tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69718374391177442162024-03-13T05:54:28.984-07:00RoseWrites | A Blog for the UnderdogRoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-68637572393525227932019-02-04T13:10:00.006-08:002019-02-06T10:06:43.515-08:00The Zika + Wolbachia Connection: What the WHO, CDC, NIH, USAID, Multiple Gov'ts & Billionaires Do NOT Want You to KnowFebruary 4, 2016, lead scientist Dr. Constância Ayres alerted the WHO (a branch of the UN) that previous studies that have investigated the vector competence for Zika virus have neglected other mosquito species such as Culex. She stressed "this issue deserves urgent attention" and "vector control strategies must be directed at all potential vectors".[1]<br><br>
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In March 2016, Dr. Fiona Hunter came away from the Summit on Controlling Aedes aegypti in Maceio, Brazil with this glaring realization: There was "no mosquito infection data to support ZIKV [Zika virus] transmission by Aedes aegypti in Brazil."[2]<br><br>
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Dr. Fiona Hunter said ZIKV belongs to a clade (supported 99%) of neurotropic viruses, including West Nile Virus (WNV) and Saint Louis Encephalitis (SLE) virus, which are typically transmitted by Culex mosquitoes. ZIKV does not belong to a clade of hemorrhagic viruses, such as DENV and yellow fever, which are typically transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.[3]<br><br>
Dr. Constância Ayres suggested that Cx. quinquefasciatus is being held to a different standard than Ae. aegypti with regard to ZIKV transmission and its potential role as a ZIKV vector has been overlooked. No infected mosquitoes were collected from Yap States and French Polynesia during the outbreaks. They studied vector competence under laboratory conditions and assumed that Aedes species were vectors, although they never fulfilled the textbook criteria.[3]<br><br>
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April 2016, Dr. Robert S. Lanciotti, a highly respected chief of the Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory within the Arbovirus Diseases Branch at CDC, voiced his concerns about a new Zika test the CDC was promoting.<br><br>
In fact, Dr. Lanciotti was punished (demoted) by the CDC and had to file a whistleblower retaliation claim. Some of his signed statements for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) included:<br><br>
"At a minimum, the State Public Health Labs that were already approved for using the Singleplex should have been encouraged to continue with this format ... With respect to detecting the four dengue viruses, the data showed a greater than 100-fold reduced sensitivity of the Trioplex when compared to both the Singleplex and the commercial ABI test."[4]<br><br>
May 2017, concerns were <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W6edwKy_rY&t=">posted on CDC's Facebook page regarding the landmark findings of several ethical scientists</a>. However, at almost every turn I was derided.[5]<br><br>
The 2011 paper by Chambers et al. confirmed that between April and June 2009 on the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, semi-field experiments using Wolbachia-infected male Aedes mosquitoes were conducted.[6]<br><br>
Zika took an ugly turn in French Polynesia and this author highly suspects when some Culex species naturally acquires Wolbachia (via the Wolbachia-infected Aedes releases), that they become better vectors of Zika. In some Culex species, Wolbachia enhances viral replication and transmission. Since Wolbachia is co-inherited with mitochondria, natural selection acting over the bacterium will also affect mitochondria.[7]<br><br>
In fact, according to Chen, Dong, et al. (2015):<br><br> "The findings suggest the potential for Wolbachia bacteria to infect humans ... After Wolbachia genes were detected in the blood collected on day 0 and 4 of fever, levofloxacin was administered for 1 week ... The patient was then considered to have had a complete remission. No Wolbachia genes were amplified from blood obtained at the patient's hospital discharge."<br><br>
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Chen, Dong, et al. (2015) concluded:<br><br>
"Horizontal transmission in insects and among helminths occurs via cell–cell invasion, predation and cannibalism, among other possibilities, establishing the potential for horizontal transfer to animals and humans as well. Hence, <a href="https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(14)00040-8/fulltext">Wolbachia spp. should be further evaluated as causes of human infection</a>, especially as Wolbachia infection of mosquitoes is increasingly considered to be a tool for interfering with mosquito-borne transmission of human pathogens."<br><br>
On September 7th, 2017, Theys et al. found gross errors with the genomic Zika sequences (e.g., GAN KU940224). These were submitted to Genbank with a protein annotation that differs significantly from the curated NCBI reference genome. The authors noted: "Complete ZIKV genomes must cover UTRs and should be indicated accordingly when, in fact, limited to the complete CDS (with partial UTRs) or containing large regions of undetermined nucleotides."[8]<br><br>
March 18, 2016, Elgion Lucio Silva Loreto and Gabriel Luz Wallau published Risks of Wolbachia mosquito control.<br><br>
Shockingly, the Cartagena Protocol — a United Nations safety regulation for transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms, signed by 170 countries — is not applicable to Wolbachia because the bacteria are considered nontransgenic.[9]<br><br>
This is false. Wolbachia is highly transgenic.<br><br>
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In fact, according to Oxitec's PDF:<br><br>
"Wolbachia infections have demonstrated enhancement rather than suppression of pathogens ... Wolbachia could introduce over 1,000 new genes into a host with unknown consequences."[10]<br><br>
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Wolbachia is not naturally present in Aedes, to put it into a species that never had it is akin to creating an entirely new species. Some species feed preferentially off the Aedes genus and will therefore become exposed to inordinate amounts of the bacterium. This, in turn, has caused ecosystems to crash with filter feeders — like baleen whales[11] and oysters[12] — showing the first signs of infection.<br><br>
February 5, 2017, in An Open Letter to Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO:[13]<br><br>
Dr. Chan states, "In the decades between its discovery in Uganda in 1947 and its appearance in the Americas, only a few human cases of Zika virus were reported."[14]<br><br>
Further along, Dr. Chan mentions the 2013 - 2014 outbreak in French Polynesia which resulted in "an estimated 30,000 cases".<br><br>
How does this equal only a few human cases?<br><br>
WHO ignored the evidence submitted as early as February 2016 by Drs. Ayres, Hunter, Guedes, and Guo et al. that proved Culex are also Zika vectors.[13]<br><br>
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WHO ignored the fact that 15 percent of birds in Uganda had Zika according to the study Arbovirus Survey in Wild Birds in Uganda by Okia, N.O. et al., 1971.[13]<br><br>
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It was shown that the presence of a virus facilitates the invasion of Wolbachia (Jakob F. Strauß and Arndt Telschow, 2015).<br><br>
This is key to any host (be it any insect such as Culex spp, ticks, birds, bats, oysters, etc, or humans).<br><br>
"Zika is likely the phage that enables Wolbachia to infect humans with ease." ~ Rose Webster<br><br>
And there has been a concerted effort by the WHO and CDC (and other public health authorities) to forgo Zika and Wolbachia testing in a timely fashion — which is crucial for detection.<br><br>
In Denmark, where Culex spp. are rare, men have increased their sperm counts.[15]<br><br>
In fact, for over two years, the top 50 cities that visit my unpromoted paper devoted to Zika in men (out of 422) CLEARLY support overnight-active Culex spp. as a Zika vector. The striking correlation with where men have increased sperm counts (Denmark) and rare Culex spp. supports Wolbachia as the co-factor.<br><br>
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Yet, Medscape (which many physicians rely on) clearly states:<br><br>
"Rickettsiae are not evident on blood smear findings and do not stain with most conventional stains ... No rapid laboratory tests are available to diagnose rickettsial diseases early in the course of illness."[16]<br><br>
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This is crucial, since bacterial counts can be 600-fold in the mammalian host — compared to the insect host — within the first week of symptoms. And even intact Wolbachia can be detected in blood.[17]<br><br>
Sadly, WHO is fully aware of the impact Wolbachia is having on the greater ecosystems in the poorest regions of the world. And has since concocted climate change and similar man-made reasons for our crashing ecosystems.<br><br>
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When WHO endorsed Wolbachia, it was presented as only being a decade in development.[18]<br><br>
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In fact, Wolbachia is responsible for the most widespread pandemics in the animal kingdom (LePage and Bordenstein, 2013).<br><br>
Wolbachia is not some harmless bacteria, it's a reproductive parasite. And a world renown expert, Dr. Jack Werren, even cautioned in 2007:<br><br>
"The FREQUENT nature of Wolbachia lateral gene transfers indicates that this parasite has probably produced new functions in some animals. Moreover, the transfer of even a fragment of a Wolbachia genome would be significant if it contained even one functional gene."[19]<br><br>
In 2003, Wolbachia was shown to grow in human lung cells at 37 C (98.6 F) which is average human body temperature. But it appears hardly anyone in the scientific community took note. And only the Celsius scale was mentioned — no one translated it to Fahrenheit.[20]<br><br>
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April 18, 2018, I published "Dr. Francis M. Jiggins: You Asked, "How Does Wolbachia Do What It Does?"[21]<br><br>
It became painfully obvious that groupthink and bullying has kept the fact Wolbachia can infect humans a massive global health secret.<br><br>
October 19, 2016, Dr. Jiggins published "Open questions: how does Wolbachia do what it does?" He wrote:<br><br>
"As a geneticist, however, I was left frustrated. The bacterium could not be cultured or manipulated, so despite its being studied by hundreds of researchers, only the most rudimentary details were known about how it exerts its effects."<br><br>
I emailed Dr. Jiggins — and 100s of scientists and doctors have heard from me — that Wolbachia is capable of and likely infecting vertebrates (including humans) with dire consequences.<br><br>
The WHO (a branch of the UN) endorsed it, lied to the public (stating it had only been worked on for a decade), and willfully ignored that it can infect humans.[22]<br><br>
Instead the WHO continues to blame human activity, climate change, nonexistent warm oceans, pollution, doctors, or anything other than Wolbachia for grave illnesses in humans and other vertebrate species.<br><br>
And it was in 2018, that I became aware that "the feasibility of an offshore release of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes as a vector for infectious diseases ... including the decay rate of BW [Biological Weapons] dates back to the presidency of John F. Kennedy".[23]<br><br>
This could have been what President Kennedy was trying to warn us about on April 27, 1961. <strike><strike></strike></strike><br><br>
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Want to help? I have two petitions:<br><br>
To have North Atlantic right whales tested: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/investigate-north-atlantic-right-whale-deaths-without-the-noaa-a-u-s-gov-t-agency">"Unlikely" is not acceptable. TEST for ZIKV, WNV, SLEV, and Wolbachia</a>.<br><br>
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And one to have humans tested using ONLY the most accurate Zika assays + the broad-range PCR screen for Rickettsiales (Wolbachia genes in blood and any excised tissues e.g. lymph nodes, eyes, liver, etc): <a href="https://www.change.org/p/oncologists-and-pathologists-acute-inflammatory-response-gbs-uveal-melanoma-or-lymphoma-r-o-rickettsiales-wolbachia">Acute Inflammatory Response, Uveal Melanoma, or Lymphoma? R/O Rickettsiales (Wolbachia).</a><br><br>
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References:<br><br>
1. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(16)00073-6/fulltext#%20<br>
2. https://entomologychallenges.org/grand-challenges-summit-on-aedes-aegypti-mosquito-in-brazil<br>
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5105876<br>
4. https://osc.gov/PublicFiles/FY2016/16-60-DI-16-3709/16-60-DI-16-3709-Wber-Comments.pdf<br>
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W6edwKy_rY&t=<br>
6. https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0001271<br>
7. http://www.infobarrel.com/Wolbachia-Infected_Aedes_An_Ill-Fated_Experiment_in_French_Polynesia_<br>
8. https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1006528<br>
9. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/351/6279/1273.2<br>
10. www.dshs.state.tx.us/TaskForceID/docs/OxitecsVectorControlSolution.pdf<br>
11. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/right-whales-disappearing-from-u-s-breeding-grounds-1.4289159<br>
12. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04687.x<br>
13. http://www.infobarrel.com/An_Open_Letter_to_Dr_Margaret_Chan_Director-General_of_WHO<br>
14. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/commentaries/detail/zika-we-must-be-ready-for-the-long-haul<br>
15. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e000990.short<br>
16. https://reference.medscape.com/article/968385-workup<br>
17. https://eurekamag.com/pdf/004/004275017.pdf<br>
18. http://www.infobarrel.com/Media/WHO_World_Health_Organization_Endorsed_Wolbachia-Infected_Aedes_in_2016<br>
19. https://www.science20.com/news_account/wolbachia_genome_discovered_inside_drosophila_genome<br>
20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC308996<br>
21. http://www.infobarrel.com/Dr_Francis_M_Jiggins_You_Asked_How_Does_Wolbachia_Do_What_It_Does<br>
22. https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(14)00040-8/fulltext<br>
23. https://books.google.ca/books?id=fj7aU0qzTLYC&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=deadly+cultures+biological+weapons+since+1945+aedes+aegypti+the+feasibility+of+an+offshore+release&source=bl&ots=WarYT9lrIQ&sig=ACfU3U3Ir9bYJ9RHE4R7H59_ckwuwsPuhg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjG3Obf5J7gAhWTxIMKHQLLApkQ6AEwAHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=deadly%20cultures%20biological%20weapons%20since%201945%20aedes%20aegypti%20the%20feasibility%20of%20an%20offshore%20release&f=false<br><br>RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-52151572594658162172016-07-09T16:05:00.003-07:002017-04-20T13:30:30.650-07:00Why We Must Demand the CDC and Health Canada Enact Level 3 (Avoid Nonessential Travel)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<b>Coming Soon . .</b></h2>
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<b> Zika Documentary: The Whole Truth</b></h3>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b8311ywM22M/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b8311ywM22M?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<h3>
<b>CDC's Test Misses 40 Percent of Zika Infections, Sexually Transmitted Cases Not Reported, CDC Dismissed the Zika–Culex link, Virus May Lie Dormant and Reactivate Years Later, Antibodies to Dengue Magnifies Zika Virus Infection and more . . .</b></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SILB4AFfHnY/V-voFoNU6gI/AAAAAAAAXqQ/54tulYmBMNgLBo41y1W0bhfZg5ca20ZBQCLcB/s1600/New%2Bphoto%2Bfor%2BZika%2Bpetition.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="New America on flickr (CC-by-2.0) Zika, the Olympics, and Global Health Security Dr. Tom Frieden, CDC's Director" border="0" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SILB4AFfHnY/V-voFoNU6gI/AAAAAAAAXqQ/54tulYmBMNgLBo41y1W0bhfZg5ca20ZBQCLcB/s400/New%2Bphoto%2Bfor%2BZika%2Bpetition.png" title="Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by New America on flickr (CC-by-2.0)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: New America on flickr (CC-by-2.0) | Text by RoseWrites Sept. 28, 2016</td></tr>
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<br />
BREAKING NEWS from <i>The Washington Post </i>reporter<i> </i>Lena H. Sun (September 27th, 2016):<br />
<br />
Dr. Robert Lanciotti was demoted after he raised concerns about a new Zika test (he was chief of the CDC lab responsible for developing tests that detect diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas).<br />
<br />
Apparently, "the test is <b>substantially less effective than another established test</b>" and <b><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/09/27/cdc-whistleblower-claims-agency-has-been-using-wrong-zika-test" target="_blank">misses almost 40 percent of Zika virus infections</a></b>. He also said the<b> CDC withheld information about testing differences from state and local public health labs</b>.<br />
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The 2-page document out of Washington for immediate release is: <a href="https://osc.gov/News/pr16-28.pdf" target="_blank">OSC Calls for Further Review of Whistleblower Disclosures on Zika Testing</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypN-SIkb0xk/V4GQypjsiYI/AAAAAAAAVzg/B3U_zxg7pBUSwb1jiii8NeQ49SGDA0hcACLcB/s1600/Zika%2Bvirus%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUS%2B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="CDC mostly green map omits sexual transmission of Zika in the U.S. [Fair Use]" border="0" height="221" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypN-SIkb0xk/V4GQypjsiYI/AAAAAAAAVzg/B3U_zxg7pBUSwb1jiii8NeQ49SGDA0hcACLcB/s400/Zika%2Bvirus%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUS%2B.png" title="Laboratory-confirmed Zika virus disease cases reported to ArboNET by state or territory — United States, 2015–2016 (as of July 6, 2016)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CDC's mostly green map omits sexual transmission of Zika. [Fair Use] Click to enlarge.<br />
Dear CDC, If you fail to provide a separate category for both possibilities, then you are hiding crucial data. Because those quoting your map can simply state: 'There have been no sexually transmitted cases recorded" which is a dangerous falsehood. I see you chose green (a colour associated with "safe" or "good to go"). Subtle but noticeable!<br />
Lumping sexual transmission in with mosquito-borne transmission completely downplays the possibility (or rather, probability) that men are transmitting this virus at alarming rates. </td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Sexual Transmission is Dangerously Downplayed</h3>
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FACT: Even after removing pregnant women from the data, researchers found <b>women were 90 percent more likely</b> than men their age to be infected. After age 15, once sexual activity began, the rates in females shot up. Between the ages of 25 and 29, <b><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/health/zika-virus-sex-spread.html" target="_blank">women were three times as likely (as men) to be infected with Zika</a>.</b><br />
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FACT: As of June 30th, 2016 there were 1,674 confirmed cases of microcephaly associated with Zika infection in five countries. A <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/nmicrobiol2016126" target="_blank">study</a> published July 25th, 2016 suggests that 1.65 (1.45 to 2.06) million childbearing women and 93.4 (81.6 to 117.1) million people in total could become infected before the first wave of the epidemic concludes.<br />
<br />
In a <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/health/tens-of-thousands-of-babies-may-be-born-with-zika-disorders-study-1436021" target="_blank">related post</a>, experts not involved in the study said the <b>new estimate may be conservative</b>. Derek Gatherer of Lancaster University noted recent research which revealed that as many as <b>29 percent of babies of Zika-infected mothers develop problems</b>.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-weight: normal;">If so, "over half a million" children may ultimately be affected, he added.</i></h3>
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<b>Addendum August 4th, 2016:</b> For over a year, the <b>government has been censoring</b> its official medical statistics. A <a href="http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/the-great-zika-cover-up/70901" target="_blank">leaked government document examined by Dr. Julio Castro</a> revealed Venezuela's excessive and undiagnosed febrile cases ... <b>roughly 8,000 Zika infections a week.</b></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>
In Rio, suspected new outbreaks are down to "a few hundred a week" – a few hundred a week! The outbreak is clearly not over.</i></span></h3>
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An August 3rd, 2016 <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/08/more-zika-than-anybody-thought/494201" target="_blank">post</a> in <i>The Atlantic</i> confirms a similar problem. "Researchers found the <b>undercounting occurred in at least nine states</b>: Florida, California, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and Oregon. Northeastern's computer model <b>does not take sexual transmission of Zika into consideration</b>, even though it's one of the ways the virus is transmitted."<br />
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<b>Addendum July 15th, 2016: </b>The first case of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/15/health/zika-women-sex-transmission" target="_blank">female-to-male sexual transmission</a> of the Zika virus has occurred in New York City. "The timing and sequence of events support female-to-male Zika virus transmission through condomless vaginal intercourse," said the CDC.</div>
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Dr. Mary T. Bassett, New York's health commissioner stressed there were <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/16/nyregion/zika-virus-female-to-male-sexual-transmission.html" target="_blank">additional factors</a> that might have raised the risk of infection from female-to-male in this case:<br />
<br />
1) The male was uncircumcised.<br />
2) The woman was in the early stages of Zika infection when her viral load was high.<br />
3) The woman was also beginning her menstrual cycle and it was "heavier than usual".<br />
<br />
Therefore, it is <b>unclear if the Zika virus was transmitted to the man by the woman's menstrual blood or by vaginal fluids</b>.<br />
<br />
Finally, an August 1st, 2016 post by Maryn McKenna in <i>National Geographic</i> confirmed: <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/08/zika-florida-travel-sex-cdc" target="_blank">It's official: Zika is a sexually transmitted infection</a>. William Smith, Executive Director of the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD) in Washington, stated:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"We have been a little bit frustrated by the lack of focus on Zika as an STD when there has been credible evidence that <b>sexual transmission could be as important</b> a focus for us in preventing Zika as mosquito-borne transmission."</i></blockquote>
He pointed out that CDC-sponsored signs at airports mention avoiding mosquito bites and wearing mosquito repellent – but they don't show condoms.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Are Olympic Athletes Being Lied To?</h3>
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<b>Addendum July 21st, 2016:</b> In a <a href="http://www.voanews.com/content/zimbabwe-olympics-team-overcomes-zika-virus-fears/3427107.html" target="_blank">post</a> published July 20th, I found out that some members of Zimbabwe's soccer team "threatened to quit over lack of information about the Zika virus". When I viewed <a href="http://sistemas.mre.gov.br/kitweb/datafiles/Pretoria/en-us/file/Information_Zika_in_Brazil.pdf" target="_blank">this PDF compiled by Dr. Austin Jeans</a>, head of the Zimbabwe medical team to the Rio Olympics, my jaw dropped.<i> I sent an email to: INFO@zoc.co.zw to let them know.</i><br />
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Here's a screenshot (click to enlarge):<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1zfjIkT-nck/V5FhnRIebTI/AAAAAAAAV4Y/2rM_mU60-XwyZ3eaF3VQYWjQ69eo188UQCLcB/s1600/no%2Bevidence%2Bscreenshot%2Bpage%2B3%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Information provided to Zimbabwe Olympic Athletes by Dr. Austin Jeans" border="0" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1zfjIkT-nck/V5FhnRIebTI/AAAAAAAAV4Y/2rM_mU60-XwyZ3eaF3VQYWjQ69eo188UQCLcB/s400/no%2Bevidence%2Bscreenshot%2Bpage%2B3%2BUSE.png" title="INFORMATION ON THE ZIKA VIRUS OUTBREAK IN BRAZIL by Dr. Austin Jeans" width="400" /></a></div>
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More Deception and How Zika is Downplayed</h3>
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May 12th, 2016 we were told the risk of getting Zika was "only one in 500,000". <a href="http://qz.com/682702/the-games-will-go-ahead-tourists-have-a-near-zero-chance-of-getting-zika-at-the-rio-olympics" target="_blank">Tourists have a near-zero chance of getting Zika</a> at the Rio Olympics. </div>
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Brazil's health minister, Ricardo Barros (a civil engineer with no medical background) <a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/zika-virus-brazil-olympics-2817137-Jun2016" target="_blank">stated</a>: "The statistical forecast is that out of the 500,000 foreigners coming to the games in Rio, less than one tourist will be infected." </div>
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<i>Ricardo Barros faces an investigation for charges like corruption, embezzlement and crimes against the Tender Act, according to a May 16, 2016 <a href="http://www.caribflame.com/2016/05/brazils-newly-appointed-health-minister-investigated-for-corruption" target="_blank">post</a>.</i></div>
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And I found it amusing when Sidney Levy, CEO 2016 Rio Committee, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36644433" target="_blank">told the BBC</a> (June 27th, 2016): "In the winter months, there is<i> [sic]</i> no mosquitoes whatsoever."</div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Yet, the fifth photo in this July 26th, 2016 <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/1505203/olympic-village-slammed-again-as-belorussians-post-images-of-squalor-just-ten-days-before-games" target="_blank">post</a> shows them fogging the Olympic village. The caption says: </span><i>"They claimed that the <b>Olympic village needed mosquito treatment, visible by the fumes, every single day</b>."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Addendum August 9th, 2016: </b><i>USA Today</i> confirms the presence of mosquitoes at the Olympics. Here are some quotes from that <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/rio-2016/2016/08/08/olympic-venue-where-mosquitoes-live-but-theres-little-buzz-zika/88430868" target="_blank">report</a>:<br />
<br />
"On Saturday, the <b>influx of mosquitoes was extraordinary</b> ... <b>athletes were swatting mosquitoes</b> away from their faces as they stood atop the podium."<br />
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"... it transpired again on Monday as the <b>mosquitoes came from nowhere</b> just as the afternoon session was getting close to completion."<br />
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"When it gets dark they start to come. <b>If you get bitten it is annoying</b>, " said Ane Marcelle Gomes dos Santos, a Brazilian archer, to<i> USA Today Sports</i>.<br />
<br />
An August 26th, 2016 <i>NPR</i> post photo clearly shows about <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/08/26/491416709/guess-how-many-zika-cases-showed-up-at-the-olympics" target="_blank">43 mosquitoes hovering around one athlete</a>, South Korea's bronze medalist Ki Bo Bae, during the medal ceremony for archery (held on Aug. 11th) at the Rio Olympic Games.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Less Than One Zika Infection Suddenly Jumped to 80?</h3>
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July 31st, 2016 we are told "<b><a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/danvergano/dont-drink-the-rio-water?utm_term=.ueM4AbPBNY#.ptk5D4OVZR" target="_blank">only about 80 would catch Zika</a></b> ... Once the Games are over, <b>only four countries</b> (Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Yemen) face a higher-than-normal risk of Zika spreading to their countries because of the Olympics, the CDC said."</div>
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<i>The CDC, WHO, and Health Canada are giving the unspoken impression that about 80 people contracting Zika and those four lesser-known countries aren't worthy of being protected from a Zika outbreak. Obviously, the Olympics are far too important for shareholders and investors!</i></blockquote>
FACT: As <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(16)30230-4/fulltext" target="_blank">Dr. Attaran pointed out</a>, "... although the estimated 500,000 Olympic visitors seem an inconsequential drop in the bucket of global travel, consequence has come from much less. <b>Brazil's outbreak is hypothesized to have started with just one infected carrier</b> ..."<br />
<br />
Also, he noted that <b><a href="http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2016/junho/30/2016-021.pdf" target="_blank">Rio de Janeiro state has 29 percent of probable Zika cases, more than anywhere else in Brazil</a> </b>(even though some sources are stating "92 percent of Zika cases are far away from Rio").<br />
<br />
<b>If just one person began Brazil's Zika outbreak, then it stands to reason that 80 infected people = an 8,000 percent increased risk of causing an outbreak of Zika (like Brazil's). </b><i>See how I did that there?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
SARS was carried from China to Toronto, Singapore, and Hanoi when a 64-year-old medical doctor (staying on the ninth floor of Hong Kong's Metropole Hotel) transmitted the virus to at least 16 other hotel guests staying on the same floor. Some guests carried the disease abroad.<br />
<br />
A global outbreak of <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92476" target="_blank">SARS was thus seeded from a single person</a> on a single day on a single floor of a Hong Kong hotel.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Weather in Rio</h3>
<br />
FACT: It will not be "winter in Rio = no mosquitoes" as you've been led to believe. The "temperatures will likely run in the <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/rio-olympics-weather-forecast-heat-humidity-to-reign-over-summer-games-one-month-outlook/58583785#.V32AZGrk0TU.facebook" target="_blank">middle 80s to near 90 F (29 to 32 C)</a> throughout the Olympic Games."</div>
<br />
FACT: Water temperatures that are ideal for <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3992806" target="_blank">breeding Aedes mosquitoes is 80 F (27 C) give or take a few degrees</a>. Since water is generally a few degrees cooler than air,<b> Rio will have the perfect conditions for breeding the main type of Zika-carrying mosquito</b>.<br />
<br />
FACT: <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4236470" target="_blank">Mosquito larvae and pupae are reared at 23 C (73.4 F)</a>, 27 C (80.6 F), and 31 C(87.8 F) give or take a degree. And <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/br/rio-de-janeiro/45449/august-weather/45449" target="_blank">23 C (73.4 F) is the coldest day</a> predicted for the month of August in Rio de Janeiro.<br />
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Addendum August 8th, 2016: A <a href="http://awfulannouncing.com/2016/pierre-mcguire-apparently-saved-dan-patrick-from-zika-mosquitoes.html" target="_blank">post</a> by Ken Fang states: "... <b>mosquitoes are still flying around</b> even though this is the winter season in the southern hemisphere." Further along he wrote: "<i>Not many, </i><b style="font-style: italic;">probably two or three</b><i>, but I'm aware of it ... Pierre McGuire ... he noticed them </i><i style="font-weight: bold;">right above my head ...</i><i>" </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The same day, David Ramsey <a href="http://gazette.com/ramsey-blog-bad-news-iverson-quick-mosquitoes-invade-rio-games/article/1582224" target="_blank">wrote</a>:<i> "But the mosquitoes returned, and those same several thousand Olympic visitors are worried. Trust me on that one. After a week of no mosqitoes, I saw a buzzing flash in my hotel room. I had expect to see large and sinister super mosquitoes in Brazil, but this mosquito was surprisingly tiny ... <b>Three more tiny mosquitoes soon were buzzing around the room</b>."</i><br />
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<h3>
<b>But there's been no Zika cases linked to the Olympics . . .</b></h3>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
According to the CDC: "Testing for Zika virus can be performed within the first week of the onset of symptoms which include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On August 25th, 2016 <a href="http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2016/08/study-hints-greater-zika-sexual-transmission-threat-fetuses" target="_blank">WHO admitted</a> ". .. cases may still occur given that the Olympics ended on Aug 21 and most people are still in their 1-week incubation period."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
When diagnosed via a urine test known as rRT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), "the <a href="https://www.romper.com/p/how-long-does-zika-testing-take-researchers-are-working-to-speed-up-the-testing-process-11544" target="_blank">results can take weeks, perhaps even months</a> ...Reporting times may be longer during summer months or when arbovirus activity increases ... wait times for testing will likely be more than the minimum three weeks."</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"We don't know who is spreading Zika via sex that they acquired at the Olympics. We will need to monitor for impact for many, many months – not who got bitten over two weeks!" ~ Dr. Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University</i></blockquote>
September 14th, 2016: A <a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/zika-northern-ireland-2979389-Sep2016" target="_blank">post</a> in <i>TheJournal.ie</i> stated: "It's unclear as yet if the cases are a result of UK athletes travelling to Brazil for the Olympic Games ... The agency told the BBC that its policy is not to give the exact number of diagnosed cases if it is fewer than five, as it may identify those affected."<br />
<br />
And <i>The Irish Times</i> <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/zika-virus-cases-confirmed-in-northern-ireland-1.2790861" target="_blank">post</a> stated: "When asked if a person has been treated recently and if it was linked to travelling to the Olympic Games in Brazil, the spokeswoman said she could not provide a response as the organisation "does not talk about individual cases".<br />
<br />
Bottom line: If similar "policies" are in place in other regions of the world, I doubt we will get an accurate picture of the Zika cases that were acquired because the Olympic Games were held in Rio.<br />
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<b>Addendum October 8th, 2016:</b> In Hawaii, two doctors and the Hawaii Department of Health denied medical attention to a gentleman on the basis that he has not travelled. He documented the exchange:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mOjj6y1dum0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mOjj6y1dum0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Here is a transcript of what was said (starting at the 15-second mark):</div>
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Hawaii Dept. of Health Official (HO): "You're not listening to what I am saying. To get Zika virus, you either have to travel ... yeah, because we don't have Zika here."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Mr. Chris Casey (CC) informs this person that he doesn't <i>have</i> to travel to get Zika.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
HO: "If you go to a doctor and ask for a Zika test, they gonna ask you 'did you travel?' ... if you tell them 'no' then they gonna tell you 'sorry, we cannot test you [for Zika virus].'</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
CC: "Does that make any sense?"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
HO: "Well, because we don't have Zika here."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
CC: "No, you DO [have Zika], you just don't want to <i>admit</i> it."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
HO: "We don't have it (repeated)." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
CC: "That's why I'm not getting a [Zika] test right now. Because they don't want to admit that they have Zika here. <b>Hawaii has Zika and y'all don't want to tell anybody!</b> You're getting sued, the hospital is getting sued, I've been denied medical attention by multiple agencies."</blockquote>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Lost Pregnancies Related to Zika Not Tallied</h3>
<br />
FACT: The CDC isn't tallying the number of infants that have died from Zika. In <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zika-funding-obama-1.3661581" target="_blank">this CBC post</a>, the subheading clearly states: "U.S. has had 5 babies born with Zika-related birth defects and <b>5 Zika-related lost pregnancies</b>".<br />
<br />
And yet, the CDC are just reporting <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/08/health/utah-zika-death" target="_blank">"the first death related to the Zika virus in the U.S."</a> <i>Five dead babies don't count?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
FACT: A <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/cdc-zika-virus-pregnancy-miscarriage" target="_blank">post</a> dated February 26th, 2016 confirmed what I've read numerous times since: "Of the nine pregnant women in the U.S. with confirmed Zika virus cases, only three of the pregnancies have ended in live births, the CDC said today." [I don't think those six dead babies were counted.]<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
If Lost Pregnancies are Not Counted; Sexual Transmission is Being Downplayed</h3>
<br />
FACT: The CDC is not recording (or relaying to the public) the alarming rate of sexual spread of Zika. In this <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article88281902.html" target="_blank">post</a>, Tom Frieden, CDC's director, said, "... more than 1,100 Americans had become infected with the virus while traveling abroad. That <b>includes 14 sexually transmitted cases</b> and 320 pregnant women."<br />
<br />
Yet, in the first 14 seconds of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_pdkslbkvg" target="_blank">this</a> news item, it states: "Texas now has <b>53 confirmed cases of Zika but none of them yet from mosquitoes</b>." <i>And this in only Texas, not the entire U.S.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
FACT: The CDC has known (since February) about the sexual spread of Zika but has chosen to conceal crucial data.<br />
<br />
In <a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2016/02/23/us-sees-more-sexually-transmitted-zika-cases.htm" target="_blank">this</a> Courthouse News Service post, it states: "The agency <b>would not say where the new sexually transmitted Zika cases were discovered</b> since the risk applies to all women in the U.S., Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, deputy incident manager for Zika virus at the CDC, told CNN."<br />
<br />
Quotes from the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/23/health/cdc-investigating-more-cases-of-sexually-transmitted-zika" target="_blank">February 23rd, 2016 <i>CNN</i> post</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"These new reports suggest sexual transmission may be a more likely means of transmission for Zika than previously considered ... several of these cases are among pregnant women, although the CDC did not specify how many." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Officials have <b>not said which states</b> they are working with or where these women live because the risk applies to all women in the United States, according to Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, deputy incident manager fro Zika virus at the CDC."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We have been a little surprised by the number of suspected cases we've received, " she told CNN.</blockquote>
<b>To Dr. Jennifer McQuiston I say:</b><br />
<br />
<i>"I'm a little surprised that we know the first woman to have transmitted Zika to a man lives in New York – but you and the CDC are concealing the whereabouts of men who are infecting women? Your duty is to protect public health (which includes men, women, and children)."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Addendum August 26th, 2016: </b>A <i>CIDRAP</i> post titled<b> </b><a href="http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2016/08/study-hints-greater-zika-sexual-transmission-threat-fetuses" target="_blank">Study hints at greater Zika sexual transmission threat to fetuses</a> states the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>New findings hint that the spread to fetuses through the genital route might be more direct.</li>
<li>Surprisingly, vaginal virus replication and persistence, along with virus spread to fetal brains, was seen even in the wild-type mice.</li>
<li>Researchers saw significant replication in vagina tissue that persisted up to 4 to 5 days, longer than other sites of infection. In pregnant mice, they detected Zika virus in the brains of fetuses along with weight loss.</li>
</ul>
The study, <a href="http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(16)31053-4" target="_blank">Vaginal Exposure to Zika Virus during Pregnancy Leads to Fetal Brain Infection</a>, in <i>Cell</i> states:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Therefore, humans are naturally more susceptible to ZIKV infection than mice because infected cells can no longer respond to IFNs [interferons]. Consequently, we speculate that ZIKV introduced into the human vagina is likely to replicate more robustly than in the vaginal cavity of wild-type mice.</blockquote>
<i>Note: Interferons are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several pathogens (such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and tumor cells).</i><br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
U.S. Media Can Legally Distort or Falsify the News</h3>
<br />
FACT: The U.S. <b>media can legally lie to you</b>. A Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed that there is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDKLFn0pty4" target="_blank">no rule against distorting or falsifying the news</a> in the U.S.<br />
<br />
So when NBC's Olympics president, Gary Zenkel, <a href="http://www.recode.net/2016/7/4/12088374/rio-2016-olympics-zika-virus-brazil-nbc-gary-zenkel" target="_blank">stated</a>, "... you could contract Zika and it's a few bad days" he is in the clear (legally) to withhold the truth.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Zika Causes Both Microcephaly and GBS</h3>
<br />
FACT: Harvard's John Ross, MD, FIDSA <a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-zika-virus-201602019114" target="_blank">said</a>, "The Zika outbreak in French Polynesia was associated with a <b>20-fold increased risk of Guillain-Barré</b> syndrome (GBS) ... Two-thirds of patients lose the ability to walk and<b> 25 percent need a mechanical ventilator</b> to breathe (because of weak respiratory muscles) ... <b>20 percent are still unable to walk at six months</b> after diagnosis."<br />
<br />
FACT: Even in the best of settings, <b><a href="http://antiguaobserver.com/patient-being-treated-for-potentially-paralysing-zika-related-illness" target="_blank">three to five percent of GBS patients die</a> from complications</b>, which can include paralysis of the muscles that control breathing, blood infection, lung clots or cardiac arrest. People of all ages can be affected, however it is <b>more common in adults and in males</b>.<br />
<br />
FACT: Even the <a href="http://who.int/emergencies/zika-virus/situation-report/12-may-2016/en" target="_blank">WHO now admits</a>: "Based on research to date, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and GBS."<br />
<br />
August 2016: Stanford neurologist Carl A. Gold, MD, MS, and S. Andrew Josephson, MD, <a href="http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2526494" target="_blank">wrote</a> in <i>JAMA Neurology</i>, "Numerous factors will influence the number of cases of GBS in the United States. However, if conditions were to mimic the French Polynesian outbreak, then as many as <b>30,000 cases of Zika-associated GBS</b> might be expected."<br />
<br />
<b>Zika affects adult brains (especially learning and memory)</b>. In the journal <i>Cell Stem Cell</i>, scientists found the <a href="http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(16)30252-1" target="_blank">Zika virus drastically changes specific neural cells</a> once thought to be resistant to the virus.<br />
<br />
In a <a href="http://newswire.rockefeller.edu/2016/08/18/zika-infection-may-affect-adult-brain-cells-suggesting-risk-may-not-be-limited-to-pregnant-women" target="_blank">press release</a>, co-author Sujan Shresta said, "Zika can clearly enter the brain of adults and can wreak havoc ... the majority of adults who are infected rarely show detectable symptoms. Its effect on the adult brain may be more subtle, and now we know what to look for."<br />
<br />
Zika has also been linked to GBS, paralysis, uveitis, blindness, hearing problems, Alzheimer's disease, acute disseminated encephalomyelitits (ADEM) and probably more.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Zika Could Lay Dormant & Resurface Later or Cause Blindness</h3>
<b><br /></b>I <a href="https://plus.google.com/107889574670988423996/posts/WpoQQWkq79c" target="_blank">mentioned this concern</a> I had about Zika on June 14th, 2016:<br />
<br />
<i>"It appears to get past the blood-brain barrier, so we have no idea (down the road; even decades later) if it can become reactivated (like polio is with post-polio syndrome or shingles is with chicken pox)."</i><br />
<br />
Now, it appears to be coming true. A month later, in <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160714092229.htm" target="_blank">this</a> July 14th, 2016 <i>ScienceDaily</i> post it states:<br />
<br />
"... the [Zika] virus can still be detected in many GBS patients even months after their recovery ... akin to a similar phenomenon such as Herpes Zoster, where the <b>virus lies more or less dormant in the body for many years and then becomes active again</b> under certain circumstances such as stress or a weakening of the immune system and unleashes serious symptoms. Further research will have to examine what significance this fact has for another breakout of the Zika infection or the passing on of Zika viruses to other persons."<br />
<br />
FACT: <a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/07/zika_linked_to_serious_eye_infection" target="_blank">Zika-induced uveitis</a> (a serious and painful eye condition) can cause glaucoma, cataracts, and loss of vision. "It is the <b>No. 3 cause of preventable blindness</b> in civilized societies," said Dr. C. Stephen Foster, president of the Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution.<br />
<br />
September 6th, 2016: An <i>Independent</i> <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/zika-virus-tears-spread-infection-disease-study-mice-a7228811.html" target="_blank">post</a> by Ian Johnston stated:<br />
"Zika virus genes have been discovered in tears in a finding that may explain why some people with the disease go blind ... The researchers suggested that the eyes could be a reservoir of the virus, possibly helping it spread from one person to another."<br />
<br />
The<i> ScienceDaily</i> <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160906130949.htm" target="_blank">report</a> explained: "The eye is an immune privilege site, meaning the immune system is less active there, to avoid accidentally damaging sensitive tissues responsible for vision in the process of fighting infection. Consequently, infections sometimes persist in the eye after they have been cleared from the rest of the body."<br />
<br />
<b>Update September 15th, 2016:</b> <i>JAMA Ophthalmology</i> published <a href="http://archopht.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2552685" target="_blank">Presence of Zika Virus in Conjunctival Fluid</a> which states: "Although isolation of ZIKV in cell culture from urine, semen, saliva, and breast milk has been described, to our knowledge, <b>detection and isolation of ZIKV from conjunctiva has not been reported</b> so far."<br />
<br />
<b><i>Yet, over a month prior to this study, Ted Pestorius from the CDC thought tears might have been the reason behind the mysterious Utah case? On August 12th, 2016, he said, "It appears that the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/news/20160811/new-zika-threat-late-onset-microcephaly?page=2" target="_blank">son may have caught the virus as he wiped his father's tears</a>."</i></b><br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Brazilian Strain of Zika Has Dangerously Mutated</h3>
<br />
FACT: The <b>Brazilian strain is clearly the worst</b> yet. A Harvard T.H. Chan <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/zika-virus-in-brazil-may-be-mutated-strain/" target="_blank">post</a> states: "The outbreak in Brazil seems to be from the Asian strain, which may have evolved to be better at invading nerve cells or at evading the immune system ... what is worrying is that we don't know what may have changed, and why."<br />
<br />
April 15th, 2016: A <i>Time</i> article called <a href="http://time.com/4295827/zika-mutation-transmission" target="_blank">Zika Mutates Extremely Quickly, Which Is Why It's So Scary</a> confirmed that when <b>researchers from UCLA and China compared 40 strains of Zika, they discovered a variety of differences</b> between them.<br />
<br />
Notably, the strains they collected from humans (in this outbreak) did not match the strains seen in mosquitoes. Study author Stephanie Valderramos added, "It could be we haven't been looking hard enough. <b>If we can't find them, it brings into question whether the mosquito is the primary mode of transmission</b> in the current epidemic."<br />
<br />
The researchers suggest that other modes of transmission, like sex, may play a bigger role.<br />
<br />
June 23rd, 2016: A <a href="https://brocku.ca/brock-news/2016/06/zeroing-in-on-zika" target="_blank">post</a> by Erica Bajer in <i>The Brock News</i> included the comments of Dr. Fiona Hunter, medical entomologist and researcher. It stated: "Hunter says Zika has been around since 1947 in Africa, but <b>over time has</b> <b>clearly mutated</b> and become a greater risk to human health."<br />
<br />
July 11th, 2016: <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zika-virus-gene-replikins-significant-mutations-detected-300296785.html" target="_blank">Replikins Ltd. announced</a> that <b>recent rapid significant Zika virus gene mutations have been detected</b> ... predicts Zika intensification and spread of outbreaks in the coming year.<br />
<br />
September 8th, 2016: A <i>Reuters</i> <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-singapore-idUSKCN11E0O9" target="_blank">post</a> confirmed that a DNA analysis of Zika in Singapore "revealed <b>slight differences between the strains</b> ... Raymond Lin, head of the National Public Health Lab, said the strain in Singapore and Brazil were slightly different, but it was not clear what this meant."<br />
<br />
September 10th, 2016: A <i>Firstpost</i> <a href="http://www.firstpost.com/india/as-zika-heads-to-india-an-older-strain-in-indians-prepare-for-a-second-coming-2998508.html" target="_blank">article</a> quoted Dr. Peter Hotez who stated: "<b>Zika appears to have undergone a significant number of mutations</b>, possibly in its NS1 gene, to make it more neurotropic (affecting the nervous system) and better adapted to grow in humans and mosquitoes. It has become a pandemic strain."<br />
<br />
<i>The NS1 gene helps the Zika virus replicate and evade a response from the human immune system.</i><br />
<br />
Earlier this year, 238 health experts from 40 countries <a href="http://rioolympicslater.org/health-experts-response-to-who-on-zika-and-the-olympics-may-30-2016" target="_blank">countered</a> the excuse "Zika is already circulating in 60 countries" with:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"It is not true that 60 countries have the new, more dangerous strain of virus that is causing microcephaly and brain damage in children in Brazil." </b></blockquote>
They added:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"While routine travel out of Brazil already has exported that viral strain somewhat, the Olympics are different because they summon travellers from literally every country in the world and can spread infection with unsurpassable efficiency. <b>Not even other mass gatherings like the World Cup have the global reach of the Olympics</b>."</blockquote>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
CDC and Health Canada Fail to Enact Level 3 Travel Alerts </h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
FACT: Dr. Michael Burgess (Congressman and Ob/Gyn for 25 years) and Mr. John Cornyn (U.S. Senator) penned a <a href="http://burgess.house.gov/uploadedfiles/cornyn_and_burgess_zika_letter_to_state_and_cdc_6.17.16.pdf" target="_blank">3-page letter to both Dr. Tom Frieden, CDC's director, and John F. Kerry</a>, Secretary of State, asking that they provide detailed responses to six glaring issues. Here are just three:<br />
<br />
1) Explain why Zika-related travel risks is not on the 'Alerts and Warnings' page.<br />
2) Explain why the CDC does not consider Zika an unprecedented threat to public health to warrant a Level 3 travel alert (avoid all non-essential travel).<br />
3) Provide a detailed analysis why the CDC does not consider this virus as presenting a high risk of harm to the next generation of Americans.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Proof the Gov't Knows Containment (Travel Restrictions) Work</b></h3>
<div>
<br />
A June 10th, 2016 <i>PLOS</i> research article <a href="http://currents.plos.org/outbreaks/article/flirt-ing-with-zika-a-web-application-to-predict-the-movement-of-infected-travelers-validated-against-the-current-zika-virus-epidemic" target="_blank">FLIRT-ing with Zika: A Web Application to Predict the Movement of Infected Travelers Validated Against the Current Zika Virus Epidemic</a> starts out by stating:<br />
<br />
"Developing accurate tools to anticipate Zika spread is one of the first steps to mitigate further spread of the disease ... air traffic data and network simulations can predict where infectious disease may spread and aid in the prevention of infectious diseases."<br />
<br />
<i>Sounds virtuous enough, right? This next sentence in the study proved to me that travel restrictions would help stop the spread of Zika.</i><br />
<br />
"This study assumed that the <b>rate of imported Zika cases over time in U.S. locations would be proportional to the number of flights from Zika-affected areas."</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
But then further along, this sentence disturbed me: "Despite these areas being at the most risk of receiving travelers infected with Zika Virus [sic], the environmental conditions at these locations may not be conducive to sustained local transmission."<br />
<br />
<i>Yikes! In my mind, that sounded a bit like "sustained local transmission" was the desired outcome. I later discovered that four of the five study authors are from EcoHealth Alliance. The <a href="http://www.ecohealthalliance.org/partners" target="_blank">CDC is listed as one of their Governmental Partners</a>.</i><br />
<br />
On<b> </b>August 22nd, 2016, I read the following quote in <i>The New Yorker </i>post titled <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/22/the-race-for-a-zika-vaccine" target="_blank">The Race For A Zika Vaccine</a>:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"That's what happened with Ebola. Containment halted the spread of the infection – a great thing – but it made it difficult to test the vaccine." ~ <a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/directors/biography/pages/biography.aspx" target="_blank">Dr. Anthony Fauci, NIAID Director</a><br />
<br />
Published September 2nd, 2016, was the following interview with Derek Gatherer, a lecturer at Lancaster University who specializes in virology.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8e8QLuNpOxg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8e8QLuNpOxg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Notably, at the 2:53 mark, he stated: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i>"The number of places in the world that are potentially going to get the [Zika] virus back from Brazil depends on the air travel between Brazil and those parts of the world."</i></b></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Peppered throughout the interview, Gatherer also stated: </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>"As it [Zika] travels back from Brazil via international air travel and so on"</li>
<li>"direct air travel"</li>
<li>"hubs of high air travel"</li>
<li>"high levels of traffic from Latin America"</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
He <b>never </b>answered the last question: "Is there more that could be done to stop the spread of this now? Could the World Health Organization (WHO) be taking more action at this phase?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you watch the video a second time, it becomes clear that the agenda is to push a vaccine which will be too little, too late. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Right now, travel restrictions would allow this wave of the Zika infection to burn itself out rather than have 1/3 of the world's population (2.6 billion people) be put at risk.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What's more, the "<b>CDC says that the chance of Zika-carrying mosquitoes getting on board commercial flights is slight and it <a href="https://airwaysmag.com/industry/how-do-airlines-deal-with-zika" target="_blank">does not recommend any prophylactic spraying of cabins</a>."</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Gee, it's almost as though the CDC and WHO want Zika to spread globally. And it seems that pushing a vaccine (that won't be ready in time for this wave of infections) is the false hope they are peddling.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<h3>
</h3>
<h4>
Prior to the Olympics, I heard: <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12209168/2016-rio-olympics-zika-virus-health-risks" target="_blank">"But the flu kills more people than Zika!"</a></h4>
<br />
While the flu definitely kills more people worldwide, it's important to note:<br />
<br />
a) You can recover fully from the flu. In fact, <b>most people make a full recovery and won't experience any further problems</b>. With Zika, we don't know that is possible. The most worrisome finding to date:<br />
<br />
The Zika virus can still be detected in many GBS patients even months after recovery and behaves similar to Herpes Zoster (where the <b>virus lies dormant for years and then becomes active again and unleashes serious symptoms</b>).<br />
<br />
b) Several groups of people who are at increased risk for flu complications: pregnant women, young children (under 5 and especially under 2 years of age), people 65 and older, and those with certain diseases such as: chronic lung disease, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, immunosuppressing conditions (like HIV or transplantation) and other diseases.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>My point: To begin life with microcephaly (which could have been prevented if authorities enacted level 3 travel restrictions) is a guaranteed lifetime of severe developmental problems. Sadly, many of these babies die. Plus, it costs between $1 million and $10 million to care for a child with microcephaly.</b></i></blockquote>
Problems with Zika (even for adults) include permanent blindness, paralysis, inability to breathe without a ventilator, memory and learning problems, hearing problems, Alzheimer's disease, acute disseminated encephalomyelitits (ADEM), and death. There could be more issues that have yet to be discovered.<br />
<br />
While flu is definitely worthy of note (and can be fatal), catching it does not leave most otherwise healthy people with so many uncertainties. Plus, we do have flu vaccines. [They are formulated according to the strain(s) circulating each year and their effectiveness can vary.]<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Another Mosquito Species is Probably a Vector</h3>
<br />
FACT: <b>It is a lie that only Aedes mosquitoes carry Zika</b>. According to researchers in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CHRTDcrCvI" target="_blank">this</a> report (scroll to 2:10 mark), the most alarming finding was revealed:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"There is probably another species involved in Zika transmission, call it Culex." ~ Constancia Ayres, research coordinator of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation</b></blockquote>
Ayres agreed with the reporter's conclusion: "So the government has only part of the picture, you found it in another one. And it's more dangerous because it breeds anywhere."<br />
<br />
After checking over 1500 mosquitoes, <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/top-mosquito-suspect-found-infected-zika" target="_blank">nearly half were Aedes aegypti<b> </b>and most of the rest were Culex quinquefasciatus</a>, a common mosquito. About 5 percent of the collected mosquitoes were other species.<br />
<br />
Plus, the "<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/zika-virus-countdown-funding-done-it-s-not-coming-us-n607091" target="_blank">Culex species are typical night-biters</a> that breed in open pools of water. The Aedes species that spread not only Zika but yellow fever, dengue and chikungunya, are different. They breed in and around homes and bite during the day."<br />
<br />
FACT: The study <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473-3099(16)00073-6.pdf" target="_blank">Identification of Zika virus vectors and implications for control</a> published March 2016 states:<br />
<br />
"Vector control strategies must be <b>directed at all potential vectors</b>. To assume that the main vector is A aegypti in areas in which other mosquito species coexist is naive, and could be catastrophic if other species are found to have important roles in Zika virus transmission."<br />
<br />
<b>Addendum July 22nd, 2016:</b> A Globe and Mail <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/zika-virus-found-in-second-mosquito-species-is-very-bad-news-for-brazil/article31070755" target="_blank">post</a> by Stephanie Nolen confirmed the worst. Zika was found in <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i> in Recife – ground zero for the outbreak of fetal brain defects.<br />
<br />
"The WHO said it was relying on 'current epidemiological evidence' even though Zika was not found in an Aedes aegypti mosquito here until May."<br />
<br />
Culex have significant behavioral differences and necessitate different response strategies. Aegypti bite in the day; Culex bite at night (so bed nets would offer the best protection). The first species breeds in clean water, while the second prefers polluted waterways (such as sewage canals).<br />
<br />
FACT: Olympic athletes are almost certain to come into contact with <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/ap-investigation-reveals-olympic-athletes-will-swim-in-raw-sewage-in-r-1882079359.html" target="_blank">disease-causing viruses</a> that measured up to <b>1.7 million times the level of what is considered hazardous</b>, according to an AP investigation.<br />
<b><br /></b>
On the WHO's page <i><a href="http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/bathing/statement-rio-water-quality/en" target="_blank">Water quality for the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro</a> </i>it actually states:<br />
<br />
"WHO does not currently recommend testing of viruses ..." even though they also state:<br />
"There are specific exceptional circumstances where viral testing may add value, such as part of an investigation into a confirmed outbreak of disease where there may be a viral cause."<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></i>
<i style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT?! Doesn't the Zika virus count? </i>Since Culex quinquefasciatus prefer breeding in polluted, sewage-laden waterways, <b>I'd bet my bottom dollar that Rio's Olympic waterways are teeming with the Zika virus.</b><br />
<br />
On June 11th, 2016, Reuters <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-superbacteria-exclusive-idUSKCN0YW2E8" target="_blank">reported</a>: "Rio's Olympic organizing committee referred questions on water quality to state authorities. Rio state's Inea environmental agency responded in an email that they: "follow the WHO's recommendations" and that "<b>searching for super bacteria is not included</b> in that."<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>
Unreal! They don't test for viruses nor super bacteria.</i></span></h2>
<br />
A <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/01/rio-de-janiero-water-pollution-olympics-2016" target="_blank">post</a> in <i>The Guardian</i> confirmed: "After the AP's initial report, the Olympics' adviser on health matters, the <b>WHO, said it would carry out its own viral testing </b>in Rio's Olympic waterways. The <b>agency later flip-flopped, finally concluding that bacterial tests alone would suffice</b>." [Gee, I wonder what the WHO found, don't you?]<br />
<br />
<b>Addendum August 2nd, 2016:</b> A Brazilian virologist engaged by the AP found consistent and dangerously high levels of viruses that can cause stomach and respiratory illnesses – including<b> heart and brain inflammation.</b><br />
<br />
In the Marina da Gloria, <b>viral readings were actually higher in June 2016 than March 2015</b> despite efforts from authorities, according to an ABC <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-02/rio-olympics-still-facing-water-pollution-fears/7681006" target="_blank">post</a> by Mary Gearin and Luke Pentony.<br />
<br />
Peter Sowrey was fired as chief executive of World Sailing when he asked for a change of venue for the athletes – he didn't resign. <i>Nearly 1,400 athletes at this summer's Olympics will come in contact with highly contaminated waterways.</i><br />
<br />
<h4>
Getting Back to Mosquitoes and Other Mysteries . . .</h4>
<br />
<b>Addendum July 23rd, 2016:</b> The Fiocruz institute <a href="http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/preliminary-study-says-another-mosquito-species-living-nevada-can-spread-zika" target="_blank">said</a> a similar study on Culex mosquitoes hasn't produced the same results and it's <b>possible the tested mosquitoes are genetically different</b> than mosquitoes found elsewhere.<br />
<br />
<b>September 7th, 2016:</b> The study <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27599470?dopt=Abstract" target="_blank">Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus: a potential vector to transmit Zika virus</a> stated:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Eight of nine infant mice had positive brains after being bitten by infected mosquitoes. This means that <b>Culex pipiens quinquefasciastus could be infected with and transmit ZIKV</b> following oral infection. These results clearly demonstrate the potential role of Culex as a vector of the Zika virus ..."</blockquote>
<b>September 28th, 2016:</b> A <a href="https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-case-emerging-culex-mosquito-unexpected-zika-spreader" target="_blank">post</a> by Susan Milius in <i>ScienceNews</i> confirmed the following:<br />
<br />
Data shared at the <a href="https://entomologytoday.org/2016/09/27/zika-symposium-orlando" target="_blank">International Congress of Entomology on September 26th</a> (including researchers from Brazil, China, and Canada) found the "Zika virus building up in some [types of] Culex mosquitoes".<br />
<br />
In Canada, Dr. Fiona Hunter "has found signs that 11 out of 50 wild-caught Culex pipiens mosquitoes picked up the virus somewhere on their bodies. So far, she has completely analyzed one mosquito and reports that <b>the virus was indeed in its saliva</b>".<br />
<br />
<i>Note: Viruses must infect the mosquito midgut, travel to the salivary glands, and build up enough of an infective dose to be considered a vector of disease.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Up next, recent findings shared at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb_qpFGd2js" target="_blank">Zika Symposium at 2016 International Congress of Entomology</a>. Short on time? Scroll to 30:30 to hear Dr. Constancia Ayres from Fiocruz in Brazil explain her Culex findings:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yb_qpFGd2js/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yb_qpFGd2js?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<h3>
A Known Survival Rate in GM Mosquitoes . . .</h3>
<br />
As mentioned in a previous <a href="https://www.change.org/p/participating-countries-athletes-and-citizens-boycott-the-2016-rio-summer-olympics/u/16988441" target="_blank">petition update</a>, Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher <a href="http://www.econexus.info/publication/release-gm-mosquito-aedes-aegypti-ox513a" target="_blank">published</a> concerns September 2010 that a <b>known survival rate in genetically-modified mosquitoes </b>(Aedes aegypti OX513A (NRE(S)609-2/1/3), <b>warranted further study</b> <i>before</i> their release. Her concerns were echoed by other scientists but have been ignored or quashed. <i>Perhaps we need to revisit this?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<h3>
An Outlier or Cause for Concern (Indirect Contact May Spread Zika)?</h3>
<b><br /></b>
<b>July 18th, 2016:</b> The <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-infection-idUSKCN0ZY22S" target="_blank">caregiver of a man who died from Zika (in Utah) has contracted the virus</a>. The caregiver (<a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/son-of-utah-man-with-zika-related-death-contracted-the-virus-1468862925" target="_blank">his son</a>, according to the Wall Street Journal) did not travel to where Zika is circulating; nor had sex with anyone who had traveled to where Zika is found.<br />
<br />
<i>I found it odd that WHO changed their wording (shown below) <b>four days prior</b></i><i><b> to Utah case</b>. I know "probably via a sexual route" isn't a smoking gun, but they used to be darn sure that "sharing utensils or a toothbrush" couldn't spread Zika. I get the sense that the WHO and CDC know a lot more about Zika than they are disclosing to the public.</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMWNlXcrXG0/V5FA4gbXfjI/AAAAAAAAV3c/ke0PHWz4hpQxWw23ArlV4PBggxtro-FaQCLcB/s1600/WHO%2Bsituation%2BReport%2BJuly%2B14the.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WHO's Zika situation report July 14, 2016 hint at another mode of transmission (other than sexual)" border="0" height="251" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LMWNlXcrXG0/V5FA4gbXfjI/AAAAAAAAV3c/ke0PHWz4hpQxWw23ArlV4PBggxtro-FaQCLcB/s400/WHO%2Bsituation%2BReport%2BJuly%2B14the.png" title="World Health Organization "Emergencies" Zika situation report for 14 July 2016" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On July 14th, 2016 WHO was no longer definitive about sexual transmission.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Utah's Department of Health "are not aware of any mosquitoes in Utah that carry the Zika virus" but they only mentioned Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. <i>Fortunately, they will be testing area mosquitoes (I hope that includes Culex).</i><br />
<br />
As well, they will be checking the caregiver for skin diseases, cuts, or any other route of infection. So far, the Zika virus has been found in blood, saliva, fluid inside the eye, breast milk, urine, semen, and genital tract swabs. <i>[It wasn't until September 6th, 2016, that published reports emerged that the Zika virus was found in tears, even though CDC's Ted Pestorius mentioned tears as a possible cause in the Utah case a few weeks earlier, on August 12th, 2016].</i><br />
<br />
Update August 2nd, 2016: According to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDVbEvz130A" target="_blank">KSL News report by Ladd Egan</a>, Utah health officials do not believe that local mosquitoes transmitted the virus to the deceased gentleman's son. And, they are still not sure how it was transmitted.<br />
<br />
Update August 12th, 2016: Ted Pestorius, an assistant incident manager for the CDC's Zika response, said "it appears that the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/news/20160811/new-zika-threat-late-onset-microcephaly?page=2" target="_blank">son may have caught the virus as he wiped his father's tears</a>." The CDC is considering whether it needs to revise guidelines for those who treat and care for people with Zika.<br />
<br />
<b>Update September 15th, 2016:</b> <i>JAMA Ophthalmology</i> published <a href="http://archopht.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2552685" target="_blank">Presence of Zika Virus in Conjunctival Fluid</a> which states: "Although isolation of ZIKV in cell culture from urine, semen, saliva, and breast milk has been described, to our knowledge, <b>detection and isolation of ZIKV from conjunctiva has not been reported</b> so far."<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>I wonder why Ted Pestorius from the CDC thought tears might have been the reason behind the mysterious Utah case? On August 12th, 2016, he said, "It appears that the <a href="http://www.webmd.com/news/20160811/new-zika-threat-late-onset-microcephaly?page=2" target="_blank">son may have caught the virus as he wiped his father's tears</a>."</i></b></blockquote>
<b>Update September 28th, 2016: </b><i>The New England Journal of Medicine</i> confirmed the father did, in fact, suffer a <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1610613" target="_blank">fatal zika virus infection</a>. This case highlights the sobering fact that <b>"those who are not severely immunocompromised or chronically ill may nevertheless be at risk for a fatal infection."</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Addendum July 19th, 2016: </b>Miami may have <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article90617692.html" target="_blank">Florida's first locally acquired case of Zika</a>. A notable point: "Health officials are also trapping mosquitoes in Utah and testing them for the virus to assess the potential for local transmission. However, the two species known to transmit Zika are not known to be present in Utah."<br />
<br />
<i>Could this possibly indicate that Culex (or some other species) is also spreading Zika? It's too bad the <a href="http://undark.org/2016/05/02/realistic-culex-mosquito-carry-zika" target="_blank">CDC flat out rejected the Zika–Culex link in May 2016</a>.</i><br />
<br />
FACT: There is no way to tell if a mosquito is carrying the Zika virus. <a href="http://www.zikavirusnet.com/transmission.html" target="_blank">Infected female mosquitoes may also transmit the Zika virus to their offspring by transovarial (via the eggs)</a> transmission. Eggs can survive for very long periods in a dry state, often for <a href="http://www.denguevirusnet.com/life-cycle-of-aedes-aegypti.html" target="_blank">more than a year</a>. The only need a bit of water to hatch.<br />
<br />
<b>Addendum August 30th, 2016:</b> The <i>American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene</i> study <a href="http://www.ajtmh.org/content/early/2016/08/23/ajtmh.16-0448" target="_blank">Vertical Transmission of Zika Virus in Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes</a> states:<br />
<br />
"Female Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were injected with ZIKV, and their adult progeny were tested for ZIKV. Of 69 Ae. aegypti pools, six consisted of a total of 1,738 adults, yielded ZIKV ... In contrast, none of 803 Ae. albopictus adults (32 pools) yielded ZIKV."<br />
<br />
FACT: So far, I've discovered two U.S. health departments that have the wrong information about Culex and Aedes mosquitoes:<br />
<br />
"Stark County Health Department is setting up traps to catch tiger mosquitoes [aka A. albopictus], which the CDC has identified as possible secondary carriers of Zika ..." [Yet, <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/top-mosquito-suspect-found-infected-zika" target="_blank">only 2 percent were found to carry Zika</a>].<br />
<br />
And in <a href="http://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Portals/0/Health/Epi/FAQ_Zika%20Virus%20and%20Mosquitoes%20in%20Idaho_FINAL.pdf?ver=2016-02-23-083419-487" target="_blank">this</a> Idaho FAQ, it states on page two: "No, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the Culex mosquito, known for its ability to spread West Nile virus (WNV) in Idaho and elsewhere, could spread Zika virus."<br />
<br />
FACT: The <b>CDC has known about researchers' suspicions that Culex mosquitoes could transmit Zika since January 2016</b>. The proof is as follows:<br />
<br />
This January 27th, 2016 <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/12125647/Brazilian-experts-investigate-if-common-mosquito-is-transmitting-zika-virus.html" target="_blank">post</a> by Priscilla Moraes confirmed: "... scientists are now studying whether the culex mosquito could also be passing on the infection ... The study is expected to last three weeks."<br />
<br />
And this March 4th, 2016 <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/a-mosquito-common-in-u-s-may-transmit-zika-study-finds" target="_blank">post</a> by Katie Worth stated:<br />
<br />
"One of the most common mosquitoes in the U.S. may have the capacity to carry the Zika virus ... If further research confirms the early results detected in 12 Culex mosquitoes, many <b>countries could be forced to radically rethink their mosquito control campaigns</b>."<br />
<br />
The conclusion (published March 3rd, 2016) in <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0004543" target="_blank">Differential Susceptibilities of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus [tiger mosquitoes] from the Americas to Zika Virus</a> states:<br />
<br />
"This study suggests that although susceptible to infection, <b><i>Ae. aegypti</i> and <i>Ae. albopictus</i> were unexpectedly low competent vectors for ZIKV</b> [aka Zika]. This may suggest that <b>other factors</b> such as the large naive population for ZIKV and the high densities of human-biting mosquitoes contribute to the rapid spread of ZIKV during the current outbreak."<br />
<br />
FACT: In a May 2nd, 2016 <a href="http://undark.org/2016/05/02/realistic-culex-mosquito-carry-zika" target="_blank">post by Aleszu Bajak</a> I learned:<br />
<br />
"The<b> CDC has dismissed the Zika–Culex link entirely</b>. Tom Skinner, a senior press officer at the CDC, responded in an email: "[There's] nothing to suggest Culex playing any role in transmission of Zika."<br />
<br />
A Rutgers University entomologist, Dina Fonseca, explained more about Culex (which are hardier and about 20 times more prevalent than Aedes mosquitoes):<br />
<br />
"... some populations have already adapted to living side-by-side with humans ... and are as efficient at biting humans as Aedes aegypti. Larvae will develop in sewers and pit latrines and adults live in people's houses."<br />
<br />
My point: The CDC knew in January 2016 that another type of mosquito could be spreading Zika. Yet in the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zap/pdfs/preparing-and-responding-to-zika.pdf" target="_blank">CDC's 50-page Zika Action Plan</a>, I searched the words "Aedes albopictus" (aka tiger mosquito) and "Culex" and here is what came up.<i> Draw your own conclusions:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bowviJIQ1Jw/V4XgDxjHCEI/AAAAAAAAV0w/1RTkkfJaWTUSX3xRikLIp6VTJv92Wm_1ACLcB/s1600/Aedes%2Balbopictus%2Bphotos%2B1%2Band%2B2%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aedes albopictus found on pages 29 and 31 of CDC's 50-page Zika Action Plan" border="0" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bowviJIQ1Jw/V4XgDxjHCEI/AAAAAAAAV0w/1RTkkfJaWTUSX3xRikLIp6VTJv92Wm_1ACLcB/s400/Aedes%2Balbopictus%2Bphotos%2B1%2Band%2B2%2BUSE.png" title="CDC's 50-page Zika Action Plan partial screenshot of pages 29 and 31" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On pages 29 and 31 of CDC's Zika Action Plan (50-page PDF) [Fair Use]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And further along, I found a map of the distribution of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZS3370yIK0/V4XhHis0PDI/AAAAAAAAV1A/0oaEEBxQPRw52ZD6pwXbmx0FgnI9eNHxACEw/s1600/Aedes%2Balbopictus%2Bphoto%2B3%2Band%2B4%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pages 31 and 35 of CDC's Zika Action Plan where Aedes mosquitoes are mapped" border="0" height="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZS3370yIK0/V4XhHis0PDI/AAAAAAAAV1A/0oaEEBxQPRw52ZD6pwXbmx0FgnI9eNHxACEw/s400/Aedes%2Balbopictus%2Bphoto%2B3%2Band%2B4%2BUSE.png" title="CDC's Zika Action Plan where Aedes albopictus is mentioned" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On pages 31 and 35 of CDC's Zika Action Plan (50-page PDF) [Fair Use]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The CDC has lumped both types of mosquitoes together for home and property owners:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Edo0rw5Jkm4/V4XjfebGK_I/AAAAAAAAV1E/dXbDAvEFi3QcKxBHA4EW_nuu13dET44hQCLcB/s1600/Aedes%2Balbopictus%2Blast%2Bphoto%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Focus at individual property level in CDC's Zika Action Plan" border="0" height="142" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Edo0rw5Jkm4/V4XjfebGK_I/AAAAAAAAV1E/dXbDAvEFi3QcKxBHA4EW_nuu13dET44hQCLcB/s400/Aedes%2Balbopictus%2Blast%2Bphoto%2BUSE.png" title="CDC's Zika Action Plan where Aedes albopictus is mentioned for property owners" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On page 42 of CDC's Zika Action Plan (50-page PDF) [Fair Use]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The only two places where "Culex" appeared in CDC's 50-page PDF (click to enlarge):<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ201__HV80/V4XklNCvgFI/AAAAAAAAV1M/ujnfVnRn-ZArMt_236VH-ND21NTwmRZ8QCLcB/s1600/Culex%2Bphoto%2B1%2Band%2B2%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Culex is only mentioned twice in CDC's Zika Action Plan " border="0" height="243" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ201__HV80/V4XklNCvgFI/AAAAAAAAV1M/ujnfVnRn-ZArMt_236VH-ND21NTwmRZ8QCLcB/s400/Culex%2Bphoto%2B1%2Band%2B2%2BUSE.png" title="CDC's Zika Action Plan where Culex is mentioned" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On pages 36 and 43 (where West Nile Virus info begins) [Fair Use]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
April 1st, 2016 is the date on <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pdfs/zika-mosquito-maps.pdf" target="_blank">this map</a> the CDC provides to educate the public. And yet I cannot find any map of the Culex mosquito range (unless I include the term "West Nile Virus"). <i>The Guardian</i> did a fabulous job of showing the global range of Culex mosquitoes, so have a peek <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/ng-interactive/2015/aug/11/mosquitoes-malaria-west-nile-virus-world-health-organization-africa-europe-latin-america" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Wondering if Culex quinquefasciatus (the mosquito studied in Brazil) means the northern Culex pipiens mosquito doesn't pose a threat?<br />
<br />
According to University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (UF|IFAS): "... there is a broad hybrid zone where <b><a href="http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/aquatic/southern_house_mosquito.htm" target="_blank">Culex quinquefasciatus freely mates with Culex pipiens</a></b> Linnaeus, which is usually not found south of 39 degrees N."<br />
<br />
FACT: A <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/02/19/canadian-scientists-to-study-zika-virus-to-see-if-mosquitoes-here-can-spread-it.html" target="_blank">post</a> in <i>The Star </i>states: "According to Hunter, [a medical entomologist], Ontario has 67 mosquito species, about five of which have appeared in the last decade. About "a dozen species" already here could be potential vectors, or disease carriers, of the Zika virus, she says."<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Columbia No Longer Testing For Zika?</h3>
<br />
<b>Addendum July 24th, 2016: </b>In a <a href="http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2016/07/24/lifestyle/health/969217.txt" target="_blank">post</a> by Jane Moon Dail titled <i>I got tested for the Zika virus</i>, I was alarmed to discover this:<br />
<br />
Dr. Teresa Foo, DHEC medical consultant, said: "... anyone bitten by mosquitoes in Columbia does not have to worry about Zika ..."<br />
<br />
I wonder why? Especially since on January 26th, 2016, <i>ScienceDaily</i> <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160126162447.htm" target="_blank">published</a> results from a study in the journal <i>Emerging Infectious Diseases</i> which stated:<br />
<br />
"Columbia is now only second to Brazil in the number of known Zika infections, " said study lead author Matthew Aliota.<br />
<br />
<i>Are we not counting the number of Zika infections any longer in certain areas CDC and WHO?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Addendum September 24th, 2016: </b>In a post by <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XXQPExkAAAAJ" target="_blank">Ian M. Mackay, PhD</a>, titled <a href="http://virologydownunder.blogspot.ca/2016/09/colombia-zika-virus-report.html" target="_blank">Columbia Zika virus report, Epidemiological Week No. 37</a>, I discovered the following key points:<br />
<ul>
<li>The number of "suspicious CZVS (congenital Zika virus syndrome) cases in Columbia are accruing faster than the pace of complete investigation can keep up with".</li>
<li>The figure being reported "has no clear understanding of the number of aborted or miscarried fetuses from ZIKV-positive pregnant women".</li>
</ul>
Dr. Mackay put together a brilliant <a href="http://virologydownunder.blogspot.ca/2016/09/colombia-zika-virus-report.html" target="_blank">graph</a> which depicts the ZIKV-positive cases and those under investigation (shown below). Visit <a href="http://virologydownunder.blogspot.ca/2016/09/colombia-zika-virus-report.html" target="_blank">VDU's Blog</a> for more details.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m42cfjlROdg/V-c1vlMRC7I/AAAAAAAAXpQ/RLiXhOl4ghUO1BXSfkhI9Wx4bn8-DGMqgCLcB/s1600/COLOMBIA_Microcephaly-ZIKV-Confirmed_Week37-2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="VDU's Blog by Ian M. Mackay, PhD. "Colombia Zika virus report, Epidemiological Week No. 37..."" border="0" height="316" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m42cfjlROdg/V-c1vlMRC7I/AAAAAAAAXpQ/RLiXhOl4ghUO1BXSfkhI9Wx4bn8-DGMqgCLcB/s400/COLOMBIA_Microcephaly-ZIKV-Confirmed_Week37-2016.png" title="Dr. Ian M. Mackay, PhD "Colombia Zika virus report, Epidemiological Week No. 37..." VDU's Blog" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> VDU's Blog Post: Colombia Zika virus report, Epidemiological Week no. 37</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Mosquito Bites Make Viruses Deadly</h3>
<br />
<b>What about herd immunity?</b> The idea behind herd immunity is that once a large percentage of the population has become immune to an infection it protects others who haven't acquired it. And I've read several opinions that "once lots of people get and recover from Zika" it will be safer for everyone.<br />
<br />
But here's the kicker: In the June 21st, 2016 issue of the journal <i>Immunity</i>, scientists <a href="http://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(16)30205-9" target="_blank">reported</a> <b>mosquito bites enhance virus replication and dessemination and increase host mortality. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
"Virus infection with mosquito bites mediated earlier and greater dissemination of virus to <b>remote lymphoid tissue</b> and to the <b>brain</b> and <b>in a significant proportion of the mice, converted an avirulent infection into a lethal one</b>."<br />
<br />
<i>Yeah, a fairly mild infection became a deadly one in a "significant" number of mice. So the idea that everyone should get bitten by mosquitoes, acquire Zika, and we'll all be protected is downright dangerous, in my opinion.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>ADE and Flavivirus Cross-Enhancements</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
A February 1st, 2016, <i>Time</i> <a href="http://time.com/4202262/zika-brazil-doctors-recife-investigation-outbreak" target="_blank">post</a> revealed: "In Recife [Brazil] alone, there was an 800 percent increase in the cases of dengue in 2015 compared to 2014, but many of those cases may turn out to be Zika ... <b>Current lab tests often mix up dengue and Zika</b>."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jailson Correia, health secretary of Recife, explained, "From those cases, we have confirmation of about 60 percent ... Because <b>dengue and Zika cases have cross reaction</b>, some of the confirmed cases of dengue might have been Zika."<br />
<br />
<b>ADE = antibody-dependent enhancement </b>Scott B. Halstead, MD, a leader in dengue research, explained ADE like this:<br />
<br />
"Over time, you make and keep protective levels of antibody from the initial infection, but you lose the cross-reactive antibodies. That allows a second infection to cause severe illness. The longer the interval [between infections with different strains], the more severe the disease."<br />
<br />
<b>July 5th, 2016:</b> A <i>PLOS</i> research article <a href="http://currents.plos.org/outbreaks/article/utility-of-a-dengue-derived-monoclonal-antibody-to-enhance-zika-infection-in-vitro" target="_blank">reported</a>: "Our results demonstrate that ADE between ZIKV and DENV is possible and that the 4G2 antibody is a useful tool for the effects of pre-existing anti-DENV antibodies during ZIKV infections."<br />
<br />
In short: <b>Zika virus infection in vitro was enhanced in the presence of a dengue antibody</b> (known as 4G2 mAb). ADE leads to an increase in viral replication and increased viral load of the host.<br />
<br /></div>
<b>July 28, 2016: </b>A <i>CIDRAP</i> post by Stephanie Soucheray titled <a href="http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2016/07/contrary-dengue-vaccine-response-hints-possible-problems-zika" target="_blank">Contrary dengue vaccine response hints at possible problems with Zika</a> has me concerned even more about the World Health Organization.<br />
<br />
In April 2016, <a href="http://time.com/4296193/who-dengue-vaccine" target="_blank">WHO approved the first dengue vaccine</a>. But Dr. Halstead immediately saw a glaring problem with the 3-year results of the vaccine CYD-TDV (Dengvaxia, Sanofi Pasteur). He said:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It's clear as the nose on my face: <b>Vaccine recipients less than 5 years old had five to seven times more rates of hospitalizations</b> for severe dengue virus than placebo controls."</blockquote>
Dr. Halstead is referring to a problem dengue researchers have feared; the <b>vaccine probably causes ADE (antibody-dependent enhancement)</b>. He explained:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Over time, you make and keep protective levels of antibody from the initial infection, but you lose the cross-reactive antibodies. That allows a second dengue infection to cause severe illness, including dengue hemorrhagic fever. The longer the interval [between infections with different dengue strains], the more severe the disease."</blockquote>
With a Zika vaccine, this has to be ruled out. Scott Michael, PhD, co-author of <a href="http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/04/25/050112" target="_blank">Dengue Virus Antibodies Enhance Zika Virus Infection</a>, confirmed there is <b>plenty of literature that shows cross-enhancements of disease within the flavivirus family</b>.<br />
<br />
Vincent Racaniello, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University in New York, added:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Given the recent observation that <b>antibodies to dengue virus enhance Zika virus infection</b>, one must also wonder if immunization with CYD [Dengvaxia] can lead to worse Zika virus disease. It's clear that CYD is not the dengue vaccine that the world needs."</blockquote>
Apparently, the Philippines recently "bought 1 million doses of the vaccine" and <a href="http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/04/04/1569212/doh-starts-dengue-vaccinations-today" target="_blank">began vaccinating children on April 4th, 2016</a> which also reminded me that the <a href="http://sports.inquirer.net/217236/athletes-undergo-strict-zika-testing-return-says-doh" target="_blank">Philippine Olympic team will be screened for Zika</a> upon their return after the Games.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"We will screen them when they get back – quarantine and blood test. If negative within 24 hours, they are free to go home," said Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial.</blockquote>
The thing is: the Philippines is only sending about a dozen athletes. I wonder if this is an extra precaution because of the known chance of cross-enhancements? And do these athletes know?<br />
<br />
As of March 2016, <a href="http://sanofipasteur.com/en/articles/Strategic-Advisory-Group-of-Experts-on-Immunization-Convened-by-the-World-Health-Organization-Recommends-Use-of-Sanofi-Pasteur-s-Dengue-Vaccine-in-Endemic-Countries.aspx" target="_blank">Dengvaxia was licensed in Mexico, the Philippines, Brazil, and El Salvador</a>. Review processes for the vaccine are underway in other countries where dengue is a public health priority.<br />
<br />
The manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, has spent over 20 years developing the vaccine at a <a href="http://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/disease/news/philippines-licenses-dengue-vaccine-but-usage-on-hold.html" target="_blank">cost of about 1.5 billion euros (or $1.6 billion US)</a>.<br />
<br />
The decision by the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS) to approve the vaccine was based on more than <b>25 clinical trials conducted by Sanofi Pasteur in 15 countries</b> – <a href="http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/yellowfever.htm" target="_blank">including Mexico</a> – which involved over 40,000 volunteers.<br />
<b style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></b>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">When I tried to find out where these 25 clinical trials were conducted or the countries of origin for 40,000 volunteers, all I found were these statements on the <a href="http://www.sanofipasteur.ca/node/16102" target="_blank">R & D section of the Sanofi Pasteur webpage</a>:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Sanofi Pasteur works with the WHO</b> and the Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative, a program of the International Vaccine Institutes funded by the Gates Foundation.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;">Sanofi Pasteur's dengue vaccine research program includes ongoing clinical studies (adults and children) in <b>endemic regions such as Asia and Latin America</b>.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">The <i>Wall Street Journal</i> <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/sanofis-dengue-vaccine-dengvaxia-recommended-for-use-by-who-1460715657" target="_blank">states</a>: "The WHO's recommendations are based on the review of data from 25 clinical studies conducted in <b>15 different endemic and non-endemic countries</b> around the world, the company said."</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">On the WHO's webpage <a href="http://www.who.int/immunization/research/development/dengue_q_and_a/en" target="_blank">Questions and Answers on Dengue Vaccines</a>, the following countries were mentioned: <b>Mexico</b>, 5 countries in <b>Asia</b>, 5 countries in <b>Latin America</b>, and <b>Thailand</b>. <i>The "5 countries" in Asia and Latin America are not identified – or perhaps I cannot find them.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Then, when I looked at the </span><a href="http://www.chathampublichealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dengue-Fever-Outbreak-on-World-Map1.jpg" style="line-height: 16px;" target="_blank">map of where dengue is endemic</a><span style="line-height: 16px;">, it struck me as obvious why there seems to be little concern for Florida's outbreak of Zika – or for the rest of the U.S. for that matter. </span><i style="line-height: 16px;">But holy crap, it looks like there's a red dot on Utah!</i><br />
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 16px;">Oddly, on CDC's <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/active-countries.html" target="_blank">All Countries & Territories with Active Zika Virus Transmission</a> page (as of July 26th, 2016), <b>Thailand was not listed</b>. But when I viewed the <a href="http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/zika_virus_infection/zika-outbreak/Pages/Zika-countries-with-transmission.aspx" target="_blank">ECDC's Current Zika transmission page</a> (July 29th, 2016), I was stunned to see that <b>a large portion of Thailand</b> was colored pink – indicating <b>widespread transmission in the past three months</b>. Shown next (click to enlarge):</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMCDi71Xhuk/V57XXlx2MFI/AAAAAAAAV54/yyYcmocZbDUpFS9BFNcB-RgeaZtaXWh1gCLcB/s1600/Current%2BZika%2Btransmission%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ECDC Current Zika Transmission Worldwide Thailand Has Widespread Transmission in the Past 3 Months" border="0" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMCDi71Xhuk/V57XXlx2MFI/AAAAAAAAV54/yyYcmocZbDUpFS9BFNcB-RgeaZtaXWh1gCLcB/s400/Current%2BZika%2Btransmission%2BUSE.png" title="Current Zika Transmission Worldwide Map by ECDC Showing Thailand" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Current Zika Transmission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Addendum August 1st, 2016:</b> On page 11 of a 48-page PDF <a href="http://www.denguevaccines.org/sites/default/files/Americas%20Dengue%20Prevention%20Board%20-%20Bogota%202015.pdf" target="_blank">Development of Dengue Vaccines: A Review of the Status and Future Considerations</a>, I found the following countries are (were) included in Sanofi Pasteur CYD-TDV Phase III testing:<br />
<i>Authors' note: I underlined the countries where a Zika outbreak has been confirmed.</i></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b>CYD14 Asia:</b> <u>Thailand</u>, <u>Vietnam</u>, <u>Philippines</u>, <u>Malaysia</u>, and <u>Indonesia</u> </li>
</ul>
<div>
Note: On September 9th, 2016, I underlined Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia based on the "Countries with Endemic Zika" listed in the right sidebar of <a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-information" target="_blank">this CDC page (updated Aug. 30th)</a>.</div>
<ul>
<li><b>CYD15 Latin America:</b> <u>Mexico</u>, <u>Honduras</u>, <u>Puerto Rico</u>, <u>Columbia</u>, and <u>Brazil</u></li>
</ul>
<div>
August 1st, 2016: <a href="http://sputniknews.com/latam/20160802/1043850912/number-zika-infected-mexico-soars.html" target="_blank">In just 19 days, the number of Zika virus infections in Mexico rose by 496</a> and reached 1,285 said the Mexican Health Ministry. Approximately 256 pregnant women were infected during this time period (bringing the total number to 61).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/five-enduring-questions-about-zika" target="_blank">post</a> by Maggie Koerth-Baker revealed more of the same concerns about cross-enhancements within the flavivirus family:</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are four dengues – distinct genetic subtypes of the virus – and contracting one doesn't grant you immunity to the others. Instead, the immune response produced by the first infection <a href="http://www.nature.com/scitable/content/model-of-antibody-dependent-enhancement-of-dengue-22403433" target="_blank">can help other kinds of dengue invade your body</a> more efficiently later.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>The result is higher quantities of virus in your bloodstream and more severe effects of the disease. </b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I wonder if this was a factor in the Utah case?</span></h3>
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"It's possible that there could be similar effects happening with Zika in people who have already been infected with other mosquito-borne viruses."</b> ~ Ernest Gould, retired prof of virology at Oxford and visiting prof of emerging viruses at Aix-Marseille in France</i></blockquote>
<b>Addendum August 9th, 2016:</b> I was relieved to read the following in the <i>AAAS</i> research article <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2016/08/03/science.aah6157.full" target="_blank">Protective efficacy of multiple vaccine platforms against Zika virus challenge in rhesus monkeys</a>:<br />
<ul>
<li>Future studies (including preclinical; <i>before</i> human trials) will need to address the potential impact of <b>cross-reactive antibodies against dengue virus and other flaviviruses</b>.</li>
<li>Secondary infection with a heterologous dengue serotype can be <b>clinically more severe than initial infection</b> – which may or may not reflect ADE (antibody-dependent enhancement).</li>
<li>Cross-reactive antibodies between Zika and dengue virus have also been noted and <b>dengue-specific antibodies have increased Zika</b> replication in vitro.</li>
<li>The relevance and implications of these findings for Zika vaccine development <b>remain to be determined</b>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Human Vaccine Trials Already? And During Mosquito Season?</h3>
<div>
<br />
August 3rd, 2016: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have begun a <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/lifestyles/emory-among-three-us-study-sites-for-clinical-tria/nr882" target="_blank">human clinical trial of a DNA vaccine to prevent Zika</a>. At least 80 healthy volunteers (ages 18 to 35) are enrolled at: NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland; the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore (north-central Maryland); and The Hope Clinic in Atlanta, Georgia.<br />
<br />
Apparently, <a href="http://www.wilx.com/content/news/First-human-Zika-vaccine-trial-is-underway--389119842.html" target="_blank">volunteers received the experimental injection Tuesday</a> (August 2nd, 2016), even though <a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/06/first-experimental-zika-vaccine-gets-nod-from-fda-moves-to-human-trials" target="_blank">September was the initial start date</a>. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/experimental-zika-vaccine-nih-begins-testing-in-humans" target="_blank">Results are expected by the end of 2016</a> and if deemed safe (and effective), NIAID plans to begin trying it out in Zika-endemic countries by early 2017.<br />
<br />
According to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-usa-idUSKCN10E2AY" target="_blank">this</a> Reuters post, U.S. vaccine maker Inovio Pharmaceuticals won the FDA's approval in June to begin testing its DNA Zika vaccine in humans. Clinical trials began last month (July 2016) and involve 40 healthy adult volunteers in Miami, Philadelphia, and Quebec City.<br />
<br />
<h4>
The problems with a DNA vaccine . . .</h4>
<div>
<br />
In an eye-opening <a href="https://bionews-tx.com/news/2016/07/19/interview-with-dr-peter-hotez-on-likelihood-of-timely-zika-vaccine" target="_blank">interview with Dr. Peter Hotez</a> published July 19th, 2016 by Kara Elam, I discovered the following key points:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>The biomedical literature is filled with dozens, if not hundreds, of DNA vaccine candidates that worked in mice, but none have produced protective immunity in humans.</li>
<li>"In the case of Zika, you want to see high levels of neutralizing antibody, and to my knowledge, we have just not seen that in DNA vaccines ... you never say never, but so far the advancement of DNA vaccines is disappointing."</li>
</ul>
<div>
On June 20th, 2016, a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/20/human-testing-experimental-zika-vaccine-virus" target="_blank">post</a> in <i>The Guardian</i> by Jessica Glenza included these comments by Dr. Peter Hotez:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"What is not really being said is that once phase one trials are completed, it is likely that progress towards licensure will slow significantly. The FDA or other regulatory bodies will need to see trials to <b>ensure the vaccine does not induce Guillain-Barré syndrome</b>, as does the Zika virus itself. Since the vaccine would likely be needed for pregnant women (or women who are about to become pregnant), the FDA will want to see extensive safety data in these populations."</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
The reality:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>"The average time to take a vaccine from the lab to somebody's arm is about 10 to 15 years."</i></b> ~ <i>Karen Kotloff, pediatrics prof, head of infectious disease at Maryland University's School of Medicine, and member of the FDA's vaccine and related biological products advisory committee</i></blockquote>
My concern is that phase I is being conducted <i>during</i> mosquito season in these regions of the world (and I also wonder if these volunteers know about all of the known risks to date – particularly GBS, ADE and flavivirus cross-reactive enhancement).<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Aerial Spraying</h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<b style="line-height: 16px;">Addendum July 23rd, 2016: </b><span style="line-height: 16px;">On July 3rd, I </span><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107889574670988423996/posts/TQaP15tSwHc" style="line-height: 16px;" target="_blank">shared a post on Google</a><span style="line-height: 16px;">: </span><b style="line-height: 16px;">Brazil won't tell people what the h*ll they are spraying</b><span style="line-height: 16px;">. Now, I wonder if it was (is) Naled. In </span><i style="line-height: 16px;">The Huffington Post</i><span style="line-height: 16px;">, Laura Barron-Lopez </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/puerto-rico-zika-pesticide_us_5792af47e4b01180b52f1b94" style="line-height: 16px;" target="_blank">reported</a><span style="line-height: 16px;">:</span></div>
<br />
"... the federal government came close to spraying a pesticide across Puerto Rico that is highly toxic and presents the most danger to pregnant women."<br />
<br />
The <b>CDC even shipped it</b> (an insecticide called Naled) to Puerto Rico <i>without</i> notifying the commonwealth.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, Puerto Rican Gov. Padilla decided <i>against</i> using Naled. He confronted the CDC and questioned why he was not alerted to the shipment.<br />
<br />
Naled is a neurotoxin "among the class of the most toxic pesticides" and even at legally allowed exposure levels is "definitely not safe during early brain development," confirmed senior scientist Jennifer Sass to <i>The Huffington Post</i>.<br />
<br />
Update: Washington Examiner's Robert King <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/puerto-rican-city-sues-to-stop-zika-spraying/article/2597634" target="_blank">wrote</a>,"The <b>Puerto Rican city of San Juan is suing the federal government</b> ... a San Juan city official objected to the use of the pesticide [Naled], but the <b>CDC responded it would carry out the spraying 'with or without the consent and cooperation of local authorities,'</b> the lawsuit noted."<br />
<br />
<b>Addendum August 7th, 2016:</b> In a <i>KCAL9 CBS Los Angeles </i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5k4OIvW0Zk" target="_blank">report</a>, Dr. Claire Panosian Dunavan, an infectious disease expert, stated (at the 3:55 minute mark): "They're now using Naled <b>which has been used in Puerto Rico." </b><i>Oops, the cat is outta the bag now CDC!</i><br />
<br />
The No Spray Coalition put out an excellent <a href="http://nospray.org/naled-insecticide-fact-sheet" target="_blank">NALED Insecticide Fact Sheet</a>. Key points:<br />
<ul>
<li>CDC states chemicals used to kill adult mosquitoes by ground or <b>aerial applications are usually the least efficient</b> mosquito control technique.</li>
<li>New York's Department of Health reported that 11 years of Naled spraying was successful in achieving short-term reductions in mosquito abundance, but <b>populations of the disease-carrying mosquito of concern <i>increased</i> 15-fold over the 11 years of spraying</b>.</li>
<li>In lab animals, <b>exposure to Naled for just three days during pregnancy reduced brain size by 15 percent</b>.</li>
<li><b>Naled was 20 times more toxic to rats when inhaled</b> than by eating contaminated food or water.</li>
</ul>
On August 3rd, 2016, a Reuters <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-insecticide-idUSKCN10E06Q" target="_blank">post</a> confirmed Florida will use Naled in its aerial campaign to control Zika. They had been using two products in the <a href="http://nospray.org/medical-studies-indicating-health-hazards-from-pyrethroid-pesticides" target="_blank">pyrethroid class of insecticides</a> but CDC director, Thomas Frieden, said vector control efforts have not been as effective as hoped.<br />
<br />
And speaking of aerial, on September 8th, 2016 I discovered an <i>Airways</i> <a href="https://airwaysmag.com/industry/how-do-airlines-deal-with-zika" target="_blank">post</a> which stated:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Traditionally, airlines operating into regions where there is a risk of malaria-carrying mosquitoes or other unwelcome insect life having sneaked on board have a simple solution: just spray the cabin with aerosols of insecticide on departure."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"However, the <b>CDC says that the chance of Zika-carrying mosquitoes getting on board commercial flights is slight and it does not recommend any prophylactic spraying of cabins.</b>"</blockquote>
On September 21st, a <a href="http://www.chron.com/news/article/Predict-Zika-s-spread-It-s-hard-enough-to-count-9237531.php" target="_blank">post</a> by Donald G. McNeil Jr. confirmed what most people are thinking after the CDC lifted its travel advisory for the Wynwood area of Miami, Florida:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Virtually no entomologists believe that the transmission of Zika is limited to a few square miles of downtown Miami and Miami Beach, no matter how vigorously state officials insist it is.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"That's just dreaming – it's totally unrealistic. Mosquitoes move around, people move around. Mosquitoes even move by car sometimes," said Duane J. Gubler, CDC's former director of the vector-borne diseases division.</blockquote>
<h4>
Why isn't the CDC recommending Bti, an organic larvicide? [Addendum September 24th, 2016: Oh wait, they did use Bti, but the <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/double-dose-pesticides-stops-zika-mosquitoes-cdc-says-n653686" target="_blank">CDC is still crediting Naled for "what ended the outbreak"</a> in the Wynwood area]. <i style="font-weight: normal;">Funny, I never heard anything about Bti being used previously or recommended by the CDC.</i></h4>
<div>
<i style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></i></div>
<div>
A 1985 <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2466106" target="_blank">study</a> concluded granular formulations of Bti controlled Ae. aegypti in tires for 19 to 33 days and Bti briquets exhibited larvicidal activity in large containers for 26 to 78 days. A 2003 <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15119068" target="_blank">study</a> stated <b>Bti are highly effective against mosquito larvae</b> at very low doses and safe for other non-targeted organisms. <i>Note: I explain more about Bti at the end of this blog post.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Florida Instructed to Keep Mosquito Sites Secret</b></h3>
<i><br /></i>
A September 25th, 2016, <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article104093681.html" target="_blank">post</a> in the <i>Miami Herald</i> states: "Florida's health department strongly denied instructing local officials to keep the information confidential – and said the decision was entirely up to Miami-Dade – after the <i>Miami Herald</i> <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/news/health-care/article103715552.html" target="_blank">reported</a> that a county attorney said the state agency had ordered them to keep it a secret."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article102811527.ece/binary/Miami%20Herald%20complaint" target="_blank">The Miami Herald lawsuit</a> made 26 solid points justifying the disclosure "of the locations on grounds that the information would help the public make decisions about precautions to take if they live or work nearby" and "also inform the community debate regarding the use of the insecticide Naled".<br />
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Underestimating Ebola and Bungled Yellow Fever Response</h3>
<br />
FACT: The WHO acknowledged in 2014 that it botched attempts to stop the Ebola outbreak. In a draft document, WHO admitted:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"Nearly everyone involved in the outbreak response failed to see some fairly plain writing on the wall. A perfect storm was brewing, ready to burst open in full force."</b></blockquote>
Reporters were told that the document would be issued publicly, but the WHO reneged stating in an email that it "would now probably <b>not be released publicly</b>" and no official at the agency would comment, according to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ebola-outbreak-who-admits-it-botched-early-attempt-to-stop-disease-1.2802432" target="_blank">this</a> CBC post.<br />
<br />
On August 4th, 2016, the CBC posted <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/yellow-fever-vaccine-un-1.3707747" target="_blank">7 key findings from UN's bungled response to yellow fever</a>. <i>The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).</i> I was shocked to learn the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>About 1 million doses of the vaccine disappeared.</li>
<li>Vaccines were sent (and used) in areas that did not have yellow fever <i>without</i> explanation.</li>
<li>Some vaccines were shipped to infected regions without syringes.</li>
<li>Vaccines weren't always kept cold enough to be effective.</li>
<li>Diluted or fractional dosing was proposed as a plan to stretch availability.</li>
</ul>
What's more, WHO's Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan emailed Dr. Joanne Liu ... to resolve the problem. And <b>to avoid bad publicity, Chan asked Liu not to share the email</b>.<br />
<br />
FACT: During the Ebola crisis, we were fed the following headlines:<br />
<div>
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-15/ebola-virus-lives-on-in-semen-months-after-recovery-study-finds/6856844" target="_blank">Ebola virus lives on in semen months after recovery, new research finds</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/ebola/54105" target="_blank">Ebola Virus Remains in Semen for Up to 9 Months</a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/2016/04/08/sierra-leone-ebola-free-world-health-organization-438123.html" target="_blank">Ebola virus remains present in semen for as long as 18 months</a><br />
On August 30th, 2016: <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/ebola-semen-1.3742197" target="_blank">Ebola virus lasts in semen for up to 565 days: study</a> [over 1.5 years!]<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
FACT: The CDC admits, "<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/sexual-transmission.html" target="_blank">We don't know exactly how long Zika stays in semen</a> or how long it can be passed to sex partners."<br />
<br />
FACT: In a <a href="http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/06/30/rio-olympics-zika" target="_blank">WBUR 90.9 post</a>, Dr. Dean Blumberg explained, "So it's [Zika] been detected up to 62 days after infection, <b>but that's where they stopped checking.</b> So does that mean it's still viable 70 days, 80 days, three months, six months later?"<br />
<br />
<b>Addendum July 21st, 2016:</b> A <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(16)30153-0/fulltext" target="_blank">study</a> published in <i>The Lancet</i> journal Infectious Diseases states: "Zika virus was <b>detected in semen 93 days after the onset of Zika</b> fever symptoms." Data from this case indicates:<br />
<br />
1) People returning from non-epidemic areas (such as Thailand) can become infected with the Zika virus.<br />
2) Semen can carry <b>Zika virus produced in a currently unknown replication reservoir</b>.<br />
<br />
<b>Addendum August 12th, 2016:</b> <i>The Huffington Post</i> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/zika-could-live-in-semen-way-longer-than-previously-thought_us_57ace306e4b0718404106ddf" target="_blank">pointed out</a> the results of two reports <a href="http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=22554" target="_blank">published</a> in the journal <i>Eurosurveillance</i>.<br />
<br />
One man's <b>semen tested positive for the Zika virus 188 days post-infection</b> and a second man's semen tested positive 181 days after infection.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Therefore, Zika can live in semen for over 6 months!</i></span></h2>
<br />
But the CDC has not changed their recommendations. Apparently, Dr. John T. Brooks, CDC's senior medical adviser, countered that Zika virus in semen doesn't necessarily imply the presence of infective virus. He told <i>The Huffinton Post</i>, "If we find there's a need to change current recommendations, we'll do it as soon as we can."<br />
<br />
An August 26th, 2016 <i>CNN </i><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/25/health/zika-hides-vagina-bloodstream" target="_blank">post</a> stated:<br />
"Researchers have known for some time that Zika can be transmitted via semen from men to women, hiding in the testes, where it can avoid the immune system; in fact, there is mounting evidence that it can continue to replicate in the testes – and even increase the viral load – for months after infection."<br />
<br />
Doesn't it seem a little disconcerting that we are told <a href="http://www.who.int/ith/updates/2016_04_11/en" target="_blank">1-month</a>, then <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zika-pregnancy-phac-1.3473130" target="_blank">2-months</a>, then <a href="https://www.romper.com/p/how-soon-can-you-get-pregnant-after-traveling-to-a-zika-zone-doctors-have-issued-a-few-important-precautions-6821" target="_blank">6-months</a> and then (in some cases) <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/as-zika-virus-spreads-el-salvador-asks-women-not-to-get-pregnant-until-2018/2016/01/22/1dc2dadc-c11f-11e5-98c8-7fab78677d51_story.html" target="_blank">2 years to wait to have children</a>?<br />
<br />
I find it alarming that the media (including doctors) and the Olympic committees and their team doctors are putting their trust in the World Health Organization (WHO). Especially since I discovered <a href="http://www.who.int/ith/updates/2016_04_11/en" target="_blank">this April 11th, 2016 update on the WHO's website</a> which <i>still</i> states:<br />
<br />
"Advise travellers from areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission to practice safer sex and not to donate blood for at least <b>1 month</b> after return, to reduce the potential risk of onwards transmission."<br />
<br />
<i>And I'm disturbed that I've found travel sites using this WHO webpage to advise travelers.</i><br />
<br />
It wasn't until May 31st, 2016 that WHO said "you should <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/31/health/zika-who-sex-guidelines/index.html" target="_blank">wait a full eight weeks</a> to have unprotected sex or attempt to conceive a baby, even if you have no symptoms of the disease." Previously, WHO suggested taking precautions or abstaining for only four weeks.<br />
<br />
FACT: <b>One in five people infected have no symptoms</b> (<a href="http://www.odh.ohio.gov/zika" target="_blank">80 percent have no idea they are infected</a>). And <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/06/15/zika-can-cause-microcephaly-even-if-moms-have-no-symptoms/" target="_blank">Zika can cause microcephaly even if moms have no symptoms</a>.<br />
<br />
FACT: <b><a href="http://www.webmd.com/news/20160811/new-zika-threat-late-onset-microcephaly" target="_blank">Late-onset microcephaly</a></b> can occur when mothers are infected late in their pregnancies. At birth, babies appear to have normal-sized heads. But by six months of age, they have microcephaly because their head hasn't kept up with normal growth.<br />
<br />
A FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) <a href="http://www.figo.org/news/zika-may-be-responsible-many-deformities-say-scientists-0015335" target="_blank">post</a> states Zika may be responsible for many deformities (such as arthrogryposis) and that microcephaly is just one aspect of <b>congenital Zika syndrome</b>.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
What About Our Blood Supply?</h3>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>October 21st, 2016: </b>See the comments section of my following public Facebook post (only Canadian Blood Services has responded to me):<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="641" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Frose.webster.39%2Fposts%2F1041276192664559&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<br /></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Why Mosquito Repellents Won't Work For Everybody</h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Think DEET-containing bug repellents will work?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the 80s and 90s this neurotoxin came with multiple warnings. Dr. Mohammed Abou-Donia of Duke University studied lab animals' performing neuro-behavioural tasks requiring muscle co-ordination. He <a href="http://www.environmentalhealth.ca/spring03hazards.html" target="_blank">reported</a>:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Lab animals exposed to the equivalent of average human doses of DEET performed far worse than untreated animals.</li>
<li>Combined exposure to DEET and permethrin can lead to motor deficits, learning and memory dysfunction.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>Yet, I've noticed in the last couple of years, DEET has somehow been magically deemed safe!</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Warnings state for children 6 months to 2 years of age, only concentration of <b>less than 10 percent DEET</b> should be used and <b>only once a day</b>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For children 2 to 12 years of age, again, only concentrations of <b>less than 10 percent DEET</b> and it should <b>not be applied more than 3 times a day</b>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pregnant women shouldn't use DEET (and mosquitoes are drawn to pregnant women because they exhale more carbon dioxide and their bodies are generally warmer than the rest of us).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Problem is: CDC says < 10 percent DEET may only offer limited protection (only 1 to 2 hours) and recommends using products with (at least) 20 percent DEET.<br />
<br />
Bottom Line: <b>Pregnant women and children under 12 years of age will not be able to protect themselves adequately using the most effective (and recommended) mosquito repellents.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lastly, I urge you to listen to Dr. Peter Hotez, scientist, pediatrician, and advocate in the fields of global health, vaccinology, and neglected tropical disease control. He is the founding dean and chief of the Baylor College of Medicine National School of Tropical Medicine in the Department of pediatrics and holds the Texas Children's Hospital Endowed Chair in Tropical Pediatrics.</div>
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Note: If you are short on time, scroll to the 6-minute mark:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s2gQ_Y30EaM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s2gQ_Y30EaM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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If you want to help mitigate the spread of the Brazilian strain of Zika, I have a petition you can sign (you don't have to donate and you can put "no sorry" in place of zip code or postal code): </div>
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<a href="https://www.change.org/p/cdc-cover-up-zika-test-fails-to-detect-40-percent-of-infections-enact-travel-bans" target="_blank">CDC Cover-up: Zika Test Fails to Detect 40 Percent of Infections (Enact Travel Bans)</a></div>
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Keep up-to-date on my devoted Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StopZikaFirst" target="_blank">Zika: Let's Stop a Global Pandemic</a></div>
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If you wish to fund Zika research, I am donating a percentage of my royalties from products I designed for <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/dont_go_to_you_know_where_collection-119260415381473345" target="_blank">my latest Zazzle collection</a> (there are over 25 items to choose from now).</div>
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My Public Service Announcement </h3>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1gRa2mme6k/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U1gRa2mme6k?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
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<h3>
Scientists' Recommendations to Prevent Mosquitoes </h3>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>July 25th, 2016:</b> Kacey C. Ernst PhD, MPH, associate professor in the epidemiology and biostatistics department at the University of Arizona, <a href="http://womensenews.org/2016/07/scientist-who-mapped-u-s-zika-risk-now-working-on-awareness-app" target="_blank">recommends</a> using Bti pellets for "standing water that can't be removed, such as small water features or even bromeliad flowers that hold enough water for mosquitoes to breed in. It's safe for humans and pets."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis serotype israelensis) is a group of bacteria that helps eradicate mosquitoes, fungus gnats, and blackflies – yet has almost zero effect on other organisms. I found this product reasonably priced on Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mosquito-Dunks-117-6-Bits-30-Ounce/dp/B0001AUF8G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469448494&sr=8-1&keywords=BTI+pellets" target="_blank">Mosquito Bits</a> (it's available in 30 oz, 60 oz, or in combination with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Summit-185502-20-Pack-Mosquito-Dunk/dp/B0002568YA/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1469451053&sr=1-1&keywords=Mosquito+Dunks" target="_blank">Mosquito Dunks</a>).<br />
<br />
Mosquito Bits Instructions:<br />
Sprinkle 1 tsp. per 25 square feet or 1 tbsp. per 75 square feet (1/2 lb. per 2178 square feet) uniformly over surface of water. A seven to fourteen day interval between applications is recommended. Mosquito Bits can be used in water that contains aquatic life, fish, and plants. Safe in areas that come in contact with humans, animals, horses, livestock, pets, birds, or wildlife. DO NOT APPLY to finished, treated human drinking water sources.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
As for mosquito repellents, an Oxford study published October 5th, 2015 in the <i>Journal of Insect Science </i>titled<i> </i><a href="http://jinsectscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/1/140" target="_blank">The Efficacy of Some Commercially Available Insect Repellents for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus</a> provides an excellent overview of brands and their effectiveness.<br />
<br />
A 2013 NCBI publication <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24201040" target="_blank">The efficacy of repellents against Aedes, Anopheles, Culex and Ixodes spp. - a literature review</a> states:<br />
<br />
Regarding Aedes, DEET at concentration of 20 percent or more, showed the best efficacy providing up to 10 h protection. <i>Ae. aegypti proved more difficult to repel than Ae. albopictus.</i><br />
<br />
Culex mosquitoes were easier to repel. All four repellents provided good protection: DEET, Icaridin as well as piperidine-derived products (SS220), Insect Repellent (IR) 3535 (ethyl butylacetylaminopropionat, EBAAP) and plant-derived products, including Citriodora (para-menthane-3, 8-diol).<br />
<br />
Apparently, adding vanillin 5 percent to plant-based repellents and to DEET repellents increased protection by about 2 hours.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Of course, if there proves to be a genetically different type of mosquito or some other vector we need to protect against, I'll add to these recommendations.</i><br />
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Thank you for reading this letter in full.</div>
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Take good care,</div>
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Rose Webster</div>
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Canadian freelance writer and activist</div>
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Formerly employed in healthcare 20 years</div>
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RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-84992410718726488762016-06-17T20:02:00.005-07:002016-06-17T20:41:29.345-07:00Boycott the Olympics and the Sponsors NOW: You Are Being Lied To (With Proof)For the last week, I've been tracking the latest news about the Olympic Games and the Zika virus. It's not until I get to page three or four of a Google search that I find credible, new evidence.<br />
<br />
And did you know that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDKLFn0pty4" target="_blank">legally the media can lie</a>? A Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with an assertion by FOX News that there is <b>no rule against distorting or falsifying the news</b> in the U.S." <i>Note: Click to enlarge any image in my blog.</i><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMZOgbwEYZQ/V2S1VLPoD7I/AAAAAAAAVmQ/sOM8trteW2s5IY3eyAm5RaJpKMQln_-RQCLcB/s1600/Rio%2BMosquito%2BComic%2Blargest%2Bsize.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="June 16th, 2016 Drawing by Rose Webster / All rights reserved of Zika infected mosquitoes eyeing 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games Region" border="0" height="267" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMZOgbwEYZQ/V2S1VLPoD7I/AAAAAAAAVmQ/sOM8trteW2s5IY3eyAm5RaJpKMQln_-RQCLcB/s400/Rio%2BMosquito%2BComic%2Blargest%2Bsize.png" title="Zika-Carrying Mosquitoes at 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games Comic by Rose Webster / All rights reserved" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
To be fair, I'm not saying every news source is lying; but the majority are reporting the lies (as told to them) without doing any research of their own.<br />
<br />
The source I used (although similar or exact statements are found in countless news sources) was <i>The Wall Street Journal</i> post <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/risk-of-zikas-spread-by-olympics-is-very-low-who-says-1465939098" target="_blank">Risk of Zika's Spread by Olympics Is 'Very Low,' WHO say</a> (updated June 15th, 2016).<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Lie Number One</h3>
<br />
"Brazil is hosting the Games during its winter, when the concentration of mosquitoes that spread Zika and other viruses is low, the panel noted."<br />
<br />
First of all, slightly cooler weather prompts insects to come indoors – and what better place than a stadium full of warm bodies? <i>Ever notice how spiders make it into your home on rainy days?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
FACT: Last year [2015] was the hottest year on record according to the NOAA. Click to enlarge:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROuAlv__rV8/V2SfLujsa5I/AAAAAAAAVlk/n0_tiNVZjwkNX_h2X9VENIto-UYHFhjIQCLcB/s1600/Global%2BAnalysis%2B%2BAnnual%2B2015%2B%2BState%2Bof%2Bthe%2BClimate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="NOAA Global Analysis Annual 2015 State of the Climate Screenshot" border="0" height="211" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ROuAlv__rV8/V2SfLujsa5I/AAAAAAAAVlk/n0_tiNVZjwkNX_h2X9VENIto-UYHFhjIQCLcB/s400/Global%2BAnalysis%2B%2BAnnual%2B2015%2B%2BState%2Bof%2Bthe%2BClimate.png" title="Annual Global Analysis of Hottest Years on Record Screenshot NOAA" width="400" /></a></div>
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But the WHO and IOC are referencing data from a largely-funded "study" that omitted last years' temperatures.</div>
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Yeah.</div>
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The <a href="https://elifesciences.org/content/5/e15272" target="_blank">study</a> states: </div>
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"To account for these factors, we included a 5 km x 5 km resolution measure of the EVI derived from NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS, Boulder, Colorado) imagery (Wan et al., 2002; Lin, 2012), summarized from gap-filled, 8-day, 1 km x 1 km resolution images acquired globally <b>for years 2000 through 2014</b>."</div>
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<i>Wow, that's an impressive amount of technical mumbo jumbo. </i></div>
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<i>But I agree, it is gap-filled.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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Now go back and compare the years 2000 to 2014 with the hottest year on record (2015). And if <i>that</i> doesn't convince you, consider what Dr. Lantos, director of the Bioethics Center at Children's Mercy Hospital, <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/sports/olympics/article83568397.html" target="_blank">said</a>: </div>
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"Winter weather is unpredictable. <b>Last year, Rio saw more cases of dengue fever, another mosquito-borne disease, in August than in the months of March, April, and May combined."</b></div>
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<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lie Number Two</h3>
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"Olympic official say they are taking preventive measures and Zika cases are declining."</div>
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On <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/rio2016/canoe-kayak/oldershaw-family-rio-zika-1.3634924" target="_blank">this</a> CBC article (and others) I respond to comments similar to this one. Click to enlarge:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jxKt44kqRs0/V2Sl8DxGTjI/AAAAAAAAVl0/fw5YZLcqBQszWSDO6DLnZNpm9jIqYwCJACLcB/s1600/Troll%2Bcomment%2Babout%2BRio%2Bnot%2Bhaving%2BZika%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mark Oldershaw bringing young family to Olympics despite Zika threat CBC article comments" border="0" height="355" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jxKt44kqRs0/V2Sl8DxGTjI/AAAAAAAAVl0/fw5YZLcqBQszWSDO6DLnZNpm9jIqYwCJACLcB/s400/Troll%2Bcomment%2Babout%2BRio%2Bnot%2Bhaving%2BZika%2BUSE.png" title="CBC comments on article Mark Oldershaw bringing young family to Olympics despite Zika threat" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since I don't tweet, I checked out what Dr. Attaran knew. Sure enough, he <a href="https://twitter.com/profamirattaran" target="_blank">tweeted</a>: "Brazil says no Zika in Rio, but in just one week Rio's probable cases rose by over 6,000." <a href="http://portalsaude.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2016/junho/14/boletim-epid-2016-n23-dcz-se17.pdf" target="_blank">One of the studies</a> that Dr. Attaran pointed to states (on page 3) translated from Portugese: </div>
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FACT: The analysis of incidence of probable cases (number of cases / 100,000 inhabitants), according to geographical regions, shows that the Northeast region had the highest incidence rate: 113.3 / 100,000 inhabitants.</div>
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<i>Got that <b>Vascgm Gm</b>? The Northeast region had the highest incident rate.</i></div>
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Lie Number Three </h3>
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Mario Andrada, a spokesman for the Rio organizing committee said, "I'm 110 percent confident that we can protect everybody that comes to see the games. But we are 100 percent committed to respect people's decisions [on whether or not to come to Rio]. One pregnant woman [getting infected] is too many."</div>
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FACT: It doesn't matter if women live on the moon during the Olympic Games. Because if men go to Rio (get infected with Zika by mosquitoes or via unprotected oral, vaginal, anal, and possibly by deep kissing) they become carriers.</div>
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Then, if these men (who visited Rio) go to the moon (where all the women went during the Rio Games in August and September) and there is some "leak" of bodily fluids (via oral, vaginal, anal sex and possibly saliva), the women get infected and so will their babies.</div>
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On Earth: What about local mosquitoes that bite these men when they return from Rio (infected) and then the local mosquitoes transmit Zika to other men, women, and children?</div>
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<i>It drives me nuts that even the CDC keeps emphasizing that women who are pregnant should avoid Brazil (and similar statements).</i></div>
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FACT: "British researchers <a href="https://www.statnews.com/2016/02/12/zika-semen" target="_blank">reported</a> the case of a man whose semen tested positive for the Zika virus 62 days after the onset of his illness."</div>
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FACT: WHO initially advised <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-who-idUSKCN0YM0WO" target="_blank">only 4 weeks of condom use</a>. They doubled that recommendation at the end of May 2016 (after the scientific community kept drawing their attention to it).</div>
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Lie Number Four </h3>
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Pro golfer Rory McIlroy is dead wrong (and I'd love to know who lied to him) when he <a href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/36431539" target="_blank">stated</a>: "... even if I do contract Zika, it's not the end of the world. It takes six months to pass through your system and you're fine."</div>
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FACT: Harvard's John Ross, MD, FIDSA <a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-zika-virus-201602019114" target="_blank">said</a>, "The Zika outbreak in French Polynesia was associated with a 20-fold increased risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome ... Two-thirds of patients lose the ability to walk and 25 percent need a mechanical ventilator because of weakness of the respiratory muscles. Although most people make a partial or full recovery, 20 percent are still unable to walk at six months after diagnosis."</div>
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<i>Yeah. One in four need a lung-blower (to quote Kramer on Seinfeld) and one in five cannot walk 1/2 a year later. Charming! Who forgot to let Rory know?</i></div>
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And if you think for a second that the French Polynesian strain of Zika must have been worse, you are wrong.</div>
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FACT: The Brazilian strain is clearly the worst yet. In a Harvard T.H. Chan post <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/zika-virus-in-brazil-may-be-mutated-strain" target="_blank">Zika virus in Brazil may be mutated strain</a> it states:</div>
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"The outbreak in Brazil seems to be from the Asian strain, which may have evolved to be better at invading nerve cells or at evading the immune system."</div>
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"... studies have shown it can be passed from mothers to babies in utero and also that it can infect the nervous system. What is worrying is that we don't know what may have changed, and why."</div>
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Conclusion</h3>
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So whenever you hear politicians or the IOC or WHO chiming in with terms like "Historically, the temperatures ... or "Previous Zika outbreaks ... or "History tells us ..." remember that we are dealing with an entirely new beast here. Keep this visual in mind (click to enlarge):</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d9-VEhl1Knc/V2SxxUM36wI/AAAAAAAAVmE/1KSpDLvEbsQ-0c8FphzAhFhIBPLvL_RGQCLcB/s1600/Harvard%2BChart%2BSuspected%2BCases%2BUSE%2Bfor%2BBlog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Brazil Ministry of Health: Chart of Suspected Microcephaly 2010 - 2015" border="0" height="243" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d9-VEhl1Knc/V2SxxUM36wI/AAAAAAAAVmE/1KSpDLvEbsQ-0c8FphzAhFhIBPLvL_RGQCLcB/s400/Harvard%2BChart%2BSuspected%2BCases%2BUSE%2Bfor%2BBlog.png" title="Suspected Cases of Microcephaly 2010 to 2015 Source: Brazil Ministry of Health" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Stay up-to-date on my new Facebook page </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StopZikaFirst" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Zika: Let's Stop a Global Pandemic</a><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></div>
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My petition to help: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/everyone-in-the-world-including-but-not-limited-to-change-org-users-participating-countries-athletes-and-citizens-boycott-the-2016-rio-summer-olympics" target="_blank">Participating Countries, Athletes and Citizens: Boycott the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics</a>. <i>Note: You don't have to donate and your email is protected. For postal code or similar, you can put "sorry no".</i></div>
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Half of my royalties from my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/collections/dont_go_to_you_know_where_collection-119260415381473345" target="_blank">Don't Go to 'You Know Where' Collection</a> will be donated to Galveston National Laboratory in support of Zika research. <i>Note: I had to leave out any reference to the Olympics or Rio in my products, tags, titles, or descriptions since the <a href="https://plus.google.com/107889574670988423996/posts/QS96WvQEJPf" target="_blank">Olympic Committee managed to have four of my products removed from the marketplace</a>.</i></div>
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<i>Yeah, the Olympic Committee was swift to protect their brand but not so much with human health.</i></h3>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-67386083423477246802016-06-08T18:04:00.000-07:002016-06-14T01:05:06.420-07:00Partial Truths of the Zika Crisis and Why Athletes, Corporations, and Citizens Must Boycott the 2016 Rio Summer OlympicsTwo weeks ago I began this Change.org petition: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/everyone-in-the-world-including-but-not-limited-to-change-org-users-participating-countries-athletes-and-citizens-boycott-the-2016-rio-summer-olympics" target="_blank">Participating Countries, Athletes and Citizens: Boycott the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics</a><br />
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The level of misinformation that is circulating in mainstream media has been jaw-dropping. There are plenty of <a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-03-28/top-german-journalist-admits-mainstream-media-completely-fake-we-all-lie-cia" target="_blank">journalists revealing</a> (or trying to reveal) how we, the public, cannot rely on the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6" target="_blank">"big six"</a> anymore. </div>
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Next is a comment I tried to leave on <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zika-olympics-1.3619887" target="_blank">this</a> article. I tried for at least 20 minutes to post it. I still do not know why it did not get published; however, I noticed an hour later the prompt "Commenting is now closed for this story". <i>Other comments of mine were published except those with links to the open letter by Amir Attaran et al. and my petition.</i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WL37Za6zHzA/V1i9rPKAx4I/AAAAAAAAVkc/hFzfgWg5NOMLujNaUczn1EU5dPtAYvMAwCLcB/s1600/Comment%2BI%2Btried%2Bto%2Bleave%2Bon%2BCBC%2Barticle%2Babout%2BZika%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zika virus: WHO's expert panel meets next week to review Rio Olympics comments" border="0" height="293" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WL37Za6zHzA/V1i9rPKAx4I/AAAAAAAAVkc/hFzfgWg5NOMLujNaUczn1EU5dPtAYvMAwCLcB/s400/Comment%2BI%2Btried%2Bto%2Bleave%2Bon%2BCBC%2Barticle%2Babout%2BZika%2BUSE.png" title="Rose Webster comment not posted on Zika virus: WHO's expert panel meets next week to review Rio Olympics" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comment I tried to post on Zika virus article June 8th, 2016 (Click to enlarge)</td></tr>
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Case in Point</h3>
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Yesterday, NBC posted a Reuters piece titled <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/zika-unlikely-infect-many-olympics-studies-show-n587211" target="_blank">Zika Unlikely to Infect Many at Olympics, Studies Show</a>. The big push lately seems to be for the 2016 Summer Olympics to go ahead (as planned) this August.</div>
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And to appease the <a href="https://rioolympicslater.org/" target="_blank">recommendation of 223 scientists, doctors and health experts</a> and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the World Health Organization (WHO) is sending the exact same <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/zika-olympics-1.3619887" target="_blank">"group of independent experts" that convened in March</a>.</div>
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Clearly, this isn't the "independent group" the world-renown experts are calling for in this <a href="https://rioolympicslater.org/" target="_blank">open letter</a> to Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO's Director-General and the International Olympic Commitee (IOC).</div>
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Jaw-Dropping Facts</h3>
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It's shocking to see how divided Brazilian vs. North American scientists are when asked in <i>The Science Advisory Board </i><a href="https://scienceboard.co1.qualtrics.com/WRReport/?RPID=RP2_6hCvSAPmoKMBKDP&P=CP" target="_blank">Opinion Research Study</a> if the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro should be postponed or cancelled due to the Zika virus outbreak.</div>
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The gist: 55.9 percent of North American scientists agree the games should be postponed or cancelled yet only 22 percent of Brazilian scientists feel the same.</div>
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So when I read that two Brazilian research groups (both Sao Paulo-based) pegged the "predicted Zika infections in foreign visitors at the Rio Olympics" at only 15 and 16 cases in the <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/zika-virus-outbreak/zika-unlikely-infect-many-olympics-studies-show-n587211" target="_blank">same Reuters post</a>, I couldn't believe they didn't factor in the rest of the equation:</div>
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These two studies did <i>not</i> assess the risk of even one of these visitors carrying the virus back to their home countries where they – and local mosquitoes – will spread this newer, deadlier strain of the Zika virus.</div>
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Prof. Amir Attaran reminded us: Nuno Faria of Oxford University suggested <a href="http://evolve.zoo.ox.ac.uk/Evolve/Oliver_Pybus_files/ZikaVirusInTheAmericas.pdf" target="_blank">Zika was carried to Brazil by a single individual</a> in 2013. And by early 2016, about 1.5 million people were infected.</div>
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<b>One person with Zika + three years time = about 1.5 million people infected</b></div>
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Two key points in the study by Faria et al:</div>
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"Results of phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses show a single introduction of Zika into the Americas, which we estimate to have occurred between May and December 2013 ..."</div>
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"If the Zika epidemic in Brazil did indeed arise from a single introduction, then the virus must have circulated in the country for at least 12 months before the first case was reported in May 2015."</div>
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Does anyone else see how the IOC and WHO will have nothing to fear when the Brazilian strain of Zika explodes in other countries of the world? No one will be able to conclusively prove that it was because of the Olympic Games being held in Rio this August that we face a global pandemic.</div>
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Furthermore, is the IOC and WHO going to be financially "on the hook" to treat the 15 or 16 cases of Zika that is predicted thus far?</div>
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And what if those 15 or 16 cases becomes millions of people worldwide?</div>
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This is all reminiscent of when <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/gm-agrees-to-pay-900m-us-to-settle-ignition-switch-probe-1.3231785" target="_blank">General Motors killed over a 100 people</a> by knowingly installing defective ignition switches in over a million vehicles. Sadly, some of GM's employees knew about the problem for over a decade.</div>
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I'm pretty sure that both the IOC and WHO will not be found liable in any of these cases (mosquitoes and humans will bear the brunt of the blame).</div>
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<h2>
Want to Stop What a Global Pandemic? Please sign and share:</h2>
<b><a href="https://www.change.org/p/everyone-in-the-world-including-but-not-limited-to-change-org-users-participating-countries-athletes-and-citizens-boycott-the-2016-rio-summer-olympics" target="_blank">Participating Countries, Athletes and Citizens: Boycottt the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics</a></b><br />
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Thank you.RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-39377845163190321612016-04-23T15:29:00.002-07:002016-04-23T16:18:35.450-07:00Live Report of Hearing Against LA City Councilman Joe Buscaino, Joanne Rallo, George Palaziol, and Frank Nolan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, Marisol Medina <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MARIBEMELIVE/videos/1594802830833297/?pnref=story" target="_blank">reported live</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MARIBEMELIVE" target="_blank">Breaking News Reporter</a> the partial outcome of the hearing against Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino, Saving San Pedro founders Joanne Rallo and George Palaziol and group member Frank Nolan.<br />
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A cease-and-desist letter was issued on April 5th, 2016 to members of this group, demanding they stop defamatory statements against local homeless people. The letter was filed by lawyer Frank Grant. Source: <a href="http://www.randomlengthsnews.com/joe-buscaino-saving-san-pedro" target="_blank">Joe Buscaino, Saving San Pedro: 'Cease and Desist' by Kevin Walker</a><br />
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I didn't know much about Joanne Rallo, but a quick Google search turned up this:<br />
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<b>"Joanne Rallo, the newly minted columnist for the nativist San Pedro Today, has gone on her own mission – confiscating homeless shopping carts and dumping the contents in trash containers."</b></blockquote>
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<i>Source: <a href="http://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/archive/9884-do-not-feed-the-pigeons-or-the-homeless" target="_blank">Do Not Feed the Pigeons (or the Homeless) by James Preston Allen</a></i></blockquote>
Wow.<br />
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And these groups seem to believe that those who are helping the homeless are conducting "social experiments" that will fail.<br />
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Gee, I'd like to see an actor dress up as a homeless person, push their belongings around in a shopping cart, and document the harassment they receive at the hands of these groups and law enforcement.<br />
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Then, wouldn't it be great to film the reaction of these Saving San Pedro members when the actor reveals their true identity (as a rich person who lives in an LA mansion)?<br />
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I wonder how Joanne Rallo would feel if someone took her shopping cart full of <i>whatever</i> and dumped it in the garbage? Including her purse with all of her I.D.<br />
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If you are shocked, you aren't alone.<br />
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In the 53-page must-read University of Berkeley's Policy Advocacy Clinic report titled <a href="http://www.homelesslivesmatterberkeley.org/pdf/CA_New_Vagrancy_Laws.pdf" target="_blank">California's New Vagrancy Laws The Growing Enactment and Enforcement of Anti-Homeless Laws in the Golden State</a> I highlight a few notable findings:<br />
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On page 5: "The state has one of the nation's highest rates of <b>poor renters</b> (defined as people who spend at least 50 percent of their monthly income on housing) ... In LA alone, only 22 percent of homeless people had a shelter bed in 2013 (and it's worse now) ... over 3/4 of homeless people have no choice but to rest and sleep in public."<br />
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On page 16: "... state-level arrest stats for California Penal Code violations provide <b>just the tip of the iceberg</b> of enforcement activities directed at homeless people. Most anti-homeless laws are municipal codes, but data about their enforcement is not compiled or reported across the state."<br />
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On page 18: "San Francisco issued more citations for standing, sitting, and resting between Oct 2006 and March 2014 than for ANY other type of prohibited activity ... Thus, a significant proportion of <b>policing targets people without homes who are engaged in necessary, life-sustaining activities</b>."<br />
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On page 29: "Many municipal codes have yet to be challenged, perhaps because <b>the people these laws target are among the least likely members of society to use legal assistance</b>. As cities enact and enforce vague anti-homeless laws, they may be increasingly vulnerable to constitutional challenges."<br />
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On page 30: "An analysis of cost studies of homeless interventions conducted between 2004 and 2009 in major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, found that <b>U.S. jurisdictions spend an average of $87 per day to incarcerate someone in county jail, but ONLY $28 per day – less than a third of that figure – to offer shelter."</b><br />
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<i>So, you have to wonder what the motivation is for these groups. I am beginning to believe they are trying to incite homeless people to commit suicide. Because what I am seeing is the selective or discriminatory enforcement of codes that are written vaguely enough to criminalize the life-sustaining activities of those who simply have no home. ~ RoseWrites</i></blockquote>
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On page 34 is an appendix which reveals a sad truth: Los Angeles has a whopping 23 restrictions and 19 laws in place that effectively criminalize the homeless. Specifically: 11 restrictions on standing, sitting and resting; 3 restrictions on sleeping, camping and lodging; 7 restrictions on begging and panhandling; and 2 restrictions on food sharing.<br />
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Lastly, I decided I should post some proof of the bullying, harassment, and more that I found on the two Facebook group pages. <i>Note: Click to enlarge any images on my blog.</i><br />
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This first screenshot shows some of the insulting comments made by members of the Saving San Pedro Facebook group under their post of Marisol Medina's video footage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I35AXvuFP-k/VxvcYI5FhQI/AAAAAAAAVWA/gLQSeFvol4A7HKkqogsCwrdA80qWltYLQCLcB/s1600/Insults%2Bscreenshot%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Insulting comments made about Marisol Medina by Saving San Pedro Facebook group members" border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I35AXvuFP-k/VxvcYI5FhQI/AAAAAAAAVWA/gLQSeFvol4A7HKkqogsCwrdA80qWltYLQCLcB/s400/Insults%2Bscreenshot%2B1.png" title="Comments made on Marisol Medina's video post by Saving San Pedro group members" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This next one is interesting. Notice George Palaziol no longer illegally uses the trademarked image of Popeye as his avatar. Click to enlarge:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kylNIJjRlNY/VxvcqfyI0SI/AAAAAAAAVWQ/N0RNbCXqfmYI2evxp8tl4o4OxTtfuwDqgCKgB/s1600/Self%2BIncrimination%2Bscreenshot%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="George Palaziol and post Frank Nolen states Self incrimination" border="0" height="392" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kylNIJjRlNY/VxvcqfyI0SI/AAAAAAAAVWQ/N0RNbCXqfmYI2evxp8tl4o4OxTtfuwDqgCKgB/s400/Self%2BIncrimination%2Bscreenshot%2B2.png" title="George Palaziol no longer illegally using the trademarked image of Popeye as his avatar" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And a continuation of this conversation . .</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9v6FvSoNEtc/VxvefR3THjI/AAAAAAAAVWY/XMJCCxPdt2sjw22PU7yY2XmKMDS6lfYXACKgB/s1600/Screenshot%2B3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="David Loseman says Nite all after self incriminating comment to Frank Nolan plus more insults" border="0" height="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9v6FvSoNEtc/VxvefR3THjI/AAAAAAAAVWY/XMJCCxPdt2sjw22PU7yY2XmKMDS6lfYXACKgB/s400/Screenshot%2B3.png" title="Frank Nolan self incriminating comment by David Loseman and more insults" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
Harassment and bullying of Marisol Medina . .<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQVvH9i4CPc/VxvrMjVOuJI/AAAAAAAAVWo/6HavPcMl334pKgKOdF3Txw3m7yOLUocGgCLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Name calling in reference to Marisol Medina by members of Saving San Pedro Facebook Group" border="0" height="396" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JQVvH9i4CPc/VxvrMjVOuJI/AAAAAAAAVWo/6HavPcMl334pKgKOdF3Txw3m7yOLUocGgCLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B4.png" title="Harassment and bullying of Marisol Medina by Saving San Pedro Facebook Group members" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Examples of George Palaziol's maturity level . .<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhbVb8WwEzs/Vxvr4xVoP8I/AAAAAAAAVWw/4kwxKCRLYyMoTOfsoWzzT8ClC93TCnyVgCLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="George Palaziol endorsing insulting comments by members of Saving San Pedro" border="0" height="391" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhbVb8WwEzs/Vxvr4xVoP8I/AAAAAAAAVWw/4kwxKCRLYyMoTOfsoWzzT8ClC93TCnyVgCLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B5.png" title="Examples of George Palaziol's maturity level on Saving San Pedro posts" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Of course, this group also takes a few shots at me . .<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4xhe9x-9dE/Vxvsw-JcI0I/AAAAAAAAVW8/TeFF5KP5-swjSdPSGqeejO--wYGOrqU2ACLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B6%2BHarassing%2Bme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vivian Pesic and Denise Lauro choose to insult others rather than help homeless" border="0" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p4xhe9x-9dE/Vxvsw-JcI0I/AAAAAAAAVW8/TeFF5KP5-swjSdPSGqeejO--wYGOrqU2ACLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B6%2BHarassing%2Bme.png" title="Vivian Pesic and Denise Lauro insult others rather than help homeless" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
OMG, according to Elaine Jenkins, feeding homeless people is worth complaining about:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i-Nl7q4W85w/VxvuUBP8QbI/AAAAAAAAVXI/STbpQU1kjjUd019R7Wj5YfvDMV7Q2y6xQCLcB/s1600/Screenshot%2B7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Elaine Jenkins post complaining about people feeding homeless" border="0" height="157" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i-Nl7q4W85w/VxvuUBP8QbI/AAAAAAAAVXI/STbpQU1kjjUd019R7Wj5YfvDMV7Q2y6xQCLcB/s400/Screenshot%2B7.png" title="Elaine Jenkins watched people giving homeless food and complained on FB" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I only spent a few seconds on George Palaziol's Saving San Pedros Homeless Enablers Facebook and captured these two posts:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc_52oScH-U/VxvvZbFtHbI/AAAAAAAAVXQ/b-wi8DsGUVgGeU_Mk3GHd1iXLS17ys8ygCLcB/s1600/SSPHE%2Bscreenhot%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="George Palaziol's Saving San Pedro Homeless Enablers Facebook Page" border="0" height="262" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc_52oScH-U/VxvvZbFtHbI/AAAAAAAAVXQ/b-wi8DsGUVgGeU_Mk3GHd1iXLS17ys8ygCLcB/s400/SSPHE%2Bscreenhot%2B1.png" title="Saving San Pedro Homeless Enablers Facebook Page" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Homeless Enablers Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh and George Palaziol demonstrates (once again) his maturity level. Gee, kids at school would be reprimanded for this kind of behaviour. <i>Sure hope he doesn't have children of his own.</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEVHmA7kmdo/VxvwNhIKyYI/AAAAAAAAVXY/wjML_269Zm8Vop56P09iFCPUFYnWR6OxACLcB/s1600/George%2Binsults%2Bmy%2Beyebrows.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="George Palaziol posts an insult about Rose Webster's eyebrows in Saving San Pedro Homeless Enablers Facebook Group" border="0" height="273" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEVHmA7kmdo/VxvwNhIKyYI/AAAAAAAAVXY/wjML_269Zm8Vop56P09iFCPUFYnWR6OxACLcB/s400/George%2Binsults%2Bmy%2Beyebrows.png" title="George Palaziol in a suit but demonstrating his childish behavior online" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Publicly posted on Saving San Pedro Homeless Enablers Facebook Group Page</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h2>
I wonder what a judge would think of these Facebook groups, don't you?</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stay tuned, soon I will be launching another Change.org petition. And this one is guaranteed to knock your socks off. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Be sure to follow Marisol Medina at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MARIBEMELIVE" target="_blank">Breaking News Reporter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mythpla/" target="_blank">Welcome Home: A Tiny House, Huge Purpose</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1136638266393932/" target="_blank">Tiny Homes for the Homeless Fundraiser</a> for much more.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Interested in what we are doing? Visit <a href="http://mythpla.org/">MYTHPLA.org</a> and find out about all the wonderful ways Elvis Summers and his team are helping the homeless.</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
<i>We are just getting started!</i></h2>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-69703014824811036162016-04-16T17:36:00.000-07:002016-04-17T01:58:01.635-07:00An Open Letter to Officer Deon JosephDear Officer Joseph,<br />
<br />
You are probably aware of my efforts to help the homeless in Los Angeles already. It's been drawn to my attention that a couple of Facebook groups (run by George Palaziol) have been trying to defame or discredit me.<br />
<br />
And I briefly glossed over the Saving San Pedro and Saving San Pedro Homeless Enablers groups. I was saddened by what I saw and I wrote about it in my blog post <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2016/03/a-quick-look-at-saving-san-pedro.html" target="_blank">A Quick Look at Saving San Pedro, a Facebook Group W/ George Palaziol</a>.<br />
<br />
I defended your statements in that post.<br />
<br />
But today, I was shocked to read the following post of yours which I assume is in response to the <a href="http://www.randomlengthsnews.com/joe-buscaino-saving-san-pedro" target="_blank">cease-and-desist letter issued to Councilman Joe Buscaino and founders of the Saving San Pedro Facebook group</a>. Click to enlarge image:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PqAsjqLrkxs/VxLMk_EN9cI/AAAAAAAAVVc/imufY9SGLAsHvZ7m7YQzkkfeo2BspEitgCLcB/s1600/Officer%2BDeon%2BJoseph%2Bpost%2Bin%2BSaving%2BSan%2BPedro%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Officer Deon Joseph calls cease and desist letter scare tactic in Saving San Pedro Facebook group" border="0" height="275" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PqAsjqLrkxs/VxLMk_EN9cI/AAAAAAAAVVc/imufY9SGLAsHvZ7m7YQzkkfeo2BspEitgCLcB/s400/Officer%2BDeon%2BJoseph%2Bpost%2Bin%2BSaving%2BSan%2BPedro%2BUSE.png" title="LAPD Deon Joseph post in Saving San Pedro calling cease and desist letter a scare tactic" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot of public post in Saving San Pedro Facebook Group April 16th, 2016</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You see, my best friend is a police officer in Toronto, Canada. She's in a special forces division now. I went to school with her; I sincerely <i>do</i> understand the enormous pressures of your job.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And we also realize that laws have not caught up with what is direly needed to protect the most vulnerable people in society.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes, we hold police officers to a higher moral standard.<i> I feel the rest of the members of these Facebook groups and members of Los Angeles City Council are beyond reasoning with – but I'm hoping you are not.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Notably, your avatar on these posts (which I enlarged, below at right) shows you in uniform:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7Had0SeWgw/VxLkApOGdoI/AAAAAAAAVVs/QRPaUVC7BUMl7UHE7TWqX_sFTaN-38V0wCLcB/s1600/Deon%2BJoseph%2Bin%2Buniform%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Officer Deon Joseph in uniform as shown in his avatar on Saving San Pedro Facebook group" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7Had0SeWgw/VxLkApOGdoI/AAAAAAAAVVs/QRPaUVC7BUMl7UHE7TWqX_sFTaN-38V0wCLcB/s320/Deon%2BJoseph%2Bin%2Buniform%2BUSE.png" title="Public Figure Officer Deon Joseph avatar on Saving San Pedro Facebook group posts" width="224" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
It's widely known that police in New York were called out for "showing how compassionate they were by taking photos of homeless people and publicly shaming them online."<br />
<br />
"This was not only condoned by the department, it was sanctioned and encouraged by high-ranking NYPD officials." Source: <a href="http://thefreethoughtproject.com/nypd-ordered-publicly-shame-homeless-posting-photos-online/#jv1PhG1ul23GkCZG.99" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disgusting: NYPD Ordered to Publicly Shame the Homeless by Taking Photos and Posting Online</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Needless to say, it appears this is your focus as well. And I want to draw your attention to <a href="http://www.pcblawfirm.com/legal-issues-photographing-people" target="_blank">Legal Issues in Photographing People</a>:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Misappropriation of a Person's Identity: This tort involves the unauthorized use of another's name or likeness from which the user derives a benefit."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
That benefit may be political or financial.</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Misappropriation of identity is generally available to persons who are not famous and have no well-known public image."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As you know, the cease-and-desist letter only cited that the Saving San Pedro Facebook group is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the 14th amendment, and photographing minors.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But you need to be aware that the 20 members of this group (who accompanied you along Skid Row), taking photographs to post publicly, probably should have "obtained a proper model release" (which could include paying homeless people for use of their identities).<br />
<br />
<i>That is, if they agreed to be photographed in the first place. </i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<h3>
<i>Yeah, not hard to figure out what is going on there.</i></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You state: "You cannot take pictures where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Officer Joseph, the homeless have <i>no</i> privacy because they have <i>no</i> homes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How good do you look without proper sleep after a few nights? Like a zombie, right? We ALL do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What if you spent days or weeks without enough food or water and slept on the streets. Then, (since I find you so attractive), I offer you food if you will come back to my place "for a good time"?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How are people supposed to survive when they've been stripped of everything but a trash can worth of belongings?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What I <i>really</i> can't fathom is why you aren't actively trying to get the <b>five jails reopened</b> that <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/02/04/lapd-chief-beck-hears-from-san-pedro-residents-fed-up-with-rising-crime" target="_blank">LAPD Chief Charlie Beck admitted</a> "were currently closed due to civilian staffing issues but within 36 months, he and mayor Garcetti would re-open"?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Isn't three years too long? And why aren't you concerned that legislation that reduced certain felonies to misdemeanors put <b>thousands</b> out on the streets instead of prison?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
The homeless are being fed to the lions.</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These homeless souls need your protection and I'm disheartened that you are encouraging more shaming of those who have been beaten down the most in our society.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why aren't you, as a police officer, taking up these causes instead?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In my last petition update, I cited the fact that <a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless/u/16241903" target="_blank">LA taxpayers paid more than $100 million to settle lawsuits against officers</a> accused of civil rights violations, wrongful deaths, and other intradepartmental misconduct. Source: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/29/police-misconduct-settlements_n_7423386.html" target="_blank">We Pay A Shocking Amount For Police Misconduct, And Cops Want Us Just To Accept It. We Shouldn't.</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As stated in Nick Wing's article: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>"That is enough money for Los Angeles to match the entire amount it pays each year to cope with homelessness."</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Society at large will no longer accept the focus of your policing strategy.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Come on, the mayor just announced that "... a full six months ahead of schedule. We're making targeted investments in our police force – my budget expands overtime for our officers by $10 million dollars ..." </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>You won already, officer Joseph, you got your overtime pay – and six months in advance too.</b><b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Instead of confiscating and destroying the only possession of the homeless; needlessly shaming them for having to live in the streets and do <i>whatever</i> it takes to survive – why not 'serve and protect' them?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Finding loopholes in the current laws in California is not policing.</b> It isn't upholding the <i>spirit</i> of the law, the <a href="http://constitutionus.com/" target="_blank">Constitution</a>, or the <a href="http://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/" target="_blank">Universal Declaration of Human Rights</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thank you for taking the time to read this,</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rose</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
For those of you who want to help defend human rights, please sign and share our petition: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless" target="_blank">Curren Price: Reverse Your Order to Confiscate and Destroy "Tiny Homes" for LA's Homeless</a></h2>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-51160593465425648612016-04-02T09:17:00.001-07:002016-04-08T13:51:23.582-07:00We ONLY Have Until April 11th, 2016: HUD Wants to Criminalize Tiny Homes or RVs as Primary ResidencesEvery person on the planet who is underpaid or barely making ends meet (for whatever reason) needs to act now.<br />
<br />
Today, I just found out from my friend Sue Hecht that HUD (the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) is trying to make <a href="http://www.activistpost.com/2016/03/hud-wants-to-make-living-in-a-tiny-house-or-rv-illegal.html" target="_blank">living in a Tiny House or RV (recreational vehicle) ILLEGAL!</a><br />
<br />
Yeah.<br />
<br />
And, we only have DAYS to protest this.<br />
<br />
So, I acted immediately and put together this step-by-step pictorial guide (so you can quickly and easily do the same). <b>TIP: Click to enlarge any images I've posted.</b><br />
<br />
First, click on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/#!home" target="_blank">regulations.gov</a> and click on the docket (shown circled in red below) FR-5877-P-01 Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations: Revision of Exemption for Recreational Vehicles (closing on April 11, 2016):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kkd6L7-0t9o/Vv_p7dB89PI/AAAAAAAAVPo/hsZwZFqRzW4S7imTJuqf9fQ4SPvWhmWBA/s1600/Regulations%2BRED.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="HUD docket on regulations.gov website closes April 11th 2016" border="0" height="256" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kkd6L7-0t9o/Vv_p7dB89PI/AAAAAAAAVPo/hsZwZFqRzW4S7imTJuqf9fQ4SPvWhmWBA/s400/Regulations%2BRED.png" title="regulations.gov website showing HUD docket to make it illegal to live in an RV or Tiny Home" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Next, click on the "Comment Now!" button at the bottom left hand corner (circled in red):</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UIq73mtUOVM/Vv_rLHnhVxI/AAAAAAAAVPw/37x5wAfNeEclkTMd_pO1SLFG6nO4YHcgw/s1600/Comment%2Bnow%2Bbutton%2BRED.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="regulations.gov website how to comment on docket " border="0" height="183" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UIq73mtUOVM/Vv_rLHnhVxI/AAAAAAAAVPw/37x5wAfNeEclkTMd_pO1SLFG6nO4YHcgw/s400/Comment%2Bnow%2Bbutton%2BRED.png" title="Comment Now button shown on regulations.gov website after clicking on docket" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fill in your comment and your information. Note: There is an option (further along) to post your comment publicly as an "anonymous" person. Here is what the form looks like:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cU4AviDse6c/Vv_sOy8B-zI/AAAAAAAAVP0/8yqsmQl-Qs0oqCrYHGBL8ivDuJjcKRt_w/s1600/Leave%2Byour%2Binfo%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Form on regulations.gov to leave a comment" border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cU4AviDse6c/Vv_sOy8B-zI/AAAAAAAAVP0/8yqsmQl-Qs0oqCrYHGBL8ivDuJjcKRt_w/s400/Leave%2Byour%2Binfo%2BUSE.png" title="regulations.gov form to fill out to leave a comment" width="331" /></a></div>
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Note: You can upload a file. I uploaded a comment I left on an L.A. Times article. Also, keep in mind that when you preview your info, you can edit it by pressing the back button on your keyboard. Below is the comment I left with the file I uploaded (click to enlarge):</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2ExmKbN0UQ/Vv_trmOk2LI/AAAAAAAAVP8/DmpaqmEFE14Gn6NWRrvXDOCJbw9VU_MBg/s1600/Regulations%2Bgov%2Bcomment%2Band%2Battachment%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rose Webster comment on HUD trying to make it illegal to live in Tiny Home or RV" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2ExmKbN0UQ/Vv_trmOk2LI/AAAAAAAAVP8/DmpaqmEFE14Gn6NWRrvXDOCJbw9VU_MBg/s400/Regulations%2Bgov%2Bcomment%2Band%2Battachment%2BUSE.png" title="regulations.gov comment and upload by Rose Webster" width="387" /></a></div>
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Make sure you also sign and share our petition (you don't have to donate). By doing so, 26 people in a position of power will be prompted to act on this egregious and inhumane treatment of those who are living at or below the poverty level (which is about half the population of the United States):</div>
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<a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless/u/16033277" target="_blank">Stop Exploiting Homeless People: Now Petitioning the FPPC</a></h2>
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We can do this!<br />
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<i>Optional: I also signed up for email alerts for this docket (there's a prompt in the right margin that will remind you). You need to confirm your email address by following a link (in an email you'll receive) that "confirms your registration" And eventually, you should see this prompt:</i><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PtZOjrlgulk/Vv_zfzOO1KI/AAAAAAAAVQM/liqutXHSUDIbTjGrZHLGAhNi8HsjQAb3A/s1600/Regulations%2Bemail%2Bconfirmed%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Prompt by regulations.gov when you sign up for email alerts" border="0" height="178" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PtZOjrlgulk/Vv_zfzOO1KI/AAAAAAAAVQM/liqutXHSUDIbTjGrZHLGAhNi8HsjQAb3A/s400/Regulations%2Bemail%2Bconfirmed%2BUSE.png" title="regulations.gov Email Management prompt to receive email alerts" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'll be in touch, </div>
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Rose</div>
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RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-81129955731472542692016-03-27T22:43:00.002-07:002016-04-01T19:03:07.478-07:00A Quick Look at Saving San Pedro, a Facebook Group W/ George PalaziolAfter investigating some of <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2016/03/the-truth-about-june-richard-george.html" target="_blank">LA's City Council Members and who they are connected to</a>, I decided to skim the Facebook page Saving San Pedro. I felt the public (and the world) has a right to know what elected officials are doing (since taxpayers fund their salaries).<br />
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Apparently, much of the page has been "cleaned up" but I was still able to capture a few posts of interest:<br />
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As you can see from the screenshot next, George Palaziol is poking fun at Caney Arnold. George even took the time to create a parody of Candyland, a child's board game, that I guess he's familiar with (click to enlarge):<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R1e3PtkzuTk/VviVNjMCZdI/AAAAAAAAVHY/Dlml1iSGPWUZWkHirFMNd43o7FpHEMZyA/s1600/George%2BPalaziol%2BCaneyland%2Bscreenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="George Palaziol post dehumanizing homeless people and making fun of Caney Arnold" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R1e3PtkzuTk/VviVNjMCZdI/AAAAAAAAVHY/Dlml1iSGPWUZWkHirFMNd43o7FpHEMZyA/s400/George%2BPalaziol%2BCaneyland%2Bscreenshot.png" title="George Palaziol post about Caney Arnold trying to help homeless" width="343" /></a></div>
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For those of you wondering what Caney Arnold wrote, he put:</div>
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<i>"Signed. Everyone also please directly contact your Councilperson. Tell them to identify public land in your District where these houses or even tents can be legally placed. Let them know that you are not afraid of having these in your area, otherwise they listen to the Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) crowd.<br />Let them know that their homeless sweeps are unconstitutional, and ask why they keep doing them when it results in massive pain for the homeless, and then lawsuits by Carol Sobel suing the City for violation of homelesss civil rights. The City has lost an average of $1 million dollars in each of the last few years in these lawsuits. If we aren't calling, then all they hear is the NIMBY whining." </i></blockquote>
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Moving On</h3>
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Next, this person (Jacy Page) was called out for "trolling" by James Baeza for this comment (click to enlarge): </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NqMgsvsPrek/VvirR3AuZzI/AAAAAAAAVHo/zgCnrXzPCkYoasEt6tB0CCTeEW_EcdgFg/s1600/Person%2Bcalled%2Ba%2Btroll%2Bfor%2Bthis%2Bcomment%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="James Baeza wrote Trolling as reply to Jacy Page on Saving San Pedro" border="0" height="217" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NqMgsvsPrek/VvirR3AuZzI/AAAAAAAAVHo/zgCnrXzPCkYoasEt6tB0CCTeEW_EcdgFg/s400/Person%2Bcalled%2Ba%2Btroll%2Bfor%2Bthis%2Bcomment%2BUSE.png" title="Jacy Page called out for trolling by James Baeza on Saving San Pedro" width="400" /></a></div>
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Of course I found the usual comments asking about where's the best place to eat or get your hair done. But I was shocked to see this post by Cathy Beauregard:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFzRxifob68/VvitBNlApCI/AAAAAAAAVH0/JhXsSyLDPXsJd6W0awZWvgQIxswyu5ICg/s1600/Cathy%2BBeauregard%2BSMFH%2Bpost%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cathy Beauregard upset about plant not homeless person Saving San Pedro" border="0" height="311" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LFzRxifob68/VvitBNlApCI/AAAAAAAAVH0/JhXsSyLDPXsJd6W0awZWvgQIxswyu5ICg/s400/Cathy%2BBeauregard%2BSMFH%2Bpost%2BUSE.png" title="Cathy Beauregard SMFH post about native plant and homeless Saving San Pedro" width="400" /></a></div>
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According to Cathy Beauregard, "what is so sad" is that it took her "8 years to get a native plant in the ground". And, she wrote: "it dont matter to "Homeless" [sic] . . . it is taking them less than a month to DESTROY the area....SMFH!!!" </div>
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For those of you (like me) who didn't know, SMFH stands for Shaking My F*cking Head. </div>
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How tragic for Cathy Beauregard, her native plant isn't thriving!</h3>
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And it seems that even LAPD Officer Deon Joseph felt the need to tone the group down when he chimed in on March 25th, 2016 with:</div>
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<i>"You guys really care about your city. <b>Just always remember compassion. It is not the homeless who is the enemy.</b> It is the negative fallout (the crime, and blight) that<b> some </b>homeless and <b>even the housed engage in</b> that is.<br />As you fight for a better quality of life for your community do not forget to be a voice for getting our government and philanthropist to provide housing and shelter (in a way that does not hurt the homeless or the community) that they desperately need.<br />A community that desires <b>clean safe streets does not mean you hate the downtrodden."</b></i></blockquote>
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And I came across some mean-spirited attempts at humorous posts, like these (click to enlarge):</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ercjrn1V0KM/Vvi-3dhm_JI/AAAAAAAAVIE/Dk3SS912cTwzG4TYf0iA7GdKdtfMnhoOQ/s1600/Two%2Babusive%2Bsigns%2BSaving%2BSan%2BPedro.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Saving San Pedro posts by Julie Pesich Bjazic and Tina Chree" border="0" height="205" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ercjrn1V0KM/Vvi-3dhm_JI/AAAAAAAAVIE/Dk3SS912cTwzG4TYf0iA7GdKdtfMnhoOQ/s400/Two%2Babusive%2Bsigns%2BSaving%2BSan%2BPedro.png" title="Julie Pesich Bjazic and Tina Chree posts on Saving San Pedro" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finally, I was kinda wondering the same thing as Rich N Yoma Gettler who asked, <i><b>"So we're not so in the dark here, can you please tell us what it is we're here to save San Pedro from?" </b></i>Click to enlarge to read the answers to his question:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JM9h4vE8NNo/VvjBAgkcHVI/AAAAAAAAVIQ/Pe6beDaeFQ4lEVfD55Q1udN5FONlxkt8A/s1600/Saving%2BSan%2BPedro%2Bfrom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rich N Yoma Gettler asks what Saving San Pedro group is about" border="0" height="361" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JM9h4vE8NNo/VvjBAgkcHVI/AAAAAAAAVIQ/Pe6beDaeFQ4lEVfD55Q1udN5FONlxkt8A/s400/Saving%2BSan%2BPedro%2Bfrom.png" title="What is Saving San Pedro group trying to save San Pedro from question" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, apparently Joanne Rallo told him to read the page description. What I found is this:</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMrzoKaV0jQ/VvjCFpYmSEI/AAAAAAAAVIY/ywdMPDT6JnEs5tWqhkhiGeHTnf8f01D4A/s1600/Saving%2BSan%2BPedro%2BDesription%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Facebook Group led by George Palaziol and Joanne Rallo Saving San Pedro Description" border="0" height="186" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMrzoKaV0jQ/VvjCFpYmSEI/AAAAAAAAVIY/ywdMPDT6JnEs5tWqhkhiGeHTnf8f01D4A/s400/Saving%2BSan%2BPedro%2BDesription%2BUSE.png" title="Saving San Pedro Facebook Group Description" width="400" /></a></div>
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Note: I cut off their Popeye emblem (since I'm unsure if it violates copyright/trademark laws).</div>
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I wonder how many people are contemplating suicide because of the obvious self-serving agenda and heartless actions of this group. This is a sad day in my online writing career – exposing a horrible side of people I share the planet with (who appear to be living a privileged life). </div>
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There's no compassion.</div>
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If you wish to help the homeless, we've begun a petition and are working towards securing land for these Tiny Homes. Please sign and share <a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless/u/15917456" target="_blank">Elvis Needs Land: Come On VA and UCLA, We Can Do This!</a></h3>
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Addendum March 29th, 2016</h3>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXq1j0aPE6k/VvoORzDg-tI/AAAAAAAAVI8/yqUywhnbODAb5yManzcLGStnKgKz9kEHw/s1600/Popeye%2Billegal%2Buse%2Bby%2BGeorge%2BPalaziol%2Bwith%2BRED%2Buse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Popeye and other media based on him not legal in U.S. until 2025 George Palaziol breaking IP laws" border="0" height="216" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXq1j0aPE6k/VvoORzDg-tI/AAAAAAAAVI8/yqUywhnbODAb5yManzcLGStnKgKz9kEHw/s400/Popeye%2Billegal%2Buse%2Bby%2BGeorge%2BPalaziol%2Bwith%2BRED%2Buse.png" title="George Palaziol illegally using Popeye and Whimpy on social media" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click to enlarge | Source: Wikipedia with original source cited </div>
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<b>Addendum April 1st, 2016</b></h3>
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George Palaziol would rather spend his time harassing people who help the homeless and applaud the efforts of L.A. city council (especially Joe Buscaino) who are systematically passing inhumane ordinances. Yes, it appears "healthy and safe streets" are more important than healthy and safe people. Source: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-homeless-belongings-20160331-story.html" target="_blank">L.A. council OKs law limiting homeless people's belongings to what can fit in a trash bin</a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sn8llDl00Aw/Vv4cc_wZOEI/AAAAAAAAVMY/0Kw_Q1sPHAwfmZ-fhaZNsjPfIxV0sWByg/s1600/Carrot%2BTop%2Binformed%2Bof%2Bhate%2Bpages%2Bby%2BGeorge%2BPalaziol.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="George Palaziol using Carrot Top to mock me with Facebook page" border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sn8llDl00Aw/Vv4cc_wZOEI/AAAAAAAAVMY/0Kw_Q1sPHAwfmZ-fhaZNsjPfIxV0sWByg/s400/Carrot%2BTop%2Binformed%2Bof%2Bhate%2Bpages%2Bby%2BGeorge%2BPalaziol.png" title="George Palaziol and his Facebook Group page harassing me and my blog" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click to enlarge | Source: Facebook groups run by George Palaziol</div>
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On The Plus Side</h2>
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Here is our latest petition update. We are now petitioning 21 people in a position of power to make things right. Please sign and share (it's okay to have family members sign too):</div>
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<a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless/u/16033277" target="_blank">Stop Exploiting Homeless People: Now Petitioning the FPPC</a></h2>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2pyB7FHLd8/Vv7i0D5cHoI/AAAAAAAAVOA/4ixWVa3-Wa4mHnsJwQITZbzqhedOCyxQQ/s1600/George%2BPalaziol%2BFB%2Bproof%2Bwith%2BBuscaino%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="George Palaziol wasting taxpayers' money bullying Rose Webster proof" border="0" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M2pyB7FHLd8/Vv7i0D5cHoI/AAAAAAAAVOA/4ixWVa3-Wa4mHnsJwQITZbzqhedOCyxQQ/s400/George%2BPalaziol%2BFB%2Bproof%2Bwith%2BBuscaino%2BUSE.png" title="George Palaziol San Pedro Homelessness Task Force and Joe Buscaino" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click to enlarge | Proof George Palaziol Started Facebook page<br />
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No worries George, I'll help you out . . .</h3>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg--41JGYqc/Vv8nP7QHkWI/AAAAAAAAVPA/Yg63lPCMpasu2VQT-pP5iWyH8aaBySb7g/s1600/Bluto%2Bfor%2BGeorge%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Public Domain image of Bluto that George Palaziol could use legally" border="0" height="220" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xg--41JGYqc/Vv8nP7QHkWI/AAAAAAAAVPA/Yg63lPCMpasu2VQT-pP5iWyH8aaBySb7g/s400/Bluto%2Bfor%2BGeorge%2BUSE.png" title="Bluto image in the Public Domain that looks (and acts) just like George Palaziol " width="400" /></a></div>
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Click to enlarge | Source: Wikimedia Commons</div>
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RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-33316514855190992052016-03-25T20:56:00.001-07:002016-03-27T18:59:29.141-07:00The Truth About June Richard, George Palaziol, Joe Buscaino, Melissa Lacanlale Montes, Mitchell Englander, Anthony Lucido, and Gayle FleuryGee, I'm constantly amazed at what I'm finding out about the Los Angeles City Council.<br />
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Not only did Elvis Summers reveal how abusive and foul-mouthed June Ellen Richard is towards someone less fortunate – a homeless person documented here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rose.webster.39/posts/892071697585010?pnref=story" target="_blank">Crazy Teacher Shouldn't be allowed to teach ignorance and hate or teach kids</a><br />
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But it appears that June Ellen Richard is <i>not</i> who she claims to be. Click to enlarge:<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_RvObvQEI0/VvXEB1mN85I/AAAAAAAAVDM/X85rcJED2zcT1OAcQRpxAPfIgp_FyjmNA/s1600/June%2BRichard%2Bon%2BGoogle%2BPlus%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="June Richard is a Resource Specialist and Claims to be involved in Special Ed" border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N_RvObvQEI0/VvXEB1mN85I/AAAAAAAAVDM/X85rcJED2zcT1OAcQRpxAPfIgp_FyjmNA/s400/June%2BRichard%2Bon%2BGoogle%2BPlus%2BUSE.png" title="June Ellen Richard Publicly Shared Google Plus Video and LinkedIn Profile" width="400" /></a></div>
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Moving right along.</div>
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As many of you know from my previous almost-viral post: <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2016/03/why-removing-tiny-homes-is-detrimental.html" target="_blank">Why Removing "Tiny Homes" is Detrimental to LA's Homeless and Society</a></div>
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George Palaziol (who was appointed by Joe Buscaino) to the <a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/social-affairs/20150916/san-pedro-homelessness-task-force-members-named" target="_blank">San Pedro Homelessness Task Force</a>, appears to spend much of his time abusing those in support of the Tiny House movement. <i>(Even leaving me abusive commentary).</i></div>
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Oh, but it doesn't stop there.</div>
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After I posted this impromptu Skype chat with Dean Ryan (Producer, Social Commentator, Film Maker):</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-VQ_PItPKSY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VQ_PItPKSY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Someone named Melissa Lacanlale Montes left me a horribly abusive comment, it began with:</div>
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<i>"Lady you are from Canada you have no idea what it's like over here in our town.. Or Country! You stated yourself you can't understand what's going on point bland you can not understand! You want to ..." </i></blockquote>
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And it became more and more abusive from there. She referred to homeless people "as zombies". <i>Feel free to contact Google YouTube for verification. </i>Of course, I didn't approve her comment.</div>
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Imagine my lack of surprise when I found out she is also connected to LA Councilman Joe Buscaino! A quick Google search turned up this:<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cuE_yFAaLBc/VvX4znAFkYI/AAAAAAAAVDc/hk_CZdhVNRUwu0Gqarlt1pmZhJfCjW1hg/s1600/Melissa%2BJoe%2Band%2BGeorge%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Melissa Lacanlale Montes left abusive commentary on Rose Webster's YouTube Skype interview with Dean Ryan" border="0" height="311" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cuE_yFAaLBc/VvX4znAFkYI/AAAAAAAAVDc/hk_CZdhVNRUwu0Gqarlt1pmZhJfCjW1hg/s400/Melissa%2BJoe%2Band%2BGeorge%2BUSE.png" title="Melissa Lacanlale Montes is connected to Joe Buscaino who appointed George Palaziol" width="400" /></a></div>
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When I started to investigate LA Councilman Joe Buscaino, I found out he (along with LA Councilman Mitchell Englander) voted <i>against</i> other LA council members (12 - 2) who wanted to settle with Brian Beaird's family.</div>
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Wonder who Brian Beaird was? At the 45-second mark in the following video, you can clearly see that Brian Beaird, 51, a former army veteran with the National Guard who was disabled exits his vehicle in a subdued fashion.</div>
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He has NO weapons and appears to be surrendering to police (about to raise his hands).</div>
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But instead, he is shot in cold blood.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ofVPYcEE338/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ofVPYcEE338?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Both LA City Councilmen, Joe Buscaino and Mitchell Englander, felt "the shooting appeared justified" – yeah. Scroll over to the 45-second mark and watch it again for yourself.</div>
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But Bernard Parks, former City Councilman and LAPD chief stated: </div>
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<i>"This is a case that clearly had significant potential liability far beyond what the settlement offer was. It was a good business decision when you have a loss of life and you have evidence that could be viewed as overwhelming against the city of LA."</i> </blockquote>
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Source: <a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/08/21/family_of_unarmed_national_guard_vet_killed_on_live_tv_to_receive_5_million_settlement" target="_blank">Family of Unarmed National Guard Vet Killed on Live TV to Receive $5 Million Settlement</a> by Ian Blair<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bWMHV6gNbbU/VvYlqbVAbjI/AAAAAAAAVD8/TcOPu9wZs1cr8Sn7_nxOwSZcacwq73KjQ/s1600/Joe%2BGeorge%2Band%2BMitchell%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="All Against Homeless is Joe Buscaino, George Palaziol, and Mitch Englander" border="0" height="251" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bWMHV6gNbbU/VvYlqbVAbjI/AAAAAAAAVD8/TcOPu9wZs1cr8Sn7_nxOwSZcacwq73KjQ/s400/Joe%2BGeorge%2Band%2BMitchell%2BUSE.png" title="Joe Buscaino, George Palaziol, and Mitchell Englander" width="400" /></a></div>
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And what's the deal with Los Angeles Councilman Mitch Englander?</div>
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A quick Google search led me to a <i>Los Angeles Daily News</i> post by Dakota Smith and Rick Orlov titled <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20131018/sex-harassment-suit-filed-against-chief-of-staff-to-los-angeles-councilman-mitch-englander" target="_blank">Sex harassment suit filed against chief of staff to Los Angeles Councilman Mitch Englander</a>. In it, his former aide complained about John Lee, chief of staff. </div>
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But LA Councilman Mitchell Englander questioned her if she:</div>
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<i>"Only wanted to be a Public Safety Deputy so she could walk into the fire stations and be naked in front of the male firefighters."</i></blockquote>
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UNREAL! <i>And there were more abusive comments and inappropriate conduct that followed.</i></div>
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This woman's suit alleged: <i><b>"After these comments, the Plaintiff knew the discriminatory and harassing conduct was so ingrained within District 12 staff that it would never stop."</b></i></div>
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More recently, in a <a href="http://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/politics/mitchell-englander-receives-endorsement-for-los-angeles-county-supervisor-from-assemblyman-wilk-166448" target="_blank">KHTS AM 1220 post on January 27th, 2016</a>, Assembly Member Scott Wilk stated: </div>
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<i>"I enthusiastically endorse Mitchell Englander for County Supervisor ... Mitch is the candidate with a proven record on increasing public safety, supporting local business and delivering services for the people who live and work in his district."</i></blockquote>
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Increasing public safety??<br />
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And this <i>just</i> in . . .<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oE4BWxh_FNU/VvYgn-w5OhI/AAAAAAAAVDs/UaWeyPbGQWssxJZFQd6ug9C0BgNrk-hyQ/s1600/Anthony%2Btwo%2Bimages%2Bwith%2Btext%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Anthony Lucido part of a group that promotes hate for homeless and those who help them" border="0" height="226" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oE4BWxh_FNU/VvYgn-w5OhI/AAAAAAAAVDs/UaWeyPbGQWssxJZFQd6ug9C0BgNrk-hyQ/s400/Anthony%2Btwo%2Bimages%2Bwith%2Btext%2BUSE.png" title="Anthony Lucido is connect to George Palaziol wanted to be Facebook friends" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click to enlarge image. The left side shows Anthony Lucido (part of the Facebook group Saving San Pedro). He states: <i>"Looks like Rose Webster not going to like what's happening to our town. Let the blogs blow." </i>On the right side of the image is a screenshot of the Facebook invitation I received from Anthony Lucido one week ago (March 19th, 2016).</div>
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Addendum March 26th, 2016</h3>
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Gayle Fluery left me a comment below and I addressed each of her points. Here's what I found out about her (click to enlarge):</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JYF38CwOeBo/VvcuiYgJXKI/AAAAAAAAVEM/re6tdH_70GoBGSk9AsTSgWkWxaLpTfMWQ/s1600/Gayle%2BFleury%2Bconnected%2Bto%2BGeorge%2BPalaziol%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gayle Fleury of San Pedro belongs to group George Palaziol involved with" border="0" height="245" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JYF38CwOeBo/VvcuiYgJXKI/AAAAAAAAVEM/re6tdH_70GoBGSk9AsTSgWkWxaLpTfMWQ/s400/Gayle%2BFleury%2Bconnected%2Bto%2BGeorge%2BPalaziol%2BUSE.png" title="Gayle Fleury of San Pedro connected to George Palaziol " width="400" /></a></div>
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Awe, how sweet! Click to enlarge:</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8RzlcdzMBY8/VviO3dBAWQI/AAAAAAAAVHI/Y99S21HRu0Ypyym1c126UqPza0jU7VInA/s1600/Gayle%2BFleury%2Bto%2BGeorge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Saving San Pedro post by Gayle Fleury to George Palaziol of Two Trolls" border="0" height="275" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8RzlcdzMBY8/VviO3dBAWQI/AAAAAAAAVHI/Y99S21HRu0Ypyym1c126UqPza0jU7VInA/s400/Gayle%2BFleury%2Bto%2BGeorge.png" title="Gayle Fleury posts two images of trolls for George Palaziol on Saving San Pedro" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Want to help? Please sign and share our petition</span></h2>
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<span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Curren Price: Reverse Your Order to Confiscate and Destroy "Tiny Homes" for LA's Homeless</a></h3>
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RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-67489100438144987472016-03-05T15:21:00.000-08:002016-04-20T16:34:15.687-07:00Why Removing "Tiny Homes" is Detrimental to LA's Homeless and SocietyA week ago, I began the Change.org petition: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless" target="_blank">Curren Price: Reverse Your Order to Confiscate and Destroy "Tiny Homes" for LA's Homeless</a> and I've been tracking both sides of this issue every waking hour.<br />
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I decided to petition help from outside of the US (the Canadian Red Cross) because the number of homeless people is growing exponentially. As of June 2015, there were an estimated 44,359 homeless souls (an increase of 55 percent) since 2013.<br />
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In fact, over a third of America's chronically homeless live in California. Source: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless/u/15715619" target="_blank">Now Calling Upon the Canadian Red Cross to Help</a><br />
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People are and will be dying in the streets.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppq-3Vb1Xvw/VttnpZwLJQI/AAAAAAAAUzQ/0VEBW_7qY8I/s1600/homeless%2Bsara%2Bupset%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Emotional Confrontation of Tiny Home Removal by Marisol Medina and Elvis Summers" border="0" height="246" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppq-3Vb1Xvw/VttnpZwLJQI/AAAAAAAAUzQ/0VEBW_7qY8I/s400/homeless%2Bsara%2Bupset%2BUSE.png" title="Still of Marisol Medina's Video Removing Homeless Person's Tiny Home" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot of Marisol Medina's Video Post / Homeless Woman Clearly Distraught</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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What's more: Elvis Summers and Marisol Medina are working around the clock to salvage their hard work <i>and</i> assure the homeless "they will get their Tiny Homes back". Take a peek at this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maribeme/videos/10153380947151127/?pnref=story" target="_blank">heartbreaking footage</a>.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The gist: a homeless woman is frantic (naturally) that her Tiny Home is being taken away from her. Marisol, Elvis, and their team are bearing the brunt of this woman's outrage.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>And the homeless woman is right: the Tiny Home was gifted to her (and legally belongs to her). But because the city has already removed (without notice) and destroyed three Tiny Homes, Elvis and Marisol are simply trying to save the rest of them.</i></blockquote>
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Now, the "city" has managed to make the good guys look like the bad guys.<br />
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Ripping these homes away from the homeless is clearly detrimental to their mental and emotional health. Can you imagine how hard Elvis and Marisol need to work on maintaining trust with people they've been helping all along?<br />
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And if it's hard for Elvis and Marisol, it will be<b> impossible</b> for city workers to gain their trust.<br />
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Of course, all of this is a violation of basic human rights. One cannot move forward in life without having basic needs met. The most simplistic reference – that still holds true today – is <a href="http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html" target="_blank">Maslow's hierachy of needs</a>:<br />
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"One must satisfy lower level basic needs before progressing on to meet higher-level growth needs. Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by failure to meet lower-level needs."<br />
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In fact, Maslow predicted that "only one in a hundred people become fully self-actualized" because of how our society operates. To spell it out for the Curren Price et al:<br />
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<ul>
<li>All humans need air, food, water, and <b>shelter</b> from the elements. </li>
<li>All humans need to feel <b>safe, secure, and free of any fear</b>. <i>The stability provided by laws (especially human rights laws) in a society are of utmost importance to uphold.</i></li>
<li>Next,<b> we need to feel cared for, loved, and that we belong</b>. (Not feel like an outcast or be forced into hiding).</li>
</ul>
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For the city to make it impossible to have these basic human needs met and expect the homeless to "find a good paying job and get off the streets" is asking the impossible.<br />
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The impossible.<br />
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The one night I spent (as a teen, huddled next to my then boyfriend) went like this:<br />
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<i>Slept on and off from 1 am - 2:30 am. Got startled by strange noises. Worried about being asked to leave or having our few belongings stolen. At 3 am, security told us to leave. From 3 am until 6 am, we walked around in a park, rested on park benches, grew hungrier and more tired.</i></blockquote>
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<i>At 6 am, a coffee shop opened and we sat there trying to figure out what to do next (and where to get more sleep). We were hungry for the next 6 hours until about noon (when high school friends offered us some of their lunch). We just had to keep moving to avoid anyone asking us to "leave the premises". </i></blockquote>
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<i>We had no money.</i></blockquote>
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I simply cannot fathom how anyone can "turn their homeless life around" carrying on like this for more than a few days. Without adequate sleep, food and water, you cannot live. You cannot sleep if you are fearful.<br />
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And to maintain a sense of safety (as well as dignity and privacy): a room with a locking door is crucial.<br />
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Furthermore, it is entirely false that these Tiny Homes have no ventilation. They have two windows and eight vents. Yeah, EIGHT vents.<br />
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And when I viewed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlJazeeraAmerica/videos/566742223486125/" target="_blank">this video</a> of Curren Price claiming that drug paraphernalia was found by city workers, I had a good chuckle. It's obvious they've copped a brand new box of needles (off the shelf) as opposed to providing REAL footage.<br />
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Sure enough, I later learned that these allegations were false and misleading. Click to enlarge:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZE4wBdRC8ag/VttTAUF3NXI/AAAAAAAAUyk/omBj7l7BCHc/s1600/Screenshot%2Bof%2BFB%2Bexchange%2Bfor%2Bblog%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="George Palaziol constantly harasses Tiny Homes team on Facebook" border="0" height="138" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZE4wBdRC8ag/VttTAUF3NXI/AAAAAAAAUyk/omBj7l7BCHc/s400/Screenshot%2Bof%2BFB%2Bexchange%2Bfor%2Bblog%2BUSE.png" title="Facebook exchange with George Palaziol opposing the Tiny Homes project" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook feed of Welcome Home: A Tiny House, Huge Purpose</td></tr>
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And it seems that Joe Busciano (one of the <a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/03/03/activist-vows-keep-building-tiny-houses-los-angeles-homeless" target="_blank">most vocal opponents of Summer's projects</a>) has George Palaziol <a href="https://mobile.facebook.com/JoeBuscaino/photos/a.116782065161192.20231.114614865377912/483353148504080/?type=3" target="_blank">on his team</a> to troll, bully, and threaten Marisol Medina.<br />
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Yeah, I'm not exaggerating. Click to enlarge:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjXhnf9Czxc/VttVNn-vOII/AAAAAAAAUyw/xEPEqgwxrPw/s1600/Marisol%2Bis%2Bbeing%2Bthreatened%2BUSE%2Blarger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lauren Buzard told Marisol Medina George Palaziol has Mob Ties" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjXhnf9Czxc/VttVNn-vOII/AAAAAAAAUyw/xEPEqgwxrPw/s400/Marisol%2Bis%2Bbeing%2Bthreatened%2BUSE%2Blarger.png" title="Marisol Medina Facebook Post Threatened by Mob Ties" width="357" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook feed: Tiny Houses for the Homeless Rally!</td></tr>
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Gee, for someone on the San Pedro Community Homelessness task force, George Palaziol is spending an inordinate amount of time abusing Marisol Medina. In fact, I'm <i>still</i> finding commentary of his.<br />
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You'd think he'd be out there trying to help the homeless. </div>
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So, I tried to find out what he actually <i>does</i> do and found <a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/social-affairs/20150916/san-pedro-homelessness-task-force-members-named" target="_blank">this post</a> by Donna Littlejohn of the <i>Daily Breeze</i>. Notably, Littlejohn's article confirmed that Los Angeles City Councilman, Joe Buscaino, appointed the group (shown in a photo, further along) and:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Meetings are <b>not expected to be open to the public</b> but will be structured as working sessions."</blockquote>
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"The intention of this task force is to <b>create a smart, effective and civil dialogue between San Pedro stakeholders</b> about issues <i>caused</i> by homelessness."</blockquote>
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WAIT . . WHAT!!</div>
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The public cannot attend (unlike what Tiny Homes is trying to accomplish with their rally) and it appears that <i>stakeholders</i> are more concerned about their bottom line (money).</div>
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Ohhh now I understand why George Palaziol is publicly bashing Marisol Medina and Elvis Summers (and probably other members of their team).</div>
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Hmm, yeah. Better beware of this guy. Click to enlarge to get a good look:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEWowBkys-E/VttgYKIS79I/AAAAAAAAUzA/VN216Tuq-Ms/s1600/George%2BPalaziol%2Bphoto%2Bcircled%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="George Palaziol is on San Pedro Homelessness Task Force via Joe Buscaino Facebook Feed" border="0" height="377" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZEWowBkys-E/VttgYKIS79I/AAAAAAAAUzA/VN216Tuq-Ms/s400/George%2BPalaziol%2Bphoto%2Bcircled%2BUSE.png" title="Joe Buscaino Facebook Photo Showing George Palaziol" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facebook photo via Joe Buscaino September 16th, 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h3>
Want to help? Please sign and share our petition, <a href="https://www.change.org/p/curren-price-curren-price-reverse-your-order-to-confiscate-and-destroy-tiny-homes-for-la-s-homeless" target="_blank">Curren Price: Reverse Your Order to Confiscate and Destroy "Tiny Homes" for LA's Homeless</a></h3>
</div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-27872189692189544312016-01-17T09:32:00.004-08:002016-02-03T04:57:15.880-08:00Best Grooming Tool is the Least ExpensiveBy now, you probably guessed that Editor Cat is my sidekick. And I enjoy taking good care of her.<br />
<br />
On May 21st, 2014, I published an in-depth <i>Paw Mane Fin</i> article called <a href="http://www.pawmanefin.com/Hairballs_in_Cats_Prevention_Safe_Remedies_and_Warnings" target="_blank">Hairballs in Cats: Prevention, Safe Remedies, and Warnings</a>. In it, I shared a video of Editor Cat (Kady) trying out five different grooming tools.<br />
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When it comes to hairballs (trichobezoars), prevention is key. It's like brushing your teeth.<br />
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It's been close to 20 years that I've relied on this tool – a shedding blade – for three rescue cats (so far). I'm pretty sure my man-servant purchased it from <a href="http://wahlglobal.com/canada/wahl/professional-animal-groomingveterinary/grooming-tools/double-sided-shedding-blade-58416.html" target="_blank">Wahl® Canada</a>, but he can't be sure. <i>(Shows you how much I rely on him to fetch me this and that).</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Take a peek at this product in action:<br />
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Fortunately, I found several shedding blades on Amazon. Here is the link to the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wahl-Double-sided-Shedding-Blade-858408/dp/B002GKICQG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453050418&sr=8-1&keywords=Wahl+double+sided+shedding+blade" target="_blank">Wahl® Home Pet Double-sided Shedding Blade</a> (which I believe is the closest match). </div>
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What impressed me about this Amazon product page is the handy chart (at the bottom) which shows six types of fur and the recommended grooming tool. <i>I know shedding blades were designed for horses and dogs (initially) but they work wonders on long-haired cats too.</i></div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-29271175322748424702016-01-13T00:01:00.001-08:002016-01-13T03:11:59.804-08:00Bodum® French Press vs. $10 French PressRecently, Editor Cat reminded me to tell coffee lovers to only purchase a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Chambord-French-Coffee-Chrome/dp/B00008XEWG/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1452666278&sr=1-1&keywords=bodum+french+press" target="_blank">Bodum® French press coffee maker</a>. And she made some valid points.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzqAPHFC3cU/VpX_3XU8OII/AAAAAAAAUL8/cleHvNJ_QB4/s1600/Bodum%2BFrench%2BPress%2BBeside%2BCheap%2BKind%2BUSE%2Bfor%2BBlog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bodum French press coffee maker beside 10 dollar French press coffee maker" border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fzqAPHFC3cU/VpX_3XU8OII/AAAAAAAAUL8/cleHvNJ_QB4/s400/Bodum%2BFrench%2BPress%2BBeside%2BCheap%2BKind%2BUSE%2Bfor%2BBlog.png" title="RoseWrites compares Bodum French press coffee maker to cheap kind" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparing a Bodum® French press to a $10 French press / <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 10.8192px; line-height: 16.2288px;">© 2016 RoseWrites</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Last year, we tried out a $10 French press and soon discovered how important top quality stainless steel is (along with good design).<br />
<br />
In fact, the <a href="http://www.ciachef.edu/" target="_blank">American Culinary Institute</a> named Bodum® the "Best French Press Coffee Maker" in 2004. What impresses me the most is the <i>durability</i> of Bodum® coffee makers (I had one for over 20 years). And for safety, Bodum® can't be beat – their lids have a patented locking system.<br />
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When I checked out the <a href="http://coffeemakerpicks.com/best-french-press/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Best French Press Coffee Maker Picks 2016</a>, my Bodum® Chambord® placed third. The first place French press had a lovely design, but I was leery of the plastic housing for the carafe part. You'll see why in my video (shown next). The press that placed second uses a double screen (which <i>may</i> be more work to clean, I don't know).<br />
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To be fair, I always use <i>coarsely</i> ground coffee beans, so I've never had a problem with coffee grounds getting into my cup. But for those of you who sneak in a little "regular" grind when you are getting low on coffee beans, you might want to consider the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/SterlingPro-French-Coffee-Press-Chrome/dp/B00DUHACEE/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1452668822&sr=1-1&keywords=SterlingPro" target="_blank">SterlingPro French press coffee maker</a>. </div>
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I have never tried a SterlingPro French press coffee maker, but it looks almost exactly like a Bodum® French press.</div>
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Still, if you have anything that crawls at your feet (pets or kids), I feel safety is more important than stylish designs or double screens. </div>
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Bottom line: Editor Cat gives the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Chambord-French-Coffee-Chrome/dp/B00008XEWG/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1452671626&sr=1-1&keywords=bodum+chambord+french+press" target="_blank">Bodum® Chambord® French press coffee maker</a> four paws up because of its record for safety and durability.</div>
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If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask. <i>[And no, this wasn't a paid endorsement. Bodum® is simply a product line that has served me well for over 20 years.]</i></div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-60851323973558046362016-01-05T02:32:00.005-08:002016-01-13T03:12:29.220-08:00Rubbermaid's Clear Countertop Mat Saved My KitchenFor over 11 years, I've been using (and recommending) the same <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Antimicrobial-Drain-Board-Large/dp/B000IZC082/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451982990&sr=8-1&keywords=rubbermaid+clear+countertop+mat" target="_blank">clear Rubbermaid drainboard</a> to friends and family.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFLSMxHE7tk/VouZMWNTMHI/AAAAAAAAUA0/wQGijMKzqXU/s1600/My%2BRubbermaid%2Bclear%2Bdrainage%2Bmat%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rubbermaid clear drainage kitchen mat protects counter seams" border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFLSMxHE7tk/VouZMWNTMHI/AAAAAAAAUA0/wQGijMKzqXU/s400/My%2BRubbermaid%2Bclear%2Bdrainage%2Bmat%2BUSE.png" title="RoseWrites shows Rubbermaid clear drainage board" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubbermaid drainboard protects kitchen counter seams / © 2016 RoseWrites</td></tr>
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Water that pools around sinks or at the seams of countertops will eventually find its way into tiny crevices. Over time, you might end up with irreparable water damage and sometimes even mold. This <i>is</i> a health hazard. <i>Not to mention the cost of having to replace your entire kitchen counter and possibly the cabinets underneath. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Even if you use a dishwasher, there are times you'll need a drainboard. My parents always had a plain white mat but I prefer a clear one that shows the beauty of my countertop. Plus, I don't feel like I need to "hide" it somewhere out of sight.<br />
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In my comedic <i>YouTube</i> rant titled <b>RoseWrites on Kitchen Counters</b> (shown next) you can see my Rubbermaid mat and how it protects the corner seam of my countertop. If you only wish to see the drainboard, scroll over to the 3:30 mark:<br />
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<br />
Just a few more points about my Rubbermaid drainboard:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Rubbermaid is a name I trust, the company has been around for almost 80 years.</li>
<li>Rubbermaid drainboards are made with Microban antimicrobial product protection (that won't wear off). This inhibits the growth of bacteria and makes it resistant to stains and odours.</li>
<li>Rubbermaid drainboards come in two sizes; small (14.38" x 15.38" x 1.3") and large (18" x 14.7" x 1.3"). They are available in four colours: clear, white, red, and black. And, they are made in the USA.</li>
</ul>
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If you have any questions about it, feel free to ask me. <i>[And no, this wasn't a paid endorsement. It's simply a product that has served me well for over a decade.]</i>RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-8417111736479001972015-12-27T19:55:00.002-08:002015-12-28T00:36:41.934-08:00Why I Love Toe Warmers® Brand BootsI found the perfect winter boots for ladies.<br />
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<a href="http://www.canadianfootwear.com/browse;cat,86577;Toe-Warmers-by-Tender-Tootsie" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toe Warmers® are a Canadian brand</a> that are guaranteed to get you through the harshest winter. They are waterproof, made with genuine leather or suede (usually in the upper), and urethane. The fleece lining is incredibly warm and the skid-proof soles are super grippy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDbesRQWa2I/VoCxlo_MZiI/AAAAAAAATt4/DUjqS6hyegk/s1600/Boots%2Band%2BIce%2BMelter%2BDec%2B27%2B2015%2BUSE%2Bon%2BBlog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="RoseWrites wearing Toe Warmers® brand booties" border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDbesRQWa2I/VoCxlo_MZiI/AAAAAAAATt4/DUjqS6hyegk/s400/Boots%2Band%2BIce%2BMelter%2BDec%2B27%2B2015%2BUSE%2Bon%2BBlog.png" title="Toe Warmers® Boots worn by RoseWrites" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing my Toe Warmers® booties and ready for winter / © 2015 RoseWrites</td></tr>
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Mine have a genuine suede leather upper and a Warmtex™ fleece lining and are "waterproof below the zipper". Click to enlarge image above. NOTE: Quote in grey bubble is from <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0189265/" target="_blank">The Friendly Giant</a></i> (TV Series) created by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0393007/" target="_blank">Bob Homme</a>.<br />
<i><br /></i>
Toe Warmers® are available in men's styles too. At <a href="http://www.walkingonacloud.ca/Brands/Toe-Warmers-Shoes.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Walking On A Cloud</a>, a famous Canadian shoe store, my man-servant and I tried on several brands of winter boots last year. Remember last winter? According to Sam Colbert of <i>The Star</i>, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/starweather/2015/03/it-s-official-february-was-toronto-s-coldest-month-ever.html" target="_blank">February was Toronto's coldest month ever</a>.<br />
<br />
And this is where we first were sold on the Toe Warmers® brand. Plus, these boots wash up beautifully and last for years. So this year, I thought I'd tout these on my blog (and include an entertaining 1:30 second video). Fortunately, this brand is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Toe-Warmers-Womens-Haven-Black/dp/B001IF3WQK/ref=sr_1_14?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1451271793&sr=1-14&nodeID=7141123011" target="_blank">available on Amazon</a> for an even lower price than what I paid here in Canada.<br />
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Last year, I didn't have the gumption to start a blog. I didn't want to bore people with my life. Now I do.<br />
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<br />RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-84446954614433420822015-12-22T18:55:00.001-08:002016-01-01T16:59:46.762-08:00Appealing to Fellow Canadian Ed the Sock<div class="tr_bq">
Today was a real blow to my ego. Just as I was feeling empowered to represent writers and charities who were treated unfairly and denied their rightful earnings, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AHubPages" target="_blank">Wikipedia editor</a> removes a supporter's post. </div>
<br />
Yeah.<br />
<br />
Apparently, telling the truth and having supporters and charities provide additional proof just isn't enough these days. No, according to "Cyphoidbomb" (a Wikipedia editor):<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"... only when mainstream news websites start to <i>care</i> about this petition and write about them from an analytical perspective (i.e. not just press releases) should <i>we care</i> about petitions."</blockquote>
<br />
This Wikipedia editor added insults, innuendos, and tried to belittle my (our) Change.org petition. In fact, since the Talk:HubPages page can <i>still</i> be edited, I felt it important to include <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/photo/107889574670988423996/6231260018819830930" target="_blank">screenshot proof of just a few sentences of Cyphoidbomb's response</a>.<br />
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Naturally, I felt Mr. Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and Wikia deserved to know what happened. So I wrote him the following:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
Dear Mr. Wales, </blockquote>
<blockquote>
I want to report an editor who (I believe) has a "conflict of interest" with HubPages, Inc.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In the past (May 2015), I have successfully added facts to the HubPages Wikipedia page – but not without great resistance from "Cyphoidbomb".</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Yesterday, a supporter of my Change.org petition added factual information about my efforts to the HubPages Wikipedia page. We were both shocked by the insults and innuendos that he or she used on the Talk:HubPages page.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Instead of launching into a back-and-forth debate with this person, I decided to <a href="https://www.change.org/p/kamala-harris-hubpages-writers-are-entitled-to-all-earnings-and-removal-of-their-author-content/u/14709466" target="_blank">update my petition supporters (and you)</a>.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In the meantime, I will take the high road and just work harder to let "mainstream media" know about my petition.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
It's a shame that (according to Cyphoidbomb): ONLY when "certain media care about writers and their charities" that Wikipedia will consider including such fact-filled information. (I don't believe that this is YOUR mandate, though).</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays).</blockquote>
<br />
And so, here is where fellow Canadian (and someone I admire greatly) <a href="http://www.edthesock.com/" target="_blank">Ed the Sock</a> comes in.<br />
<br />
Many of you (actually 3,902) read my piece <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Bring_Back_Ed_The_Sock_Please" target="_blank">Bring Back Ed The Sock Please</a>. Below is a screenshot of my stats page (compared to other comedians I wrote about like Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Jon Dore, and the cast of 22 Minutes). Obviously, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ed.thesock" target="_blank">Ed the Sock</a> rules!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UI7s2IPerd4/VnoJantE_jI/AAAAAAAATpw/tuu_IyEjm_A/s1600/Ed%2Bthe%2BSock%2Bon%2Bmy%2BContent%2BPage%2Bwith%2BRED%2Bcircle%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ed the Sock article on InfoBarrel stats " border="0" height="211" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UI7s2IPerd4/VnoJantE_jI/AAAAAAAATpw/tuu_IyEjm_A/s400/Ed%2Bthe%2BSock%2Bon%2Bmy%2BContent%2BPage%2Bwith%2BRED%2Bcircle%2BUSE.png" title="RoseWrites InfoBarrel Comedic Article Statistics" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
Well, I recently discovered that <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ed-the-sock-socks-drop-in-centre-drive-1.3244508" target="_blank">Ed helped Work Together For Fun (WTFF) collect 1,000 pairs of socks</a> for homeless people in Calgary, Alberta. In fact, Ed <i>volunteered</i> for it. He told CBC news:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I saw them on Twitter and volunteered to help because, well, you don't see a lot of charities or anything else that involves themselves with socks."</blockquote>
<br />
Well Ed, I'm hoping you can help promote our petition: <a href="https://www.change.org/p/kamala-harris-hubpages-writers-are-entitled-to-all-earnings-and-removal-of-their-author-content" target="_blank">HubPages' Writers are Entitled to All Earnings and Removal of Their Author Content</a>. <i>I will contact you privately to try and "work something out" with you.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Addendum:</b> I just voted in <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107889574670988423996/posts/VeEMS1v9jfk" target="_blank">Ed the Sock's Biggest A-Holes of 2015</a> poll<i> (you should too)</i>.<br />
<br />
December 30th, 2015: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzUSl-E4TO8" target="_blank">Ed the Sock's Biggest A-Holes of 2015: The Bottom 5</a><br />
January 1st, 2016: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_uj_8QiioY&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">Ed the Sock's Top 5 Biggest A-Holes of 2015! (NSFW)</a><br />
<br />
Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays),<br />
<br />
RoseRoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-88146434259735424272015-12-19T21:47:00.001-08:002015-12-28T00:48:23.175-08:00How to Make a Paw Print Keepsake or Ornament (Only 3 Ingredients)A few days ago, I saw the simplest way to make a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AdaptilUS/videos/vb.223101861209546/471304996389230/?type=2&theater" target="_blank">DIY Keepsake Paw Print Ornament.</a> And immediately I knew that it was the perfect, <i>almost</i> no-cost way to give a gift from the heart (or to keep the kids happy during the holidays).<br />
<br />
Editor Cat has been nudging me to write a Christmas blog post, so she volunteered to help create this pictorial guide.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i1hT2-obLEA/VnYn4C7BV5I/AAAAAAAAThQ/IQrntSOM-VA/s1600/Editor%2Bcat%2Bwith%2Bornament%2Bingredients.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Flour, Salt, Food Colouring for Salt Dough Ornaments" border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i1hT2-obLEA/VnYn4C7BV5I/AAAAAAAAThQ/IQrntSOM-VA/s400/Editor%2Bcat%2Bwith%2Bornament%2Bingredients.png" title="Ingredients for Salt Dough Ornament with Cat" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Editor Cat grabbed flour, salt, food colouring, cookie cutters, and measuring cup</td></tr>
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<h3>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zir1DehIGJA/VnZAkgyngxI/AAAAAAAATjM/_pg62-aszYU/s1600/Ornament%2Bon%2Btree.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Salt Dough Paw Print Ornament With Red Ribbon" border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zir1DehIGJA/VnZAkgyngxI/AAAAAAAATjM/_pg62-aszYU/s320/Ornament%2Bon%2Btree.png" title="Paw Print Ornament Hanging on Christmas Tree" width="320" /></a></div>
Ingredients</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1.5 cups all-purpose flour</div>
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1.5 cups salt</div>
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food colouring</div>
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1 cup water</div>
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<h3>
Directions</h3>
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<br /></div>
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In a med-large bowl, mix together flour and salt.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lr7slzfojd0/VnYy5tIs7eI/AAAAAAAATh4/jjEM1YawCyE/s1600/water%2Bfood%2Bcolouring%2Bsalt%2Bflour.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="salt dough ingredients reading for mixing to make ornaments" border="0" height="204" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lr7slzfojd0/VnYy5tIs7eI/AAAAAAAATh4/jjEM1YawCyE/s320/water%2Bfood%2Bcolouring%2Bsalt%2Bflour.png" title="Water, food colouring, flour & salt ready for mixing to make keepsake" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TIP: Add a few drops of food colouring to water first</td></tr>
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</div>
<div>
Add a few drops of food colouring to 1 cup of water. </div>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Note: the video shows food colouring being added later on, but I found the colour to be more uniform if it is added to the water first.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Add coloured water gradually to flour-salt mixture until a doughy ball begins to form.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until smooth. Then flatten it with your hands.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_gQgneIxiY/VnY16658qJI/AAAAAAAATiM/AixaLu1FW48/s1600/Knead%2Bthe%2Bsalt%2Bdough.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Salt dough being kneaded to make ornaments" border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D_gQgneIxiY/VnY16658qJI/AAAAAAAATiM/AixaLu1FW48/s400/Knead%2Bthe%2Bsalt%2Bdough.png" title="Kneading the salt dough to make keepsake" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>TIP:</b> I used a sheet of wax paper and the side of a glass to roll the dough out. I aimed for dough to be about a 1/3-inch thick.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rIPhoBvMi4/VnY0fo-ZO6I/AAAAAAAATiA/c-HwMJr37go/s1600/Rolling%2Bdough%2Bwith%2Bwax%2Bpaper%2Band%2Bside%2Bof%2Bcup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Easy way to roll out salt dough using wax paper and a glass" border="0" height="252" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0rIPhoBvMi4/VnY0fo-ZO6I/AAAAAAAATiA/c-HwMJr37go/s400/Rolling%2Bdough%2Bwith%2Bwax%2Bpaper%2Band%2Bside%2Bof%2Bcup.png" title="Rolling out salt dough with wax paper on top and side of a glass" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flatten dough by hand or use my wax paper and glass trick / © 2015 RoseWrites</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next, ensure your oven racks are set so that the ornaments will bake in the center and preheat oven to 275 F (135 C).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0R3G3fJbcs/VnYxPCaDLaI/AAAAAAAAThg/uySNxsXlxV0/s1600/Editor%2BCat%2BPaw%2BPrinting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pushing cat paw into salt dough to make a keepsake" border="0" height="310" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O0R3G3fJbcs/VnYxPCaDLaI/AAAAAAAAThg/uySNxsXlxV0/s400/Editor%2BCat%2BPaw%2BPrinting.png" title="Cat having paw print taken in salt dough for ornament" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Editor Cat allowing me to push her paw into salt dough to create a keepsake<br />
© 2015 RoseWrites / All rights reserved </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Editor Cat insisted I gently push her paws into the dough. You could use a round cup to cut out the paw prints or cookie cutters. <i>We tried a few different cookie cutter shapes. </i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4j81Uo_3mE/VnY3_bPsMOI/AAAAAAAATiY/Pzz_ALH6KVs/s1600/Poking%2Ba%2Bhole%2Bin%2Bsalt%2Bdough.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Using a skewer to create a hold in salt dough for keepsake" border="0" height="273" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i4j81Uo_3mE/VnY3_bPsMOI/AAAAAAAATiY/Pzz_ALH6KVs/s400/Poking%2Ba%2Bhole%2Bin%2Bsalt%2Bdough.png" title="Poking a hole in salt dough after cookie cutter used for ornament" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use a cookie cutter, glass, or butter knife to outline paw print and poke a hole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HzAKxbN5eng/VnY5iaCRkqI/AAAAAAAATik/sGTIScRBA0Q/s1600/salt%2Bdough%2Bornaments%2Bcooling%2Bon%2Bforks.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HzAKxbN5eng/VnY5iaCRkqI/AAAAAAAATik/sGTIScRBA0Q/s200/salt%2Bdough%2Bornaments%2Bcooling%2Bon%2Bforks.png" width="138" /></a></div>
Use a skewer or toothpick (or similar pointy thing) to create a hole for a string (or a nail).<br />
<br />
Carefully lift (use a spatula) the paw print shapes onto a parchment paper-lined or foil-lined pan and bake for 10 minutes. Allow the ornaments to cool completely (I propped them up on the sides of forks).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After adding a decorative string, hang your keepsake up on the wall or Christmas tree or place in gift box.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Note: This works well with baby feet too.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ykq8WGoZQwk/VnZOeivcl2I/AAAAAAAATjg/9a1LPKcG5wc/s1600/Editor%2BCat%2BSelects%2BHer%2BFavorite%2BTree%2BOrnament.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cat Chooses Favorite Salt Dough Paw Print Keepsake" border="0" height="227" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ykq8WGoZQwk/VnZOeivcl2I/AAAAAAAATjg/9a1LPKcG5wc/s400/Editor%2BCat%2BSelects%2BHer%2BFavorite%2BTree%2BOrnament.png" title="Editor Cat Selects Favorite Paw Print Ornament" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Editor Cat Selects Her Favourite Paw Print Ornament / © 2015 RoseWrites</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELTmg5jdJOg/VnY9uuiN7yI/AAAAAAAATi0/rP4gOi09r2Y/s1600/Paw%2BPrint%2Bwith%2BEditor%2BCat%2Band%2BTree.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Editor Cat Puts Paw Print Salt Dough Ornament on Christmas Tree" border="0" height="201" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELTmg5jdJOg/VnY9uuiN7yI/AAAAAAAATi0/rP4gOi09r2Y/s400/Paw%2BPrint%2Bwith%2BEditor%2BCat%2Band%2BTree.png" title="Salt Dough Paw Print Ornament on Tree by Editor Cat" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Editor Cat Puts Paw Print Ornament on Christmas Tree / © 2015 RoseWrites</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Wishing You & Yours a Happy Holiday Season. Love, Editor Cat</h3>
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</div>
<i><br /></i></div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-66838838575477923422015-11-27T01:35:00.000-08:002015-12-28T00:48:42.687-08:00Bravo Google: The Truth Has PowerI'm thoroughly enjoying how effective my first Change.org petition, <a href="https://www.change.org/p/kamala-harris-hubpages-writers-are-entitled-to-all-earnings-and-removal-of-their-author-content#petition-letter" target="_blank">HubPages' Writers are Entitled to All Earnings and Removal of Their Author Content</a>, has become. And yesterday morning, I posted a <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107889574670988423996/posts/d8L5ViEwbWY" target="_blank">YouTube video</a> that reveals we (unofficially) have supporters in the hundreds.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I still haven't heard back from the IT team at Change.org about what could be a bug or glitch in my stats graph, though.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Some of you may may recall my November 8th blog post, <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/11/contributor-by-google-great-idea-wrong.html" target="_blank">Contributor by Google: Great Idea, Wrong Business Endorsement</a>. The gist: on page 3 a photo of Paul Edmondson, CEO of HubPages Inc. – the business my petition is targeting – was shown along with three other site owners.<br />
<br />
Well, tonight I see that on page 3 of <a href="https://www.google.com/contributor/welcome/?utm_source=publisher&utm_medium=BADGE&utm_campaign=ca-pub-1895498467009531" target="_blank">Google's Contributor website information page</a> is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Herrick" target="_blank">Jack Herrick</a>, the founder of wikiHow. Could it be that Google has dropped Paul Edmondson's photo endorsement? I hope so. I'll certainly be checking Google's Contributor page more often.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SR0o5EetXNA/VlgiRYDCvxI/AAAAAAAATDg/DfWRFMrReXI/s1600/Google%2BContributor%2BPage%2B3%2Bhad%2Bchanged%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jack Herrick now shown on page 3 of Google Contributor page" border="0" height="185" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SR0o5EetXNA/VlgiRYDCvxI/AAAAAAAATDg/DfWRFMrReXI/s400/Google%2BContributor%2BPage%2B3%2Bhad%2Bchanged%2BUSE.png" title="Google Contributor Information Website Page 3 (Fair Use)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google's Contributor website now shows Jack Herrick on page 3 / Fair Use</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
On another note, I know many of you are too busy to write to the individual charities that Squidoo automatically sent some (or all) of our earnings to. These <a href="https://www.change.org/p/kamala-harris-hubpages-writers-are-entitled-to-all-earnings-and-removal-of-their-author-content/u/14271434" target="_blank">charities no longer receive a portion of our earnings, instead HubPages keeps it all</a>. <i>I've already written to the ones that I donated to but I'm going to start writing to the others on your behalf.</i><br />
<br />
Lastly, I hope all of my American friends and followers had a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday. I'm Canadian, so I celebrated last month.<br />
<br />
Remember, the most powerful thing you can do is tell the truth. Honesty is still the best policy.<br />
<br />
Cheers!RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-86347178748944274722015-11-17T17:41:00.002-08:002015-12-28T00:48:56.414-08:00Online Writers: Get Every Penny You Deserve and Avoid Identity Theft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently, I began a <b><i>Change.org</i></b> petition: <b><a href="https://www.change.org/p/kamala-harris-hubpages-writers-are-entitled-to-all-earnings-and-removal-of-their-author-content#petition-letter" target="_blank">HubPages' Writers are Entitled to All Earnings and Removal of Their Author Content</a></b>. But it's also about sending a clear and strong message to <i>other</i> site owners that <b>writers will no longer tolerate the theft of their work, identities, and earnings<i>.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmIvFnHAr7w/VkvVLmJddAI/AAAAAAAAS4s/1UeLLMrzQXk/s1600/Tapping%2Bpencil%2Bfor%2Bintro%2BHP%2Bwriters%2Btext%2BCC.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A tapping pencil image by tomsaint on flickr (Rennett Stowe) CC-by-2.0 / Text added by RoseWrites using Pixlr Nov. 17, 2015" border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TmIvFnHAr7w/VkvVLmJddAI/AAAAAAAAS4s/1UeLLMrzQXk/s400/Tapping%2Bpencil%2Bfor%2Bintro%2BHP%2Bwriters%2Btext%2BCC.png" title="Tapping Pencil photo by Rennett Stowe (tomsaint on flickr) CC-by-2.0 For HubPages Petition on RoseWrites Blog" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Rennett Stowe (tomsaint on flickr) CC-by-2.0 / Text added by RoseWrites</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<br />
What is even more disturbing, is the requirement to surrender tax information (such as SSNs) in order to receive earnings (as on HubPages). The IRS determined years ago that HubPages does NOT require it; but HubPages will not pay you until you give it to them.<br />
<br />
In fact, they <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=13114" target="_blank">keep all of your earnings</a> (including Amazon and eBay royalties). Check out their <a href="http://hubpages.com/help/user_agreement" target="_blank">Terms of Use</a> (deceptively hidden) under "Account Closure and Inactivity."<br />
<br />
Crazy!<br />
<br />
About 15 million US residents have their identities used fraudulently each year. And sadly, it takes victims hundreds of dollars and <i>years</i> of grief to clear their name once this has happened.<br />
<br />
Experts say: do NOT give your tax information (SSN, date of birth, etc.) to <i>anyone </i>online.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>But My Sound Reasons Just Aren't "Getting Through" to Some People</b></h3>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
My friend <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Users/vicdillinger" target="_blank">Vic Dillinger</a> posted my petition link in the <a href="http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/134036" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HubPages forum</a>. And I had to laugh at the responses. Incredibly, Marisa Wright seemed to get <i>most</i> of the facts straight, but failed to understand one key thing:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What exactly THEFT is. <i>(Perhaps someone out there who understands can explain it to her?)</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
I guess stealing identities and content "just ain't what it used to be"</h3>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RD273HrlPeM/VkvTgWWwpvI/AAAAAAAAS4c/Dat7eARIPMg/s1600/Marisa%2BWright%2BComplaining%2BAbout%2BWhat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marisa Wright complaining about why RoseWrites is furious about identity and content theft" border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RD273HrlPeM/VkvTgWWwpvI/AAAAAAAAS4c/Dat7eARIPMg/s400/Marisa%2BWright%2BComplaining%2BAbout%2BWhat.png" title="Cartoon of Marisa Wright quotes in HubPages Forum" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marisa Wright quotes as stated in HubPages forum Nov. 17, 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Addendum November 18th, 2015:</b> Thought I'd try an analogy of sorts (shown below) to convey how it feels to have 293 articles (and my identity, videos, and images) stolen and used by HubPages.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIxdXb1P5lo/VkwuzHgUBjI/AAAAAAAAS5U/BdG5hpFeIeI/s1600/Analogy%2Bfor%2BMarisa%2BWright%2B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Analogy for HubPages Marisa Wright of how it feels to have 293 articles stolen and SSN required" border="0" height="283" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIxdXb1P5lo/VkwuzHgUBjI/AAAAAAAAS5U/BdG5hpFeIeI/s400/Analogy%2Bfor%2BMarisa%2BWright%2B1.png" title="Analogy of how it felt to have HubPages steal 293 articles of sousababy's" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me having a coffee and trying to explain the situation in layman's terms<br />
© 2015 RoseWrites / All rights reserved (that means don't steal, Marisa)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh and one more thing, Marisa Wright also stated (which is <i>entirely</i> false), <i>"I suspect if she'd simply asked for her account to be deleted, they'd have done it. Unfortunately each time she has tried, she's also been demanding payment before the account is deleted, so of course HubPages says no."</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>FACT:</b> HubPages has completely ignored me, the flagging of my profile, Consumer Affairs, and Paul Edmondson continues to block me on Google Plus. My final pay from Squidoo (and Amazon and eBay royalties) were held in escrow (I've never received a penny). It's ILLEGAL to profit from stolen property Marisa. HubPages is held to the laws of California.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<i>Why you believe that HubPages deserves to profit from my work and identity AND keep my earnings is completely baffling. I wonder if you are a kleptomaniac (seriously).</i></h3>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.18px; line-height: 21.252px;">The payment would be far too low (via HubPages 60/40 split) anyways. The restitution ordered by the FTC will probably be set at InfoBarrel's rate of 75 - 90 percent, for the author. Remember? <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=12140&page=5" target="_blank">You told numerous authors our work "would disappear" offline</a>. <i>This is precisely what I expected and wanted to happen.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.18px; line-height: 21.252px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.18px; line-height: 21.252px;">So, naturally I made it known publicly <i>before</i> the transfer (like <a href="http://searchenginewatch.com/sew/news/2361066/seth-godin-s-squidoo-acquired-by-hubpages#" target="_blank">here</a>, select "Best" comment) that I was putting my articles on InfoBarrel. Hundreds of writers, including <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Can_Squidoo_Do_This_" target="_blank">Seth Godin and Bonnie Diczhazy</a>, were aware.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 15.18px; line-height: 21.252px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
If you want to help curtail this from happening to you (or someone you know) and send a strong message to<i> all</i> site owners, sign my petition and share it (you don't have to donate to it): <a href="https://www.change.org/p/kamala-harris-hubpages-writers-are-entitled-to-all-earnings-and-removal-of-their-author-content" target="_blank">HubPages' Writers are Entitled to All Earnings and Removal of Their Author Content</a></h2>
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RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-41505586619429441812015-11-10T22:50:00.002-08:002015-12-28T00:49:11.098-08:00Who Knew Pages Could Be So Unruly? Paul Edmondson's Update on the Site MoveTonight, I thought I'd see what the latest news is at HubPages, so I browsed their forum.<br />
<br />
The first thread I noticed was by Zach Spangler titled <i><a href="http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/133951" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Hubpro experience - Views are now</a></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"... About 10 percent of what they used to be! They removed all relevant pictures, removed 50 percent of my text, and changed almost everything else. My top gaming article is now averaging 40 views a day when it used to get 300 - 400!"</i></blockquote>
Yikes!<br />
<br />
Moving on, I noticed that Paul Edmondson added a post to his <a href="http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/133874#post2777979" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Update on the Site Move</a> forum thread. I was amazed at his ability to fit 608 characters into a 3-paragraph blurb that tells you, well, nothing.<br />
<br />
Here is what he had to say. I added my thoughts bolded, italicized, and in square brackets:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I want to give a little update. The site is still moving over and settling in. We are noticing that several pages <i><b>[How many pages? 3 or closer to 3,000?]</b></i> are acting like Google lost them.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We've seen a number of pages go through this <b><i>[How many? 2 or closer to 20,000?]</i></b>, but it eventually gets worked out and the page <b><i>[A Freudian slip? ONLY one page now?]</i></b> returns to it's<i> [sic]</i> previous ranking position. <b><i>[Not their previous ranking positions?]</i></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
My best guess is that in Google's massive infrastructure, data hasn't been fully updated to all the places Google uses to serve a query.<b><i> [Genius, never would have imagined that!]</i></b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This is a pretty major move<b><i> [Really? Perhaps you were obliged then to provide Hubbers with <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Media/Key_Points_For_Legal_Purposes_in_HubPages_Terms_of_Use_197395" target="_blank">7 days notice</a> then, Paul – as stated in your Terms of Use.]</i></b>, so I think we just need to give the pages that are straggling some time to get fully processed. We will keep you updated as we see things get processed."</blockquote>
<br />
You can't make this stuff up. Click to enlarge.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iKxOjQWIzEI/VkLje3VL3EI/AAAAAAAAS3I/-nQNA3D-cPg/s1600/Paul%2BE%2BPages%2Bare%2Bacting%2Bup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Paul Edmondson update on site move satirical cartoon "Pages are acting up and straggling"" border="0" height="198" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iKxOjQWIzEI/VkLje3VL3EI/AAAAAAAAS3I/-nQNA3D-cPg/s400/Paul%2BE%2BPages%2Bare%2Bacting%2Bup.png" title="Satirical cartoon of Paul Edmondson explaining that content is acting up and straggling" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Satirical cartoon of Paul Edmondson explaining how pages can<br />
"act up" and "straggle" © 2015 RoseWrites / All rights reserved</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-78005013588933775352015-11-08T00:20:00.004-08:002015-12-28T00:49:26.786-08:00Contributor by Google: Great Idea, Wrong Business EndorsementThree days ago, I received an email from Google AdSense telling me about a new source of revenue for my blog (or website). I was thrilled to learn it meant my readers will see fewer ads on my posts – but I still get paid.<br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i>When I selected the types of ads for my blog, I rejected quite a few that annoy me. I will not use any pop-up ads or those that cut into my text. (You guessed it, I barely make any money).</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What's more, users can choose to contribute $2, $5, or $10 per month. Apparently, the more they contribute to the program, the less ads they will see. It's an alternate means to help online writers (publishers) focus on creating content without having to worry about too many – or worse, objectionable ads on our pages.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The great thing is that <a href="https://support.google.com/contributor/answer/6286709" target="_blank">Contributor</a> works on plenty of sites. When readers sign up, they enjoy the "Contributor experience" (aka fewer ads) on my blog <b>and all the other compatible sites</b>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Keep in mind: Contributor only applies to Google ads (and is subject to the same auction bids as any other advertiser). Therefore, Contributor by Google cannot guarantee readers a 100 percent ad-free experience – even on sites that only show Google ads.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Gleefully, I decided to display the Contibutor by Google badge on my blog (above my cat editor). Then, I decided to click on it (I wanted to know what my readers would see, naturally).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And there, three pages down, I see the faces of (I'm guessing) four successful website owners. My jaw dropped open when I saw a photo of Paul Edmondson, the CEO of HubPages included among them. <b>Click image below to enlarge.</b> <i>I am citing "Fair Use" since I am only using one page for recognition and demonstration purposes.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZOQadsFSDM/Vj7-6zCweZI/AAAAAAAAS14/41zpjzzag8g/s1600/Contributor%2BGoogle%2Bscreenshot%2Bwith%2Btitle%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lean More About Contributor by Google (Page 3) Fair Use" border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7ZOQadsFSDM/Vj7-6zCweZI/AAAAAAAAS14/41zpjzzag8g/s400/Contributor%2BGoogle%2Bscreenshot%2Bwith%2Btitle%2BUSE.png" title="Contributor by Google Information Page for Users (Page 3) Fair Use" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Contributor by Google when "Learn More" is clicked. Photos on page 3. Fair Use</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
WHY Google? WHY?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are likely <b>over 26,000 people that are completely disgusted</b> by the unethical, illegal, and deceptive business practices that HubPages has engaged in. Several hundred online writers have witnessed what I have recorded. It is clearly documented in <a href="http://www.consumeraffairs.com/online/hubpages.html?review=866623#review-866623" target="_blank">my Consumer Affairs complaint</a> which I invite you to review.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And what about how Paul Edmondson slags Google (even to the FTC)? Remember <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/05/google%E2%80%99s-panda-update-cripples-open-publishing-competition/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paul Edmondson's 2011 post in TechCrunch</a> where he stated:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Apparently, Google's Panda update has been punitive only to platforms other than Google's."</i></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Paul Edmondson mentions he has "reached out to Google seeking feedback and guidance" but "there has been little response to our inquiries ..." He even mentioned sending personal emails to Matt Cutts, Google's head of web spam.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Paul becomes redundant and continues with:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"It seems that publishing platforms that are not operated by Google are at a distinct disadvantage ..."</i></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
More blah bah, and Paul Edmondson ends that post stating:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Google is not being transparent about their new standards, which prevents platforms like ours from having access to a level playing field ..."</i></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Funny, but Paul Edmondson even mentions having <i>"a responsibility to moderate their [own] content appropriately"</i> which is something that HubPages isn't able to do by my records, by their numerous forum posts, and by elite authors like <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/06/hubpages-bans-top-infobarrel-author-vic.html" target="_blank">Vic Dillinger</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yet, in my experience, Google has made it crystal clear via <a href="https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/35769?hl=en" target="_blank">Webmaster Guidelines</a> what is acceptable and what is not.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Gee, <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Dear_Google_and_PayPal_HubPages_Is_Undermining_You" target="_blank">I never even joined HubPages</a>, yet I know the following problems were identified for HubPages:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVpcNSDGScY/Vj8AFSwFspI/AAAAAAAAS2A/hl5FMOzAJhA/s1600/Paul%2BE%2BGoogle%2Band%2B6%2Bviolations%2Bplus%2Bonly%2Bdelete%2B5%2Bhubs.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Six problems the Google has had / will have with HubPages satirical cartoon of Paul Edmondson" border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVpcNSDGScY/Vj8AFSwFspI/AAAAAAAAS2A/hl5FMOzAJhA/s320/Paul%2BE%2BGoogle%2Band%2B6%2Bviolations%2Bplus%2Bonly%2Bdelete%2B5%2Bhubs.png" title="Satirical cartoon of Paul Edmondson ignoring Webmaster Tools Guidelines " width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Satirical cartoon of Paul Edmondson and Google violations<br />
and his continued unethical and deceptive business practices<br />
© 2015 RoseWrites / All rights reserved</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
1) Alt tag violations and duplicate photo titles</div>
<div>
2) Rich snippets</div>
<div>
3) Ad problems</div>
<div>
4) Unnatural links</div>
<div>
5) Spam</div>
<div>
6) Automated editing of content AND comments (without the prior knowledge and permission of content owners)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My complaint about HubPages with the Federal Trade Commission was accepted on April 9th, 2015. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And yes, I know that it takes 1 to 3 years (on average) for any form of restitution to be ordered by the FTC.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Clearly, <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/HubPages_is_Breaking_the_Law" target="_blank">HubPages is breaking the law</a>. <i>And even though I cannot afford to take them to Federal court, doesn't make what they are doing acceptable – even if the majority of writers "went along" with their plan.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have written <a href="http://rosewrites.netboard.me/notonhubpages/" target="_blank">over 30 articles</a> and plenty of blog posts about the unethical, deceptive, and illegal practices of HubPages.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My main objectives:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1) To nullify the HubPages Terms of Use so that <i>every</i> author (past and present) can have their author content removed <b>permanently</b> (if they choose) – especially their tax infomation (SSNs, passport info), and date of birth. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The IRS determined years ago that HubPages does NOT require it. I even updated the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AHubPages" target="_blank">Wikipedia HubPages Talk Page</a> to inform the public.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2) Ensure that anyone who closes their account on HubPages (at any time, past or present) receives <b>all</b> of their earnings (including Amazon and eBay royalties) for the entire time HubPages posted their content.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Rationale: <b>No one is held to any contract by a company that breaks the law (and continues to do so). </b></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Furthermore, HubPages has breached their OWN Terms of Use by:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
a) Not providing authors (Hubbers) with <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Media/Key_Points_For_Legal_Purposes_in_HubPages_Terms_of_Use_197395" target="_blank">7 days notice of any major changes</a> (like the recent removal of subdomains).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
b) By <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107889574670988423996/posts/JfTL6qwxPid" target="_blank">limiting some Hub authors to only 5 article deletions per day</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
How disgusted am I with HubPages?</h2>
<div>
Words cannot even express how completely appalled I am with HubPages and Paul Edmondson. He's tried (through numerous shills and trolls) to bash me. I even wrote <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/05/chronicling-how-hubpages-has-bullied-me.html" target="_blank">Chronicling How HubPages Has Bullied Me</a> which I invite you, Google execs, to read.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Does Google Need HubPages THAT Badly?</h2>
<div>
I sure hope not. My gut tells me that money is the only interest that Google has in HubPages. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But here's the reality: I am one of thousands of loyal Google readers that know the truth. And I'm vocal (most aren't). The majority is silent.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Do you really want to keep Paul Edmondson's photo up on your brand new shiny "Contributor" program webpage? Because his endorsement <i>will</i> hurt you, I guarantee it.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Here's My Recommendation For Page 3 . . . Click to Enlarge</h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ncVCv9Be58/Vj8E4x67ZjI/AAAAAAAAS2Q/cALcmJuocpM/s1600/Contributor%2BGoogle%2Bscreenshot%2Bwith%2BME.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Google Contributor should use RoseWrites instead of Paul Edmondson as an endorsement" border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ncVCv9Be58/Vj8E4x67ZjI/AAAAAAAAS2Q/cALcmJuocpM/s400/Contributor%2BGoogle%2Bscreenshot%2Bwith%2BME.png" title="Google Contributor "Learn More" Page 3 With RoseWrites (instead of Paul Edmondson)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RoseWrites (not Paul Edmondson) should endorse Contributor by Google</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-82246549940388427022015-10-28T15:05:00.002-07:002015-12-28T00:49:41.489-08:00Paul Edmondson: Will HubPages Be Sold?Recently, Paul Edmondson (CEO of HubPages) announced <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=13071&page=1" target="_blank">the end of subdomains</a>. And frankly, I'm surprised that no one has openly asked him if he plans to sell the HubPages domain in the near future.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--O68PNAy-ZM/VjFEa5KxXhI/AAAAAAAASuo/z7omFG-yWfM/s1600/They%2Bare%2Btoo%2Bscared%2Bcartoon%2Bof%2BPaul%2BE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt=""They are too scared to ask if HubPages is up for sale soon" satirical drawing of Paul Edmondson by RoseWrites" border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--O68PNAy-ZM/VjFEa5KxXhI/AAAAAAAASuo/z7omFG-yWfM/s400/They%2Bare%2Btoo%2Bscared%2Bcartoon%2Bof%2BPaul%2BE.png" title="Satirical Cartoon of Paul Edmondson who broke the law by RoseWrites" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Satirical cartoon of Paul Edmondson explaining how Hubbers are "too afraid" to ask if HubPages will be up for sale soon and how surprised he is that his TOU is null and void. © 2015 RoseWrites / All rights reserved (Click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The same people keep chiming in (in the HubPages' <a href="http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/133655" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">forum</a>) about how good it will be to have all these "silos" and that the reader is given more information by replacing the author's pen name with a category.<br />
<br />
Weird – because the URL probably <i>already</i> contains the topic information. <i>If I'm going to write about an automobile, you can bet that I'll put the name of it in my title (URL).</i><br />
<br />
Oh and it looks like original authors will have <i>less</i> statistical information about their Hubs. Paul Edmondson stated:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"Hubbers will no longer see data about their content consolidated in GSC (Google Search Console), but they can add specific URLs if they choose."</b></i></blockquote>
<br />
Charming.<br />
<br />
Oddly enough, only a couple of people have made mention of how much traffic they lost when their work underwent "editing" by HubPages or when their work reverted back to the HubPages domain via Editor's Choice.<br />
<br />
<b>Yes, now every Hub author is automatically opted-in to the Editor's Choice program.</b><br />
<br />
Earlier this year, I wrote <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/HubPages_The_Truth_Behind_Editors_Choice" target="_blank">HubPages: The Truth Behind Editor's Choice</a> and found a startling difference between what Paul Edmondson reported and what numerous Hub authors found to be true.<br />
<br />
Main points:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>An average loss of traffic of about 50 percent</li>
<li>Loss of income (related to loss of traffic)</li>
<li>High bounce rates</li>
<li>Loss of link juice from 301 redirects</li>
<li>Inability to track the statistics for your entire subdomain</li>
<li>Loss of author identity</li>
<li>Loss of Google author rank</li>
<li>NEW: Loss of having featured Hubs in a given category*</li>
</ul>
<br />
*Interestingly enough, I found out that only "a few Hubs are shown over and over" in some (all?) categories. Because when DrMark1961 inquired, <a href="http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/133655#post2773452" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matt (HubPages' staff) replied</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>". . . we do not show all Hubs on a subject, but only those that meet specific criteria."</i></b></blockquote>
<br />
Gee, I wonder what that "specific criteria" is?<br />
<br />
I'm guessing it's the "<a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/09/can-hubpages-editbot-fool-google-and_20.html" target="_blank">Editbot-fixed abandoned content</a>" that <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107889574670988423996/posts/SiXpGdnZCJb" target="_blank">Robin Edmondson confirmed they keep on the platform</a>. (The Edmondsons don't need to share any revenue with the original author on those).<br />
<br />
<h2>
Will HubPages Be Up For Sale?</h2>
<br />
I think it's definitely something that might happen. According to Wikipedia, as of December 7th, 2013 (<i>before</i> the importation of Squidoo content with and <i>without</i> authors' consent), HubPages had 73,969 published users.<br />
<br />
Those published users, I'm sure, wanted to be paid. And since only "active" Hubbers are eligible to receive their deserved earnings, that meant <b>over 70,000 people have surrendered their tax information to HubPages</b> (who doesn't require it, according to the IRS).<br />
<br />
Hmm, that's a <a href="https://www.privacyrights.org/social-security-numbers-faq" target="_blank">"hot database"</a> that I'm sure will command all kinds of attention and bids if HubPages is for sale.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Should Hubbers Try to Get Their Author Content Removed From HubPages?</h2>
<br />
Absolutely.<br />
<br />
You can cite how once the law is broken (re: <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/HubPages_is_Breaking_the_Law" target="_blank">HubPages - Squidoo deal</a>) that<i> any</i> contract you are entered into is null and void. You are <b>not</b> required to uphold any contract with a company that breaks the law.<br />
<br />
In a post by Van Thompson titled <a href="http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/laws-concerning-unethical-business-practices-breaches-contracts-25988.html" target="_blank">Laws Concerning Unethical Business Practices & Breaches in Contracts</a>, it states:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"An unethical business practice that is legally prohibited may be a breach of contract, but could also be <b>a legal violation that nullifies all or part of your contract."</b></blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
Which means: YES, you CAN remove author content from the Service. And YES, you ARE entitled to ALL of your deserved earnings.</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
1) Cite my <a href="http://www.consumeraffairs.com/online/hubpages.html?review=866623#review-866623" target="_blank">Consumer Affairs complaint</a> (which is permanently and publicly available). It has garnered 25,766 views and 46 "helpful" votes to date.<br />
<br />
2) You can also reference my complaint (NO: 61039505) which was accepted by the Federal Trade Commission on April 9th, 2015.<br />
<br />
3) Call (it's FREE) the California State Attorney General's Whistleblower Hotline at: 1-800-952-5225 and explain the situation to them.RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-22948963139638929322015-10-21T15:05:00.002-07:002015-12-28T00:49:54.711-08:00Will Google Compromise? Implications of the HubPages' EditbotAnything automated that is used to trick search engines eventually becomes punishable by Google.<br />
<br />
And so it should.<br />
<br />
There are plenty of devoted writers and researchers online that are willing (and happy) to produce fresh, updated, relevant, useful content. Really.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mJnsRjHkmr0/VigK1QYG5sI/AAAAAAAASuA/t3AoFEHkf-k/s1600/Editbot%2Bcomparison%2Bcartoon%2BFinal%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cartoon of how search engines will be fooled by the HubPages' Editbot by RoseWrites" border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mJnsRjHkmr0/VigK1QYG5sI/AAAAAAAASuA/t3AoFEHkf-k/s400/Editbot%2Bcomparison%2Bcartoon%2BFinal%2BUSE.png" title="Satirical cartoon by RoseWrites of what will happen if Editbot is "allowed" by Google" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Click to enlarge</b>: Satirical cartoon of how search engines will be fooled by</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the edits and tweaks of the new HubPages' Editbot </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">© RoseWrites / All rights reserved </span></div>
<br />
So, I'm beside myself right now wondering how the HubPages' Edibot can be implemented (without penalty) to tweak ANY content on the HubPages website <i><b>without the prior approval</b></i> of original authors.<br />
<br />
Software can be implemented that simply notifies an author of "suggested edits" – we already have it.<br />
<br />
So why would HubPages need (or want) to use Edibot?<br />
<br />
It's clear.<br />
<br />
Robin Edmondson stated March 23rd, 2015 in a forum post (since removed), but I <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107889574670988423996/posts/SiXpGdnZCJb" target="_blank">kept a screenshot</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>"... some of the accounts we are editing are abandoned."</i></b></blockquote>
<br />
And by "abandoned" she means "inactive."<br />
<br />
<b>Inactivity</b> – according to the <a href="http://hubpages.com/help/user_agreement" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HubPages Terms of Use</a> means ANY of four conditions. And, here's the kicker: you forfeit any and ALL of your earnings if these apply to you.<br />
<br />
1) No change to your earned balance for over six months (so, if you have $100 sitting for 6 months plus a day, HubPages doesn't "roll it over" – they keep it).<br />
<br />
2) Your account has expired tax information (even though the <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=12748" target="_blank">IRS made it clear that HubPages does NOT need it</a>). To make matters worse, in this <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=13056&page=1" target="_blank">recent InfoBarrel forum thread</a>, I cited proof that one person could not even obtain food stamps "because she filled out tax information" for HubPages and unfortunately "a pay statement needed to be submitted." <i>Sadly, she hadn't even made the minimum $50 payout on HubPages.</i><br />
<br />
And herein lies the proof that Google needs (and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AHubPages" target="_blank">I corrected the Wikipedia page</a>) that <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Media/Reported_First_Email_From_HubPages_to_Google_For_Phishing" target="_blank">HubPages' first email to ALL former Squidoo authors</a> qualifies as <a href="https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/106318?hl=en" target="_blank">PHISHING</a>.<br />
<br />
That email stated:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"Welcome to HubPages! We are thrilled to have you join our community. We just finished importing ..."</b></i></blockquote>
<br />
Wait, I didn't join. Do you see how manipulative the wording is? This is phishing. Why? Because further along you must do <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Why_on_Earth_Is_Any_Squid_Filing_a_DMCA_With_Google" target="_blank">four things to access</a> YOUR content and collect YOUR deserved earnings.<br />
<br />
Yes, both your content and earnings were kept from you, until you <b>permanently joined HubPages</b>.<br />
<br />
What? <i>Permanently join?</i><br />
<br />
Yes, also in the HubPages' Terms of Use (as I explained in this <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=13050&page=2" target="_blank">InfoBarrel forum thread</a>):<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"You may not remove your author content from the Service."</b></i></blockquote>
<br />
So, you see, not only were Squidoo authors under duress to join HubPages (or forfeit their final pay from Squidoo), but writers had <i>no idea</i> that they needed to <b>permanently join HubPages</b> AND <b>surrender their current tax information (including SSNs)</b> simply to access their <i>own</i> content and earnings.<br />
<br />
And those are just two (of the four) conditions that the Edmondsons feel makes an author "inactive."<br />
<br />
<h2>
Back to Edibot and What Google Needs to Consider</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On October 12th, 2015, I asked in the <a href="https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/adsense/osZMRRpisIY;context-place=forum/adsense" target="_blank">AdSense Help Forum</a> if what Matthew Meyer had <a href="http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/133419" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">posted</a> 2 weeks ago in the HubPages forum was true. Oddly, no one responded for a week! So, I asked the follow up question: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Can someone from Google (at least) confirm what Matthew Meyer (HubPages' staff) is claiming? RE: "on-going issue with AdSense's servers"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Guess not.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And it's funny, but Matthew Meyer's latest update (25 hours ago) makes NO MENTION of the AdSense servers. He's carefully worded his update which now reads:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Google is aware of this issue, but, unfortunately, we do not have an ETA for a fix at this time. There is a message on the AdSense association for profiles to warn of this on-going issue. That message will be removed and this forum will be updated when we have more information regarding <b>Google fixing this issue</b>."</i></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why do I get the feeling that this is more about Edibot and not AdSense servers?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I sincerely hope (as mentioned in my post <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/09/can-hubpages-editbot-fool-google-and_20.html" target="_blank">Can the HubPages' Editbot Fool Google and the Public</a>) that Google will make it a <a href="http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.ca/2015/09/repeated-violations-of-webmaster.html" target="_blank">violation of Webmaster Guidelines</a> to <b>create or edit content that wasn't editorially placed or vouched for (or that was artificially changed) <i>without</i> the prior approval of original authors.</b></div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-64474961383001675752015-10-17T20:37:00.005-07:002015-12-28T00:50:14.643-08:00InfoBarrel Author of the Week: JadeDragon (With Vic Dillinger)<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This week, I finally tracked down and was able to interview (with Vic Dillinger's help) the elusive <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Users/JadeDragon" target="_blank">JadeDragon on InfoBarrel</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kbzwMG2SGEk/ViMLJRDvL5I/AAAAAAAAStw/6Mw7hVD2PMo/s1600/Vic%2BMe%2Band%2BJadeDragon%2Bon%2BNude%2BBeach%2BFinal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo by Philip Shoffner on flickr (CC-by-2.0). Images of Vic Dillinger, RoseWrites, and JadeDragon's avatar (all used with permission) added October 11th, 2015 via Pixlr." border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kbzwMG2SGEk/ViMLJRDvL5I/AAAAAAAAStw/6Mw7hVD2PMo/s400/Vic%2BMe%2Band%2BJadeDragon%2Bon%2BNude%2BBeach%2BFinal.png" title="Background photo by Philip Shoffner on flickr (CC-by-2.0). Images of Vic Dillinger, RoseWrites, and JadeDragon's avatar (all used with permission) added October 11th, 2015 via Pixlr." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Background photo by Philip Shoffner on flickr (CC-by-2.0). Images of Vic<br />
Dillinger, Me (RoseWrites), and JadeDragon (all used with persmission) 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And he, my friends, may just be Canada's answer to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Interesting_Man_in_the_World" target="_blank">The Most Interesting Man in the World</a> (from the Dos Equis beer ads). </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I knew JadeDragon was a Canadian the second he mentioned in an </span><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=11828" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">InfoBarrel forum post</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that </span><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Bring_Back_Ed_The_Sock_Please" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank">Ed the Sock</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> rocks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Now with all this testosterone in the room, I tried to keep up with Vic and JadeDragon. So I decided to fly everyone out to JadeDragon's favourite nude beach (read on to learn more).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Begin the Beguine</span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncDmVrrCBH0/ViL9_HzqXfI/AAAAAAAASs0/sJNAdfoaydQ/s1600/Enter%2Bthe%2BJade%2BDragon%2BPic%2Bby%2BVic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bruce Lee image and cropped marquee lettering from Enter the Dragon, 1973, Warner Bros, Fair Use; composite with JadeDragon avatar by Vic Dillinger, 2015 "Enter the Jade Dragon"" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncDmVrrCBH0/ViL9_HzqXfI/AAAAAAAASs0/sJNAdfoaydQ/s320/Enter%2Bthe%2BJade%2BDragon%2BPic%2Bby%2BVic.jpg" title="“Enter the Jade Dragon” (Bruce Lee image and cropped marquee lettering from Enter the Dragon, 1973, Warner Bros, Fair Use; composite with JadeDragon avatar by Vic Dillinger, 2015)" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Enter the Jade Dragon" (Bruce Lee 1973<br />
Warner Bros image, Fair Use, composite<br />
JadeDragon avatar by Vic Dillinger, 2015)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Straight
up, you gotta explain your InfoBarrel avatar to the peeps. When I first encountered it, it led me to
conclude you were an Asian chick and that was your baby pic. I now know you’re a Canadian dude and that’s your
offspring’s baby pic, so ’splain that, please.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yes,
I'm actually a guy. Jade is, in fact, my
oldest daughter, and that was a recent picture when I started using it. Her
bright pink jacket pops on the page and it gives me a kinder, gentler look, so
I will not be changing the photo. Jade is in Grade 1 now, and yes she is an
amazing girl of mixed race. While no one in my family is Chinese, I've
done business in China, where they gave me the name “Da Long” or “Big Dragon”. [<i>Hmmmm
. . . “da long” . . . eh?—Vic </i>] </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">[Rose grins: <i>Told ya, lots of testosterone.</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The words “Jade Dragon” sound good together—they evoke
a rock-solid cultural art object in people's minds—and created a unique
online identity for me. I live in British Columbia, source of much
of the world’s jade, which is another interesting tie-in to my online
identity. [<i>That particular factoid was unknown to me. Did you know that, Rosalita?—Vic</i>] [Rose: Nah, I don't keep track of crap like that Vic, I'm in Toronto].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rose:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> JadeDragon, you immediately struck me as
someone who gets to the point and who has a sense of humour. For example, in
this <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=12537" target="_blank">forum post</a> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">someone asked about how to avoid "calls to action." You chimed in
with, "The rational <i>[sic]</i> is we
want people to stick around for the ads, not click off to some other site
ASAP. Also if calls to action were allowed every other article here would
be "Click here right now to my junk site." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Also, you have the Number One article on <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/top100.php" target="_blank">InfoBarrel’sTop 100</a>: <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Worlds_Top_Most_Dangerous_Airports" target="_blank">World's Top 10 Most Dangerous Airports</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic interjects:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
What’d you do to tweak that particular article so that it bumped the one by IB
Originals (which had, I think, around 20 million views) outta the top spot
(where it had lived for, like, a year) so suddenly? Did it go viral overnight or what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Vic
has the <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Aileen_Wuornos_Damaged_and_Deadly" target="_blank">#2 spot on the Top 100</a> as I write this and he wants that #1 spot. [<i>You
better believe I do!! I’ve been there a few times before and I want it
back!!—Vic</i>] However, Vic owns more
articles on the Top 100 then the next 3 or 4 authors together, so he is doing
well enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/top100.php" target="_blank">The Top 100</a> is a list of the top scoring articles
under InfoBarrel's quality scoring algorithm. While the actual scoring system
is secret, IB Admin was pretty clear about what they are looking for. I simply
took several of my top scoring articles and tweaked them according to IB's
published guidelines. One day, weeks later, the algorithm was
tweaked (I presume, because I did nothing at the time) and one
of my articles hit #1. I also suspect that the IB Admin made an adjustment to
their top article that knocked it down the list, so maybe it was not so much
what I did but what IB Admin did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The actual sequence of articles in the Top 20 is not
important, reflecting differences in the fraction of a single point
as determined by the algorithm.
I can't say that #1 is better than #15 for example, for they all
obviously score well against what IB has decided is the ideal combination of
factors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Rose:</b> Just so our readers don't think the Top 100 is an old boys' club, women are well-represented on the Top 100 too. Since we're comparing junk size: <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/06/infobarrel-author-of-week.html" target="_blank">mommymommymommy</a> has a few, LavenderRose and <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/06/infobarrel-author-of-week-debw07.html" target="_blank">DebW07</a> have eight, <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/08/infobarrel-author-of-week-yindee-and-sue.html" target="_blank">Yindee</a> has a couple, <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/07/infobarrel-author-of-week-amerowolf.html" target="_blank">Amerowolf</a> has a few <i>plus</i> the most homepage features (at a whopping 305). Both <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/07/infobarrel-author-of-week-classicalgeek.html" target="_blank">classicalgeek</a> and I have one on there – there are probably a few more that I'm missing (but you get my drift).</span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Academics ’n’ Sech<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
read your item on Constant Content about making bank in the realm of extreme
couponing by using discount gift cards as a means of cutting purchase
costs. [</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.innovativepassiveincome.com/an-extreme-couponing-tactic-not-often-discussed/"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">An Extreme Couponing Tactic Not Often Discussed</span></i></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span><span lang="EN-US">] </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And it was
useful; those interested in this kind of extreme shopping should definitely
check it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVHG5rP_wRc/ViMBgQq_oZI/AAAAAAAAStA/CvRKi35Lo8Q/s1600/2%2BWill%2BWrite%2Bfor%2BFood%2Bfinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Free-use clip art; lettering, airbrushing, and composite by Vic Dillinger, 2015 "Will write for Food!"" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VVHG5rP_wRc/ViMBgQq_oZI/AAAAAAAAStA/CvRKi35Lo8Q/s320/2%2BWill%2BWrite%2Bfor%2BFood%2Bfinal.jpg" title="“Will Write for Food!” (free-use clip art; lettering, airbrushing, and composite by Vic Dillinger, 2015)" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Will Write for Food!" (free-use clip art;<br />
lettering, airbrushing, and composite by<br />
Vic Dillinger, 2015)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Is this the sort of thing for which you truly have a
passion, or are you writing more (sometimes) to be SEO friendly (versus
actually caring about your topics—I’ve prostituted myself many times for money
writing about junk I have not one whit of interest in)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
actually have tried many of the things I write about, include extreme
couponing. I rarely write about stuff I find boring, because I'm interested in
so many things. I like writing, and do it for fun. The money is a fun way to
measure success. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> So,
what are your favorite subjects for articles?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Travel,
interesting history and places, and financial topics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rose is back:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> What
is your educational and/or work background? What was your best job? Your worst
one?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I'm
likely unemployable. I've always worked for myself in business, especially real
estate and related businesses. My BSc is in Business Administration,
followed by another year or so worth of other legal and real estate
related university courses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I try to keep learning all the time, including
through a Scout-style group where I'm training for youth leadership. I take a
global outlook on life and volunteering so, for example, this week I wrote
answer keys that will be used worldwide for helping kids earn patches in
tents and viruses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">[<b>Vic:</b> “In tents and viruses”? Can you elaborate on that?] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">[<b>Rose:</b> I think <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/06/infobarrel-author-of-week.html" target="_blank">Hannah Gold</a> would know he meant "badges that can be sewn onto a uniform" for <i>patches</i>. The "tents" and "viruses" must be the topics or subjects, I think. <i>But then again, I never made it out of Brownies.</i>]</span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Writing: Onward and Upward<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Can you tell us what prompted you to start writing?
And I’ve noticed you haven't been as
active on InfoBarrel lately, so I checked out your blog <a href="http://www.innovativepassiveincome.com/" target="_blank">Innovative Passive Income</a>.
I found it endearing to read that your number one goal is "<span style="color: #111111;">Being involved with my daughter growing up—I don’t want
to miss her childhood like my father missed mine." How is that going?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I've long enjoyed writing, which stems from enjoying
reading. I got into writing online, including blogging, as a way to teach
myself SEO and online marketing for use in my conventional businesses. You
can't really take a class on this ever-evolving field, so the best way to learn
is to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The plan worked; for now, when I deploy my knowledge
of internet marketing and SEO, I find my business is far ahead of the local
competitors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> When you gonna get back to writing on IB again? [I’m on hiatus there until 4.0 kicks in—I’m
tired of my layouts looking like amateur night at a high-school yearbook staff
meeting.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I've been too busy in my offline businesses for my
blog or writing a lot on InfoBarrel lately.
Everyone experienced a drop in income from online articles about the
same time as I got super busy offline, actually. Further, I just can't make the
kind of money Pat at Smart Passive Income does off his blog. Well, maybe
I could but I'd need to put a lot more effort into my online business hobby to
the neglect of my brick-and-mortar businesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Winning an IB Contest took a lot of effort, not
something I'll try again. That kind of burned me out on creating lots of
content at once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> How
did you end up on InfoBarrel?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
started writing for revenue share on eHow, but was pretty disgusted with how
they treated their writers. I started blogging about the eHow debacle. In
the process I ended up finding IB, trying it, and recommending IB to my blog
followers. I believe I brought over about 75 writers who used my referral link,
most of whom did little or nothing unfortunately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Globe Trotter<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rose:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> After
I looked at your articles on IB, I came away thinking, ‘Gee, JadeDragon knows
about some of the weirdest and wildest places in the world.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Here are just some of the titles:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Modern_Ghost_Towns" target="_blank">Amazing ModernGhost Towns: With Videos</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Unbelievable_Island_Pictures" target="_blank">Strangeand Unbelievable Islands of the World</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Most_Amazing_Explosions_Caught_on_Film" target="_blank">MostAmazing Explosions Caught on Film</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/You_Cant_Vacation_Here" target="_blank">AmazingPlaces that are Off Limits</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/10_Interesting_Places_You_Cant_Visit" target="_blank">5 Sacred PlacesYou Can't Visit</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">And yeah, the first thought I had was 'how many nude beaches has this guy been to?'</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
LOVE travel, culture, history, and the unusual, perhaps because of all the
reading I did as a kid. I've visited 32 UN countries, 49 US States, 19
Mexican States, and all but one Canadian Province. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My adventures include getting a rental car stuck in
the sand in the middle of nowhere in the UAE, circumnavigating the world west
to east.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I've been really close but unable to go to some
places I really wanted to. I remember staring wistfully through a chain
link fence across the border into Iraq from Kuwait during the Gulf War. I would
have gone in but the border was just closing for the night and my travel
mates were not up for the adventure. We were surrounded by US forces,
including hundreds of humvees on flat decks. My cell phone provider <i>did</i> message me "Welcome to Iraq . .
.” and something about roaming access.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oIdTPZhamYM/ViMGu82sVXI/AAAAAAAAStQ/1snSWFjadRk/s1600/Welcome%2Bto%2BIraq%2Bimage%2Bfor%2BJadeDragon%2Binterview%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chain link fence photo by Evil Erin on flickr (CC-by-2.0). JadeDragon's avatar used with permission; talk bubble and text by RoseWrites added October 17th, 2015 via Pixlr." border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oIdTPZhamYM/ViMGu82sVXI/AAAAAAAAStQ/1snSWFjadRk/s400/Welcome%2Bto%2BIraq%2Bimage%2Bfor%2BJadeDragon%2Binterview%2BUSE.png" title="Background chain link fence photo by Evil Erin on flickr (CC-by-2.0). JadeDragon's avatar used with permission; talk bubble and text by RoseWrites added October 17th, 2015 via Pixlr." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Background image of chain-link fence by Evil Erin on flickr (CC-by-2.0)<br />
JadeDragon avatar (used with permsiion), talk bubble and text by RoseWrites</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I also stood on the shores of Newfoundland in
February looking with displeasure at the inaccessible French islands of St
Pierre and Miquelon. Before driving out there I failed to figure out the ferry
was a seasonal service!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Otherwise if I get close to a border I get across it
come hell or high water. I talked my way into Kalimantan (in Indonesia),
only on foot, even though I lacked the pre-issued paper visa required at the
remote border post (they lack internet to check passports
electronically). I also accidentally drove into Saudi Arabia with no
Saudi visa, no multiple entry visa to return to Kuwait, and no Arabic language
ability to get out of that no man’s land. Both the Saudis and the Kuwaiti's
decided I was not worth detaining for too long and that the crazy Canadian
should leave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<b><i>Somewhat
Inappropriate Questions (entirely voluntary):<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> So,
tell me how many nude beaches have you been to?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> My
best nude beach escapade was linking up with a Chicago lawyer we met
in Montego Bay, traveling to Negril on Christmas Day, and
then bluffing our way into the Hedonism Resort by him making up
false friends called the Wallabies. We arranged a guided tour of the
resort on the way back to the beach and our friends. [<i>So, I’m guessing the answer to Rose’s question is “one”?—Vic</i>]</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">[</span><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rose chimes in:</b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Vic, obviously he lost count.]</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Rose
told me in <i>her</i> interview that a great
bad girl moment of hers was when she “dated” The Kings (the <i>whole</i> band). [Not TRUE <i>and nice try deleting my words Vic</i>]. Gimme a bad boy moment of yours, preferably
one that led to jail time, deportation, or a rash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eduFJ8ZyNDk/ViMJCYnxN1I/AAAAAAAAStc/4kbDDDsw8cs/s1600/If%2Bthey%2Bare%2Binnocent%2Bcartoon%2Bfor%2BJadeDragon%2Binterview.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Prison photo by Danny Bradury on flickr (CC-by-2.0). Drawing of prison guard, talk bubble and text by RoseWrites added October 16th, 2015 via Pixlr." border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eduFJ8ZyNDk/ViMJCYnxN1I/AAAAAAAAStc/4kbDDDsw8cs/s320/If%2Bthey%2Bare%2Binnocent%2Bcartoon%2Bfor%2BJadeDragon%2Binterview.png" title="Background photo by Danny Bradury on flickr (CC-by-2.0). Drawing of prison guard, talk bubble and text by RoseWrites added October 16th, 2015 via Pixlr." width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prison photo by Danny Bradury (CC-by-2.0)<br />
Drawing of prison guard, talk bubble and<br />
text by RoseWrites, 2015</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> No rashes or diseases, and I've never been
deported except by the Saudis but I was asking to be let back out of their
giant sandbox. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I did spend time in a Mexican slammer for a crime I did
not commit. I was strip searched, had my belongings and shoelaces taken
(in case I tried to hang myself), and interrogated in several
languages. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I ended up cleaning the holding cell for them, getting
permission to order pizza for the guards and myself, chilling in the squad room
with a lawyer turned detective who spoke perfect English, and eventually having
my accuser charged with obstruction, giving false statements, and other Mexican
crimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">[<i>Now THAT’s a
feature film right there, kids!!! GREAT stuff!!!—Vic</i>]</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ever
go out all day without wearing underwear (and like it)? [<i>Not
that anyone cares, but I never wear skivs; commando only, and I prefer my
wimmen that way, too.]</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A: [<i>sound of
crickets chirping</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Got
any hobbies other than making gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches shaped like
Canada’s Prime Minister?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X9t28w49TNs/ViMJ_SwjX_I/AAAAAAAAStk/JDBHJNqUBgY/s1600/3%2BPrime%2B%2BMinister%2BMcCheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Vic Dillinger Creation 2015 "Prime Minister McCheese"" border="0" height="322" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X9t28w49TNs/ViMJ_SwjX_I/AAAAAAAAStk/JDBHJNqUBgY/s400/3%2BPrime%2B%2BMinister%2BMcCheese.jpg" title="“Prime Minister McCheese” (Vic Dillinger, 2015)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Prime Minister McCheese" (Vic Dillinger, 2015)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
build igloos in July and of course I know your second cousin in Toronto, which
is only 4,400 km from my home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Rose chimes in:</b> <i>Yeah, when I was a server/bartender, I'd say "a table of four Americans is louder than 10 Canadians." They are (generally) louder, more demanding, but they are also more generous.</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> What
is the most daring thing you've ever done in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> According
to a US Marshal, sleeping in my Jeep in Arizona a few miles north of
the border, right on a major drug smuggling route. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #404040; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What are your thoughts about the
<a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/05/my-thoughts-about-free-nipple.html" target="_blank">"Free the Nipple" campaign</a>? </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">[<i>My thoughts are clear on that subject—as
long as I’m the one picking which nipples get to free-range, then I’m good with
it.—Vic</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Nipples
are a cultural thing, and culture varies by time and place. One of my
favorite preachers, when asked about makeup (which some conservative Christians
condemn), said famously "If the barn needs painting, paint it." In
Canada the courts have found that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes
the freedom of everyone to go topless. I support everyone's legal
freedoms, but if the barn needs a tarp, tarp it! [I hear ya!—Vic]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Got
any tattoos?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Nope,
but I own a tattoo parlor. (Yes, I am serious). [<i>Oh,
the irony! You should get some ink,
though.—Vic</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q: As a Canadian do you have any sure-fire ways
to ways to pluck a Canadian out of a crowd or telltale signs of an
American in your midst (besides being asked if you have any tattoos)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A: Famous Canadian author Pierre Burton once
wrote that the defining characteristic of a Canadian was they are NOT an
American. Canadians are the ones that refused to rebel in 1776, rebuffed the
American attempt to absorb them in 1812-1814,
and continue to maintain a distinct culture and lifestyle
while 90% of us live within 100 km of the US border. Any Canadian can be
easily spotted in a crowd—just look for the person that seems like a very
polite American and speaks with what you incorrectly assume is a
Midwestern accent. [Except for those Frenchie </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: FR; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Québécois</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">—they’re
rude as hell!!—Vic]</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ending Notes by Vic Dillinger<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">JadeDragon has managed to maintain a positive online
presence. He has helped many a newb get
rolling. He is a true veteran of
InfoBarrel, still slogging it out with the rest of us for lo’ these many
years. If you have a chance to stop by
and check out his material (whether on IB or elsewhere) do it: you may learn
something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The man <i>does</i>
know a thing or two about the world so if he gives you some advice, <i>my</i> advice is: “Take it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Thanks, JadeDragon, for all you’ve done for
InfoBarrel (and I know there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes, unsung things you’ve
done to help), and thanks, in general, for being an all-around good guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Even if you are a Canadian. <i>[Remember Vic, you are outnumbered here–Rose].</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rose's Windup</span></h3>
<div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Tune in again next week or catch up whenever you want by checking out my Google Collections: <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/Mnhue" target="_blank">InfoBarrel Author of the Week</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/glmze" target="_blank">InfoBarrel Newbie of the Month</a>.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Funding for A Blog for the Underdog is provided (in part) by my earnings on Zazzle (because I didn't want to spam the h*ll outta my blog). To date, I have 237 "slice of life" and humorous products available for purchase in my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/sousababy*" target="_blank">Sousababy Zazzle store</a>.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> Need a special design? Contact me there.</span></span></div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-17341501128222017452015-10-06T16:57:00.002-07:002015-12-28T00:50:31.760-08:00InfoBarrel Author of the Week: LPerry (With Vic Dillinger)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8q5urdEYyrQ/VhOC21u2fyI/AAAAAAAASpY/pp7YVddqjgU/s1600/1%2BVic%2BDillinger%2Bon%2Binterview%2Bday%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="InfoBarrel Author Vic Dillinger Co-Hosted on Blog for the Underdog" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8q5urdEYyrQ/VhOC21u2fyI/AAAAAAAASpY/pp7YVddqjgU/s1600/1%2BVic%2BDillinger%2Bon%2Binterview%2Bday%2BUSE.png" title="Vic Dillinger InfoBarrel Author and Co-Host of InfoBarrel Author of the Week" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vic Dillinger Ready for Interviewing<br />
September 2015 (© Vic Dillinger, 2015)</td></tr>
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This week I have a special announcement. Not only did I hear back from three amazing <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/" target="_blank">InfoBarrel</a> authors, but <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Users/vicdillinger" target="_blank">Vic Dillinger</a> agreed to co-host the show.<br />
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And I was tickled by how much he contributed to this interview with the lovely and talented LPerry. Without me even asking, Vic put together four images for this piece.<br />
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On the day of the interview, the photo at right is how Vic showed up at the studio: smoking and drinking Rolling Rock.<br />
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And yes, his eyepatch looks part of the ensemble – but it's not. Vic recently underwent eye surgery and needs to keep it on for another week.<br />
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Vic, we are all wishing you a speedy recovery and continued good health. Ah, keep up with your meds (and booze and smoking, I guess).<br />
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<h3>
Our Special Guest</h3>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyuR-IhcejY/VhQ02rr2PiI/AAAAAAAASrA/w1puXxexWOM/s1600/LPerry%2Bon%2BInfoBarrel%2B320%2Bfor%2Bcaption.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="LPerry Avatar on InfoBarrel / Used With Permission" border="0" height="192" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyuR-IhcejY/VhQ02rr2PiI/AAAAAAAASrA/w1puXxexWOM/s200/LPerry%2Bon%2BInfoBarrel%2B320%2Bfor%2Bcaption.png" title="InfoBarrel Author LPerry Avatar / Used With Permission" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">InfoBarrel Author LPerry <br />
Used With Permission</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Users/LPerry" target="_blank">LPerry</a> is someone who caught my attention in InfoBarrel's forum.</div>
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When Seekyt changed hands (again), <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/2015/06/infobarrel-author-of-week.html" target="_blank">mommymommymommy (Hannah Gold)</a> posted the <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/forum-topic.php?id=12944&page=1" target="_blank">news</a> in InfoBarrel's forum.<br />
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LPerry's impassioned posts immediately resonated with me. She reminded me of how I felt <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Can_Squidoo_Do_This_" target="_blank">when Squidoo sold out to HubPages</a>.<br />
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I completely understood her rage.<br />
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Here's a snippet of what she told us:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>"I have 448 articles that I want off that site immediately. They have inserted their AdSense into all my content and locked me out from removing anything."</b></i></blockquote>
Well, of course I had to chime in (even though I never joined Seekyt). And in that forum thread I came to revere LPerry.<br />
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting to Know You</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> One
of the qualities I've noticed you have, LPerry, is putting things into lay
terms. And you use analogies. I quite like that quality. I'm guessing that
you've had to explain things to morons, many morons (like me). Do you teach?
What other occupations have you had? Best one? Worst one?</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It's
funny that you mention teaching. After
my parents declined to accept my ballet ambitions as a real career, I went to
college to study Early Childhood Education. I had a very short stint as a
Pre-school Teacher, but burned out from having to talk too much. I have had
several retail jobs: Woodward & Lothrop, Sears, Montgomery Ward, and Hecht
Company for fun money and discounts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Little by little I drifted into the healthcare field
and became a Certified Hospice Aide. The best job I ever had was working for my
county hospital making visits to post-op patients, cancer patients, and
comforting those who went home to die. Although I still do this today, I am
venturing into Veterinary Office Administrative Support. I adore animals. [Vic:
I adore bunnies; I know Rose likes kittehs.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My very worst nightmare job was in high school as a
food server for the elderly residents of a nursing home. My sister and I were
hired together, part-time in the evenings. The dining room consisted of four
round tables with four residents at each table.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIcBRcEef1w/VhONb0UeGqI/AAAAAAAASpo/c_gk4dy7NGY/s1600/Seniors%2BAsking%2BMiss%2Bfor%2BThings%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lee Coursey (leeco on flickr) cropped image of "Inside the Thirsty Whale Tavern" (CC-by-2.0) Talk and think bubbles with text added by RoseWrites October 6th, 2015" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIcBRcEef1w/VhONb0UeGqI/AAAAAAAASpo/c_gk4dy7NGY/s1600/Seniors%2BAsking%2BMiss%2Bfor%2BThings%2BUSE.png" title="Inside the Thirsty Whale Tavern by Lee Coursey on flickr (CC-by-2.0) Cropped Plus Talk and Think Bubbles With Text by RoseWrites October 6th, 2015" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cropped image by Lee Coursey on flickr (CC-by-2.0)<br />
Talk and think bubbles with text by RoseWrites</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">No sooner did the dinner shift
start, then the residents started calling to me, "Miss, you forgot my
prune juice! Miss! We don't have any butter. Miss! Where are the forks? Miss!
We need napkins. Miss! You forgot our water. Miss! I can't have salt, I need
salt substitute. Miss!"</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I grabbed my sister and hightailed it out of there
before the food was even served. I didn't last 30 minutes. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To this day, I have
the utmost respect for ANYONE who can do that for a living and not be bald from
stress.<i> </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In case you are wondering, I was the older sister with the car,
so she had to quit when I did or walk home. </i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">[Vic: “I’m going down, sis, and I’m takin’ youse wit’ me!”]</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> On
your profile page, you leave instructions for readers that wish to comment. I'm
guessing you've had a jackhole (or several) bother you in the past. Is this
true? And do you care to share anything about it? [Vic: I would point out that
no one can “moderate” comments on IB articles—you can only delete the ones you
find too ornery. I like ornery,
though—gives me a chance to publicly point out stupidity in others.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was
so angry and peeved the day I wrote my IB profile page. I was very naive about
the Internet in general back then. I actually thought that people would show
MORE restraint with their communication methods because it would be online as a
permanent record of their "manners". Doesn't that sound ridiculous?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the weeks
prior, my articles were being stolen left and right. People were leaving rude
comments on my blog and Xomba articles. I had a few people starting debates
with each other and forgetting why they stopped by my article in the first
place (much like the Yahoo experience of today). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After being comment-stalked by a serial debater on
IB, I couldn't take it anymore. Normally I am very peaceable and dislike
argument for argument’s sake. My feathers have to be very ruffled to jump into
a debate with a stranger online. Perhaps rude isn't the right word.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNirDurZG24/VhOQqe21NHI/AAAAAAAASp0/_R61CKm0TVg/s1600/Vic%2Band%2BI%2Bwearing%2Bpale%2Bpink%2BFINAL.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="InfoBarrel Authors RoseWrites and Vic Dillinger Wearing Pale Pink" border="0" height="204" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SNirDurZG24/VhOQqe21NHI/AAAAAAAASp0/_R61CKm0TVg/s320/Vic%2Band%2BI%2Bwearing%2Bpale%2Bpink%2BFINAL.png" title="RoseWrites and Vic Dillinger Wearing Pale Pink" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me & Vic Dillinger's Avatar (modified) Used With Permission</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
example, I would mention loving the pale pink color of a sweater. I would then
get a comment like this, "I don't know if you can call that pale pink. Anyway,
nobody wears sweaters like that anymore." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">[Vic: I like pink.]</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">[Rose: Yeah, me too.]</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now I understand that I was being "flamed"
on purpose by individuals who have serious issues. I had to make the same type
of announcement on my blog; if you don't like it, leave. Don't comment. Just go
away.<i> </i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> After
reading <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Unitards_And_Leotards_For_Men-Professional_Garments_For_Male_Dancers" target="_blank">Unitards And Leotards For Men - Professional Garments For Male Dancers</a>,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
have to admit, the leotard for men with a white shirt sounds extremely sexy
(think I'll get my man-servant to wear that).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8C2kERHXlo/VhOSwWYyqzI/AAAAAAAASqA/oydddW4lfx4/s1600/2%2Bmale%2Bballet%2Bw%2Bpackage%2BVadim%2BMuntagirov%2Bballetnews.co.uk%2Bfair%2Buse%2Bpromo%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image of Vadim Muntagirov in London production of Swan Lake, balletnews.co.uk, Fair Use; additional free-use clip art, airbrushing, composite by Vic Dillinger 2015 for "Package Enhancing Tights"" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8C2kERHXlo/VhOSwWYyqzI/AAAAAAAASqA/oydddW4lfx4/s320/2%2Bmale%2Bballet%2Bw%2Bpackage%2BVadim%2BMuntagirov%2Bballetnews.co.uk%2Bfair%2Buse%2Bpromo%2Bimage.jpg" title="Package Enhancing Tights (promotional base image of Vadim Muntagirov in London production of Swan Lake, balletnews.co.uk, Fair Use; additional free-use clip art, airbrushing, composite by Vic Dillinger 2015)" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Package Enhancing Tights<br />
(Vadim Muntagirov; Fair Use; additional<br />
free-use clip art, airbrushing, composite<br />
by Vic Dillinger 2015)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Also, do male dancers wear jocks or something?
Because they look like they are really packing something (compared to
swimmers). </span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Professional
male ballet dancers wear a garment called a </span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.discountdance.com/dancewear/style_N5930.html?camp=Froogle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">dance belt</a></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">. It is very much like a jock strap. The
front portion is quilted, the hips are elasticized and the back fits like thong
underwear. It's typically made of opaque material so it doesn't show through
tights. The quilting creates that extra "presence" in the front groin
area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
recently did a photo shoot with my wife in which we wore Renaissance-period
clothing. I wore tights; mysteriously
the woman taking the pics said I did <i>not</i>
need a cod-piece! Tights rock! [You do
the math.] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rose returns (after being somewhat distracted):</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> But
seriously, do male dancers ever do "pointe work"? And if not, I think
ballet is healthier for men than women. I have seen some women's feet looking
pretty abused from years of ballet. How are your feet? And do you recommend any
other form of dance?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Men
on pointe cause huge debates in the ballet world. Traditionalists feel that a
male dancer cannot move in the delicate, graceful way a female ballerina can.
Although there are male dancers that will go on pointe as part of a practice
class, people prefer the traditional roles. Men dancing in tutus on their toes
are seen as comedians. </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://trockadero.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Les Ballets Trockadero </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">is a
good example. The heavier weight of the male dancer makes it harder on their
foot bones to tolerate pointe work long term. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ballerinas take a real beating on their feet. It's
amazing how effortless they make it look. They get bunions, blisters, and
bruising. Their toes can be bloody after a performance.<br />
<br />
I took pointe from age twelve to age twenty-two. I have a wonderful
collection of pointe shoes, but don't go up on my toes anymore. I have bunions,
but I attribute those to old age. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Other than Classical ballet, I personally love Tap
dancing, traditional Irish dance and watching Ballroom competitions in the
Latin dance genre.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rose interjects:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Well,
hats off to Mr. J. Leotard who invented the eponymous apparel item. I also
wonder if women "swooned to see men in such tight clothing" (but then
again, he wore a mini skirt—at least that’s what it looks like from that photo
in your article).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>LPerry:</b> Speaking of swooning, I took my 89-year-old Grandmother to The Kennedy Center to see a ballet. When the male dancer came out on stage in his tights, my Grandmother's eyes became as big as quarters. All she did was mutter, "Oh my . . . oh my . . . oh my!"</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>Rose:</b> So, what happened to the mini skirt for men? (I can
almost feel Vic holding himself back from commenting). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <i>I’d</i> wear a mini-skirt, but I’ve already
been to jail enough times already.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HnsZrPG0Gto/VhO4BvxZ0OI/AAAAAAAASqQ/ojKOeJoaaFA/s1600/Pro%2BArch%2BBallet%2Bon%2BAmazon%2Bphoto.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pro-Arch for best possible arched foot for ballet dancers on Amazon" border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HnsZrPG0Gto/VhO4BvxZ0OI/AAAAAAAASqQ/ojKOeJoaaFA/s320/Pro%2BArch%2BBallet%2Bon%2BAmazon%2Bphoto.png" title="Pro-Arch,PA1,multi-colored,One-Size on Amazon For Ballet " width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazon image of Pro-Arch<br />
To purchase, see LPerry's article</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Rosie comes
back:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Given my background in orthotics I had to read
your article <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Ballet_Arch_Enhancers-Do_They_Really_Work" target="_blank">Ballet Arch Enhancers - Do They Really Work?</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I can understand how an arch would need to be
anatomically deformed to become "banana foot." And, you are
absolutely correct when you wrote:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"Although
Svetlana may have gained added flexibility from her daily practice routine, she
was most likely born with an incredibly high arch to begin with."</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And gee, that device to stretch arches looks like
the female equivalent of a barbaric male enhancement device.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I also thoroughly enjoyed your piece, <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Boycott_Internet_Job_Searching-Get_A_Job_Faster_The_Old_Fashioned_Way" target="_blank">Boycott Internet Job Searching - Get A Job Faster The Old Fashioned Way</a> because of the blackhat recruiting<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">and prying for personal identification (like SSNs) that
you mentioned. And I loved your ten reasons for going “old school” (this is a
must-read for any job seeker, of any age).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fe6HAPpQmek/VhPJZwrwLfI/AAAAAAAASqg/Y7i_IwCeBg8/s1600/3%2BPee-Wee%2BHerman%2B%25281988%2529_%2Bphoto%2Bby%2BAlan%2BLight%2B%2528used%2Bwith%2Bpermission%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Paul Reubens (aka Pee-wee Herman) at 60th Annual Academy Awards, Apr 11, 1988 (photo by Alan Light, 1988, used with permission)" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fe6HAPpQmek/VhPJZwrwLfI/AAAAAAAASqg/Y7i_IwCeBg8/s320/3%2BPee-Wee%2BHerman%2B%25281988%2529_%2Bphoto%2Bby%2BAlan%2BLight%2B%2528used%2Bwith%2Bpermission%2529.jpg" title="Pee-wee Herman, 60th Annual Academy Awards, Apr 11, 1988 (photo by Alan Light, 1988, used with permission)" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"> Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) photo by<br />
Alan Light / Used With Permission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> In
your writings (on HP as well as IB) I notice you focus a lot on consumer goods
(clothing, jewelry, etc.) as well as the ballet-oriented material. You are a capable writer: any chance of your leaving
your comfort zone and writing, say, about longshoremen any time soon? Maybe a quick bio on Pee-wee Herman?</span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I do
write a lot about products. Before I learned how to make websites I was aiming
for sales through articles. Now I write product articles to see if the
topic/product gets enough traffic/sales to build a website around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am writing
a children's eBook and outlining another book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One interest off the beaten path (for me) is writing
more articles about the challenges of the workplace; backstabbing coworkers,
office gossip, drama, bad bosses, etc.. I have so much going on that it's hard
to find time for all of my plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I would like to say that you, Vic, have an immense
talent for writing biographies. This is something for me to think about; I tend
to write about things and not about people. One day I will have to try writing
a biography. In the meantime, I can always make a draft for <i>Pee-wee Herman Joins the Merchant Marines
Wearing a Tutu</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Vic:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Pee-wee in the merchant marines with a tutu—that is hilarious! You know he’s got a new movie coming out,
right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mo’ Writin’ Stuff<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> How did
you end up on IB?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
followed a link from a bookmark on Xomba and decided to sign up. InfoBarrel was
getting good reviews.<br />
<br />
</span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Do you have any weird (or
helpful) writing rituals?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What's
important for me is to find this very peaceful, Zen-like relaxation in my mind
before I write. Some writers call it "flow". If I feel any type
of urgency, my brain slams shut. I give myself permission to block out those
things that scream for my attention and totally embrace the time I spend giving
attention to my own thoughts. Relax,
breathe, flow, enjoy the process.</span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> If you
could change one thing about the online world, what would it be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pop
up ads should be against the law. Surely whoever invented them needs to go to
prison.</span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> What
famous person, author, TV character or cartoon character do you most relate to
(and why)?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> This
is such a hard question! Who do I most relate to? Let's see . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After giving this a lot of thought, I would say my
favorite female singer, <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Death_of_Karen_Carpenter" target="_blank">Karen Carpenter</a>. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not only is her voice the most beautiful thing I
have ever heard, the emotion behind it is haunting. I can relate to her
sensitivity and how that part of her flowed out to create music that touches
the soul. I believe that our hidden emotions find a way of expression; many as
artistic masterpieces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>Rose:</b> Did you know that Vic wrote an incredible piece about the <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Death_of_Karen_Carpenter" target="_blank">death of Karen Carpenter</a>? It's currently ranked 10th on <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/top100.php" target="_blank">InfoBarrels' Top 100</a>.</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Three or more articles you are most proud of?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
like my Ezine articles and one I have on Wizzley:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://wizzley.com/dealing-with-insecure-coworkers-survival-tips/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dealing With Insecure Coworkers</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Different-Types-Of-Pointe-Shoes---How-To-Classify-A-Pointe-Shoe&id=4989690" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">How To Classify A Pointe Shoe</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Can-Cheap-Pointe-Shoes-From-China-Ever-Succeed-In-The-Dance-Wear-Industry?&id=8645281" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Can Cheap Pointe Shoes From China Succeed?</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Where can
readers find you?</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> They
can find me on my blog or Twitter: <a href="https://pointeshoebrands.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Pointe Shoe Brands</a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ballet_news" target="_blank">Ballet_News</a> on Twitter<span style="color: blue;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i>Highly Inappropriate Questions </i></b><br />
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Ever made
out with a male ballet dancer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well,
he was a male and after dressing him in a pink chiffon ballet skirt he did
dance around a bit and plant a slobbery kiss on me. Does a pet Boxer count? [Vic: Now <i>that’s</i>
funny right there I don’t care who you are.]</span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vic: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ever made
out with a <i>female</i> ballet dancer? ’Cause that sounds kinda hot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At my
age, the only thing that gets hot are the light bulbs. </span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nAHC8lG_8uQ/VhQvLT9U72I/AAAAAAAASqw/-NjHVAW2Za0/s1600/4%2BBallerina%2Bflatulence%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ballerina Farting (free-use clip art; composite, lettering by Vic Dillinger, 2015)" border="0" height="170" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nAHC8lG_8uQ/VhQvLT9U72I/AAAAAAAASqw/-NjHVAW2Za0/s200/4%2BBallerina%2Bflatulence%2BUSE.png" title="Flatulent Ballerina (free-use clip art; composite, lettering by Vic Dillinger, 2015)" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 Flatulent Ballerina (free-use clip art;<br />
composite, lettering by Vic Dillinger)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rose: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Got any
good "plié" fart stories?</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
believe ballet schools do mandatory methane testing these days. With leotards
as tight as they are, gas leak buildup could get very dangerous!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q: </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you could use a time machine, which past decade would you travel to and why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">
Without a doubt, the 1950s. I love everything about that era: the pink
kitchens, the fashions, the cars, the music, the family values, everything. Dad
wore the pants, Mom wore the dresses, kids respected authority, and the world
seemed so safe and cozy back then.</span><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Are
there any other writers on InfoBarrel you'd like to see interviewed? And if so,
is/are there any questions you'd like me to ask him, her, or them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I
can relate to <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Users/curiosity44" target="_blank">curiosity44</a> as</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> a self-taught writer. His health-related articles are very interesting; most of
them have eye-opening videos. He mentioned starting a novel, so I wonder if he
reached his goal of completing it.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Also Young Hopes is very nice and her articles are good. I believe she has an InfoBarrel account, but I may be wrong. She is on HubPages and Wizzley.</span></div>
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<br />
<b>In Closing:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I want to thank <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Users/LPerry" target="_blank">LPerry</a> for allowing both Vic Dillinger and I to ask about her life online and offline. She obviously has a wealth of life experience that reaches beyond the ballet world.<br />
<br />
And since my private jet was just collecting dust, I decided to take LPerry, her grandmother, and Vic to the <a href="http://www.bolshoi.ru/en/" target="_blank">Bolshoi Theatre</a> in Moscow, Russia. Vic felt a little lost and LPerry's grandma followed some male dancer backstage.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMKSFhwFF78/VhRIN0HNtvI/AAAAAAAASrQ/zfDWp9QAvnc/s1600/LPerry%2BVic%2Band%2BI%2BBolshoi%2BTheatre%2BFinal%2BUSE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jane Rahman on flickr (CC-by-2.0) Bolshoi Theater in background. Additional images added by RoseWrites Oct 6, 2015 via Pixlr." border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OMKSFhwFF78/VhRIN0HNtvI/AAAAAAAASrQ/zfDWp9QAvnc/s400/LPerry%2BVic%2Band%2BI%2BBolshoi%2BTheatre%2BFinal%2BUSE.png" title="Bolshoi Theater uploaded January 16th, 2013 by Jane Rahman on flickr (CC-by-2.0). Images of LPerry, Vic Dillinger, and I added by RoseWrites Oct 6, 2015" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bolshoi Theatre uploaded by Jane Rahman (CC-by-2.0). <br />
LPerry, Vic Dillinger, and I added Oct 6th, 2015 via Pixlr.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Tune in again next week when I interview a <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/top100.php" target="_blank">Top 100</a> InfoBarrel author. And hopefully Vic can co-host if he's not too busy.</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Funding for <a href="http://roserightswrongs.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">A Blog for the Underdog</a> is provided (in part) by my earnings on Zazzle. I feature over 200 "slice of life" products (many with humorous designs) in my <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/sousababy*" target="_blank">Sousababy Zazzle store</a>.</div>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6971837439117744216.post-48915167829158248862015-09-20T18:11:00.002-07:002015-12-28T00:50:45.079-08:00Can the HubPages' Editbot Fool Google and the Public?"The more humanity advances, the more it is degraded." ~ Gustave Flaubert (1821 - 1880).<br />
<br />
The above quote is over a century old and you'll soon understand why I began with it.<br />
<br />
A few days ago, HubPages' product manager, Marina Lazarevic, <a href="http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/133104#post2765047" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">announced</a> the arrival of Editbot.<br />
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The gist:<br />
<br />
Editbot will automatically fix so-called "common" spelling and grammar errors on both Hubs [articles] and their comments.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<b>Yeah, Edibot will be changing original commentary!</b></blockquote>
In fact, Marina Lazarevic even emphasized this point in her post stating:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Lastly, it's worth noting that the majority of Editbot fixes are in Hub comments."</i></blockquote>
Now <a href="http://www.infobarrel.com/Users/vicdillinger" target="_blank">Vic Dillinger</a>'s signature "wimmen" will become "women" and other changes will sterilize otherwise colorful content.<br />
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And any commentary I deleted on my 351 articles on Squidoo (the site I joined), was deleted for good reason: a moron (or similar type) wrote it.<br />
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But now, the content that Paul Edmondson imported (with and without the permission of content owners) will be edited by a machine.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UM1sjNpiNBk/Vf-ORDXXX-I/AAAAAAAASl8/ENMy1SnAx-M/s1600/Paul%2BE%2BComic%2BEditbot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Paul Edmondson discusses Editbot Advantages (Satirical Cartoon) by RoseWrites" border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UM1sjNpiNBk/Vf-ORDXXX-I/AAAAAAAASl8/ENMy1SnAx-M/s400/Paul%2BE%2BComic%2BEditbot.png" title="Satirical Cartoon Image of Paul Edmondson Discussing Editbot by RoseWrites" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Satirical cartoon of Paul Edmondson explaining how Editbot benefits him. Created September 21st, 2015 by RoseWrites / All rights reserved (Click to enlarge)</i></div>
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What Editbot accomplishes for HubPages:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Search engines, Google, and the public will be tricked into determining that content (that Paul Edmondson took without owners' permission) has been edited. (It's been newly updated, somehow).</li>
<li>Search engines, Google, and the public will interpret dubious comments made by morons to be an "intelligent, credible endorsement" of HubPages. </li>
<li>The work of "inactive" authors (you know, where Paul Edmondson keeps 100 percent of any earnings) is revised, updated, and has outside commentary that <i>sounds</i> reasonably intelligent or, at least, believable.</li>
<li>Now monkeys can be trained to type commentary and editbot will make their comments sound good enough to fool Google and the public. And yeah, Paul Edmondson gets to keep 100 percent of those earnings on those "inactive" accounts. (Which I believe outnumber "active" accounts).</li>
</ul>
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In the meantime, the minority of active authors on HubPages will be drawn into checking and rechecking every possible edit on their work. Even the edits that authors cannot change themselves, their commentary.<br />
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Perhaps it's time that <a href="https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/66356?hl=en" target="_blank">Google revises their Webmaster Guideline violation which states</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"Additionally, creating links that weren't editorially placed or vouched for, otherwise known as unnatural links, can be considered a violation of our guidelines."</i></blockquote>
To include:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>"Addendum: Creating or editing content that wasn't editorially placed or vouch for (or that was artificially changed) can be considered a violation of our guidelines."</b></blockquote>
RoseWrites (aka sousababy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17694776415572750909noreply@blogger.com11