The Air Truth

What can you do? We're not going to be afraid. We CAN handle the truth. Until we get the truth and its too much for us to handle. The truth is TOO much for us to handle. The truth is in our environment regardless of how well we take care of ourselves we're being attacked by unseen attackers in our air and seeping into our water supply. Yes, many are filtered out but when we're breathing it in and expelling it out. On our skin and on our clothes.

We intended to include information from one of our favorite shows that we almost never watch, the Doctor Oz show. We don't watch the show because we really CAN'T handle the truth. We want to until Dr. Mehmet Oz tells us we have to do what we don't want to do to keep us healthy and alive. When he shows us the affects of our inaction its overwhelming sometimes. When he doesn't give us the information directly and like PearlieMae directs us to the truth. It's when we CAN'T handle it.

"A person's cancer risk can be reduced in other ways by receiving regular medical care, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol use, avoiding excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active. "(Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

This is the most obvious individual ways of personal responsibility. We call this blaming the victim. We don't want to blame you we want to communicate with you in the most effective way to encourage you to do what you can do to have a better and healthy life. PearlieMae would say the family was trying to control her. We would never do that. We give you the information and hopefully we can do it, like the good Doctor, and you'll be inspired to do what you want to do in a way that improves the quality of your life.

The other way is what's where you live. And we mean in your community. Not what you're told because all that's here is what's in your neighborhood detected and reported by your local or the federal government. What's too much to handle is the specific effects of the things detected.

"The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ATSDR serves the public by using the best science, taking responsive public health actions, and providing trusted health information to prevent harmful exposures and diseases related to toxic substances." (CDC)

What you'll find we have to warn you might be more truth than you can handle. We'll admit its' more than we can handle so we'll bury our heads in the sand and act as if it doesn't matter. Yes, we know it does. We're just not ready for this much truth. Even the site and the government doesn't do that. But the next time you're not feeling well and you're off from work - just pull up this site and see what's going on especially if your neighbors are feeling the same symptoms.

"I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord" - Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight"

You know there's more don't you that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Once you tear away a piece of the veil you eyes are wide open. Can you stand to read moreeee? We can't. The same Center for Disease Control and Prevention that brought us the above information also tells us that there are other little nasties out there at a rate of early 1,100 food borne outbreaks reported nationally in 2007 which works out to more than three a day (365 days in a year x 3 = 1095).

CDC Report looks at Foods and Foodborne agents associated with Outbreaks in the United States - "A total of 1,097 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported in 2007 to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a CDC analysis. State investigators reported 21,244 illnesses and 18 deaths as a result of these outbreaks. The report also provides the most recent data on how many illnesses were linked to specific types of foods." (CDC)

If that's not enough even if you survive all the diseases, local toxins, foul air, and every other nasty out there. Say you make it safely home every day, God willing and the creek don't rise. You can be placed at risk by accidents that happen to other people. Were not talking health care so much as health care costs that affect your health by their very expensiveness.

"...injuries, both fatal and nonfatal, to people riding in cars and light trucks cost $70 billion a year. Injuries to motorcyclists cost $12 billion. Bicyclists and pedestrians, who are vulnerable against motor vehicles, cost $5 billion and $10 billion a year respectively, the CDC said." (CNN)

And then you die. Again not to make you fearful but unlike the young and the very young at heart, taking risk while behind the wheel, such as driving aggressively or even too timidly or texting / talking while on the phone, all can lead to higher cost (both physical and fiscal) and less effective emergency department services for those not so distracted.

DC / NC Govt Offices Open

The District of Columbia and North Carolina state government office were both open today and while DC was under two (2) feet of snow and the federal government saw fit to close it's doors the mayor of the District of Columbia chose not to follow suit. North Carolina did not suffer under a snow storm. The city is third drunkest state in the United States and the drunkest city in our area (according to USA Today) but the city's mayor Fenty must have thought "put those people in the street behind the wheel of their vehicle." Public transportation below ground was available but above ground was limited.

“We continue to treat and plow the roadways but residents should be aware the slush and snow will refreeze and icy conditions will occur due to sub-freezing temperatures,” said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “Not only is more snow fallen than originally forecasted, but the cold temperatures hinder the melting efforts of the salt and brine treatments.” (DC Gov)

The number three (3) cause of death in the city is accidents according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 2006 the most recent data. Not so for any of the other areas. For North Carolina and Virginia accidents are in fourth place as a cause of death for Maryland it's fifth place. Both snow bound Maryland and Virginia local governments closed due to inclement weather. We're not certain that this was an attempt to "thin the herd" or not.

As temperatures are forecasted to remain below freezing and are forecasted to drop further into the evening hours freezing of accumulation on sidewalks and untreated areas is a concern. “A lot of what has been plowed will refreeze,” said DPW Director Howland. “People need to be very careful when they are driving, tread carefully on sidewalks and stay indoors if possible.” Residents are again reminded to help by clearing out catch basins, assisting elderly or disabled neighbors. District snow teams do not clear alleys as part of their snow deployment plan. (DC Gov)

We're concerned that putting an accident drunk driver in a hazardous weather on the road or even on the street after Superbowl Sunday when the federal government saw fit to close was a good or even prudent decision. That'll be about as political as we'll get but we had to ask. We will admit that some of are disgruntled former employees but part of the disgrunt comes from the knowledge of crazy that of which we're aware. Mayor Fenty declared a "snow emergency" when snow levels were predicted to be ten (10) inches and under back in December 2009. When those amounts were actually doubled neither the Mayor office nor the city's website makes no announcement  of any "snow emergency." That seems crazy to us as well especially since the local government has closed with less snow and less emergency following the lead set by the federal government.

“The District is extremely proud of the men and women who have been working tirelessly throughout this unusual winter and they are ready to put it on the line again,” said Mayor Fenty. “We want to do all we can to clear city streets as soon as possible and as such are declaring a snow emergency for the city. This allows our crews to get curb-to-curb on the major corridors, which is paramount to ultimately getting the city back to regular business on Monday.” We did find this hidden on the Department of Transportation (DOT) website under the title: District Ready for Super Snow Bowl.

Maybe that's an official notice. See what we mean by crazy? That didn't come from the Mayor's office or directly from "his honor" it came from the agency responsible for cleaning up the mess. What the heck is a "snow emergency" other than an excuse to ticket hapless motorists? We hope you enjoyed your Snow Day!