Charlie Sheen's Interview with Alex Jones on February 24, 2011

Pneumonic Plague Outbreak in Madagascar Kills Sixteen (16) People

I keep my eyes on any story involving the pneumonic plague and this story of a pneumonic plague outbreak killing sixteen (16) people in Madagascar caught my attention.

Date: Sun 20 Feb 2011

Source: La Tribune online, Diego Suarez, Madagascar

[In French, trans. JW, edited]

http://latribune.cyber-diego.com/actualites/299-epidemie-de-peste-dans-le-nord-de-madagascar.html>

An epidemic of pneumonic plague has been raging for weeks in the northern region of Madagascar, mainly around Ambilobe. There are already 16 deaths attributed to this epidemic.

This statement of the "Chancellery detached from France" in Diego Suarez is based on information from the referring doctor's office, Dr. Anant Govinjee: "An epidemic of pneumonic plague occurred in the region between Diana and Ambilobe Ambanja, specifically east of Beramanja (65 km). The first suspected case appeared 27 Jan 2011, followed by a first death on 29 Jan 2011. The death toll stands at 16.

Source: ISID

U.S. Army Wants Machine Gun Rubber Bullets for Crowd Control (M1044, 40mm Non-Lethal (NL) Blunt Trauma, Linked Cartridge)

Hmmm, would the Army be wanting to buy rapid-fire rubber bullets for its machine guns (see: the image of the MK19 40mm machine gun above) for crowd control purposes unless it was expecting to have a need to use these rubber bullets at some point in the near future? My money is on a localized food riot, but there are many possibilities. Nevertheless, the closing date for this bid is February 21, 2011.

The original bid was first posted back in December, 2010, but the updated bid is here. The revised does not change much about the original bid. The Army's version of the bid is here.

Per the latest notice on January 7, 2011, there was supposed to be an RFP by January 19, but I can't seem to locate it yet. If someone else has a link to the RFP, please feel free to post it in the comments. Otherwise, I will update it when I do find it.

Coming straight out of the Army's "Center of Lethality" !!

###

Solicitation Number:

W15QKN-11-R-B005

Notice Type:

Presolicitation

Synopsis:

Added: Dec 08, 2010 4:04 pm

The U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC), Joint Munitions & Lethality (JM&L) Contracting Center, on behalf of the

Project Manager, Close Combat Systems and the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command, Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (RDECOM-ARDEC),

Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000

intends to issue a solicitation requirement for a XM1044, 40mm Non-Lethal (NL) Blunt Trauma, Linked Cartridge which will operate out of the MK19 Mod 3 Grenade Machine Gun. The XM1044 Cartridge will be used to confuse, disorient, or momentarily distract potential threats without the use of deadly force. This cartridge is intended to be an area fire, low hazard, and non-shrapnel producing device. The XM1044 shall meet MIL-PRF-XM1044VB0, Performance Specification for the XM1044. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 332993.This will be a competitive acquisition resulting in the award of an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ), Firm Fixed Price contract(s) with a duration of five years, which includes Design Verification Testing (DVT), First Article Testing of the XM1044, 40mm NL Blunt Trauma, Linked Cartridges to MIL-PRF-XM1044VB0, and delivery of XM1044 inert, cutaway, and NL Cartridges. The required Delivery Schedule will be approximately 12,000-15,000 XM1044 per month.

An integrated assessment will be made from the results of the evaluation of the factors as set forth in Section M of the solicitation. Pre-award surveys may be conducted. The Government intends to make only one award as a result of this RFP. The Government will select for award the proposal that represents the Best Value to the Government.

It is anticipated that this solicitation will be posted on the US Army JM&L, LCMC Procurement Network website located at http://procnet.pica.army.mil and FedBizOpps https://www.fbo.gov/. Be advised that this notice does not constitute an RFP. The RFP will be issued on or about 23 December 2010. Contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database by accessing the CCR web site at http://www.ccr.gov in order to be eligible for contract award. The point of contact for this action is Jillian Foley, jillian.foley@us.army.mil, Contract Specialist, (973) 724-3271, ACC JM&L Contracting Center, Close Combat Center, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000.

Additional Info:

US ARMY TACOM-Picatinny Procurement Network

Contracting Office Address:

US Army, Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality (JM&L) Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000

Point of Contact(s):

Jillian Foley, Contract Specialist,
(973)724-3271

Jillian Foley

FCC to Air First-Ever Presidential Alert on Nation's Emergency Alert System

When I did radio in Santa Barbara, there was a protocol in place to conduct emergency broadcast transmissions and the radio station (per the FCC) required that the DJs conduct regular tests of the system. I don't recall ever transmitting an emergency broadcast, but I certainly conducted tests that usually only took a minute or two. President Obama's administration is taking it a step further and will broadcast an actual Presidential Alert on this system for the first time ever.

###

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.

See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

NEWS MEDIA

CONTACT:

February 3, 2011

Robert Kenny: 202-418-0506

Robert.Kenny@fcc.gov

FCC ACTION PAVES WAY FOR FIRST-EVER PRESIDENTIAL ALERT TO BE AIRED ACROSS U.S. ON NATION’S EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

Washington D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission today took action to help pave the way for the first-ever Presidential alert to be aired across the United States on the Nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS).

The national test will help determine the reliability of the EAS system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential danger nationwide and regionally.

The FCC voted unanimously to adopt a Third Report and Order that sets forth rules that will facilitate the federal government’s efforts to conduct a national EAS test by transmitting a Presidential Alert from Washington, D.C. to television and radio broadcasters, cable systems and satellite service providers who will then deliver the alert to the American public.

The test will assist the FCC, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), with assessing the current system and better determining what improvements need to be made to further strengthen the Nation’s EAS, particularly as broadband technologies continue to emerge. Although the date for the National EAS test has yet to be determined, establishing the rules is an important first step in the process.

As Next Generation EAS systems become operational over the next few years, they will complement other public alert and warning systems now being developed, including FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and the Commercial Mobile Alert System that will enable consumers to receive alerts through a variety of multi-media platforms on their smart-phones, blackberries and other mobile broadband devices.

The national test will require EAS participants to be part of the exercise and to receive and transmit a live code that includes a Presidential alert message to their respective viewers and listeners. The FCC, FEMA and NWS, in coordination with EAS participants, will work together to launch a nationwide EAS Public Education and Awareness Campaign that will include press statements, workshops, regional outreach, and television and radio public service announcements targeted to consumers in general, and more specifically persons with disabilities and seniors, as well as first responders and state, local and tribal governments. The outreach will help ensure that the American public is aware that the national test will be conducted and the benefits of these kinds of public alerts in a real emergency.

Action by the Commission, February 3, 2011, by Third Report and Order (FCC 11-12). Chairman Genachowski, and Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker. EB Docket No. 04-296.

For additional information about the Third Report and Order please contact Lisa Fowlkes, Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), at 202-418-7452 or via email: lisa.fowlkes@fcc.gov; or Gregory Cooke, Associate Chief, Policy Division, PSHSB, at 202-418-2351 or via email: gregory.cooke@fcc.gov.

NEWS

News media Information 202 / 418-0500

Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830

TTY 202/418-2555

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

ftp.fcc.gov

Federal Communications Commission

445 12th Street, S.W.

Washington, D. C. 20554

North Dakota Senate Passes Health Care Nullification Bill (Engrossed Senate Bill No. 2309)

The North Dakota Senate just passed a federal health care nullification bill (SB2309) on 27-19 vote. You can read the SB 2309 bill and journal on the official State page or below.

###

ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 2309

11.0742.03000
Sixty-second
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senators Sitte, Berry, Dever
Representatives Kasper, Keiser, Ruby

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to federal health care reform legislation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:

SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows:

Federal health care reform law.

1. The legislative assembly declares that the federal laws known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [Pub . L. 111 - 148] and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 [Pub . L. 111 - 152] are not authorized by the United States Constitution and violate its true meaning and intent as given by the founders and ratifiers.

2. The legislative assembly shall consider enacting any measure necessary to prevent the enforcement of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 within this state.

Page No. 1 11.0742.03000

ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 2309

FIRST ENGROSSMENT

###

********************
CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS

SB 2309: SEN. UGLEM (Human Services Committee) MOVED that the amendments on SJ pages 456-457 be adopted and then be placed on the Eleventh order with DO NOT PASS, which motion prevailed on a voice vote.

SECOND READING OF SENATE BILL
SB 2309: A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 54-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to federal health care reform legislation.

ROLL CALL
The question being on the final passage of the amended bill, which has been read, and has committee recommendation of DO NOT PASS, the roll was called and there were 27 YEAS, 19 NAYS, 0 EXCUSED, 1 ABSENT AND NOT VOTING.

YEAS: Andrist; Berry; Bowman; Christmann; Cook; Dever; Erbele; Freborg; Hogue; Holmberg; Kilzer; Klein; Laffen; Larsen; Lee, G.; Lyson; Miller; Nodland; O'Connell; Oehlke; Olafson; Schaible; Sitte; Sorvaag; Stenehjem; Wanzek; Wardner

NAYS: Burckhard; Dotzenrod; Fischer; Flakoll; Grindberg; Heckaman; Krebsbach; Lee, J.; Luick; Marcellais; Mathern; Murphy; Nelson; Robinson; Schneider; Taylor; Triplett; Uglem; Warner

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Nething

Engrossed SB 2309 passed.

San Diego Port Officer Says Nuclear Devices Have Been Found In An American Port

Scary thoughts, but it is not surprising. I don't recall the numbers, but I remember hearing that only a small amount of the cargo arriving in American ports is ever inspected. Hopefully, the Feds have closed the holes in the system, but I doubt it. If the above video is not working, click here for the link.

Global Food Company Sysco Declares Force Majeure Due to Devastating Freeze in Mexico (Expect Food Prices to Increase)

Mexico's Big Freeze - Dated Feb 8, 2011 from www.Sysco.com - World's Largest Food Aggregator, Marketer and...

I cannot find the original source at Sysco where this PDF originates, so I cannot confirm with 100% accuracy that this is a genuine Sysco document. Nevertheless, the alleged text of the document:

###

ALL OF OUR GROWERS HAVE INVOKED THE ACT OF GOD CLAUSE ON OUR CONTRACTS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING RELEASE. WE WILL BE CONTACTING YOU PERSONALLY TO REVIEW HOW THIS WILL AFFECT OUR CONTRACTED ITEMS WITH YOU GOING FORWARD.

THE DEVASTATING FREEZE IN MEXICO IS WORST FREEZE IN OVER 50 YEARS…

THE EXTREME FREEZING TEMPERATURES HIT A VERY BROAD SECTION OF MAJOR GROWING REGIONS IN MEXICO, FROM HERMOSILLO IN THE NORTH ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO LOS MOCHIS AND EVEN SOUTH OF CULIACAN. THE EARLY REPORTS ARE STILL COMING IN BUT MOST ARE SHOWING LOSSES OF CROPS IN THE RANGE OF 80 TO 100%.

EVEN SHADE HOUSE PRODUCT WAS HIT BY THE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPS. IT WILL TAKE 7-10 DAYS TO HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE FROM GROWERS AND FIELD SUPERVISORS, BUT THESE GROWING REGIONS HAVEN’T HAD COLD LIKE THIS IN OVER A HALF CENTURY. THIS TIME OF YEAR, MEXICO SUPPLIES A SIGNIFICANT PERCENT OF NORTH AMERICA’S ROW CROP VEGETABLES SUCH AS: GREEN BEANS, EGGPLANT, CUCUMBERS, SQUASH, PEPPERS, ASPARAGUS, AND ROUND AND ROMA TOMATOES.

FLORIDA NORMALLY IS A MAJOR SUPPLIER FOR THESE ITEMS AS WELL BUT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN STRUCK WITH SEVERE FREEZE DAMAGE IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY AND UP UNTIL NOW HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE PRODUCT OUT OF MEXICO TO FILL THEIR COMMITMENTS, THAT IS NO LONGER AND OPTION.

WITH THE SERIES OF WEATHER DISASTERS THAT HAS OCCURRED IN BOTH OF THESE MAJOR GROWING AREAS WE WILL EXPERIENCE IMMEDIATE VOLATILE PRICES, EXPECTED LIMITED AVAILABILITY, AND MEDIOCRE QUALITY AT BEST. THIS WILL NOT ONLY HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON SUPPLIES, BUT BECAUSE OF VERY STRONG BLOSSOM DROPS, THIS WILL ALSO IMPACT SUPPLIES 30 – 60 DAYS FROM NOW.

SOME GROWERS ARE MEETING WITH THEIR BOARDS RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY RE-PLANT, HOPING FOR A HARVEST BY LATE-MARCH-TO-EARLY-APRIL, OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD DISC THE FIELDS UNDER AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER SEASON.

Finland's National Narcolepsy Task Force Reports Increased Risk of Narcolepsy Observed among Children Given Pandemrix® H1N1 Vaccine

This recent report out of Finland links the Pandemrix® swine flu shot and narcolepsy. The National Narcolepsy Task Force will release the full report on August 31, 2011. The press release follows below after my text.

For further information on Pandemrix® (including the package insert and ingredients), check out my previous blog article GlaxoSmithKline's Pandemrix Approved for Use in the United Kingdom (Ingredients Include Squalene, Thimerosal and H1N1).

###

Increased risk of narcolepsy observed among children and adolescents vaccinated with Pandemrix®

1 Feb 2011

Among those 4-19 years of age who received Pandemrix®-vaccine had a manifold increased risk of falling ill with narcolepsy during the 8 months following vaccination in comparison to those unvaccinated in the same age group. Based on the evaluation done so far, the National Narcolepsy Task Force finds it probable that Pandemrix®-vaccination contributed to the observed increase in incidence of narcolepsy among those 4 -19 years of age. Currently, the most likely explanation is that the increase in narcolepsy is by joint effect of the vaccine and some other factor(s). At the moment, there is no evidence that the increase in narcolepsy observed in Finland could be attributed to the vaccine lots used. The results can be read in the Interim Report of the Task Force which is published on February 1st, 2011.

The association of Pandemrix-vaccination and narcolepsy was studied using extensive registry based data. Data gathered from hospital discharge registries on patients fallen ill with narcolepsy during years 2009-10 was linked with data from primary care records on pandemic vaccination. The observed association is so evident that it is unlikely that other so-called confounding factors could fully explain the phenomenon.

In Finland during years 2009–10, 60 children and adolescents aged 4-19 years fell ill with narcolepsy. These figures base on data from hospitals and primary care, and the review of individual patient records by a panel of neurologists and sleep researchers. Of those fallen ill, 52 (almost 90 percent) had received Pandemrix® vaccine, while the vaccine coverage in the entire age group was 70 percent. Based on the preliminary analyses, the risk of falling ill with narcolepsy among those vaccinated in the 4-19 years age group was 9-fold in comparison to those unvaccinated in the same age group. This increase was most pronounced among those 5–15 years of age. No cases were observed among those under 4 years of age. Also, no increase in cases of narcolepsy or signs of vaccination impacting risk of falling ill with narcolepsy was observed among those above 19 years of age.

In addition to Finland, increase in cases of narcolepsy observed only in Sweden and Iceland

In 2009, among countries using similar pandemic vaccine as was used in Finland, an increase in cases of narcolepsy has been observed only in Finland, Sweden and Iceland. Contrary to the observations in Finland, narcolepsy has occurred in greater numbers than expected also among unvaccinated children and teenagers in Iceland.

The association between narcolepsy and PandemrixR vaccine requires more investigations

During the coming months, these preliminary register based results will be confirmed in Finland. In further investigations, special attention will be given to infections and other stimuli in close time association with the pandemic vaccination. The significance of the possible joint effects will be explored.

In addition, other significant co-factors contributing to the onset of narcolepsy will be evaluated in epidemiologic, immunologic and genetic studies planned. The main aim of the immunologic studies is to clarify, whether the immunological responses to the different components of the Pandemrix® vaccine and to the A(H1N1) virus among those children and teenagers with genetic disposition to narcolepsy and those fallen ill with narcolepsy differ from the immunological responses of other children and teenagers not belonging to these risk groups.

It is also of utmost importance to find out whether the association is observed also elsewhere than in Finland. At present, Finland is participating in the ECDC contracted, VAESO led narcolepsy background incidence and case control studies which are being conducted in 9 European Union countries by pharmacovigilance researchers from Public Health Institutes, Regulatory Agencies and Universities. These studies will evaluate the contribution of the pandemic vaccines and other risk factors in the onset of narcolepsy, and confirm whether increase in incidence in narcolepsy is seen in other countries. The outcomes of these studies will be reported during early summer 2011.

By January 24, 2011, 56 notifications of narcolepsy in association with Pandemrix® vaccination have been received by the National Vaccine Adverse Events Register maintained at the National Institute of Health and Welfare in Finland. Of these, 54 cases belonged to the age group of 4–19 years. Among most of the notified cases, the onset of symptoms of narcolepsy had started approximately two months following Pandemrix® vaccination.

The final report from the National Narcolepsy Task Force will be released by 31st August 2011.

Further information

WHO: Pandemrix® vaccine and increased risk of narcolepsy

Terhi Kilpi
Director of Department of Vaccines and Immune Protection, Chairman of the Task Force
National Institute of Health and Welfare, THL
tel +358 20 610 8678

Hanna Nohynek
Vaccine Safety Officer, Secretary of the Task Force
National Institute of Health and Welfare,THL
Tel +358 20 610 8246

Short address: http://www.thl.fi/doc/en/24103

Picture of the Day - The Egyptian Uprising Against Mubarak (#January25)

If you cannot view the picture, you can click the following for an alternate link.

FLASHBACK: USDA's National Fluoride Database of Selected Beverages and Foods (2005)

USDA National Fluoride Database of Selected Beverages and Foods - December 2005

If the above embedded document is not viewable, click this link to view it. The database lists the fluoride content of certain foods and beverages.

U.S. Government Killed 4,120,295 Animals in 2009 (As Reported by Wildlife Services)

U.S. Government Kills 4,120,295 Animals in 2009 (As Reported by Wildlife Services)

The next time someone wants to get mad at Michael Vick for killing some pitbulls, please remember that the U.S. government killed over 4 million animals in 2009! If you cannot read the above the document, please click here to view it at the USDA page.

London Olympics Faces Imminent Cyberattack Says CIO Gerry Pennell

Long time readers of Remixx World! likely know that I focus many of my articles on cyberattacks and the potential that cyberattacks will be used to conduct false flag events to stage a cyber-9/11 event. I do not know if the powers-that-be will use the Olympics to stage a false flag event via cyberattack, but the CIO is saying that a cyberattack is imminent. However in the current state of the world, the source of the cyberattack could be a false flag, China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Israel, Rumsfeld, et cetera! If a cyberattack does occur, the media will likely blame some loner patsy living in his mother's basement.

Gerry Pennell, CIO of the London 2012 Olympics told CBR that, "We will be the target of a cyber attack. It'll happen for sure."

Source: Computer Business Review

Washington D.C.'s Homeland Security Department Wants to Access Security Cameras of Private Businesses

My commentary would not do the story justice, so please read the quoted text below. What will the powers-that-be want to access next? Peoples' private USB webcams?

D.C.'s homeland security department is pressing for access to more security cameras, including ones owned by private businesses and Metro.

The D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency submitted a plan to tap into private cameras, such as those found at banks or outside office buildings...

D.C.'s neighbor Baltimore, Maryland has allegedly accessed private cameras as well, when its police department was monitoring security cameras from local bars.

Source: WTOP.com

FEMA to Buy Pre-Packaged Meals for Seven (7) Million Survivors in Case of New Madrid Fault Disaster

If you grew up during the days I did and lived near the New Madrid fault, the date of December 3, 1990 probably brought fear to your heart. That was the day that a major earthquake was supposed to strike along the New Madrid Fault between St. Louis and Memphis. A major earthquake did not occur on the New Madrid that day, but the threat still looms over the region.

Today, FEMA certainly believes there is a viable threat along the New Madrid, because it has placed a solicitation for 7 million pre-packaged commercial meals. It has also placed a really short turnaround time before the bidding time closes (these bids are sometimes open as long as six months), so that means FEMA needs these meals ASAP. I wonder what FEMA knows that we don't know. You can check the bid here, in the archives or quoted below.

###

RFI for Pre-Packaged Commercial Meals
Solicitation Number: HSFEHQ-11-R-Meals
Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Office: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Location: Logistics Section

* Original Synopsis
Jan 20, 2011
11:54 am

Solicitation Number:
HSFEHQ-11-R-Meals
Notice Type:
Sources Sought
Synopsis:
Added: Jan 20, 2011 11:54 am

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) procures and stores pre-packaged
commercial meals to support readiness capability for immediate distribution to disaster survivors routinely. The purpose of this Request for Information is to identify sources of supply for meals in support of disaster relief efforts based on a catastrophic disaster event within the New Madrid Fault System for a survivor population of 7M to be utilized for the sustainment of life during a 10-day period of operations. FEMA is considering the following specifications (14M meals per day):

- Serving Size - 12 ounce (entree not to exceed 480 calorie count);
- Maximum calories - 1200 and/or 1165 per meal;
- Protein parameters - 29g-37g kit;
- Trans Fat - 0;
- Saturated Fat - 13 grams (9 calories per gram);
- Total Fat - 47 grams (less than 10% calories);
- Maximum sodium - 800-930 mg;

Requested Menus to include snacks (i.e. fruit mix, candy, chocolate/peanut butter squeezers, drink mix, condiments, and utensils). All meals/kits must have 36 months of remaining shelf life upon delivery. Packaging should be environmentally friendly.

- Homestyle Chicken Noodles
- Potatoes
- Vegetarian Pasta
- Green Pepper Steak w/Rice
- BBQ sauce w/Beef and diced
- Chicken w/Rice and Beans
- Chicken Pasta

The following questions are put forward to interested parties:

1. Please specify the type of organization responding to the questions (i.e. small business, large business, industry association, etc.) If a small business, please specify all Small Business Administration socioeconomic programs under which your organization qualifies.

2. Does your organization have a product available that meets all the specifications above?

If the answer is "Yes:" What is the country of origin?
If the answer is "No:" (a) Can your organization produce such a product? (b) What would be the product lead time? (c) What country are the manufacturing plants located in?

3. Can your organization delivery the product to a specified location within a 24 hour period

4. Please provide an implementation plan for critical delivery orders and delivery surge orders.

5. What states do you already have contracts in place with to provide these types of products?

6. Please detail the type of meals and quantities you can provide for each day following a disaster.

7. Please provide alternatives to the meal specifications that your organization can provide.

8. What type of delivery schedule would your organization recommend for the meals?

9. Does your organization have the capabilities to deliver products directly to FEMA's CONUS Distributions Centers?

10. Can your organization track deliveries from point of origin to point of delivery?

11. What is your lead time for delivery once FEMA has placed an order?

Interested parties may also provide brochures, web links, or other literature about their cots available for the specified users. Responses to this RFI are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

Vendors are encouraged to ask the Government questions regarding this potential requirement. Questions must be submitted in writing to Julieann L. Phillips at julieann.phillips@dhs.gov not later than 2:00PM, 26 January 2011 to be answered. Responses to questions will be provided not later than 2:00PM, 03 February 2011. Request for Information closing date is 03 February 2011.

Contracting Office Address:
500 C Street SW
Patriots Plaza -- 5th Floor
Washington, District of Columbia 20472
Primary Point of Contact.:
Julieann L. Phillips,
CONTRACTING OFFICER
Julieann.phillips@dhs.gov
Phone: 202-646-3234
Fax: 202.646.1765

DARPA to Get a New $100 Million Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia Courtesy of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler Financing

Click the actual link to the press release about DARPA's new $100 million headquarters if you don't trust my cut and paste abilities.

###

HFF Arranges $100 Million Permanent Financing for DARPA's Future Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia WASHINGTON, Jan 10, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Washington, D.C. office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) announced today that it has arranged a $100 million permanent loan for the 355,000-square-foot future headquarters of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Virginia. This project is the first phase of the 1.2 million-square-foot Founders Square mixed-use development. HFF senior managing directors Bill Asbill and Bob Donhauser and director Dan McIntyre worked exclusively on behalf of the borrower, Ashton Park Associates I, LLC, to secure an 18-month forward commitment from Prudential Mortgage Capital Company, the commercial mortgage lending business of Prudential Financial, for a 15-year, fixed-rate loan. In 2009, HFF arranged the $98 million construction loan for the project with Landesbank Hessen-Thuringen, also known as Heleba. The Shooshan Company is handling the development of the property, which was designed by RTKL. Clark Construction Group is the general contractor. The 13-story, trophy quality office building is due for completion in the first quarter of 2012. The property will meet the Department of Defense's Level IV security standards and is designed to be certified LEED-Gold. Situated at 675 North Randolph Street, the property is across from the Ballston Common Mall in the heart of Washington, D.C.'s Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor (R-B Corridor). Formed in 1986, The Shooshan Company has planned, developed, managed and/or leased approximately two million square feet in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. Projects include One and Two Liberty Center, The Residences at Liberty Center, Liberty Tower, Arlington Square, One Virginia Square and Quincy Street Station. Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, LP ("HFF") and HFF Securities LP ("HFFS") are owned by HFF, Inc. (NYSE: HF). HFF operates out of 17 offices nationwide and is a leading provider of commercial real estate and capital markets services to the U.S. commercial real estate industry. HFF together with its affiliate HFFS offer clients a fully integrated national capital markets platform including debt placement, investment sales, advisory services, structured finance, private equity, loan sales, and commercial loan servicing. www.hfflp.com. SOURCE: HFF HFF William S. Asbill, 202-533-2500 Senior Managing Director wasbill@hfflp.com or Daniel J. McIntyre, 202-533-2500 Director dmcintyre@hfflp.com or Kristen M. Murphy, 713-852-3500 Associate Director, Marketing krmurphy@hfflp.com

Cold Weather Kills Nearly 10,000 Cattle in Vietnam

Image source - Thomas Schoch (Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic)

Birds are falling out of the sky. Fish are washing up on shore. And now cattle are dying by the thousands in Vietnam due to cold weather.

The Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) announced about huge losses in cattle caused by the long cold spell in recent days.

The department stated the costly deaths occurred despite the best efforts of local authorities and people to save their livestock.

Following statistics at 4pm on January 16, total of 9,248 heads of cattle died in provinces including Lang Son, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Bac Can, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Son La, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Bac Giang, Lai Chau, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh.

Source: Voice of Vietnam

Central Bank of Ireland to Begin Printing €51 Billion of Its Own Money!

Ireland may be a canary in the coal mine for the state of the European economy like Iceland was a couple of years back such that the Irish financial state may be a predictor of future economic shocks in the rest of the European Union. Fake money is never a good thing for an economy and similar to our Federal Reserve, the Central Bank of Ireland is about to start printing its own money. As the Wu-Tang Clan once said, "Cash rules everything around me."

EMERGENCY lending from the ECB to banks in Ireland fell in December, the first decline since January 2010, but only because the Irish Central Bank stepped up its help to banks.

The Irish Independent learnt last night that the Central Bank of Ireland is financing €51bn of an emergency loan programme by printing its own money.

Source: Independent.ie

Thief Steals Laptop Containing Irreplaceable Prostate Cancer Cure Research Data

This post should serve as an example of why you should always backup your work - especially when you are working on novel cancer research. A husband and wife cancer research team left their laptop in the car while they stuffed their faces at Panera. Unfortunately, they also decided to keep their valuable (potentially life-saving) data on this non-secure laptop and of course, someone jacked the laptop.

Unfortunately, most of the data was never backed up, a mistake Shin said could be a major setback in the fight against cancer.

Some of that data can never be replicated. Other parts of that research could take up to two years to do over. That's earth shattering considering 30,000 men die in the U.S. every year from prostate cancer, meaning people could lose their lives all because of a crime.

Source: News9.com (Oklahoma City)

President Obama Wants an Internet ID for All Americans (Secretary Locke's Remarks at National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace 2011)

While the government currently has the ability to track, trace and database a person's Internet usage, it cannot do so as easily when a person uses the Internet from work or from a public Internet terminal. However, a universal Internet ID eliminates this potential tracking issue, because the Internet ID would be unique to each individual Internet user in the United States of America. The White House now wants everyone to have an Internet ID. No word on what happens when a person's Internet ID is hacked or identity-jacked by nefarious parties to do evil deeds.

"We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy, and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities," Locke continued.

Source: NBC Bay Area ; White House - Cyberspace Policy Review: Assuring a Trusted and Resilient Information and Communications Infrastructure

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The remarks were made by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) at Stanford University on January 7, 2011. A transcript of the event can be viewed through Google Documents (an excerpt is below) and the highlighted portion below can be viewed at the 08:55 mark in the above video.

To help meet these challenges, the Obama administration recently released a comprehensive cyberspace policy review outlining a series of necessary actions by the public and private sector including improving identity solutions, identity management services, and privacy enhancing technologies. This review has helped to lay the groundwork for the administrations forthcoming national strategy for trusted I'dties in cyberspace, or NSTIC. The final version of this strategy will be signed by the president in the coming mods and Howard Schmidt will be from the White House will be talking more about this in just a few minutes. And many of you are familiar with the public draft release this past summer, and many of you participated in the open public process with comments on the strategy and we very much want to thank you for your thoughts and your recommendations. The end game of course, is to create an identity ecosystem where individuals and organizations can complete on-line transactions with greater confidence. Putting greater trust in the on-line identities of each other, and greater trust in the infrastructure that the transactions run over. Let's be clear, we're not talking about a national ID card. We're [not] talking about a government controlled system. But what we are talking about is enhancing on-line security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorizing a dozen password through the creation and use of more trusted digital I'dties. To accomplish this, we're going to need your help. And we need the private sector's expertise and involvement in designing, building and implementing this identity ecosystem. To succeed we'll also need a national program office at the Department of Commerce focused on implementing our trusted I'dties strategy. The commerce department already has an expensive experience in this realm. Last April for instance we launched an inter net policy task force to address the most pressing Internet issues of the day. The task force was made up of experts from a contrast the department, experts in trade policy, intellectual property, information policy, Cybersecurity, and standards. And the task force is working on develop Cybersecurity policy recommendations for the commercial sector, as well as policy recommendations on other Internet issues like privacy, copy right protection, and international eCommerce. We've reached out expensively for public comments on all these topics and the task force just last month released initial recommendation for strengthening on-line privacy protection. The commerce department has the National Institute of Standards and Technology, one of the preeminent laboratories within the Federal Government that's part of the commerce department. It also has significant long standing investments in Cybersecurity R&D and in standard dags programs. And all of this experience can help a new program office be effective facilitators for both government and private sector engagement and indeed private sector leadership. In the end, we want to build consensus on legal and policy frame works necessary to make the trusted I'dties strategy successful, including ways to enhance privacy, free expression and open markets. We want to work with industry to identify where new standards or collaborative efforts may be needed and we want to support inner governmental collaboration and we want to support important pilot projects. These are important undertakings. And today's symposium and today's announcement is just an early step in a much longer journey. Of course, we all know that these pilot projects, any follow-on commercial deployments and the immersed ens of an identity ecosystem itself will not be a pan see a. There is no magic bullet to solve all the Cybersecurity issued out there. ( However we do know that robust identity solutions can substantially enhance the trustworthiness of on-line transactions. And they not only can improve security, but if done properly, can enhance privacy as well. Such an I'd identity ecosystem must be led by people that made Internet the Internet what it is today. That's why Howard and and Pat Gallagher our. Have come to Silicon Valley, which remains an epi center of American in in ovation and entrepreneur and Pat's going to be here for the rest of the day to talk more about our efforts but also to gather input from all of you.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Says United States of America is Insolvent

Insolvency means that an entity cannot pay its debts owed. Is the United States currently insolvent or soon to be insolvent? Secretary Geithner seems to believe so and says so in a letter to Congress regarding raising the statutory debt limit. Specifically, Geithner says, "Failure to raise the limit would precipitate a default by the United States." A default by the United States means that the country would not be able to pay its debts when the debts came due. Therefore, the country would be insolvent.

Nevertheless, I argue that the country is currently insolvent, because the statutory debt ceiling is an arbitrary number as determined by Congress that does not appear to have any basis except for allowing the country to continue operating in its current financial fantasy.

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Secretary Geithner Sends Debt Limit Letter to Congress

By: Erika Gudmundson

1/6/2011

Page Content

Today, Secretary Geithner sent the following letter to Congress regarding the debt limit (download the signed letter here):

January 6, 2011

The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Leader:

I am writing in response to your request for an estimate by the Treasury Department of when the statutory debt limit will be reached, and for a description of the consequences of default by the United States.

Never in our history has Congress failed to increase the debt limit when necessary. Failure to raise the limit would precipitate a default by the United States. Default would effectively impose a significant and long-lasting tax on all Americans and all American businesses and could lead to the loss of millions of American jobs. Even a very short-term or limited default would have catastrophic economic consequences that would last for decades. Failure to increase the limit would be deeply irresponsible. For these reasons, I am requesting that Congress act to increase the limit early this year, well before the threat of default becomes imminent.

As you know, in February of 2010 Congress passed legislation to increase the debt limit to $14.29 trillion. As of this writing, the outstanding debt that is subject to the limit stands at $13.95 trillion, leaving approximately $335 billion of “headroom” beneath the current limit. Because of the inherent uncertainty associated with tax receipts and refunds during the spring tax filing season, as well as other variable factors, it is not possible at this point to predict with precision the date by which the debt limit will be reached. However, the Treasury Department now estimates that the debt limit will be reached as early as March 31, 2011, and most likely sometime between that date and May 16, 2011. This estimate is subject to change depending on the performance of the economy, government receipts, and other factors. This means it is necessary for Congress to act by the end of the first quarter of 2011.

At several points in past years, Treasury has taken exceptional actions to delay the date by which the limit was reached in order to give Congress additional time to raise the limit. These extraordinary actions include: suspending sales of State and Local Government Series (SLGS) Treasury securities[1]; suspending reinvestment of the Government Securities Investment Fund (G-Fund)[2]; suspending reinvestment of the Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF)[3]; and determining that a “debt issuance suspension period” exists, permitting redemption of existing, and suspension of new, investments of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF)[4]. Treasury would prefer not to have to engage again in any of these extraordinary measures. If we are forced to do so again, these measures could delay the date by which the limit is reached by several weeks. Once these steps have been taken, no remaining legal and prudent measures would be available to create additional headroom under the debt limit, and the United States would begin to default on its obligations.

As discussed in greater detail below, raising the debt limit is necessary to allow the Treasury to meet obligations of the United States that have been established, authorized, and appropriated by the Congress. It is important to emphasize that changing the debt limit does not alter or increase the obligations we have as a nation; it simply permits the Treasury to fund those obligations Congress has already established.

In fact, even if Congress were immediately to adopt the deep cuts in discretionary spending of the magnitude suggested by some Members of Congress, such as reverting to Fiscal Year 2008 spending levels, the need to increase the debt limit would be delayed by no more than two weeks. The limit would still need to be raised to make it possible for the government to avoid default and to meet the other obligations established by Congress.

The national debt is the total amount of money borrowed in order to fulfill the requirements imposed by past Congresses and under past presidencies, during periods when both Republicans and Democrats were in control of different branches of government. These are legal obligations, incurred under the laws of the United States. Responsibility for creating the debt is bipartisan, and responsibility for meeting the Nation’s obligations must be shared by both parties.

As the 112th Congress turns to this issue, I want to stress that President Obama believes strongly in the need to restore balance to our fiscal position, and he is committed to working with both parties to put the Nation on a fiscally responsible path. This will require difficult choices and a comprehensive approach to reduce the gap between our commitments and our resources. It will require that the government spend less and spend more wisely. The President has already taken important steps, including enacting the savings in the Affordable Care Act; restoring Pay-As-You-Go budgeting; and undertaking a three-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending. The President’s proposals would put us on a path to cut the deficit by more than half in the medium term, and substantially reduce the rate of growth in federal health care costs in the long term. The President looks forward to working with Members of the 112th Congress on additional measures to address our medium- and long-term fiscal challenges.

Because Congress has always acted to increase the debt limit when necessary, and because failure to do so would be harmful to the interests of every American, I am confident that Congress will act in a timely manner to increase the limit this year. However, for the benefit of Members of Congress and the public, I want to make clear, for the record, what the implications of a default would be so there can be no misunderstanding when the issue is debated in the House and Senate.

Reaching the debt limit would mean the Treasury would be prevented by law from borrowing in order to pay obligations the Nation is legally required to pay, an event that has no precedent in American history. Such a default should be understood as distinct from a temporary government shutdown resulting from failure to enact appropriations bills, which occurred in late 1995 and early 1996. Those government shutdowns, which were unwise and highly disruptive, did not have the same long-term negative impact on U.S. creditworthiness as a default would, because there was headroom available under the debt limit at that time.

I am certain you will agree that it is strongly in our national interest for Congress to act well before the debt limit is reached. However, if Congress were to fail to act, the specific consequences would be as follows:

• The Treasury would be forced to default on legal obligations of the United States, causing catastrophic damage to the economy, potentially much more harmful than the effects of the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009.
  
• A default would impose a substantial tax on all Americans. Because Treasuries represent the benchmark borrowing rate for all other sectors, default would raise all borrowing costs. Interest rates for state and local government, corporate and consumer borrowing, including home mortgage interest, would all rise sharply. Equity prices and home values would decline, reducing retirement savings and hurting the economic security of all Americans, leading to reductions in spending and investment, which would cause job losses and business failures on a significant scale.
  
• Default would have prolonged and far-reaching negative consequences on the safe-haven status of Treasuries and the dollar’s dominant role in the international financial system, causing further increases in interest rates and reducing the willingness of investors here and around the world to invest in the United States.
  
• Payments on a broad range of benefits and other U.S. obligations would be discontinued, limited, or adversely affected, including:
• U.S. military salaries and retirement benefits;
• Social Security and Medicare benefits;
• veterans’ benefits;
• federal civil service salaries and retirement benefits;
• individual and corporate tax refunds;
• unemployment benefits to states;
• defense vendor payments;
• interest and principal payments on Treasury bonds and other securities;
• student loan payments;
• Medicaid payments to states; and
• payments necessary to keep government facilities open.

For these reasons, any default on the legal debt obligations of the United States is unthinkable and must be avoided. It is critically important that Congress act before the debt limit is reached so that the full faith and credit of the United States is not called into question. The confidence of citizens and investors here and around the world that the United States stands fully behind its legal obligations is a unique national asset. Throughout our history, that confidence has made U.S. government bonds among the best and safest investments available and has allowed us to borrow at very low rates.

Failure to increase the debt limit in a timely manner would threaten this position and compromise America’s creditworthiness in the eyes of the world. Every Secretary of the Treasury in the modern era, regardless of party, has strongly held this view. Given the gravity of the challenges facing the U.S. and world economies, the world’s confidence in our creditworthiness is even more critical today.

I hope this information is responsive to your request and will be helpful as Congress considers this important legislation.

Timothy F. Geithner

cc: The Honorable John A. Boehner, Speaker of the House
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader
The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader
The Honorable Dave Camp, Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means
The Honorable Sander M. Levin, Ranking Member, House Committee on Ways and Means
The Honorable Max Baucus, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance
The Honorable Orrin Hatch, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Finance
All other Members of 112th Congress

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[1] SLGS are special purpose Treasury securities issued to state and local government entities that have cash proceeds to invest from their issuance of tax exempt bonds. There is no statutory or other requirement that Treasury issue SLGS, so Treasury may suspend SLGS sales during a debt limit impasse.

[2] The G-Fund is a money-market-like defined-contribution retirement fund for federal employees. Amounts in the G-Fund are invested in non-marketable Treasury securities, and the entire balance of the fund matures daily. Treasury has authority to suspend reinvestment of all or part of the balance of the G-Fund when the Secretary determines that the fund cannot be fully invested without exceeding the debt limit.

[3] The ESF is used by Treasury to purchase or sell foreign currencies. The dollar-denominated holdings of the ESF are invested in non-marketable Treasury securities, and the entire balance of the dollar-denominated investments matures daily. There is no requirement to keep the dollar balances of the ESF invested.

[4] The CSRDF is a government fund that holds and invests in nonmarketable Treasury securities to provide defined benefits to retired federal employees. Treasury has authority to redeem existing CSRDF investments and suspend new investments when the Secretary determines that the fund cannot be fully invested without exceeding the debt limit.