Acknowledgements

I am indebted to my fellow business journalists at many different organizations,who stream their information to me day and night.There is no way I could observe everything I need myself.I am particularly grateful to The Wall Street Journal,The Washington Post,The Associated Press,CNBC,Nightly Business Report,Bloomberg,The Washington Business Journal,the BBC and PBS for their assistance with matters of fact.

Health Uncle:Fighting Cancer

A recent study shows that eating apples and onions lower your risk of getting pancreatic cancer.Apples and onions contain a certain flavonoid,an antioxidant that protects cells from the disease.This effect was especially strong in smokers,though nonsmokers also benefited from apples and onions.Another basic way of protecting yourself from cancer is losing weight.About 67% of Americans are overweight.Eating right,eating less and exercising have all been proven to reduce your cancer risk.Consider skipping that extra donut.

Berkshire Hathaway Shuffles Stakes

Warren Buffett's holding company,Berkshire Hathaway,has been rearranging its portfolio.It unloaded about 9.5 million shares of staples behemoth Procter and Gamble,or about 9% of its holding.It also jettisoned more than half of its Johnson and Johnson shares,selling approximately 33.1 million shares.Berkshire's Anheuser Busch holding was liquidated after Belgian firm InBev purchased the American brewer in November 2008.Constellation Energy Group and NRG Energy were positions that Berkshire augmented,while Nalco Holding Company,a water treatment,equipment and services firm,was the only totally new purchase,at 8.7 million shares.The rearrangement took place over Q4 2008.

What Kraft Offers

Kraft Foods offers value with some of its products.We give value to the consumer with products such as Kraft cheese singles and mac and cheese,Ms.Rosenfeld believes.Kraft Velveeta cheese is a staple of backwoods cabins.I certainly think the economic stimulus plan is a step in the right direction,the executive stated.Kraft Foods is a holding of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.It was spun off from tobacco titan Altria Group.

Kraft Prices Competitive

I feel very good about our prices relative to our competition,Irene Rosenfeld said.Our prices are up significantly in response to the high input costs,but we do expect to see our volume growth improve from Q2.Our stock has been hit less than many stocks in the Dow and the S and P 500.If we can continue to do what we do well,then our stock will follow,the Kraft CEO predicted.

Kraft Foods Keeping On

Consumers are eating at home more now,which helps Kraft Foods,CEO Irene Rosenfeld points out.We really haven't seen a significant effect on our products.The recession has been a boon to our business.I've been very pleased with the ability of our brands to hold up against the private labels.They are iconic brands,Ms.Rosenfeld noted.Nabisco,for instance,competes with store brand cookies and crackers.

Health Uncle:Vaccine Formulated

The flu vaccine for 2009-10 has been finalized by the Centers for Disease Control.The three-part vaccine will be nearly identical to that for 2008-09.The two Type A strains in the vaccine will be the same,but the Type B strain will be slightly modified.With the recent ramping-up of their capacities,the pharmaceutical companies will soon be able to produce a four-part vaccine,affording even more protection.Even if the pre-selected strains are not what actually occurs in a given season,those vaccinated are still better off than those who don't get the shot.They still have a degree of protection.If they get the flu,it may not be as severe a case as if they had not been vaccinated.Consider getting this potential lifesaver when it becomes available in the autumn-especially if you are over 50 or are in other high risk groups.