Body of Autistic Boy From Queens Found

This blog stays on the cases it reports,so it informs you that the body of a young teenage boy,Avonte Oquendo,14,who had been missing since October 2013,was found by a young woman on January 16 along the rocky banks of the East River in Queens,New York.The bones were identified on January 21 by DNA testing that matched his remains with relatives'samples.His striped shirt and Air Jordan sneakers were also found at the scene.
The remains of the boy,who was severely autistic and could not speak,were located several miles northeast of Riverside School,where video captured his exit from a side door when a security guard stopped him from leaving the front way.No cause of death had been determined,the Medical Examiner said.*
The case is actually not unique.Like Alzheimer's patients,autistic children are given to elopement,or wandering off at the slightest opportunity-sometimes with fatal consequences.This blog discovered there have been several similar cases in recent years.It stands to reason that their poor communication skills and having no comprehension of danger can get them into serious trouble.
Death by drowning is a common theme in these cases.Near Montreal in May 2011,the body of three year-old Adam Benhamama was found near the banks of the Mille-Illes River in Terrebonne,Quebec more than a month after he disappeared.He had vanished while playing with his seven year-old sister when his father stepped into a friend's house for a minute.
On May 19,2013,the body of seven year-old Owen Elliot Black was found floating in the water off Perdido Key,Florida.The initial massive sea,air and land searches for the blonde child had yielded nothing.He had been vacationing with his mother when he slipped away.
It is believed that water attracts such children because it soothes their overstimulated nervous systems.At the same time,it is impossible for caregivers to be on top of them every single minute.The children know this,and many of them seize the few opportunities they get to explore their surroundings.Some have proposed tracking the children with GPS as a solution;others say we should not treat them like wildlife that way.*
This blog offers its deepest sympathy to the families and friends of these children.

Asia This Day:Indian Prime Minister Departs for Russia,China

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has embarked on a five day journey to Russia and China.While in China,he will be discussing the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement the two countries have been negotiating to avoid clashes over extensive sections of their 4,000 kilometer border.Mr.Singh will also attempt to improve trade with both Russia and China,including energy and defence projects.*
The scope of our relationship with Russia is unique,the Prime Minister said,encompassing strong and growing cooperation in areas such as defence,nuclear energy,science and technology,hydrocarbons,trade and investment.*
India and China have historical issues and there are areas of concern,Mr.Singh continued.The two governments are addressing them with sincerity and maturity,without letting them affect the overall atmosphere of friendship and cooperation.I will be discussing some of these issues as part of strategic communication between leaders with a forward-looking and problem-solving approach.*
Besides arms purchases from Russia,while in Moscow he will also discuss completion of a nuclear reactor Russia has been building on India's southern coast that has caused safety concerns.*
In April,Indian and Chinese troops faced off for three weeks in a remote Himalayan desert region,when India accused Chinese soldiers of intruding 20 kilometers/12 miles into Indian territory.Another standoff occurred in August.*
China's Fosun International is buying 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza in New York City for 725 million dollars.It is the largest ever NYC purchase by a Chinese buyer.JP Morgan Chase will relocate most of its employees from the iconic 60 storey tower,which has 2.2 million square feet of office space,to other sites in the city.The US is China's number one choice for real estate investing;Canada is second.*
In golf,South Korean Jin Jeong won the European Tour's ISPS Handa Perth International in Australia Sunday,defeating England's Ross Fisher in a playoff.Australians Brody Ninyette and Dimitrios Papadatos,along with Englishman Danny Willett,tied for fifth place.*
JP Morgan Chase(JPM)

The Flu:Just How Bad Is It This Year-plus prevention tips

So far,42 states have reported influenza cases this season.In New York state,flu hospitalisations are up 169% from 2012.Flu season usually peaks in January or February,but some are saying it seems a bit earlier than normal this year,in their opinion.The predictions of what strains we would see were right on target,based on early indications from Asia.This year's vaccine was based on that information.
The CDC ranks it as a moderate to severe outbreak.
Children,teens and the elderly are most susceptible to the leading strain of the virus this year,H3N2.Other strains occurring include 2009's H1N1 and also influenza B.All three are covered by the vaccine,which is now in short supply in some areas.It is still advisable to be vaccinated.
Urban areas such as New York City are hotbeds of the illness,with their massive and crowded populations.Less crowded states such as Maine and South Dakota are reporting a low incidence of the disease so far.NYC is reporting more than 15,000 cases,as opposed to last year's 4,400.
To help prevent the flu,shared objects such as phones and keyboards should be wiped with disinfectant.Windows should be opened so air droplets containing the virus can be carried out by the breeze.Hands should be sanitised by alcohol-based cleansers to kill the virus.

Good News:Mabel Pantaleon Found

Mabel Pantaleon,the New York actress whose disappearance five days ago was splashed all over the media,has been found at JFK airport.Ms.Pantaleon,who turns 31 in October,was picked up by Port Authority Police when she attempted to buy a plane ticket and her name popped up on a watch list.
She was unharmed and taken to the psychiatric emergency room at Jamaica Hospital at 9:20 pm.
Her mother,Sylvia,said everything is over,thank God.She's O.K. and she is in the hospital.Thank God for everything.
Ms.Pantaleon,a former beauty pageant contestant and nursing student,suffers from manic depression and reportedly had been angry with her family when she left their apartment Sunday morning.Her mother thought she had gone off her medication.
The whole city and country was worried about her-even the whole world.We're so glad that she's back.

Missing Person:New York Actress Mabel Pantaleon

Mabel Pantaleon,30,an actress who has appeared on "Dexter" and "Mystery ER," has gone missing since Sunday morning.Ms.Pantaleon is 5 foot 7 and weighs 157 pounds.She has brown eyes and black hair.Last seen at her Harlem apartment on W.157th St. in Upper Manhattan,she was wearing a red shirt with the word "Drake" on the front,police said.She may be driving a silver 2004 Toyota Camry.
Described as being in good physical condition,the former nursing student at New York City College of Technology has a history of mental illness in the form of  manic depression.Anyone who knows where she is is asked to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
About 5.7 million Americans are thought to suffer from manic depression,or bipolar disorder,which is characterized by alternating high and low moods,mania and clinical depression.Patients may exhibit disturbed thinking,with distorted perception and social impairment.A number of medications are prescribed to stabilize the moods and relieve the depression.The illness has genetic underpinnings.

Madison Avenue Shocker:Nation Horrified By Sensational Accident

Americans have been digesting the horrible mishap that claimed the life of 41-year old advertising executive Suzanne Hart on Wednesday.Ms.Hart,who worked for noted Madison Avenue's Young&Rubicam,Inc.-also called Y&R-was crushed to death when the elevator she was entering shot upward for no apparent reason.
It is common to fantasize about being stuck in an elevator;being crushed by one,however,isn't a possibility one normally contemplates.Eyewitnesses were taken to the hospital for psychological screening after they saw and heard the horrific event.Frankly,just hearing about it is enough to give many the creeps in a big way.
The elevator in question has a long history of violations.
Y&R,a marketing and communications company,employs 6500 people at 186 offices in 90 countries.It is owned by British advert titan WPP PLC.

A Costly and Profitable Weekend Ahead

Insurance companies active in the eastern states are bracing for a round of natural fury from Hurricane Irene.As well,parts of the retail sector in the region could suffer from a relatively rare direct hit from this type of storm on the big cities of the northeast,as people shelter in place instead of shopping at malls and department stores or are even evacuated.Ocean City,Maryland and other eastern beach resorts are already evacuating guests and closing to new visitors.It's the first time since Hurricane Gloria in the 1980s that Ocean City was evacuated.
Some stores,however,such as hardware and food retailers,will benefit as citizens augment emergency supplies.One New York City woman bought 100 dollars worth of batteries.Bottled water and milk were other top sellers there.Home Depot ran out of flashlights.Mayor Michael Bloomberg recommended preparing go bags,which contain your medications,important documents and so on,should you face evacuation.
Hospitals are topping off generators with fuel,and citizens are also filling up their tanks,even as refineries may have to close.A spike in gas prices could result.
Home Depot prepositions containers full of disaster-related products at its distribution centers.When needed,they are simply rolled into semis for transport to the affected areas.Disaster operations are directed in consultation with district managers from a war room of sorts,complete with big screen newscast monitors.There are Home Depot staff members who are dedicated to disaster retailing.
Some 200 miles west of Ocean City,along the Blue Ridge Mountains,there was a good deal of rain Saturday evening,but little wind.Power went down several times for an instant,requiring the annoying resetting of digital clocks-except for one with a battery backup.The most striking visual of the day had been the rapidly moving low, dark clouds,showing that there was considerable energy aloft.There weren't any sirens going off,but there was just enough of a touch of weather history to make it an unusual-feeling day.
Home Depot(HD),Lowe's(LOW)

Rental Apartments Reveal Facts

Richard LeFrak,head of The LeFrak Organization,a major developer,says he deals with consumers at an interesting level.In certain markets,there's an increased demand for rental apartments.It means the sale business has been tainted,but it also means people are able to deal with their necessities.
Mr.LeFrak thinks there's some recognition by the government that the flailing of the past 18 months didn't achieve what they wanted to achieve.This coming election is gonna have to do with people's attitude about the future:optimism or pessimism.Hiring follows optimism.We'll have to see what November brings.
The LeFrak Organization,which is privately held,was founded by Mr.LeFrak's grandfather,Harry,in 1901.Besides large scale residential and commercial real estate development and management in New York,Los Angeles and London,it holds onshore energy assets and a securities portfolio.

Early Edition:Ivanka Trump Assesses Situation

Ivanka Trump of The Trump Organization says she isn't totally sure the recent stock market gains are based on fundamentals.I just don't know how to believe this is a V-shaped recovery,as opposed to a W.Commercial real estate hasn't really entered the system yet.I have a feeling that we're going to be coming out of this very slowly.Our consumers are still coming,but people are much more tentative in real estate and jewelry.We launched our jewelry line two years ago,Ms.Trump noted,wearing some costume earrings from the collection.
A massive deleveraging has to occur in commercial real estate,Ms.Trump believes.There has to somehow be a rationalization of that system.When people aren't hiring,they don't need office space.There's much more vacancy in the New York midtown core.Bankers are starting to call again to solicit business,but nobody's making substantial or reasonable loans,Ivanka Trump observed.A willowy blond,Ms.Trump has appeared with her father Donald on The Apprentice reality T.V. show.

Jersey Trains Packed

New Jersey's commuter trains are bursting at the seams.Ridership was up 5% in Q1.Richard Sarles,head of New Jersey Transit,said they are buying double-decker train cars,which will transport more riders at less energy cost than adding standard rail cars.The agency's ultimate goal is to double the number of trains to 46 per hour,and build a new tunnel to New York City-at a cost of more than seven billion dollars U.S..The tunnel will take 10 years to build,Mr.Sarles said.Many other states are seeing an increase in commuter passengers as the price of gas skyrockets.