THE BUGMAN REPORT

This is the first issue of our new monthly newsletter. Holly and I will be sending the newsletter out around the first of each month, starting in October. We will be discussing many issues of interest to people. I will certainly be covering some of the most common pests of the season, plus how to control them without using pesticides. Additionally we will be covering animals, animal welfare, animal cruelty and similar subjects. We will have a section on political issues and we will try to be non-partisan. We will also have a section on “What would Jesus Do?” about different subjects, but it will not be written from a fundamentalist point of view. We will discuss pesticides, environmental issues, and other items of interest.

All proceeds from this newsletter, my insect identification service and all related matters will go to animal welfare issues.  You will  also get a copy of my DVD, “Do-it-Yourself Pest Management for home / Business.”

In this issue we will discuss radon and asbestos, two materials that the EPA considers dangerous based on fraudulent data. We will publish a couple of letters we have received from cockfighters, a particularly “eloquent” group of people. We will also publish a few of the home remedies for pest control that my readers have sent in. Many of them are quite innovative and very good, although I have not personally tried all of them. And we will also include some interesting quotes and notes pertaining to current events.

National Radon Action Week is October 15th to October 21st this year. This article will help put asbestos and radon in their proper place. All of the information given to me about these two subjects was from someone who participated in the studies and who had too much integrity to keep quiet about it.

In the 1960’s, the Bureau of Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) was a research organization. They had no power besides disseminating information about hazardous products and occupations. They wanted more power and they schemed to get it and they did. Eventually they became the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. In 1964 the folks at BOSH wanted something to function as a mechanism to justify their existence and fuel their bureaucratic growth. They came up with asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is found nearly everywhere. How dangerous is asbestos exposure? Certainly there are cases of asbestosis, a disabling and ultimately fatal scarring of the lungs that can result in severe breathlessness and chest pains. This disease is most common among those who have had regular and high exposures to the fibers, such as textile workers, and those involved in the manufacture of asbestos products. Asbestos was a valuable mineral when used in insulation because it could withstand extreme heat, and it was chemically nearly indestructible in many other products.

However, the alleged health problems are overstated. When BOSH did their first epidemiology study, their original finding was that workers who were exposed to asbestos were actually healthier than the general population, as derived from a statistical analysis of worker death codes compared to all deaths in the United States as compiled by the Dept. of Commerce.. When they studied the deaths among 17,000 asbestos workers they didn’t have enough documented deaths from asbestos diseases to warrant any action, so they doctored (literally changed) about 14% of the worker death codes to lung cancer and mesothelioma to infer that many more people died from asbestos causes than actually did. When this cooked information was given to congress, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970, and asbestos was severely regulated forcing many companies out of business and creating companies that specialized in unnecessary asbestos cleanup.

Another example of government interference in science is the misinformation about radon, a naturally occurring gas, the radioactive daughter of uranium. It has been stated by EPA that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, next to smoking. This is nonsense. Radon is percolating from the ground virtually everywhere. Tests have shown that radon emissions can be measured between 1 and 2 Pico curies. This is very small number. The EPA came to the conclusion that 4 Pico curies is dangerous and set the limit there. Their number is not based on any science and is completely capricious. Dr. Victor Archer, who worked for the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), formerly BOSH, admittedly hated the nuclear energy industry. Using similarly fraudulent data as the asbestos crowd did, Dr. Archer convinced the EPA that radon was a dangerous gas. The EPA, whose only mission at the time was to exert more power, jumped on it. They wanted unlimited control over everyone’s homes and businesses and with radon, they could have it. If they determined the level of radon was too high (and dangerous), they could confiscate the property if they desired. By passing this bad science off as legitimate, Dr. Archer got his wish as everyone blamed the nuclear technology industry for the radon. President Jimmy Carter put a moratorium on building new nuclear power plants based on this erroneous information.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is another government agency that needs a complete overhaul.

Recently the New Orleans Superdome was completely remodeled after suffering a lot of damage from Hurricane Katrina. On the surface, this isn’t a bad thing as football will help the city rebuild its economy. However, of the $185 million price tag to fix the stadium, about $116 million was furnished by taxpayers through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). When did it become the mission of FEMA to rebuild sports facilities? We would have no problem with fixing the stadium if the money came from the private sector or insurance companies. We believe that money would have been better spent on the people in New Orleans who are still homeless as a result of that storm.

However, when politicians get involved in natural disasters, common sense often takes a back seat to big business interests. We have to ask ourselves, what Jesus would have done in this situation if He was in charge. We believe He would have looked after the common citizens first and would not have become involved with the stadium. The irrational part of this scenario is that the politicians who made this decision probably call themselves devout Christians. They may be “Christians” but their actions in dealing with Hurricane Katrina are hardly Christ-like.

The two letters posted below are exactly as we received them. They are from cockfighters, a crowd of people who have way too much time on their hands. They sit around an arena while two chickens slice each other up with razors strapped to their feet.

As you will see, this is not a particularly intelligent group of people.

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Over the years I have received many home remedies for pest control.  Although I haven’t tried them all, they are certainly worth looking into.  Here are some of my favorites;


Hi. First let me say that we (the Chapel Hill News) run your column every week. I always enjoy reading it because not only are you entertaining, but you're against pesticides. Here are my offerings for your book: If ants are coming in through doors or windows, put a cinnamon stick across the path. They will not cross it. And according to a Latino friend of mine, tile floors are too cold for cockroaches and mice. They don't like it. Therefore it's a natural repellant.
    From a reader in Chapel Hill, NC

Although the remedy I discovered is for gophers, not insects, I'd like to tell you what it is anyway. I discovered that you can get rid of gophers by pouring garlic salt down the hole. I don't know what happens on the gophers end, but itworks. No more activity at hole and no new holes..
    From a reader in Santa Maria, CA

This is in response to your question about home-made solutions to get rid of pests. I use a syrup made out of corn syrup, honey, white sugar and water, mix it on the stove until the sugars all melt and it's syrupy but pourable, then add a good amount of boric acid powder. Once you mix it all together, you can apply the syrup to the spots where ants congregate and on their trails. They love the sugars and run to get it, and then the boric acid gets them. I used this remedy this year a couple of times, and it totally wiped out the ant colony that was under my house and trying to get in. I had a bad infestation last year, and this year I had no problem because I used this stuff at the first sign of them. It's also a good solution because you can put it exactly where you want to without having to spread it around where it's not needed. The syrup formula isn't an eaxct one, either, just mix it all up until it looks good to you. The ants don't care what proportion ingredients are in it, they just like the sugar!
    From a reader in Richmond, VA

I was pleased to read your column in today's Atlantic City Press regarding pesticides sprayed out of doors. My neighborhood has many folks who spray constantly and / or have a commercial service that I think overdoes it. When I tactfully mention chemicals go right through our sandy soil and into Delaware Bay (and in my windows if I don't catch on and close them soon enough) they smile and laugh good naturedly as if such a notion could only come from a wild woman! I guess I'm flaggergasted that they can't see it.

The reason I'm writing however is to give you a couple of great remedies for crickets and I think roaches too if applicable. Get a box of 20 Mule Team Borax and sprinkle generously around doorways and corners in or outside. For ants use boric acid especially when you detect their trails. This works well in garages and sheds. It can be swept away and reapplied. While you wouldn't want to inhale it etc., it is not dangerous if it comes in contact with the skin.
    From a reader in North Cape May, NJ

When I lived in New York City, I was able to wipe out roach colonies in two apartments with the following method. Not to be used where there are pets:

Mix a couple of tablespoons of boric acid with water, until the consistency of cake frosting, and spread it on a slice of bread. (Any bread...doesn't matter.) Place in the plastic lid from a coffee can, and trickle a little water over it until there's water visible all around the bread. Place one of these inside the (cold) oven or broiler, and another in a dark cabinet (under the sink is good).
    From a reader in St. Louis, MO

I mix one part sugar to 4 parts of borax (commonly used for laundry). I sprinkle this on ant hills. The ants eat both the sugar and the borax- I suppose they can't tell which is which. The ants disappear in a few days. Do it of course in dry weather.
    From a reader in Tucson, AZ

We have been coming to Tuscon for the winters (Sept. thru Apr-May). In leaving our place in the care of homecare businesses, we were told to leave fresh leaves of the herb Basil in the corners of the inside walls and behind furniture. In all the months and years (since 1990), we have been doing this and haven't had any problem with insect infestation ever.
    From a reader in Tucson, AZ

Since I'm an Avon rep, I'm not really supposed to reveal this cure for ants, but the company's Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil works better than anything I've ever tried. Just spray some where the ants are coming in and they leave - it's non-toxic and also smells good (to humans).
    From a reader in San Francisco, CA

We were so happy to read your article about the side effects that can be caused by flea remedies. The last two times we have given our dog his flea treatment, within five days he has had trembling and what we thought was a seizure, the second time. The vet told us that the treatment would not have any effect on the dog in that way.

We have since decided to stop administering the topical flea treatment, and are going to try sprinkling around our dog's bedding, on his body, and on areas around the outside and inside of the house 20 MULE TEAM BORAX LAUNDRY DETERGENT. This was a suggestion by our neighbor who has two dogs, two cats, and a horse -- with NO FLEAS!

Hopefully we will have great success, with a happier, healthier very important member of our family.
    From a reader in Oakland, CA

"The thinking man must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition and surrounded by a halo. When we have a choice, we must avoid bringing torment and injury into the life of another, even the lowliest creature; to do so is to renounce our manhood and shoulder a guilt which nothing justifies."--Albert Schweitzer

FINAL NOTE……………