Button Batteries: Convenient for you – and Baby, too

May 28th, 2010. By Hunter West

One can’t imagine the horror of discovering that your child has swallowed a battery. But it happens—and it’s occurring with increasing frequency, according to a study published this week in the medical journal Pediatrics.

It’s bad enough when a child swallows anything not meant to enter the mouth and the life-threatening choking hazard that can ensue. But just as dangerous—if more so—is the potential for an ingested battery to do permanent damage resulting from the electric charge still inherent with the ingested battery.

As reported earlier this week by CNN, there has been a 6.7 fold increase in the percentage of severe outcomes from battery ingestion over the last 24 years. What’s more, the severity of those outcomes, or injuries, has worsened. Reports have included damage to, and destruction of the esophagus, perforation of the aorta and vocal cord paralysis.

A common culprit, as described in the study, is the 20mm lithium battery.

You know these batteries. They’re the ones that look like a dime, or a penny. It’s the same concept as the small, button batteries that power your watch. And you can see the need for using these compact batteries, given the ever-shrinking size of electronics. Everything is getting smaller, including remotes for electronic devices. Remotes are everywhere, and most households have a collection of them lying around, in plain view and available for a toddler to locate, pick up and jam in his mouth.

That’s what children do. Everything goes in their mouths. And it always happens just when your back is turned for a split second. Call it Parental Murphy’s Law.

While I don’t dispute the need for smaller batteries (some products are so small and thin, even the small, ‘AAA’ batteries are way too big), where is the caution on the part of electronics manufacturers to baby-proof their devices?

I have four children. The oldest is 35 and the youngest is 14—so I’ve been through a lot of parenting and a basketful of toys, some of which were battery-powered. Most of the toys designed for children Read the rest of this entry »

Asbestos News Roundup: 5.27.10

May 27th, 2010. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Charleston, WV: The widow of James P. Davis, from Ashland, KY, has filed an asbestos lawsuit naming 48 defendants as contributors to her late husband’s lung cancer and resulting death.

Mr. Davis was diagnosed with lung cancer on October 11, 2006, and subsequently died June 1, 2009. He worked for Ashland Oil from 1957 until 1995, according to the suit. The defendants are being sued for negligence, contaminated buildings, breach of expressed/implied warranty, strict liability, intentional tort, conspiracy, misrepresentations and post sale duty to warn.

The 48 companies named as defendants are: 3M Company; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ashland Oil, Inc.; Aurora Pump Company; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Buffalo Pumps, Inc.; BW IP, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Fisher Controls International, Inc.; Flowserve FSD Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Garlock, Inc.; General Electric Company, Inc.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Honeywell International; Howden-Buffalo, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; Leslie Controls, Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Mueller Steam Specialty; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Roper Pumps Company; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Stockham Valves & Fitting; Taco, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the Gorman-Rupp Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Viking Pump Company; and Vimasco Corporation. (setexasrecord.com)

Asbestos Settlements

Milwaukee, WI:  The estate of John D. Pender was recently awarded $1.48 million in damages by a Milwaukee County jury as compensation for his development of asbestos mesothelioma. Mr. Pender worked as a painter for Harnischfeger, part of P&H Mining Equipment for nearly 40 years, and during that time he was exposed to asbestos-contaminated dust from ground brake linings, the suit claimed. This was noted as the cause of his malignant mesothelioma, which resulted in his death in May 2006. He was 75 years old. (asbestos.com)

Asbestos Hot Spots

Eden Mills, VT: A Boy Scout camp in Eden Mills that has been closed for several months due Read the rest of this entry »

BP Oil Spill: The Fallout and Who’s Affected…Including You

May 27th, 2010. By Kristine B

With an environmental disaster as large as BP’s oil spill, no doubt many people are affected. Some are affected directly. Others, however, are affected indirectly and might not even realize it. This week, Pleading Ignorance gives some examples of people who might have no idea that this environmental disaster has affected them. We look at property damage, business losses and other effects of the oil spill.

BP Oil Spill + Property Damage + Property Ownership/Rental

Obviously Affected

Anyone in real estate knows it’s all about location, location, location. Most often, the choicest locations—particularly at the height of rental and time-share season—involves a beachfront somewhere, and that beachfront comes at a high price. Unfortunately, the BP oil spill has given new meaning to the phrase “tar beach” for folks who could afford a beachfront stretch. With oil encroaching upon their waterfronts, there’s property damage afoot. That damage could cost these homeowners for repair, maintenance and replacement of anything on the property damaged by oil, not to mention the cost of cleaning up.

The other damage that homeowners suffer is the loss of enjoyment of their property—their own, and that of others if they were planning on renting out their home. After all, who wants to enjoy the beach when the beach is covered by oil? So there’s potential loss of income, too.

Finally, there’s the loss in property value to consider. Try sticking a “for sale” sign up on beachfront property right now in, say, Louisiana or Alabama. If folks can’t use the beach, they sure aren’t going to come to an open house—let alone fork over a downpayment.

Possibly Affected

Even if you don’t live along the beach, if you live close to the beach—say, a few blocks off—you’ll also be affected by the oil spill. You may not suffer property damage, but proximity to the beach means that you enjoy the beach as one of the perks of your location. That’s a perk you probably still paid a hefty sum for. Because of the oil spill, you don’t have the option of enjoying the beach anymore. Nor would anyone you’d hope to sell your place to. And that adds up to a decrease in property value. 

People who rent long-term along the beach or near the beach are affected, too. Although they don’t suffer the same property damage as homeowners, they probably pay high rent for the sake of living near the coastline. Like homeowners, they no longer have use of the beach, something they pay for.

Basically, if part of your cost of residence involves use of the beach, you’re no longer getting what you paid for, through no fault of your own.

Remotely Affected

For those folks who vacation on the Gulf Coast each summer, you may have already paid for—or at least put a downpayment on—a rental. But chances are, you’ve been re-thinking that Read the rest of this entry »

Asbestos Companies Covers Blown—Decades Too Late

May 26th, 2010. By janem

As early as the 1930s executives at companies where asbestos was mined and/or used have been covering up the dangers of asbestos disease to their employees. These execs didn’t suffer from asbestosis or die from mesothelioma; instead they wrote thousands upon thousands of death sentences by hiding or destroying asbestos warning memos from doctors, unions and even insurance companies.

Instead, they paid off many sick workers and made them promise never to tell their co-workers about their disease. Recently, some of these hidden documents have been found and you can read this one online. They are chilling, to say the least, and prove without a doubt that these despicable companies knew and concealed the hazards of asbestos for decades.

“…if you have enjoyed a good life while working with asbestos products, why not die from it.” – 1966 memo by  the Director of Purchasing for Bendix Corporation, now a part of Honeywell, to Canadian Johns Manville Co. in Asbestos, Quebec.

The Trinity of Evil: Bendix Corporation, Manville and W.R. Grace.

Manville filed for bankruptcy in 1982 after settling so many asbestos liability claims. This is a convoluted story, so please bear with me:  In 1986 a judge approved a settlement that created the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust to settle asbestos claims.

Manville’s liability insurers, of which Travelers was the primary, contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the trust in exchange for immunity from future claims related to Manville’s liability insurance policies. This arrangement was subsequently in more than 40 other asbestos cases and Congress wrote it into law. It also meant that asbestos claimants and others who were a part of the 1986 agreement could not make future claims or challenge the bankruptcy.

In 2001, new plaintiffs sued Travelers of conspiring with Manville to hide the dangers of asbestos from the public. One of the plaintiffs was Chubb Indemnity Insurance Co, an asbestos industry liability insurer with its own asbestos claims.

In 2004 Travelers paid $500 million to the plaintiffs in exchange for an order from the bankruptcy court that the original 1986 agreement barred future lawsuits. Just two months ago, a ruling by the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals reversed rulings by a district court and bankruptcy court related to Travelers’ involvement with Johns Manville Corp and Chubb can now sue Travelers Insurance Cos-because Chubb was not a part of that 1986 agreement, unlike countless asbestos victims.

Grace is doubly despicable. Not only did it know in 1960 when it took over the Libby mine that vermiculate could kill people-and continues to potentially harm about 30 million Americans who have the product in their homes-the company didn’t even file for bankruptcy honestly. In May 2002, the Justice Department charged that Grace “removed billions of dollars of assets against which parties who were injured or damaged by Grace’s asbestos-containing material had claims”.  Grace could get slapped with a $280 million fine and executives may face up to 70 years in prison.

One can only hope their cells are contaminated with asbestos fibers

Judge This: Is Asking a He to Dress like a He Discriminatory?

May 26th, 2010. By AbiK

Transgender issues are getting a lot of press lately—no longer a topic limited to discussion while you’re watching Gays in the Millinery march by during the annual Greenwich Village Halloween parade.

We last posted on transgender issues at American Eagle Outfitters.

Today, it’s down at the VFW in Virginia Beach, VA.

Larry Bush (on the way to becoming Laura Bush—and I trust not a nod of flattery to the Laura Bush we’re more familiar with ) is a husband and father of four who’s decided to live according to how he’s truly felt for much–if not all–—his 44 years. He wants to live as a woman.

Problem is, after serving 24 years—yes, 24—in the Navy—as a man (and dressed as a man), he’s now being asked by his VFW Post to come to functions dressed as a man—even though he now dresses as a woman.

The dress requirement is apparently only in effect until Larry officially becomes Laura—which, according to WVEC.com (which is where the vid above is from) —is in progress. The paperwork to officially change his name to Laura Rae Bush is in the works, and Larry is to start hormone treatments in June, in anticipation of a complete gender change.

So the question is…until the change, is it discrimination?