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Backseat Driver

Backseat Driver's Journal
Backseat Driver's Journal
February 18, 2024

High-altitude winds over Washington soared to 265 mph, near record

Propelled by the jet stream, at least two flights departing from hubs in the Mid-Atlantic reached speeds over 800 mph

By Jason Samenow
February 18, 2024 at 11:33 a.m. EST''
'
Winds roared to speeds of 265 mph high over Washington late Saturday — at about 35,000 feet above ground, cruising altitude for airplanes — as a powerful jet stream swept over the region.

The National Weather Service office serving the Washington-Baltimore region said the 265-mph wind speed was the second-highest measured since records began in the 1950s. The only higher wind speed recorded at a comparable “For those flying eastbound in this jet [stream], there will be quite a tailwind,” the Weather Service wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Virgin Atlantic flight 22, from Washington Dulles International Airport to London, took off at 10:45 p.m. Saturday and landed 45 minutes ahead of schedule.altitude was 267 mph on Dec. 6, 2002''.

United Airlines flight 64 from Newark to Lisbon, which departed at 8:35 p.m. Saturday, reached a ground speed of 835 mph just off the East Coast, according to Flight Aware, which would rank among the highest on record. The flight reached Lisbon 20 minutes early. It comes less than a month after a China Airlines flight reached a speed of 826 mph over the Pacific Ocean. It was also propelled by a tailwind over 250 mph. [snip]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/02/18/record-jet-stream-winds-dc-flights/ (paywall)

February 9, 2024

FDA says hands tied after suspect named in applesauce lead poisonings

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/fda-says-hands-tied-suspect-211949390.html

CBS News
FDA says hands tied after suspect named in applesauce lead poisonings
Alexander Tin
Updated Fri, February 9, 2024 at 5:10 AM EST·3 min read


FDA says hands tied after suspect named in applesauce lead poisonings
Authorities in Ecuador have named a suspect in their investigation of now-recalled lead-tainted applesauce, which has been linked to poisonings of more than 400 Americans across 43 states, the Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday — but U.S authorities have "limited authority" to take steps against him.

Ecuador's authorities allege that Carlos Aguilera, a cinnamon grinder in Ecuador, is "the likely source" of the poisonings, the FDA said in an update, noting that the investigation by the Agencia Nacional de Regulación, Control y Vigilancia Sanitaria and legal proceedings to determine responsibility for the contamination are still ongoing.

U.S. authorities have said for months that they suspected that the lead poisonings could be intentional, saying one of the theories they were pursuing was that it was the result of "economically motivated adulteration" of the cinnamon used in the applesauce.

"FDA's investigation is ongoing to determine the point of contamination and whether additional products are linked to illnesses," the agency said in its statement. [snip]
January 29, 2024

Question: Why don't casino ATMs have "deposit" buttons to bank one's winnings on the spot or at least return the "junk

fees" designed to curb ill-advised withdrawals??? My daughter, bless her heart, took me to the casino and spotted my play $100 for my birthday. We stopped at the bank ATM beforehand and withdrew some cash; no problem. Headed out for a couple hours of leisure fun!

Code in Ohio requires familial financial responsibility. Hahaha...but the State hardly ever enforces the rule. So I played, I won some and returned her monetary birthday spot in cash. Decided to get a few extra bucks from my account to play a bit longer as there was ample funds for at least another hour's fun. I'm not starving, after all. Guess what, the casino ATM declined my transaction...went to the cashier cage...declined there also. Called my bank...got transferred to fraud dept who explained they had flagged the account??? when there was sufficient funding to cover even the "junk fees." They asked for lots of info to verify my use, then removed the flag...Long story short, I did lose it but had a ball. (The grandkid always gets the change from the wins fpr his piggy bank. It amounted to about $5).

January 20, 2024

It's still 8 degrees here, and the constant drip, drip, drip of the indoor faucets and open cupboards and vanities are

driving me insane after a week...and, of course, it will be in our water/sewer bills...I've dripped those faucets on dish- and wash-clothes to lessen the sound but....drip, drip, drip, drip, drip, drip....

The office warned us about raising the values of our rent insurance and not letting it lapse...and threatened to investigate "water emergencies" and hold tenants responsible for damages if we don't follow their freeze alert protocols, especially if we go on OOT vacations and not keep the furnace warm enough or fail to drip, drip, drip... SMH at the genius that put inaccessible water piping without shut-off values that lead to outdoor faucets,, front and back, between the units and the main. Hope all your pipes continue to be cozy and intact!

December 31, 2023

Hmmm...FDA Recall of Israeli-identified pathogen in Reckitt-Mead-Johnson Infant Formula (Nutramigen)

I'm so done, yet still so grateful possible foods get recalled, causing large amounts of waste and/or availability of specialty food products, this one for cow-milk allergic babies. Bolding emphesis is mine: Here's this new one first identified by who-- Israel?

https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/reckittmead-johnson-nutrition-voluntarily-recalls-certain-nutramigen-hypoallergenic-powdered-infant

Nutramigen is a hypoallergenic infant formula that is used by infants with allergies to cow’s milk. Although this product is a specialty infant formula, there are substitute infant formulas available. If the infant formula your child uses is unavailable, parents and caregivers should work with their child’s health care provider to find a suitable substitute. The FDA does not expect that this recall will have a major impact on the U.S. supply and availability of powdered infant formulas, and the agency has been in communication with other manufacturers to request their assistance in ensuring a robust supply of hypoallergenic product.

Cronobacter sakazakii is a pathogen found naturally in the environment that can enter manufacturing facilities and home environments on hands, shoes, and other contaminated surfaces. While infant formula firms are required to test a representative sample of their product for both Cronobacter and Salmonella species, this important verification step does not guarantee the product is free of Cronobacter. Cronobacter contamination can occur at very low-levels and is not evenly distributed throughout the product, making it difficult to detect. Powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and public health agencies, including the FDA, encourage caregivers to take steps to prepare powdered infant formula as safely as possible.

The Israeli Ministry of Health notified the FDA on Dec. 14 that Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula produced at the Mead Johnson Nutrition Zeeland, Michigan, facility, and exported from the U.S., had initially tested positive for Cronobacter species. The product was tested at the Israeli border during routine sampling. The FDA did not have sufficient information based on this initial test alone to warrant a product action and immediately took additional investigative steps.In consultation with the FDA, Israel initiated whole genome sequencing (WGS) on the sample obtained from the infant formula to confirm the initial findings of Cronobacter species and to determine whether the isolate was Cronobacter sakazakii.

The FDA immediately commenced a for-cause inspection at Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition's Zeeland facility on Dec. 18 that included collecting environmental samples as well as testing additional samples of finished product from the same batch of Nutramigen infant formula powder tested by Israel. While the FDA’s inspection is ongoing, all testing conducted to date by the FDA and Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition has been negative for Cronobacter.

On Dec. 28, the FDA received the WGS results from Israeli health officials, which confirmed a finding of Cronobacter sakazakii. The FDA immediately contacted Mead Johnson Nutrition and recommended a recall.

On Dec. 29, Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition agreed to initiate a voluntary recall of 675,030 cans of Nutramigen powdered infant formula distributed to the United States. Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition manufactured additional products during this finished product campaign and distributed them outside of the U.S. Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition will be contacting the regulatory authorities in each of those countries to determine the proper disposition of those products.

The FDA has taken numerous steps to enhance the safety of powdered infant formula through the development of a Cronobacter prevention strategy, enhanced inspectional activities, increased engagement with the infant formula industry, and by pursuing regulatory action when appropriate. The agency also sent a letter to manufacturers, packers, distributors, exporters, importers, and retailers involved in the manufacturing and distribution of powdered infant formula to share current safety information and call on the industry to take prompt action to improve processes and programs for the protection of our most vulnerable population.

The agency remains committed to helping ensure an adequate supply of infant formula and giving consumers the utmost confidence that infant formula available in the U.S. is safe and nutritious.

December 15, 2023

If you did the holiday shopping mostly on-line this year, how are you finding shipping? --

With less than 9-10 days left, have you rec'd all your packages??? Especially between primary carriers and USPS. I've got Informed Delivery and I've noted confusion and delay in which sites are not matching up with the inital carriers' and USPS's tracking systems. Packages are not getting proper turnovers to American shipping/postal services, and packages are shipped overall by very circuitous routes to their final destinations. Some packages have been "in transit" which were marked in stock at the time of order was made for over 30 days and steps in the tracking systems seem to being missed on routes that don't seem to make any sense. Packages are marked as remaining in what amounts to sorting facilities awaiting further handoff or trucks, air, and Customs for up to a week.

Because I don't have a daytime car, I've had to send DH to the post office 3 times to pick up packages that could easily have been delivered by the truck earlier or on the day it was "promised" but not delivered in the mailbox, in the postal package locker, to my complex's office, or at my door by a known carrier. Keep your eyes open if you don't want to be wrapping on Christmas Eve/Day!!!

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