Pennsylvania @ MindSay

Duct tape, Biohazard labs, and Q fever

“Every once in awhile we read about a breech in the security of biomedical laboratories. Sometimes these are serious, such as when the Ebola like Marburg virus outbreak in German lab workers that killed seven people in 1967. But many barely make the front pages. The latest outbreak from biomedical laboratories occurred at the esteemed CDC laboratory in Atlanta last year, when several people came down with Q fever.” (Blogger News Network; 25June08; Nancy Reyes)

http://www.bloggernews.net/116394

 

Morphotek to develop bio-warfare therapy

“The U.S. Defense Department has contracted Morphotek Inc. to further develop antibody therapies for soldiers exposed to microbial biological weapons. Pennsylvania-based Morphotek was awarded $1.7 million in funding support to continue development of biologic-based monoclonal antibody therapies. Officials say the therapies are an effort to develop therapeutic mAbs to treat diseases threatening soldiers when exposed to biological warfare pathogens.” (UPI; 24June08) http://www.upi.com/Security_Industry/2008/06/24/Morphotek_to_develop_bio-warfare_therapy/UPI-16741214324946/

 

Smiths Detection Launches Smart Trigger for Biological Agent Detection

“Smiths Detection, part of the global technology business Smiths Group, today announced the launch of SmartBio(TM) Sensor (SBS), a real-time detector for biological agents or airborne toxins. SBS provides a visual or audio alarm when a bio-threat is detected and classifies the agent by threat category.” (Centre Daily; 25June08) http://www.centredaily.com/business/technology/story/677860.html

 

Training course on implementation of CWC concluded

“A training course on implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was concluded here on Wednesday. The two-day course, which was organized by the National Committee for Banning Chemical, Biological and Poisonous Weapons (NCBCBPW) in cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), aimed at elaborating capabilities of 30 participants of customs employees on dealing with chemical substances used in chemical weapons industry.” (Saba News; 25June08) http://www.sabanews.net/en/news157529.htm

 

Opening Address at the Global Biological-Chemical Training Event [Patricia A. McNerney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Security and Nonproliferation]

“I want to join in thanking each of you for taking the time to participate in this important training conference. I know that many of you have traveled a great distance to be here today, and that each of you has an essential role to play in further promoting chemical and biological safety and security. I applaud your interest and proactive collaboration. I also thank our local hosts in Thailand, who continue to provide an invaluable resource for these regional events, as well as our Embassy staff and technical trainers, without whom this event would not be possible.” (State Department; 24June08) http://www.state.gov/t/isn/rls/rm/106214.htm

 

Cell’s inner workings described

“He lived in Luton, north of London. Other than that, Mohammed Junaid Babar knew him only as ‘Q.’ Babar, a key witness in the Khawaja terrorism trial, testified yesterday that in the summer of 2003 this man, known only by an initial, sent young Islamic radicals to Pakistan on ‘fact-finding missions.’ […] There were also lessons in poisoning, with Babar keeping ‘a little seed’ of ricin in his house.” (Winnipeg Sun; 25June08; Donna Casey) http://winnipegsun.com/News/Canada/2008/06/25/5978691-sun.html

 

Tests for poison leave Bangladeshi lawyers hooked

“The visiting Bangladeshi attorneys were certainly kept entertained when they arrived to observe proceedings in the Ennis conspiracy to murder trial in the Central Criminal Court. As the trial of Sharon Collins and Essam Eid entered its sixth week, the jury heard details of interviews with the two accused, laboratory tests for ricin poison, as well as ‘disputed charges’ on an American Express credit card registered to Clare businessman PJ Howard.”

(Herald; 24June08)

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/courts/tests-for-poison-leave-bangladeshi-lawyers-hooked-1420233.html

 

Ark. military arsenal finishes weapons destruction [Bluff Arsenal, Arkansas]

“A simple message in white paint adorned the last VX nerve-agent land mine that rolled through a conveyor belt on its way to incineration at the Pine Bluff Arsenal – ‘LONG TIME COMING.’ With its destruction, central Arkansas became free from the danger posed by deadly nerve agents for the first time since the 1960s, when the weapons arrived at what was once the Army's second largest stockpile in the nation.” (Forbes; 23June08; Jon Gambrell, Associated Press) http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/23/ap5144643.html

 

Mescal veteran hopes his experience will help others

“When Charles 'Roy' Curtis of Mescal realized his hearing was failing, he made an appointment with a doctor at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. But instead of getting fitted for hearing aids, doctors discovered Curtis had a lung tumor and is likely suffering effects of Agent Orange exposure.” (Benson News; 24June08; Terri Jo Neff) http://www.bensonnews-sun.com/articles/2008/06/24/news/news07.txt

 

SwRI [Southwest Research Institute] awarded grant to develop nerve agent antidote

“The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command has awarded a one-year, $1.3 million grant to the Southwest Research Institute to develop and test a nerve agent antidote that can be administered with an injection. The institute is currently in the fourth year of a six-year contract to develop and test the stability of a drug that reverses symptoms caused by exposure to a chemical warfare agent.” (San Antonio Business Journal; 24June08)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2008/06/23/daily15.html

 

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Protection

“Mark Seed, Subhash Anand, Baljinder Kandola and Robert Fulford review the use of impermeable, permeable and semi-permeable ensembles for military and police forces high-threat situations, with particular emphasis on permeable systems, discussing the selection of fibres, fabrics and laminates, as well as processes. The armed forces and emergency services face an array of extreme conditions that necessitates they use protective clothing. Broadly defined these include threats from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials. Moreover, in a hostile situation the clothing may also be expected to protect against ballistic impacts, shrapnel and slashing.” (Red Orbit; 25June08; Seed, et.al.) http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1448985/chemical_biological_radiological_and_nuclear_protection/

 

 

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.

By Samantha L. Quigley

American Forces Press Service

 

April 23, 2008 - In celebration of Military Appreciation Month, more than 100 festival queens will gather in Opelousas, La., on May 10 for "Operation Rhinestone." The ladies, ages 7 to 23, will record messages of support for a DVD the Thank You Foundation will send to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan throughout May. In addition to their verbal messages, each festival queen will write a note of support to be included with the discs.

 

"We are very excited to be a part of this project," said John Guinn, president and founder of The Thank You Foundation. "These girls spend so much of their own money and time to serve their communities, and now they are going above and beyond to help say 'Thank you' to those who have given so much for our freedom."

 

The foundation, which expresses appreciation and gratitude for those who serve or have served in the military, found inspiration for Operation Rhinestone in someone just barely old enough to participate in a pageant herself.

 

Morgan Landry, 7, grew up in a military family and wanted to do something special for Louisiana soldiers.

 

Her parents, Miranda and Michael Landry Sr., wanted to encourage her and began searching for help. Their quest led them to The Thank You Foundation, which orchestrated a similar project with professional athletes in Cincinnati last year. It also worked with Pennsylvania Online Learners to produce and send a special multimedia presentation to troops serving overseas earlier this year.

 

"I am so touched and proud of this young girl," said Robin Abshire, director of Louisiana's Spice and Music Festival. "She realizes that her daddy spent much of her life away and has learned he did it not only for us to be free and safe but to keep his baby girls free and safe.

 

"Our soldiers have given so much for total strangers and as we all know, here in Louisiana, we find just about anything to celebrate with our festivals, and our soldiers are missing out," Abshire added. "This is Morgan's way of sending our festivals to our soldiers."

 

Once the DVDs are produced, volunteers from the Thank You Foundation will pack them into care packages along with items such as soap, toothpaste and food. Each box also will include the cards signed by the festival queens.

 

The Thank You Foundation, a supporter of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" program, has sent more than 25,000 cards signed by school children to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and to veterans in the states.

 

America Supports You connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.

Today is the long awaited Pennsylvania democratic primary.

I think it is funny how Clinton (who wants to make any win seem big) and the media (who wants to cover the drama till the DNC) has portrayed it. Even though Obama has never been expected to do great in PA, and Clinton can't win big enough for it to matter later, this is THE big event according to the media.

When I estimated the outcome of the democratic primaries to May 20th (at which point I think no argument for Clinton staying in the race can be made), I believe I gave Clinton 95 of the 158 PA delegates (the others are superdelegates). This is probably more generous than most people have been, but I believe that she can pull that off in PA. It is pretty much everywhere else that I think she will fail to pull of a big win, and many of the remaining states she will "lose" to Obama.

Basically, today will once again decide nothing.

But it will be fun to watch.

UPDATE:

9:00pm

The first numbers are coming in, and Clinton is the projected winner. However, the margin is as of now much more narrow than I had predicted, and already they are saying that based on this, Hillary will probably go on.

I was looking over the numbers in Indiana and North Carolina, and I think that Obama is going to win more delegates there than I initially predicted as well, making this even more hopeless for Clinton. Combine that with her campaign being out of money... it isn't looking good. The question at this point is... will her win here get her more money?

You know your choices: the establishment goofball who is ruining the party or the upstart who believes in America and the Constitution.  The fight's pretty much over, and you may think your vote doesn't matter, but it matters now more than ever.  Now, Pennsylvanians, arise and strike fear into the heart of the establishment.  You may lose, but you can make a statement.  You may face disappointment, but your principled vote will not go unnoticed.

It is up to you to tell the party that you won't accept mediocrity from the party elites.  Take the bit in your teeth, and tell them that they can bludgeon you, but they can't take your honor from you.  Vote Obama and Ron Paul, please, PA.  I know it doesn't matter what I say, but please don't let them push you around.  Death before dishonor, honor over all else. 

Dare to be different.  If the elites will win, you may not stop them, but you need not help them.  If you must do anything, be a conscientious objector to the unconstitutional plutocracy.  Who knows, you may actually stop a travesty.  The GOP is lost this year, but you can still make a protest vote.  The Dems may both be flaming socialists, but you can at least pick the less harmful one, the one who can at least inspire people.  You can make a difference.  Good luck out there.  I tip my Yuengling in your direction from afar!

PS.  You "Operation Chaos" people are idiots.  You are what's wrong with the GOP, you stupid lemmings.  Enjoy voting for Hillary.  Rush finally led you full circle...from the hate in the 1990's (and it was well-placed) to actually surrendering your voice against the RINO's so you can vote for that witch.  Good job, you stupid bastards.  You won't vote for Ron Paul, but you'll vote for Hillary.

As we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh,
Michigan seems like a dream to me now.
It took me four days
To hitch-hike from Saginaw...

For those who have read this may know, I love to drive and the twistier the road, the better. And this is why I enjoy driving through the mountains. But this little bit o' trivia about my self is not what I feel like writing about, but it did indirectly result in the writing of this entry for driving through the mountains on my way across the my home state though calling it a state is inaccurate for this is not in fact a state but rather it is a commonwealth gave me plenty of time to ponder all things great and small in my existence which brings me to the subject that stuck in my mind for most of my epic journey...

Driving across this commonwealth forced me to realize how much it is actually a small scale version of the United States for the left and right coasts contain the vast majority of the population while the middle is the bread basket of the state. And the same holds true for the political thinking of the people with the left and right coasts containing more liberal ways of thinking while the middle is far more conservative in nature...

Which lead me in turn to try to figure out why it is that major population centers in the country are far more likely to be liberal in nature than more rural regions. And why the policies of the population centers tend to be far more socialistic in nature than areas of the country where the people are far more self-sufficient. I never did arrive at an answer that completely satisfied my brain over the six hours of driving that I did. But maybe that is the reason, urban areas cause those who live there to be more reliant on those who surround them even if it means legislating help while those who must rely upon themselves do not wish that their lives are forced to be dependant upon others...

And in the rarest of entries into this Blog, I shall move briefly into the world of politics for this is what caused my brain to think along these lines whilst I drove across the state. And strange it is that a man whom I will never meet who broadly generalizes me as a bitter Pennsylvanian because I cling to my religion and my guns. Being an American citizen I had always thought that it was my Constitutional Right to believe in a religion in anyway that I deem appropriate. I also thought that it was my Constitutional Right to choose whether or not I wished to own guns. It is surprising that someone who went to Harvard School of Law was never thought anything about this document that those who live in this country hold dear. But then again maybe his agenda is to not uphold the Constitution, but rather eliminate it altogether. If this man who would not even insult me to my face does happen to get elected, I shall rename this Blog "This Machine Kills Fascists" and I will wish that this country gets everything it so rightly deserves...

And now I feel so much better though an apology would be nice though I will not hold my breath awaiting its arrival...

This is the Rant of the AntiCrust...

Praise be ye who Read the Rant for ye are Blessed amongst humans...