A Courtesy of Healing Touch Chiropractic and Dr. Gary L. Easter
September 1st, 2004

After analyzing an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report, the environmental coalition, Clear the Air, found more than half the fish living in lakes and reservoirs have excessive levels of mercury. So much so, these fish aren't safe for children and child-bearing women to eat.

The EPA report studied 268 chemicals from some 2,500 fish living in 500 lakes and reservoirs around the United States. Environmental groups like Clear the Air analyzed the EPA report to highlight more information about contamination, states suffering from high levels of contamination and the companies responsible for the problem.

Clear the Air is pressing the EPA to set tougher mercury emissions standards for coal-fired power plants than the current federal administration wants. Although new standards for power plants are to be finalized next spring, the EPA isn't expected to complete their final survey until 2006.

Among the EPA findings:

• Texas power plants produce the most mercury emissions annually. Five of the 10 leading power plants with the highest mercury emissions are located in the Lone Star State
• More than three-quarters of the samples surpassed the safe limit for children under 3 eating fish twice a week and more than half the women of an average weight who eat a similar amount

Even with the controls, Clear the Air claims they aren't nearly enough.

EPA defended its findings, believing mercury to be a serious public health issue and that's why they are working with the FDA to provide warnings to consumers about fish consumption and mercury. Earlier this year, both agencies issued a joint warning that advised women in their child-bearing years and children not to eat shark, swordfish and king mackerel, fish known to have high levels of mercury.

Industry groups defended EPA's stance against the environmental coalition's findings, arguing coal-fired power plants make up less than 1 percent of worldwide mercury emissions.

Although an independent analyst from another environmental organization agreed with that number, coal-fired power plants account for 41 percent of all mercury emissions (some 90,000 pounds of mercury) and 80 percent in some regions including the Great Lakes and Northeast.

New York Times August 4, 2004

Questions Answered About Your HMO By Dr. Ben Lerner

Q: What does HMO stand for?

A: It stands for Horrible Medical Office, but originally, it came from the phrase "Hey Moe" as in Moe of the Three Stooges who pioneered the most economical medical procedure known today, which is if you want to forget about your pain, poke yourself in the eye.

Q: Does all care require pre-certification?

A: No, only care that you need.

Q: Can I get coverage for my pre-existing condition?

A: Yes, as long as you don't expect us to pay for it.

Q: What happens if I want alternative treatment to medicine?

A: You'll need alternative forms of payment.

Q: What if I have a heart attack, a stroke, surgery, or an old condition, all of which may require long-term rehabilitation?

A: Find a cheap doctor or a great stock because our policy is: "If you can stand, you can walk. If you can walk, you are well. And if you are well, we don't pay."

Q: My plan only covers generic drugs, which I heard are even less safe than usual. What if I want a brand name?

A: Convince that particular drug company to offer us a better kickback, or pay for your doctor to go to Hawaii. If that doesn't work, poke yourself in the eye.

Q: I have a $120 per month premium, my doctor's visits are $360, and my co-pay is $5 per /visit. How do you profit or not lose money?

A: The doctor promises us not to provide any treatments that cost us any money, and we promise to send his nurses enough co-pays to cover their salary and the doctor's rent. The drug companies cover the golf, tennis or whatever else it is that doctors do anyway.

Q: What do I do if I get sick when I am away?

A: You really should wait until you get home to get sick because we do not have any deals worked out with out-of-town doctors.

Q: I think I need to see a specialist, but my doctor will not allow me to go. Can a general practitioner really correct your spine, write a prescription for glasses, and perform a heart transplant in his office?

A: Listen, you got an HMO so you can have affordable coverage right? Well, you might as well have it all done in one place for one price where you know you are covered. All you are risking is the $10 co-payment, so there really is no harm in giving him a shot.