News to Ponder May 2, 2010

Read, Think, Ponder & Act

Solar cell breakthrough achieves 90 percent efficiency at a fraction of the cost of current panels ... (NaturalNews) Scientists from the California Institute of Technology (CIT) have developed a new solar cell technology that they say absorbs up to 96 percent of "incident" light. Experimental tests revealed that the new cells operate at around a 90 percent... http://www.naturalnews.com/028691_solar_cells_efficiency.html

Animal Disaster Preparedness May 2010

Are you prepared? Animal Disaster Preparedness Day read more at: http://www.cesarsway.com/cesarstips/cesarspeaks/Animal-Disaster-Preparedness-Day?utm_source=mobilestorm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MayNL_1
May 8 is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day read more at: http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/apr10/100415c.asp


New 'safety plan' would control what you eat Posted: May 01, 2010 By Bob Unruh ... 'It is to our food what the bailout was to our economy, only we can live without money'
… "S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2749), may be the most dangerous bill in the history of the U.S.," writes Steve Green on the Food Freedom blog (http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2010/04/24/s-510-is-hissing-in-the-grass/). "It is to our food what the bailout was to our economy, only we can live without money."… Read the full story: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=146957

Health freedom alert: Congressman Waxman sneaks anti-vitamin amendment into Wall Street reform bill ... (NaturalNews) Of all the sneaky tactics practiced in Washington D.C., this recent action by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) is one of the most insidious: While no one was looking, he injected amendment language into the Wall Street Reform and Consumer... http://www.naturalnews.com/028687_Henry_Waxman_health_freedom.html

GMO SHOWDOWN! CCNFSDU Meeting in Quebec City for updates see www.healthfreedomusa.org
S.510 STILL has not made it to the floor of the Senate this week! Your continued PUSH BACK is still holding it off. ... Rumor in DC is that the forced-industrialization of food production bill, S.510, will come to a vote in the Senate this week or next week. If you value local, natural food production, NOW is the time to act! Please use this Action Item and send the message to the Senate: "NO FAKE FOOD SAFETY BILL". Demand strong, unequivocal protection for local, natural food production! Please forward this message to everyone you know and ask them to act too!

Find out about all the current U.S. Food Safety Bills before this congress at: http://www.cspinet.org/foodsafety/foodbills.html
H.R. 875, Food Safety Modernization Act; H.R. 759, FDA Globalization Act; H.R. 1332, Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards, and Targeting (FEAST) Act; S. 510, FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

Fungal Disease Spreads Through Pacific Northwest April 23, 2010 by Richard Knox “…A rare and dangerous fungal infection named Cryptococcus gattii has been quietly spreading from British Columbia southward to the U.S. Pacific Northwest. And it's changing as it goes. …” Read more: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126198896&sc=nl&cc=es-20100502

McNeil Consumer Healthcare Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain OTC Infants' and Children's Products Sat, 01 May 2010 05:58:00 McNeil Consumer Healthcare is initiating this voluntary recall because some of these products may not meet required quality standards. This recall is not being undertaken on the basis of adverse medical events. See: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm210443.htm

Northern Food I/E Issues Alert on Undeclared Sulfites in Havista White Fungus Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:49:00 Northern Food I/E Inc. of Hicksville, NY, is recalling its 100 gram packages of Havista brand "white fungus" because they contain undeclared sulfites. People who have a sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious or life-threatening reactions if they consume this product. See http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm210297.htm


Changes for international nuclear safety 28 April 2010 http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Changes_for_international_nuclear_safety_2804101.html "... While performance indicators have improved markedly over the years, improving further into the forthcoming nuclear expansion requires a certain re-invention of the body. ... The package of changes unanimously voted through at WANO's biennial general meeting in February "is a re-commitment to the original principles of our founding fathers," said Felgate...."

Obama confident of Pak nuclear safety Wednesday, April 14, 2010 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\04\14\story_14-4-2010_pg1_2 ... WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he is confident of the security of Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

Progress and Change in Nuclear Safety 14 September 2009 Globalised Nuclear Sector Presents New Nuclear Safety Challenges ... IAEA General Conference ... http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/News/2009/progresssafety.html "... speakers identified challenges which deserve further consideration. These include: states embarking for the first time on a nuclear power programme - the so-called nuclear newcomers; an anticipated flurry in construction occurring simultaneously around the globe and an increasingly globalised nuclear industry; an emerging need for the security regime to match the existing safety regime because of the growing terrorist threat to nuclear material and installations; and a generation of ageing nuclear power plants which could have their lifespans extended well beyond 60 years. ..."


Agricultural legal and tax developments continued to impact the agricultural sector in 2009. Here's the list of what the Iowa State University Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation believes to be the "Top Ten" developments in 2009 based on their impact to agricultural producers and rural landowners nationwide. The one-year lapse of the Federal Estate Tax is number one on the list. http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://www.calt.iastate.edu/PDF/Top%20Ten%20of%202009.pdf

According to the December issue of "Amber Waves,"The debt landscape for U.S. farms has shifted. ...Disruptions in U.S. credit markets have heightened concerns about the level of farm debt and the financial structure of U.S. farm businesses." The article states that debt is only part of the story. "To assess potential problems that farmers might confront from the use of debt financing, debt has to be examined in terms of its level, the leverage position of farms, and in light of the debt repayment capacity available to meet debt service and other payment obligations." http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/December09/Features/DebtLandscape.htm

H.R. 1549 would ban from use, in livestock and poultry, animal health products that are used to prevent and control diseases. Farmers only would be allowed to use animal health products that treat diseases. The bill also would require all "critical antimicrobial animal drugs" to go through a second U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval process within two years of enactment of the legislation. The legislation purports to address an increase in antibiotic-resistant illnesses in humans. But, numerous assessments have shown risk levels associated with antibiotic use in agriculture that are extremely low, and nationally recognized scientific studies have shown that the removal of important animal health products could actually increase food-safety risks. The American Veterinary Medical Association response to this legislation offers information farmers will find useful in answering questions about this proposed legislation. http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://www.avma.org/advocacy/federal/legislative/issue_briefs/Preservation_of_Antibiotics_Act_of_2009_Issue_Brief.pdf

Sotomayor's views on property rights cause concern. Iowa State University ag-law professor Roger McEowen says Sotomayor "has little regard for private property rights as a fundamental constitutional right. That's a huge issue for agriculture and rural property owners." http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://www.dtnprogressivefarmer.com/dtnag/common/link.do?symbolicName=/ag/blogs/template1&blogHandle=editorsnotebook&blogEntryId=8a82c0bc218d18ec0121b023095e01cf

Dairy farmers are recording huge financial losses, according to Dr. Mike Hutjens, a University of Illinois Extension dairy specialist. "Milk prices dropped nearly 40 percent starting last January, reaching less than $12 per hundred pounds. The price was $18 per hundredweight in December 2008." Hutgens explains the underlying issues and outlines some options for dairy farmers to reduce losses. http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://web.extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/dairy/

The Seventh Federal Reserve District states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin continue to play a key role in the agricultural economy of the United States, as well as the world. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said last month that farmland values in the Seventh District declined by 6% during the first quarter of 2009, which is the "the largest quarterly decline since 1985," However, despite the first quarter weakness, district prices for "good" agricultural land still averaged 2% higher than a year earlier as of April 1. http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & Read the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago on the Seventh District Economy reports at: http://www.chicagofed.org/webpages/utilities/chicagofedorg_search.cfm?search=Overview+of+the+District+Ag+Economy&quickSearch_submit.x=16&quickSearch_submit.y=14

The Farm Foundation has released a March 2009 Update on "What's Driving Food Prices?"
The analysis done by Purdue University economists Phil Abbott, Chris Hurt and Wally Tyner for the Farm Foundation just nine months ago is updated in this new report. http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://www.farmfoundation.org/webcontent/Whats-Driving-Food-Prices-March-2009-Update-1702.aspx?articleid=1702&zo&

The Obama Administration's budget proposal released February 26 would make a number of cuts to the farm safety nets in the 2008 Farm Bill. Farm organizations and a some members of Congress are concerned about the possible impact on family farms and production agriculture. These groups are joining forces to find ways to educate the Administration on the potential negative effects of the proposals. Summary of the Agriculture Portion at: http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://www.capitalag.com/news.html

"An ambitious bill to tighten regulations and oversight on financial markets passed the House Agriculture Committee Feb. 12." A March 2 Delta Farm Press article offers a summary of the bill and the input provided. It also supplies a link to the testimony given to the House Agriculture Committee. http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://deltafarmpress.com/news/derivatives-bill-0302/

NCGA Addresses Misinformation about food supplies and prices as food companies continue to blame farmers and the agriculture sector for continued high grocery costs for consumers. The organization provides statistics on corn use and on record profits for food companies in this December 19 article. http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://ncga.com/time-squash-yet-another-krafty-mistruth-12-19-08

The Farm Foundation has released a new report outlining major challenges and issues agriculture will confront in providing food, fiber and energy to a growing world over the next 30 years. The report was developed with input from a diverse set of agricultural and agribusiness leaders, government agency representatives and academics, and highlights key issues public and private decision makers may need to consider as they address the challenges of feeding a growing world. The full report and an executive summary are available online. http://www.capitalag.com/news.html & http://www.farmfoundation.org/

Homeland Security News & Top 10 National Terror Alerts May 2, 2010 http://www.nationalterroralert.com/

• Times Square Car Bomb Incident – Updates and Live Stream ... Police have “rendered safe” the car bomb found inside a sport utility vehicle that triggered an evacuation of New York’s Times Square on Saturday night in an incident that the city’s mayor said early on Sunday could have turned into a very deadly event. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also told a news conference that “we... Times Square – NYPD, FBI Investigate Failed Car Bomb Times Square – NYPD, FBI Investigate Failed Car Bomb
• Suspicious Package Times Square UPDATE 11:29 EST From Reuters The dark-colored sports utility vehicle which triggered the evacuation of Times Square on Saturday night was found to contain explosives, gasoline, propane and burned wires, a New York Fire Department officer told Reuters. Reuters UPDATE:Thousands of tourists and theatergoers were cleared...
• Arizona Sheriff’s Deputy Shot, Suspects Reportedly Shoot At Helicopter Arizona Sheriff’s Deputy Shot, Suspects Reportedly Shoot At Helicopter UPDATE: Seventeen people have been detained in the search for suspects in Fridays shooting of Pinal County Sheriffs Deputy Louis Puroll by suspected drug smugglers in an isolated area of south-central Arizona. Pinal County Lt. Tami Villar says 14 of those detained are suspected of being illegal immigrants, while three match the description given of...
• Man With Cyanide Found Inside NYC Subway Tunnel A man who apparently wanted to kill himself was arrested by NYPD anti-terrorism officers Friday after a cyanide scare inside a New York City subway tunnel, CBS station WCBS-TV reported. Sources said workers noticed a man deep inside a subway tunnel near the East River about 9:30 a.m. with a suspicious package containing an unknown substance. Anti-terrorism...
• U.S. Expected to Reveal Size of Nuclear Stockpile ... The Obama administration is likely to reveal a closely guarded secret — the...
• Russian Company Markets Hidden Cruise Missile System ... The Washington post and several other news sources report that a Russian company...
• Pakistan Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mehsud Alive, Says Spy Agency ... Hakimullah Meshud According to reports in the UK’s Guardian, the Taliban leader...
• Taiwan Flight Diverted, Passenger claims Explosives On Board ... A scheduled flight from the Taiwanese capital of Taipei to the eastern Chinese city...
• Two NY Men Arrested For Trying To Help Al Qaeda ... Targeting Terrorism Two United States citizens residing in Brooklyn, N.Y., have been...
• Texas ‘Terrorist’ Arrested For Posting Obama Death Threat ... A Dallas man describing himself as a terrorist threatened to kill President Barack...
• 3 Nations Warn of Terror Attacks Planned in India ... The U.S., Australia and Canada warned Saturday that terror groups were likely planning...
• Terror Alert Kolkata India, Hunt for IM Terror Cells ... Anti-terror police units are on a desperate hunt to track down Indian Mujahideen...
• UK Man Made Fortune Selling Anarchist Terror Guide ... Targeting Terrorism A Portsmouth man faces jail for selling information from Al Qaeda...
• Homeland Security Wants Fire Service to Join Fusion Centers ... DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said America’s firefighters are truly the face...
• FBI Agents Dedicated To Terror Doubled in Eight Years ... The number of FBI agents dedicated to counterterrorism doubled between 2001 and...
• Military Cancels Nuclear Terror Attack Test ... The U.S. military has canceled a major field exercise that tests its response to...
• Israel Distributes Biochemical War Protection Kits ... Israel Tuesday began distributing millions of protection kits against biochemical...
• Cell-All: Super Smartphones Sniff Out Suspicious Substances ... Smart Phone Chemical Censor Prototype Years ago, if you wanted to take a picture,...
• It’s A Disaster… and What Are You Going To Do About It ... No matter where you live there is a chance some type of disaster or emergency can...
• X-Flex Bomb-proof Wallpaper Could Save Your Life ... X-flex bomb-proof wallpaper is one of the most incredible inventions I’ve...
• Privacy Office - Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA) Two new PIAs now available April 2010: USCIS: Customer Identity Verification (CIV) System Update; ICE: Data Analysis and Research for Trade Transparency System (DARTTS) … The availability of information, from personal information to public information, is made all the easier today due to technological changes in computers, digitized networks, internet access, and the creation of new information products. The E-Government Act of 2002 recognized that these advances also have important ramifications for the protection of personal information contained in government records and systems. The Act mandates an assessment of the privacy impact of any substantially revised or new Information Technology System. The document that results from these mandated assessments is called a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)….See http://www.dhs.gov/files/publications/editorial_0511.shtm Get a PDF of the law at: http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_ice_ifs.pdf

And people wonder why I am a Prepper?

Prep On !

Today is the Tomorrow that you worried about Yesterday

From a 50 Something, soon to be rural homesteading, Prepper ;-}