Billionaire Buddy To The Environment
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 5th, 2012
Uh…not exactly.
Good morning!
Reclusive billionaire who owns the most expensive home in America ‘lets his firmsgo bankrupt so he can skip paying out for environmental damage’
A reclusive billionaire who owns the most expensive home in the US has been accused of making his firms go bankrupt to avoid their environmental responsibilities.
Ira Rennert is said to have taken RG Steel into administration rather than pay the $650million he was liable for to treat a contaminated facility in Maryland.
Environmental campaigners claim his actions are part of a pattern where he put his firms and their workers at risk rather than pay the bills.
They have accused him of being fraudulent with bankruptcy courts – and said he is guilty of ‘ducking out of any kind of responsibility’ yet again.
Rennert is best known for the 29-bedroom estate he built in Sagaponack in The Hamptons in New York which is said to be worth $198million, the most expensive home in America.
But he is also a target for environmental groups because of what they see as his total disregard for the planet.
The latest row is over Maryland-based RG Steel which Rennert bought last year with his own company, Renco.
Now, despite being worth $5.5billion RG Steel has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Critics claim Rennert, who is worth $5.4billion, would rather do this than clean up a facility in Sparrows Point in the east of the state which has been contaminated with carcinogens benzene and naphthalene.
Russell Donnelly, an environmentalist in Sparrows Point, told the New York Post: ‘His company is ducking out of any kind of responsibility again.
‘It became too hot to handle, and his company is moving on. This is the track record. His company has done this all over the planet.’
Bart Fisher, an attorney for environmental group Sparrows Point Action added: ‘What is amazing is that Renco committed fraud on the bankruptcy court by stating in its bankruptcy petition that there were no environmental problems.
Sprawling: A Bird’s Eye view of the compound owned by billionaire Ira Rennert at 281 Daniels Lane, Sagaponack, New York.
Impressive: The front gate of the 29-bedroom, 100,000-square-foot estate
Glitzy: Ira Rennert and his wife Ingeborg Rennert attend the 2010 American Friends of the Open University of Israel Gala at The Plaza Hotel on December 13, 2010 in New York City‘Part of the reasoning for the bankruptcy was, no doubt, to avoid certain environmental claims.’
Rennert has previously taken Utah-based magnesium mine MagCorp into bankruptcy when it was given a $900million fine from the Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly dumping toxic chemicals in the Great Salt Lake.
There were also allegations over a Rennert-owned smelting company in La Oroya, Peru, which was designed one of the top 10 most polluted places on Earth by environmental watchdog the Blacksmith Institute.
A study by researchers at St Louis University found that 97 per cent of children under six in the city, which is home to 35,000 people, were being exposed to toxic chemicals.
In 2004 Rennert enraged the well-heeled residents in The Hamptons where the likes of Billy Joel, Alec Baldwin and Paul McCartney have homes with his grand plan for Fair Field, his Italian style villa and grounds.
Occupying 63 acres, local officials were horrified with his plans to build the property in 2004 which has 39 bathrooms, is twice as big as the White House and comes with its own theatre and temple.
Enormous: The home is America’s largest private residence along a once-pristine stretch of beach
Financial troubles: The struggling RG Steel Sparrows Point mill on the Patapsco River near Baltimore bankruptcy protection in Delaware on Thursday
Lawsuit: The U.S. Magnesium Corporation, owned by trusts set up by Ira Rennert, is being sued by the Environmental Protection Agency, on claims of mishandling toxic waste near the Great Salt Lake in UtahThere is also a basketball court, a 200 car garage, a hot tub which cost $150,000, a bowling alley and a grand dining table which is 28ft long.
THE HOUSE THAT ATE THE HAMPTONS
Ira Rennert’s estate stretches over 63 acres of land.
The house features 39 bathrooms and is twice the size of the White House.
There is a theatre, a temple, and a bowling alley.
Rennert’s dining table is 28ft long and his garage can house 200 cars.
His hot tub cost $150,000.
The property taxes alone are $370,000 a year.
Locals wanted to block Rennert from getting a building permit and nicknamed the property ‘The House that Ate the Hamptons’ – but in the end he got his own way.
Rennert, the son of Polish immigrants, earned his first $500million selling junk bonds in the 1990s and used the money to buy military contractor AM General which started making consumer Hummers, though he later sold his stake in the firm.
In 1999 film maker Michael Moore gave him the annual ‘Awful Truth’ award on account of his poor attitude towards the environment.
Rennert, 78, is married to his former airline ticket agent wife Inga and they have three children together.
Forbes magazine ranks him as the 189th richest person in the world and he is a regular at Gala events in New York and The Hamptons.
David Pryzbylski, the chief administrative officer for RG Steel, claimed that the company has honoured all its environmental obligations and that it went into bankruptcy due to market conditions and nothing more.
He said: ‘Even though we are in Chapter 11, we continue all environmental compliance.
‘I don’t think Sparrow Point poses any immediate threat to public health or safety. We are in full compliance with all environmental commitments.’
Imposing: Locals dubbed the house ‘The House that Ate the Hamptons’
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Readers: I HOPE that you all had a safe and fun 4th of July! Blog me.
xo
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July 5th, 2012 at 9:39 am
Eduardo, how racist was that? That is exactly why I teach my children to avoid niggers and spicks.
July 5th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Norm,
You are the one that should be avoided by your kids. Teaching your children to be racist is very poor parenting.
July 5th, 2012 at 10:56 am
I was routinely hit, slapped, and spanked as a child – with hands, belts, and fly-swatters – even tree-branches. My experience is utterly commonplace for my generation – I’m a boomer.
Most people of my generation agree that once you did something that caused you to be “whupped” – you didn’t do that thing again – so it was effective to some degree.
But we also agree for the most part that those days are best left behind – that new parenting strategies are more rewarding, if more challenging than simple violence.
In my case, the most lasting effect of the punishments I received from my parents was a simmering contempt for them as people – who said one thing and did another, and wouldn’t hesitate to lay into their supposedly beloved child. They’re gone now – but that never healed.
I never struck either of my children – but that didn’t guarantee ideal behavior on their part – the older one was a handful from day one. Still – I never wavered in my commitment to be a better parent than MY parents.
My reward seems to be my grandson – who is the single most loving creature I have ever known – the absolute prince of my universe. I’m so very grateful to have followed the path that led me to be en exalted figure in his eyes..
July 5th, 2012 at 10:57 am
Many people shouldn’t have kids, but they do. There were kids on my street who got beat so bad *I* could hear it across the street when the windows were open.
My own folks rarely hit me, but did a number on me emotionally, and my mom attacked me physically several times (pulling me around by my hair, putting her hands around my throat, slapping my face) before I was able to defend myself.
You don’t get a fair shake in this world if your very own parents are mean to you on a regular basis, little kids can’t cope with that kind of treatment and they get warped. If you find yourself being mean to your kids in any way, get some help pronto.
July 5th, 2012 at 10:58 am
I was a very spoiled only child who was loved beyond measure but my mother slapped my face when I got smart with her. I deserved it. And all it ever showed me was that she cared.
This is nuts – rules to raise kids are nuts. Every kid is different.
I adored my mother. She was my best friend. And she was the only one who would spank me – Daddy wouldn’t and I didn’t respect Daddy as much as authority.
July 5th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Most of you are deliberately confusing spanking and beating.
Thousands of years of raising children, history teaches us “spare the rod, spoil the child.” Children need discipline. Otherwise they grow up without realizing that there are real painful consequences for some of their actions.
Most of those who get the “time outs” don’t get that message until jail time is facing them.
Spanking is not beating. People who claim otherwise are no different than republicans who use hyperbole to achieve their philosophical aims.
Just because you are squeamish or whatever about spanking your child should not give you the right to outlaw my ability and desire to spank mine.
Neither should it give you the right to use articles, opinions by your pseudo experts to brow beat me into accepting a belief that you need to justify your squeamishness concerning using physical discipline with your child.
There isn NO fine line between a spanking and a beating. The difference is obvious.
Ellen
July 5th, 2012 at 11:08 am
I read that study. Reading much into it is, simply put, a mistake. The study shows a correlation and no causality and, further, relies on surveys of the recollections of people over 20 years of age.
From the USA Today article:
“….it does nothing to move beyond correlations to figure out what is actually causing the mental health problems,” says Larzelere.
He criticized the study’s reliance on memories of events from years earlier, and says it’s not clear when punishment occurred.
“The motivation that the child perceives and when and how and why the parent uses (spanking) makes a big difference. All of that is more important than whether it was used or not.”
I find it hard to believe that occasional use of targeted physical “abuse” to emphasize the egregiousness of certain behaviors is at all harmful.
To be specific, I have (very rarely) grabbed my son or certain of his playmates by the arm firmly, looked them right in the eye and told them to “listen-up” when they have been openly defiant or cavalierly inattentive in situations where it was dangerous or unacceptable.
July 5th, 2012 at 11:11 am
How Hospital Patients Double Their Risk for Complications…or Death
You’ve been at the hospital healing from an illness, injury or procedure for several days or longer…and your doctor tells you that you need to stay a few more days until, say, your fever gets lower, your breathing improves or your appetite increases.
A few more days?!
Will your health insurance cover a few more days?
And what about all the work at your job that has been piling up and your family members who are really burning up time visiting you?
Not to mention, you’re sick of eating Jell-o and lying in a cold, dim room with strangers who keep coughing.
When your doctor tells you that you need to stay longer in a hospital than you would like to, there are many pressing reasons not to listen. But a new study shows exactly why it’s critical that you do…
DEADLY CONSEQUENCES
After examining medical records, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York, discovered that patients who left the hospital before their doctors advised them to were nearly twice as likely to either be readmitted or to die in the month following their discharge, compared with similar patients who followed the doctors’ orders.
To learn more about the results, I called lead investigator William Southern, MD, chief of the division of hospital medicine at both the college and the medical center.
While the study didn’t focus on why leaving early may be so dangerous, it’s likely that at least some of the patients didn’t stay in the hospital long enough to finish their treatments and/or didn’t seek appropriate follow-up care once they left, said Dr. Southern.
WHY PATIENTS LEAVE EARLY
How come a patient would leave the hospital before a doctor recommends it? “Some young doctors—residents—may not have fully explained the risks involved with leaving early.
Plus, some of these patients likely left for altruistic reasons—to take care of an elderly family member or even a pet, for example—while others probably needed to tend to financial realities such as getting back to their jobs or picking up Social Security checks,” said Dr. Southern.
It’s also possible that some patients left simply because their insurance wouldn’t cover—or wouldn’t totally cover—the extra time in the hospital, and they couldn’t afford the out-of-pocket costs.
AREN’T HOSPITALS DANGEROUS PLACES?
But wait a second…can’t a longer hospital stay actually prove dangerous to patients, with hospital-acquired infections accounting for 99,000 deaths among Americans each year? I challenged Dr. Southern on that point.
He was quick to acknowledge that potential hazard but said that when a doctor recommends staying, the benefits of doing so almost always outweigh the risks.
The take-away:
The next time you’re eager to leave the hospital and your doctor tells you to lie back down, call the people in your personal support system to help you with any pressing matters (such as a taking care of a family member or pet or handling a financial matter) and then stay put until your doctor gives you the OK—try to think of it as a mini-vacation where all you have to do is relax! That’s how you can increase your odds of truly recovering.
Source: William Southern, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine, chief, division of hospital medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York.
July 5th, 2012 at 11:20 am
Randy, I agree with you and Ellen. Those articles that purport to show that spanking your child can have long tern negative effects are B.S.
Every male I Knpw is a better person because The were Jack slapped by a nun. Young men need fear in their lives.
Left to their own devices Lord of The Flies is the natural out come. Most boys don’t need it at 3, but you better have them buffaloed by the time they are 13.
How does allowing your kid to be a sassing, back talking, ill behaved brat help his/her long term well-being>
And are those parents at all concerned about the well-being of others who will come into contact with their undisciplined brats?
Brittany
July 5th, 2012 at 11:21 am
I love to hear your opinion on this Zen Lill. Would you volunteer info on how you have been raising you daughter?
Lois
July 5th, 2012 at 11:21 am
Another wonderful 1970 theory that has produced disastrous results. Get back to discipline the kids and see the country rise once more.
July 5th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Frankly, I don’t care how you do it, as long as you get your children to behave in public. For that matter, quit taking them out in public. You children scream and carry on, they are a danger to themselves and others.
July 5th, 2012 at 11:23 am
The Tale I am about to reveal is a complicated one. Hence, I will attempt to tell it in coherent installments. This tale is about what happened to Tsarme.
First a brief bit of why Tsarme was here in the first place.
TSARME (Zar-may): A Siberian tiger-like Being from the planet Krjo (cri-Joe).
Roi was ambushed and kidnapped by the pT4ms. They represented a planet that is due to self destruct in 11 earth years. It is speculated that he was kidnapped so that he could be forced to save their planet. It appears they did not believe that their situation was hopeless.
In the process of kidnapping Roi they had to incapacitate him by shooting him in his knslus — a kind of nervous system for his species. The seriousness of the injury is unknown presently. All that is certain is that he is alive.
Tony is tracking his captors. They are 3 galaxies away. The worm holes they are using to elapse the distance are very stable. Therefore the pursuit will not be hindered by time. But the final location of their exit is uncertain. They could be anywhere in the plotted area. It could take years to locate him.
Azza selected a replacement for Roi. The TAO could not afford to wait or hope that Roi would be rescued in time to advance the issues he was pursuing before his capture. His replacement was Tsarme (phonetically Zar-may). He is from the planet Krijo (cri-Joe).
Krijo is about 11 times the size of the planet earth. It is the fourth largest planet in a 13 planet solar system that has two Suns. Krijo is the third planet from the largest Sun and the fifth planet from the smaller.
Krijo inhabitants are meat eaters and vegetarians depending on the area of the planet they are from. Krijo is very similar to the planet earth except the seas produced the superior intellectual species.
In the second installment I will discuss the Specie Hierarchy on the planet Krijo.
HOWIE
July 5th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
all you peeps with kids make me want to overdose on birth control
July 5th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Howie, we are very much interested in Tsarme. Many things are being considered based on the Anomalies that are occurring because of his absence.
They are sure to increase in severity unless someone comes up with a way to lessen that severity or eliminate the threat.
Presently, the only viable option to eliminating the threat is to forcibly bring Tsarme back.
The debate is on as to what will be done. Ergo any information you have to share would be appreciated.
JbE
July 5th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Howie, you’r back, SWEET.
July 5th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Ellen – is it obvious? Spanking or beating?
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-anthony-sanchez-stepson-beating,0,5873485.story
July 5th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
..and, when is spanking over the line? Is it the actions during the spanking or the justification for the spanking?
That video looks a lot like a regular spanking to me- the kind that many of us got by our dads, only we were bent over and taking it. Hopefully, for most it was to teach a lesson we needed to learn and we deserved it, not for such a stupid reason as this. Whose standard do we use to judge where the line is? Will society move to regulate spanking?
On a side note I think I understand now why some friends I have are into spanking sex play. It’s their validation system of who loves them seems to me because of being raised in that kind of an environment.
July 5th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
Regular Reader, as I said hyperbole isn’t necessary when discussing whether parents should be able to spank their children as a form of discipline for misbehavior.
Just because some violate a legal right doesn’t mean that right should be denied to those who don’t abuse it.
You did not enter the debate with a reason why you believe parents shouldn’t have the right to spank their children. You did what the “pro-life” people do.
You gave us a shock piece with the hope that you could shock us into accepting your belief that parents shouldn’t be allowed to physically discipline their children without you having to present reasons why your side of the debate should be accepted.
Hence you became the poster child for my earlier statement that those who don’t want to physically discipline their children want to force others to do likewise.
What you showed us was the deliberate abuse of a child. How does that support your obvious opinion that parents should not be allowed to physically discipline their children?
If you likewise showed us a video of a man rapping his wife would that be a legitimate argument advocating that men should not be allowed to make love to their wives?
If you showed us a video of parents imprisoning their children would that be a legitimate argument advocating that parents should not be allowed to use home detention as a form of discipline for their children?
As I said I am open to a fair debate on the merits. But it appears that you have no argument to support your belief so you resort to hyperbole in the form of incidents of parents physically abusing their children.
I looked at that video an instantly dismissed it as not relevant to the discussion and yes I think it is obvious this was not a spanking and further more should have been obvious to you that this was not a case of a parent physically disciplining his child because he was misbehaving.
But then you knew that when you submitted it in the first place. I am still waiting for an honest debate.
Ellen
I await patiently to get a serious objection
July 5th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Regular reader my dad beat all of us at every opportunity. He was a very angry man. I do not get off on spanking during foreplay, but I do discipline my three children with an occasional spanking when they act up at home.
It seems to me that because of your experience you don’t believe parents should be allowed to physically discipline their children. That is a legitimate argument and certainly one that you can honestly make.
I also experienced a father that was, in my opinion, abusive when he used corporal punishment to discipline us. But I feel that I have learned from that experience how far I should go when I use corporal punishment to discipline my children, and I don’t believe the government should have the right to make that decision for me.
I understand and respect your position, I just differ.
Ruby
July 5th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July, full of relaxation, barbecue and fireworks.
DEMOCRATS RUNNING AWAY: “A fresh round of Democrats has announced they will not be attending the party convention in Charlotte. Most troublingly for President Obama, several of them are from North Carolina, and not only have they decided not to drop in on a convention held in their own state, they’ve refused to endorse Obama for president in 2012.
The latest round of Democrats fleeing from Obama include North Carolina congressmen Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell, plus candidate Hayden Rogers. Additionally, news broke just before the Fourth of July holiday that Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas has decided not to attend the party convention, although he does support Obama for president.” Read more below.
FOOD STAMP BATTLE TO THE HOUSE: “The battle this summer to renew a trillion-dollar farm bill to cover the next decade of spending is expected to divide the House along party lines as Democrats fight to continue funding 43 million Americans on food stamps while Republicans insist on reforms to reduce spending.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the nation’s largest federal welfare programs, second only to Medicaid, with an estimated cost of $800 billion over the next 10 years. But House Republicans have already shown their willingness to cut even farther when they passed the budget earlier this year, approving cuts of $13 billion a year in food stamps.” Read more here.
Those stories, and more below, including the latest column from George Will and John Stossel.
Talk to you all tomorrow.
Onward and upward,
-Adam
July 6th, 2012 at 6:33 am
Parenting can be bad in more way than one.
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Mom Who Wants 14-Year-Old to Get Breast Implants Needs Serious Help
Posted by Jacqueline Burt on Jul 5, 2012 at 11:53 PM
I am an imperfect parent. I make lots of mistakes, and, as such, I really try not to judge the actions of other parents too harshly, even when those actions seem … ill-advised, let’s say. So I’m really, really trying to understand why Chantal Marshall of the UK would actually encourage her 14-year-old daughter Britney Marshall to get breast implants. I really am. Obviously she thinks she’s doing her daughter a favor, right? (Obviously she is horribly, terribly wrong about that, but she must have good, if twisted intentions.) I know this sounds crazy, just hear me out.
Apparently Chantal and her 4 other daughters have over £50,000 worth of breast implants between them, with cup sizes going all the way up to a 34HH. As the youngest daughter, Britney considers herself the “brainy” one of the group. So even though her mom says Britney doesn’t have “what she would call boobs” and she’d “like her to follow in her sisters’ footsteps,” Britney is going through a “funny phase.”
==================================
How is this different than the discussion about corporal punishment?
Gwen
July 6th, 2012 at 6:50 am
The job news is out and the republicans are dancing in the isles. They have deliberately refused to cooperate on anything the dems want to do to create jobs in order to keep the economy from recovering.
They want to make it seem that the president doesn’t know what he is doing. The only reason they can get away with it is because white america voted race in the 2010 elections.
Now the country is left in a situation of total stalemate. A republican controlled House that refuses to be bipartisan on anything and a Supreme Court that is following suit when it comes to deciding cases.
Its all political. The welfare of the people doesn’t matter. Yes my race began this country back in 1776, it looks like my race is going to destroy it. What a pathetic loss.
Mike,TM
July 6th, 2012 at 6:59 am
Help! My Mouth Tastes Salty All the Time
Three days before Thanksgiving, I suddenly developed a constant salty taste in my mouth that didn’t go away no matter how much I brushed and flossed my teeth, scraped my tongue, gargled with mouthwash or banished salty foods from my diet.
Week after week, it persisted, driving me to distraction. I consulted my dentist, periodontist, internist, allergist and naturopath, all to no avail.
At the end of my rope, I went looking for an expert in the field. That’s when I called Natasha Mirza, MD, a professor in the department of otorhinolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania Smell and Taste Center, both in Philadelphia.
She told me that I’m far from alone—in fact, she sees hundreds of patients each year who experience some version of this symptom. Some complain of a salty taste…a metallic taste…or a burning sensation in the mouth.
Often there’s a medical explanation for their symptoms, but sometimes no cause can be found.
If you ever develop this problem, you’ll no doubt be as eager as I was to get to the bottom of it. Start by seeing your dentist, Dr. Mirza suggested—tooth decay, gum disease or an oral infection (such as thrush) could be the culprit.
If no dental problem is detected, see your physician for a full physical exam.
Common underlying causes your doctor may investigate include…
A digestive disorder, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, which may improve with dietary and lifestyle changes and/or medication.
A sinus infection, which could cause a salty postnasal drip. If the infection is bacterial (rather than viral), a short course of antibiotics may solve the taste problem.
Medication side effects.
Blood pressure drugs, decongestants, antihistamines, antidepressants, sedatives and numerous other drugs can alter taste and dry out the mouth in some cases—so switching medications may help.
Hormonal fluctuations due to menopause.
These may lead to degenerative alterations in certain small nerves in the mouth and trigger a phenomenon called burning mouth syndrome. This is characterized by taste disturbances, including “constantly feeling like you’ve just eaten chili peppers,” Dr. Mirza said.
For some people, symptoms seem to ease with a daily dose of 20 mg to 30 mg of zinc. For maximum absorption, do not take zinc supplements with protein, bran or coffee. And avoid taking too high a dose, as that could cause side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain or diarrhea, Dr. Mirza cautioned.
Rarely, a salty taste or other taste disturbance may be a sign of…
Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid down the back of the throat, a possible complication of head surgery.
Paraneoplastic syndrome, a rare disorder among patients with breast, ovarian or other cancers. Substances produced by the tumor affect the nervous system, leading to sensory perception problems and other symptoms.
The chronic autoimmune disorder Sjögren’s syndrome, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s moisture-producing glands. This leads to dryness of the mouth, eyes, nasal passages and skin as well as joint pain, digestive upset and/or neurological problems.
If your doctor cannot determine the problem:
Ask for a referral to a chemosensory center. There you may undergo an evaluation that includes a “sip, spit, and rinse” test, in which different chemicals are applied to different areas of your tongue.
Your sense of smell will be evaluated as well, probably by “scratch-and-sniff” tests. Dr. Mirza explained, “Smell and taste are very closely linked. So in some cases, patients who perceive an odd taste actually have a problem with smell and don’t realize it.” (For more info on what happens at chemosensory centers, visit the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Web page at http://bit.ly/GEQmYH.)
When an underlying cause is diagnosed, treating that problem may resolve the taste issue, as well. But what if the mystery remains? “It’s frustrating, I know. But there are two important things to note about such a condition.
First, once all the scary possible causes are ruled out, it’s reassuring to know that a taste disorder is not life-threatening. Second, most such taste disturbances are relatively short-lived, lasting from three to 12 months. So try to be patient—time may take care of the problem,” Dr. Mirza said.
As for me? To mask the icky taste, I found it helpful to chew sugar-free gum sweetened with xylitol…spritz my mouth with a moisturizing spray (my favorite is Spry Rain Oral Mist)…and drink a lot of water.
I also halted the daily antihistamine I had used for years to prevent allergy flare-ups and now I take the medicine only when my allergy symptoms get really bad.
I’m relieved to report that, five months after the saltier-than-the-sea taste first appeared, it has finally faded from a constant aggravation to an occasional annoyance.
Source: Natasha Mirza, MD, is a professor in the department of otorhinolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania Smell and Taste Center and chief of otolaryngology at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, all in Philadelphia.
July 6th, 2012 at 7:26 am
Howie, what made Azza go to Krijo and where is it located in reference to the MilkyWay?
July 6th, 2012 at 8:06 am
And while we are discussing parenting how about just being a decent adult. This is an email I got from change.org concerning discrimination and just plain meanness.
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A hot summer day, a swimming pool. A 2-year-old being told he can’t go swimming because his dads are gay?
Will Trinkle and Juan Granados say they applied for a family membership at the Roanoke Athletic Club in Virginia, clearly listing themselves as same-sex partners with a 2-year-old son, Oliver. Will says he was encouraged to apply for a family plan by a club employee because only children on family plan memberships are allowed to use the club pool.
But Will says that just 9 days after his application was approved, a club employee called to tell him it was a mistake, that the club was revoking their membership because the state of Virginia doesn’t consider Will, Juan and Oliver to be a “real” family.
Mark Lynn Ferguson is a Roanoke native, and he’s outraged by this alleged discrimination against Will and Juan’s family.
The Roanoke Athletic Club is owned by the Carilion Clinic, a company which owns and operates 150 hospitals and medical clinics in Virginia, serving over 1 million people. “If Carilion won’t give unmarried couples access to a pool, how will it treat them at a hospital?” Mark asks.
Will Trinkle says that he was told by a Roanoke Athletic Club employee that “they were ‘tightening policies’ so no families like us would ever ‘get as far’ as we had.” That’s why Mark thinks it’s so important to send Carilion’s leaders a strong message right now, before policies are changed and more families face discrimination.
“Folks in Roanoke are good hearted and fair minded, so I was just horrified when I heard how Carilion treated this family,” Mark says. Mark thinks that if enough people sign his petition, Carilion’s leaders will see that people in Virginia and around America believe that all families deserve to be treated equally, married or unmarried, gay or straight.
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I hope everyone reading this will show that we are not like those people at the Roanoke Athletic Club. They are the same people proclaiming they live in the Bible Belt of this nation.
But if this is an example of the kind of treatment that is extended in their bible belt, I’d hate to be caught in their non bible belt section.
Please contact change.org and show your decent to this type of behavior.
Lacy
July 6th, 2012 at 9:20 am
Bojan #25:
Keep reading my installments and you will learn more. Krijo is a planet in a solar system in the Milky Way galaxy just as we are. The Milky Way is a large place. There are Billions of inhabited planets in the Milky Way Galazy. Think about how much life there is in all the hundreds of Billion Galaxies in the Universe?
I explain that Azza chose Tsarme because she needed a replacement for Roi because he was kidnapped and Tsarme was a good candidate for the job.
HOWIE
July 6th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Good morning HOWIE
Very nice to read you here again!
If you have the time or inclination, I’d like to hear more about my Tsarme’s mother and where her relationship with Azza is at currently. I know Tsarme’s mother is trying to traverse quickly to rescue her son. Is Azza giving it a second try also?
Of course whatever you wish to write about will no doubt be englightening and I await your next installation, as I’m sure we all do.
Welcome back. You were missed. (As is Al, hope he’s doing okay.)
PrP
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