USADA Strikes Against Armstrong

Thursday evening, Lance Armstrong announced that he would stop fighting charges of doping that the USADA had brought against him.

In his statement he said one final time that they are false, but that the toll of fighting them has become too much of a strain on him and his family.

The USADA was quick to respond by banning him from cycling, for life.

They also said they will strip him of his seven Tour de France tour titles, but it is unclear if they have the ability to do so.

Previously the International Cyclist Union argued that the USADA had no jurisdiction to even be investigating.

The UCI could either appeal the decision or ignore it all together, either of which would be unprecedented.

Snake Dies After Being Bitten By Man

Mohamed Salmo Miya, fifty-five, was out working his rice paddy when he was bitten by a cobra.

Instead of immediately seeking aid, Miya chased after the snake.

When he caught it, he picked it up, and bit it in return until it had died.

"I could have killed it with a stick but bit it with my teeth instead because I was angry."

Miya is currently in the village hospital recuperating, but doing fine, and clearly has gained international renown for his feat.

New Immune Deificiency Disease

A new disease has been identified in Asia, and in the US amongst people who are from Asia or have recently been in Asia.

This new disease began appearing in 2004 and works much in the same way as AIDS in that it attacks the immune system of it's victims.

It creates autoantibodies that block interferon gamma, which is what allows the body to fight infections.

So far there's been no discernible way that this disease spreads though.

Researchers and doctors have yet to even figure how the disease starts, though they have ruled out genetics.

At this point doctors are calling it an adult onset immunodeficiency syndrome as it seems to come on with age.

Treatment has seemed to counter the disease, but it is not believed to be curable.

Fukushima Cancer Fears Baseless

Seems the fears over radiation at Fukushima, Japan are baseless.

Readings had been coming up with .1 rem of radiation per year around the site, which is the amount that the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommends evacuation at.

However, normal readings in Denver, Colorado are .3 rem per year, yet Denver has one of the lowest rates of cancer in the US.

It is also worth noting that it takes a dose of twenty-five rems at one single exposure to even give you a one percent chance of cancer.

So for those living in or around Fukushima, there's very little to worry about.

McDonald's Stops Using Central Valley Meat

McDonald's announced that it will cease using meat from Central Valley Meat after federal inspectors shut down the plant.

Tuesday the USDA released findings that CVM's Hanford, California facility had been mistreating live stock.

It was also alleged that CVM uses sick cows in it's meat, instead of separating them out to avoid contamination.

Before the information was released, In-n-Out dropped CVM from it's suppliers, stating that they do not condone the inhumane treatment of animals, and that CVM had violated their contract with In-N-Out, which states that animals must be treated well.

CVM also supplies a lot of meat to various federal food programs, including school lunches.

At this time the USDA is not suggesting that the federal government stop using the meat, themselves.

Members of CVM's corporate staff stat that there are always federal inspectors at the plant, and worked at putting some of the blame on them.

Remembering: The State and Country of Franklin

In April 1784, North Carolina gave up it's rights to it's territory west of the Allegheny Mountains, leaving the settlements there undefended from Indian attacks.

Fearing that Spain might try to take over the land, North Carolina quickly reclaimed it, sending troops under John Sevier to protect the lands.

Once there Sevier ran into the settler's dissatisfaction with North Carolina rule, and ended up being nominated governor of a congress they began, in hopes of becoming their own state.

On August 23, 1874 the state of Frankland declared itself to be independent of North Carolina.

Frankland's first constitution failed to pass, but is notable in that it banned lawyers, doctors, and preachers from serving in the legislature.

On May 16, 1785 Frankland submitted a petition of statehood to the national Congress, which failed to reach a two-thirds majority.

In June, they attempted again, this time as the state of Franklin, in an attempt to gain the favor of Benjamin Franklin.

When this too failed, Franklin announced itself as it's own country, moving it's capital from Jonesborough to Greeneville, naming Sevier their President, and passing a constitution of their own, in December.

The new country quickly made peace with most of the local tribes and annexed land to it's south and west.

A disapproving North Carolina moved in with troops in 1786, and set up a government right next to the Franklin one.

Loyalties were divided, and hostilities eventually came to a full on February 29, 1788 when North Carolina troops led by Colonel John Tipton beat the Franklin troops led by Sevier.

In March 1788 a joint force of several tribes began attacking the area, and a desperate Sevier offered Spain the territory in exchange for protection.

To avoid Spain gaining a hold, in the area, North Carolina officials had Sevier arrested, but he was rescued.

In February 1789, the last Franklin holdouts, including Sevier, surrendered; Franklin officially ceased to be; and North Carolina sent it's militia to aid the settlers against the Indian tribes.

By the end of the year, North Carolina gave the area to the federal government, who set up the Southwest Territory, which would later become Tennessee.

Sevier was elected governor of the territory in 1790, and then of the state in 1796.

None of The Above Removed From Ballots

US District Judge Robert Jones has stricken down a Nevada law that allowed voters to select "none of the above" as an actual option whilst voting.

The option was placed in 1976, and has even managed to come out on top, in some primary elections.

However, Nevada law kept it from actually being able to win an election, only actual people can win an election.

It has been able to act as a spoiler in several elections, in one case over eight thousand voted for "none", while the final election was decided by less than five hundred votes.

Defenders of the law said that it was a way for voters to show their displeasure with the choices, yet still vote.

Judge Jones considered giving "none" the ability to win, and making it so that any positions left unfilled by it would be filled via governor's appointment.

But after further deliberations he felt that the best and only option was to remove "none" completely, and force voters to actually pick an option.

CBO FY13 Assessment: Cut Taxes and Spending Or Face Worse Recession

In May 2012, the CBO adjusted its January 2012 study on what effects the FY13 budget will have on calendar year 2013, if current trends are maintained. The result was, simply stated, not good.

Recently, they updated that study and found that their analysis to be most likely correct, however the results will likely be even more extreme. If taxes are increased and federal spending are not restrained, reduced, cut, or made reasonably responsible; then we are headed towards another deep dip recession.

This is the "fiscal cliff" that Obama and his Keynesian-theory-loving advisers are driving us towards. It seems he is not interested in playing a game of chicken, either. He does not intend to speed towards that edge only to attempt to stop short. he direction Obama's proposed budgets, tax plans, and executive-invoked regulatory fees (such as EPA fees, USDA fees, increased regulatory fees on fossil fuels, etc.) amount to kicking in the NO2, putting on a blindfold, and disconnecting the brakes.

The CBO predicts that the current course will lead to shrinking the economy even further, as much as reducing GDP by another 0.5%. Our country cannot take any reduction in GDP. We need a 2-3% increase, not a decrease. In addition, unemployment will jump several points as businesses will reduce in order to preserve necessary capital in efforts to weather out the storm. That will mean some cuts in production, not taking risks in expanding product lines or services, and cutting payroll expenses. Those payroll expenses will mean anything from reductions in benefit packages to reductions in starting pay to layoffs.

The CBO already calculated the nightmare the PPACA will present to businesses, especially small businesses. Adding in those mandatory taxes and fees Obamacare forces upon those businesses, healthcare packages are not cuts that can be made without laying people off. So, that may be the policy of choice should this recession strike.

Legislators (and voters) on both sides of the aisle need to take some deep breaths and read economic studies written by Steve Moore and Art Laffer. They need to pay attention to the supply side of the economy. It has been ignored too long. Raising taxes on those working will decrease the national marginal propensity to invest, to save, and to spend. There will simply be less disposable income. The supply curves will also adjust, making even necessities such as milk, bread, and corn more expensive. Those are the results of raising taxes. With fewer people working, the tax base will also be reduced and the overall revenue will be lower.

On the "demand side", the government needs to act responsibly. If your teenager maxed out three credit cards and spent every cent he made at his part-time job (without saving for college), you'd cut him off (and probably ground him until he paid back every penny). Well, the budgets Obama proposed (and were defeated outright even in the left dominated Senate) wanted to max out not only his parents' cards, but those of every adult living in your neighborhood.

Proposing a reduction in spending increases is a start. However, real cuts need to be made, and soon. The FY13 budget starts on October 1, 2012. Cuts that impede national defense, national security, and intelligence gathering are not responsible. Cutting funding to the thousands of other wasteful programs are responsible.

Items the FY13 budget needs to spend money on, other than intelligence and defense, are paying down our nation's debts to foreign powers. In addition, those who have already paid into Social Security (especially those living off of the dividends) need to, at least, not lose what they have already invested.

With the elections coming up this November, voters need to consider the financial security and potential prosperity of themselves and their families. They need to do so on the municipal, state, and federal levels. The question is: do you vote for responsibility and accountability or do you vote for fiscal ruin, unemployment, and a dismal future. It's time to vote out those who want to start up more programs, increase taxes, and increase government spending, regardless of which party they claim membership.


Original article at Mental Aikido 

LG Electronics and Kenmore Elite Gas Dryer Recall

LG Electronics and Kenmore Elite gas dryers are being recalled.

Dryers subject to the recall were sold across the US between November 2009 and August 2010.

Manufactured in South Korea, they came in white, red, or a white gold combo.

Twenty-one thousand dryers are being recalled, due to an issue with overheating.

The gas valve can fail to turn off completely, so that the dryer won't stop heating.

When this occurs anything in the dryer can overheat and or catch on fire.

Such incidents have led to three people being burned, as well as fifty fires.

For more information, LG can be contacted at 866-223-5355 as well as their website.

Mini Micro Scooters Being Recalled

Kickboard USA has announced a recall of their Mini Micro Scooters.

5,600 of the scooters for toddlers are being called back.

The scooters, which were manufactured in Germany and Switzerland, were sold in the US.

They come in blue, orange, pink and aqua; and have "Micro" and "Mini Micro" printed on them.

The cover over the front wheels can break, leaving a sharp point, that could cause cuts.

No injuries have been reported due to the issue, the company is being cautious.

For further information contact Kickboard USA at 888-236-5657 or at their website.