First Zits, then Accutane, then IBD, then Kidney Stones?

March 12th, 2010. By AbiK

Remember that  book, “Because a Little Bug went Ka-CHOO!”–the one where there’s this tiny little sneeze that leads to a chain reaction that winds up with a huge circus marching through town? Yeah, that one. Well, this article from over at HealthDayNews this week kind of reminds me of that book, only not in a warm ‘n fuzzy kind of way.

The article is about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)—which has been linked to the anti-acne prescription medication Accutane. And it seems IBD can affect more (actual quote is “much more”) than just your digestive system.

The National Women’s Health Information Center states that IBD can actually contribute to the following health problems:

• Arthritis and pain in the joints
• Fractures and weakening of the bones
• Problems with the eye, including inflammation
• An inflamed liver
• Kidney stones or gallstones
• Skin ulcers or a red, bumpy rash
• Problems with growth and delayed onset of puberty in children and teens
• Problems with the lungs (though such cases are rare)

The article just helps to highlight that IBD is a serious disease that can not only wreak havoc on the intestines, but also a number of other areas. And, as such, careful consideration should be taken when considering anti-acne treatments that use the drug, isotretinoin—Accutane, Amnesteem, Claravis or Sotret. And, as we previously posted, parents should be aware that a number of these drugs are available online, sans prescription.

Vintage Cars Rock as Hard Drive on Wheels may be Hell on Wheels

March 12th, 2010. By Hunter West

I have a prediction: this whole Toyota mess is going to spawn a re-birth of vintage cars.

 

I have a friend who has a vintage Volkswagen Beetle. An original Veedub. It was made at the original Wolfsburg factory in Germany, has a carburetor and no pollution controls. It coughs, and wheezes. Despite the obvious fact that it’s loads of fun to drive, my pal has had it parked for a few years now due to his attempt to respect the environment—even though legally he can drive it as is—given the fact the car is so old it is grandfathered and is not governed by modern-day pollution control standards. 

He would sit there, at the red light, an obvious Old-World stench belching from the exhaust pipe, cowering under the scorn of other drivers sitting behind the wheels of their gleaming Toyotas that didn’t stink so much. 

So he parked the car. There it sits in the garage, replaced by a more modern vehicle. He’s aware there are others in the vintage car communities who have done the same. They’re driving their vintage cars less, if at all, out of respect for the environment. Besides, newer cars are that much safer. 

Or, are they?

Don’t be surprised if you see more old cars out on the road now. Cars that drive by mechanics, not electronics. The only circuit you’ll find is the battery that connects the starter, the headlights, the horn, the wipers and the radio.

That’s it. Cars according to KISS: ‘keep it simple, stupid…” 

Are cars getting too complicated? 

Toyota has been beleaguered with trouble. We all know that. We’ve all heard about the recall, and the sticky pedals. We’ve all heard that Toyota said it was NOT electronics that were at fault, then say they weren’t sure, and then say again as late as this week that in their view the electronics are fine. It’s sticking pedals and floor mats that are causing unexplained acceleration. 

And yet we hear of reports where Toyota owners have experienced more incidents whereby their recalled cars have sped away seemingly under their own power AFTER the safety repairs were made. This week a guy driving a Prius is lucky to be alive after his car sped up along a California Interstate. He said the pedal stuck and wouldn’t let go. He even tried to pry it free with his hand. It wouldn’t budge. Floor mats were not the issue.

His car wasn’t on the recall list. 

On Wednesday a woman was just heading out of her driveway when her Toyota suddenly lurched forward, sped up and she slammed into a retaining wall across from her property. 

Okay, so is the problem mechanical? Or electronic? Or a combination of both? Do you ever recall a 1964 Impala doing this kind of stuff?

Most agree that cars are getting increasingly complicated. Some say, too much so. Well if that’s you, then you don’t want to ever meet up with the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, manufactured by Toyota. 

More computing power than a moonshot 

Here is a car that can literally drive itself. Roman Mica, a reporter and producer for CNN reviewed Toyota’s latest marvel, calling the Lexus HS 250h a technological ‘tour de force.’ You don’t drive the car any more, Read the rest of this entry »

US Open Food Servers Serve up Double Fault Class Action

March 11th, 2010. By AbiK

For all the presentation and promotion that attempts to position tennis as a pastime of the hoi polloi, it just can’t seem to get over a bit of an elitist image. It’s not the professional players that make it so—heck, many have come from the hoi polloi themselves and have in their own way given the finger to some of the elitism (recall Agassi’s earlier days…McEnroe’s outbursts…Venus and Serena’s new fashion rules). And this year, you—yes YOU—can even register to compete for a wild card into the US Open Qualifying tournament. 

So what gives? Well, if you’re part of the army of food service folks who work the Open, you might be thinking the elitism comes from the country club set who show up at the US Open outfitted in Lacoste or Brooks Brothers toting a casual & sporty—yet appropriate!—Vera Bradley or Lily Pulitzer (LL Bean if quieter propriety’s your thing) bag as they head to their box seats at the Open. See, those food service folks actually work their tails off to serve—as the 2010 US Open site describes it—”innovative menus” that feature “superb cuisine of impeccable quality and freshness” to the social set sitting in the Luxury Suites at Arthur Ashe stadium. Yeah, you’re not seeing that fare if you’re sitting Loge. Luxury Suites, by the way, will set you back $10,000 – $63,000 for a package—hey, parking’s included, catering isn’t (that’s an $1,800 minimum).

Work their tails off? Oh, but surely they make decent money, right? Surely more than the peons working those concession stands outside on the “grounds”?

Well, according to a class action lawsuit filed on March 3rd in Brooklyn federal court, those servers may not be getting paid all that much for the hours they put in serving, as the New York Post calls them “celebrities, trust-fund kids and captains of industry”. The Post quotes one worker who’s also a plaintiff, Daniel Yahraes, as saying he worked more than 100 hours a week and was paid based on his $17 an hour pay rate—no overtime pay (that’s fault #1)—and, while clients were apparently charged an additional 21 percent “service charge”, that fee was not passed along to the “service” (that’s fault #2, and shades of Cipriani?). I have to imagine that some of those workers received cash tips, but still, overtime is overtime and for Yahraes, that would arguably mean he lost out on quite a bit of cash.

Five companies are named in the lawsuit, including Restaurant Associates and the suit covers the past six years.

Asbestos News Roundup: 3.11.10

March 11th, 2010. By LucyC

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

Asbestos Lawsuits

Among the many asbestos lawsuits filed in the past month are:

Madison County, IL: David Lee Worthington and Doris Ann Wilkey of Florida who allege that Mr. Worthington developed mesothelioma as a result of his work as a laborer for Griffin Construction from 1959 until 1961, as an electrical apprentice for A&W Wiring from 1962 until 1965, as an electrician for IBEW Local 1701 from 1965 until 1985, as an electrician for Progress Energy from 1985 until 2000 and as a home improvement worker from 1943 until 1959. (Madisoncountyrecord.com) 

Madison County, IL: Robert and Kathie Highland of Arkansas claim Robert Highland developed mesothelioma resulting from exposure to asbestos through his work as a welder and pipefitter at Farmland Industries from 1966 until 2003, and as a welder and pipefitter at Koch Industries from 2003 until 2006. (Madisoncountyrecord.com)

Madison County, IL: Geraldine and Forrest Blazer of Ohio, allege that Geraldine developed mesothelioma as a result of secondary or ‘take home’ asbestos exposure from her father’s work clothing. He worked as a shipbuilder for Bethlehem Steel from 1940 until 1943. She also claims exposure through her husband’s work as an asphalt worker for Brewer and Brewer and as a construction worker for V.N. Holderman. (Madisoncountyrecord.com)

Asbestos Hot Spots

San Francisco, CA:  Construction work at a large development project located on the old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard was temporarily halted due to higher than acceptable levels of airborne asbestos fibers detected on the site. Asbestos occurs naturally in the SF Bay Area serpentine soils, including the ground at the 63-acre site where 1,600 homes are scheduled to be built this April. (San Francisco Examiner)

Asbestos Law

Natchez, MI:  Two Mississippi lawyers have been found guilty of fraud against a railroad company named as a defendant in an asbestos lawsuit. The attorneys, William Guy and Thomas Brock, had given false information in a pair of questionnaires submitted by Illinois Central Railroad while settling with two of their clients, a federal jury ruled. Additionally, the jury found that both lawyers had not disclosed that their clients, Warren Turner and Willie Harried, were previously involved in an asbestos mass action. Turner had received a $120,000 settlement from Illinois Central, while Willie Harried had been awarded $90,000.

The jury ruled for the settlement funds to be returned, plus another $210,000 in punitive damages. (WV Record.com)

What the heck is HVP? Demand better food labeling!

March 10th, 2010. By janem

Dollars to donuts, you’ve consumed Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) and didn’t even know it because nobody informed you–it isn’t required on food labels–which makes this latest enormous recall a call to action.  As if we don’t have enough to worry about with foodborne illness in the news just about daily, in the past few weeks the FDA has recalled thousands of products containing HVP–from beef and bacon to chips and dip to veggie burgers (so much for thinking processed vegetarian food is healthy) –that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

HVP, also known as acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein,  is a soy-based food “filler” used to make countless processed food products. It is used as a flavor-enhancer after the food has been processed, and after it has been safety-checked. You likely never see HVP added to the ingredients list on a food label because it is usually part of a flavor mix. HVP is added so that your food tastes better, which means you will buy it again and that translates to profits for food companies such as Nestle, Trader Joe’s, Safeway, McCormick and many other companies. It is a chemical that we can do without!

Here is a list of recalled products.

According to Wikipedia, acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein is produced by boiling cereals or legumes in hydrochloric acid and then neutralizing the solution with sodium hydroxide. Next time I bite into chips with dip, I’ll be wondering how much hydrochloric acid is in my body. Wait a minute, what am I thinking? There isn’t gonna be a next time, unless the FDA does something about it. And judging from their history regarding food additives (remember aspartame?) I’ll be spending more time cooking from scratch and will likely lose a few pounds due to avoiding convenience foods.  Because the FDA freaks out about bacteria, not the chemicals that are dumped into processed foods.

All of us need to petition the FDA and demand that chemicals such as HVP (god only knows what nasty side effects it can cause) are clearly listed on all food labels.

Meanwhile, health officials advise that you cook/heat the heck out of any processed food to avoid any risks of Salmonella. And if you can’t cook it, throw it out. Even better, return it to the food manufacturers. I wonder if they eat HVP-laced products?