GOVEROTRAGEOUS: FDA blows off concerns

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/ybl36tw  

Scientist: FDA suppressed imaging safety concerns
Associated Press

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“A former Food and Drug Administration scientist said yesterday that his job was eliminated after he raised concerns about the risks of radiation exposure from high-grade medical scanning. Dr. Julian Nicholas said at a public hearing that he and other FDA staffers ‘were pressured to change their scientific opinion,’ after they opposed the approval of a CAT scanner for routine colon cancer screening. Nicholas said that he objected to exposing otherwise healthy patients to the cancer risks of radiation. After FDA officials pushed ahead with plans to clear the device, Nicholas, now a physician at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, said he and eight other staffers raised their concerns with the division’s top director, Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, last September. The device apparently is still under review.” (03/31/10)

*** end quote ***

Can anyone spell “regulatory capture”?

Never hear such about Underwriters’ Laboratory or Consumers’ Reports.

Why is that?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Where Is Christopher Mauriello?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

http://weblogs.wpix.com/news/helpmehoward/2010/03/where_is_christopher_mauriello_1.html

Where Is Christopher Mauriello?
6:34PM | March 24, 2010
A Father’s Son is Spirited Out of the Country by his Ex-Wife and Disappears.

*** begin quote ***

Someone is missing from the Mauriello table tonight.

14 year old Christopher Mauriello is in Bosnia with his mother.

He was supposed to have returned home from Christmas vacation on January 3rd. But Christopher and his mother had other plans.

His father, Thomas Mauriello, who has physical custody of Christopher was at the end of his rope when he called Help Me Howard.

As he told Howard: “My reaction was one of shock! It was unimaginable that she could do something like this!”

Tom is the Vice President for college advancement at Manhattan College. His ex-wife Tara Bray Afanasiev works for the United Nations Development Programme, also known as UNDP.

Tom was awarded physical custody of Christopher back in 2006, but he and Tara had a legal agreement that allowed her to take Christopher overseas for holidays and summer vacations.

*** and ***

Tom immediately called his attorney, police issued an arrest warrant and Tom called Tara’s employers at the United Nations Development Fund.

According to Tom, the United Nations told him that “it was a personal matter and they didn’t get involved in these sorts of things.”

*** and ***

Howard reached out to the UNDP that employs Tara and they had this to say:

   “We are aware of this particular case involving a staff member, Ms. Tara Bray, who is currently on leave without pay. It is a personal issue between Ms. Bray and her former husband regarding the custody of their child. We very much hope this case is resolved in the best interest of the child. According to our staff rules, all UNDP staff member have an obligation to abide by their private legal obligations. UNDP has reminded Ms. Bray of that requirement. UNDP has been in touch with the US authorities to ensure that they are fully appraised of the steps we have taken in this matter.”

*** end quote ***

So much for the “Rule of Law”!

Children are so easily manipulated.

And, why do we still have the UN? It’s a corrupt useless organization that costs us a fortune.

Argh!

Perhaps, if everyone gets on their congresscritter, we can get Christopher home and out of the UN?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Homeland Security couldn’t secure its own butt!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/03/bringing_lots_o.html

Schneier on Security
A blog covering security and security technology.
March 19, 2010
Bringing Lots of Liquids on a Plane at Schiphol

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5. Department of Homeland Security Theater calls an emergency meeting with the National Security Council, after which it is decided that all bottle-shaped objects (and all Dutch reporters) should be banned from flights.

*** end quote ***

From the blog that coined the phrase “Security Theater”, here’s a funny extension. Despite the fact that the incident occurred overseas, it couldn’t happen here in the USA. Right!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Zero-Day School Weeks

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/four.day.school.2.1583104.html

Mar 23, 2010 6:27 pm US/Central
4-Day School Weeks Might Be Coming In Illinois
State House Has Passed Bill Allowing School Districts To Set Up Shorter Weeks; Mayor Daley Has Doubts
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) ―

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Add an entire school day to the chopping block. State lawmakers want to move financially struggling schools to four day weeks. They say it will save money, and it won’t affect classroom time.

*** and ***

Kids would still have to complete the same number of hours per school year, so switching to four-day school weeks would mean longer school days or shorter summer vacations.

*** end quote ***

I have an idea that will save a lot of money.

Close the youth indoctrination centers completely and forever!

It’s immoral to make people pay for things that they did not agree to pay for. Parent had ’em. Parents feed, clothe, and shelter them. They should educate them too.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: End employer-provided health care now

Monday, March 22, 2010

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/03/a_common_sense_idea_regarding.html

March 21, 2010
A common sense idea regarding health insurance
John Conlin

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End employer-provided health care now. Don’t tax it, end it. Company paid health insurance was never a planned policy. It was a response to temporary and artificial restrictions on wages during World War II. Wage controls were in place and companies discovered another method to compete for employees – company paid health insurance. This was deductible by the business as normal operating expenses, something not offered to the individual. We have lived with this monstrosity ever since.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like a good idea.

Think about it like “life insurance”.

It’s cheap, easy, and lightly regulated to prevent fraud. Even car insurance is better than what we have now. And, my favorite “pet health insurance”.

It’ll become available form credit unions, fraternal organizations, and yes even the AARP!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: “health care” slavery

Sunday, March 21, 2010

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031901470.html

Is health-care reform constitutional?
By Randy E. Barnett
Sunday, March 21, 2010

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But making you buy insurance merely because you are alive is a claim of power from which many Americans instinctively shrink. Senate Republicans made this objection, and it was defeated on a party-line vote, but it will return.

*** end quote ***

This “health care” bill makes us slaves. Even more of a slave than we already are?

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Health “something” takeover; just say “no”!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

FROM FACEBOOK

FJohn Reinke

>American Thinker Blog: A glimpse into our Kafkaesque future under Obamacare

“For a taste of the Kafkaesque under ObamaCare, consider the 159 new boards, panels and programs in the 2,733 page Senate Health bill, as compiled by Senate Republicans. These panels would be the face of ObamaCare for every aspect of every medical need of every American.”

WOW! And, this is better than the evil insurance companies?

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FROM COMMENTATOR #1

Yes, infinitely better, because insurance company executives will not be getting rich on the backs of middle-class Americans while actively depriving working-class and poor Americans of access to health care for their families.

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FJohn Reinke

Yeah, we’ll just have another slew of bureaucrats getting rich off of us. And, if you thought the insurance execs were highly paid, then wait until you see a bunch of gooferment executives and how much they get paid!

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FROM COMMENTATOR #2

In other words, America should remain in the position that it ranks 37th among the world in providing health care and have a mortality rate higher than some 3rd world countries.

# – # – #

FJohn Reinke

AND, (with all due respect to a fellow Jasper), you think that turning over “health”, “health care”, or “health care insurance” — depending upon whatever the Socialists in DC are using to sway us today — is the way to improve that? It’s worked out REAL well for the American Indians who suffer with the “Indian Healthcare System”. It’s gooferment at it’s best where they are reported to say “Don’t get sick after June!”!!!!

Sorry, but as BAD as the current system is perceived to be, what they are going to do to us is WORSE.

And, my best argument: when you get screwed, who will you complain to? A gooferment court! Yeah right. AND, if you decide it’s a mistake, how are you going to unwind it? Answer: You can’t! It’s a one way street. Like another example of inter-generational theft, Social Security…. See More

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. TANSTAAFL: There Ain’t No Such Thing As a Free Lunch.

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Upon reflection:

(1) It is interesting how the Socialists “shift terminology”. Are we talking about “health”, “health care”, or “health care insurance”? These are all very different things. And that leads right into the next point.

(2) The Socialists mix stuff together. DOWNSIZEDC has a “One Subject At A Time” effort. Are we trying to reach the “uninsured”? Are we trying to lower the cost of “insurance”? Are we trying to address the “portability” of insurance without regard to employment (a vestige of WW2 wage and price controls)? What are WE trying to accomplish?

(3) “Pre-existing conditions” can NOT be covered. Covering them makes it into welfare or pre-paid medical care; not insurance.

(4) The gooferment, particularly in the FDA and in Medicare, is totally immersed in the minutia of “Health Care”. To the point of “regulatory capture”. Big Pharma, Big Insurance, and Big Medicine have a strangle hold on the regulatory mechanism. They have an incestuous relationship with congress critters via campaign contributions and regulators by employment opportunities.

(5) Government should be the “referee”. If you’re screwed by an insurance company, you can appeal to the “king” via the courts and regulators. With Obama-care, if you’re screwed, to whom will you appeal?

(6) Strategically, Obama-care plan is a one way street. Once we create an entitlement, and the sheeple plan around it and come to depend upon it, it’s immoral to jerk the rug out from under them.

(7) Tactically, Obama-care plan is a one way street. If this wildly unpopular bill becomes law, and even if the Congress turns over to the R’s, Obama will still be President for two more years. He’ll veto any repeal. So, the taxes will go into effect. Who knows who will be President in 2012? Hillary, Pallin, Ron Paul?

For these reasons, I am fundamentally opposed to this monstrosity being proposed.

I’m not so much worried for myself. But Frau needs her “health care” and can’t afford any screw ups.

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Four cents?

Sunday, March 14, 2010

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/13/2604016/irs-suits-pay-visit-to-car-wash.html

Bob Shallit: IRS visits Sacramento carwash in pursuit of 4 cents

By Bob Shallit

The Sacramento Bee

Published: Saturday, Mar. 13, 2010 – 12:00 am | Page 1B

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It was every businessperson’s nightmare.

Arriving at Harv’s Metro Car Wash in midtown Wednesday afternoon were two dark-suited IRS agents demanding payment of delinquent taxes. “They were deadly serious, very aggressive, very condescending,” says Harv’s owner, Aaron Zeff.

The really odd part of this: The letter that was hand-delivered to Zeff’s on-site manager showed the amount of money owed to the feds was … 4 cents.

Inexplicably, penalties and taxes accruing on the debt – stemming from the 2006 tax year – were listed as $202.31, leaving Harv’s with an obligation of $202.35.

*** end quote ***

He was lucky they didn’t use their “customer satisfaction devices” (i.e., one or more of those assault rifles the IRS recently took delivery of)!

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: SSNs more than birth certificates

Sunday, February 28, 2010

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9E4JSD80&show_article=1

Shock over voided Puerto Rican birth certificates
Feb 27 10:46 AM US/Eastern
By SUZANNE GAMBOA Associated Press Writer

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WASHINGTON (AP) – Native Puerto Ricans living outside the island territory are reacting with surprise and confusion after learning their birth certificates will become no good this summer.

A law enacted by Puerto Rico in December mainly to combat identity theft invalidates as of July 1 all previously issued Puerto Rican birth certificates. That means more than a third of the 4.1 million people of Puerto Rican descent living in the 50 states must arrange to get new certificates.

*** end quote ***

You’d a thunk they could have come up with an ORDERLY process, communicated it widely & clearly, and done it with out mass confusion.

But it’s the gooferment!

Remember, without the deadly “social security number”, identity theft would be difficult.

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: It’s not YOUR house; it’s theirs!

Monday, February 1, 2010

http://www.azcentral.com/community/swvalley/articles/2010/01/27/20100127-avondale-condemned-no-electricity.html

Avondale condemns home: Solar, batteries insufficient
Avondale woman says city treated her unfairly
by Eddi Trevizo – Jan. 27, 2010 10:52 AM
The Arizona Republic

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An Avondale woman who spent 11 days sleeping in her car said the city treated her unfairly when her home was condemned in December for lack of electricity.

But city officials said Christine Stevens violated building codes, a health and safety concern because Avondale homes are required to have heating systems and a running refrigerator.

*** end quote ***

Where does the gang masquerading as “city officials” get off telling people how to live?

Argh!

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