Early reports indicated that Branson, CBS News press reporter, had been put in the hospital. Serene Branson was not put in the hospital, however. Branson’s reported stroke was caught on live video during the Grammy Awards. Paramedics said Branson’s vital signs were normal, and she insists that she’s “feeling fine”. The healthcare bills she would get if she didn’t have a stroke would have caused a lot more than a pay day loan would have covered.

Serene Branson with a stroke?

Two Emmy awards have been given to Branson as a reporter. She works for CBS in Los Angeles. Branson began having difficulty speaking during the Grammy Awards while her speak became hard to hear. Several were worried about the expression on Branson’s face for 10 to 15 seconds. She could not seem to talk. Stroke warning signs do this thing. The paramedics showed up. Initially, many Twitter users did the digital equivalent of pointing and laughing at this video, but later comments expressed support and worry for Branson.

youtube.com/watch?v=PkYS8DXcMew&feature=player_embedded

Branson states she’s ‘feeling fine’

Following a possible stroke, Branson was put in the hospital. This is what the Grammy awards initial report said. However, CBS 2 news released a statement saying:

“Serene Branson was examined by paramedics on scene immediately after her broadcast. Her vital signs were normal. She was not hospitalized. As a precautionary measure, a colleague gave her a ride home, and she says that she is feeling fine this morning.”

Reasons for slurred speech

The rumor of Branson getting hospitalized because she possible had a stroke at the Grammys traveled fast. The slurred speech she displayed was what had brought on this rumor to spread. Slurred speech is one of probably the most common indicators of a stroke. Stroke, however, isn’t the only reason for slurred speech. You will find many things that can trigger distorted speech, otherwise known as Dysathria. Facial paralysis, medication, facial weakness, tumors, or even a brain injury can all make this take place.

Information from

Mayo Clinic

mayoclinic.com/health/dysarthria/DS01175

Time Newsfeed

newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/14/was-cbs-reporter-serene-bransons-on-air-flub-due-to-a-stroke/

A drug smuggling submarine built by criminal cartels has been seized by the Colombian authorities. Crafts of this type are normally unable to totally submerge, and are not technically true submarines, however the one recently found is. They’re not effortlessly detected. Crafts of this type can’t be detected by sonar.

Joint task force finds drug smuggling operation

Drug smugglers were caught by Colombian authorities, reports the Daily Mail. It included the air force, navy and Colombian Inspector General’s office. In Cauca, near the town of Timbiqui, a drug bust occurred. There was drug smuggling discovered in the swamps. Cuaca is on the Pacific coast of Colombia, and the swamps lead directly to the sea. Computers for navigation, bunks for a four man crew and eight tons of cocaine were already loaded onto the drug submarine. In the cargo there were firearms also even though nobody was on board when the craft was found.

Next transformative step in smuggling

For years, Narco Subs, or drug smuggling submersibles, have been used. This was a new breed of the boat though. Drug cartels can spend huge amount of money constructing the subs from fiberglass and other materials, though they’re sometimes used only once. The boat cannot submerge entirely with a drug smuggling submersible. The Timbiqui craft could go down for extended periods of time 40 feet or nine meters. The 105-foot boat would have been able to reach the coast of Mexico or simply the United States, in accordance with the Wall Street Journal.

Finding the drug cartels

Drug cartels are becoming craftier in the methods employed to get drugs into the United States. For many years, submersibles have been known about. They are not ever seen or caught getting the nickname “Bigfoot” tied to them. More are being discovered now though after one was captured years ago. The after that move will most likely be remote controlled drug submersibles since the subs that can submerge are being created now by drug cartels.

Information from

Daily Mail

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1357040/Submarine-loaded-tons-cocaine-seized-Colombia.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703703804576144752329031500.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narco_submarine

A new study has found a link between cannabis use and greater chances of developing psychological illness. The research found that pot use was connected to mental illness symptoms emerging earlier in people at risk for developing schizophrenia or other forms of psychosis. It is a new generation of “Reefer Madness”.

Likelihood of getting a mental condition for Cannabis users

There is new study being done currently putting a link among marijuana and psychological illnesses coming faster. WebMD explains that those predisposed to creating psychological illness will experience this. There could be a psychiatric science journal releasing the research in June. This is the Archives of General Psychiatry. Dr. Matthew Large who is from the Prince of Wales Hospital located in Sydney, Australia, led the team that did the research. There were over 8,000 people that got reviewed in the 83 studies done. It was found that mental illnesses, especially schizophrenia, are more likely to come earlier with weed use.

Narcotic use with Cannabis

Symptoms could be developed earlier by those already at risk for mental illnesses like schizophrenia with weed use as shown in the research. Those who used weed had symptoms 2.7 years earlier than those who didn’t. This was with schizophrenia. Then there were the people who would use multiple substances. These individuals got symptoms 2 years earlier than those who didn’t of psychological illnesses. Alcohol was not found to accelerate the onset of symptoms of psychological illness by itself, in accordance with Time. Tobacco use is noted in the research as not having enough evidence to discover any affect on psychological illness.

With a mental illness risk with your life, stay away from drugs

It has been suggested many times that people at risk for psychological illness should not use psychoactive substances. Links among schizophrenia and the use of weed has been shown in many studies. However, no link has ever been found suggesting that weed use causes schizophrenia, only that those at risk can have their symptoms made worse or brought about earlier by using marijuana.

Articles cited

Web MD

webmd.com/schizophrenia/news/20110207/earlier-onset-of-schizophrenia-linked-to-pot

Health Land

healthland.time.com/2011/02/07/marijuana-linked-with-earlier-onset-of-schizophrenia-in-research-review/

Archives of General Psychiatry

archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/archgenpsychiatry.2011.5v1

February is cold and dark, however in most cultures there is some reason to celebrate. In some customs, it’s Candlemas or Imbolic – the midway point amongst winter solstice and vernal equinox. No matter what your tradition, Groundhog Day is a day to ask a small creature if springtime is coming — which, in and of itself, has traditional roots. It’s getting close to the time to take out a pay day loan and plan your spring getaway.

How Candlemas started

Half way between equinox and solstice is February 2 which is a “cross-quarter” day in the “wheel of the year” division of seasons. This day was set aside to prepare soil in agrarian society. It was so grain could possibly be grown. Candles were needed to do work. This was because lots of the plowing happened during the dark time of day. The dawn of the new year was symbolized with this “candle mass.” It also symbolized purification and renewal.

World Candlemas

In some European nations, Candlemas is also known as “Imbolic.”. The word comes from “Ol-melc,” meaning ewe’s milk, since the sheep started giving milk again after winter. In order to celebrate planting and harvest in the future, a goddess statue was washed and carried through the field. There are also Jewish and Christian customs to consider. The day is recognized due to these. St. Brigid is the Christian patron saint of grain, and her day is often celebrated by planting seeds and baking bread. Also, 40 days after the birth of Jesus is celebrated is when Candlemas/Imbolic is celebrated. This means Jewish Mary would have purified herself this day. In short, it is a day of purification, planting and celebrating of the coming growing season.

To Groundhog Day from Candlemas

Imbolic or Candlemas was often the time of the year that humans started leaving the house and working out in the fields, and animals did the very same. The tradition of a hedgehog seeing its shadow on Candlemas meant six more weeks of winter was brought by German settlers within the 18th century. Officially, the first day Punxsutawney Phil was forced out of his hole to predict the weather was Feb. 2, 1887. Punxsutawney Phil is right about 39 percent of the time. No matter what tradition you celebrate — Candlemas ‘s plowing, Imbolic’s purification, St. Brigid’s Day, Mary’s purification or watching Punxsutawney Phil come out of his hole — Feb. 2 is a day to appreciate the returning of light, warmth and the coming spring season.

Articles cited

School of the Seasons

schooloftheseasons.com/candlemas.html

The Telegraph

telegraph.co.uk/topics/weather/8298417/The-history-of-Groundhog-Day.html

A monetary gift to a religious group with an anti-gay rights agenda has drawn demonstrations of popular fast food chain Chick-fil-A. One PA location of the restaurant agreed to donate some food to a seminar by a religious group that is hostile to LGBT rights. However, the team is a non-profit, which Chick-fil-A locations are encouraged to donate to. Some college students try to get the restaurant banned from campuses.

Pennsylvania Chick-fil-A sees protest

Because of the rumor that Chick-fil-A has an anti-gay agenda, the business is facing controversy. The New York Times accounts this. It was disclosed that a Chick-fil-A location is donating sandwiches to a seminar called “The Art of Marriage: Getting to the Heart of God’s Design” by the PA Family Institute, being held in February. Since the Pennsylvania Family Institute is a 503(c) non-profit organization, a location in Harrisburg, Penn., agreed to donate sandwiches to the event. Operators of the restaurants are encouraged to make charitable donations, so the act may not have been religiously motivated. Many college campuses are trying to get the restaurant banned from campuses while Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights groups want boycotts.

Past as Christians

There have always been beliefs associated with Chick-fil-A. These just take place to be Christian. Truett Cathy is the founder of the chain and a Sunday school teacher. When the restaurant was founded, he had police to keep it closed on Sundays. Still, the locations all are closed on that day. WinShape is the charitable foundation the business runs. It promotes strong Christian ideals as well. Scholarships are given to college students through WinShape. It’s also a network of foster homes that work. WinShape also puts on retreats such as summer camps for kids and getaways for married couples, including a “premarital boot camp” for those about to tie the knot.

There were not any problems, says business

The Chick-fil-A corporation has stressed that the company doesn’t, as a matter of principle, try to actively discriminate against any group. There is nothing on the Chick-fil-A website about the controversy. However, “honor, dignity and respect” is how employees are expected to treat individuals at the restaurant according to a video posted on Facebook by president Dan Cathy. A Muslim employee sued Chick-fil-A in 2006 because he got fired for not praying in training sessions.

Articles cited

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30chick.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&src=twrhp

Chick-fil-A website

chick-fil-a.com/#home

WinShape Foundation

winshape.org/

Apple addicts are outraged by the Pentalobe screw. The pentalobe screw is a recently introduced component of assembly. It was developed to thwart those who break open iPhones and other Apple merchandise. The tear down community has launched a jihad against the pentalobe screw and the pentalobe screwdriver is the weapon of choice. Somebody could easily takeout a payday advance to purchase the needed screwdriver anyway.

Nerds captured off guard with pentalobe screw

The tamper-resistant pentalobe screw, which can only be loosened with a pentalobe screwdriver, is seen by technophiles as a diabolical plot by an evil corporate entity to control its consumers. In Japan, the debut of the iPhone 4 is where the pentalobe screw was first seen. There’s a new screen that was shown while also showing how the inside could possibly be seen. At first, the brand new screw with a flowery head was suspected to be a Torx, Torx Security or Torx Plus. When it became evident that the mysterious fastener was a pentalobe screw, there were no pentalobe screwdrivers readily available to remove them.

Pentalobe starts a conspiracy theory

Apple got the blame for messing the iPhones up. They were screwed with a bit. Apple then extended the tentacles of its diabolical pentalobe conspiracy to the iPhone 4 brought in for service. They knew something fishy was going on when they noticed the Phillips head screws within the iPhone case were changed by a new and unrecognizable fastener. The pentalobe screw had struck again. Now all iPhones ship using the pentalobe screw, and so does the MacBook Airs. Apple customers have begun realizing that the business does not trust them using the hardware purchased since you will find now three different pentalobe screws.

The pentalobe screwdriver comes to the rescue

iFixit.com is a geek site for do-it-yourself job which is where much of the anger about the pentalobe screw comes from. The iPhone 4 Liberation Package which has the pentalobe screwdriver in it is being sold by iFixit although the site accused Apple of “taking planned obsolescence to the next level.”. You will find some that do not care. Apple merchandise gets damaged all the time which Apple service techs see. Typically it has something to do with a glitch or a user trying to replace the battery by prying open the product. Now and days, more individuals are concerned about what a gadget does. Why it really does it doesn’t matter. You can always get the Android if you are that upset by the pentalobe screw.

Citations

Ars Technica

arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/01/apple-screwing-new-iphones-out-of-simple-diy-repair.ars

CNET

news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20029088-1.html

iFixit

ifixit.com/blog/blog/2011/01/20/apples-diabolical-plan-to-screw-your-iphone/

When Assange informed the brand new Statesman that he had a digital insurance policy that could “take down a financial institution or 2,” B of A began to quake in the boots. It has indeed been established that Bank of America is one of the institutions Wikileaks has targeted, reports PRWatch. It is believed that Wikileaks plans to reveal Bank of America’s reportedly unethical conduct relating to dangerous mortgages, unlawful home foreclosures and the utilization of bailout money for staff bonuses. If there is any truth to these rumors, it makes you wonder why B of A did not just take out a personal bank loan without using government money.

Assange may prove Bank of America execs knew they peddled toxic mortgages

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac want B of A to buy back billions of dollars in toxic mortgage-backed securities which is why these private investors and large scale lenders are suing the bank. While B of A did stop issuing its own subprime mortgage loans in 2001, PRWatch indicates that the bank still underwrote $239 million in securities back by subprime loans as late as Sept. 2009.

E-mails that prove Bank of America executives knew they were passing toxic mortgages off to investors are supposedly kept by Julian Assange and others who have a copy of the encrypted insurance file without the decryption key. B of A will have to deal with these slate of toxic mortgage lawsuits with much more than the $4.4 billion set aside assuming this is true.

Illegal foreclosures from B of A for bonuses

Illegal foreclosures – particularly of the wrong homes – have been another thorn in Bank of America’s side lately, although the bank has attempted to shift blame to the contractors it uses to perform the home seizures. Bank of America might be in trouble with the proof that Assange supposedly has. The business broke the law by signing off on thousands of foreclosure documents before looking at them if this proof is true.

Add to this the list of claims B of A still faces after the Countrywide subprime ordeal, and also the corporate bonuses taken from bailout money and B of A could possibly be in severe trouble.

Articles cited

New Statesman

newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/01/china-wikileaks-assange

PR Watch

prwatch.org/node/9871

‘An ecosystem of corruption’

youtube.com/watch?v=Cd_eeXnHcQo

Public venues are breeding environments for viruses. This isn’t new news, but it is certainly still true. A new study found that ATM keypads are as full of germs as toilets. Though the antibacterial surface maker funded the study, many people are still grossed out. Just think of the personal loan the bank will have to take out if somebody sued them for getting sick at the ATM.

British study on ATM keypad

There was a study that British researchers did. It involved common public surfaces and the bacteria on them. Swabs were used to get samples to grow. These came from grocery carts, gas pump handles, under the seat of public toilets and ATM keypads. A sterile bag was used to seal the samples. They were then put in a petri dish to grow them. There were bacteria grown on all four swabs. These included coliform as well as e. coli. All samples got the same amount of bacteria initially. Still, the highest bacteria load came from public toilets. Then there was what the ATM keypads grew. When it came to bacteria load, it came very close to public toilets making for second.

The ATM keypad/British study of public toilets was funded by who?

The study of ATM keypads and public toilets did not reveal any particularly new information. An antibacterial surface coatings company actually funded the study though. Studies are usually funded by someone with a motive. This is why the scientific community has issues with it. It makes perfect sense that the antibacterial products will be sold using this study. The results weren’t wrong though.

Don’t get too much bacteria on you

You may buy more antibacterial surface coatings to protect yourself from bacteria. There are other things to do too though. Standard hand washing is as effective in protecting yourself from bacteria as any antibacterial product. Antibacterial products have actually been shown to have almost no effect on the infections and diseases of individuals. You don’t have to use antibacterial products. Instead, take precautions and wash your hands. There isn’t more danger at an ATM or in a public restroom than any other place. This is only if you are willing to take precautions.

Articles cited

NCBI

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14996673

WTAE

wtae.com/health/24325339/detail.html

The amazing run by Marshawn Lynch was maybe the best part of the Seahawks vs. Saints playoff game. Lynch shrugged off various tacklers and delivered a bone rattling stiff arm en route to a touchdown. Lynch jerseys should soon be worth their weight in gold. Some might go as far as getting a payday loan just to get their hands on one of these shirts.

Saint relics in Seattle thanks to Marshawn Lynch

The Seattle lost two draft picks when Marshawn Lynch was traded from the Buffalo Bills to the Seattle Seahawks. It appears to have paid off. In playoffs, during the wild card round, St. Louis and Seattle will be playing one another. One of the only teams with a losing record to beat the Saints was the Seahawks. This made the team much better known. All Seahawk fans were prepared to lose when the match against the New Orleans Saints was scheduled for the Seahawks. There was a 41-36 win over the Saints for the Seahawks. The Qwest Field was great apparently. All of that was earned by the team.

The Run

In a play destined to be called simply “The Run,” Lynch was handed the ball on the 33-yard line in Saints’ territory on a play designed to only get a few yards, according to the Seahawks blog. Lynch ended up going through six or more defenders while they tried to take him down while he was in “Beast Mode” as he calls it. He also delivered a bone-rattling stiff arm to the Saints’ Tracy Porter, knocking him to the ground. The Seahawks now go to Chicago to play the Bears in the division round. There should probably be some Marshawn Lynch Seahawks jerseys on sale. They will sell like crazy. The Seattle PI spoke about the small earthquake that was registered by the Twelfth Man. That is the crowd at Qwest.

Sports in the Northwest seemingly good

There is some big college sporting news in the Northwest. There is more than just the big BCS Bowl Championship going on with the Oregon Ducks versus the Auburn Tigers. This includes a smaller school. The Delaware Blue Hens were beat by the Division I Easter Washington University Eagles that is a small school. This was in the FCS Championship game that happened. Some had doubted the Eagles were poised for victory, but in the end Vice President Joe Biden watched from the stands as the Eagles beat his alma mater.

BEAST MODE!

youtube.com/watch?v=xSZdntRnQVg

Citations

Seahawks

seahawks.com/news/articles/article-1/One-Beast-Mode-of-a-run/7a5337a1-8933-4544-87d4-65b647779789

Seattle PI

blog.seattlepi.com/theconstantvalentine/archives/235072.asp?from=blog_last3

Health insurance is an costly proposal, and Blue Shield of California wants its to be even higher. The Los Angeles Times reports that Blue Shield has floored California policyholders with a offer to start insurance premium hikes as high as 59 percent on March 1. Numerous thousands of customers would be afflicted by the rate change. This hike without any doubt will be sending many Blue Shield customers running for payday loans in order to pay their premiums.

Is the Blue Cross ruling something seen already by the Blue Shield of California?

Californians hope that Blue Shield of California will learn from history. Less than a year ago, Anthem Blue Cross reportedly tried to make a 39 percent rate hike for 700,000 Californians stick, but the measure failed to pass. Yet the costs of health care continue to rise, and the corruption of over-billing is alive and well.

“We raise rates only when absolutely necessary to pay the accelerating cost of medical care for our members,” said a Blue Shield of California representative.

Between 30 and 35 percent for an insurance rate hike

An insurance premium being 59 percent higher seems like it might be too much for some. Between 30 and 35 percent is the typical increase for 193,000 Blue Shield of California customers though. There will be an effect felt by one in four customers. This is assuming that in the next five months there is a 50 plus interest increase.

Newly elected state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones expects to be tested early, thanks to the proposed Blue Shield of California premium increases.

“Blue Shield’s increases poses the same problem posed by Anthem Blue Cross last year and other health insurers as well,” said Jones. “My hope would be that Blue Shield would reexamine these rate hikes, particularly in the face of the impact they are having on individual policyholders.”

Seeing the accounting

Success can’t be immediate, even if the health insurance premium hikes start for Blue Shield of California. In 2011, Blue Shield spokesman Ton Epstein said that “tens of millions of dollars on individual business” will be lost by the company.

Articles cited

LA Times

latimes.com/health/healthcare/la-fi-insure-rates-20110106,0,6975599.story

Blue Shield needs more money to make commercials like this

youtube.com/watch?v=l5qZSsrJ4QA