Possibly the only thing worse than Belgians on the Congo

pO157.

Posted to SciTech on Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 07:44:56 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

The World Health Organization has confirmed the start of a new Ebola virus outbreak in the Congo.

Ebola virus has plagued Africa since 1976. With a mortality rate of up to 89% (overall kill rate of 69.3%), the highly contagious disease is one of the few in the world that scares the jeepers out of scientists and physicians. Thankfully it has been relatively confined to the third world for the few outbreaks that have occurred since its discovery.

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Can You Hear Me Now With That Instrument Of Death In Your Hands?

MayorBob.

Posted to SciTech on Sun Jul 27, 2008 at 10:52:39 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Reports that cell phone usage increases the likelihood of brain cancer have been out for some time now. The main culprit is seen as the electromagnetic radiation (ER) emitted by the devices. For the most part, the industry and the federal government seem to agree that cell phone usage is perfectly safe. They've been backed up by study upon study which says so. However, there's at least one expert in the field who is warning maybe you should think twice about using them, just to be on the safe side.

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Barefoot In The Park (And Everywhere Else)

MayorBob.

Posted to SciTech on Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 09:56:47 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Such obvious podiatric torture devices such as stiletto and platform shoes can't be any good for your feet right?  As it turns out it's not just the obvious footwear that's doing us harm - it's all kinds of shoes.  No matter how expensive or how comfortable they might seem to the wearer, those who have their feet firmly planted in scientific research tell us that today's footwear actually does our feet more harm than good.

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Snooze Or Lose

MayorBob.

Posted to SciTech on Thu Mar 06, 2008 at 04:15:01 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

We're halfway through it and most us were unaware that this is National Sleep Awareness Week.  The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) wants us to know how critical a good night's sleep is.  But it seems most of us are as unaware of that as we are of this week's celebration.  Because, according to numerous studies, more and more of us are getting less and less sleep.

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HEY! Heyheyhey! HeY!!!! HoW DO yOOou GeT yOUr FIX?

port1080.

Posted to Etcetera on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 06:29:58 PM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

Is America the world's most caffeinated society? Editor's note: the availability of this product may be all the answer you need.

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You Must Be Sixteen To Have That Heroin Chic Appearance

pO157.

Posted to Business on Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 08:55:21 AM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

Fashion experts have suggested that all models 16 and under be banned from the star-studded London Fashion Week due to concerns over eating disorders.

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I've had it with this muthafucking XDR-TB on this muthafucking plane!

pO157.

Posted to Legal on Fri Jun 01, 2007 at 07:48:12 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

The news services have been abuzz recently with the story of a man identified as laywer Andrew Speaker. He is said to be involuntarily quarantined after becoming infected with a type of tuberculosis (XDR-TB) which is quite scary due to its extensive drug resistance.

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Enviga -- Breakthrough Diet Drink Or Hoax?

MayorBob.

Posted to Legal on Wed Feb 07, 2007 at 07:05:55 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Enviga, the green tea beverage from Coca Cola and Nestle, was supposed to be a true breakthrough in beverages.  Due to its ingredients, digestion of the drink would make the body burn more calories than the drink contained.  How great is that - a beverage which not only slakes your thirst but helps you to take off unwanted pounds?  Why that would mean "negative calories" and end the need for weight watching or fad diets.  It would be great if it was true.  But one public health watchdog organization says Coke's and Nestle's claims are bogus and they've filed a complaint in federal court.

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Should Raising An Obese Child Be A Crime?

MayorBob.

Posted to Etcetera on Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 08:54:43 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

The answer to that question is a resounding yes for some social workers and doctors in the United Kingdom.  There has been an increasing trend in the UK to treat obese children in the same fashion as children reported to be at risk from physical or sexual abuse.  Beyond merely insuring that parents have to work together with national health authorities to deal with cases of obese children, there are some who believe allowing a child to become obese should bring criminal charges.

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From Way Down South, Not So Very Far Off, Illegals Brought Us The Whooping Cough.

pO157.

Posted to Legal on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 10:26:09 AM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

"Whooping cough" causes about 30 to 50 million cases per year, worldwide, and kills about 300,000 (although no more than a few dozen annually in the US). However, it is preventable with vaccination and until recently was not a major problem in the United States. This may be changing as the pool of unvaccinated, illegal immigrants in the US grows to ever-larger numbers. With such numbers rising, the inevitable pointing of fingers is taking place.

Some blame schools for crowding children into cramped classrooms, some blame the fact that the whooping cough vaccine loses effectiveness over time and patients are not requesting boosters as often as they should. Others point out that this may be part of a larger trend of preventable diseases returning.

Then there are those that cast aspersions at illegal immigrants.

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Suspended Sophomore Seen as Suicidal Secures Sweet Settlement

pO157.

Posted to Etcetera on Mon Nov 13, 2006 at 04:49:55 AM EST (promoted by Acefantastik). RSS.

On 11/1 both sides in a court case announced they had reached a settlement deal. What made this case noteworthy is what some view as outrageous actions taken by the defendant(s) that instigated the lawsuit. The case dealt with a George Washington University sophomore who had been barred from campus, sent orders of suspension, and threatened with expulsion for violating the school code of conduct. His crime? Voluntarily seeking help for depression.

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"Mercy Killing" of Severely Disabled Newborns Debated in Britain

profwhat.

Posted to SciTech on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 09:41:08 AM EST (promoted by Acefantastik). RSS.

According to Britain's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecology, "a very disabled child can mean a disabled family."  That's why the College has invited a debate into the mercy killing of newborn disabled babies.

(19 comments, 198 words in story) Full Story