Weekly

September 4, 2015 / 64(34);944-947

Two pneumococcal vaccines (click here) are currently licensed for use in the United States: the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 [Prevnar 13, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc.]) and the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23 [Pneumovax 23, Merck and Co., Inc.]). The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) currently recommends that a dose of PCV13 be followed by a dose of PPSV23 in all adults aged ≥65 years who have not previously received pneumococcal vaccine and in persons aged ≥2 years who are at high risk for pneumococcal disease because of underlying medical conditions (Table) (1–4). The recommended intervals between PCV13 and PPSV23 given in series differ by age and risk group and the order in which the two vaccines are given (1–4)....

September 9, 2016
By Chelsea Harvey

Wilderness (click here) areas on Earth have experienced alarming losses in the past two decades, a new study suggests. By comparing global maps from the present day and the early 1990s, researchers have concluded that a 10th of all the world's wilderness has been lost in just 20 years.

The study, published Thursday in the journal Current Biology, finds that just over 30 million square kilometres of wilderness remains on Earth, composing nearly a quarter of the planet's terrestrial area. On the other hand, 3.3 million square kilometres have been lost since the early 1990s.

The losses were more pronounced in some areas than in others. South America lost nearly 30 per cent of its wilderness area, and Africa lost about 14 per cent. Overall, most of the remaining wilderness is concentrated in North America, North Asia, North Africa and Australia, the researchers note.

"Wilderness was defined as any area on Earth which didn't have a human footprint," explained James Watson , an associate professor at the University of Queensland, director of science and research at the Wildlife Conservation Society and the new study's lead author....

14 October 2015
By AFP

Wildfires in the western United States (click here) have made 2015 the country's most devastating fire year since at least 1960, despite the relatively small number of individual fires.

More than 11 million acres (4.5 million hectares) have been burned in fires this year as of Friday, according to data from the National Interagency Fire Center.

That vast acreage - greater than the size of Denmark - is expected to rise over the remainder of the year, but it makes 2015 already the first year in at least five and a half decades to exceed 10 million acres burned, according to NIFC data....

The Eastern Forests of the USA are not only grossly diminished in number, it is expected as time passes, the remaining forest will become far less diversified. Lack of diversity increases the chance a simple insect infestation can wipe out all the forests of the Eastern USA.

Many aspects of projected climate change (click here) will likely affect forest growth and productivity. Three examples are described below: increases in carbon dioxide (CO2), increases in temperature, and changes in precipitation....

The Eastern Forests (click here)

History has not dealt kindly with the eastern forests of the United States. (click here)  Much of what Alexis de Tocqueville once called in the 1820's a "sea of leaves" has been replaced by farms, cities, and broad highways. There are still forests in the East—162.4 million acres of forested lands—but major parts of what was once a vast empire of hardwood forest are gone forever. Of the remaining forests, only 8.49 million acres are today in National Forests. A similar situation exists with rangeland in the Eastern Region. With 1.8 million acres of rangeland in the Region, mostly in Missouri, only about 65,000 acres are on National Forests. While National Forest lands represent such a small part of the land in the Eastern Region, they are the largest blocks of singly owned and managed land in the East....

Hillary Clinton is correct about Republican deplorables.

They are not only deplorables, they are oppressors.

I was in North Carolina today visiting my mother. We went to a cinaplex (click here). Is cinaplex a real word by the way. But, at any rate, I am standing in line to purchase a ticket to see "Sully." A great picture by the way. Tom Hanks is great as usual. But, while in line there is this couple standing behind us.

The woman about 50 to 60 something states in a very loud voice, "There are seven "R rated" movies at this cinaplex." Her statement was very loud, intended to have all within ear shot in the area hear her. 

I turned around and stated, "Is there something wrong with that?"

She said not a word. She continued to stare at me as though a voice from the beyond had descended on the admission line. I stated, "There is not one, not one, X-rated picture at this cinaplex and I, for one, am very disappointed."

She stated, "Well, we have very different values." 

I stated, "No we don't. I am not an extremist and appreciate others that want different content in their movies than simply Disney."

I purchased my tickets with my mother, who stated, "Why did you say those things?" 

I said, "Because she said those other things. Shall we go inside?" We entered the theater and took seats and soon whom came into the same theater was the woman distressed by R-rated movies." 

She passed me as she and her 'man'/husband or significant other/heterosexual went up stairs behind us; I stated to her "See, we don't have differences, really. I simply appreciate the fact many different views and tastes and lifestyles bring a far greater economy. I mean for real. How many people are going to be coming to a theater with G-rated movies and only G-rated movies?"

With that she and her faux heterosexual partner took a seat and I think I saw a tear in her right eye because she was forced to speak to a woman that didn't hate her or her point of view but was willing to stand up for the rest of the views of Americans.

By Steve Kroft

Selling sex is one of the oldest businesses in the world, (click here) and right now, business has never been better. 

One of the biggest cultural changes in the United States over the past 25 years has been the widespread acceptance of sexually explicit material - pornography.

In the space of a generation, a product that once was available in the back alleys of big cities has gone corporate, delivered now directly into homes and hotel rooms by some of the biggest companies in the United States. 

It is estimated that Americans now spend somewhere around $10 billion a year on adult entertainment, which is as much as they spend attending professional sporting events, buying music or going out to the movies....

Because the 'dog whistle' in North Carolina is "Puritan Wannabee" the people working in that cinaplex were to be regarded as unwanted within the North Carolina society because there were R-rated movies being shown. 

The wacko extremists such as that women today, are deplorables. They are power hungry idiots that have no idea what comprises a healthy society or economy. They are willing to stand in a public line for movie tickets to ridicule anyone within ear shot if they were going to purchase a ticket to 'one of those R-rated' pictures. They are rude, idiots, self-righteous and the best word for them is deplorables. 

Anyone wonder why North Carolina doesn't have an economy? North Carolina has a GDP per capita ranked 27th in the USA. That is nothing to brag about. The deplorables that carry on like idiots in public to attempt to suppress, oppress and depress the people around them are CONTRACTING the economy and not expanding it.

People this deplorable are insecure jerks that have the emotional reach of an ant and the ability to be compassionate as a grizzly bear. They are horrible and they have numbers in the Republican Party to be ashamed of. They aren't just David Duke, they are the disciples of extremism and intolerance. They are the worst Americans in this country and no one can deny it. 

Hillary Clinton is a human being, too.

Former Secretary Clinton when dehydrated could have dropped her blood pressure and caused leg weakness.

This is a very vigorous campaign she is waging and that is true since she announced some time ago. She needs to drink good, clean and healthy water everyday. She might want an assistant to help her keep track of her daily intake of fluid.

Dehydration will make pneumonia worse.

Treatment of pneumonia generally includes: (click here)

...Drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Fluids may need to be administered intravenously to prevent or treat dehydration....

I am quite certain the remembrance of September 11th was a priority for her. She probably didn't see an option to decline being there. She would attend regardless of her feeling poorly.