User Comments - nycwe

Posted on: My Bank Card Was Eaten!

You have ATMs where you just slide the card, like Citibank, and others which keep the card. So I keep forgetting. It takes normally two weeks to get a new card in China and there is no way you can get your money. It happened again a month ago with my Bank of China card in Guanzhou and it took them three weeks to get me a new card. - I would recommend them to streamline the paperwork, I probably had to sign five papers and the agent had to process twice as many. In the US you call the bank and have a new card in a few days by mail, and you can always access your account with your check book or your driver's license.

Posted on: Quirky Ways of Staying Warm in China

Dr Joseph Mercola
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
An electric blanket seems like a good idea when winter is upon you. You can turn the heater down at bedtime and stay comfortable throughout the night. But the central question is:  Are they safe? It’s true - electric blankets are convenient and cost effective. But it is important to know that they may also be hazardous to your health. In addition to the fire danger associated with a defective or an old, worn electric blanket, there is also another health risk to consider -- the electromagnetic field you’ll be sleeping under for several hours every night. The electric field is created by voltage, which determines the force with which the electricity is pushed through wires. Most electric fields can be shielded by the design of the appliance, or physically, by walls or other barriers. The magnetic field is created by the current, which is the amount of electricity being pushed. Magnetic fields, which are the main cause of health concerns, can travel through most barriers and for long distances, and are difficult to block. All electromagnetic energy falls somewhere on the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation to microwaves, x-rays and gamma rays. ELF fields are generated by household appliances, including electric blankets, and overhead power lines, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer such as leukemia. Why Electric Blankets are A Bigger Threat Than Other Household Appliances Researchers have concluded that you should not only be aware of the potential harm of low-level magnetic fields, you should also limit your exposure as much as possible. This is especially true for appliances held close to the body, as would be the case with electric blankets. The magnetic fields given off by various household appliances diminish sharply the farther you are from the appliance. In the case of electric blankets, however, a study conducted by Dr. Nancy Wertheimer in the mid-1980s demonstrated that the reading at any power level (level 1 all the way up to level 9 or 10) was 10 to 20 mG (milliGauss) next to the blanket, and 5 to 10 mG six inches away from it. These numbers represent the field strength to which you’re exposed when sleeping under an electric blanket. The current is balanced at the center of the blanket, but unbalanced at the outer edges. It is the imbalance that causes a significant magnetic field to be generated. While there is heated debate as to what EMF level is considered safe, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States has proposed a safety standard of 1 mG, but many experts believe even this level is too high. As you can see, electric blankets are capable of creating a magnetic field anywhere from 5 to 20 times higher than the EPA’s proposed safe level of exposure. Meanwhile, many scientists warn that the enforced standards for electromagnetic exposures are too lax, and that the safety standards need to be revised in order to protect human health. Specific Risks Linked to Electric Blanket EMFs Electric blankets create a magnetic field that penetrates about six to seven inches into your body - for hours at a time. This qualifies as chronic exposure. Epidemiological studies have linked electric blankets with miscarriages and childhood leukemia. Recent data reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that regular use of an electric blanket may increase breast cancer risk in some women, and according to a 2007 report published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, using electric blankets was associated with a 15 percent higher prevalence of endometrial cancer than never having used one. The same study also revealed that the use of electric blankets for 20 years or more was associated with 36 percent higher prevalence of endometrial cancer. Other studies have shown that the EMFs generated by electric blankets suppress melatonin production. Melatonin is the most important detox agent for your brain and is also an anti-inflammatory. Electromagnetic radiation can make inflammation worse by creating more potent mycotoxins, so reducing inflammation is vital. Research included in the BioInitiative Report mentioned above have also found links between melatonin disruption and the promotion of breast cancer. Electric Blankets and Pregnancy This clearly is not a good idea and something that is easily avoided. The unborn fetus is likely the most susceptible to this type of EMF radiation. Additionally, if you use an electric blanket during early pregnancy, you may increase the risk of miscarriage. Studies indicate that women who used an electric blanket around the time of conception and during early pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to miscarry than women who did not. Is There a “Risk Free” Electric Blanket? In response to EMF concerns, U.S. electric blanket manufacturers now sell blankets that claim to generate no harmful electromagnetic radiation. Although these “zero magnetic field” blankets reduce or eliminate magnetic fields, they may still generate electric fields. In my opinion, even minimal exposure poses an unnecessary risk, especially for children, pregnant women, people who are chronically exposed to EMFs from other sources, and those with Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome (EHS).

Posted on: Quirky Ways of Staying Warm in China

Dr Joseph Mercola
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
An electric blanket seems like a good idea when winter is upon you. You can turn the heater down at bedtime and stay comfortable throughout the night. But the central question is:  Are they safe? It’s true - electric blankets are convenient and cost effective. But it is important to know that they may also be hazardous to your health. In addition to the fire danger associated with a defective or an old, worn electric blanket, there is also another health risk to consider -- the electromagnetic field you’ll be sleeping under for several hours every night. The electric field is created by voltage, which determines the force with which the electricity is pushed through wires. Most electric fields can be shielded by the design of the appliance, or physically, by walls or other barriers. The magnetic field is created by the current, which is the amount of electricity being pushed. Magnetic fields, which are the main cause of health concerns, can travel through most barriers and for long distances, and are difficult to block. All electromagnetic energy falls somewhere on the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation to microwaves, x-rays and gamma rays. ELF fields are generated by household appliances, including electric blankets, and overhead power lines, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer such as leukemia. Why Electric Blankets are A Bigger Threat Than Other Household Appliances Researchers have concluded that you should not only be aware of the potential harm of low-level magnetic fields, you should also limit your exposure as much as possible. This is especially true for appliances held close to the body, as would be the case with electric blankets. The magnetic fields given off by various household appliances diminish sharply the farther you are from the appliance. In the case of electric blankets, however, a study conducted by Dr. Nancy Wertheimer in the mid-1980s demonstrated that the reading at any power level (level 1 all the way up to level 9 or 10) was 10 to 20 mG (milliGauss) next to the blanket, and 5 to 10 mG six inches away from it. These numbers represent the field strength to which you’re exposed when sleeping under an electric blanket. The current is balanced at the center of the blanket, but unbalanced at the outer edges. It is the imbalance that causes a significant magnetic field to be generated. While there is heated debate as to what EMF level is considered safe, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States has proposed a safety standard of 1 mG, but many experts believe even this level is too high. As you can see, electric blankets are capable of creating a magnetic field anywhere from 5 to 20 times higher than the EPA’s proposed safe level of exposure. Meanwhile, many scientists warn that the enforced standards for electromagnetic exposures are too lax, and that the safety standards need to be revised in order to protect human health. Specific Risks Linked to Electric Blanket EMFs Electric blankets create a magnetic field that penetrates about six to seven inches into your body - for hours at a time. This qualifies as chronic exposure. Epidemiological studies have linked electric blankets with miscarriages and childhood leukemia. Recent data reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that regular use of an electric blanket may increase breast cancer risk in some women, and according to a 2007 report published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, using electric blankets was associated with a 15 percent higher prevalence of endometrial cancer than never having used one. The same study also revealed that the use of electric blankets for 20 years or more was associated with 36 percent higher prevalence of endometrial cancer. Other studies have shown that the EMFs generated by electric blankets suppress melatonin production. Melatonin is the most important detox agent for your brain and is also an anti-inflammatory. Electromagnetic radiation can make inflammation worse by creating more potent mycotoxins, so reducing inflammation is vital. Research included in the BioInitiative Report mentioned above have also found links between melatonin disruption and the promotion of breast cancer. Electric Blankets and Pregnancy This clearly is not a good idea and something that is easily avoided. The unborn fetus is likely the most susceptible to this type of EMF radiation. Additionally, if you use an electric blanket during early pregnancy, you may increase the risk of miscarriage. Studies indicate that women who used an electric blanket around the time of conception and during early pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to miscarry than women who did not. Is There a “Risk Free” Electric Blanket? In response to EMF concerns, U.S. electric blanket manufacturers now sell blankets that claim to generate no harmful electromagnetic radiation. Although these “zero magnetic field” blankets reduce or eliminate magnetic fields, they may still generate electric fields. In my opinion, even minimal exposure poses an unnecessary risk, especially for children, pregnant women, people who are chronically exposed to EMFs from other sources, and those with Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome (EHS).

Posted on: The Complexities of 'De'

Takes a minute in GZ. A little patience goes a long way.

Posted on: To bag or not to bag?

Conservative comes from conserving. Why not conserving the environment.