Happy New Year!

Yes... I also have a life beyond this ridiculous situation the environmental extremists put us in, but just had to share this with you. Be sure to read...'No Fish Story Here'... in The Saginaw News. I've also run across a couple of other items of interest but want to spend time with my family now. See ya next year... have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

More Lies and Untruths

Groups offer suggestions for cleanup plan Oh yes!!! These groups sure want to get things done, don't they? Read about them here. These are the unelected politicians who affect our daily lives. These are the unelected politicians who made our residential property a 'facility.' These are the politicians who are destroying the Michigan economy!!!

Just for fun... another article about the 'benefit' of dioxin: Novel Way to Rid Body of Toxins Found

Environmental Extremists Running Scared!

Apparently the local environutz are afraid good science and common sense will prevail in the dioxin saga along the Tittabawassee River floodplain. They've 'called on the dogs' from around the U.S. - more environutz! The Saginaw News article yesterday says... Watchdogs seek seven standards for Dow cleanup

Midland Daily News also reported on this but since they both say essentially the same thing, we share Jeremiah's version with you. Please keep in mind that this 'gang' of extremists is more interested in glorifying and expanding their own power around the world than they are in representing residents. Has any of them ever come around and asked you how you feel about this overblown dioxin situation? They sure don't like my opinion!!!

saginaw news

Wildlife study takes time
The Saginaw News, December 26, 2004... Matthew 'Zwiernik, an assistant professor for the Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory at Michigan State University, is leading a $5 million study to determine dioxin's impact on floodplain wildlife.' Gee, how did this one slip by? More studies on effects of dioxin on critters other than the human variety!!! Extrapolate the data and scare the masses... Sorry folks, I don't care who is paying for this study. It's just another diversion. My residence still carries the label 'facility' and as usual, the property taxes have gone up. I think it's time for Governor Granholm to reevaluate either the terminology or my tax base!!

Dredging din grows
The Saginaw News, December 22, 2004... and the Saginaw River commercial shipping problem continues. It's time the environutz got out of the business of putting Michigan out of business!!! It's time for Governor Granholm to listen to the majority. That would be us (the residents). That would be William Webber and his peers - other business people along the Saginaw River. That would be everybody interested in keeping jobs in our area. That would be everybody who cares about the people in our tri-city area! This would, of course, mean listening to the scientists instead of environmental extremist fearmongers.

Hey! I have an idea!!! Dump all that Saginaw River silt along the Tittabawassee River floodplain. My backyard is available. It is, after all, still a 'facility.' It's time for a tax hiatus along the Tittabawassee River, Guv!

...In the News Again

River residents roll up their sleeves to find dioxin answers... Bay City Times

Thank you Ms. Granholm!

Imported trash piles up in Michigan - 12/20/04... We cannot help but wonder what motivation the governor of Michigan has and where her loyalties lie... California... Hollywood... or Canada! ...certainly not Michigan.

Think History of Saginaw...

I planned a holiday break but am mentally unable to take a break from reading and viewing the news. The latest dioxin-related incident once again involves not 'our' river but the Saginaw River. Dioxin levels puzzling from The Saginaw News, December 21. WNEM also ran a bit about this dilemma. Alix Hayes sent me an email requesting input. Unfortunately I didn't check my email that day until it was too late to respond to her. Next time, Alix! For now, here is my read on the subject.

• There was a big ol' stinky city dump upstream. The garbage was always smoldering... creating furans and probably dioxins too, since they burned everything.
• The Malleable Iron Factory was upstream. They melted iron... scrap and otherwise, blending it to cast into molds... creating waste product from the furnaces and the product.
• All kinds of runoff in the Shiawassee flats - upstream - from farm runoff and more.
• What is on the property at Saginaw Rock Products?
• How isolated is the river area around the 'hot spot' in the river's bend?

From mutterings I've heard, the acreage the Corps of Engineers wants to use is not in immediate proximity to homes. The land is isolated and would be perfect for such a project. The people complaining have been agitated by local fear-mongering environmental extremists who must constantly 'stir the pot' to keep the public fearful of progress. Happy Holidays!

SN Editorial... Saginaw River Dredging

Dredging plans can't run aground... not related to the Tittabawassee River controversy, but definitely the message in this editorial from The Saginaw News speaks volumes. Note the following excerpt from that piece published in today's paper:

'The Saginaw River is much cleaner than it was three decades ago when it was dredged by the Corps of Engineers. Those contaminated spoils were dumped and capped on the north end of Ojibway Island in Saginaw.'

Kudos to the editor! Oh yes, I remember many picnics at Objibway Island too... and the raft races on the river. Rafters often spent as much time in the water as they did rafting!

Saginaw News Update...

Poison cases not similar headlines the Thursday, December 16, 2004 article in the Saginaw News. Although the kid reporter obviously has an affinity for the fearmongers, he also asked opinions from Dr. Varner and Bill Egerer. He has not yet, however, learned the fine art of separating truth from fiction.

From a guy named Michael Fumento

MICHAEL FUMENTO: Dioxin myth revealed... This article showed up this morning in a news service I subscribe to. It is a common sense commentary on the the dangers of dioxin. >Michael Fumento, is a nationally known author, noted for debunking 'scientific' myths. Note to the local kids who think this little dioxin debacle will make them famous, if you want a model, read this guy!

God bless us, one and all!

Nit Picking: Bay City Times

Dredgings dump opponents are down to picking at details... is a common sense opinion I just read from the Bay City Times. I agree wholeheartedly!

Dioxin and Olestra

AP: Yushchenko has historic dioxin level was just published today. Experts are getting closer to identifying the source of dioxin used to poison Yushchenko. They have actually narrowed the type down to one of 29 types out of a possible 400+. Since dioxins were produced in Russia for use in chemical warfare, it is possible to discover the source as well.

Yesterday I read this article in globeandmail.com - Dioxin easy to hide, easy to swallow In case you don't read the article I want to share these two statements from it: 1. 'Dr. Okey said that most people take in a couple of parts per trillion daily from food and environmental exposure -- but that amount varies depending on diet and where you live.' 2. 'A thousandfold increase in exposure . . . is not that high. It wouldn't necessarily cause symptoms in everyone, he (Dr. Uetrecht, Canada research chair in immunotoxicology) said.'

I hope Mr. Yuschchenko tries the olestra treatment. Even mothernature.com suggests olestra as a way to rid the body of dioxins quickly! Following is direct quote from that website:

'Elimination of toxic pollutants

Research in animals and preliminary evidence in humans suggests that elimination of some toxic pollutants (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], one type of dioxin called TCDD, DDE, and hexachlorobenzine [HCB]) might be hastened by the addition of olestra to the diet. Although experts have expressed concern over side effects and possible long-term dangers of olestra consumption, people with a history of certain environmental exposures may wish to consult with their doctor regarding the potential use of olestra in promoting elimination of these dangerous compounds.'

...and if you don't believe Mother Nature, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reported the cases of two women with high levels of dioxin: Severe 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) Intoxication: Clinical and Laboratory Effects They treated them with olestra to assist ridding them of the dioxin. (Environmental Health Perspectives; Volume 109, Number 8; August 2001)

What is olestra? It is a fat substitute that acts like a fat but does not stay in your body. A full explanation by the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) is here. Procter & Gamble company has exclusive rights for this product which they call Olean. The only shortcoming of using Olean is "...it may prevent the absorption of essential fat-soluble vitamins and "carotenoids," a group of nutrients that includes beta-carotene, a dietary component that some people claim offers protection from cancer." Since my favorite potato chips are Wow! chips... fried in Olean, I make sure I have my carrots, sweet potatoes and such in meals separate from the potato chip treat.

...and one more olestra reference:Fast food: Olestra helps your body make short work of PCBs and dioxins

Meanwhile, I need to get out and do some Christmas shopping. Obviously I'm spending too much time on the internet! By the way, I heard on yesterday's news that somebody in the Freeland school system is trying to get kids to avoid the real meaning of Christmas!!! The good Sisters of Mercy warned us 'way back in the 1950's that this would happen in our country. For those who do not know, especially the litigious types, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) was founded by a Communist. Under the guise of 'equal rights for all' these very powerful extremists are taking away the rights of the majority in our country!

A rose is a rose.... Is a dioxin a dioxin?

What are dioxins? Why the concern? ...published 12.12.04 in Medical News Today, a UK website. I was so quick to point out the news media are all reporting Mr. Yushchenko's dioxin poisoning, perhaps we should read a bit about dioxins. Nobody has yet defined exactly what kind of dioxin was found in his system, even though I read one article today that mentioned Russia once had considered using dioxin as a chemical warfare weapon. That article does not mention what kind of dioxin either, although we are perhaps all assuming the dioxin was the same as the chemicals used in Agent Orange during the war in Vietnam.

Dioxin in (and moving quickly out of) Yushchenko

Doctor: Yushchenko Poisoned With Dioxin... this article from myway.com news, basically the same story being run across the U.S. in all media forms. During the past 24 hours testing was done in Amsterdam which confirmed he had been poisoned with very high levels of dioxin. Doctors declared the dioxin is rapidly leaving his system and no functional damage will remain. The chloracne takes two to three years to heal according to their dermatologist, Hubert Pehmberger.

I hope all of our local environmental extremists who have been spreading the old scare tactics about dioxin chew on this information for a little while.

*****
Meanwhile, I need to tell you what I saw at the CAP meeting with Dr. Garabrant's team on Thursday, December 9.

First... lots of media coverage.

Second... lots of brain power, loaded with knowledge about dioxin. Not only is our own Dr. Varner well versed in all aspects of dioxin and it's possible effects, or lack thereof, but he introduced me to Dr. Warren Crummet, known around the world as one of the foremost experts on dioxin. Dr. Crummet was accompanied by two other gentlemen, Drs. Skelly and Belfit. Freeland was truly privileged to have these highly qualified men attending this meeting in our town.

Many other interested parties attended the meeting, but those who stood out were, unfortunately, those with negative attitudes based on the misinformation passed out to them by our local environmentalists. Somebody asked why Lonetree and MDEQ were not there and the Chair, Veronica Horn, told them all parties knew the about the meeting in advance.

They sure did! They maybe weren't there but their ideas were. The poor gentleman who read his notes to us about his concerns... something to do with people who have died recently in our area, even had a bit of difficulty reading what they had written for him. (This is only my presumption because I'm sure he would have had no problem if he had written it himself.

What did I learn from Dr. Garabrant's update? The dioxin study is going exceedingly well. Unfortunately this means I am not one of the people chosen for the study, as I have heard nothing from his group. The study is going according to plan and if everything continues going so well, the results will be made known to all of us by 2007.

Am I worried? Is Mr. Yushchenko worried about his case? Of course not! I have no doubts... if there is found to be some sort of horribly bad correlation between dioxin in the soil and in the bodies of those living along the Tittabawassee River floodplain, we will be right in line to have our blood tested by a government agency or Dow Chemical.

CAP... U of M Study

Midland Daily News: 12.10.04... provided us with the best overall report of last night's Community Advisory Panel meeting for Dr. Garabrant's U of M study. Of course I'm not going to complain about WNEM or WJRT because both of them showed pics of yours truly at the meeting and Chris from WJRT interviewed me after the meeting. Both news programs pointed out that not everybody at the meeting is against Dr. Garabrant's study. Midland Daily News, however, only mentioned people who are disgruntled with the study.

I will be back and report my impression of the meeting later.

Kathie M's Report on Saginaw River Dredging

High dioxin levels found in Saginaw River This is a good piece of reporting done by Kathie Marchlewski of The Midland Daily News!

I would like to balance her article however by giving a bit of history to it. Fishermen and boaters in the area are very familiar with Gull Island out in Saginaw Bay. How did it get there? I'll tell you.

'Way back in the olden days... before Dow Chemical figured out how to measure dioxin, the Army Corps of Engineers regularly dredged the Saginaw River... to keep the navigational channel open for shipping commerce. This same commerce was good for our local economies. They dumped the dredged materials out there in the bay where it grew into Gull Island!

It was a great fishing area... boaters dropped anchor out there on a hot summer day so the kids could go swimming. We did it! We ate perch from the bay. It was very fresh, very tasty!

Do you know anybody who used to fish and swim out there? I'm sure people still do. Has it harmed them in any way? A note to LoanTree and Ms. Rhetoric, fear mongering is NOT a good thing!

Don't Forget December 9 Dioxin Meeting...

Well! Seems to be a Blogger glitch this morning! I guess it's the price we must pay for such a popular concept, eh? I hope this 'cures' it!

Reminder from the University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study website.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANEL TO MEET FOR
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN DIOXIN EXPOSURE STUDY

SAGINAW - The Community Advisory Panel for the University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study will hold its next meeting on Thursday evening, December 9, beginning at 6:00pm at the Freeland Elementary School Cafeteria, 710 Powley Drive, Freeland, MI 48623. The public is invited to attend.
A team of University of Michigan scientists is conducting a two-year study to see whether residents of Midland and Saginaw counties have been exposed to dioxins that are in the soil. The Community Advisory Panel is made up of local community leaders. The purpose of the panel is to provide a forum for community residents to express their concerns about the dioxin problem, to discuss the study, and to help the investigators communicate more effectively with the involved communities. The current status of the study will be presented at the CAP meeting and there will be opportunity for questions and discussion.
"The University of Michigan is working to get the facts about whether dioxin that is in the soil is also in people's bodies" said CAP Chair, Veronica Horn. "Dr. David Garabrant, head of the U-M dioxin study and his team are working to make this study a success."
In order to be successful, Dr. Garabrant stresses that it is important that people in the involved communities understand what this study is about, and be willing to participate in the study. The U-M began collecting field data earlier this fall. The CAP meeting in December will be the first opportunity for UM researchers to provide the CAP and the community with an update on the status and progress of the study.
Information about the Community Advisory Panel has been posted on the study's web site: www.UMDioxin.org. More information, such as future meeting dates, times and locations, will be posted as it becomes available.

WNEM-TV5 High Dioxin Levels Found In Saginaw River

WNEM-TV5 High Dioxin Levels Found In Saginaw River... In case you missed this piece of fiction today on the 5:30 news, you must see it! Click the link and when you get there there is a link to get a streaming video repeat of the entire report.

It would appear the only one Alix Hayes, the reporter, talked to was somebody from Lonetree Council... she spells it 'Loantree' - and somehow she got at least two stories mixed up and reported them as one! No wonder people go around fearful. Too many in the news media report and know nothing about what they are reporting!!!

If she had only read the Saginaw News... or for that matter, this website... she would know that the Saginaw River dredging has nothing to do with the Tittabawassee River floodplain problem. Ms. Hayes, I invite you to meet with my cohorts and I, members of two real citizen groups, the TRVoice and Midland Matters, and give a report based on facts instead of ??? whatever Loantree told you.

Home Sales Remain Good

Yesterday's Midland Daily News featured another fine article by Kathie Marchlewski... Real estate agents say home sales not affected by dioxin dilemma. Real estate agents compared 'oranges to oranges' and found that homes are selling well within the asking prices.

Of course somebody insisted on leaving a comment complaining that she can't sell her home and it's because of the dioxin controversy. Midland homes are not even labeled facilities like ours are in Tittabawassee Township along the river floodplain. Homes are selling just fine anyway. Hey lady, did it occur to you that perhaps you are comparing 'oranges to lemons'?

Our churches come in all sizes and shapes. We are proud of our churches, our beliefs and our diversity.

Last month (11.11.2004) there was a letter to the editor of The Saginaw News pointing out two recent deaths along the Tittabawassee River floodplain. Both of these people died of cancer so the writer concludes dioxin was the cause. One of these people fished, hunted and ate what he killed along the river plain. The other 'cooked with and drank only purified, filtered bottled water.' I guess the implication is he did not kill and cook his own meat. So what's the connection? I'm not sure! I guess the author thinks dioxin exists in the air around the river???

Once again Dr. Varner, Medical Director of the Saginaw County Health Department explains the fallacy of such belief. Read these two letters here. Among other things Dr. Varner says:

'It has been shown that many of the effects of dioxin exposure occur in a non-monotonic fashion. In other words, the dose response curve behaves oddly, with some health effects occurring at very low-level exposures, while those same effects disappear at higher doses.'

Can't help but interpret this to mean health effects of dioxin exposure are erratic and do not appear to have a predictable direct relationship between exposure and a particular health defect.

Another scare tactic about dioxin is in an email currently circulating about the hazards of using all sorts of common household products. It supposedly came from a Johns-Hopkins Hospital newsletter, but no amount of googling would get me to a connection between Johns-Hopkins and this latest urban myth. If you haven't seen it yet, here it is. Please keep in mind this is not true.

I did a bit more googling and came up with this information from www.phthalates.org explaining that, among other things, FDA approved plastics for handling foods do not contain dioxin!
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