Sharing a money-laundering recipe

Twelve years ago, a Clark County, Nevada investigation showed that a Vegas clinic was not using clean syringe procedures, which over a four-year period contaminated dozens of anesthesia patients with incurable hepatitis C. This was odd and unsettling, especially since Las Vegas is the same city where casinos and hotels often offer to help clean your money. When did we start giving sanitized money a higher priority than we did to our medical patients?

More recently, another news item indicated that prison inmates often conceal illicit money in especially unsavory places. With filthy money in troublesome mind plus flu season approaching, it would be refreshing to see a few local banks offer this new service of disinfecting paper currency and coinage. Besides defending customers from nasty germs and diseases, banks would also be protecting a most valuable asset - their dedicated tellers, lessening sick days, etc.

Along with Vegas now improving their odds for healthier patients and casino customers, money purification programs also have become popular in countries like Japan, where clean bills sprout widespread from ATM’s. Local banks ‘wishing well’ could stand to profit karmatically from similar hygienic upgrades.

Meanwhile, my recommended home-style method for freshening coins follows: Lay out a large dry towel on a counter. Place a screen over the sink drain. Then position a colander over a large pot and insert the dirty coinage. Rinse with as-warm-as-you-can-stand water; add liquid dish soap in small squirts and repeat, jiggling the coins until they sparkle. Spray disinfectant before a final rinse, and then towel dry, ensuring that you’ve cleaned both the colander and dirty pot before done. Seasonal dashes of pumpkin spice or peppermint extract can add glistening holiday coin flavor. When finished, invest new coins in most useful things that matter.

Next tip: The importance of purifying bed-sheets and pillowcases with hot water to ensure bedbug purges.

More misplaced poisons of Mother Earth

 More misplaced poisons of Mother Earth

It’s been inspiring to read the recent letters of ecological concern by Eloise Christensen and Kerrin McCall regarding cleaner snow removal policies. Their letters remind me of a similar concern for the soil at Friedman Memorial Airport, which has been thoroughly contaminated through decades of aircraft deicing.

With the large budget that our Hailey airport has, it would be nice to see board members consider a feasibility study along the lines of a large indoor heated de-icing structure for aircraft to taxi through before flying off. Such an arrangement could be designed with environmentally friendly drains for collecting the used de-icing fluid, and then cleaning and recycling it.

Another potential improvisation to remove dangerous ice would be by beaming aircraft with modernized microwave systems. Constructing a heated hanger for airplanes to pass through shortly before takeoff would lessen the amount of de-icing fluid or microwaves required. In summer, the de-icing booth could even be designed to double as an aircraft wash bay, where frequent engine cleanses would contribute to improved airplane fuel efficiency.

Meanwhile, our thoughtful community should look forward to the ongoing proactive research and letters of public interest from Eloise and Kerrin. After all, we would be less polluted as people if more folks cared about our fragile environment as much they do. 

Let’s have cleaner money

A few years ago, a Clark County, Nevada investigation showed that a Vegas clinic was not using clean syringe procedures, which over a four-year period contaminated dozens of anesthesia patients with incurable hepatitis C. This seemed odd, especially since Las Vegas is the same city where casinos and hotels often offer to help clean your money. When did we start giving sanitized money a higher priority than we do to medical patients?

For many reasons, our money is one of the filthiest things that we handle. And for years, it’s been a lively topic of local discussion, about how Ketchum has an overabundance of grubby banks. With the new credit card reform laws finally being implemented, it’s interesting to watch how to make up for purported losses; some neighborhood banks are incrementally raising fees for their simple checking and ATM services.

During this shift, bank managers must certainly be keeping a close eye on public reaction. With this in mind, it would be refreshing to see some banks around here, began to offer a new service in the form of disinfecting paper currency and coinage. Besides helping defend locals and tourists from diseases and flu, banks would also be protecting their most precious assets - their dedicated tellers – from nasty germs while handling the dirty money, lessening sick days, etc.

Besides Vegas improving the odds for healthier customers, such purification programs have become popular in a few other countries, such as Japan. A bank around here ‘wishing well’ on its clients in such a courteous manner would stand to profit gainfully and karmatically from this clean advice.

Dental Concerns

Nate, I enjoyed reading your article today on the importance of widening access to dental care. It reminded me how Superstar basketball player Wilt Chamberlain passed on a few years ago –due to complications from a simple dental problem.

In a related subject, I thought you would be interested in the below e-mail correspondence to see what I’ve been pursuing, regarding improved dental practices.

Best regards,

Jim Banholzer

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Banholzer [mailto:smavo@cox.net]
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 10:58 AM
To: 'Maggi Machala'
Cc: 'yvansickle@phd5.idaho.gov'; 'Daniella Chace'
Subject: RE: Question of proper cleaning procedures

Maggi Machala,

Thank you for responding to my concern. I did not know that Idaho Public Health districts do not have any jurisdiction over dental offices, unless there is an outbreak of infectious disease that can be traced to a specific dental office.

This is a sticky point, because right now there is much evidence -antidotal and otherwise - that indeed there is an epidemic of mass proportions occurring, especially in Southern Idaho. I refer you to the website of Colm A. Kelleher, Ph.D. http://www.colmkelleher.com/

Proper cleaning methods used in dental practices are essential to stopping the spread of this insidious disease and other communicable diseases. After hearing three tales of unsanitary practices, I wonder if allowing the Idaho Dental Association to police them selves is enough. Is there any other oversight -perhaps provided by a federal level? Should I be contacting our Congressman to see what can be done - powerful cow-lobby notwithstanding?

I will contact the Idaho Dental Association, but meanwhile am left wondering if there should not be a more thorough investigation and / or spot-checks from an outside agency, from a preventive aspect of this public health emergency. And to remind dental practitioners how important proper cleanliness is, even on the most bustling harried workdays.

Thanks again for your response,

Jim Banholzer

-----Original Message-----
From: Maggi Machala [mailto:maggi-m@phd5.state.id.us]
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 8:41 AM
To: smavo@cox.net
Subject: FW: Question of proper cleaning procedures

Mr. Banholzer,

I'm sorry; it appears my response to your inquiry was not forwarded on.

Please see below

Maggi Machala, MPH, RN

Community Health Director

South Central Public Health District

1020 Washington Street North

Twin Falls, Idaho 83301

208-737-5984 (phone)

maggi-m@phd5.state.id.us

-----Original Message-----

From: Maggi Machala

Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 10:09 AM

To: Yvonne Van Sickle

Subject: RE: Question of proper cleaning procedures

Mr. Banholzer,

Thank you for your inquiry. The Public Health Districts in Idaho do not

have jurisdiction over dental offices. The only way we would become

involved is if there was an outbreak of infectious disease that could be

traced to a specific dental office. We have received no such reports in

our region. If you have concerns about dental practices in Blaine

County, I encourage you to contact The Idaho Dental Association.

Maggi Machala, MPH, RN

Community Health Director

South Central Public Health District

1020 Washington Street North

Twin Falls, Idaho 83301

208-737-5984 (phone)

maggi-m@phd5.state.id.us

-----Original Message-----

From: Yvonne Van Sickle

Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 9:36 AM

To: Maggi Machala

Subject: FW: Question of proper cleaning procedures

fyi

-----Original Message-----

From: Jim Banholzer [mailto:smavo@cox.net]

Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2007 4:24 PM

To: Yvonne Van Sickle

Subject: RE: Question of proper cleaning procedures

Thank you!

-----Original Message-----

From: Yvonne Van Sickle [mailto:yvansickle@phd5.idaho.gov]

Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 12:11 PM

To: smavo@cox.net

Subject: RE: Question of proper cleaning procedures

Mr. Banholzer,

Thank you for your concern for public health issues in regards to the

inspection of dental offices.

Your email has been forwarded to the director of our Community Health

Division, Maggi Machala mmachala@phd5.idaho.gov, who will be responding

to your concern.

Thank you for your patience.

Yvonne VanSickle

Program Information Coordinator

South Central Public Health District

phone: 208-737-5939

yvansickle@phd5.idaho.gov

**********************************************

From: smavo@cox.net

Subject: Question of proper cleaning procedures

Sent: 11/28/2007 at 07:32 PM from 68.105.208.186

Name: Jim Banholzer

Address: PO Box 10039

City: Ketchum

State: ID

Zip: 83340

Phone: 208-720-2196

Message: Hello, I am in dire need of a dentist in the Wood River Valley

area. However, I find myself hesitating due to hearing some horror tales

of proper cleaning methods not used at some local dentist operating

rooms, which if true, would naturally result in a high potential for

transference of communicable diseases in between patients.

I wondered if you at the Health Department could help belie my fear, by

providing me some assurance, of which dental practitioners have & have

not been proven to use proper cleaning methods. Further, I wonder if the

health department ever conducts spot-check inspections to ensure the

public that proper cleaning procedures are being utilized on regular

basis's by local dentist operating rooms. Or is it the health

department's policy to allow dentists to police themselves regarding

this crucial cleanliness crusade, until someone first complains?

Thank you for your concern,

Jim B.

----------------

5/12/2007

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To learn more about South Central Public Health District, please visit

our

websites:

www.phd5.idaho.gov (public)

www.panflusouthidaho.org (pandemic influenza planning)

www.diseaseinfosouthidaho.org (communicable disease information)