Wednesday, February 15, 2012

**Love is like quicksilver in the hand.
Leave the fingers open and it stays.
Clutch it, and it darts away.**
Dorothy Parker


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
6.0 OFF COAST OF OREGON
5.3 FIJI REGION

Yesterday -
2/14/12 -
5.3 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.8 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.4 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.4 CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.0 VANUATU
6.4 SOLOMON ISLANDS
5.1 SOUTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
5.4 AEGEAN SEA

A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday roughly 160 miles off the coast of Oregon - The quake struck at 7:31 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 6.2 miles in the Pacific Ocean 159 miles west of Coos Bay, Oregon. It was felt as far away as San Francisco, California. There were immediate reports of damage or injuries. No tsunami warning was issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Magnitude-5.6 Quake Strikes Northern California - The moderate earthquake struck Northern California's coast Monday afternoon, rattling nerves around the Oregon border but yielding no immediate reports of major injuries or damage. The magnitude-5.6 quake struck at 1:07 pm about 18 miles inland in an unincorporated part of Humboldt County. The epicenter was a rural area near the small community of Weitchpec on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation.

TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
-Tropical cyclone 10p (Jasmine) was located approximately 65 nm west of Tonga.
-Tropical cyclone 13s was located approximately 1000 nm east-southeast of Diego Garcia.
-Tropical cyclone 12s (Giovanna) was located approximately 100 nm west of Antananarivo, Madagascar. The convection has struggled over the rugged terrain of central Madagascar. Despite the disruption to the central
convection, the fast translation speed should allow the system to re-emerge in the Mozambique Channel and quickly reorganize. Previously, the model guidance called for the system to make landfall over Mozambique.

Cyclone Giovanna threatens Madagascar, “massive destruction” possible. Extremely dangerous cyclone Giovanna, equivalent to a category 4 hurricane, was set to make landfall on the east coast of Madagascar Tuesday. The powerful storm contains maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (125 knots).

HEAVY SNOW / EXTREME COLD -

Britain has endured its coldest night of the winter so far with temperatures plummeting close to -18C in some areas - part of a RECORD-BREAKING COLD SNAP.

EXTREME HEAT & DROUGHT / WILDFIRES / CLIMATE CHANGE -

Wild weather shifts give Fairbank, Alaska, an UNUSUALLY warm February - After a mild start to the winter in October and the first half of November, the temperature plummeted to record-breaking levels during a pre-Thanksgiving cold snap that featured six consecutive record low temperatures.

HEALTH THREATS -

RECALLS & ALERTS:
-Egg supplier Michael Foods, Inc. is recalling numerous lots of their hard cooked eggs due to the potential for contamination by Listeria monocytogenes, triggering additional recalls:
Allison's Gourmet Kitchens Recalls Prepared Salads that Contain Hard Cooked Eggs Due to Potential Health Risk.
Spartan Stores Voluntary Withdraw hard-boiled eggs.
Grand Strand Sandwich Company of Longs, SC is recalling its 4.5oz and 5 oz Chicken Salad Sandwiches, with the following labels: Grand Strand Sandwich, Lunch Box Sandwiches, and Country Harvest Sandwiches.
GH Foods, CA, is recalling sandwiches associated with the affected eggs.
Greencore, USA is recalling approximately 550 pounds of egg salad sandwiches.
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling hard-cooked eggs, as well as prepared foods that contain hard-cooked eggs.
-Price Chopper Supermarkets is issuing a voluntary recall on its Coyote Joes Shredded Taco Cheese 16 oz, with an expiration date of April 21, 2012 due to the possibility of shredded plastic fragments inside the packaging.
-Kradjian Imp Co, Glendale, CA is recalling 231 Cases of Cedar Tree brand Tresse Cheese, 16 oz and Cedar Tree brand Shinglish cheese, 16 oz, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
-Alpine Slicing and Cheese Conversion Company of Monroe, WI is voluntarily recalling “Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Premium Fondue Blend -- Emmentaler Swiss & Gruyere Cheese”, “Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Mild Colored Cheddar Cheese”, “Brennan’s Cellars Shredded Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese” because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
-Bekkum Family Farms Announces The Recall Of Nordic Creamery Brand Grumpy Goat Shreds With A Sell By Date Of 10-MAR-12 Due To Possible Listeria Contamination.
-Green Cedar Dairy of Dearborn, Michigan announced the recall of All Natural Ackawi Cheese and All Natural Chives Cheese with a sell by date up to July 1, 2012 because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
-Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.announced a Class I voluntary recall of all LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts sold in the 6 oz. package which are potentially contaminated with Salmonella.
-Green Valley Food Corp. is recalling approximately 35,159 cases of a variety of products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
-Jones' Seasoning Blends LLC announced a voluntary recall of Jones' Mock Salt Original as well as Jones' Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend due to the potential contamination of Salmonella.
-Advanced Animal Nutrition announced a voluntary recall of its dry Dog Power Dog Food - due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit.
-O'Neal's Feeders Supply, Inc. announced a voluntary recall of its dry Arrow Brand Dog Food - because it contains corn which was detected to have higher than the acceptable levels of aflatoxin.
-Petrus Feed and Seed Stores, Inc. announced a voluntary recall of its dry dog food – 21% Protein Dog Food in 40 lb Petrus Feed bags. The product is being recalled because the product was manufactured with corn which tested above acceptable levels for Aflatoxin.
-ZIP International Group, LLC Expands Alert on Listeria in Sliced Herring Fillet in oil (forelka) 330 gram and 600 gram.
-Wholistic Herbs, Inc. Recalls "Koff & Kold" and "Kold Sore" Because Of Possible Health Risk. Products intended for use in the eye that are non-sterile have the potential to cause eye infections, which may be sight threatening. Also, nasal solutions that are not sterile could lead to a respiratory infection.