Bisphenol A Dangers were Known before 2003

* Update - Jan. 22. This issue has been broadcast on CBC's Here & Now Monday & Tuesday. It is good to see it becoming more public knowledge. Evening news broadcasts could easily devote a section of their hour long formats to health news/consumer alerts or health education.

You really have to question all plastics, and can liners, or avoid them as much as possible. Check the number at the bottom of bottles and avoid # 7 bottles for sure!

Even five years ago, there were already 40 studies that polycarbonate plastics containing Bisphenol A (BHA) were dangerous. In 2003, it was known that exposure to low amounts of BHA caused genetic defects in mice. In fact, in a major study by Dr. Patricia Hunt & colleagues, mice drank from old baby bottles, that leached (BPA) into their systems. Damage occurred in the egg cells of female mice. Hunt explained, "so when the cells divide, their chromosomes don't line up...In humans, this results in spontaneous abortion, birth defects, or mental retardation."

Other experts were quoted in the same article mentioned above. Biologist Frederick S. von Saal has studied BPA for many years, and had this to add:

In a recent study, fetal umbilical blood shows higher BPA levels than we generated in mice. Human exposure levels are already high. The horrifying thing is that it looks as though these effects in the Hunt study happen at lower doses than what is actually found in human fetal blood - umbilical cord blood.

What about other plastic compounds? Another plastic compound called Antimony, used in PET bottles, has been and is being studied for its potential hazardous effects. How many others are unsafe, and are years aways from garnering the danger status of BPA?

There are food containers of every shape and size that millions use all their lives. Bisphenol A, and any other plastic compound may very well have contributed to a variety of health problems, including prostate enlargement and cancer, and breast cancer because it has been seeping into food and liquid.

The bottling industry has carried out their own studies, and guess what, they have not found any harmful effects from BPA, despite 90% of 150 independent studies which says otherwise. I guess that unless you want to be fired, industry sponsored research designs will have predictable outcomes.

Previous Bisphenol A posts

Parents Beware: Baby Bottles & Canned Baby Food Contain Toxic Ingredient - Bisphenol A

Plastic baby bottles and canned baby food contain a substance that is listed as toxic. It can leach out and be subsequently ingested by infants and any user of containers with that compound.

Here's a big reason to be aware of this:

Bisphenol A is used in polycarbonate baby bottles and the epoxy linings of cans, including those for almost all types of infant formula. Because BPA can mimic estrogen, many researchers suspect it is a factor in health trends linked to sex hormone imbalances, such as prostate and breast cancer. (see rest of Globe article below)

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic chemical compound used in a wide range of consumer products and is classed by the Government of Canada as a hormone disruptor. (see Bisphenol A Fact Sheet here)

Bisphenol A has been getting a lot of attention in the last year particularly because it's been linked with breast and prostate cancer. I posted last year when it made the news then. Recently an article appeared in the Globe, which I have saved (the online version at the Globe is only available if you purchase it).

Parents can reduce child exposure by avoiding food and beverage containers made of polycarbonate plastic (often identified by the number 7 in the recycling symbol) and by avoiding plastic-lined (white-coloured) canned foods.

Here's the whole article from this Globe & Mail site:

Bisphenol A most harmful to infants, study says

MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT

From Friday's Globe and Mail

January 11, 2008 at 3:58 AM EST

A new U.S. study on the plastic compound bisphenol A indicates that the chemical may be far more dangerous for young children than for adults.

The finding has been submitted to Health Canada for its current safety review of BPA, and bolsters the case for limiting bisphenol A exposure in infants, who lack the capacity that adults have to detoxify it.

Bisphenol A is used in polycarbonate baby bottles and the epoxy linings of cans, including those for almost all types of infant formula. Because BPA can mimic estrogen, many researchers suspect it is a factor in health trends linked to sex hormone imbalances, such as prostate and breast cancer.

In the new study, researchers found that neonatal mice exposed to trace amounts of bisphenol A, either orally or through injection, ended up with similar amounts of the chemical in their blood because they do not have high amounts of the liver enzyme that breaks it down into an inactive form.

Young rodents don't fully develop the capacity to make the enzyme until they are weaned, a trait they share with humans. By contrast, adult rodents fed BPA have been found to rapidly clear it from their bodies using the enzymes.

Similar experiments are not done on babies for ethical reasons, but given the similarity of biological processes among mammals, many scientists consider the results applicable to humans.

The research study is expected to be issued next week by the peer reviewed journal Reproductive Toxicology.

The finding is "extremely scary," said Dr. Frederick vom Saal, a professor in the biological sciences department of the University of Missouri, and a member of the team that conducted the study.

Dr. vom Saal is a leading authority on BPA, and he contended that formula and polycarbonate baby bottles expose children to worrisome amounts of the synthetic estrogen. "You are significantly dosing your baby with bisphenol A every day and every time the baby is consuming food," he said.

Health Canada said in a statement to The Globe and Mail yesterday that "it is too early for us to state whether we have a concern or not with infant formula or baby bottles which contain BPA."

But two major formula makers - Nestle Canada and Mead Johnson Nutritionals - dismissed the concerns.

"Health Canada, as well as other international authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, have approved the use of BPA in food packaging," Nestle Canada said in an e-mail statement.

"The preponderance of valid scientific literature right now upholds the position that BPA and the levels found in the food chain of humans is absolutely safe," said Gail Wood, spokeswoman for Evansville, Ind., based Mead Johnson. She also discounted the significance for humans of research on mice.

Based on a preliminary risk assessment in 2006, Health Canada said that bisphenol A was a chemical for which it had a "predisposition to conclude toxic." It is expected to issue a formal evaluation by May.

The study also contradicts a major contention on the safety of bisphenol A advanced by chemical manufacturers. Many of the nearly 200 studies finding severe health effects from bisphenol A exposure have been done by injecting young or pregnant rodents with the chemical.

The American Chemistry Council, an Arlington, Va., trade group for major BPA manufacturers, has argued that injection study results aren't applicable to humans because people are thought to have most of their exposures from oral sources, such as food, subject to rapid metabolizing by liver enzymes. Delivering BPA by injection bypasses this detoxification process and may cause health effects that wouldn't occur by ingesting the chemical, according to the industry's view.

However, the new research indicates that both oral and injection approaches are equally valid for experiments during fetal and neonatal development.

Health Canada said it hasn't yet decided whether to accept or reject the industry's position on the dosing controversy.

The council did not respond to a request for comment on the new research.

Health Check: Good for the Food Industry, not for People

The misleading continues with the Health Check symbol. Yesterday a CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) printed an online article called "Checking up on Health Check". The article is about how Health Check gives it's endorsement to foods that can make you seriously sick. For example, it said that the Health Check symbol has been allowed to go on iGor Chocolate Muffins for kids -

the muffins are almost one third sugar (mentioned on Dr. Yoni Freedhoff's blog in May of last year). Freedhoff is an obesity specialist, critic of the Health Check program, and Canada's Food Guide.

I posted in November about this deceitful symbol, and information from the blog of Dr. Freehoff. He has been exposing what the Health Check program has been allowing for their approval. Freedhoff says,

Parents will think, ‘This is great, I’m going to give these to my kids.’ Basically, they’re just shoveling sugar into their mouths.

The Health Check program process requires food companies to submit an application that has certain criteria. There is a one time evaluation of not more than $750, and upon approval, a licencing fee of up to $3625 for one product. If a company has 14 or more products the licencing fee can be from $16,500 to $49,500. So it amounts to a tidy income of close to $3 million a year for the Health Check program.

In the meantime they have approved over 1200 products, many have dangerous levels of sodium, refined white flour, sugar, and more red meat than is recommended. According to Dr. Freedhoff, these ingredients are major factors in type 2 diabetes, heart and stroke problems, and metabolic syndrome.

A good piece of advice is to educate yourself about what amounts of sodium, sugar, carbs, fats, etc. are recommended, and read the nutrition label anyway. The symbol's purpose is supposedly to be concerned with consumer health, but it can't be trusted.

Before long you will probably see it on other future products like MacDonald's MacClonewich or the Double Twin Cheese Burgers.

Sign of Help for Pedestrians

Careful out there folks.

VOCM Question of the Day Results Questionable

Are you satisfied with Tom Rideout's action on his controversial expense claims?

You'll be amazed at the poll results. It appears that the "No" voters (30%) are mainly the ones to make comments on that page. Have a read. The quantity of "No" comments certainly don't reflect the 70% "Yes" votes. That poll is completely absurb.

Many online polls display a notice explaining that if you have already voted, you cannot vote again on that particular poll. There is at least one way around this. A user can clear their internet browsers cookies, so that it looks like your computer has not voted before. You can then do this all day, and vote as often as you like. It invalidates online polls.

Strange results on VOCM's polls have appeared before. There seems to be many more responses to government related polls, specifically as it pertains to public support for something government related. Would make an interesting tv news item.

It Just Occurred to Me

• It's 11 a.m. and gas prices haven't budged all day
  
• Only 346 shopping days till Christmas - must alert radio stations
  
• The dddddaaaaayyyyyssss are getting longer
  
• Summer is just around the corner, then go left for a few hundred miles, take a right for 200 more, go up a long dirt road hill, and there it is
  
• The magazine Hot Water Boiler Monthly is not as exciting as it used to be
  
• If you've bought an acoustic synthesizer lately, chances are you've been had
  
• The same goes for the 1945 antique laptop
  
• If a high tech online company sets up and hires locals in a rural coastal community, the sea entrance to the port ought to be called eBay
  
• Did you know you can have a Ph.D. in just weeks? And based on your life experience? Think I have the inside scoop on this. If interested I can forward you the remarkable information I received dozens of times by email. A friend just graduated with a Ph.D (Hobbles)
  
• Most Hindus prefer reincarnation milk in their tea
  
• The race for the White House is going to be, black or white
  

GOP Ron Paul says U.S. Policies Played Underlying Role in 911

He's not a current front runner but Ron Paul is interesting. The 72 year old Republican candidate made some seldom heard comments to Jay Leno on the Tonight Show several nights ago. He said something that is not repeated a lot by mainstream media, that the U.S. is somewhat responsible for 911 occurring.

Our policies have a lot to do with it. The motives for the terrorists' actions are related to the fact that we occupy their countries.. We used our CIA to install the Shah in Iran

That is a very different point of view from the regular platitudes of most politicians who continually repeat that the U.S. is the greatest nation in the world. A boring refrain like this is uttered and broadcasted so often, yet it is not some new statement or attitude. On the contrary a statement like the one from Ron Paul, is saying, "we the U.S. are not perfect, and should change our attitude, acknowledge our responsibility in world conflict, and not try to maintain the status quo of foreign nation occupation."

The Republican candidacy race has several familiar contenders - veteran, and veteran politician John McCain, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and for many, actor Fred Thompson. Canadians have also been repeatedly familiarized with contenders Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. Ron Paul is apparently getting very high web traffic, and has raised a huge amount of campaign money. There are many more state primaries to come and we'll see if his growing popularity translates into significant voter support.

Obama vs. Hillary in New Hampshire

Over the past weekend Barack Obama's support in New Hampshire surged ahead of Hillary Clinton by 9%, 39 to 30% respectively. They were neck and neck up to the the day of the Iowa results. With his historic win in Iowa, and the much lauded follow-up victory speech that night, it appears that trend to prefer Obama over Hillary has spread to New Hampshire.

Losing was a shock to the potential first woman President, but if she loses in tonight's primary, then she will have to really change strategy to become the "comeback kid". Yesterday, we saw Hillary showing some emotion, it may have marked a transition of strategy to show her human side. Her remarks gave the impression that she views the other candidates as ones who could send the country in a backwards direction.

While it is dramatic and exciting to witness the possible crowning of America's first black President, Obama has to be careful not to make any mistakes, missteps, and continue working on weaknesses in policies where he is now criticized. John Edwards proposes that his own health plan will include all Americans getting health coverage, while Obama's still leaves out 19 million. On Iraq, Obama has said he will have all the troops out of Iraq by next year. That is wonderful, but there are questions about the timing of it. Will Iraq be ready and will insurgents see this as a time to really take over?

Right now things are looking good for an Obama win in New Hampshire. It will be a further boost to his campaign, and make him the horse to catch even more so. The vote outcome will show whether voters had been merely fickle in the latest poll, or whether they are truly decided in his favor. There's much mistrust in government and politicians, but the race itself is interesting to watch.

Fossil Fools Gold - Atlantic Lotto's New Game

The Atlantic Lottery Corporation is introducing a new game called Fossil Fools Gold. It was bound to happen, as the price of gas is expected to reach at least $1.50 a litre by this summer. In just a few years, the cost of filling a home fuel tank has doubled, and the outlook is as dark as the precious black gold itself. In this new game, there is a better chance of winning than government lowering gas tax. See prize details below.




* A full tank will be no more than 800 litres of home heating oil
* In the event of multiple winners, the top prize shall be divided accordingly, e.g., 1 in ON, 1 in BC, winners will get 400 litres each.

** This is a vehicle gas tank, and not more than 60 litres.

Also coming soon

Here's a typical prize payout


So don't be a fossil fool - play the game, or reduce consumption. Either way, you can win.

An Historic Win for Obama, Hint at Political and Racial Attitude Change in U.S.

Think of some local underdog, who is competing in a national competition, and imagine him or her winning the contest. There is a natural sense of excitement when following their rising star. Then as a key contest in the tournament is won by your dark horse contestant, your excitement grows, and you start to think, 'could this person win the whole contest?'

This must be how Americans, particularly African Americans, feel right now.

It has to be an incredible time of optimism for not only African Americans, but all Americans, and outside observers, that a positive and changing political attitude is evolving in the U.S.

The history of African-Americans is well known, they were inhumanly treated for 100s of years, and ostracized by society even after anti-racist laws were passed. The psychological injuries had been lingering on the "black" psyche, and has inhibited their potentialities for far too long. Now, Barack Obama is becoming more real as a presidential candidate.

The Iowa caucus vote is considered an important gauge at this point in the long drawn out party nomination process. The process is at a point where a "leader" is considered to be crowned now.

This is a major historic night for Black America. In the state of Iowa with 95% of the population made up of white voters, Barack Obama beat his nearest rival, John Edwards by 8%, and the former favorite, Hillary Clinton, by 9%. American political analysts on CNN's live coverage expressed the significance of this. It reflects a changing attitude among the Iowa electorate. Obama even got the largest proportion of the women's vote, and not Hillary. This is considered a major boost for the Obama campaign, and the hopes of black America. Clinton had a majority of the black support, but after this, Obama may appeal to more of the black vote. It was also interesting that more younger voters supported Obama, and fewer of the oldest age voters.

Following the results where Obama had been declared the winner, he gave a memorable, passionate speech, which was repeated by the top CNN correspondents. The combination of his win, and follow-up inspritioal speech might have the effect of committing more New Hampshire voters to Obama.

For the Republicans Mike Huckabee, who has been gathering steam in the last three weeks, won the Iowa caucus. He is seen to be like the "co-worker you worked with, rather than the employer who laid you off." The most dramatic is the story in the Democratic leadership nomination race. At this moment, Barack Obama is in the drivers seat and Iowa is a significant win. Americans must be getting more excited after last nights landmark dramatic win in Iowa.

What Archie Bunker said about Jackie Robinson in baseball, could be true for Barack Obama, that "he changed the whole complexion of the game."

ObeseCity

St. John's, proudly known as "The oldest city in North America", has a thriving, bursting economy, and lately, is known to have a bursting obesity rate of 36.4%, the highest among Canadian cities.

A University of Alberta researcher found that the rate is related to the proportion of fast-food outlets in the region. The Atlantic region had the highest in comparison to other Canadian regions.

In Quebec city the obesity rate is 17.3% and the # of fast-food outlets per 10,000 residents is 1.97. In St. John's the # of fast-food outlets per 10,000 is 3.54.

There are 100,646 residents in St. John's proper (1/5 of NL's population), and 181,113 (nearly 2/5 of NL's population) residents in the St. John's metro area (City of St. John's).     The following table is from the CTV story


That's a large proportion of people, and, potential health problems related to obesity. This is a concern, most importantly for personal health, but also for the health care system - it's medical staff and infrastructure, and the provinces health care budget.

While this study compared cities, there is no reason to believe that other areas of NL would have better rates.

Various factors are associated with Atlantic Canada's higher rate - socio-economic factors, weather, cost of healthier foods, and quite possibly an inadequate amount of education about the dangers in many foods. It would be an interesting idea to make more room in school curriculums for food and nutrition education, reinforced by healthier food choices in schools. (NL has the highest teenage obesity rate in the country as well)

Food and our body's food processing system is in a way like an engine, or a plumbing system. If you put harmful oils, pollutants, grease, and junk into it, the system can clog, and need to be cleansed (angioplasted, or snaked).

It's not easy to change eating patterns .. boy, it's not easy, but the more we learn about bad foods, and how it can affect our direct health and daily being, the better decisions we can make on what food we want our bodies to process.

This earlier blog post has information that was released a few months back on the relationship between cancer and weight. Another warns of dangerous sodium levels in food, and here is an analysis of Dr. Yoni Freedhoff's exposure of the misleading Health Check symbol.

Food and health education is a big part of individual health, and the health care system. Our province, schools, health and any individual or organization can promote more informed citizens to make healthy choices.

In the first half of the 1900s and before, people in Newfoundland and Labrador, did much more physical work than todays computer age workers. There wasn't much nutritional information going around, but people did eat plenty of organic food, which many grew themselves. Of course, there was lots of fat in meat, or salt meats, but people, perhaps unknowingly, were exercising as they worked, and burned off calories.

The province, and St. John's can help people by encouraging more physical activity. The trail system around the town and Mount Pearl is a great place for walkers, and more can be done.

Ottawa has the Rideau Canal where 1000s of people skate. The city is lucky to have a 7 km canal maintained in the winter for skaters. We have unsupervised ponds but there is a real threat of drownings. A public skating rink would be great for St. John's - a shallow water rink where families can go for general skating.

Unfortunately there are now few areas of the city where such a rink could be placed, as commerce is the first priority it appears. What little practical space is left for such an endeavor should be frozen (pun intended), and assessed to determine how the area could either just simply be flooded in the winter, or an actual open air rink with rink boards, benches, etc., could be constructed.

Winter is difficult for getting around. Sidewalks at the best of winters are hidden beneath tons of snow. It's not possible to keep them cleared constantly like during the last week's four major snowfalls. The city has been doing a fine job of keeping roadways cleared so far. However, better sidewalk clearing than has been witnessed in past years, needs to happen. It would mean safer streets, safe people, and importantly, contribute to lowering risk of obesity.

Random Predictions for 2008

1. Convergys diversifies and opens a call girl centre in St. John's.
   
   
2. Cruise ship tourism will increase as word spreads that the rich color of St. John's harbour is rust from sunken German U-boats from WWII.
   
   Tourists inquire about harbour diving expeditions of the "wrecks".
   
   
3. An extra lane is added to several city streets just for the Tim Horton's drive-thru line ups.
   
   
4. You're going to get a gas tax break at the pumps because there is a small chance the price of gas may rise this year, just maybe.
   
   
5. Danny Williams will change his ABC slogan to ABH, Anybody But Hearn, after Hearn's latest remarks about knowing the "inside scoop" on the 8^th floor.
   
   
6. There will be more tourists staying at B & B's and hotels, causing net Inn migration.
   
   
7. There will be more transparency in government. Apparently Staples had a huge boxing day sale on overhead transparencies, and they sold like hotcakes to government.
   
   
8. Labrador adopts the song "We'll Rant and We'll Roar Like True Newfoundlanders" as its regional anthem.
   
   
9. Banks will take away all the ATM fees. Remember Jack Layton pressuring federal finance minister Jim Flaherty to encourage Canada's banks to drop ATM fees? Well the banks will finally cave because they know how fresh that idea still is in the publics mind.
   
   
10. Prime Minister Stephen Harper will absolutely, totally deliver on his equalization promise to Newfoundland and Labrador because he feels so bad, and because Quebec wants it that way, because they gave NL a crappy option on the Upper Churchill, and feel guilty about it after all these years.
    
    
11. St. John's will lose it's city with the highest obesity rate (36.4%) in Canada status because
    
    

    well, the tax dollars are rolling in with the St. John's economy on fire after all, and
    
    because Mayor Andy Wells will care enough about the citizens of St. John's and the 1000's of students who walk the life-threatening streets each day (and who contribute to the local economy), to invest in serious sidewalk snow clearing, and hence peoples' health. (oh yeah, there is also a Royal visit coming up and the Queen wants a city tour, in winter)

    
    
12. Karlheinz Schreiber gets his own reality tv show (Karlheinz Catch-up) which has him hire ex-Prime Ministers, and pay them cash, which they will store in a safety deposit boxes for 5-6 years without earning interest.
    
    
13. Federal and provincial levels of government will invest in the largest public education program ever to teach money-managing skills to youth in elementary, high school and post-secondary schools; and to educate the public about all harmful ingredients in food.
    
    The health care system will project a saving of $5 billion over 10 years. As a consequence banks will experience smaller profits due to better student money managing habits, decreased student loan need, and fewer credit cards being issued to students.
    
    As well, food companies will experience smaller profits because people will start avoiding dangerous foods.
    (Ok, that one's a joke, had to throw it in there ... (snicker) giving too much useful information to people where it potentially hurts big industry's interests .. yeah, right )
    
    
14. Spring will start early this year, March 21.
    
    

No Offence, but Merry Christmas

Some shopping centres in some of the country's bigger cities took down "Merry Christmas" and replaced it "Happy Holidays", so that non-Christians won't be offended. Before the political correctness factor popped up some years back, either greeting, plus others, were typical without one giving a second thought to it. There's a sense, to me at least, that using neutral greetings like "Happy Holidays" is equated with "knowing better". Memorial Universitys greeting on Christmas Eve is "Best Wishes for Personal Growth in the New Year." Nothing wrong with that or other neutral greetings. On many Canadian Universities, you won't find the word Christmas on the front pages at least. On this Christmas Eve some have no acknowledgment of Xmas or the "holiday season" at all, and some have "Seasons Greetings".

There is nothing inherently offensive about saying Merry Christmas. It really just means "good wishes to you", or "enjoy the Christmas holidays". With over 70% of Canadians being Christian of some stripe, there's a good chance the greeting Merry Christmas will resonate with most. The fact is that Dec. 25 exists, it's a birthday of a special and good person, and from what little we do know, he lived an exemplary life, which is cause for celebration. You don't have to be religious to appreciate that.

Many public organizations like tv stations, universities, and governments will say something more general or nothing. From their point of view I guess it is less confusing to avoid a specific religious greeting as they could get pressure from other religions to display a specific religious greeting for their special times of year. Then it can get more complicated since the number of occasions can become numerous and imposing on broadcast and web space.

On the other hand, one could ask, "what makes the holiday?" Answer: Christmas, so why not say "Merry Christmas". The Telegram did today.

There are people who don't care for any type of organized religion, and those that grew up with the tradition and still partake to some degree or other. If you see or hear a greeting that does not apply to you, ignore it. Different religions have their own special days, and accordingly they like to wish each other some related greeting. That sure doesn't offend me. They can display it any window, or say it anywhere. No offense taken. If Walmart wants to display "Happy Hanukkah", "Happy Eid", or "Happy Diwali", that's perfectly fine. These holidays don't apply to me but they do apply to someone, and everyone is entitled to celebrate whatever it is that is important to them.

In a multi-cultural society, it's a given that there are special days to all. "Merry Christmas" should not be viewed any differently.

What is offensive is hearing on radio stations, "Don't worry, you still have "X" number of weeks to shop." If anything should go, that's it. However, as long as the word "Christmas" keeps selling stuff for business we'll be hearing that again. Anyway, don't worry, there will be 10 months to go before you hear that again, 11 if we're lucky.

Merry Christmas (i.e., best wishes) and have a safe holiday.

With Barrels of Extra Oil Revenues We Should be Pumping More Into Nurses

It's Christmas, and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will pump $100's of millions into the economy to keep the business community afloat. We don't have enough nurses, but there's lots of money floating around everywhere. This year, Newfoundland & Labrador hit the jackpot with crude revenues helping to more than triple the projected provincial surplus of $261 million. On Dec. 10, Finance Minister Tom Marshall announced that the projected surplus was $881 million. Yet, our health system, and people are suffering because of a continued shortage of nurses.

The latest nurse news is from St. Lawrence. There is a nursing shortage there. In fact on the Burin Peninsula, there are actually 95 nursing positions "to boot", and 20 are still unfilled. The problems are workload, money and job security.

Nurses in Newfoundland and Labrador currently earn between $45,000 and $82,000 a year.

The nurses union says those are the lowest wages in the country, $8 an hour less than nurses in Ontario. - Debbie Forward, President, nurses union

Though measures have been taken by government to encourage new graduates to stay in NL, it does not seem to be enough. Forward also wants the government to commit to jobs for new graduates and to step up recruitment efforts.

This is not a new problem. Here's a similar problem in 1999 when there was a nurses strike:

They want more full time positions created to deal with what most everyone agrees are overworked conditions for nurses. And finally they want more money. Nurses in Newfoundland are the lowest paid in the country. (CBC NL)

There is reason for optimism though. Last month the NL government announced that they will begin negotiations on a new nursing contract months earlier than was originally scheduled.

Earlier this fall an emergency room crisis at the St. John's Health Sciences Centre caused a commotion, which led to more nursing staff hired on there. We could use more nurses, and more incentives to keep them here. With $100's of millions from oil being pumped into the economy, there are barrels of opportunities to pump more into nurses, getting hired and staying here.

Bad Xmas Gift Ideas II

     Books

• "How to Become Good in Bed When You're So Pathetic & Useless"
  
• "How to do Simple Everyday Things, for Dummies"
  
• "'Twas the Night Before Daddy sauntered in Loaded and Ruined another Christmas"
  
• "Under the Table: How to Avoid Paying Taxes on Income" by Brian Mulroney
  
  Games
  
• Mulroney / Karlheinz Schreiber Snakes & Leaders game
  
• Sponge Karlheinz Schreiber Square Pants
  
• The Game of Trouble Shooting: Find the Missing DLL files for new Software
  (fun for the whole family including nan and pop)
  
• The Token Corporate Community Donation Game: Who can donate more than corporate giants
  
  Computer
  
• An Eye Pod
  
• The Rebuilt Commodore 64 Computer System
  
  Other
  
• A Will Kit
  
• Electric Bagpipes
  
• Major League Baseball Steriod Injection Kit
  
• $50 Gas Fill-up Gift Certificate (use immediately)
  
• The Q-Ray Contraceptive Bracelet
  
• Kelloggs Stool Softener
  
• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sings Yiddish & Chrismas Classics with Stephen Spielberg
  
• Mike Tyson' Riverdance Video
  
• Home pregnancy test Barbie, and School Bully Ken
  
  See also Bad Xmas Gift Ideas for Kids
  
  

The Writer of "White Christmas" Did Not Live Here

"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" is the chorus in the best selling single of all time, "White Christmas", written by Irving Berlin.

Berlin, born in Russia (Belarus), wrote the song in 1940, by a poolside spa in hot Arizona. He must have been a long time removed from the hardships of winter - shovelling, freezing cold, scraping, trudging.
Winter unofficially ended 7, maybe 8 months ago here. Sure, it is literally pretty, but the reality of winter is for many, a nightmare. Images of winter appear quaint to many in warmer climates, and that is easily appreciated.

The refrain, however, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas", can sound absurd to someone who lives here. It equates to a northerner writing, "I'm Dreaming of a Swarm of Locusts", or, "I'm Dreaming of a Small Earthquake, or a series of Hurricanes", "... just like the ones I used to know..."

For wishers of a white Xmas, dream no more. For anyone hoping for an early end to winter, keep dreaming.

Sending Out an S.O.S. - Message in a Bottle

In April this year, bisphenol A, a chemical used in plastic containers and in cans, got major media scrutiny, as it had been identified as a dangerous substance that is found in drinking bottles and many other children's and household containers. Bisphenol A has been linked to cancer and reproductive problems in animals. The Globe ran a story on it, but you can not access it without paying, so here is some key information from that article that is worth re-iterating:

Low amounts of bisphenol A have been suspected to be associated with:

• the early onset of puberty
  
• declining sperm counts
  
• and the huge increase in breast and prostate cancer

In April, it looked like this chemical would surely be in the news again, and affect the bottling and canning industry. Today, and several days ago, bisphenol A has indeed gotten more national attention. This is good news. The lead story on the Yahoo Canada home page is "Canadian retail chain pulls plastic water bottles".

Vancouver-based Mountain Equipment Co-op became the first major Canadian retailer to stop selling products that contain bisphenol A over fears the chemical can leach from plastic food and water containers.

"Inconclusive science and regulatory uncertainty presently surrounds bisphenol-A (BPA)," the company said in a statement.

Here are a couple of extra pieces of information of interest from the Yahoo site:

Besides hard-plastic water bottles, bisphenol A is also used in some baby bottles and the linings of some food cans, including most major brands of infant formula, according to a study co-released this week by Environmental Defence Canada and the Washington-based Environmental Working Group.

"We have study after study showing that this chemical is toxic,... and there are safe and available alternatives that are affordable, (ed. emphasis)" said Aaron Freeman, policy director of Environmental Defence Canada.

Another piece of promising news is the federal government's creation of a chemical substance web site. Harper's government appear to failing in the eyes of the world on its role in climate change. However, some credit to them, on what appears to be the right direction in protecting Canadians from harmful substances. From CTV on Saturday,

The government has pledged $300 million towards assessing 200 potentially harmful substances on the market, and regulate the most toxic within the next few years.

Here is a list of other potentially hazardous substances listed on the government chemical substance web site as Chemical Substances of Interest to Canadians.

Here's more on bisphenol A from the Gov. of Canada web site.

There is a number 1 - 7 system used on bottle bottoms to represent what kind of plastic is in it. Check the number at the bottom of bottles for information on what type of bottle you're using. Bisphenol A is a polycarbonate bottle, that is # 7 on the bottom of the bottle. Here's a link for more detailed information on what these numbers mean. No. 1 bottles should never be reused.

Pop drinks like Coke, add bisphenol A to the linings of cans to prolong shelf life. It helps make food and beverage companies extremely rich and is dangerous for people at the same time.

Hmm, there are messages in the bottles. See if you have unlucky 7. Bottoms up.

Remembering John Lennon

December 9^th was such a strange day in a way. The previous night a prolific creator of new exciting, inventive and melodic music, who was blessed with a unique, interestingly engaging voice, was shot and killed. As a post-high school student at the time, the day after started normally. Oddly, throughout the whole day, no one mentioned it, no talk from instructors or fellow students. But upon seeing the Telegram's headline after the 5 o'clock class, shock, sadness and disbelief immediately set in. It was inconceivable, 40 year old Lennon dead by gunshot. Could this be a reporting mistake in the paper? Well, supper time news confirmed it, as the story was the story for days. It was way too early for old film clips of the Beatles concerts or press conferences to be replayed as part of an obituary for one of them, but yet, there it was.

He had just released a double album, the first release of new material in five years, and was planning to do a follow-up tour in 1981. Lennon by this time had also written enough material for another album. Since the Beatles broke up in 1970, the world wanted them to reunite. For years bitter court disputes, and some hard feelings between the lads after the breakup, had dashed any possibility of them reuniting. However, after the mid-70's John Lennon and Paul McCartney were becoming a little closer. It was possible that had he lived there may have been a Beatles reunion in some way, either new recorded music, or a concert, or tour. In a 1974 video-taped interview with a friend, Elliott Mintz, he said that it was possible that there was a good chance that the Beatles as a group would some day, make music together.

(Actually, that same year, there was a recording with John and Paul singing together. It was not a polished piece of serious music business, rather, the two along with Stevie Wonder and some other friends jammed and did a cover of Lucille, and a couple of other songs. It was rough, but interesting to hear Lennon & McCartney sing in the same room after the break-up.)

A few years ago, a British survey revealed that the majority of British people considered Lennon's voice to the the greatest of all time. That opinion differs from place to place and from time to time. But there is some quality about his voice that is clear, identifiable, and convincing. He could be a soft singer as in the perfect "Across the Universe", "In My Life" or "A Day in the Life". Or it could be powerful, partially raspy, with a controlled screechy kind of scream as in "Revolution" or their cover of "Twist and Shout". A song of his could have soft voice sections, and at different times seque into a passionate, throaty "screech", while still being a clearly enunciated expression, as in the refrain, "Don't Let Me Down", or "I'm So Tired". He sang with conviction.

Combined with catchy, upbeat but sometimes interestingly but strangely arranged music compositions as in "I Am the Walrus" or "Tomorrow Never Knows", Lennon's voice completed the high quality of each song. Together, Paul McCartney and John Lennon sang in perfect harmony. Their voices both incredibly strong, and unique, blended on so many high notes, as in "Ticket to Ride" to strike an emotional string in the listener. It was mesmerizing musical magic. All four Beatles had unique and distinct voices, but John and Paul's together complimented so perfectly to make beauty from sound.

He gave the world wonderful music, a fascinating voice, and peaceful words. Lennon was ahead of his time when it came to marketing peace - spending a honeymoon in a hotel room with the world's media around to get people talking and thinking about peace. He wrote the simple sounding but sweet "Imagine" with political change in mind, and later admitted to Rolling Stone magazine, "now I know how to make social and political statements in song, accepted - sweeten it with honey." John Lennon was a complex and very creative person, a clever writer and music maker. He left fantastic music, while reminding the world that peace and understanding is possible.

"Calm" After the Storm

Cape Spear, just a few miles from St. John's, is an exciting place to be when the winds are in the right direction (easterly), or like today, after an early winter storm, with the Atlantic churned up.
(Note: not sure why users get a prompt to save pics - will try and fix)

Some Drivers Need to Learn to Drive

Every day without fail there are people running red lights, speeding, weaving, tailgating, whizzing by pedestrians waiting at crosswalks. It has been happening forever in the old capital city of St. John's, but in just this year alone, there seems to be an increase in mania on the local drag strips cross-town arterials and city streets.
There is a low unemployment rate in the city, and possibly more workers, but there does not need to be reckless driving. Yet, the risks of accidents, injuries and possibly death, to me, seems to be rising. With only 100s of metres between many of the red lights, you would think "why rush and push, be patient", but in reality it's as if WWIII has started and panic has set in. The Mario Andrettis in the city should find a more appropriate drag strip to play race car driver, or, leave for work earlier, before someone gets hurt or killed.

Careful out there folks, these are dangerous times. There's an improving economy, but there are many break-ins and serious crimes, much drug-related, and on top of that, the Christmas economy booster rockets have fired, and drivers are out in droves. To the road racers, slow down, relax, the world is not ending tomorrow, and God-speed.