SafetyIssues Personal and Public Safety News Articles: Temp Links How criminals use Facebook to commit crime ================================================================================ Courtesy of YahooNews on 12/20/10 01:11:00 London, Dec 20 (ANI): Think giving out basic personal information on Facebook is harmless? You might need to rethink, as a reformed burglar has given details on how a criminal can use your user account as a tool for committing a crime. "The information people give out on Facebook, when linked up with other information freely available on the internet, is an absolute -goldmine for criminals," the Daily Mail quoted Michael Fraser, a reformed burglar who presents the BBC's 'Beat The Burglar' programme, as saying. "One year, you might have a party and give out your address. A while later, you might tell everyone that it is your 30th birthday. "So, if you've accepted me as a friend of a friend, I know your name, your address and your birth date. Surgeons offer safety tips for carving pumpkins ================================================================================ Courtesy of Edmond on 10/13/10 03:12:00 EDMOND — Doctors Houshang Seradge and Joel Frazier, hand surgeons with Oklahoma City’s Orthopedic Institute, are offering safety tips for the upcoming pumpkin-carving season. “Every fall there are serious hand and finger injuries that occur as a result of carving Halloween pumpkins,” Seradge said. “These injuries are seen in both children and adults,” Frazier said. To prevent hand injuries Seradge and Frazier recommend the following: Carve in a safe area. Choose a dry, well lit, clean area to carve in. Wash and dry all tools that you will use to carve your pumpkin, the cutting area and your hands. Moisture can cause slipping that can lead to injuries. ... Chilean mine safety under scrutiny ================================================================================ Courtesy of CBC on 10/14/10 12:09:00 Chile's president says the mine that trapped 33 workers will close forever, and is vowing to create safer conditions for those in the country's biggest industry. Officials at the copper and gold mine that partially collapsed in August, stranding the miners, will be forced to answer why it was allowed to operate at all. President Sebastian Pinera seemed unequivocal after Wednesday's rescue about the fate of the San Jose mine. How Serious Is the European Terror Alert? ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 10/03/10 11:56:00 How frightened should American travelers be following the State Department's alert on "the potential for terrorist attacks in Europe?" The answer: The worries are serious, but the threat may be less dire than headlines suggest. In Paris, military and police patrols today appeared more sporadic than during past periods of high alert, when checkpoints dotted thoroughfares in the city center and at tourist meccas like the Louvre museum and the Champs Elysees. French counterterrorist troops were deployed at the Eiffel Tower, cited last week as a potential target, but in lesser numbers than during earlier high-alert periods, such as the spate of bombings in the mid-1990s by an Algerian Islamist group. In much of the Metro system, little extra police presence was visible. ... Massive Fisher Price Recall: More Than 10M Toys ================================================================================ Courtesy of ABC on 09/29/10 11:39:00 More than 10 million children's toys have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the toys' manufacturer Fisher Price, the CPSC announced today. The toy giant has recalled toys -- including tricycles and play places -- citing potential dangers from falling onto certain protruding parts and choking hazards from small parts. U.S. launches a drill to test international cybersecurity ================================================================================ Courtesy of CNN on 09/29/10 11:33:00 Washington (CNN) -- It's only a drill and no computers will be harmed in testing now underway to check whether governments, private industry, and other computer infrastructure could handle a major cyberspace attack. The drill, called "Cyberstorm III," is staged as a worldwide event and "is beyond the capability of any one government agency to respond to," said Phillip Reitinger, a deputy undersecretary in the Department of Homeland Security, the sponsoring agency. Lab Tech's Suicide Raises Terror Concerns Over Easy Access to Cyanide ================================================================================ Courtesy of FoxNews on 09/13/10 05:29:00 A Northeastern University lab tech’s suspected suicide by cyanide -- 30 miles away from campus -- is raising public safety fears over easy access to deadly chemicals days after the ninth anniversary of 9/11. The 30-year-old NU lab tech -- identified by the school as Emily Staupe -- was found dead early yesterday morning in her Milford bedroom along with what initial tests show was a plastic bag filled with crystallized cyanide, according to Milford and state police. Neil Livingstone, a Washington, D.C., terrorism expert, said Staupe’s apparent method of suicide shines a light on the problem of lax security at universities across the country. Higher Safety Standards For Banks -- Eventually ================================================================================ Courtesy of NPR.org on 09/12/10 05:05:00 That big finance bill that passed Congress this summer left some key questions unanswered. Perhaps most important: How much money to banks have to hold in reserve as a safety cushion? Yesterday, the answer to that question got a lot clearer. Top bank regulators from around the world agreed to a new set of rules that — eventually — will raise requirements for banks' safety cushions. The rules were hammered out in Basel, Switzerland, and are known as Basel III. National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Igor intensifies quickly ================================================================================ Courtesy of NHC on 09/13/10 05:01:00 Fed by unusually warm seawater and protected by favorable wind conditions, hurricane Igor has quickly become one of the 2010 Atlantic season's most powerful storms. The hurricane, currently about 900 miles east of the Leeward Islands, is likely to undergo some short-term intensity shifts over the next two days, forecasters say. It could flirt with Category 5 status, the most powerful class of hurricanes. With Earl approaching, Mass. governor declares state of emergency ================================================================================ Courtesy of BostonGlobe on 09/02/10 05:35:00 With Hurricane Earl swirling up the East Coast and expected to lash the Massachusetts coast Friday night with high winds, heavy surf, and torrents of rain, Governor Deval Patrick today declared a state of emergency and asked people in flood-prone areas to relocate – to a shelter, if necessary. "This is a serious storm, but it's possible to prepare for it, we have prepared for it, and we're asking the public to prepare for it as well," he said. "It's obviously concerning that it's Labor Day weekend. ... But public safety is first," he said. "We are doing everything possible to keep people safe." EPA May Give 1st Approval of Nanosilver for Fabrics ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 08/19/10 07:00:00 AOL News - A Swiss chemical producer may soon be the first company to receive approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use nanosilver to make clothing smell better, stay cleaner and destroy germs. However, health scientists say the nanoparticles will wash out with the rinse water and could cause unknown environmental and health problems downstream. The EPA said that it may issue "conditional approval" to HeiQ Materials AG, a producer of nanosized additives, for the use of a nanosilver pesticide as a new active ingredient in fabrics. Egg Recall Expands Again, May Be Nationwide Problem ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 08/19/10 06:44:00 AOL News - An Iowa egg producer has recalled an additional 152 million eggs potentially tainted with salmonella, acknowledging the problem may have spread to virtually all parts of the United States. Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, has now recalled 380 million eggs that were shipped to food wholesalers, distribution centers and food-service companies in 17 states. Those companies ship nationwide, the egg producer said in a statement issued Wednesday night. At least 300 people have been reported sickened by eggs, and a food safety expert told AOL News today that the recall "is not a fluke," blaming the outbreak on the proliferation of so-called factory farms. Sharpen Your Driving Skills and Have Fun Doing It ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 08/15/10 05:20:00 One of the privileges parents bestow upon their teenagers is the freedom to drive the family car when they receive their driver’s license. This freedom, however, comes with a dire warning: Drive carefully. As these teens develop into mature adults, the need for caution on the road becomes their number-one priority because older drivers face various risks as they age. What the Statistics Say? ... Gulf Seafood Safe to Eat? The Nose Knows ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 08/09/10 11:43:00 AOL News - Already put off by the thought of oily gulf seafood? Well, it probably won't help your appetite to know that the food is being smelled first. But it should. Scientists say the skeptics just don't know enough about their own noses. With many petrochemicals, humans will notice 1 part per million, or even less, of their smelly components in air. That's like a few tablespoons in an Olympic-sized swimming pool (if you pretend those chemicals have the same density as water). Attorney: Vegetables Likely Culprit in Outbreak Linked to Taco Bell ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 08/09/10 11:41:00 AOL News - An attorney for a nationally known food safety law firm said Saturday that the salmonella outbreak linked to Taco Bells in 21 states is likely the result of vegetables being brought into the stores. "Since the outbreak is so widespread, it's likely that the contamination was on the vegetables when they arrived at the stores and not something that happened while the food was being prepared," attorney Bill Marler of Marler Clark told AOL News. Marler's firm has filed a suit on behalf of a 45-year-old Kentucky mother who said she became ill after eating at a Taco Bell. Banned chemical coats 40% of store receipts ================================================================================ Courtesy of TheStar on 08/06/10 09:39:00 TheStar - Bisphenol A, the controversial chemical that Canada banned from baby bottles, may be coating the sales receipt you take at a store’s cash register. In a study by a U.S. environmental group, 40 per cent of receipts collected from major U.S. retailers, supermarkets, food chains and gas stations contained BPA, known as a hormone-disrupting chemical. ... Remaining Gulf Spill Still Bigger Than Exxon Valdez ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 08/05/10 04:50:00 AOL News - On Day 107, it seemed the news from the Gulf of Mexico couldn't be better. Not only did BP's "static kill" finally seal its runaway well, but then came a report that most of the spilled oil has vanished. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists announced that 74 percent of the oil that escaped BP's Macondo well had either evaporated or been burned, skimmed, siphoned into ships from the wellhead, or broken up by a chemical dispersant released into the Gulf by BP. The White House expressed a "high degree of confidence" in the findings. Pediatric Food Allergies on the Rise in US ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 08/05/10 04:48:00 AOL News - Pediatric food allergies are on the rise in the United States, and it may be due to our Westernized lifestyle. These days, it seems that most kids have allergies to eggs, wheat, milk or nuts. In fact, between 1997 and 2007, pediatric food allergies increased by 18 percent, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. In 2007, approximately 3 million U.S. children reported a food or digestive allergy. Hungry for Genetically Engineered Fish? ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 08/05/10 04:45:00 AOL News - A major U.S. fish research company has tampered with the DNA of Atlantic salmon by adding a quick-growth gene that allows the fish to eat year-around and grow more quickly. And the Food and Drug Administration is about to allow these genetically engineered salmon to head to market, the company says. But food safety activists insist that the FDA doesn't have adequate tests and regulations to ensure the safety of modified seafood, and others question whether consumers are even ready for it. Oil Dispersant Safety Questions Won't Go Away ================================================================================ Courtesy of CBS on 08/02/10 12:51:00 (CBS) There are lingering questions about the safety of using so much chemical dispersant to break up the oil in the Gulf even as life on some beaches is getting back to normal, reports CBS News correspondent Don Teague. In Pensacola, Fla., there are crowded beaches for the first time in months, welcome news for business owners who say the worst of the oil spill depression may have passed. "I think we have more tourists. There are a lot of people from out of town being here," said a woman on the beach. ... Elliott Sadler Crash Exposes Pocono Safety Weaknesses ================================================================================ Courtesy of FanHouse on 08/02/10 12:45:00 FanHouse - hen a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver slides sideways off a straightaway like Elliott Sadler did Sunday at Pocono Raceway, how is it possible that he can hit anything directly head-on, as Sadler did? It's possible because Pocono has a earthen berm at that section of the track that juts out from the regular inside wall, sticking into the runoff area. The berm is fronted by an old steel guardrail, and it was into that guardrail that Sadler's No. 19 Ford hit dead head-on in the most violent crash of the year and the most needlessly violent crash in quite some time. ... Contact Lenses, Medical Devices Injure 70,000 Children a Year ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 07/27/10 03:50:00 AOL News - More than 70,000 children and teens go to the emergency room each year for injuries and complications from medical devices, and contact lenses are the leading culprit, the first detailed national estimate suggests. About one-fourth of the problems were things like infections and eye abrasions in contact lens wearers. These are sometimes preventable and can result from wearing contact lenses too long without cleaning them. Other common problems found by researchers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration include puncture wounds from hypodermic needles breaking off in the skin while injecting medicine or illegal drugs; infections in young children with ear tubes; and skin tears from pelvic devices used during gynecological exams in teen girls. How Safe Are Cosmetics? New Bill Wants to Find Out ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 07/21/10 10:06:00 AOL News - Most Americans use about 10 personal care products each day. The toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, baby powder and other things that we routinely douse or slather on our bodies expose us to at least 100 different chemicals. Many of these, public health experts say, have been linked to adverse health effects like cancer, birth defects and learning disabilities. There is nothing that the Food and Drug Administration can legally do about it. But that may begin to change as two Democratic lawmakers -- Reps. Jan Schakowsky from Illinois and Edward Markey from Massachusetts -- introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 today. If passed, it will be the first meaningful effort to give the FDA the teeth, tools and mandate to protect consumers from harmful products that are used by almost everyone. Walmart Perdue Great Value chicken nuggets recalled due to plastic ================================================================================ Courtesy of Walletpop on 07/20/10 01:15:00 Perdue issued a recall for frozen chicken nuggets sold at Walmart stores under the Great Value brand because the nuggets could contain pieces of plastic, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. The nuggets are sold in 1-pound, 13-ounce bags and have the established number P-33944, a case code of 89008 A0160 and a best used by date of June 9, 2011. Cases contain eight bags each. ... Kellogg cereal recall caused by petrochemical ================================================================================ Courtesy of Walletpop on 07/14/10 11:06:00 A petrochemical was the cause of the foul smell that sickened a handful of people and led to the massive recall last month of some 28 million boxes of Kellogg cereal -- including Froot Loops and Corn Pops, the non-profit Environmental Working Group announced. The group said little is known about the health risks of the chemical, Methylnaphthalene. "What little we do know about the history of this chemical is checkered at best," said Environmental Working Group senior scientist Dave Andrews, in a statement. "Millions of pounds are produced every year, and this chemical is turning up in the packaging for popular cereals marketed toward children. I think it's important for federal public health agencies like the EPA and FDA to know everything there is to know about the possible risks this fossil fuel could pose to people's health." China to tighten rules on food safety ================================================================================ Courtesy of CNN on 07/13/10 04:47:00 Beijing, China (CNN) -- Chinese government officials pledged Tuesday to improve regulations on food, particularly dairy products, following last week's seizure of 64 tons of milk powder containing 500 times the acceptable level of toxic melamine. At a news conference at the Ministry of Health, authorities attempted to reassure citizens rattled by reports of the tainted milk. Two years ago, six babies died and hundreds of thousands of children were sickened by melamine-tainted milk. "China attaches great importance to food safety, particularly dairy quality and safety," Deputy Secretary for Health Supervision Chen Rui told reporters Tuesday at a news conference at the Ministry of Health. "The ministry will continue to organize the national dairy safety standards to track evaluations, listen to the food production companies and consumer opinion and constantly revise and improve the national dairy safety standards." Ship in Boston Harbor runs aground, is evacuated ================================================================================ Courtesy of AP on 07/03/10 02:35:00 AP Boston - A tour boat with 174 people on board has been evacuated after it ran aground in Boston Harbor and began taking on water. Coast Guard Petty Officer Connie Terrell says one person reported a back injury after the incident, which happened off Deer Island at about 10 a.m. Saturday. She says rescuers removed 168 passengers and six crew members from the 87-foot Boston-based vessel The Massachusetts. Terrell says the passengers were being taken to a pier in Hull, about three miles from the boat. Workers aboard The Massachusetts were pumping out the water as it began to sink bow first into the harbor Saturday afternoon. Deputy Harbormaster Chuck Evans says the boat's operators said it collided with a rocky ledge as it traveled at 18 knots. Kellogg recalls four brands of cereal, including Apple Jacks and Froot Loops ================================================================================ Courtesy of Walletpop on 06/28/10 04:57:00 WalletPop - Kellogg Co. voluntarily recalled certain packages of Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Froot Loops and Honey Smacks cereals Friday due to a strange waxy-like taste and odor coming from the liner of the package. The company said the likelihood for serious illness is low. However, those who eat these cereals may experience temporary nausea and diarrhea. According to a report citing a Kellogg spokeswoman more than 20 people complained about the smell and five reported experiencing nausea and vomiting. The recalled cereals were distributed nationwide, Kellogg said. No other products were involved in the recall. Here's a list of the specific items the the company is asking consumers not to eat.... Oil From Gulf Spill Found in Mississippi ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 06/28/10 04:14:00 AOL News - The admiral in charge of the spill response was headed back to the Gulf Coast a day after Mississippi's governor said he would press BP and the federal government for more help because oil started washing up on the shoreline of his state. Meanwhile, a tropical storm farther south in the Gulf threatened to push oil from the spill farther inland. Tropical Storm Alex's center wasn't expected to approach the area of the oil spill off Louisiana's coast, said Stacy Stewart, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. But Alex's outer wind field could push oil from the spill farther inland and hinder operations in the area, Stewart said early Monday. Alyssa Thomas: 6-Year-Old Turns Up On Terror Watch List ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 06/27/10 02:24:00 AOL News - The father of a 6-year-old Ohio girl who turned up on the U.S. government's terror watch list says the worst thing his daughter has ever done is probably been mean to her sister. But Santhosh Thomas, a doctor from Westlake, Ohio, says he's sure that's not enough to land his 6-year-old Alyssa on the no-fly list of suspected terrorists. "She may have threatened her sister, but I don't think that constitutes Homeland Security triggers," he told CNN. Recalls to Repair Cribs to Address Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards ================================================================================ Courtesy of USCPSC on 06/23/10 10:26:00 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), with the cooperation of seven firms, is announcing voluntary recalls of more than two million cribs to address drop-side hazards and other hazards that affect the safety of young children. The recalling firms are providing consumers with free repair kits to immobilize the drop sides or other remedies. Do not attempt to fix these cribs with homemade remedies. U.S. Safety Agency Faulted for Limiting Oversight of Coal Mines ================================================================================ Courtesy of Bloomberg on 06/23/10 10:17:00 Bloomberg Business Week - The U.S. mine-safety regulator failed to subject mines with repeated violations to enhanced oversight that is required when an operator shows disregard for miners, the Labor Department said yesterday in a report. The Mine Safety and Health Administration in 2009 restricted a screening list for mines with recurring violations because of resource limits, removing 10 for reasons that don’t appear to be appropriate, the department’s Office of Inspector General said. MSHA was criticized by lawmakers after 29 miners died in a blast at a Massey Energy Co. mine that had more numerous and more serious violations than the U.S. average. Get Rid of Insects the Natural Way (Really!) ================================================================================ Courtesy of ShelterPop on 06/13/10 07:37:00 ShelterPop.com - Even though movie studios have tried make us fall in love with ants and other insects, most of us aren't thrilled to find ants and spiders crawling around in our cupboards -- no matter how cute they are. Unfortunately, canned, chemical sprays may be deadly in more ways than one (recent studies linked them to Parkinson's disease). Plus, the odor of traditional bug repellents is less than savory. Luckily, there are tried-and-true natural bug repellents and killers that will get the job done without harsh chemicals. Despite Oil Spill, Gulf Seafood Safe and Plentiful ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL News on 06/10/10 04:29:00 AOL News - Constantly updating headlines, endless government revelations, snarky political attacks and airwaves saturated with British Petroleum's self-serving mea culpas have left many with the belief that a big hunk of America's prime spawning ground for seafood is shut down. Indeed, floating islands of reddish-brown oil and rainbow sheens cover a third of the massive Gulf of Mexico. Nevertheless, shrimp and crab are abundant and safe to eat and half the sprawling oyster beds are open for harvesting. Everything costs more, but less-expensive foreign shellfish -- to which some restaurant suppliers and fishmongers are considering switching -- could be far more hazardous to your health. And, across the country, diners are still lining up, and being served most of their favorite Gulf seafood. Chrysler to Recall Nearly 600,000 Jeeps, Minivans ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 06/07/10 11:46:00 AOL News - Federal regulators say Chrysler is recalling nearly 600,000 Jeep Wranglers and Chrysler and Dodge minivans for brake or wiring problems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website Monday that Chrysler is recalling 288,968 Jeep Wranglers from the 2006 through 2010 model years due to a potential brake fluid leak. Chrysler also is recalling 284,831 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years because a wiring problem can cause a fire inside the sliding doors. On the Jeeps, the front inner fender liners can rub against the brake fluid tubes and cause a leak. NHTSA says the leak could result in partial loss of brakes. NHTSA says a door hinge can wear through the minivans' wire insulation. Lawmakers Push Microwave Weapon for Border Defense ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 06/03/10 03:54:00 AOL News - A weapon that uses a burst of high-intensity energy to fry a car's electronics is being touted by lawmakers as the latest military-inspired gadget that could be used to help secure the U.S. border with Mexico. "The ability to stop vehicles of smugglers from a distance without making direct contact would give our Border Patrol agents a distinct advantage," Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican, said of the suitcase-sized weapon. "It would allow them to stop vehicles they may otherwise not be able to catch and in some cases avoid dangerous pursuits." Maytag dishwasher recall: 1.7 million deemed fire hazard ================================================================================ Courtesy of CPSC on 06/03/10 03:47:00 CPSC.gov - Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dishwashers, disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it, inform all users of the dishwasher about the risk of fire and contact Maytag to verify if their dishwasher is included in the recall. If the dishwasher is included in the recall, consumers can either schedule a free in-home repair or receive a rebate following the purchase of certain new Maytag brand stainless-steel tub dishwashers. The rebate is $150 if the consumer purchases new dishwasher models MDB7759, MDB7609 or MDBH979; or $250 if the consumer purchases new dishwasher models MDB8959, MDB8859, MDB7809 or MDB7709. Consumers should not return the recalled dishwashers to the retailer where purchased as retailers are not prepared to take the units back. Hazardous Chemical in Our Canned Food ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 05/24/10 07:03:00 Courtesy of AOL - The health hazards of bisphenol A are well documented, but now scientists report that the chemical used in the coating of cans to protect food from corrosion and bacteria is pervasive in the canned goods on our kitchen shelves. Researchers collected 50 cans of food from pantries in 19 states and Ontario and analyzed them at a top food safety lab in San Francisco. BPA was found in 92 percent of the samples, according to a 24-page study called "No Silver Lining," which was released today by the National Workgroup for Safe Markets. Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 05/24/10 06:53:00 Courtesy of AOL - Almost half of the 500 most popular sunscreen products may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer because they contain vitamin A or its derivatives, according to an evaluation of those products released today. AOL News also has learned through documents and interviews that the Food and Drug Administration has known of the potential danger for as long as a decade without alerting the public, which the FDA denies. Whistle-Blower in 'Kafkaesque Nightmare' After Push for GI Safety ================================================================================ Courtesy of AOL on 05/23/10 07:30:00 Several years ago, Franz Gayl began began pushing the Marine Corps to field urgently needed protective equipment to troops in Iraq. He thought he was just doing his job. Instead, Gayl, a civilian scientist employed by the Marine Corps, says he has been stripped of his professional responsibilities, denied educational opportunities typically available to federal workers and subjected to a criminal probe he says was instigated as part of the professional retaliation against him. How safe is it to fly in India? ================================================================================ Courtesy on 05/23/10 12:42:00 Times of India - Saturday's crash raises the obvious question: How safe is it to fly in India? "After a crash, if the pilot is alive, nail him. If he is dead, blame him," goes a saying in our circles. The blame game has already begun even as vital safety deficiencies get swept aside. * After the crash, the chairman of AAI went on record to say that the Mangalore runway and the airport met International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. But the aiming point (the point where the undercarriage of the aircraft is supposed to touch down on the runway while landing) on the runway does not conform to ICAO standards. Also, if the overrun area had 90 metres of sand laid out as per ICAO specifications for the runway-end safety area, then isn't it strange that the aircraft did not slow down? Are all the other airports in India in a similar state of (un)preparedness for a possible accident? ... Poor aviation safety standards caused the Crash, says expert ================================================================================ Courtesy on 05/21/10 03:03:00 Hindustan Times - Reacting to the Mangalore air crash that killed 158 people, Wadia said the country needs to focus on improving safety standards in the aviation sector. "According to the Flight Safety Foundation figures, India has the highest rate of aviation accidents in the world. But the sad part is that still we do not have specialists in aviation safety," said Wadia. Walmart Recalls General Electric® Coffee Makers Due to Fire Hazard ================================================================================ Courtesy on 05/20/10 12:41:00 CPSC - Walmart has received 83 reports of overheating, smoking, melting, burning and fire, including three reports of minor burn injuries to consumer’s hands, feet and torso. Reports of property damage include a significant kitchen fire and damage to countertops, cabinets and a wall. Number of Kids Hospitalized With MRSA Rises Dramatically ================================================================================ Courtesy on 05/17/10 09:59:00 AP News - The number of children hospitalized with dangerous drug-resistant staph infections surged 10-fold in recent years, a study found. Disease incidence increased from 2 cases to 21 cases per 1,000 hospital admissions from 1999 to 2008. Most infections were caught in the community, not in the hospital. The study involved methicillin-resistant staph infections, called MRSA. These used to occur mostly in hospitals and nursing homes but they are increasingly showing up in other settings in children and adults. Recent evidence suggests hospital-acquired MRSA cases may be declining while community-acquired cases are becoming more common. The results are "a good example of how something that is not unexpected remains alarming," said Dr. Buddy Creech, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University. He was not involved in the study. The study involved 25 children's hospitals; the 10-fold increase in hospitalizations likely occurred nationwide, said Dr. Jason Newland, the lead author and an infectious disease physician at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Facebook's New Security Measures Protect Us From Anyone Not Named 'Facebook' ================================================================================ Courtesy on 05/16/10 03:36:00 Switched.com - In the past few weeks, spammers and hackers have feasted on Facebook like King Curtis on bacon. Now, however, it looks as if Facebook has finally decided to take some action. Yesterday, the social network announced on its blog that users will soon benefit from a host of new security features specially designed to "keep the bad guys out." From now on, you can choose to be automatically notified whenever your account has been accessed from a computer or phone that you normally don't use. To activate the feature, simply go to the Account Settings page, and click on the 'Account Security' link at the bottom of the page, where you'll be prompted to register the devices from which you normally log on to Facebook. If your account is accessed from a non-approved device, you'll be immediately notified via text or e-mail, and will have the opportunity to change your password, or flag the specific gadget in question.