Fun on the Beach With Dear Friend Connie

Hi gang.....

Connie and I were best friends during elementary school.  We hadn't seen each other for well over 30 years.  Probably closer to 40.

We found each other on Facebook.  She now lives in Ft. Lauderdale.  She hopped a flight and stayed for 10 nights.  We didn't skip a beat!  It was just like old times!

She was a great roommate.  And continues to be a dear friend!  We're already planning next summer's visit!

Scientists Discover Bt Toxins Found In Monsanto Crops Damage Red Blood Cells

Studies are showing that Bt toxins found in Monsanto crops are harmful to mammalian blood by damaging red blood cells and more. RBC’s are responsible for delivering oxygen to the body tissues through blood flow.

Bacillus thuringensis (Bt) is a bacterium commonly used as a biological pesticide. It is a microorganism that produces toxic chemicals. It occurs naturally in the environment, and is usually isolated from soil, insects and plant surfaces. Prior to this study, Bt was thought to be toxic only to insects,  but recent studies are proving otherwise.

Dr. Mezzomo and his team of Scientists from the Department of Genetics and Morphology and the Institute of Biological Sciences, at University of Brasilia recently published a study that involved Bacillus thuringensis (Bt toxin) and its effects on mammalian blood. According to the study, the “Cry” toxins that are found in Monsanto’s GMO crops like corn and soy, are much more toxic to mammals than previously thought. The study was published in the Journal of Hematology and Thromboembolic Diseases(1).

We do not support animal testing, and think it is unnecessary. It should really be a no brainer that GMO crops cause significant damage to human health. Studies that don’t require animal testing have already proven the dangers of GMO consumption. This study unfortunately required the use of Swiss Albino Mice if Bt was to be properly examined. At the same time, most of us know that the existence of GMOs is completely unnecessary.

It seems that everyday brings forth new information regarding GMO’s. We have so much evidence that points to just how harmful these foods are, yet they continue to be mass produced and the corporations that develop them are constantly protected. The truth still remains, you still have a choice as to what you put into your body. I encourage everybody reading this to further their research, most ‘industries’ we have on the planet today really aren’t necessary, we are just made to believe that they are.
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Organic farmers lose court battle with Monsanto

“Trust us, we’re Monsanto.”

That’s pretty much all the untrustworthy company had to say to win yet another round in a drawn-out court battle with organic farmers and seed producers.

The U.S. court system is refusing to protect the organic growers from future Monsanto lawsuits in the event that traces of genetically engineered genes accidentally end up in the farmers’ crops. That’s because of a single paragraph on the biotech giant’s website that says it has no such litigious intentions.

Monsanto’s gang of lawyers frequently sues farmers who grow the company’s genetically engineered crops without paying royalties — despite claims by many of the farmers that the seeds and genes ended up in their fields through no fault of their own. They didn’t want the stuff on their land to begin with, so they naturally wonder why they should have to pay royalties for the privilege of growing it. (The danger of rogue contamination was recently illuminated when an Oregon farmer found illegal Monsanto GMO wheat growing on his farm.)

Memo to federal judges: Don’t believe everything you read on the internet — and don’t believe anything Monsanto posts on the internet.

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Monsanto Named 2013's 'Most Evil Corporation' In New Poll

It's official: Monsanto Company (NYSE:MON) has been deemed the "most evil corporation" of 2013 in a new poll that has the biotech giant beating out rivals like McDonald's and the Federal Reserve by a wide margin.

The company, which has weathered a seemingly endless litany of bad publicity over the past year, got a whopping 51 percent of the vote in the nonscientific poll by the website NaturalNews, which asked participants to identify what they believed was the "most evil corporation" in the world this year.

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Tropical Storm Andrea, Beach Pics, and a Few Extras

A Wonderful Visit With Our Christine and Troy

The "kids" flew into PCB for a week last Monday.  We had gorgeous weather except for 1 day.

Spent alot of time on the beach and our bar across the street.

To celebrate Dom's continued complete remission and my 53rd birthday, they took us to The Firefly for dinner.  Lovely!

Also ate at Dee's Hangout and Los Rancheros.  A great time was had by all!

Monsanto shares fall as South Korea joins pause in wheat imports

Investors drove down the price of Monsanto shares by 4 percent on Friday as South Korea joined Japan in suspending imports of U.S. wheat after an unapproved strain of genetically modified wheat was discovered in a field in eastern Oregon.

The strain of wheat, designed to resist harmful effects from Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller, was never commercially developed by the St. Louis-based agriculture giant in large part because wheat growers did not want to risk retaliation from their biggest export markets.

Fields used to test new crop varieties are burned and checked for surviving crops. So the mysterious appearance of the Monsanto wheat has raised questions about how the strain traveled there and whether it is lurking in the commercial wheat crop.

As a precaution, South Korea, which last year bought about half of its wheat imports from the United States, said it would halt purchases while it runs tests this weekend on wheat and flour that it has already imported. The European Union is also testing supplies.

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Multiple Myeloma – Condition and Symptoms

Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cells which are present in the bone marrow. The main function of these cells is to make a type of proteins called antibodies, which help the body to fight off infections.

When some of the plasma cells develop abnormally, they become myeloma cells. These myeloma cells then begin to multiply. Because there are additional cells manufacturing proteins, the protein level in the blood increases to potentially dangerous levels. As these myeloma cells multiply, they can build up in areas of the bones and cause lesions, and also may interfere with the bone marrow’s production of healthy blood cells. Also, myeloma often results in the production of paraprotein, which can cause kidney problems and also disrupts the body’s production of normal antibodies, which can lead to immunity system difficulties.

In the early stages, multiple myeloma may be detectable through blood or urine tests but may not produce any symptoms. At this stage, close monitoring is necessary to facilitate treatment as soon as it becomes necessary. When symptoms begin to show up, they may include:

*Bone pain, especially in the ribs and the spine. This pain may worsen with activity.
*Infections, especially pneumonia.
*Kidney problems, caused by excessive protein in the blood.
*Anemia

As the affected bones begin to break down a bit, the level of calcium in the bloodstream can increase (a condition known as hypercalcemia), which can make kidney problems worse and may also cause neurological problems, including headaches and vision changes.

As previously mentioned, multiple myeloma may be present in the system without symptoms. At this point, it is important that the disease be monitored to see if it is getting worse; if so, treatment may be necessary. When it is necessary to treat the disease, there are a number of powerful medications which may be used to stop the cancerous growth of the plasma cells; corticosteroids may also be used. Chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be used to kill existing cancerous cells. Stem cell or bone marrow transplantation has shown to be an effective treatment for some people. Unfortunately, relapse is a common occurrence among those who have been treated for multiple myeloma. Other common complications may include bone loss, anemia, and kidney damage, which may necessitate dialysis.