Stuff to Blog About and More: In the News September 13th, 2008

Low Potential for Tropical Cyclone Formation (click for full outlook)

AN AREA OF DISTURBED WEATHER...INCLUDING SOME OF THE REMNANTS OF
TROPICAL STORM JOSEPHINE...IS LOCATED A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES
NORTHEAST OF THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS. ASSOCIATED SHOWER ACTIVITY
IS LIMITED AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM...IF ANY...IS EXPECTED TO
BE SLOW TO OCCUR AS IT MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 MPH.

IKE and Friends
Hurricane Ike made landfall on Galveston Island as the Category 2 storm. Ike has been battering the coast with driving rain and phenomenal wind gusts. Ike has caused 1.8 million customers, or more than 4 million people to lose power
Ferocious wind and floodwaters from Hurricane Ike severed power to more than 4 million people in the Houston area early Saturday made landfall on Galveston Island.

Josephine still threatens the Bahamas with storms. A new disturbance, unnamed at this time, is visible in the Atlantic.

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Oprah is heading to DC

Attention Oprah fans. Monday's episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will be dedicated to a Senate bill targeting child predators, according to a press release issued by Harpo Productions.

The show, will detail the "extent and pervasiveness of child pornography trafficking in America," Winfrey will ask viewers to contact their senators about U.S. Senate Bill 1738, the Protect Our Children Act, Harpo said.

"What you are going to see is going to shock you to the core, but I'm asking you to please not turn away because this is happening in our country, to our children, in the United States every day," Winfrey said in the release.

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Panda update

Remember the baby Panda's from the Atlanta Zoo? Here is their blog update from Friday, September 12
Lun Lun’s newest cub continues to do well. His prognosis has been upgraded from “guarded” to “good”. When the cub had to be placed in an incubator a week ago Monday, his body temperature and blood sugar levels were low. The cub responded well to supportive care, and has done even better back with Lun Lun. Based on several laboratory tests, we suspect Lun Lun may have been suffering from mild mastitis, an infection and/or inflammation of the mammary glands. This may have led to mild discomfort that resulted in her not attending to the cub just enough to result in the decrease in body temperature at that early age. Both Lun Lun and the cub were placed on a course of antibiotics because of these suspicions, and they have responded well to the treatment.

The cub has steadily increased in weight since his re-introduction to Lun Lun on Tuesday September 2. He has gained 197 grams (7 ounces) since then. The Zoo Atlanta Panda and Veterinary teams with the collaboration of our Chinese colleague continue to closely monitor cub and mom. We are recording daily observations on the cub’s nursing activities and behavior, and checking his weight twice a day. During one of these checks, I give him a quick daily veterinary check as well. His heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature remain stable and within normal ranges. His rate of growth is outstanding! If the cub continues to do this well, we are hoping to slowly decrease the intervals between weight checks. Lun Lun takes advantage of the times when the cub is away and eats her favorite treat (sugar cane) and part of her regular diet. Lun Lun has been an amazing mom and cares for the cub well.
Sam Rivera, DVM
Interim Director of Veterinary Services

FTC: Your Rights: Credit Reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Warning About "Imposter" Sites

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information on free annual credit reports, read Your Access to Free Credit Reports.