depoprovera

In today’s News Journal, Delaware:

Beware of Depo-Provera birth control drug

Your recent article, “Long acting birth control may return to favor was very disturbing because the term Depo-Provera is not even used in this article.  “Long acting birth control” often means Depo-Provera, a very nasty drug with proven complications and side effects that are not easily reversible.  By definition, “long acting” doesn’t disappear instantly, and if there are side effects, it can take a long time for side effects to disappear, if ever.

Even worse, Depo-Provera has a history of misuse by medical institutions, where low-income, nonwhite, and disabled women were targeted and were not informed of the risks or even informed that they were receiving Depo-Provera.

An article like this should include at least a brief rundown of risks and side effects and the history of misuse of this drug.

Carol. A. Overland

Port Penn

Susan Hedman

Susan Hedman, head of EPA Region 5 has resigned.  I remember how thrilled I was to see that Susan Hedman, formerly of ELPC in Chicago, was appointed to head EPA Region 5.  I’d dealt with her a little during the Florence Nuclear Waste Daze, when she was an attorney on staff at ELPC, and was impressed with her knowledge and abilities, and was glad to have someone in charge that I believe would take the reins and enforce the law.  How does someone like her screw up so badly, so irresponsibly?  Wow…

Flint water crisis: EPA regional administrator resigns

EPA Administrator Quits Amid Flint Water Crisis

EPA regional chief in Chicago resigns in connection with Flint water crisis

Susan Hedman, regional EPA official, resigns over Flint water crisis

As for EPA responsibility, Hedman did a dodge and weave, and duck and cover:

 

EPA chief defends agency’s handling of Flint crisis

EPA admits fault, blames Michigan officials over Flint

EPA Implicated in Cover-up of Flint Water Crisis

State View: Federal EPA’s delays on Flint show complete gov’t failure

EPA passive on Flint water

schuerger_matthew

Matt Schuerger has been appointed to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission?  What is Gov. Dayton thinking?  More on this in a future post…

From the Governor’s website:

Governor Dayton Appoints Matthew Schuerger to Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

January 19, 2016
ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton announced his appointment of Matthew Schuerger to serve a six year term on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Mr. Schuerger will be replacing Betsy Wergin, whose term expired on January 4, 2016.
“It is my pleasure to appoint Matthew Schuerger to serve on the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,” said Governor Dayton. “Mr. Schuerger brings with him an impressive record of private-sector experience running a company focused on sustainable energy systems, and has admirably served as a technical advisor to both the State of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota.”
Mr. Schuerger is the President of Energy Systems Consulting Services, LLC, an engineering and management consulting firm focused on planning, development, and analysis. His recent work includes serving as a technical advisor to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the University of Minnesota. Previously, Mr. Schuerger was the Executive Vice President for District Energy St. Paul, Inc.
Mr. Schuerger is a licensed electrical and mechanical engineer, and earned his B.S. from Purdue University, his M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas, and his M.S. from the University of Minnesota.
A headshot of Mr. Schuerger can be found here: http://mn.gov/governor/images/schuerger_matthew.jpg
About the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission regulates three cornerstone service industries of Minnesota’s economy, including electricity, natural gas, and telephone services. Its mission is to create and maintain a regulatory environment that ensures safe, reliable, and efficient utility services at fair and reasonable rates. For more information about the Public Utilities Commission, visit http://mn.gov/puc/.

Stephanie3Photo by David Kamis, taken after Stephanie’s ducks were assassinated

Tomorrow is the Memorial Service for Stephanie Henricksen.  It’s at the UCC in Northfield, gathering at 10 a.m. and service is at 11 a.m. with lunch following.

Stephanie4Photo by Kathleen Doran-Norton, of Stephanie, and there’s Dave & Flo Minar in the background

Read the rest of this entry »

squirrel-terrorist

It’s here — the report I’ve been waiting for (well, it’s been around for a while, but it just popped up on the screen)!!!

SQUIRREL ATTACKS ON THE ELECTRIC GRID

From the CyberSquirrel1 site:

“I don’t think paralysis [of the electrical grid] is more likely by cyberattack than by natural disaster. And frankly the number-one threat experienced to date by the US electrical grid is squirrels.”

    – John C. Inglis, Former Deputy Director, National Security Agency 2015.07.09

Ain’t technology grand??

tnt_squirrel