Maryland @ MindSay

work had been a bit slow the entire week, as madan got me to start working on some functionality that viewed a list of records, viewed individual records, and allowed users to edit them.  i managed to get all of it except the saving an edit part working..while the entire week i'd been debating whether i wanted to go to the away game @ maryland.  i set the condition for myself that if i didn't have anything to do, then i'd go, possibly trying to catch a ride from somewhere in nova rather than spend the gas to head all the way down just to get on a bus all the way back up.  thinking we'd had a great time meeting casey and all last week, i send her a fbmsg on wednesday (with a bit of jillian's help), asking whether she wanted to catch a movie with me and some friends, and/or possibly go to the avp concert on saturday with jillian and her friend (since i'd never managed to make it to a concert).  i email koch about finding a ride to the game, while idzior texts me..(he's previously fbmsged me, also), finding that a couple people will be going independently of the bus ride.

i'd been talking a lot with diane lately, spending many a late night being kept up until 1AM+, which was becoming rather detrimental to my work performance.  somewhere in conversation with her, she tells me that caitlin had actually gone to the unc game (which surprised me since i hadn't seen her at all), and that she was pretty sure she was going to the maryland game as well.  having received no response from casey through friday night (and kato attempting to work out a simultaneous hanging out of some sort as well), it was safe to assume that she would not be responding at all, for whatever reason.  it was frustrating and a bit confusing at the same time, since typically when you meet someone and enjoy hanging out with them, you don't completely cold-shoulder them when they try to get you to hang out again.  since i'm writing this after the fact, as of this posting she still hasn't said a word about it, despite hanging out with us the following weekend..though who knows, maybe it all just comes back to the issue of not being able to ask to hang out with a girl (even in a group with other mutual friends) without her taking it to mean that you're getting interested in her, and not just as a friend.

either way, friday after work i run around near where the gym is attempting to find the abc store that their website's locator says is there.  tucked away in the very last spot in the shopping center, i grab a burnett's watermelon 1L (on sale), and don't get lost dragging myself down to cville, in surprisingly the same amount of time despite leaving half an hour later than usual.  kato and i head to kroger and wind up grabbing a pack of cranberry lemonade mike's harder, and head over to jillian's to watch a movie with her and her visiting friend from w&m, ginny.  drag me to hell gets the vote.  it's rather amusing, campy/cheesy as it was..one of those movies where you really can't help but yell at the tv because the characters are being so stupid.  as we're watching, casey stumbles in (probably drunk) at one point, asking what movie we're watching, then leaning and squinting to see that me and kato are in fact there again.  not saying much of anything, she goes into her room to change or something, and then heads back out without giving us a second look.

diane also called in the middle somewhere, after finishing up a long day (third year ring ceremony, caitlin's birthday, third year infinity ball, etc.).  we talk for a bit before she decides to head home rather than come over to wertland to join us for the movie.  we finish dmth right around midnight, and decide to pop another movie in, so we followed with 9, which was an r5 with supposedly line audio, but sounded tinny anyway.  the story was shorter than any of us expected, though engaging enough to make you wonder about it afterward.  we finally get going afterward, as i've got to get up ass-early for the game, but staying up and talking anyway for a while, as always seems to happen when we've got some things hanging on our minds..why casey didn't respond to either of us, and the like.

i call idzior in the morning, asking whether he still needs a trombone, and as expected, i'm always welcome, so i get up and get going.  he'd told me to meet under the stadium by the tunnels and that i could park there, which in my sleepy stupor i thought he was trying to screw with me, but realized he was being serious, as there was a metallica concert at jpj that night and the cage lot would be unavailable.  of course, the call time of 8AM or so was more like, the load time of 8AM, which meant everyone was still there early, as i track down br06 and josh knight's uniform and get everything loaded.

i wind up trying to sit near phil, since he's the only bone i know other than my ex's current bf, jamie, about in the middle of the bus.  diane somehow winds up in the front and doesn't seem to see me or attempt to come back to sit with me, but tj does eventually take the window seat with me, though he won't be suiting up to play at his old grad school.  we put in the proposal and have various volume issues that i take upon myself to try to fix by going up to ask the bus driver..getting into pg county early, we stop at a kfc with a leaky ceiling for lunch (where i got four mini sandwich thingies and ate them all), getting to "um" (as it's known up there) with plenty of time to spare.  suiting up with raincoats as it's begun to drizzle constantly, taking shelter in this connected open walkway between buildings.  as we line up by section, i manage to catch caitlin giving jamie a kiss as she heads off, which i guess was the first time i'd seen them, actually.  it was interesting that i didn't really feel anything, nor did it come as a shock..which i guess means that whole year of being severed really did wind up working wonders.

so as we file in there's some shuffling of instruments, though trombones of course are always in front, next to or right behind the drumline (next to, in this case).  maryland scrambles onto the field or whatever, with their lyred mostly-brass instruments, and play a decent show for being in rain, though for their size (about as big as our full band) the sound isn't terribly astounding, but that's how we usually feel.  and them spelling our "maryland" in cursive always makes me want to spell "virginia" in cursive, instead of just "wahoos" and "uva," but that's another story. the game got off to a slow start, as we were down at the half..and as the sun set the cold and water started to become quite chilly.  i couldn't keep my glasses clear at all, as the anti-scratch coating continued to deteriorate, and the team wasn't doing so great, but was hanging in there.

as the half rolled around, we forewent watching the halftime show aside from a bit further up the stands as we headed to concessions under the upper deck.  i wandered around a bit, not knowing many of the other band members who were there, before finding malcolm, another first year trombone i'd talked to at the unc game.  he asked me to hold his trombone while he headed to the bathroom, while i debating getting food since i wasn't really that hungry yet.

glancing around, i meet eyes with caitlin, whose friends had also gotten into line, and quickly hobbled over with both trombones, intent on actually initiating conversation.  surprisingly, our talk goes pretty smoothly, just sort of catching up on what we're doing now, how i'm working as a junior programmer up in falls church and she's in ed school now, working her busiest/hardest semester ever at 20 credits (the same time that i did mine, fifth semester), part time job, among other things.  she'd apparently fbstalked me recently, since she knew about the job, and said that her father had seen me at a coffee place (oop, nope!)—er, a sandwich place (perfect pita?  more likely) up there—the company he works for more or less helps with finding contracts for the software we write..which i guess means he could be in and around skyline sometimes (it is on leesburg pike, after all).  i wondered to myself why he didn't say anything, though..but probably similar reasons as her mother/aunt/sister/brother/cousin/niece have been at games this year and last year, sat right behind me, and said nothing.  anyway, as halftime wound down she scurried off to find jamie as we all headed back down into the stands.

in the second half though, maryland started turning over the ball and we started capitalizing as our defense finally started to lock down in all the rain, which wouldn't let up at all.  not long after we got back in the stands, i took my gloves off for good, ringing them out off the railing, while several people who were watching laughed at how much water came out of them.  my work shoes (no idea where my marching ones are, probably down at the new house) were soaked, though i tried to help by "throwing" water from the concrete beneath me.  so, for the last minute or so of the game, we'd backed them up to their 1, and they were on 4th down so they had to go for it, but didn't complete the pass..and we got it at the 1st and goal on the 1, for a final score of 20-9!  check the video on espn.com of us doing tag in the stands, at 1:40 XDDD

the win made all the miserable rain worth it, as we trekked back to the buses and got loaded up and changed.  as we dumped pants and jackets in bins by bus 1, i ran into caitlin again, exchanging a few words as we headed back for our buses.  i was one of the first back on ours (i climb bleachers), so i had some time to get comfortable and back into my jeans and changed into my nscl shirt (which amanda noticed and complimented while i was walking over to the bins, hahah).  as we headed back down into va the way i normally go on fridays, we passed by right where 66 gets off onto 29, and stopped at this rather large shopping center with a five guys (among other things that we just happened to not care about).  unfortunately about half the band that was there had the same idea, as we all bolted for the place and still wound up about twenty people back in the line.

we got through quickly enough, as i wound up with order 02 as the numbers wrapped around.  the other guy bones (jamie, phil, jacob, and garrett (ty phil)) had gotten their food before me, but sarah joined us afterward, too.  phil and i'd split a large fry and jamie'd gotten two burgers, and everything was absolutely fckin' scrumptious after that long day, hahah.  been a while since i'd had five guys, after all.  we somehow wound up watching the matrix on the way back, which i'm pretty sure i've seen countless times..i was rather tempted to start quoting it line by line, but fell asleep not long after it started, waking up just in time for the finale as we're the last bus to pull in back under the stadium.  i hang around a bit to say goodbyes to diane and whoever, and give mcquillin a ride back over to wertland.  kato's already headed over to wes's place with jillian, and is headed over to t and duck's, so i get changed (he left the door open) and make my way over to x-lounge, luckily finding a spot on the next street over.

this time it pretty much turns out to be a bust, as kato gets drinks with t and jillian, and i attempt to get my dance on on the floor, to no avail.  some chick is all over this black dude in a suit to my right, these older people are to my front and left, and i'm right in front of the dj.  as we head out at 2AM, kato tells me he'll be heading back over to t and duck's, then wes will drop jillian off and then him off, so for me to meet him back at the aptment in half an hour or so.  3AM rolls around and there's still no sign of them, so i leave him a voicemail and get into bed.

mother'd been getting on me about not really spending any time at home, just sort of stopping in and jetting out..so i told myself i'd make an active effort to get home earlier after mass..except i set my alarm incorrectly for the time mass started instead of an hour before, and wound up dawdling until to the 5:15PM one, and then wasting some more time before heading back to fburg for a bit longer, and not getting back up to fc until around 11PM.  the ladies'd already headed to bed, so i soon did the same.  it'd been a long weekend, and it was nice to finally get some rest.

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I'd had a really weird dream.

I was sat in a cafeteria with really cheap white tables - I was sat against the wall, as I was isolating myself from everyone else there.
My brother Ian showed up, with three other lads - one had a lot of spots, one had a yellow shirt and one had green hair. Ian sat opposite me and the other three lads sat around me.

Then Ashleigh arrived - but couldn't get around to my side of the table, so she sat beside Ian.
We were talking for a while - before another person came in through the door.

She was the absolute double of Ashleigh - only her hair was darker, her clothes were a different colour, her voice was higher and her wheelchair frame was blue.
She said her name was Rhona Robinson.

I woke up and felt very confused.
My dreams sometimes serve a purpose - but all that one did was confuse me.

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I spent most of today playing The Misadventures Of Tron Bonne.
I have 3 missions left to complete - along with the shitty ruins exploration level.

My Servbots' stats are all pretty high - there's a few more who need their attack levels raising.
I can't stand doing training course 1 though.
Training course 2 only takes about a minute - often less.
Course 1 always takes 3+ minutes and it's so damn tedious.

The more valuble stat raiser would be the more annoying one, wouldn't it?!

I'm also pissed off with the bastard farm level.
I spent 20 minutes fucking about working out how to ride and capture the horses - only to have my truck destroyed during the boss fight.
BASTARDS.

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After I turned it off in frustration: Ashleigh had came online. She informed me that she was coming tomorrow - and had a mini-rant about her newly accquired Guitar Hero: Metallica (which she's bringing tomorrow) - we then discussed our plans.

We've decided on playing through some of the band career of GHM, watching the DVD that Paul burned me (Lesbian Vampire Killers) and continuing our game of Monopoly from Monday.

Once her connection died, I pulled out my drum kit and played a few quick gigs on World Tour.
I then swapped to bass and thrashed through a few more songs on Hard - 5 100% scores in a row.

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Dad had been to ASDA and bought a shitload of cookies - so I ate half a packet of Maryland triple chocolate chip while I watched the first half of Britain's Got Talent.

I began to wonder - am I evil?
When Hollie Steel had her emotional breakdown, bless her - I thought it was pretty sweet, and I felt sorry for her - but I couldn't help pissing myself laughing.
Every time I hear children cry - I laugh uncontrollably. Babies especially. My word, they make me bloody manic. :)

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Then mam arrived home to ruin my pretty neutral day.

I asked her if Ashleigh and Shelly could come tomorrow - which she doesn't normally decline to - but then she said no.
Her reason was pathetic though: "It's her day off and she doesn't want the house full."

For a start - there's two of them - not twenty-two.
For a second - we're only ever in my room. We only come down to eat at the table because Ash isn't wonderfully skilled at balancing trays on her lap.
I eat alone upstairs for the other 6 days of the week - do I honestly bother her with my presence in the room for TWENTY FUCKING MINUTES?

Then she had a whinge on saying why can't I go to Ash's or to Shelly's.
For one - I can very rarely get to Ash's. Dad starts work too early a lot of the time to take me - which I'm not bitter about, it can't be helped. (Besides, dad isn't a cunt to me, so I don't blame him for anything.)
And if I tried bussing it - fuck knows what the fare would be. I'm guessing £4+.
Mam bitches enough as it is giving me £4 a day to get to college and eat.

It's not that fucking easy to eat on £2.20 a day you know.
Most drinks are £1 and most sandwiches are £2. Yep - how does that work out?

And I don't want to go to Shelly's because her mam slags me off.
I know my mam isn't overly fond of Shelly, but she doesn't say half the abusive shite that her mam comes out with.

Following this rant - she then said we're always in the kitchen when she wants to be in there.
WELL SORRY FOR WANTING TO EAT AT TEA-TIME. YOU KNOW, THE NORM?

What, she wants me to drag Ashleigh down the stairs so she can decide on what she wants, then send her straight back up?
Hmmmmm?

She did say she'd let them come, but only if we stay out of her way.
 I don't fucking go near her at the best of times. Swear to God.

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And there's two moths flitting about in my room. They're doing my tits in.
I'm only wearing a shirt and underwear - they keep landing on my bare leg and tickling me.
I'm slightly afraid of moths - but nowhere near as scared as I am of spiders.

I was really tired earlier when I had my fortnightly migraine - but now it's gone, I'm wide awake.
With fuck all to do.
Gaaaaaaaaaaah.

By Army Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt

American Forces Press Service

 

Nov. 25, 2008 - For the first time since U.S. Africa Command stood up Oct. 1, the National Guard has deployed citizen-soldiers to an African nation to provide desperately needed medical care. The two-week deployment to Senegal of 18 Maryland National Guard doctors, dentists and other medical professionals was in support of a 14-nation exercise known as Flintlock 09, which concluded Nov. 20.

 

The Maryland Guard medical team based at Camp Fretterd in Reisterstown, Md., was led by Army Col. (Dr.) John V. Gladden, the state surgeon, who said this type of training mission is exactly what the Guard needs to be doing.

 

"It teaches us how to do things outside our specialty [and] how to work together," Gladden said about his team, which treated nearly 1,600 Senegalese who visited the makeshift clinic with a variety of medical and dental issues.

 

Gladden, who has worked in eight previous medical exercises in his career, said the working and living conditions in Africa were the most austere he had ever seen, but that his fellow citizen-soldiers were professionals under the toughest of circumstances.

 

"Nobody got flustered," he said. "We knew there were limitations on what we could do to treat some of these patients, but nobody dwelled on this being a less-than-perfect outcome."

 

The two-week exercise was developed as a joint multinational exercise to improve information sharing at the operational and tactical levels across the Saharan region while fostering increased collaboration and coordination.

 

"This was a perfect fit," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth McGill, the operations sergeant for the Maryland Guard medical detachment who organized the training mission.

"We had the professional talent, and they had everything we needed to do the job. This was the opportunity to take a portion of our staff [and] send them to a faraway land to do wonderful things and get more medical experience. Having an opportunity like this, even in the civilian world, is rare."

 

More than 200 people participated in Flintlock, a part of Africom's Operation Enduring Freedom Trans Sahara, which provides military support to State Department programs that aim to enhance regional security in Africa by also addressing economic and social development, disaster preparedness, medical emergencies and other issues.

 

Although this was the first such mission for the National Guard to an African country, the Guard has a long-standing State Partnership Program that was designed to build relationships with emerging democracies by pairing states and U.S. territories with more than 59 countries around the world.

 

"This is a terrific opportunity for our soldiers to take their military and civilian skills and apply them in a real-world training environment, while at the same time helping the people of the republic of Senegal," said Army Brig. Gen. Alberto Jimenez, commander of the Maryland Army National Guard. "This exercise is a continuation of the ongoing efforts by the Maryland National Guard in support of emerging democracies in countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina, Estonia, and now, Senegal."

 

Former Maryland assistant adjutant general Army Maj. Gen. Edward Leacock, now deputy director of Africom's intelligence and knowledge development division, said the exercise "set a strong precedent for future U.S. Africa Command engagements where the U.S. military will actively seek the partnership of stakeholders to meet common challenges."

 

McGill said Gladden and his medical team's mission didn't end when the last patient left the clinic. The Guard team left behind all excess medical supplies and equipment for future use by the Senegalese government.

 

(Army Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt serves with the Maryland National Guard.)

U.S. snaps up [Bacillus Anthracis] scanner

“Clients included hazardous materials teams in major American cities and US defence agencies, [Andrew Rudge] said. Existing technologies and products took between 30 minutes and three days to do the same job and destroyed the sample so it could not be tested further. […] ‘It's simple to use analysis begins with the press of a single button and it returns a spores detected or no spores detected result within minutes. That saves both time and money in terms of disruptions and evacuations, because security staff get immediate feedback on whether they are dealing with a hoax or the real thing.’ [according to Veritide chief executive officer Andrew Rudge] […] There were plans to extend the Scout's detection capability to include other dangerous biological threats such as ricin.” (The Press, New Zealand; 05Nov08; Rebecca Todd) http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4749967a6530.html

 

Media makes infectious diseases seem much worse

“Popular media coverage of infectious diseases makes them seem worse than they are, according to a new Canadian study. Diseases that surface frequently in the print media -like bird flu - are considered more serious than similar diseases that do not receive the same kind of coverage, such as yellow fever, according to the research. ‘The media tend to focus on rare and dramatic events,’ said Meredith Young, co-author and graduate in the department of psychology, neuroscience & behaviour, McMaster University. […] ‘Another interesting aspect of the study is when we presented factual information about the diseases along with the names of them, the media effect wasn't nearly as strong,’ said Karin Humphries a co-author [of the study].” (Microsoft News; 04Nov08; Source: Indo-Asian News Service) http://lifestyle.in.msn.com/health/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1692100

 

Flu clinic becomes emergency drill [Frederick County, Maryland]

“Monday's flu clinic took the form of an emergency preparedness drill, and more than 360 health department employees and a handful of other county agencies participated to help ensure the county is ready for a medical emergency. Jurisdictions are required to hold preparedness drills every year to retain their funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said Barbara Rosvold, the health department's public health preparedness and response director. For most people, a flu pandemic is the first type of medical emergency that comes to mind, but the department would activate the same response system during situations such as a smallpox outbreak or anthrax exposure. […] The drill also put to the test the department's emergency communication systems, including landlines, cell phones, TalkAbouts and 800-megahertz radios. Amateur radios were used this year for the first time; the radios proved to be the most reliable form of communication in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Rosvold said.” (Frederick News-Post; 04Nov08; Ashley Andyshak)

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1510393

 

Select agent, man [discusses removal of citrus greening bacteria from select agent list]

“Just in time for the $20 million citrus greening research push from the Florida Department of Citrus and the Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has agreed to take the citrus greening bacteria off the federal Bioterrorism Select Agent list. […] The greening bacteria was put on the list before it became endemic in Florida precisely to prevent its introduction into the U.S.

Once it became endemic, that served no further purpose […] Effective Nov.17, all three strains of the greening bacteria will not be on the select agent list. […] Now scientists conducting greening research can expand their efforts free of the strict constraints of the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002.” (Ledger; 03Nov08; Kevin Bouffard)

http://citruspulpwash.theledger.com/default.asp?item=2280985

 

Scientists slam FBI anthrax probe [of Bruce Ivins] “

It was an open-and-shut case, the FBI said. But three months after agents pinned the post-9/11 anthrax mailings on Army scientist Bruce Ivins - who committed suicide as the FBI closed in on him - his former colleagues have approached a lawyer to sue the feds for fingering the wrong man, The Post has learned. […] The move by the Army scientists comes on the heels of a Senate Judiciary Committee demand for an independent review of the case following a hearing with FBI Director Robert Mueller in which committee members called the bureau's case an ‘open matter.’ The bureau has named a panel of independent scientists to review the evidence against Ivins - a probe that will take six to 18 months. Sen. Patrick Leahy, a target of the 2001 anthrax attacks, said at the Judiciary Committee hearings that he doubted Ivins, who worked at Fort Detrick, Md., could have acted alone and that he believes ‘there are others who could be charged with murder.’”

(Military.com; 03Nov08; Source: New York Post) http://www.military.com/news/article/scientists-slam-fbi-anthrax-probe.html?col=1186032310810

 

Man [Fernando Gomez] dies from anthrax exposure [Hackney, London]

“The Health Protection Agency has announced the death of a patient who inhaled anthrax. The Agency is now carrying out an investigation to identify where the anthrax originated from. A team wearing protective clothing will carry out tests at the deceased man’s workshop in Hackney, London. […] The HPA has also been following up any contacts of the patient who may have been explosed [sic] to the anthrax spores by being in the same room as the patient, when animal skins were being prepared to be made into drums (believed to be the source of the contamination).” (OnMedica News; 04Nov08)

http://www.onmedica.com/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=8472a1ab-d054-43ae-9313-2885177a3268

 

How dangerous is drum making? [relating to anthrax exposure]

“A second drum maker in two years has died after apparently inhaling anthrax spores from animal skins. What are the risks of this seemingly safe job? Fernando Gomez had been in intensive care for more than a week after handling animal skins at his drum-making workshop in London. But his condition deteriorated over the weekend and the 35-year-old died from inhalation anthrax on Sunday night. Two years earlier, Christopher Norris, a craftsman from Scotland, died after inhaling anthrax. But are these cases a coincidence or a cause for alarm? In the UK, the death of Mr. Gomez is the second case in more than 30 years. Across the world, there are four other known cases since 1974 of drum makers dying from anthrax.” (BBC; 03Nov08)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7706239.stm

 

Expert: Egypt modernizing Army, but committed to peace

“Egypt's military is gradually doing away with dated Soviet equipment and replacing them with superior American F-16 fighter jets, Apache combat helicopters and Abrams tanks, according to arms control expert Prof. Yiftah Shapir of Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Securities Studies. […] As for unconventional weapons, Egypt may have researched and produced chemical warfare agents and stockpiled mustard and nerve agents, although this has not been confirmed. It is thought to possess 190 scud-type missiles. […] Shapir said he was not overly concerned by reports of Egyptian military drills in which Israel was the simulated enemy. ‘There is no military force other than Israel on their borders, so the drills are simulated with Israel in mind. Every Army undergoes drills and builds up plans. The Egyptian Army is looking at Israel's capabilities, not its intentions. Egypt believes Israel is fully interested in safeguarding the status quo, and Israel believes the same of Egypt. But the Egyptian military cannot ignore its next door neighbor's military and act as if it is neutral,’ Shapir said. He added that Israel, too, trained for scenarios involving the Egyptian military. ‘We can't expect things to be any different,’ he said. ‘We are not in the European Union. Before the current era, and before the world wars, European powers held drills with their neighbors in mind.’” (Jerusalem Post; 02Nov08; Yaakov Lappin) http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1225199631823&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

 

OPCW Director-General addresses the Sixty-Third Session of the United Nations General Assembly

“On 3 November 2008, the OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter addressed the 63rd Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, on the theme ‘Cooperation between the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).’ […] he gave an overview of the progress made in the destruction of declared chemical weapons. He noted that the OPCW had verified the destruction of more than 41% of the total stockpiles declared by six States Parties and that two of the six declared possessors — Albania and A State Party — had completely fulfilled their destruction obligations under the Convention. […] Director-General Pfirter also referred to the importance of developing the industry verification regime in a manner that is responsive to the need of ensuring the long term validity of the Convention’s non-proliferation objectives. […] Director-General Pfirter further drew attention to the Organisation’s international cooperation and assistance programmes, including periodic field exercises for the delivery of assistance in case of use of chemical weapons that the OPCW carries out in collaboration with the UN and other international organisations. He informed the UN General Assembly that the next such exercise is scheduled to be held in Tunisia in 2010.” (OPCW News; 04Nov08) http://www.opcw.org/news/news/article/opcw-director-general-addresses-the-sixty-third-session-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly/

 

Attorneys file suit to stop burning at Umatilla Chemical Depot

“Attorneys for the Government Accountability Project have filed a lawsuit to stop a plan by Oregon agencies to incinerate the Umatilla Chemical Depot's cache of World War Two mustard agent. The suit was filed in the Multonomah County, Ore., state circuit court by the watchdog group's attorneys on behalf of Hermiston-based GASP, the Oregon Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club and six Umatilla County and Morrow County residents. […] The Government Accountability Project, or GAP, is concerned that some of the mustard agent is contaminated with mercury and other hazardous wastes. It believes the mercury would not be fully captured by the filter systems currently in place or planned for the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility. Department of Environmental Quality […] has given approval for using enhanced carbon filters for incineration of mustard gas after the department studied options. […] More than 60 percent of the chemical agent stockpile at the depot is mustard agent, according to GAP. However, the Army has identified containers contaminated with mercury and they comprise 16 percent of the total.” (Tri-City Herald; 04Nov08; Annette Cary)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1406/story/372918.html

 

A learning experience at mock disaster [Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky]

“Twenty-seven observers from across the country came to observe Madison County’s emergency response personnel in a mock disaster scenario. […] A ton bulk agent container filled with GB nerve agent byproducts was being transported to the depot’s demilitarization building (which, in reality, is in the process of being constructed) where it was to be destroyed. During the transport, the container was spilled and nerve agent was released. […] While workers were cleaning the spill and filtering the nerve agent vapors from the igloo, another storage igloo at the depot was struck by lightening, causing a small fire inside the igloo. […] All workers and volunteers performed very well in each scenario to make sure the community remained safe, [Carl] Richards [county EMA director] said. […] Various schools throughout Richmond and Berea participated by practicing the ‘shelter-in-place’ drill where students and faculty are to go to the closest place that can be sealed off from outside air and has few or no windows.” (Richmond Register; 30Oct08; Ronica Shannon) http://www.richmondregister.com/homepage/local_story_304082725.html?keyword=leadpicturestory

 

PharmAthene initiates Phase I study of nerve agent bioscavenger

“The randomized, placebo-controlled, third-party double-blind, dose escalating Phase I clinical trial will study Protexia administered intramuscularly at one and two time points in healthy human volunteers. Approximately 32 subjects will participate in the study, comprised of healthy male and female volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 years who are willing to give informed consent and are in general good health. […] The primary endpoint of the study is an evaluation of the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of escalating single doses of Protexia given intramuscularly in healthy human volunteers. […] Protexia, which is produced in the milk of transgenic goats, is a recombinant version of human butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), which has been shown to be effective in animal models in preventing toxicity from exposure to chemical nerve agents.” (Pharmaceutical Business Review;

30Oct08)

http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/article_news.asp?guid=33DAABC4-56C7-4A68-BA5F-DBE60B23D339

 

Detecting illicit nuclear materials takes layered approach

“The nuclear threat is something we really have to pay attention to, said Mike Johnson, mission area manager for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Of all the types of terrorist attacks that could involve nuclear material, the most likely is a ‘dirty bomb' that is composed of a source of radiation surrounded by a conventional explosive such as TNT. Furthermore, Johnson said, the approach to preventing such an attack has to be layered. […] Part of DNDO's mission is to test, recommend and buy detection equipment for government agencies such as Customs and Border Patrol as well as the Coast Guard. The agency is pretty satisfied with the current state of cargo security at points of entry along the nation's borders, Johnson told an audience of Homeland Security practitioners and technology providers at the 10th annual Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness in Chicago last week. The DNDO's next focus will be to improve cargo screening of small private planes and yachts coming into the United States through non-points of entry.” (Government Technology; 04Nov08; Corey McKenna) http://www.govtech.com/gt/427950?topic=117680

 

CIA officers could face torture trial in Britain

“British officials are considering bringing criminal charges against senior CIA officers for the abduction and torture of a British resident now incarcerated at Guantanamo. […] In April 2002, Binyam Mohamed was arrested in Karachi, Pakistan after attempting to board a flight to London with a fake British passport. American authorities informed British counterparts Mohamed was plotting to build and detonate a ‘dirty bomb.’

[…] Lawyers representing Mr. Mohamed have sued, on Mohamed's behalf, British intelligence forces for their part in his detention and purported torture. British judges overseeing the case and having received secret evidence, have become increasingly critical of U.S. conduct and are now considering charging American forces for their culpability in Mr. Mohamed's abuse.” (Examiner; 03Nov08; Jay McDonough) http://www.examiner.com/x-243-Progressive-Politics-Examiner~y2008m11d3-torture

 

Cases against detainees have thinned

“The six Algerians were scooped up in Bosnia and shuttled to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in early 2002. Days later, President Bush proclaimed in his State of the Union address that the men had been plotting to blow up the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo. The case would seem to be an easy victory for the Bush administration, which is preparing to defend the men's lengthy detentions in landmark federal court proceedings scheduled to begin this week. But the government is backpedaling. The charges of plotting to blow up the embassy have been dropped. […] The government recently also has withdrawn allegations that another detainee is linked to a high-profile ‘dirty bomb’ plot. Together, the legal moves raise questions about the government's claims over the years that it has disrupted imminent terrorism threats.” (Washington Post; 02Nov08; Del Quentin Wilber) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/01/AR2008110102018.html?hpid=topnews

 

The horror of U.S. depleted uranium in Iraq threatens the world

“Doctors in Iraq have estimated that birth defects have increased by 2-6 times, and 3-12 times as many children have developed cancer and leukemia since 1991. Moreover, a report published in The Lancet in 1998 said that as many as 500 children a day are dying from these sequels to war and sanctions and that the death rate for Iraqi children under 5 years of age increased from 23 per 1000 in 1989 to 166 per thousand in 1993. […] On hearing that [depleted uranium] DU had been used in the Persian Gulf in 1991, the UK Atomic Energy Authority sent the Ministry of Defense a special report on the potential damage to health and the environment. It said that it could cause half a million additional cancer deaths in Iraq over 10 years. […] Britain and America not only used DU in this year’s Iraq war, they dramatically increased its use — from a minimum of 320 tons in the previous war (1991) to a minimum-of 1500 tons in this one (2003).”

(Tehran Times; 01Nov08)

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=181303

 

Mercy [hospital in Roseburg, Oregon] uses grant dollars to prepare for disasters

“For the simulation exercise, Ray was a bus driver who was injured when a bomb exploded on the bus he was driving. The 48-year-old was the only patient the Umpqua Community College students had to treat, but he was involved in a mass-casualty incident, and the students had to respond accordingly. The exercise Thursday morning gave the students and Mercy Medical Center staff a chance to show state and federal Department of Human Services officials how several years of grant dollars have been used. […] The hospital has used grant funding to purchase decontamination shelters, portable ventilators, isolation gowns and chemical resistant suits, among other gear, that could be used by staff responding to various chemical exposures, from anthrax to pesticide, Bones said. The money has also purchased satellite phones and other communication equipment that would likely be needed for security and incident command in a natural disaster, she said. […] The training not only prepares the staff for local emergencies, but also provides preparation for regional and statewide emergencies, DePew said.” (News-Review; 03Nov08; Marissa Harshman) http://www.nrtoday.com/article/20081103/NEWS/810319920/1063/NEWS&ParentProfile=1055&title=Mercy%20uses%20grant%20dollars%20to%20prepare%20for%20disasters

 

Canada Preparing for WMD Strikes at 2010 Olympics

“The threat of WMD attacks has long been a focus of the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, a group overseen by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The team would not reveal any of its specific preparations for such incidents, threats that it said have taken high priority since Vancouver was awarded the 2010 Olympics four years ago. […] More than 100 Canadian emergency responders and military personnel this week were briefed on potential attacks at the Olympics that could involve deadly materials such as ricin, mustard blister agent, sarin nerve agent or radiological and nuclear substances. They were also provided information on ‘multithreat detection systems’ capable of scanning for WMD ingredients across large areas.” (NTI: Global Security Newswire; 30Oct08) http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20081030_6762.php

 

FBI investigating envelopes of white powder in Ocala [Florida]

“The FBI is investigating the mailing of several envelopes containing white powder in Marion County. […] On Monday, local fire rescue teams responded to schools, churches, libraries, a day care center, funeral home and the county elections office. All had received suspicious envelopes. Similar mailings are expected to be delivered on Tuesday. Marion County Fire Rescue spokeswoman Heather Danenhower says it appears the envelopes were sent by the same mailer, using what’s believed to be a fake Ocala return address and the name Osama bin Laden, which was misspelled.” (Ledger; 04Nov08; Source: AP)

http://www.theledger.com/article/20081104/NEWS/811040248/-1/WIRE04?Title=FBI_Investigating_Envelopes_of_White_Powder_in_Ocala

 

 [Indy] Star locked down after letter labeled 'anthrax' arrives [Indianapolis, Indiana]

“Several hundred employees at The Indianapolis Star were locked down for more than two hours late Monday afternoon while Police and health officials investigated a mysterious envelope that arrived at the newspaper's Downtown office. The mailing, which had a return address under the name MK Publishing in Sacramento, Calif., was similar to anthrax hoax mailings that have been sent to newspapers across the country. […] Monday, representatives from the Marion County Health Department and Indianapolis Fire Department tested samples of the substance for radioactivity and toxic industrial chemicals, both of which were negative, said Jeff Larmore, manager of hazardous materials with the Health Department. The building lockdown ended about 7:15 p.m. Larmore said that because the threat was similar to others that have taken place and the substance was not released, the risk of exposure was minimal.” (Indy Star; 04Nov08; Francesca Jarosz) http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081104/NEWS02/811040380

 

 [Florida] State senator [Evelyn Lynn, Rep., Dist. 7] victim of white powder hoax

“Sen. Evelyn Lynn [FL] is the latest victim in the white powder hoax, officials here said earlier today. Lynn received an envelope at her post office box address in Ormond Beach on Monday, but had not actually looked at it until this morning when she arrived at her Daytona Beach office, Police and fire officials said. Police investigator Jimmie Flynt said Lynn never opened the envelope, but realized something was amiss when she held it up to the light. […] Godawa said the powdery substance inside the envelope sent to Lynn was ‘non-threatening.’ Recently, white powder-filled envelopes were sent to Rep. Tom Feeney's offices in Port Orange, Orlando and Titusville. The FBI is also investigating the mailing of several envelopes containing white powder in Marion County.” (News-Journal Online; 04Nov08; Lyda Longa) http://www.news-journalonline.com/newsjournalonline/breakingnews/powder110408.htm

 

Patrick Swayze unhurt in Berwyn [Illinois] Police hazmat scare

“The arrival of a parcel of suspect white powder led Berwyn Police to quarantine four employees and a Comcast employee who brought the package into the station Tuesday. But Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze, who happened to be in the west suburban station house filming a movie, didn't come into contact with the powder, which Police later determined was corn starch. The incident began at 3:35 p.m., when the Comcast worker entered the Berwyn Police Department headquarters with a box that was leaking a white powder, Police Chief William Kushner said.” (Chicago Tribune; 04Nov08; Joseph Ruzich) http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/11/patrick-swayze-unhurt-in-berwyn-police-hazmat-scare.html

 

Letter received by The [Providence] Journal tested negative for anthrax

“Test results confirmed a package that was labeled anthrax and mailed to The Providence Journal last week was sugar, the FBI said today. test results for a similar letter received by the Newport Daily News were negative for anthrax or other biological agents, said Annemarie Beardsworth, a state Department of Health spokeswoman. The Providence Journal and Newport Daily News are among more than three dozen media outlets around the country that have received hoax letters containing packets of sugar that were labeled anthrax. A California man was arrested last week on three counts of sending hoax anthrax threats by mail. […] Keyser, 66, had already been interviewed by the FBI in January 2007 for allegedly sending a package containing a small aerosol can labeled ‘Anthrax,’ along with a compact disc, to the Sacramento News and Review newspaper, according a criminal complaint filed Thursday in federal court, the Associated Press reported.” (Providence Journal; 03Nov08; Maria Armental)

http://newsblog.projo.com/2008/11/hoax-letter-rec.html#422524

 

Pioneer Press [Minnesota] receives envelope labeled anthrax

“Saint Paul Police and the FBI are investigating another envelope containing a suspicious white powder labeled ‘anthrax’ that was mailed to the St. Paul Pioneer Press this weekend. […] The incident follows a string of anthrax scares at other newspapers across the country, including the Minneapolis Star Tribune. […] Pete Crum of the Saint Paul Police department says the department is working with the FBI, the Postal Inspector and the Minnesota Department of Health to test the powder. ‘The Saint Paul Police and fire responded to the Pioneer Press building. Initial tests showed it to be sugar. It will be sent on to the department of health for further testing,’ said Crum.” (Minnesota Public Radio; 02Nov08) http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/11/02/pioneer_press_envelope_labeled_anthrax/

 

Bail set at $25K for Calif. anthrax scare suspect

“A federal judge has set bond at $25,000 for the man suspected of mailing more than 120 hoax anthrax letters nationwide. U.S. Magistrate Kimberly Mueller said the bond for 66-year-old Marc M. Keyser must be co-signed by Keyser's sister and brother-in-law. Mueller also barred Keyser from any activities intended to draw responses to a biochemical hazard. […] ‘He appears to think he has a right to go on a mission to call attention to this issue,’ [Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin] Wagner said, referring to biohazard threats. ‘I think his motivation is to generate traffic to his Web site and sell his book.’ […] Keyser's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 19.” (Google News; 01Nov08; Source: AP) http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gOEvESecTFU0-uVQs-DC7jC19V0gD945QK7G0

 

CNS ChemBio-WMD terrorism News is prepared by the Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Program of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in order to bring timely and focused information to researchers and policymakers interested in the fields of chemical, biological, and radiological weapons nonproliferation and WMD terrorism.

We had lunch in Selinsgrove, Pa. At Long John Silver's...lol. We haven't had it in a while and can't get it at home anymore. Long John Silver's all disappeared and closed rather suddenly one day. So we took the opportunity to have some while we could.

350 miles later.....I am already nauseaus, despite my mother's anti-nausea pills which definitely helped last time.

My husband, continuing his stellar stint at assholes anonymous has once again refused to let me drive, as he did on the trip down and anytime he was in the car. He will not get his way with the car again. I have absolutely had enough of him.

I'm ready to be home and stay on solid ground for longer then an hour.

We are more than halfway home and I just wish we were further.......