Power lines can affect your health adversely

A State of California study verifies a direct link between radiation from power lines and illnesses - something that until now had been contested - but, apparently, they’ve proved it.  Not good news, not good news at all.  And, parenthetically, can you imagine the class action lawsuits that will emerge out of this?

The final report of a contested eight-year, $7 million study soon to be released by the California Department of Health Services may be the most credible statement yet on the connection between electric power lines and a variety of health problems.

“To one degree or another, all three of the DHS scientists are inclined to believe that EMFs (electric and magnetic fields) can cause some degree of increased risk of childhood leukemia, adult brain cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and miscarriage,” states a leaked copy of the final report from the California EMF Program, a study begun in 1993 on behalf of the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

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Wayne Kramer

Guitarist for the legendary MC5, Wayne Kramer, has completed a new CD, out in a few weeks.  Over the past few years he’s done several solo CDs and a collaboration with Brian James of the Damned, Mad for the Racket.   All are excellent.

All these years later and he hasn’t really mellowed much.  This is a good thing.  His guitar work can still can take the top of your head off, his lyrics can be pointed and political.  Best of all, he’s not recyling past glory, instead he’s doing new stuff and taking chances.  This is even better.

For those who may not know, the MC5 were around in the late 60’s - early 70’s and played political Detroit rock and roll with a ferocity not many have equalled. They influenced a lot of punk and metal bands.  Still are, actually.

If you like relevant, hard-edged rock and roll, check out his stuff.   His website calls it “rock and roll for adults”, and that’s exactly what it is.

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Forget the meds, get grandpa the Playboy channel…

Porn and Prostitutes Calm Seniors Better Than Medication. The Globe and Mail is reporting that caregivers in Copenhagen have found that pornography and prostitutes have a greater calming effect on their elderly patients than traditional medical treatment. [kuro5hin.org]

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“Our problems are of our own making, and so we can stop making them,”

According to Jared Diamond, history teaches us four lessons.

First, environmental problems can cause societies to collapse.  Second, some environments are more fragile than others and “it’s no accident that a list of the world’s most environmentally devastated and/or overpopulated countries resembles a list of the world’s current political tinderboxes.”  Third, societies are vulnerable to the environmental problems of others, as well as their own.  And finally, “conflicts between the short-term interests of those in power and the long-term interests of everybody else” can stop a society protecting itself by which time it’s too late.  Time Magazine via [Daily Summit]

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