Friday, September 28, 2012

Is The End of Monsanto Near? Prop 37 Succeeding as Nations Ban GMO Crops


By Anthony Gucciardi
theintelhub.com
September 28, 2012
Is the end of Monsanto within reach? It has certainly been a rough couple of weeks for the mega corporation as the real dangers surrounding GMOs are being brought to the attention of consumers on a global scale like never before.
It all started with the monumental Frenchstudy finding a serious link between the consumption of Monsanto’s Roundup-drenched GMOs and massive tumors.
Being called the ‘most thorough’ research ever published on the real health effects of GMOs, the study led to even larger victories.
After the study not only did France call for apotential worldwide ban on GMOs pending the results of their in-depth analysis, but Russia’s major consumer rights organization announced a ban on both the importation and use of Monsanto’s GMO corn.
Prop 37 Can Label Monsanto Out of Existence
And now, the Proposition to label all GMOs in the state of California is showing massive success.
If Prop 37 passes, it won’t just affect California. It is very likely that other states will not just take note, but adopt similar legislation.
Through this legal mechanism, we can essential label Monsanto out of existence. This is possible when considering that the average consumer is actually opposed to GMOs and heavily in favor of proper labeling.
In a major Los Angeles Times poll, registered California voters in favor of labeling outnumber pro-GMO voters by more than a 2-to-1 margin. Altogether, a whopping 61% of those polled reported supporting the Prop 37 labeling initiative. Only 25% reported opposing it.
If GMO-containing products are properly labeled, the simple fact of the matter is that less people will buy them.
As of right now, very few people are even aware of what they are putting in their mouth. In fact, if the public knew that they were consuming GMOs which were linked to massive tumors and organ failure, the overwhelming majority would abandon such products.
Without labeling, however, they have no idea. The same can also be said for other ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and aspartame.
As Yes on 37 campaign manager Gary Ruskin explains:
“Monsanto, DuPont, and Coca-Cola do not want Californians to know what’s really in their food and drinks, because they fear consumers will turn away from their genetically engineered ingredients and pesticides that go with them.”
If they knew they were eating mercury in the HFCS and consuming an artificial sweetener with over 42 associated diseases, then major change would occur – change that includes forcing manufacturers to abandon these ingredients in order to stay profitable. And after all, Monsanto’s number one goal is profit.
This is a company that has been caught running ‘slave-like’ working conditions in which ‘employees’ were forced to buy only from the company store and were not allowed to leave the area or their pay would be withheld.
If Monsanto’s profits were to plummet, their political reign would likely follow as well.
Without an endless amount of cash to throw at crushing Prop 37, already contributing $4 million to fuel anti-labeling propaganda in California, the corporation’s massive grasp on the world of science (continually censoring studies and funding pro-GM research) and politics would virtually cease to exist.
It is essential that we ensure the passing of Prop 37 in a bid to generate the literal end of Monsanto. Once consumers actually know that they’re putting genetically modified creations into their body, real change will occur within the food supply.


Who Ordered Agent Orange To Be Sprayed

Sad, sad, sad......

LINK


Who Ordered Agent Orange Sprayed
(C) James J. Alonzo
With all the illnesses, malformed babies, and suffering from Agent Orange, one could wonder who the person that ordered it to be used was. It was Elmo Zumwalt Jr., who as commander of U.S. naval forces in Southeast Asia that ordered the chemical defoliant sprayed over the South Vietnamese countryside to deprive communist troops of cover.
Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr. (November 29, 1920 – January 2, 2000) was an American naval officer and the youngest man to serve as Chief of navel Operations. As an admiral and later the 19th Chief of navel Operations, Zumwalt played a major role in U.S. military history, especially during the Viet Nam War.
After his selection for the rank of Rear Admiral, Zumwalt assumed command in July 1965 of Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Seven. In September 1968, he became Commander Naval Forces, Viet Nam, and Chief of the Naval Advisory Group, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.
Zumwalt’s command was not a blue water unit, like the Seventh Fleet; it was a brown water unit: he commanded the flotilla of Swift boats that patrolled the coasts, harbors, and rivers of Vietnam. Among the swift-boat commanders were his son, Elmo Russell Zumwalt III, and later future Senator John Kerry. During this time, the elder Zumwalt had an opportunity to safeguard the men who served under his command from the Viet Cong who hid in the jungle and ambushed American and ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) patrols at will.
A new group of herbicides, Agent Orange, White, and other assorted color names, could be sprayed on the foliage to remove the cover that the Viet Cong used so effectively. It was claimed at that time that the side effects on humans of long-term exposure to Agent Orange were not yet known, and the manufacturers, Dow and Monsanto, were eager to reassure potential users about its safety.
Admiral Zumwalt acted to protect not only his own son, but also his many comrades from a “clear and present danger,” but in so doing, he exposed them to chemicals now known to cause cancer. As all commanders must do, Admiral Zumwalt acted quickly and decisively on the available information; in this case, he relied on sources that were biased and unreliable, as later developments made clear.
In the end, he paid personally for his decision. Zumwalt’s son, Elmo Zumwalt III, died in 1988, aged 42;
Zumwalt’s grandson (born 1977) suffers from a congenital dysfunction that confuses his physical senses. Zumwalt’s son, prior to his own death, said in 1986 that
“‘I am a lawyer and I don’t think I could prove in court, by the weight of the existing scientific evidence, that Agent Orange is the cause of all the medical problems – nervous disorders, cancer and skin problems – reported by Vietnam veterans, or of their children’s severe birth defects. But I am convinced that it is.” He also said he never blamed his father for his disease.
Admiral Zumwalt said he felt his son’s cancer was most definitely due to Agent Orange. He also mentioned that his grandson Russell suffered from very severe learning disabilities that could possibly be traced to it as well. However, Zumwalt said he did not regret ordering the use of Agent Orange, because it reduced casualties by making it difficult for the enemy to hide and find food.
Admiral Zumwalt, along with his son, authored a book called My Father, My Son, published by MacMillan in September 1986, where they discussed the family tragedy of his son’s battle with cancer.
After treatment in a number of hospitals, Elmo Zumwalt III went to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center inSeattle, where he received a bone marrow from his sister Mouzetta, whose tissues fortunately matched his well enough for this treatment to be feasible. Results were promising but in the end, he died in 1988.
Sadly the Zumwalt family also suffered from Agent Orange. Was it all a case of “What goes around, comes around” or for those of the eastern thought, Karma”?

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Study Shows Stem Cells May Prevent And Cure Alzheimer's


/PRNewswire/ -- In the first study of its kind, researchers at Korea's leading university and the RNL Bio Stem Cell Technology Institute announced this week the results of a study that suggests an astounding possibility: adult stem cells may not only have a positive effect on those suffering from Alzheimer's disease, they can prevent the disease. Using fat-derived adult stem cells from humans [scientific term: adMSCs, or human, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells], researchers were able to cause Alzheimer's disease brains in animal models to regenerate.  The researchers, for the first time in history, used stem cells to identify the mechanism that is key to treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and demonstrated how to achieve efficacy as well as prevention of the symptoms of Alzheimer's with adult stem cells, a "holy grail" of biomedical scientists for decades.
Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia (loss of brain function), is the 6th leading cause of death, and affects 1 in 8 people -- more than breast cancer.  As of 2010, there were 35.6 million people with Alzheimer's disease in the world, but this number is expected to double every 20 years.  It is estimated that the total cost of Alzheimer's is US $604 billion worldwide, with 70% of this cost  in the US and Europe.  To put that in perspective, Alzheimer's care costs more than the revenues of Wal-Mart (US$414 billion) and Exxon Mobil (US$311 billion), according to the British World Alzheimer's Report of ADI.  The cost of Alzheimer's is at the top of health economists' list of the disorders of aging that could topple nations' entire economies, and that regularly ruin not only the lives of patients but of their relatives.  
According to the results of this first major study, Alzheimer's may soon be a preventable disease, or even a thing of the past.  Equally important, the safety human administration of the kind of adult stem cells used in this experiment has been established in multiple articles and government-approved clinical trials.  

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/26/4857837/study-shows-stem-cells-may-prevent.html#storylink=cpy

AGENT ORANGE-Researchers Find Dioxin Causes Disease And Issues with Reproductive System


Effects could extend to ‘great-grandchildren’
Since the 1960s, when the defoliant Agent Orange was widely used in Vietnam, military, industry and environmental groups have debated the toxicity of its main ingredient, the chemical dioxin, and how it should be regulated.
But even if all the dioxin were eliminated from the planet, Washington State University researchers say its legacy will live on in the way it turns genes on and off in the descendants of people exposed over the past half century.
Writing in the journal PLoS ONE, biologist Michael Skinner and members of his lab say dioxin administered to pregnant rats resulted in a variety of reproductive problems and disease in subsequent generations. The first generation of rats had prostate disease, polycystic ovarian disease and fewer ovarian follicles, the structures that contain eggs. To the surprise of Skinner and his colleagues, the third generation had even more dramatic incidences of ovarian disease and, in males, kidney disease.
“Therefore, it is not just the individuals exposed, but potentially the great-grandchildren that may experience increased adult-onset disease susceptibility,” says Skinner.


Caring grandfather who laughed at terminal cancer by writing book 'Keeping Your Sense of Tumour' dies


A librarian who vowed to laugh in the face of terminal cancer by writing a comedy book has lost his battle against the illness.
John Blackburn, 64, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma - cancer of the bone marrow - four years ago.

But the upbeat grandfather refused to be defeated by his illness so he wrote an autobiography called 'Keeping Your Sense of Tumour', which went on sale at Amazon.

In his book, John who said he was 'a hypochondriac by profession, but a devout coward by religion,' described feeling like he was being 'marked up for target practice' as he was prepared for radiotherapy.

MORE HERE


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

GMO Candy


Please choose your Halloween treats carefully, avoiding companies using GMOs and other unsustainable ingredients such as palm oil.
image via Occupy Food

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

OCCUPY MONSANTO !!!

OCCUPY MONSANTO

Robin Roberts Responding Well To Treatment, But Not Expected Back To Work Until Next Year


Good Morning America's Robin Roberts is responding well to her bone marrow transplant but the popular journalist isn't expected to return to work until next year, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.

"Robin is doing great and her blood tests are indicating that in the very early stages of receiving the bone marrow transplant to treat her MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome) her body is recovering well,"  a source close to Roberts tells RadarOnline.com exclusively. "Robin isn't expected to return to work until next year though despite probably being released from the hospital at the end of October.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Hypocrites at Evil Monsanto


Myeloma and Bone Disease: Using Every Tool to Improve Patients' Lives, a Clinical Context Report

This report is part of a 12-month Clinical Context series.

TRANSCRIPT HERE

MD Anderson Announces "Moon Shot" Push for Fighting Cancer


Inspired by JFK's Push to Land on the Moon, Cancer Center Boosts Efforts to Find Cures
Today, the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston announced it would take one giant leap in fighting cancer. Launching in February 2013, its program will aim to reduce cancer deaths from eight specific types of cancer, find cures, and boost prevention efforts over the next 10 years. The project is estimated to cost about $3 billion dollars over the next decade, and the center already has tens of millions to jumpstart efforts. The dramatic effort is inspired by John F. Kennedy's push for space exploration in the 1960s, specifically when the former president insisted America land on the moon and do other challenging tasks "not because they are easy, but because they are hard." "When Kennedy stood up there on September 1962, he didn't say that we're going to study how to get to the moon," Ronald DePinho, president of MD Anderson, told ABC News. "He said we are going to the moon. Then the nation rallied to make sure we went to the moon." While cancer death rates have been falling since the 1990s, the disease is still amajor threat. In the United States, the Associated Press reports, estimates are that more than 500,000 people will die from cancer this year.

Robin Roberts 'Energized,' Wants to Go Home After Transplant, Says Doctor

The doctor for Good Morning America host Robin Roberts said Friday that her star patient was "energized" after a five-minute bone marrow transplant on Thursday and was now being monitored for signs of recovery. 

Dr. Gail Roboz, speaking on GMA, said Roberts, in characteristic fighting fashion, had already sent her an email message saying she "wanted to go home!" 

But, the oncologist, who called Roberts, 51, "a powerhouse," noted that the next 7-10 days were crucial for the injected stem cells, donated by Roberts's sister Sally-Ann, to grow properly, ridding her of the rare blood disordermyelodysplastic syndrome

"It's not instant," Roboz told show host George Stephanopoulos. "Rebuilding ... takes weeks to months," with a goal of leaving the hospital in about 30 days. 

As the doctor explained, “We have to roll with the punches over the next few days because, don't forget, her systems are down and Sally-Ann's aren't up yet so we're in that in-between zone of watching very carefully. We are wanting every day to be a good day, but we are ready for some bumps in the road.” 

Roberts, who had thanked supporters via video message, was surrounded by TV colleagues and friends Diane Sawyer and Sam Champion on Thursday for the transplant. 

After a blessing of the harvested stem cells and prayer, her fave tunes, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," were played during the brief procedure. 

VIDEO

Thursday, September 20, 2012

New Proof: GMOs Cause Tumors, Organ Damage, and Premature Death in Rats

The first long-term study shows the devastating effects of Roundup herbicide and genetically modified maize.




If you've ever wondered if the concern over GMOs is just hype, you've now got your answer.
A new study shows that Monsanto's Roundup herbicide and genetically modified maize cause tumors and organ damage in rats.
The French study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, details an experiment in which rats were fed a diet containing NK603 (a seed variety that has been modified to withstand application of the herbicide Roundup) or were given water containing Roundup "at levels permitted in the United States," reports Reuters.
The results? Rats in the study died earlier than rats on standard diets. Of the Roundup group, half of the male and 70 percent of the female rats died prematurely. By comparison, among rats with normal diets, 30 percent of males and 20 percent of females died prematurely. The Roundup rats also experienced mammary tumors and liver and kidney damage. 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Genetic Roulette The Gamble of Our Lives – Movie


A film by Jeffrey M. Smith – Narrated by Lisa Oz
A production of the Institute for Responsible Technology
Are you and your family on the wrong side of a bet?

When the US government ignored repeated warnings by its own scientists and allowed untested genetically modified (GM) crops into our environment and food supply, it was a gamble of unprecedented proportions. The health of all living things and all future generations were put at risk by an infant technology.

After two decades, physicians and scientists have uncovered a grave trend. The same serious health problems found in lab animals, livestock, and pets that have been fed GM foods are now on the rise in the US population. And when people and animals stop eating genetically modified organisms (GMOs), their health improves.
This seminal documentary provides compelling evidence to help explain the deteriorating health of Americans, especially among children, and offers a recipe for protecting ourselves and our future.
Follow This Link To Watch The Film —  http://geneticroulettemovie.com/

Monday, September 17, 2012

The Past, The Present and The Future Walk into a Bar.... HAHAHA


ASCC: Could Stem Cells Hold the Key to Unlocking $10 Billion Cosmetics Market


As a 52 year old broad, I say, "Bring it On!!!"
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Aristocrat Group Corp.'s (OTCBB: ASCC) focus-group testing revealed that more and more women are seeking effective anti-aging treatments for their skin, and now the company believes it has found the perfect solution for the increase in cosmetic demand: Adult stem cells.
"Stem-cell products have all-natural regenerative powers that can't be matched by any chemical or botanical cooked up in a lab," said ASCC Cindy Morrissey. "The market for anti-aging treatments that really work is exploding worldwide, and by acquiring or partnering with cosmetic innovators working with stem cells, we plan to capitalize on this unstoppable trend."

U.S. demand for cosmetics and toiletries is forecast by some analysts to rise five percent annually to a total value of $9.9 billion by 2016. The organic and natural product segment as well as anti-aging products are both poised for rapid growth, in particular, as more and more baby boomers enter their 50s. As the population of older Americans grows, so, too, will the market for cosmetic products specifically formulated to improve the appearance of aging skin.
The key to capturing a profitable share of that market will be delivering a product that works with no side effects. ASCC is currently investigating new opportunities to help develop and market high-quality stem-cell cosmetics around the globe in order to deliver maximum returns to shareholders.
ASCC plans to expand its cosmetics business to compete in a highly profitable sector alongside Procter & Gamble (NYS: PG) , Unilever (NYS: UL) and Avon Products, Inc. (NYS: AVP) .

Yesterday's Double Rainbow





Friday, September 14, 2012

Living Well with Multiple Myeloma: One Woman’s Journey


When Cheryl Boyce experienced constant fatigue she saw her doctor, who suggested a blood test. The results were surprising. They led to a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that begins in the bone marrow and affects the plasma cells.
She was just 49 years old at the time. Most people with myeloma are diagnosed after age 65 and the disease is rare in people younger than age 35.
Interestingly, Boyce was working for the State of Ohio in the health field when she found out she was a patient too. Now 61, she is doing well and has become a well-known patient advocate.

Avoiding GMOs in Your Daily Life

As California remains the proverbial battlefield for GMO labeling, an increased interest is growing over ways to actually start avoiding GMOs in your daily life. By far the best tip, which may not be applicable at all times, is to stick to high quality organic sources. Preferably 100% organic or locally grown by organic-based farmers. This certainly is not always an option, so I’ve compiled a quick ‘cheat sheet’ of the top genetically modified crops and substances that you can remember when avoiding GMOs in your daily life.

-SNIP-



Top List for Avoiding GMOs

Outside of avoiding these companies and doing your best to purchase organic produce that starts with the number 9 on the PLU code sticker (the sticker on fruits and vegetables), here are 10 foods that are the most likely to contain GMOs that you should avoid when not consuming an organic source:
1. Corn
2. Soy
3. Sugar
4. Papayas
5. Aspartame (yes, aspartame is genetically modified! It was revealed back in the 90s in a little-known report).
6. Canola
7. Zucchini
8. Yellow squash
9. Dairy (more than 1/3 of non-organic dairy products in the United States still contain Monsanto’s genetically engineered hormone known as rBGH. Made from cloned DNA, the hormone is currently banned in over 27 countries).
10. Cotton (in the form of cotton oil).
Until proper legislation is enacted to label or ban GMOs entirely, it’s important to protect yourself and your family on a daily basis from the effects of genetically altered food staples.

Final 9/11 Health Ruling: Myeloma Included for Compensation

On September 10th, 2012, the World Trade Center Health Program released a final rule that added myeloma to the list of covered health conditions.


The World Trade Center Health Program provides medical monitoring and treatment to eligible firefighters and related personnel, law enforcement officers, and rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers who responded to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. On September 10, 2012, the program released a final ruling that adds certain cancers, including multiple myeloma, to the list of covered health conditions. Research has shown a relationship between myeloma and exposure to carcinogens located at the World Trade Center site, and IMF submitted comments to the proposed rule supporting the inclusion of myeloma. IMF is very pleased that responders who develop myeloma will be able to receive compensation through this fund to cover the cost of treatment.

The addition of myeloma and other cancers becomes effective on October 12th (30 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register). Then, WTC Health Program members may begin the process of certifying their cancers as WTC-related health conditions. Current members of the WTC Health Program should contact their Clinical Center of Excellence (CCE) to begin the certification process. If you do not know which CCE you attend, please contact the call center at 1-888-982-4748. If you are not currently enrolled in the WTC Health Program and believe you may be eligible for the Program, please visit the program’s website (www.cdc.gov/wtc) for information about the application process or contact the call center at 1-888-982-4748 for information on how to apply. For more information about the inclusion of several types of cancer in the WTC Health Program, please go here: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/wtc/stac/cancer.html.

LINK

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Dom Remains in Complete Remission/Response!

Just got the phone call from Tulane Cancer Center.  His M-Spike was ZERO!!!!

That's 37 months post transplant of being in Complete Remission.  We are TICKLED!

Military Information For Agent Orange Exposure


Many veterans, including their spouse/widow and children do not know how to obtain veterans military records. At any rate, it is sometimes difficult. In most cases they can be found.
Veterans who apply for VA claims for disability need various records. This also applies to widows and children of veterans applying for DIC (Dependence Indemnity Compensation). This is especially necessary for Agent Orange presumptive exposure. AO is the most complicated of all VA claims.
The first item of business in submitting a VA claim is to obtain a VA claims form packet.
www.va.gov Either call or download VA claim forms. Submit those claim forms to the VA. This gets you into the system as a registrant for disability or DIC.
Evidence of service: DD-214. For AO exposure the VSM (Vietnam Service Medal) awarded, proof of.
Important: On all evidence submitted be sure to include SS#.
Other needed evidence: Record of duty station/s as related to Vietnam service, land, air or sea.. In the case of US Navy, deck logs of ship/s served on in Vietnam waters.
Medical records, civilian and or military that may be related to AO diseases being claimed for veterans disability or DIC.
Other sources of evidence: If able to locate veterans who served with the claimant. Acquire their sworn testimonial (notarized) attesting to possible AO exposure, land air or sea. The attester must provide his or hers full name, address phone number and service number on the testimonial. All evidence submitted must show the claimants SS#.
It is advised to seek help from a VSO (Veterans Service Organization). These organizations can help with VA claims and help with evidence.
List of VSO’s: Vietnam Veterans of America 1-800-882-1316
American Legion 1-202-861-2700
AmVets 1-877-726-8387
Disabled American Veterans 1-877-426-2838
Veterans of Foreign Wars 1-816-756-3390
Other sources for locating military records: download Military Standard Form (SF-180) for all branches of military, send to:
National Personnel Records Center
1 archives Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63138
More sources:
For Navy and Marines and Fleet Marines: Deck Logs: & possible duty stations.
Archives 2 Reference Section
National Archives
Attn: Assistant Chief Archives 2
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, Md. 20740-6001
Ph# 301-837-3519 E-mail: mailto.archives2reference@nara.gov
For Army: (Standard Form SF-180 needed)
Ph# 1-888-276-9472 E-mail: askhrc.army@us.army.mil
Or www.hrc.army.mil for SF-180
For Service Medals: (attach copy of DD-214 to letter of request)
Army reserve personnel center, attn: DARP-PAS-EAW, 9700 Page Blvd, St. Louis, Mo. 63132
Air Force Ref. branch NCPMF, 9700 Page Blvd.. St. Louis, Mo. 63132
Navy, Marines, Coast Guard: Navy personnel command, 9700 Page Blvd., 63123
Important: Make copies of all records and or requests.
Political Help: Contact your District US Member of Congress and US member of Senate.
It is their job to assist you. For veterans VA claims and or DIC.
Note: Some States offer tax relief for widows of veterans who have been awarded VA disability. Check with your State and District State member of Congress for information and assistance. Usually the deceased veteran had to of been VA declared 100%. Check anyway, all States have different laws.
This information page is submitted by; John J. Bury, US Navy, retired, Vietnam War veteran and member of COVVHA

Monday, September 10, 2012

U.S. to cover cancer treatment for 9/11 responders

(Reuters) - The 70,000 surviving firefighters, police officers and other first responders who raced to the World Trade Center after the attacks of September 11, 2001 will be entitled to free monitoring and treatment for some 50 forms of cancer. 

BRAVO! Here's the Jump!

Molecule shows effectiveness against drug-resistant myeloma

BOSTON––A molecule that targets the cell's machinery for breaking down unneeded proteins can kill multiple myeloma cancer cells resistant to the frontline drug Velcade, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found.

JUMP

Agent Orange Victims Get Scientology ‘Detox’ Treatment


The Vietnamese government is turning to a “detoxification” method developed by the founder of the Church of Scientology to treat victims of Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant the U.S. military used during the Vietnam War.
According to local media reports, 24 patients from the central city of Da Nang were admitted to the Hanoi 103 Military Hospital last week to begin a free, month-long treatment to rid the body of dioxins that have been linked to birth defects, cancers and other diseases.
The “Hubbard Method,” named after L. Ron Hubbard, requires  taking vitamins and minerals, exercising and sweating in saunas. Scientologists have used it to treat alcoholism and drug addiction in the past, and offered similar services to  New York City’s first responders who were exposed to toxins in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Vietnam is the first country to apply the method on Agent Orange victims, according to Hoang Manh An, the director of the hospital carrying out the detoxification.
“I hope my wife and I will recover completely and will not suffer after-effects to pass on to my descendants,” Nguyen Dai Sang, one of the patients, told the Viet Nam News Daily.
American troops doused the jungles of Southeast Asia with 20 million gallons of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War  to deny Vietcong fighters and North Vietnamese troops cover. The herbicides contaminated about 5  million acres of forest, which is roughly the size of Massachusetts.
The U.S. launched its first major effort to clean up the soil at a former air base in Da Nang last month, more than 40 years later, but spokesman Christopher Hodges at the American Embassy in Hanoi said the U.S. had not provided any funding for detoxification programs in Vietnam.
“We are not aware of any safe, effective detoxification treatment for people with dioxin in body tissues,” Hodges said in a statement. “The best way to reduce health risks associated with dioxin is to prevent human exposure to dioxin, and the best way to do that is to clean up areas where dioxin exists in the environment at potentially hazardous levels.”



Robin Roberts Checks Into Hospital To Prepare For Bone Marrow Transplant


Good Morning America cohost Robin Roberts began preparing for her upcoming bone marrow transplant by checking into the hospital on Monday morning and posting a photo of herself on Facebook, with an entry that began with the words: “Holding a picture of my two guardian angels..mom and dad…” and ended with: “Oh, by the way, as my friend India.Arie sings...I am NOT my hair. Onward and looking upward. Blessings to all...XO

Before she left, Roberts, who is currently battling a bone marrow disorder called MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome) bid her fans goodbye with a farewell message on Twitter: “My last tweet for awhile,” she wrote. “Heading to hospital...time to focus on healing. I take each & every one of you w/me in my heart. Light and love.”


It sounds like the 51-year-old TV anchor had a fun sendoff from her colleagues before she packed her bags for the hospital stay. “Shhhhhh...don’t tell my doctors I’m up late w/ @GMA fam before I go to hospital in the AM,” Roberts tweeted Sunday night, after posting earlier, “We are family...@GMA family w/@JoshElliottABC at my apt giving me a send off to remember.”

As RadarOnline.com previously reported, it has been a difficult few months for the beloved host, whose mother Lucimarian passed away at age 88 on August 30 at her home in Mississippi.


Robin will now be receiving a bone marrow transplant from her sister, Sally-Ann Roberts, and her recovery is expected to last several months.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, beating the disease, but explained in 2012 that due to complications from the cancer treatments she was diagnosed withmyelodysplastic syndrome.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

About Multiple Myeloma by National Cancer Institute


Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. These cells are part of your immune system, which helps protect the body from germs and other harmful substances. In time, myeloma cells collect in the bone marrow and in the solid parts of bone.
No one knows the exact causes of multiple myeloma, but it is more common in older people and African-Americans. Early symptoms may include
   ● Bone pain, often in the back or ribs
   ● Broken bones
   ● Weakness or fatigue
   ● Weight loss
   ● Repeated infections
Myeloma is hard to cure. Treatment may help control symptoms and complications. Options include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation and radiation.
People with multiple myeloma have many treatment options. The options are watchful waiting,induction therapy, and stem cell transplant. Sometimes a combination of methods is used.
Radiation therapy is used sometimes to treat painful bone disease. It may be used alone or along with other therapies. See the Supportive Care section to learn about ways to relieve pain.
The choice of treatment depends mainly on how advanced the disease is and whether you have symptoms. If you have multiple myeloma without symptoms (smoldering myeloma), you may not need cancer treatment right away. The doctor monitors your health closely (watchful waiting) so that treatment can start when you begin to have symptoms.
If you have symptoms, you will likely get induction therapy. Sometimes a stem cell transplant is part of the treatment plan.
When treatment for myeloma is needed, it can often control the disease and its symptoms. People may receive therapy to help keep the cancer in remission, but myeloma can seldom be cured. Because standard treatment may not control myeloma, you may want to talk to your doctor about taking part in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are research studies of new treatment methods. See theTaking Part in Cancer Research section.
Your doctor can describe your treatment choices, the expected results, and the possible side effects. You and your doctor can work together to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs.
Your doctor may refer you to a specialist, or you may ask for a referral. Specialists who treat multiple myeloma include hematologists and medical oncologists. Your health care team may also include an oncology nurse and a registered dietitian.
Before treatment starts, ask your health care team to explain possible side effects and how treatment may change your normal activities. Because cancer treatments often damage healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Side effects may not be the same for each person, and they may change from one treatment session to the next.
Many different types of drugs are used to treat myeloma. People often receive a combination of drugs, and many different combinations are used to treat myeloma.
Each type of drug kills cancer cells in a different way:
   >> Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy kills fast-growing myeloma cells, but the drug can also harm normal cells that divide rapidly
   >> Targeted therapy: Targeted therapies use drugs that block the growth of myeloma cells. The targeted therapy blocks the action of an abnormal protein that stimulates the growth of myeloma cells.
   >> Steroids: Some steroids have antitumor effects. It is thought that steroids can trigger the death of myeloma cells. A steroid may be used alone or with other drugs to treat myeloma.
You may receive the drugs by mouth or through a vein (IV). The treatment usually takes place in an outpatient part of the hospital, at your doctor's office, or at home. Some people may need to stay in the hospital for treatment.
The side effects depend mainly on which drugs are given and how much:

Sorafenib May Be New Treatment for Multiple Myeloma Blood Cancer That Strikes Seniors


Research from Karolinska Institute shows that sorafenib, a drug used for advanced cancer of the kidneys and liver, could also be effective against multiple myeloma.
"Recently developed drugs, like bortezomib, have increased the survival rate for people with this serious and complex disease," says study leader Theocharis Panaretakis, docent of experimental oncology.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Whooping It Up in PCB

Patricia and I had a real blast.  Sadly, only took the camera out of the condo on one of our adventures.  Dinner at Los Rancheros with our Steve and Mary.  Steve is a daytime bartender at our joint across the street.  The little hottie in the booth with Patricia and I is Eguardo....  my favorite waiter.





Other nights, we hung out at Dee's Hangout and out Thai restaurant, Ketana.  Had big fun.

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH...................

Here's a picture of one of Isaac's outer bands.

Dom suffered through 3 days of nonstop rain.  Almost 20 inches!  (Our pond is very happy, anyway).

He only lost power for about 6 hours.  Not a problem....had the generator cranked up.  Friends in Metairie just got their power back yesterday!

Yeah..... Patty and I had a fun hurricane party.  Dominic, not so much.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Hurricane Isaac Arrives in Panama City Beach

I had a fun, fun week with girlfriend Patricia at the condo last week.

I blew into town on Friday afternoon, and she headed down from Tennessee on Saturday.

Upon our arrival, the water was gorgeous.  That didn't last too long.  Issac's wrath took away our beach for a couple of days.

He also caused a "Double Red Flag" situation which means "stay out of the Gulf by LAW".....

Poor Patricia took a walk to the pier one morning while I was sleeping and got clobbered by jellyfish, as there was no where for her to exit the water.

We enjoyed sitting on the stacked beach chairs at the waterline (Picture 4), watching the surf roll in.  Wishing that these pictures would show how enormous the waves were.  Quite entertaining.






Patty headed home on Friday.  I returned home yesterday.  The last shot is yesterday morning..... the beach was packed, but the water was quite murky.

Water was clearing, and thankfully, these folks were able to enjoy the last-blast of the season.