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It's a connected world out there:

"Gaza Terrorists Using Google Earth For Target Selection."

EBD

So it isn't all about porn?

Uh oh.
Bureaucrats need more bureaucrats:
Quebec ponders own registry.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/125294003.html

Could it be that the Australians are gonna show how it is done?

"New Australian law to make Muslims lift veils"

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20110710/D9OCPKFG1.html

Though, you may take notice of assorted do gooderst, that it may be insensitive and such.

All of it being beside the principal that a police should identify person they are investigating, muslim or not.

There is nothing insensitive about a criminal, a driver causing an accident and other such incidents.

another one that didn't go the media's way...

note that comments closed after a grand total of 6...

read it quick before the page disappears

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110710/somalia-drought-ranks-worst-humantiarian-disaster-un-110710/

Is it August 11 already? How time flies! Must be a short summer.

[Whoops! The missing month of your life has now been returned to you. -EBD]

Kate's just ahead of her time ;)

The Glop of Fail covers the PM's stampede speech.

Just when I thought there couldn't be any more heads left to explode, 1700 show up in the comments section.

speaking of dates...as my mother always said "'best before' doesn't mean poison after" and the same is true for most date stamped foods...

via: healthblog.ctv.ca/post/Drug-expiry-dates-Should-you-use-outdated-medicine.aspx

Drug expiry dates: Should you use outdated medicine?
July 8, 2011 11:04 by Dr. Lorne Brandes

A recent e-mail from a friend immediately “caught my eye” (the pun will be evident in a moment). He thought I would be interested in a 2002 article , entitled, “Do Medications Really Expire?” by writer, Richard Altschuler.

“Does the expiration date on a bottle of a medication mean anything? If a bottle of Tylenol, for example, says something like ‘Do not use after June 1998,’ and it is August 2002, should you take the Tylenol? Should you discard it? Can you get hurt if you take it? Will it simply have lost its potency and do you no good?” Altschuler asked.

“In other words, are drug manufacturers being honest with us when they put an expiration date on their medications, or is the practice of dating just another drug industry scam, to get us to buy new medications when the old ones that purportedly have ‘expired’ are still perfectly good?” he added.

I paused to reflect on those important questions. A few weeks earlier, my ophthalmologist had given me some sample eye drops. “According to the date on the box, they expired last month. Are you okay with that, or would you prefer that I write you a new prescription?” she asked. “I… think… I’m okay with the samples,” I replied hesitantly.

There followed a discussion about how it makes no sense that a drug with an expiry date of December 31st suddenly stops working on January 1st. Yet, as I left her office, thanking her for the free samples, I wondered whether I might be playing Russian Roulette with my eye pressures.

Now, based on the information in my friend’s e-mail, I suspect that I wasn’t.

To begin, Altschuler explains that drug expiry dates are not a money grab cooked up by Big Pharma, but rather, the result of a 1979 federal law, mandated by the FDA.

He goes on to explain, “…the expiration date… specifies only the date the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of the drug - it does not mean how long the drug is actually ‘good’ or safe to use…. [M]edical authorities uniformly say it is safe to take drugs past their expiration date - no matter how ‘expired’ the drugs purportedly are. Except for possibly the rarest of exceptions, you won't get hurt and you certainly won't get killed.”

Perhaps not hurt or killed. But what about potency? How long do drugs, such as those eye drops, remain effective? Happily, a more recent publication goes a long way in answering that question.

According to a comprehensive 2006 paper, published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences by scientists at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation, we now know quite a lot about the shelf-life of many pharmaceuticals, thanks to the American military. Why?

Because the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) maintains a billion dollar stash of drugs (called the Strategic National Stockpile), including a host of antibiotics, anesthetics, narcotics, anti-allergics, anti-toxins, anti-malarials, anti-convulsants, vaccines and intravenous solutions. It’s part of the DoD’s Medical Readiness Strategic Plan for war or natural disasters.

But just like the everyday consumer, the DoD’s drugs have those same expiry dates. Replacing such a huge cache of unopened/unused drugs every 3 to 5 years is not only potentially wasteful, but hugely expensive for the taxpayer. Therefore to gain a handle on the question of drug stability, the DoD, in conjunction with the FDA has, for the last twenty years, monitored 122 of its drugs in a shelf life extension program, known by the acronym “SLEP”.

Here’s how it works, as described in the journal paper: “Certain lots of drug[s] that are approaching their labeled expiration date are selected… [and]… subjected to a battery of tests… If a lot fails any [original] specification…the shelf life for that lot is expired. [If a drug lot passes all the tests] and the [predicted] remaining expiration period is longer than 1 year, the [drug lot] is granted a new expiration date.”

What has the program found? Fully 88% of the 3000 drug lots tested have an average extended shelf-life of 5.5 years beyond the original expiry date! Indeed, many pills, powders and liquids have been found to be stable for an extra ten or more years, while only 10 of the 122 drugs failed to gain an extension beyond their original expiry date. Even in those cases, the drug lots often failed for reasons other than loss of potency, such as a change in appearance.

So what do I advise? Extrapolating from the SLEP findings, if an unopened medication, such as my ophthalmologist’s eye drop samples, are stored according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, they should retain their safety and effectiveness for a year or more beyond their expiry date. Opened eye drops, on the other hand, should be discarded after a month or two, not necessarily because of a decrease in potency, but because of concern over bacterial contamination , especially at room temperature.

As for the majority of opened prescriptions and over the counter medications, such as aspirin, Tylenol, antibiotic pills or capsules, blood pressure pills, antihistamines and acid blockers, it is very likely that they, too, will remain safe and effective for months or even years beyond their expiry date if stored properly in a closed container.

However, there is one important exception: if any drug falls into the category of “lifesaving”, its expiry date should be heeded irrespective of any potential for a longer shelf life. In serious disease situations, no one should take a chance with the effectiveness of their medication!

What's it like in the future, EBD? Do we have hoverboards yet? Has Palin declared? And could you get some sports stats? I'm willing to go 60/40.

Oh and here's a more pointed response from the Glop, 622 frothers and counting...

I've returned with some great stock tips, Black Mamba, but I swore to keep them a secret.

RT: Sister Toldjah's "Media Bias 101: How the MSM actively works to influence the debate."

"Do you agree with Canada's opposition to the Palestinians' bid for recognition by the UN as an independent state?"

There's a poll at "eastern paul's" link ,Winnipeg Free Press, that needs some help. The "Yes " vote is only a few percentage points above the "no's".

Welcome back EBD. Robert and the others did a great job filling in.

Bemused, thanks for that information. We have often debated the expiry date issue in our house.

I will go the Winnipeg Free Press now and take a look.

Today, there was a note on the back of the entrance to my apt. bldg asking anyone who had seen a small black kitten to bring it to #208. I got to wondering if the following sign would be illegal: "Missing: 2 metre long baby alligator. Answers to 'Fluffy'. If seen, please call Robert @ 604-...."

EBD, you caused some temporary but severe cognitive dissonance with your selection of bands today. I recall seeing Riders of the Purple Sage in Calgary during the Festival Express tour in July of 1970 and they didn't look anything like the guys in the photo (although external reality did appear somewhat distorted that day). I then realized that I'd forgotten part of the name in the last 41 years and it was the "New" Riders of the Purple Sage that I saw, an offshoot of the Grateful Dead.

Bemused, thanks for posting that link as it will let me find the original paper. I've had patients turn down quite expensive drug samples because they had "expired last month". Curiously, I've never had a male patient decline expired PDE5 inhibitor samples (Kate's spam filter catches the trade names).

PDE5 inhibitor: rhymes with "Niagra".

The asbestos fight might be turning white

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/08/asbestos-killer-product-or-toxic-pr

EBD, I know your spelling for the rhyme is intentional - but I note that that medication was named for the waterfall, but since its emergence I've seen the Falls spelled as "Niagra" just as often as "Niagara". Sigh, people people people. . . .

I know this isn't a political question but I'm curious whether any Canadians on here have bought a used car in the U.S. in the past few years and brought it back to Canada? I'm thinking of buying one, 2008 or newer, and the prices seem way cheaper down south. I know there are some obstacles in my way but they don't seem insurmountable. Thoughts or advice?

"Missing: 2 metre long baby alligator. Answers to 'Fluffy'. If seen, please call Robert @ 604-...."

I suggest you contact this person to print some "Lost Pet" posters for you.

http://www.27bslash6.com/missy.html

right wing gossip rags the same the world over. (is this a murderoch paper?)

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/toronto-sun-photograph-duchess-cambridge-skirt-flap-generates-182643847.html

b-b-b-b-but I thought conservatists were royals. what gives? oh, 'right', profit trumps ideology every time.

Monday morning giggle courtesy of the Onion;

http://www.theonion.com/video/in-the-know-coal-lobby-warns-wind-farms-may-blow-e,20876/

"To begin, Altschuler explains that drug expiry dates are not a money grab cooked up by Big Pharma, but rather, the result of a 1979 federal law, mandated by the FDA."

uhuh.

one guess who put them up to it. here's a hint: WHO benefits from such a ruling?

here's a hint for the hint: WHO benefits when cable companies are 'required' to offer only package deals for cable channels instead of allowing subscribers in an age where anything is technically possible, to cherry pick ONLY the channels they want from whatever 'package' they USED TO BE in? who?

all hail the bottom line!!! we are capitalists!!!

"Teachers in Britain are being told to use physical force to control unruly pupils as part of a crackdown on bad behaviour in schools."

"Good move. It’s time the balance of power shifted back from students to teachers after years of politically correct no-contact policies
90.3%

Bad move. It opens the door to a grey area where “reasonable force” is subjective and physical abuse of students could occur

8.17%
Other
1.47%"

http://www.cfra.com/

Socialism: on the mat.

...-

"Euro zone wrestles to stop Greek spillover"

"Upcoming Hemp: What is it good for?"

"Iceland proposes cigarette prescriptions"
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

To Robert W.:

Go the www.riv.ca That is the Registry of Imported Vehicles, a unit of the Federal Government. The website should give you all the information you need.

Some vehicles are simply not importable, as they cannot economically be "federalized" to Canadian spec. Some vehicles can be imported as-is, because they already meet Canadian specs, and some can be imported if certain "upgrades" are done. I imported a '96 Suburban in 2006, and I had to install an anchor for the child carrier in a rear seat.

Canadian Tire has contracted to do "out-of-country" inspections. It doesn't cost very much.

Vehicles with air conditioning have a $100 sin tax applied to them.

There is no duty, but you do pay GST. Avoid the temptation to under-report the price.

Note that you have to file paperwork with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to export a car from the U.S.A. Drive down to the Pacific Highway truck crossing (NOT Peace Arch), visit the U.S. Customs office, and ask for a copy of their export work sheet. The work sheet pretty much tells you what to do, and it is not difficult. You fax them the completed work sheet, both sides of the title, and the bill of sale, and the fax must reach CBP at least 3 working days before the anticipated date of export. (The title does not have to be in your name, but it probably should be in the seller's name, or else an "open" title.)

So you do your homework with CBP, allow the three weekdays to elapse, then call the Pacific Highway crossing and ask them if the paperwork has arrived. If so, you can then physically export the car from the U.S.A. Stop at the U.S. Customs office at the Pacific Highway crossing (Peace Arch doesn't do vehicle exports at all.), and bring the originals of the documents you faxed to them. In most cases the agent will check the papers over for minute or two, and send you on your way. Sometimes, they might want to physically verify the V.I.N. (The whole rationale behind this export control is an attempt to block vehicles stolen in the U.S.A. from being "laundered" in Canada, and resold back into the States.)

When you are done with U.S. Customs, proceed to Canadian Customs, and tell them you are importing the vehicle. They will direct you to a building ahead and on your right, where the agents will do a quick inspection of the vehicle, and compute the GST owed and the air/con sin tax. I think there is a RIVCan fee, too, but it's small. You can pay the charges on your credit or debit card, too.

Allow yourself time to get this all done, and the process is relatively painless. If there is anything hinky about the title, you could run into difficulties.

Gord, thank you so much for the comprehensive explanation! It sounds a whole lot less complicated than I feared it would be. Much appreciated!!

Our Socialism's Finest Hour: Segregation.

It's the Neo-Apartheid of Ottawa's socialist Mayor Watson, et al.

"with a fleet of neon-clad support staff, bicycle police and cyclists ..."

...-

"Laurier segregated bike lanes officially open CTV.ca"

"Bike lanes earn rave reviews on first morning commute

Ottawa Citizen - Kristy Nease - ‎45 minutes ago‎

OTTAWA - The inaugural commute for Laurier Avenue's segregated bike lanes was the picture of civility on Monday morning, with a fleet of neon-clad support staff, bicycle police and cyclists ..."

http://news.google.ca/news?pz=1&cf=all&ned=ca&hl=en&q&js=0

Al Moh's Geography Lesson.

Where in lleh is "Cyrpus"? Where is "Iranian"?

Why are the Cyrpians in Iran?

Go here for answers: Mohammedanism.org.

...-

"12 killed in Cyrpus when Iranian arms depot explodes Telegraph.co.uk"

Ich Bin Ein Schwerpunkt*.

...-

"26. blert

The concentrated hit will be in Germany.

The entire reason for this fiasco is that the Eurocrats smithed up national credit cards for the Euro-cons — with fantastic credit limits and super low roll over rates.

This credit mechanism was promptly put to proper political use: prestige projects all over Spain, Greece, Italy — the works. Of course, such trophies were and are money pits.

During this process, the Germans, Austrians, et. al. were racking up impressive, even fantastic, export earnings — in sectors northern politicians wanted to pander to. Stuff like heavy machine exports, aircraft, heavy construction equipment.

The end of this game means a severe contraction in German industry. Most of her financial power will collapse: she won’t be piling up chits. She will also have to accept that previous credits are massively impaired — like 50% off and more. That’s way beyond a hair cut.

Such numbers must implode German finance — pretty much across the board.

Vienna, Paris and London are in the blast zone, too.

——

Hence, Berlin’s twist. Game over for Greece, et. al. is game over for Germany."

http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2011/07/10/rorkes-drift/#comments

*:
http://wordsmith.org/words/schwerpunkt.html

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/11/quebec-eyeing-its-own-gun-registry

If the Canadian government kills off the Long Gun registry,Quebec will heroically go it alone with their own LGR!

Sure,why not! The Rest of Canada will pay for it anyway! The registry currently employs approximately 300 in New Brunswick,watch for a Quebec Registry to employ twice as many for less than half the number of entries.

From the Conservative Government of Canada:

“Standing Up for Canadian Values on the World Stage: Canada Boycotts UN Conference on Disarmament Under North Korea’s Presidency

“July 11, 2011 – John Baird, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, today announced that Canada will temporarily boycott the United Nations Conference on Disarmament to protest North Korea’s term as president. . . .”

http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2011/198.aspx?lang=eng

Thanks,"lookout",that's a tiny step in the right direction.

Death of Gary Bannerman, former Vancouver radio host.

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Former+hotline+host+Gary+Bannerman+dies/5084675/story.html

Why we need the rich and their disposable incomes

Hotair ran this over the weekend and it’s a perfect example of why taxing the Rich more and reducing their disposable incomes can affect entire markets and the conveniences of which we’ve come to love and depend:

http://www.therightscoop.com/why-we-need-the-rich-and-their-disposable-incomes/

Ahem, back on topic...

Here's a really nice Gene Autrey classic, "You Are My Sunshine".

"Europe has punched itself out fighting a non-war against a 5th rate country in North Africa."

"Rope-A-Dope"

http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2011/07/11/rope-a-dope/#more-15676

...-

"The superheroes of Soviet Sofia"

"Holy communists, Batman! The Monument to the Soviet Army, Sofia, 18 June 2011"

http://www.presseurop.eu/files/images/article/bulgaria-monuments.jpg?1310133150

"In mid-June, anonymous artists repainted the Soviet soldiers on a war monument in Sofia as comic-book superheroes. Beyond merely irritating the authorities with the farce, the gesture raises the question of the relationship between power, art and history."

http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/765421-superheroes-soviet-sofia

"Europe has punched itself out fighting a non-war against a 5th rate country in North Africa."

"Rope-A-Dope"

http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2011/07/11/rope-a-dope/#more-15676

...-

"The superheroes of Soviet Sofia"

"Holy communists, Batman! The Monument to the Soviet Army, Sofia, 18 June 2011"

http://www.presseurop.eu/files/images/article/bulgaria-monuments.jpg?1310133150

"In mid-June, anonymous artists repainted the Soviet soldiers on a war monument in Sofia as comic-book superheroes. Beyond merely irritating the authorities with the farce, the gesture raises the question of the relationship between power, art and history."

The other night I had way too much to drink and found myself getting violently angry. I'm thinking of writing a country song about the experience. I may call it, "Ciders of the Purple Rage".