press, Edwards states plainly of his plan:

"It requires that everybody be covered. It requires that everybody get preventive care," he told a crowd sitting in lawn chairs in front of the Cedar County Courthouse. "If you are going to be in the system, you can't choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are OK." He noted, for example, that women would be required to have regular mammograms.

Edwards said his mandatory health care plan would cover preventive, chronic and long-term health care. The plan would include mental health care as well as dental and vision coverage for all Americans.

"The whole idea is a continuum of care, basically from birth to death," he said.

Does anybody understand that this is the death of freedom? You have to come in and subject your body to a government-mandated regimen. Hey, ladies, are you looking forward to having a government agent assigned to squeeze your breasts?

Posted by Maynard · September 2, 2007 11:28 PM · Permalink · Comments (10)
Big Government | Health & Fitness | Leftists | Maynard Post

Tom and Katie Sleep in Separate Bedrooms...

Breathe Right or separate bedrooms? Apparently a tough call for Tom Cruise.

Because he snores. And Angelina Jolie and I sleep in separate bedrooms because she snores. Or maybe it's because we really don't know each other. Actually, I'd have trouble breathing with Katie in my bed, too, but only at first :)

Katie blames Tom Cruise's snoring for sleeping in separate bedrooms

It's an age old problem, and many a wife has suffered because of it - but not Katie Holmes.

Tom Cruise and wife Katie Holmes are reported to sleep in separate bedrooms, so she doesn't have to suffer his snoring.

A source told US magazine, Star: "It's a situation that works for both of them"...

"In fact, they even joke about having separate bedrooms to their friends – Katie says Tom snores, and this way she can get her beauty sleep!"

"Of course they spend time together alone at night like most married couples; after all, they conceived Suri!"

Hey, what's this doing here?!

Presidential Health

A post by Maynard

Tammy's post about GWB's Lyme disease made me wonder about presidential health in general. Here's an interesting site, and I can't vouch for its accuracy, but a seemingly-learned gentleman writing under the pen name of "Dr. Zebra" has compiled a comprehensive historical list of presidential maladies. (Perusing this list makes me wonder how any of these men, or indeed any of us at all, survive infancy.)

With respect to Bill Clinton's health...I have a vague memory of an allegation that Clinton kept his medical records under wraps, leading to sinister speculation about unseemly details, such as STDs or drug use. I'm not saying I necessarily believe any of this is true; I'm just recollecting the word on the street. I also seem to recall Paula Jones' statement that Mr. Clinton's member presented a "distinguishing characteristic"; an allegation that led to some interesting speculations, such as the possibility of Peyronie's disease. But was Jones telling the truth? Personally I thought the solution would be to challenge her to pick Clinton out of a lineup of naked men with bags on their heads. But as usual, nobody followed my sage advice. (Jones later took — and passed — a lie detector test for a TV show.)

And now you know the rest of the story.

Posted by Maynard · August 9, 2007 11:42 PM · Permalink · Comments (0)
Health & Fitness | History | Maynard Post | Politics | Satire/Absurdity

Bush Treated for Lyme Disease, Keeps It Secret

You know, if there wasn't so much "secret" stuff going on with Bush, I probably wouldn't be as irritated by this, but I am. Just one more thing to add to the list of what the pesky Commoners don't need to know.

It's not a huge deal, but we should have been told. Lyme Disease can be serious and would absolutely affect the president's performance, as it would all of us with whatever job we do. One reason we should know things like this is because of the spotty history of presidential health care. Keep in mind President Clinton was walking around with clogged heart arteries probably most of his presidency. That only came to light when he was on the verge of a heart attack after he left office, when it was discovered 90% of his arteries were clogged. How did the supposedly fantastic yearly presidential health checkup miss that?

The more that is revealed to the public, the more efficient government-types become, including medical personnel. To say nothing of the simple fact that we have the right to know if the president is being treated for a bacterial disease, even if it is 'localized.'

Bush Treated for Lyme Disease Last Year

President Bush was treated for Lyme disease last August, the White House announced Wednesday after failing to disclose the problem for nearly a year.

The treatment was revealed only when the White House made public all the results of Bush's annual physical exam on Wednesday. It showed up in the "past medical history" section and in the summary along with other skin conditions.

Bush was treated for what his doctors described as "early, localized Lyme disease" after developing the characteristic bullseye rash.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne infection that, if left untreated, can cause arthritis and other problems. Symptoms can include lethargy, joint pain, fever, limping and loss of appetite. A bacterial disease, it can be eradicated with antibiotic treatment in the early stages, but can become more complicated to treat if not caught early.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Bush's treatment was not disclosed earlier because it happened after his last physical, on Aug. 1, 2006.

Oh, I see. So if something happens to the president's health after the last physical that completely absolves the the White House of the duty to inform the public. Got it.

Posted by Tammy · August 9, 2007 07:53 PM · Permalink · Comments (4)
Health & Fitness | Politics

Coffee, Good For You, Good For Your Brain

I've been telling you that forever. Now there's proof why coffee is in fact the nectar of the God.

Coffee 'protects female memory'

French researchers compared women aged 65 and older who drank more than three cups of coffee per day with those who drank one cup or less per day.

Those who drank more caffeine showed less decline in memory tests over a four year period. The study, published in the journal Neurology, raises the possibility that caffeine may even protect against the development of dementia...Caffeine is a known psychostimulant, but this study appears to suggest its effects may be more profound.

Woo hoo! Profound indeed. No more guilt about that third cup.

Posted by Tammy · August 7, 2007 02:27 PM · Permalink · Comments (3)
Food/Drink | Health & Fitness

New Botulism Warning, Now for Green Beans

Completely unrelated to the existing canned meat botulism recall. Here are the details. Have you noticed these recalls happen only to food you really don't want to eat anyway? Why don't we have a chocolate or ice cream recall for just a little while, long enough to give certain persons time to lose a few pounds?

Instead, it's spinach, canned meat, and green beans. Let's just say I'm not having to check my food stash.

U.S. issues new botulism warning for green beans

Consumers should not eat certain brands of French-cut green beans because of concerns they could be tainted with the toxin that causes botulism, U.S. health officials warned on Friday.

The green beans were manufactured by Lakeside Foods Inc. of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and packaged in 14.5-ounce cans, the Food and Drug Administration said.

The FDA said the beans may not have been processed adequately to eliminate the potential for botulinum toxin, which can cause a life-threatening illness...

Lakeside Foods said on Wednesday it was voluntarily recalling 15,000 cases of green beans because of the botulism concern. No botulinum toxin has been found in any cans that were tested, David Aggen, Lakeside's vice president of quality assurance and product safety, said in an interview on Friday...

The FDA said the affected Lakeside French-cut green beans are sold nationwide under the brands Albertson's, Happy Harvest, Best Choice, Food Club, Bogopa, Valu Time, Hill Country Fare, HEB, Laura Lynn, Kroger, No Name, North Pride, Shop N Save, Shoppers Valu, Schnucks, Cub Foods, Dierbergs, Flavorite, IGA, Best Choice and Thrifty Maid.

Fir further information and more details visit the FDA and Lakeside Foods.

Posted by Tammy · August 4, 2007 09:30 PM · Permalink · Comments (1)
Food/Drink | Health & Fitness | Recalls

This Is Why I'm Not An Organ Donor

I just don't want there to be any reason for my death to be sped up or facilitated in some way by doctors who think someone else will be better off with what I have when there's a medical crisis. And as long as prisoners are receiving state and federally funded organ transplants, there's no way I would even consider being an organ donor unless I or my friends could at the very least control who the organs go to.

Doctor Accused of Killing Patient to Harvest Organs

...Prosecutors in San Luis Obispo County said Dr. Hootan Roozrokh, 33, of San Francisco, gave a harmful drug and prescribed excessive doses of morphine and a sedative to 26-year-old Ruben Navarro, who died in 2006.

Navarro was taken in a coma to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles, in 2006 after suffering respiratory and cardiac arrest. Although Navarro was found to have irreversible brain damage and was kept on a respirator, he was not considered brain dead because he still had limited brain function.

The day before Navarro died, his family gave approval for a surgical team to recover his organs for donation. That didn't happen, however, because Navarro didn't die within 30 minutes of being removed from life support. He died a day later.

Roozrokh, a surgeon at Kaiser Permanente's now-closed kidney transplant program, was working at the time on behalf of a group that procures and distributes organs. The prosecutor's office said in a statement that the drugs were prescribed "to accelerate Mr. Navarro's death in order to recover his organs." [...]

The coroner's office this year determined Navarro died of natural causes. Last month, his mother, Rosa, filed a wrongful-death and medical malpractice lawsuit against Roozrokh and others, claiming her son was removed from life support without her permission and given lethal doses of drugs.

UPDATE:

Debbie Schlussel has a post looking at this case, asking why Roosrokh isn't being charged with murder, and some funny business being engaged in by other doctors who are Muslim. (HT Tink in Comments)

Posted by Tammy · July 31, 2007 12:56 PM · Permalink · Comments (8)
Corruption | Health & Fitness

Justice Roberts' Seizure No Big Deal?

Lots of No Big Deals lately, huh? Most reports are casting the event as insignificant, resulting in 'minor scrapes.' A local Maine report, the state where the Chief Justice was vacationing at the time of the seizure, reports something apparently more ominous, at least at the time.

Chief Justice Roberts to spend night at hospital

St. George Ambulance responded to a call at about 2 p.m. Monday of a man who had fallen 5 to 10 feet and landed on a dock, hitting the back of his head. The patient was ashen and was foaming at the mouth. National news report quotes a Supreme Court spokeswoman as saying that Roberts was conscious the entire time of the incident. That spokeswoman has not returned a telephone call to the newspaper.

Even this report indicates doctors found the seizure to be 'benign.' Still, it does not make one comfortable when the Chief Justice, at 52 years old, is having a seizure and foaming at the mouth for no real reason. But maybe that's just me.

UPDATE:

The debate now among the experts is that the Chief Justice may have epilepsy.

Posted by Tammy · July 30, 2007 09:21 PM · Permalink · Comments (6)
Health & Fitness

Botulism Recall Issue Now Termed "Urgent" By FDA

We're now being told tens of millions of cans of canned meat, both human and dog products, may be infected with deadly botulism. After what were somewhat casual recall notices, the FDA has stepped their warnings, with the latest FDA announcement calling the issue an "urgent public health threat."

The original recall involving 10 canned meat products has increased to 80. And while the second announcement revealed four types of Natural Balance Dog Food being recalled. This latest notes dog food affected being sold under "a variety of brand names" yet the FDA list still only indicates the four Natural Balance products. Here we go again.

First, here is the fact sheet link to the FDA, including the new expanded list of products affected.

FDA says food recall is urgent health threat

A recall of canned meat products and dog food made at a Georgia plant due to botulism fears could involve tens of millions of cans that pose an urgent public health threat, U.S. officials said on Monday.

U.S. food regulators appealed to consumers and retailers to find and dispose of the cans..."This is a very big recall," David Elder of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's office of regulatory affairs told reporters, deeming it an "urgent public health matter."

The recall by Castleberry's originally affected 10 products. The expanded move involves more than 80 types of stew, chili, hash and other products as well as pet food sold under a variety of brand names.

And here is the list of the Natural Balance Eatables dog food varieties being recalled:

Irish Stew with Beef Dog Food
15 OZ / 23633-59860

Chinese Take Out with Sauce with Vegetables and Chicken Dog Food
15 OZ / 23633-59861

Southern Style Dumplings with Gravy with Chicken and Vegetables Dog Food
15 OZ / 23633-59862

Hobo Chili with Chicken Pasta Dog Food
15 OZ / 23633-59863

Posted by Tammy · July 23, 2007 11:42 PM · Permalink · Comments (4)
Food/Drink | Health & Fitness | Recalls

Meat "Country of Origin" Labeling Passes House Committee

(Image by Dion Laurent)

Actually, the law passed in 2002, but Republicans have delayed its implementation. Another stupid abandonment of conservatives by Republicans, fumbling the ball to the Dems. Pat S. has the details in this email to Tammy Blog:

***

Our friends the Republicans have been delaying implementation of the labeling law passed in 2002.

US Meat Labels to Note Country of Origin

The House Agriculture Committee voted Thursday night to require country of origin labels on meats beginning next year, striking a compromise as reports of tainted food from China raise consumer awareness about imported food safety. After days of negotiations between both sides, the committee agreed to allow the mandatory labels but soften penalties and burdensome record-keeping requirements that had concerned many food retailers and meatpackers who opposed the law. The committee adopted by voice vote the labeling changes just before it approved a five-year farm law that would govern agriculture programs.The Agriculture Department never put in place the 2002 law requiring the labels because then-majority Republicans repeatedly delayed it, most recently to 2008.

Here's what Lou Dobbs had to say about the failure to implement the 2002 COOL on July 16th: (I wish I could find a video clip).

KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Food from all over the world, consumers may like the variety, but they also want to know where their food is coming from, and they can't tell.

Laws enacted by Congress in 2002 to require country-of-origin labeling, so-called COOL laws, but powerful lobbying groups pushed back implementation of those laws for most products until 2008.

URVASHI RANGAN, "CONSUMER REPORTS": In Congress, the delay was done in 2004 and then again another delay was made in 2006. So, there's definitely been opportunities for country-of-origin labeling to go into effect and it's most clearly been derailed at least twice.

PILGRIM: The recent discovery of numerous cases of contaminated food, especially from China, have caused health scares. Just this week, popular snacks manufactured in the United States but containing Chinese ingredients were found to be contaminated with salmonella.

A Web site sponsored by the American Meat Institute advocates no country-of-origin labeling, reading: "a coalition of entities who are deeply concerned about the costly, trade distorting, and disruptive nature of mandatory country-of-origin labeling."

But the American Farmers Union, which represents a quarter- million producers of all types of fruit, vegetables, grain, and other commodities is for country-of-origin labeling.

TOM BUIS, NATIONAL FARMERS UNION: We have been advocating this for about 15 years and actually got it into the 2002 farm bill as part of the law signed in to law by President Bush. Importers have been able to block and delay the implementation time after time after time.

PILGRIM: The USDA said even though the law has been passed, it's not a final rule. It's still only a proposed rule.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PILGRIM: Now, the USDA even now is taking more time to implement those proposed rules. They're in a 60-day open comment period to solicit comment on how the public feels about the rules.

But the law was passed. President Bush signed it. And it's clear the American public really wants this legislation.

DOBBS: All right, help us all out here. Is this thing the law or isn't it?

PILGRIM: You know, I went through this about six times with the USDA. They said, it is a law, but it's still a proposed rule. And, so, until the USDA acts on it, it will not be a final rule.

(CROSSTALK)

Here's where Dobbs sounds like Tammy's separated at birth twin:

DOBBS: So, these incompetent, cowardly people -- I will call them people -- I am going to be generous; I am going to call them people -- at the USDA are not implementing a law signed by the president, passed by the Congress, and it's been five years?

PILGRIM: And they say they're still soliciting comments, so they can write it...

(CROSSTALK)

DOBBS: OK. I have got a comment.

USDA, listen to me. Start protecting the American consumer. Do your jobs.

And, if it's the Bush administration, Mr. President, why don't you just get one thing right in your administration and start protecting consumers?

Is that fair comment?

PILGRIM: It's pretty clear.

DOBBS: OK.

We will pass that on to the USDA.

What a -- unbelievable.

Kitty, thank you very much -- Kitty Pilgrim.

And here's what the American Meat Institute has to say about it.

This web site is sponsored by the American Meat Institute (AMI) and a coalition of entities deeply concerned about the costly, trade distorting, and disruptive nature of mandatory country-of-origin labeling, which was included in the 2002 Farm Bill. In fact, the language in the 2002 Farm Bill is better described as KOIL or Keep Out Import Labels.

« Close It

Posted by Tammy · July 22, 2007 09:39 PM · Permalink · Comments (1)
Corruption | Fed Incompetence | Food/Drink | Health & Fitness | Politics

Chinese Cloud of Crack Wafts Over California...Really

Well, perhaps not a cloud of crack specifically, but that's been one Tammy Radio explanation of why certain Americans, like politicians and leftists, have so completely lost their minds.

Little did I know the essence of my imagined scenario would come true so quickly. Ladies and Gentlemen, I bring you (HT Drudge) another gift from depraved pit of Beijing: The Chinese Cloud of Poison, wafting over a city near you.

Huge Dust Plumes From China Cause Changes in Climate

One tainted export from China can't be avoided in North America -- air.

An outpouring of dust layered with man-made sulfates, smog, industrial fumes, carbon grit and nitrates is crossing the Pacific Ocean on prevailing winds from booming Asian economies in plumes so vast they alter the climate. These rivers of polluted air can be wider than the Amazon and deeper than the Grand Canyon.

On some days, almost a third of the air over Los Angeles and San Francisco can be traced directly to Asia. With it comes up to three-quarters of the black carbon particulate pollution that reaches the West Coast...

Posted by Tammy · July 22, 2007 09:19 PM · Permalink · Comments (2)
Environment | Health & Fitness

Deadly Botulism Found in Chili Sauce, Hash and Beans

Botulism, that stuff women inject into their faces to get that I'm-Old-But-Have-the-Wrinkle-Free-Botox face, has been found in a variety of food products made by the Castleberry's Food Co., which is owned by Bumble Bee Seafoods. The products include chili sauce, corned beef hash, BBQ pork, and chili. The botulism is so dangerous if you even just touch it, you'll become ill. Here are the details.

Botulism Linked to Canned Hot Dog Chili Sauce

Federal health officials warned consumers late Wednesday night that some canned hot dog chili sauce may be contaminated with a potentially deadly botulism toxin.

The warning applies to 10-ounce cans of Castleberry's, Austex and Kroger brands of hot dog chili sauce with "best by" dates from April 30, 2009, through May 22, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a prepared statement.

Robert Brackett, director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, urged consumers to discard any of the recalled chili sauce cans without opening them. "The toxin is so potent if they get it on their hands or it sprays in their face, it could make them ill," he said.

Botulism is a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a toxin made by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, according to the CDC. Symptoms of botulism include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness that moves down the body.

The recall covers the following universal product codes:

* Castleberry's Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10 oz can (UPC 3030000101)
* Austex Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030099533)
* Kroger Hot Dog Chili Sauce, 10-ounce can (UPC 1111083942)
* Morton House Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 7526665830)
* Cattle Drive Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001515)
* Southern Home Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 0788015360)
* Meijer Corned Beef Hash, 15-ounce can (UPC 4125095229)
* Castleberry's Chili With Beans, 15-ounce can (UPC 3030001015)
* Castleberry's Barbecue Pork, 10-ounce can (UPC 3030000402)
* Bunker Hill Chili No Beans, 10-ounce can (UPC 7526604112)

Consumer questions can be addressed to the FDA by calling 1-888-SAFEFOOD.

Posted by Tammy · July 19, 2007 08:57 AM · Permalink · Comments (3)
Food/Drink | Health & Fitness

Fly With Tuberculosis, Get Sued

Finally, TB Andy is finding out what happens when you expose countless others to a deadly disease simply because you're afraid of the quality of Italian medical care. Andrew Speaker deserves to be finally ruined. he should also face criminal charges for, at the very least, his Rome-Prague-Montreal flights when he had been ordered by the CDC to turn himself in to Italian medial authorities.

Nine File Suit Against TB-Infected Man

MONTREAL (AP) - Nine people filed a $1.3 million lawsuit Thursday against the globe- trotting tuberculosis patient for possibly exposing them to the disease on a commercial flight from Prague to Montreal. Montreal lawyer Anlac Nguyen filed the motion in Quebec Superior Court on behalf of seven Canadians and two natives of the Czech Republic. Eight were passengers on the flight with Andrew Speaker and the ninth is a brother and roommate of one of the passengers. [...]

Nassim Tabri sat one row in front of Speaker. Tabri, a 26-year-old Montreal graduate student, found out about his possible exposure when a reporter called him after news of the incident broke last month.

He is seeking $134,900—the highest amount sought among the nine plaintiffs, mostly for pain, suffering and "loss of opportunities". "At the very first moment that I found out, I was obviously very stressed, very shocked," said Tabri, who slept through most of the flight. "I'm still very stressed out about it. He deliberately got on this plane, endangered our lives and this is very selfish and reckless behavior that deserves to be punished."

Nguyen said one of the plaintiffs, a 72-year-old man, tested positive for tuberculosis in an initial skin test, but it was unclear if it was related to contact with Speaker.

Hopefully this is only the beginning of the lawsuits. When it comes to "personal injury" this is about as legitimate as it gets. Now TB Andy will find out what it's like to be eaten by his own.

Posted by Tammy · July 12, 2007 09:10 PM · Permalink · Comments (1)
Health & Fitness | Malignant Narcissism

Russians Drinking Themselves to Death

Habits fostered by the hopelessness of communism for generations are hard to break. Even with democracy, a country is only as good as her people. I hope the Russians get their act together and believe they're worth more than a corrupt former KGB man and the cologne on the shelves.

'Cologne cocktails' killing men

Russian men are risking death by drinking aftershave and cleaning agents, a study has suggested.

UK researchers estimated that half of all deaths in working age men in the country are due to hazardous drinking. The products, which also include herbal tinctures sold in pharmacies, are widely available, cheap and contain up to 97% alcohol, the Lancet study says.

It was found that they contain very few toxins but are deadly simply because of the extreme alcohol levels...Hazardous drinking - classed as excessive consumption of regular drinks such as beer, wine and spirits or drinking of non-beverage alcohol - was found to cause 43% of deaths.

Posted by Tammy · June 14, 2007 08:02 PM · Permalink · Comments (0)
Food/Drink | Health & Fitness

Rice Engineered to Carry Cholera Vaccine

Well, at least they found something useful for her to do other than having lunch with tyrants.

Oh, wait a minute...

Posted by Tammy · June 12, 2007 10:23 PM · Permalink · Comments (0)
Health & Fitness | Science & Technology

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Botulism Recall Issue Now Termed "Urgent" By FDA

Meat "Country of Origin" Labeling Passes House Committee

Chinese Cloud of Crack Wafts Over California...Really

Deadly Botulism Found in Chili Sauce, Hash and Beans

Fly With Tuberculosis, Get Sued

Russians Drinking Themselves to Death

Rice Engineered to Carry Cholera Vaccine