The high profile Toxic Toy crises has not just hit the United Stated hard, unfortunately.
Canadian Health Minister Tony Clement has launched a comprehensive review of safety standards as the list of tainted Chinese-made
products continues to grow. Meanwhile, the ministry will reporting very soon on whether or not new measures are going to be required to protect consumers.
The Mattel corporation, a toy making giant, has announced 2 huge worldwide recalls of toys coated in highly toxic lead paint after earlier reports of tainted goods, including toothpaste, pet food and even defective tires.
It all adds up to increasing weariness regarding products from China. Sue Huh, a mother of 2 small children, says she has been deliberately avoiding toys made in China in recent months. Don’t want junior to accendially swallow that Matchbox racecar.
The NY Times newspaper has reported that certain vinyl baby bibs from China have paint levels of a staggering 3 times the acceptable maximum of lead.
Finally, the governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico are ready to consider joint action.
The 3 leaders will be discussing safety standards for these products from a “continental perspective”.
Health officials such as the federal Public Health Agency are on increased alert for any examples of lead poisoning, yet there have been no reports of any such illnesses up to this point, luckily.
The toys being recalled are small enough to fit into a kid’s mouth, and saliva can dissolve lead from paint.
Legal fforts to reduce the lead in the environment, such as a ban on leaded gasoline, have succeeded in reducing the levels of lead as well as reported cases of poisoning, yet the symptoms, such as possible permanent brain damage, mean that parents are of course very concerned.
November 28, 2007
Toxic Toys spur Canada to Act
More news about Omega-3’s and fish Oil
The Latest Fish Oil Supplementation research
Here is a great fish oil article written by Lori mathews
In the quest to achieve better health and wellness, fish oil supplements have become an increasingly popular way to take advantage of many different medical benefits. Fish oil originates from the tissues of oily fish, such as carp, herring, salmon, and fresh tuna. Today, fish oil is recommended as part of a healthy diet because of the amount of omega-3 fatty acids contained, which is known to reduce inflammation throughout the body and lessen the threat of coronary heart disease (among other things).
There are two main ways to include fish oil as part of a healthy diet. The first involves the consumption of oily fish, including sardines and cod, which contain oils throughout their body and about their gut, unlike other species of fish. Depending on the species, oily fish fillets may offer up to 30% oil. Besides omega-3 fatty acids, oily fish also provides a good source of vitamins A and D.
Decreased Pain Levels and Inflammation
Omega-3 fatty acids may posses the power to lessen inflammation in the body, as well as ease the pain associated with arthritis and cystitis. Rheumatoid arthritis patients often report an improvement in joint pains and inflammation when taking fish oil supplements.
Treats Depression and Stress
Some individuals have been able to ease their symptoms of depression by implementing omega-3 fish oil supplements into their diet. Fish oils have also been linked to showing promise in treating bipolar and psychotic patients. Supplements may also help to promote the overall mood of patients, and may even reduce premenstrual stress.
Cardiovascular Improvements
The heart, arteries, and veins may benefit from fish oil because it has been known to help lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, while at the same time improving “good” cholesterol levels.
Fights Strokes and Heart Attack
The threat of stroke and heart attack may be decreased with the introduction of fish oils into a diet because they may help to prevent blood clots and other damage to the heart. A decreased risk of sudden death and heart attacks has also been seen.
Enhances Brain Activity
Fish oil is known to boost intelligence and overall happiness in users, as well as improve the memory and ability to stay focused. In the elderly, the risk of dementia and memory loss sometimes decreases with the use of fish oil supplements. Additionally, mothers who consume or take a high amount of omega-3/fish oils during pregnancy often give birth to children with a higher IQ.
Combats Childhood Disorders
Children, who suffer from disorders, such as ADD and ADHD, have experienced a better quality of life when incorporating fish oil fatty acids into their diet. Additional conditions that respond to fish oils include dyslexia and compulsive disorders.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Lori Matthews studies health, nutrition and wellness. She enjoys writing articles on health for both people and pets. Please visit benefits of taking pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplements for more information.
European Behavorial Research on Dogs
European researchers have discovered evidence of an advanced mental ability in canines; one that was previously thought to be specific only to humans!A behavior known as “selective imitation” is a method of learning that brings meaning and cultural context to specific actions. In selective imitation, observers (usually infants) differentiate between two types of behaviors. There are acts of necessity (I can’t use my hands right now because they’re otherwise occupied, so I’ll use my elbow to open the door lever) and there are acts of inefficient preference (even though I can use my hands which are not presently occupied, I like to open the door with my elbow). When human infants observe the two behaviors, they will adopt the latter skill (i.e., the latter behavior is “selected”).
In a recent study, dogs learned in just the same way. Dogs watched a demonstrator dog pulling a rod with a paw, rather than with the mouth. When the demonstrator dog carried a ball in its mouth, the actions were not adopted by the observer dogs. But, when the demonstrator dog had no object in its mouth and pulled the lever with a paw, the observer dogs began to adopt the behavior.
Certainly, further research is warranted in this area, but researchers are excited by these results which seem to indicate that our canine companions may have more complex learning abilities that previously believed.
Immigration Bill fails for now
Despite the fact that top lawmakers tried to ramrod this bill through even though rouphly eighty percent of Americans were against it according to polls, it nontheless has failed, for now. Congress will reconvene on this later, according to reports.
According to Yahoo News and the Associated Press, The bill’s Senate supporters fell fourteen votes short of the sixty required to limit debate and pave the way for final passage of the legislation, which many critics have panned as basically offering amnesty to illegal immigrants. The vote was 46 to 53 in favor of limiting the debate.
Certain senators in both parties said the issue is so volatile that Congress is not likely to revisit it this fall or next year, when the presidential election will increasingly dominate American politics.
The commander in Chief appeared glum as he spoke, according to the story. His negotiators had expressed optimism the vote would go their way — or, at least be a little bit closer than it turned out to be.
“Congress really needs to prove to the American people that it can come together on hard issues,” Bush said. He turned attention to other his other goals in Congress this year, including energy, health care and balanced-budget initiatives.
Last year a similar immigration effort was defeated by the Congress, and the House has not bothered with an immigration bill this year, awaiting Senate action.
The vote was a defeat for a bipartisan group of lawmakers who advocated the bill as an imperfect but necessary fix of current immigration practices in which many illegal immigrants use forged documents or lapsed visas to live and work in the US.
It was a victory for Republican conservatives who severely criticized the bill’s provisions that would have established pathways to lawful status for many of the estimated twelve million illegal immigrants. They were aided by talk radio and Television hosts who repeatedly verbally assaulted the bill and urged listeners to flood Congress with phone calls, faxes and electronic-mails.Voting to allow the bill to proceed by ending debate were 33 Democrats, 12 Republicans and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. Voting to block the bill by not limiting debate were 37 Republicans, 15 Democrats and independent Bernard Sanders, Vt. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., did not vote.The bill would have toughened border security and also instituted a newer method for weeding out illegal immigrants from workplaces. It would have created a new guest worker program and allowed millions of illegal immigrants to obtain legal status if they briefly returned home.
Bush, making a last-ditch bid to salvage the bill, called senators early Thursday morning to urge their support. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez approached senators as they entered and left the chamber shortly before the vote.But conservatives from Bush’s own party led the opposition. They repeatedly said the government must secure the borders before allowing millions of illegal aliens a path to legal status.Sen. Elizabeth H. Dole, R-N.C., said many citizens simply “do not have confidence” that borders, particularly in the south, will be substantially tightened. “It’s not just promises but proof that the American people want,” Dole said.Many radio personalities assaulted the bill. Sean Hannity was very outspoken against it.On the Rush Limbaugh show it was reported that border agents had their hands tied and that the illegals had more rights than them. One caller on another conservative radio program and said “I am very upset that they are trying to ram this bill through and are not securing the border. You get on an airplane to go anywhere and you are treated like a criminal. 90 year old women have to strip and are prodded just to travel to see their relatives for Christmas. Yet millions of illegals literally pour across our border each year, about twenty percent of whom have a criminal record, and some have bodygaurds and are leaving korans along the side of the desert trails into the country. Meanwhile ordinary tax paying citizens are treated like common criminals.”
Omega-3 Fish Oil studies
In a recent study, researchers found the participants who consumed higher than average amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fish oil supplements, were less likely to have high blood pressure.The results were adjusted for age, weight, gender, exercise and several other measures, and were based upon sample groups from countries all over the world. Nearly five thousand men and women took part in the study, which makes it one of the largest studies of its kind.
The report, featured in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation, cited that even small reductions in blood pressure can have significant long-term effects on health. Researchers contend that these findings may help combat the increasing number of those suffering from the illness.
The clear consensus of this study seems to strongly indicate that supplementing your diet with a high-quality fish oil can benefit your heart health.
Additional facts can be found at
Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil
Meanwhile, A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tracked the effects of fish oil supplementation in overweight adults engaged in new exercise regimens. The findings may have a dramatic impact on our current understanding of maintaining weight and long-term heart health.
Some Economic Numbers to Ponder
Good to be back from Kauai, that wa s anice vacation rentals and some nice real estate also…According to statistics from BLS.gov,
non agriculatural payroll employment increased by about one hundred and fifty thousand in May, while the unemployment
rate was unchanged at around 4.5 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States
Department of Labor reported today. The health care & food service industries both managed to adde jobs,
while employment declined in the manufacturing sector, unfortunately. Meanwhile, the average hourly earning rate amanged to rise by
6 cents, or 0.3 percent, in May. Real estate was still taking abeating. By the way this kauai vacation rentals and real estate site is top notch overall.
In the same month, employment in general was unchanged at some 145.9 million, and the em-
ployment-population ratio held firm at around 63%. The civilian labor force also
was the same, at 152,000,000, while the labor force participation rate
stayed at 66%. Both the employment-population ratio and labor force
participation rate were down by 0.4% since the end of 2006.
Earning rates are important, but to get a wider perspective you should of course also
take a look at the inflation numbers, since inflation dicates spending power of that earned income.
According to Newsmax online, the MoneyNews publication as well as the Financial Intelligence Report, the dollar has been inflated recently – despite claims that the official CPI is “low”
I do not know if this claim is actually tru, but that was the report.
But whether these reports are true or not, I tend to view inflation a big threat to America’s global strength, and most importantly our wealth as American citizens. Not to switch topic or anything but if you are going to the island of Kaui and either need some vacation rentals or other types of Kauai Real Estate then I can endorse this leading site for real estate on Kauai.
I mean, if you get a 5% raise, but inflation jumps 10%, who really benefits from this. I also find that fact that our manaufacturing base shrunk (yet again)
to be truly troubling, especially in light of the recent reports that so many manufacturing jobs have gone to China and India in recent years.
While this may save some corporations some money and add a few nickels to investor’s dividends, it seems to me that this is bad for the long term economic health of the country. I wonder how the real estate market will fare overall.
Tainted Chinese Toothpaste
The United States government on June 1 told consumers to beware of using toothpaste produced in China since it might contain a particularly poisonous chemical which is also used in antifreeze.
The FDA reported that individuals should discard toothpaste with labeling that states it was made in China. They are very worried that these products may contain diethylene glycol.
The agency is not aware of any reports in the US of poisoning from toothpaste, but it did find the antifreeze ingredient in a shipment at the U.S. border and at 2 retail stores: a Dollar Plus store in Miami, Florida and a Todo A Peso store in Puerto Rico. In addition, China executed the former head of their version of the FDA shortly after loud complains from the U.S. over contaminents found in both human and pet food products that are produced there.
The ingredient in question, called DEG, is used as a lower-cost sweetener and thickening agent. The highest concentration of the chemical found in toothpaste so far was between 3-4 percent.
“It does not belong in toothpaste even in small concentrations,” said the FDA’s Deborah M. Autor.
The FDA heightened its scrutiny of toothpaste made in China due to reports of contamination in a number of different nations, like Panama.
The agency is especially worried about chronic exposure to DEG in kids and individuals with either kidney or liver disease.
Agency officials said they had no estimate of just how many units of tainted toothpaste might have made it into the U.S.
“Our concern today is potentially about all toothpaste that comes in from China,” Autor said. “Our estimate is that China makes up about $3.3 million of the two billion U.S. toothpaste market.”
They also issued an import alert for all dental products containing DEG. This alert means that toothpaste from China will actually be stopped at the border.
Great L.A. Legal Resource
I would like to put in a plug for someone that I
know personally and whom I can attest to his (and their) character, and I want to encourage you to take a look at his website if you are so inclined.
He is one of the best personal injury attorneys in all of Southern California in general, and Los Angeles in particular.
In fact Michael and the rest of his firm are very aggressive former U.S. Marine attorneys who fight extremely hard to assist you in winning a verdict or legal settlement…….Their website is: Los Angeles Personal Injury Attorney and you can contact these especially aggressive lawyers if you need to recover any monetary damages for events such as whiplash, broken ankle, broken jaw, coma, brain injury, burn injury, dog bite and animal attack deglove injury, Dog Bite
Elder Abuse, Electrocution, Hit & Run and car accident cases. Get a free legal consultation for you serious California personal injury case. You may be entitled to recover for past,
present and future lost income and physical and mental pain as well as suffering. Here you can Ask and retain an experienced, compassionate local L.A. personal injury attorney.
Take a look at the site to find out Verdicts & Settlements, look at the client portal and also view the Practice areas. There is a section of the site that has a substantial quantity of legal links and resources as well…
Mixed Signals for the market
Real Estate and Housing Market Mixed Signals?
According to a recent article bythe excellent Associated Press journalist Martin Crutsinger, the real estate market in general and the house market specifically
has been giving off a lot of confusing mixed signals as of late…….
For example, sales of new house increased last month (o4) by the largest amount in some fourteen odd years, and yet the median price of a new house actually dropped by the most sizeable amount on record. These rather odd indicators
have seemingly left no clear picture as to whether or not the the country’s housing slump is finished. Real estae sellers and buyers a like are still quite wary
in this unpredictable atmosphere….
This is due to the fact that while sales of new one-family houses increased by some 16.2 percent in April,
the actual average price of a new house sold last month fell to $229,100, a record 11.1 percent decrease from the prior month!
Sales fell particularly in the Midwest, which saw a substantial four percent drop-off rate.
The country’s economy as whole cooled down in the first quarter of 2007 to an annual adjusted growth rate of merely 1.3%, which is the weakest rate in 4 years, while the big slump in housing continued to weigh on the economy’s overall performance.
Deciding Whether you Actually Need a Realtor
A big question that is being asked these days is ‘Do I need a Realtor?’
I mean really…’DO YOU REALLY NEED a REALTOR?
The 60 Minutes piece about agents making massive commisions for a few hours work shocked and outraged many homebuyers and sellers, sending repercussions throughout the real estate business and prompting many prominent real estate agents, brokers and firm owners to go on the defensive…… A recent article in The Suburban Journal by esteemed writer Don Rogers sums up this attitute, as he describes some of the pitfalls of the industry. However, it was observed that the sellers generally gets screwed more than anyone by the staus quo. he writes: ‘The good news, however, is that in most cases your buyer’s agent receives his or her compensation through the seller and the real estate company that has the listing’…..I predict that we may see a sort of transformation similiar to what we saw in the the Stockbroker game a while back, when the internet finally made it possible to easily trade stocks without the help of a broker. Especially as we are seeing a sort of proliferation of regional ‘by owner’ websites popping up everywhere.