"Happy Easter" from Monsanto

The Frankenbunny

(This is actually quite cute, but if Monsanto designed it I'm quite sure it would be a highly venomous Easter killing machine that shoots out projectile eggs filled with Roundup and Agent Orange...)

Spring Has Sprung- and a Great Fudge Recipe

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz.  I wonder where the flowers is?

Hi gang.... it's getting lovely around here!  The weather is warming up nicely.

Not much to report.  We had a nice St. Patrick's Day with my annual menu of Soda Bread, Oat Farls, Corned Beef, Cabbage, Carrots and Potatoes.  It was just the two of us this year.

I added something extra this year.  Found this recipe on another blog that I follow:


Irish Cream Fudge
2 12oz bags of white chocolate chips
1 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk (you won't use the whole can)
1/3 cup Irish Cream (whatever brand you choose)

Prepare an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish by lining it with parchment paper on the bottom, leaving the paper longer than needed so you can lift the fudge easily out of the pan when it is ready to serve.  Spray with a light coat of nonstick cooking spray as well.  

On low heat, add all ingredients into a medium saucepan.  Stir continuously until all of the white chocolate chips are melted.  Pour into the prepared pan, smooth so it is even.  Refrigerate until set and hard.  Use the long sides of the parchment to lift it out and easily cut into serving pieces.

This was absolutely delicious!  It's going to be an annual thing with us.  I added a top layer of Milk Chocolate with Jameson's Irish Whiskey.  It came out a little too boozy.... will cut back next year.

You can check out her blog here:

Thank you for the wonderful recipe!

Wishing You All a Wonderful St. Patrick's Day Tomorrow!

We're having a couple of friends over tomorrow for a nice dinner.  Hope that your weekend is going well!

Understanding Serum Free Light Chain Assays

Introduction

You received this booklet to learn more about
a type of laboratory test called the Serum
Free Light Chain Assays (SFLCA). These tests
are also known collectively as Freelite™. After
reading this booklet, you should be able to
answer the following questions:


*What are free light chains?

*How are free light chains related to
multiple myeloma?

*How does the Freelite test help with diagnosis
and monitoring response to treatment
of multiple myeloma?

This booklet is intended to provide you with
general information only. It is not meant to
replace the advice of your doctor or nurse
who can answer questions related to your
specific treatment plan. The definitions of all
words in bold are found in the glossary at
the end of the booklet.

Download this PDF File HERE


The Serum Free Light Chain Assays:

Normal Versus Abnormal
Normal levels of serum free light chains are*:

• Kappa: 3.3–19.4 mg/L*
• Lambda: 5.71–26.3 mg/L*
• Kappa/lambda ratio: 0.26–1.65**

Comet Pan-STARRS Near the Moon Tonight: How to See It

I took these pictures last night.... it was truly exciting to see.  With the binoculars, you could actually see the comet itself!  It looks like we'll have another clear sky at sunset today.

Many stargazers attempting to view the Comet Pan-STARRS on recent nights have been thwarted by the comet's low position in the western sky. But tonight (March 12), the thin crescent moon will lend a hand.

Viewing Guide Here

Interactive Map Tracking Wait Time For Veterans’ Disability Claims

This map, created by the Center for Investigative Reporting, displays 58 VA regional offices and the number of backlogged claims by week on a national, regional and local level. This application will update itself every Monday to show each office's change in pending claims.

Explore the Data  (Thanks to Facebook Friend, Lonnie Flowers!)

White House Refuses to Disclose Ties with Monsanto

Mounting rage, anger, civil and national refusal to accept Genetically Modified seeds from Monsanto and Dow Chemical Companies, the White House appears to be their best ally.

“Despite requests made under the Freedom of Information Act for correspondence out of the White House, the Obama administration is refusing to comply with calls to disclose discussions with Monsanto-linked lobbyists. (1)

The US-based non-profit group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) is demanding that the White House comply with a FOIA request for information that might link the Obama administration with lobbyists tied to the Monsanto corporation.

Monsanto is an agricultural biotech company that rakes in billions each year, has become the enemy of independent farmers in recent years after the corporation has sued hundreds of small-time growers and, in many cases, purchased farms that are unable to compete in a court of law.

As Monsanto’s profits grow and the group comes close to monopolizing the market for American agriculture, the company has at the same time thrived due its use of controversial genetically-engineered seeds.”

The White House is blocking information in an email from a Monsanto lobbyist and the White House. Under the FOIA -Freedom of Information Act the government is obliged under law to release such information to the public especially concerning a bio-piracy corporation who are overtaking US agriculture in a negative way.

No good can come out of President Obama’s hiring of ex-Monsanto employees and their lawyers for government high level jobs that are releasing more approvals of GMO seeds for American food production. Even though many countries are banning US food imports the President just doesn’t get it and now he’s covering it all up.

Obama’s support of Monsanto despite scientific proof that GMO is deadly to human health causes cancer, diabetes, and will cost a heavy price in higher healthcare costs, he refuses to listen to logic.

When Barack Obama ran for President in 2008, he promised to end the open doors to lobbyists. Now an email from a Monsanto lobbyist firm to a top level White House Policy Analyst is being kept secret.

The White House claims it is the “proprietary” information in the email that would give competitors of the companies involved (Monsanto, Biotechnology Industry Organization or Syngenta) an edge. Again, the White House protecting corporate interests.

“Lobbyists Won’t find a Job in My White House”
Barack Obama 2008 Campaign Promise
More Here....

Monsanto Humor

20 Places to Find Local Food and Family Farms Near You

As demand for local and raw goods continue to rise, more people are asking – where do I find local organic? Where do I find raw milk and join a herd share? Where are the farmers markets, co-ops and stands?

Search engines are actually terrible at locating these underground hubs, which makes it so frustrating to try and opt out of corporate chains, save money, and build your family’s health. If you’ve ever gotten a bunch of ‘Yelp’ listings for weight loss pills while searching, you know what I’m talking about. I’ve helped a few people find a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) but I found it by accident. So where are they all hiding?

As it turns out, many of the farmers and markets you’re looking for have teamed up with certain websites to be mapped. Use this easy list to find yours today. They won’t all be on the same map, but you will be sure to find markets and family farms in your area that were previously invisible.

Why you should bookmark and try them all - not all the hubs will be organic, some are just local. Some don’t provide raw milk but could lead you there. Some have other resources like healthy body care, organic delivery or restaurants serving your favorite farm finds worth looking into. Some of the websites don’t share your political perspective or stance on health and were possibly supported by agencies and organizations you don’t care for. But that’s okay, take only what you need and leave the rest.

LINKS AFTER THE JUMP:
20 Quick Resources to Find Local Food, Farms, Markets, Stands, Co-ops and more from OCCUPY MONSANTO.

Food Additives/Ingredients to AVOID

Multiple Myeloma -- what is it? Is there a cure?

Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the cells in the bone marrow that affects 750,000 people worldwide; it is an uncontrolled growth of plasma cells which attack and destroy bone and damage the kidneys and immune system.

In the United States, there are about 100,000 people living with the disease; each year another 20,000 are identified and about 10,000 die. There's no cure, but it is now treatable.

"Most of us had never heard of myeloma when we were told we had it," wrote Jerry Walton, leader of the Southeastern Virginia Multiple Myeloma Support Group, www.seva.myeloma.org that supports people from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg. On Monday, March 11, Poquoson will proclaim Multiple Myeloma Awareness month for March.


Another nonprofit that helps patients is the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society.

Typical symptoms include: persistent or worsening tiredness due to anemia or reduced kidney function, sudden pain due to a broken bone in the spine, ribs, or elsewhere, recurrent unexplained infections, such as pneumonia, sinus, or urinary infection.

Other signs are pain with movement and/or at night/rest; tenderness/swelling of bone areas; swelling, shortness of breath or evidence of heart or kidney failure.

Lab test findings may include: Anemia, possible low white blood cells or blood platelets, increased blood calcium, increased blood creatinine and/or blood urea nitrogen (BUN), increased protein level in the blood and/or urine.

Key finding:

Presence of monoclonal protein in the blood and/or urine (M-SPIKE). The M-SPIKE is produced by the cancerous myeloma cells present in the bone marrow.
For more information, go to www.myeloma.org
Two new drugs for treatment have been approved recently for patients whose blood cancer returned after developing resistance to older treatments. Original treatment included harsh chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant. Kyprolis is one of the new drugs, an intravenous treatment. The newest is a pill, Pomalyst, which was approved last month.

In the 1990s it was discovered that thalidomide had a positive impact; led to development of Velcade (2003) and Revlimid (2006). Doctors and insurance companies push the use of older drugs first as disease tends to recur.

For more health news, go to www.dailypress.com/health

LINK

Just Got the Call.... Dom remains in COMPLETE REMISSION!

Zero M-Spike!  He has now been in complete remission/response for 43 months!

Tulane Cancer Center Bloodwork from Feb. 21st:

WBC:   7.3
HCT:   40.6
PLT:   198
ANC:   60

Light Chains....all normal:

Kappa:   19.19
Lambda:   19.21
Ratio:  1.00

Many thanks for all of the prayers, good vibes and warm wishes.  We are absolutely ecstatic!

Monsanto Kills

The truth about trying to wash pesticides off produce.

It’s a great science experiment for kids; and a sobering reminder for parents.  Simply grab some food coloring or other dye that dissolves in water, fill a small cup or bowl and place the cut end of your vegetable in the colored solution (you can also substitute some juices).

Plants aren’t just coated with pesticides, plants soak up pesticides; root vegetables in particular are vulnerable as well as fruits and veggies with thin “skins” as they lack the proper physical barriers needed for protection.  No matter how much you wash them you can’t get rid of the pesticides that are now throughout your food.

The National Institutes of Health’s recent studies have found,”Only 5–10% of all cancer cases can be attributed to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90–95% have their roots in the environment and lifestyle.”

According to the Pesticide Action Network,“90% of lettuce tests positive for 47 different pesticides and 57 different chemical residues.” 

Different pesticides have widely ranging levels of toxicity in humans, as well as to other animals that may be exposed to them unintentionally (which makes pretty good sense when you consider that these chemicals are designed to kill).  Keep track of the most current Environmental Working Group’s “Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen” list as an easy reference as to which foods contain the most pesticides so that you can protect yourself and your family even if you can’t afford to buy everything organic.  Each pesticide affects people differently, some have liver toxins, some affect the kidneys the most, then there are the neurotoxins that hit our brains and nervous systems the most, some lower immune function or the digestive system.

Pay attention to what is being used out there, not as an alarmist, but as a discerning and cautious consumer that remembers that once not long ago we thought that DDT was safe and Monsanto’s infamously toxic Agent Orange was supposedly “harmless.”

This demonstration can also be easily done with many types of white or light colored flower or celery.......

Many Thanks to "OCCUPY MONSANTO"

Biloxi VA Lab Results Feb 13th

Looking good!  His platelets really shot up!

WBC:    6.2     (6.6 three months ago)

HCT:     40.6     (37.1 three months ago)

PLT:   240   (195 three months ago)

ANC:   63.4   (61 three months ago)

Still waiting for the numbers, M-Spike and Light Chain results from Tulane.

Another Fun Week... Pensacola, PCB and More Deer

Another fun week..... if it wouldn't have been so damn cold, it would have been great.

I'd been bugging The Dom to go to the condo-  not that I'm a nag or anything.  *smiling*   He had too much going on.... selling ATVs, an old car, etc.  He finally suggested that I go by myself.  It took me a hot minute to agree.

I hit the road on Tuesday morning.  Arrived at Joe and Ping's house in Pensacola just in time for one of her gourmet feasts.  That gal can rattle the pots and pans!

We were joined by one of Joe's buddies and co-worker, Jim.  Nice guy.

The four of us headed to their brand new minor league baseball stadium, where the guys work as ushers.  Lovely.  Right on Pensacola Bay.

After that, they took me bar hopping in Old Pensacola.  Had a lovely afternoon.  We wrapped up our night at an Irish joint about 1 mile from their home.  Big fun!

I got an early start on Wed morning, and arrived at the condo in a couple of hours. Much to my dismay, I walked into the unit to find lights on, drapes open, bulbs burned out.

As we hadn't been there for 3 months, I have no idea when this happened.  I called owner's services to complain.  Happily, they sent a maintenance guy up to change ceiling lights for me.

Other than that, I basically did NOTHING.  Lounged around and watched the Jodi Arias capital murder trial all week.  I'm absolutely HOOKED on that trial.  (Much to Dom's dismay, I've been sucked into the Jodi camp-  poor kid).

Visited Tina, Travis and Steve across the street each day for a couple of beers when court would break for lunch.

That was it.  Very relaxing.  It was good to be "home".

I had an uneventful drive home on Sunday morning.  Picked up a bucket of Popeye's chicken in Wiggins, Ms., and got home shortly after noon.

Dom had moved the camera to a different viewpoint.  The window that you see to the right is our living room window.  This gives you a sense of just how close these girls come to the house.  (Assuming that they're mother and daughter.... occasionally a 3rd female will join them, but they gang up on her.... she never stays very long)

Dom drove into the Biloxi VA for an Ultrasound yesterday.  We had ASSUMED that it was ordered by the doctor who is reviewing Dom's disability claim, but found out that it was ordered by his General Practice VA doctor.

They called this morning to say that everything was fine.  They were looking for an Aortic Aneurysm.  http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/tc/aortic-aneurysm-overview  We've been very pleased with the VA since this whole cancer situation popped up.  The doctors are very thorough.

Should hear from Tulane about his M-Spike this week.