New Warning:Even Slightly High Blood Pressure Is Dangerous

A new study by the University of California San Diego shows a substantially greater risk of stroke for many people who have pre-hypertension,a precursor condition to hypertension,or high blood pressure.The study considered 12 previous studies covering more than 500,000 patients.
Pre-hypertension is a blood pressure greater than 120/80,but less than 140/90,which is hypertension proper.Until this new study was published in the journal Neurology,the amount of risk pre-hypertension posed was unclear.For those younger than 65,the study shows,even a slightly high blood pressure of 121/81 increases stroke risk by 22%.A blood pressure of from 130-139/80-89 increased stroke risk nearly 80%.In general,those with a blood pressure of 120-139/80-89,the range for pre-hypertension,had a 55% greater risk of having a stroke than the rest of the population.
The data for those over 65 did not yield the same result-probably because their stroke risk is determined by other factors,such as other medical conditions they may have.
It is also now believed that patients with pre-diabetes,the precursor condition to diabetes,in which the blood sugar is only somewhat elevated,also may be experiencing significant health impacts.It seems that chronic disease is more of a continuum than was previously understood.

Boeing 787:Signed,Sealed and Delivered-At Last

After a ponderous three year delay caused by everything from supplier issues to design flaws,Boeing has finally delivered the first 787 Dreamliner to Japan's All Nippon Airways.A collective sigh of relief may well have sounded around the world's airline headquarters as some 500 Boeing employees,many of them carrying umbrellas on the rain-soaked runway of Washington state's Everett Field,walked the state-of-the-art aircraft to All Nippon executives in a dramatic transfer ceremony.Boeing hailed the event as the beginning of a new era in commercial aviation.
The Dreamliner is Boeing's first new civilian aircraft on the market in 16 years.It will make its first commercial flight on October 26 on a route from Tokyo to Hong Kong.
The sleek airliner is the first to be partially fabricated from carbon fiber composite material.The lightweight mesh of carbon fiber and epoxy makes the 787 20% more cost effective to fly,cutting back markedly on the amount of fuel needed.Modular construction reduces the assembly time from months to a matter of days.The plane's components are produced by a global network of contractors.
The Dreamliner,which features larger luggage bins and windows,as well as soft blue lighting,is the best-selling new jet in history.Despite the delays,Boeing has 821 orders for the plane on its books.This will ensure the jobs of thousands of workers for decades to come.
Boeing(BA)

Australia/New Zealand Weathering Crisis

Wayne Swan,the Australian Treasurer,has been attending the international meetings in Washington.He reports a mood of sober realism as the Euro debt crisis was discussed.The global economy is in a dangerous phase.Australia's fundamentals are rock-solid,however,Mr.Swan pointed out.
Hong Kong's Swire Properties,Ltd.,a division of Swire Group,is looking towards an eventual initial public offering.There's a long way to go before we can say we have a listing,according to CEO Martin Cubbon.In the medium term,there's no fund-raising needed.There is a great deal of uncertainty around the world.Swire develops and manages commercial,retail and residential real estate.
The New Zealand trade deficit was 641 million dollars in August.The New Zealand dollar held to declines because of this.Nonetheless,the Treasury and Reserve Bank remain optimistic about the economy.
It was 66F in Sydney on Monday under partly cloudy skies.The wind was Southeast at 18 mph,and the humidity was 52%.

Owens Corning Sales Jobs

Owens Corning Basement Finishing Systems is hiring for D.C. area sales positions.They offer qualified leads,excellent training and 70k+ potential.Send resume to cnichols@emodelusa.com or call Curt Nichols at 248-568-2185.
Owens Corning:Innovations for living.

East Coast Suffers Mosquito Attacks

At a baseball game in Philadelphia tonight,the players were greatly bothered by mosquitoes.The Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals were swatting at the bugs more than they were swatting the baseball.
It has been noted that mosquitoes will hang around a backyard deck in Northern Maryland.When a human sits down on the deck,they attack the poor soul.Asian Tiger mosquitoes,which carry dengue fever,yellow fever,St.Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus,have been observed among them.
The white-striped Asian Tiger mosquito spread to the U.S. in 1985.They were found in a shipment of tires in Houston,Texas.They subsequently spread up the East Coast as far north as Maine.
These parasites usually attack in the day,resting in the morning and at night.They will bite birds and other mammals besides humans.This makes them a bridge vector for pathogens,transmitting them from species to species.
The Asian Tiger mosquitoes originated in South East Asia,but have now adapted to cooler climates.Their eggs can overwinter,and even adults can survive winter if they find a warmer hiding place.
Besides blood,they drink plant nectars.
Some municipalities have embarked on spraying programs to protect the public health.

Elderly Whitestone Man Blames West Nile Virus On Abandoned Property

Elderly Whitestone Man Blames West Nile Virus On Abandoned Property

Thoughts of a Hedge Fund Pioneer

The macro environment is so bad everywhere,observes Julian Robertson,founder of the old hedge fund Tiger Management Group.Our political leadership is doing nothing.Europe is just in a state of financial collapse.I think we're in plenty of trouble,and we really have to watch ourselves carefully.
The weak currencies in Europe are still good shorts.They carry a lot of risk with them.We're very long the Norwegian krone.We think that's a wonderful currency.The Canadian dollar is from a very well-run country.
Apple is worth 3-4 times what it's selling for.Google is very attractive.There's a big dichotomy between the macro and stock prices.
Basically,Washington is not really trying to lead;they are trying to continue to exist.
Master Card and Visa are very appealing.The risk of any credit loss is taken by the banks,not the credit cards.I think they will continue to grow rapidly in the 20% range for some time to come.There's a need for credit in the world,Mr.Robertson noted.
The billionaire Julian R. Robertson,Jr.,KNZM(Hon),started one of the first hedge funds in 1980.He has an honorary knighthood from New Zealand,where his family owns several lodges.
Mastercard(MA),Visa(V),Apple(AAPL),Google(GOOG)