Canada gets high ranking for cancer survival rates

I was digging around trying to find information re 5-year survival rates of nations with Universal Health Care versus USA. Here's an interesting piece from Canadian source published July 2008.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080716/cancer_statistics_080716/20080716/

"...report on worldwide cancer survival rates, Canada ranked near the top of the 31 countries studied with an estimate five-year survival rate of 82.5 per cent...U.S. has a five-year survival rate in all the cancers studied of 91.9 per cent, while Europe's is much lower at 57.1 per cent..."

"...The research was conducted by more than 100 scientists, led by Coleman of the Cancer Research UK Cancer Survival Group and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Researchers compiled data on the five-year survival rates of patients who were diagnosed between 1990 and 1994 and were followed up with until the end of 1999. Breast, colon, rectum and prostate cancer patients were included in the study..."

Ignore the 230 miles-per-gallon claims being touted for GM's plug-in hybrid

Good read if you want to know some facts about MPG calculations versus claims. - MBC

http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/techview/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14292008&fsrc=nwl

"...The efficiency ratings that makers are claiming for their plug-in hybrids are nonsense. They are little more than figures plucked from the air because they depend on specific sets of circumstances. That makes comparisons with fossil-fuelled cars almost impossible..."

"...forget GM’s outlandish claims: the Chevy Volt will get at best 50mpg in the city. As your correspondent noted at the beginning, that is not at all bad—but it is nowhere near the preposterous 230mpg being touted..."

The Economist - How many minutes to earn the price of a Big Mac?

Being a BigMac fan I couldn't resist this. Global average looks to be about 38 minutes! - MBC

http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14288808&fsrc=nwl

"...UBS report published this week offers a handy guide to how long it takes a worker on the average net wage to earn the price of a Big Mac in 73 cities. Fast-food junkies are best off in Chicago, Toronto and Tokyo, where it takes a mere 12 minutes at work to afford a Big Mac. By contrast, employees must toil for over two hours to earn enough for a burger fix in Mexico City, Jakarta and Nairobi..."

The Economist - US housing market

http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14291870&fsrc=nwl

"...S&P/Case-Shiller index, which tracks home prices in 20 cities, ticked up slightly in May, its first gain in 34 months. New construction of single-family homes rose in July for the fifth straight month, while sales of existing homes are expected to show their fourth consecutive month of gains when latest numbers are released on August 21st. Dig deeper, however, and the recovery’s foundations look shaky. A glut of supply will also weigh on prices, thanks to a wave of repossessions. Seized properties now account for almost one in four sales. Some 23% of homes with mortgages are underwater by one estimate, and others are even higher. Deutsche Bank’s securitisation team expects negative equity to peak at 48% of total homes by 2011..."

Write your Congressman and Senators

I have written to my Congressman (John Olver) and Senators (Kennedy & Kerry) as follows:

I am writing to ask you to present legislation that requires all Congressmen and Senators, as part of their swearing-in oath, commit to have read, in full, all bills being brought forward for vote. Considering the importance and long-term impact much of this legislation entails it is a simple and valid requirement. Congress may realize an added benefit of creating an incentive to be more concise and judicious with legislative wording. Attached to this bill should be further stipulation that all legislation applies equally to our Representatives as it does to the People.


Feel free to cut and paste and send to yours.

Daily Pfennig - 8/21/09

http://www.dailypfennig.com/

"...leading indicators climbed for a fourth straight month and the Philadelphia fed reported a big jump in their gauge of activity, but the initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose. Unemployment in the US will continue to be a drag on the economy, slowing any recovery and possibly pushing the US back into recession (or as some predict a depression). Today we will get some news on the housing market, and while the media will pump up the fact that month on month sales continue to rise, another report released yesterday showed mortgage delinquencies hit a record high in July. The proportion of homeowners delinquent on their mortgage or in foreclosure rose to its highest levels in four decades. An ominous sign for the US economy is that the problem loans have shifted away from the subprime borrowers to those driven into delinquency by unemployment. More than half the mortgages in the foreclosure process during the second quarter were prime loans..."

"...European markets took the Euro higher against the dollar after reports showed German services and French manufacturing unexpectedly expanded in August. Another report showed an index of German services industry grew for the first time in more than a year. This data confirms that the largest nation in the EU is pulling itself out of recession...composite index of both services and manufacturing for the 16 nations sharing the euro moved to 50 from 47, another strong indication that Europe is starting to grow again...recovery in Europe, on the other hand, is being fueled by increased consumer confidence and internal private sector demand...Currency traders got excited about these European data releases and took the Euro back above 1.43..."

"...Mohamed El-Erian, who is the CEO of bond giant PIMCO was on the news wires with suggestions for the central bankers meeting in Jackson Hole. He apparently is worried about the disjointed approach these central bankers have taken in their intervention with the markets and believes the approach will lead to volatile markets and slower global growth. He also believes we are in for a drop in the value of the US$. "The question is not whether the dollar will weaken over time, but how it will weaken," said El-Erian. "The real risk is that you will get a disorderly decline." According to El-Erian, the euro will rise to $1.60 by the end of 2010 and the Canadian dollar will appreciated to 1.01..."

How Over-Regulating Goldman Sachs Will Lead to Higher Oil and Commodity Prices

I don't really understand all this deeply but have to appreciate the author's view regarding trust in free market. - MBC

http://www.moneymorning.com/2009/08/21/commodities-regulation-controversy/

"earning hefty profits on its commodities trading for nearly 18 years, heavyweight trader Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) now finds itself on the hot seat, defending this crucial source of revenue. And while that may not be good for Goldman, it’s also bad for investors..."

Complicated story of Goldman's big move into commodities market in 1991. Author touches on Goldman's 'special' relationships but makes a credible argument, the free market should be allowed to ultimately rule. - MBC

"...If regulations with real “teeth” – in this case, position limits on energy futures – are actually put in place... While the final result is difficult – if not impossible – to picture, here’s my best guess: The financially lucrative, economically prestigious and strategically important commodities-trading business won’t fold up and disappear – it will just move to another country, where it’s better treated, and even nurtured.

Perhaps it will end up in Asia, as has been the case with so many other important businesses during the past couple of decades. And that, once again, will end up costing America jobs – these jobs high-paying and prestigious – at the worst possible juncture..."