The moral of this story: You can't even eat healthy at McDonalds if you tried.
Associated Press
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6108662?FSO1&ATT=HCP>1=8705
DALLAS (AP) - Dallas Cowboys assistant coach Todd Haley is suing a suburban McDonald's, claiming his wife and the family's live-in baby sitter found a dead rat in a salad they took home and began to eat.
The lawsuit filed Thursday in state district court seeks $1.7 million in damages, The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site.
In addition to Haley, the Cowboys' passing game coordinator who got in a well-publicized shouting match with receiver Terrell Owens earlier this month, the suit was also filed on behalf of his wife Christine and the family's au pair, Kathryn Kelley.
A message left for McDonald's Corp. spokesman Walt Riker on Thursday evening was not immediately returned.
According to the lawsuit, Christine Haley and Kelley had eaten part of the salad purchased June 5 at a McDonald's in Southlake before the rat was discovered. The women became violently ill and endured long-lasting physical injuries, the lawsuit said.
Believed to be a juvenile roof rat, the rodent was about 6 inches long and was found on its back with its mouth opened, Scott Casterline, a spokesman for the family, told The Associated Press.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
A special Halloween request from author Stephen King
A special Halloween request from author Stephen King:
Dear MoveOn member,
If I know anything, I know scary. And giving this president and this out-of-control Congress two more years to screw up our future is downright terrifying. Thankfully, this national nightmare is one we can end with—literally—a wake up call.
My friends at MoveOn.org Political Action are organizing pre-Halloween phone parties this weekend, Oct. 28th & 29th. We'll be calling progressive voters in key districts who may not turn out unless they get a friendly reminder or two. And since it's almost Halloween, we'll celebrate with an optional costume contest, some pumpkin carving (I'll be making a Jack-Abramoff-O'-Lantern) and—of course—plenty of candy.
Please click the link below to R.S.V.P. for the nearest party, or to sign up to host your own: http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=61&id=9234-2851900-IZLKnbPVRs7c6ePYmFbepA&t=5
If you're concerned about the future of this country, this is the time to get involved. The polls are telling us that this November is our best shot in over a decade to turn things around, and we've got to make the most of it.You might wonder if these reminder calls to voters actually help. I did, too. It turns out MoveOn tested this whole Call for Change program on some early elections this year, and it produced the biggest increase in actual votes of any volunteer phone bank ever studied. The failure in Iraq and the recent string of scandals have put a bunch of new districts into play. That means there are more voters to call than anyone planned, and every call we make at a party this weekend will reach a key voter who otherwise would have been missed.Come November 8th, we're all going to kick ourselves if we ignored any close races and then lost the majority in Congress by a hair. These parties are our chance to make sure that doesn't happen.Can you help end our national nightmare this Halloween weekend? Sign up to attend or host a local Call for Change Halloween party this weekend:http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=61&id=9234-2851900-IZLKnbPVRs7c6ePYmFbepA&t=6
Thanks,
Stephen King
http://political.moveon.org/donate/email.html?id=9234-2851900-IZLKnbPVRs7c6ePYmFbepA&t=7
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
October has been the deadliest month of the year
The number of American troops killed in Iraq in October reached the highest monthly total in a year Thursday after four Marines and a sailor died of wounds suffered while fighting in the same Sunni insurgent stronghold.
The U.S. military said 96 U.S. troops have died so far in October, the most in one month since October 2005, when the same number was killed. And as the month comes to an end, the courageous American hero Kevin Tillman spoke out.
After Pat’s Birthday
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday/
Posted on Oct 19, 2006
By Kevin Tillman
Editor’s note: Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read document.
It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we got out.
Much has happened since we handed over our voice:
Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.
Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them.
Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.
Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.
Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.
Somehow American leadership, whose only credit is lying to its people and illegally invading a nation, has been allowed to steal the courage, virtue and honor of its soldiers on the ground.
Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.
Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated.
Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated.
Somehow the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated.
Somehow subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.
Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country safe.
Somehow torture is tolerated.
Somehow lying is tolerated.
Somehow reason is being discarded for faith, dogma, and nonsense.
Somehow American leadership managed to create a more dangerous world.
Somehow a narrative is more important than reality.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and
condemns everything that it is.
Somehow the most reasonable, trusted and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted countries in the world.
Somehow being politically informed, diligent, and skeptical has been replaced by apathy through active ignorance.
Somehow the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtueless, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country.
Somehow this is tolerated.
Somehow nobody is accountable for this.
In a democracy, the policy of the leaders is the policy of the people. So don’t be shocked when our grandkids bury much of this generation as traitors to the nation, to the world and to humanity. Most likely, they will come to know that “somehow” was nurtured by fear, insecurity and indifference, leaving the country vulnerable to unchecked, unchallenged parasites.
Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat’s birthday.
Brother and Friend of Pat Tillman,
Kevin Tillman
The U.S. military said 96 U.S. troops have died so far in October, the most in one month since October 2005, when the same number was killed. And as the month comes to an end, the courageous American hero Kevin Tillman spoke out.
After Pat’s Birthday
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday/
Posted on Oct 19, 2006
By Kevin Tillman
Editor’s note: Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read document.
It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we got out.
Much has happened since we handed over our voice:
Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.
Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them.
Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.
Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.
Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.
Somehow American leadership, whose only credit is lying to its people and illegally invading a nation, has been allowed to steal the courage, virtue and honor of its soldiers on the ground.
Somehow those afraid to fight an illegal invasion decades ago are allowed to send soldiers to die for an illegal invasion they started.
Somehow faking character, virtue and strength is tolerated.
Somehow profiting from tragedy and horror is tolerated.
Somehow the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people is tolerated.
Somehow subversion of the Bill of Rights and The Constitution is tolerated.
Somehow suspension of Habeas Corpus is supposed to keep this country safe.
Somehow torture is tolerated.
Somehow lying is tolerated.
Somehow reason is being discarded for faith, dogma, and nonsense.
Somehow American leadership managed to create a more dangerous world.
Somehow a narrative is more important than reality.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and
condemns everything that it is.
Somehow the most reasonable, trusted and respected country in the world has become one of the most irrational, belligerent, feared, and distrusted countries in the world.
Somehow being politically informed, diligent, and skeptical has been replaced by apathy through active ignorance.
Somehow the same incompetent, narcissistic, virtueless, vacuous, malicious criminals are still in charge of this country.
Somehow this is tolerated.
Somehow nobody is accountable for this.
In a democracy, the policy of the leaders is the policy of the people. So don’t be shocked when our grandkids bury much of this generation as traitors to the nation, to the world and to humanity. Most likely, they will come to know that “somehow” was nurtured by fear, insecurity and indifference, leaving the country vulnerable to unchecked, unchallenged parasites.
Luckily this country is still a democracy. People still have a voice. People still can take action. It can start after Pat’s birthday.
Brother and Friend of Pat Tillman,
Kevin Tillman
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Joe gets dirty again
Imagine what a campaign could do with $387,000 in cold, hard, unaccounted for cash. Joe Lieberman called it "petty cash." There's nothing petty about one out of every twelve dollars spent by a campaign coming from a slush fund filled by those profiting from war, high gas prices and expensive medicine. Regrettably, that's what Joe Lieberman did. Our campaign is filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) this afternoon asking them to look into potential illegal activity. Will you add your name to the letter?http://www.nedlamont.com/fecletter
Campaign finance law dictates "A political committee may maintain a petty cash fund out of which it may make expenditures not in excess of $100 to any person per purchase or transaction." The law exists because politicians handing out $387,000 in cash days before an election opens the door to all types of unethical possibilities. Will you sign your name to the FEC complaint? http://www.nedlamont.com/fecletter
Three hundred and eighty-seven thousand dollars ... cash. What could you buy with that much money? Who could you buy with that much money ... especially if no one ever had to know? The people of Connecticut deserve to know.
Sign the letter. http://www.nedlamont.com/fecletter
Campaign finance law dictates "A political committee may maintain a petty cash fund out of which it may make expenditures not in excess of $100 to any person per purchase or transaction." The law exists because politicians handing out $387,000 in cash days before an election opens the door to all types of unethical possibilities. Will you sign your name to the FEC complaint? http://www.nedlamont.com/fecletter
Three hundred and eighty-seven thousand dollars ... cash. What could you buy with that much money? Who could you buy with that much money ... especially if no one ever had to know? The people of Connecticut deserve to know.
Sign the letter. http://www.nedlamont.com/fecletter
Monday, October 23, 2006
Are our votes safe?
Electronic Voting Machines Could Skew Elections
Researchers, Candidates Have Little Confidence
in Machines Designed to Make Elections Easier to Call
By JAKE TAPPER, REBECCA ABRAHAMS and EDUARDO SUNOL
Oct. 22, 2006 — - Cheryl Kagan, a former Maryland Democratic legislator, was shocked when she opened her mail Wednesday morning.
Inside, she discovered three computer discs. With them was an anonymous letter saying the discs contained the secret source code for vote-counting that could be used to alter the votes cast through Maryland's new electronic voting machines.
"My understanding is that with these disks a malicious person could skew the outcome of an election," Kagan said.
Diebold, the company that makes the voting machines, told ABC News, "These discs do not alter the security of the Diebold touch-screen system in any way," because election workers can set their own passwords.
But ABC News has obtained an independent report commissioned by the state of Maryland and conducted by Science Applications International Corporation revealing that the original Diebold factory passwords are still being used on many voting machines.
The SAIC study also shows myriad other security flaws, including administrative over-ride passwords that cannot be changed by local officials but can be used by hackers or those who have seen the discs.
The report further states that one of the high risks to the system comes if operating code discs are lost, stolen or seen by unauthorized parties -- precisely what seems to have occurred with the discs sent to Kagan, who worries that the incident indicates the secret source code is not that difficult to obtain.
"Certainly, just tweaking a few votes in a couple of states could radically change the outcome of our policies for the coming year," she said.
Worry That Elections Could Be Hacked
Computer experts and government officials have voiced serious concerns that if these machines malfunction, no paper record will exist for a recount. Even worse is the fear that an election could be hacked.
Princeton University researchers using an Accuvote TS -- a touch screen version of the Diebold machine -- showed how easy it would be to deploy a virus that would, in seconds, flip the vote of any election.
"We're taking the vote-counting process and we're handing it over to these companies -- and we don't know what happens inside these machines," said Edward Felten, a professor and a researcher at Princeton's Center for Information Technology Policy, which ran the study.
Diebold called the Princeton study "unrealistic and inaccurate."
But many computer scientists, including cyber-security expert Stephen Spoonamore, disagree, pointing out that the Accuvote TS was used in the 2004 presidential election and is still used in at least four states -- including all machines in Georgia and Maryland. Spoonamore said the hack attacked the operating system layer of software and would affect any touch screen machine built by Diebold.
Diebold argues that the software from the 2004 elections has been updated to fix any possible security problems. But Spoonamore is not convinced, saying Diebold's "system is utterly unsecured. The entire cyber-security community is begging them to come back to reality and secure our nation's voting."
There is also the matter of computer glitches. In primary elections and test runs this year, there were glitches with electronic voting machines from Diebold and other companies.
Machines malfunctioned in Texas, where 100,000 votes were added.
In California, directions for voters with vision problems came out in Vietnamese.
And in Maryland, screens froze and memory cards went missing.
Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a Republican running for reelection, advised residents to vote by absentee ballot because he had no confidence in the machines.
"I don't care if we paid half a billion dollars or $1 billion," Ehrlich said. "If it's going to put the election at risk, there's no price tag for a phony election or a fraudulent election."
Many are concerned about how the confusing technical issues will be handled by poll workers, who tend to be senior citizens and who are not necessarily tech-savvy.
Electronic voting machines were supposed to be the solution to the paper ballot problems from the 2000 presidential election. But to many critics, America's voting system has gone out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures
Researchers, Candidates Have Little Confidence
in Machines Designed to Make Elections Easier to Call
By JAKE TAPPER, REBECCA ABRAHAMS and EDUARDO SUNOL
Oct. 22, 2006 — - Cheryl Kagan, a former Maryland Democratic legislator, was shocked when she opened her mail Wednesday morning.
Inside, she discovered three computer discs. With them was an anonymous letter saying the discs contained the secret source code for vote-counting that could be used to alter the votes cast through Maryland's new electronic voting machines.
"My understanding is that with these disks a malicious person could skew the outcome of an election," Kagan said.
Diebold, the company that makes the voting machines, told ABC News, "These discs do not alter the security of the Diebold touch-screen system in any way," because election workers can set their own passwords.
But ABC News has obtained an independent report commissioned by the state of Maryland and conducted by Science Applications International Corporation revealing that the original Diebold factory passwords are still being used on many voting machines.
The SAIC study also shows myriad other security flaws, including administrative over-ride passwords that cannot be changed by local officials but can be used by hackers or those who have seen the discs.
The report further states that one of the high risks to the system comes if operating code discs are lost, stolen or seen by unauthorized parties -- precisely what seems to have occurred with the discs sent to Kagan, who worries that the incident indicates the secret source code is not that difficult to obtain.
"Certainly, just tweaking a few votes in a couple of states could radically change the outcome of our policies for the coming year," she said.
Worry That Elections Could Be Hacked
Computer experts and government officials have voiced serious concerns that if these machines malfunction, no paper record will exist for a recount. Even worse is the fear that an election could be hacked.
Princeton University researchers using an Accuvote TS -- a touch screen version of the Diebold machine -- showed how easy it would be to deploy a virus that would, in seconds, flip the vote of any election.
"We're taking the vote-counting process and we're handing it over to these companies -- and we don't know what happens inside these machines," said Edward Felten, a professor and a researcher at Princeton's Center for Information Technology Policy, which ran the study.
Diebold called the Princeton study "unrealistic and inaccurate."
But many computer scientists, including cyber-security expert Stephen Spoonamore, disagree, pointing out that the Accuvote TS was used in the 2004 presidential election and is still used in at least four states -- including all machines in Georgia and Maryland. Spoonamore said the hack attacked the operating system layer of software and would affect any touch screen machine built by Diebold.
Diebold argues that the software from the 2004 elections has been updated to fix any possible security problems. But Spoonamore is not convinced, saying Diebold's "system is utterly unsecured. The entire cyber-security community is begging them to come back to reality and secure our nation's voting."
There is also the matter of computer glitches. In primary elections and test runs this year, there were glitches with electronic voting machines from Diebold and other companies.
Machines malfunctioned in Texas, where 100,000 votes were added.
In California, directions for voters with vision problems came out in Vietnamese.
And in Maryland, screens froze and memory cards went missing.
Gov. Robert Ehrlich, a Republican running for reelection, advised residents to vote by absentee ballot because he had no confidence in the machines.
"I don't care if we paid half a billion dollars or $1 billion," Ehrlich said. "If it's going to put the election at risk, there's no price tag for a phony election or a fraudulent election."
Many are concerned about how the confusing technical issues will be handled by poll workers, who tend to be senior citizens and who are not necessarily tech-savvy.
Electronic voting machines were supposed to be the solution to the paper ballot problems from the 2000 presidential election. But to many critics, America's voting system has gone out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures
Thursday, October 19, 2006
OUR PLAN OF ACTION TO FIGHT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
OUR PLAN OF ACTION
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Ironically, in 2006 George W. Bush began talking about promoting alternative energy in order to battle America's addiction to oil. He mentioned it in a few major addresses and then dropped the subject. This is a classic, dirty, bait and switch technique used by many politicians to cover up their real agendas. But he can't fool us, not again.
Battling the environmental crisis that we are faced with will involve a monumental long-term plan of action. First, we must unite with organizations that have the same common interest of protecting America and its natural heritage. Contact, connect, and contribute to groups like the NRDC and LCV. Connect with other people who share these important values, discuss the issues, and spread the news.
Our next big goal is to reach people in other circles. Has anyone wondered why Conservatives do not support conserving the environment, which by judging voting patterns we see that they do not? It didn't start this way. Conservatives were once conservative of everything, including the environment, but somewhere along the way they lost sight of it and began to prioritize social conservation. And so the Conservationist was born. But it wouldn't be so difficult to reintroduce and show Conservatives how conservation of the environment also helps save their social issues. After all, what would a family vacation to Yellowstone be without the nature? After all, how would a family even survive with polluted air and water? Help them see this connection. Remind them that environmental responsibility is a core American principle.
What about the churches and religions? Let us remind them that God is in nature. Let's put God back in the mountains. Let's put God back in the valleys. Let's put God back in the oceans. Let's put God back in the forests. Let's put God back at home.
Another way we can make a difference is by putting pressure on our local elected officials. Call their offices, visit their offices, write them letters or emails, and pass around petitions directed to them. Let them know you are concerned about the environment and that you will not stand for corporations polluting your backyards or politicians giving them leniency on standards. Let them know you're watching.
Another way we can make a difference is by educating the youth. Let's push for mandatory recycling programs, in addition to classes and environmental clubs in all secondary schools. As children should learn how to care for themselves, they should also learn how to care about the health of the Earth. A successful shift from a wasteful society to a resourceful one begins with our children.
We need to change the collective mentality of our society when it comes to the environment. We need to be responsible citizens and veer away from the "throw-away" society we have become. We need to start better preserving our environment for future generations now or it is going to be a very sad place to live. In cities like Portland, Oregon, people are concerned with environmental issues. We see the results of their care with the officials they elect, the laws that are passed, with the emphasis in the local media, and ultimately we see the results in the environment itself.
The battle for the environment began a long time ago with the invention of modern industry, and the battle is long over, but together we can all make a difference in protecting our planet and protecting ourselves from the forces of greed and carelessness. And so the future is not all dark and hopeless, but it is more difficult than it had to be wadministrationan adminsitartion and a Republican Congress that has favored profit and industry over progress and environmental security. Let's change all of that on November 7.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
Ironically, in 2006 George W. Bush began talking about promoting alternative energy in order to battle America's addiction to oil. He mentioned it in a few major addresses and then dropped the subject. This is a classic, dirty, bait and switch technique used by many politicians to cover up their real agendas. But he can't fool us, not again.
Battling the environmental crisis that we are faced with will involve a monumental long-term plan of action. First, we must unite with organizations that have the same common interest of protecting America and its natural heritage. Contact, connect, and contribute to groups like the NRDC and LCV. Connect with other people who share these important values, discuss the issues, and spread the news.
Our next big goal is to reach people in other circles. Has anyone wondered why Conservatives do not support conserving the environment, which by judging voting patterns we see that they do not? It didn't start this way. Conservatives were once conservative of everything, including the environment, but somewhere along the way they lost sight of it and began to prioritize social conservation. And so the Conservationist was born. But it wouldn't be so difficult to reintroduce and show Conservatives how conservation of the environment also helps save their social issues. After all, what would a family vacation to Yellowstone be without the nature? After all, how would a family even survive with polluted air and water? Help them see this connection. Remind them that environmental responsibility is a core American principle.
What about the churches and religions? Let us remind them that God is in nature. Let's put God back in the mountains. Let's put God back in the valleys. Let's put God back in the oceans. Let's put God back in the forests. Let's put God back at home.
Another way we can make a difference is by putting pressure on our local elected officials. Call their offices, visit their offices, write them letters or emails, and pass around petitions directed to them. Let them know you are concerned about the environment and that you will not stand for corporations polluting your backyards or politicians giving them leniency on standards. Let them know you're watching.
Another way we can make a difference is by educating the youth. Let's push for mandatory recycling programs, in addition to classes and environmental clubs in all secondary schools. As children should learn how to care for themselves, they should also learn how to care about the health of the Earth. A successful shift from a wasteful society to a resourceful one begins with our children.
We need to change the collective mentality of our society when it comes to the environment. We need to be responsible citizens and veer away from the "throw-away" society we have become. We need to start better preserving our environment for future generations now or it is going to be a very sad place to live. In cities like Portland, Oregon, people are concerned with environmental issues. We see the results of their care with the officials they elect, the laws that are passed, with the emphasis in the local media, and ultimately we see the results in the environment itself.
The battle for the environment began a long time ago with the invention of modern industry, and the battle is long over, but together we can all make a difference in protecting our planet and protecting ourselves from the forces of greed and carelessness. And so the future is not all dark and hopeless, but it is more difficult than it had to be wadministrationan adminsitartion and a Republican Congress that has favored profit and industry over progress and environmental security. Let's change all of that on November 7.
Friday, October 13, 2006
More evidence that the meat industry is to blame for recent E.coli outbreak
THURSDAY, Oct. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Three samples of cattle fecal matter from one ranch in California's Salinas Valley have tested positive for the same strain of E. coli bacteria that sickened 199 people in 26 states and left three dead after they ate contaminated spinach.
"We do not have a 'smoking cow' at this point," said Dr. Kevin Reilly, deputy director of the prevention services division for the California Department of Health Services. "We do not have a definitive cause-and-effect, but we do have an important finding."
The ranch in question is one of four still under scrutiny in San Benita and Monterey counties.
"The investigation is not concluded in any way, shape or form," Reilly said.
The ranch that yielded the positive specimens included both a beef cattle operation as well as fields where spinach and other ready-to-eat produce were grown. The fecal-matter specimens were found half a mile to a mile from the produce fields themselves. The produce fields themselves abutted the livestock pastures, Reilly said.
The proximity of fresh produce fields to farm animals has long been a concern to agricultural and health authorities, Brackett said, and is a matter that officials will continue to scrutinize.
http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/ArticlePage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146955
"We do not have a 'smoking cow' at this point," said Dr. Kevin Reilly, deputy director of the prevention services division for the California Department of Health Services. "We do not have a definitive cause-and-effect, but we do have an important finding."
The ranch in question is one of four still under scrutiny in San Benita and Monterey counties.
"The investigation is not concluded in any way, shape or form," Reilly said.
The ranch that yielded the positive specimens included both a beef cattle operation as well as fields where spinach and other ready-to-eat produce were grown. The fecal-matter specimens were found half a mile to a mile from the produce fields themselves. The produce fields themselves abutted the livestock pastures, Reilly said.
The proximity of fresh produce fields to farm animals has long been a concern to agricultural and health authorities, Brackett said, and is a matter that officials will continue to scrutinize.
http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/ArticlePage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146955
Five years later and aircrafts are still allowed to fly right up next to the New York skyline.
"I think everyone is scratching their head, wondering how it is possible that an aircraft can be buzzing around Manhattan,” said Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., who has been lobbying for rule changes since 2004. “It’s virtually the Wild West. There is no regulation at all, other than, ‘Don’t run into anything.”’
Democratic Senator Charles Schumer has called for tighter rules, including a permanent closing of the Hudson River approach to the city and a requirement that low-flying aircraft submit a flight plan before entering New York airspace.
Meanwhile Republicans like Mayor Michael Bloomberg, don't seem to have a problem with it. He believes the skies are safe under the current rules. “We have very few accidents for an awful lot of traffic,” he said. “Every time you have an automobile accident, you’re not going to go and close the streets or prohibit people from driving.” Yeah, that's smart post 9/11 thinking!
This isn't too shocking considering Republicans are controlling our government. Look at what they've done to the economy, national debt, the Iraq slaughter mill, and failing international policy. Let's not forget about the biggest blunders, Hurricane Katrina and 9/11.
Oh, and what about when Homeland Security proposed changes in how they screen millions of airline passengers per day? In order to reduce passenger hassles and update the now out-of-date post 9/11 policies, the TSA proposed to once again allow scissors, razor blades, knives, ice-picks, arrows, and even Chinese throwing stars. I know how ridiculous this sounds, especially since the hijackers of 9/11 pulled off their mission with nothing more than small blades (unless there’s something we don’t know about), but it’s true. According to the August 5, 2005 TSA memo, they want to bring about “new customer-friendly measures.” In case you’re not familiar with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), it was created in response to 9/11 as part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act signed into law by Bush on November 19, 2001. TSA was originally in the Department of Transportation but was moved to the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003.
To add to our feeling of warmth, in February 2006 the Republican administration gave the go ahead for a foreign-owned company out of Dubai to take control of six key U.S. ports. It’s important to note that Republicans previously slashed port security. The administration closed the deal with the United Arab Emirates-based company DB World without the mandatory 45 day investigation and without Congressional approval. In a bi-partisan effort, Republicans joined Democrats (perhaps to save themselves in the approaching 2006 election) in a mission to put a Congressional halt to the deal. In a firm response, Bush threatened to use his first veto to override the opposition. Millions of dollars thrown away in Republican spending bills with no presidential vetoes and the president who claims he is conservative threatened to use his first veto to keep an Arab company in control of our major ports? Why did Bush defiantly put himself at odds with all of Congress, Democrat and Republican alike and the more than 90% of the American public who also disagreed with having a foreign company control our ports? There must be a lot at stake to go against your entire nation and put it in potential danger.
Incidentally, the Dubai company, DP World, promised it would sell the U.S. operations to an American company. The sale is currently still pending. A Republican controlled Congress finally got around to approving the major ports security bill just last week.
Democratic Senator Charles Schumer has called for tighter rules, including a permanent closing of the Hudson River approach to the city and a requirement that low-flying aircraft submit a flight plan before entering New York airspace.
Meanwhile Republicans like Mayor Michael Bloomberg, don't seem to have a problem with it. He believes the skies are safe under the current rules. “We have very few accidents for an awful lot of traffic,” he said. “Every time you have an automobile accident, you’re not going to go and close the streets or prohibit people from driving.” Yeah, that's smart post 9/11 thinking!
This isn't too shocking considering Republicans are controlling our government. Look at what they've done to the economy, national debt, the Iraq slaughter mill, and failing international policy. Let's not forget about the biggest blunders, Hurricane Katrina and 9/11.
Oh, and what about when Homeland Security proposed changes in how they screen millions of airline passengers per day? In order to reduce passenger hassles and update the now out-of-date post 9/11 policies, the TSA proposed to once again allow scissors, razor blades, knives, ice-picks, arrows, and even Chinese throwing stars. I know how ridiculous this sounds, especially since the hijackers of 9/11 pulled off their mission with nothing more than small blades (unless there’s something we don’t know about), but it’s true. According to the August 5, 2005 TSA memo, they want to bring about “new customer-friendly measures.” In case you’re not familiar with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), it was created in response to 9/11 as part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act signed into law by Bush on November 19, 2001. TSA was originally in the Department of Transportation but was moved to the Department of Homeland Security in March 2003.
To add to our feeling of warmth, in February 2006 the Republican administration gave the go ahead for a foreign-owned company out of Dubai to take control of six key U.S. ports. It’s important to note that Republicans previously slashed port security. The administration closed the deal with the United Arab Emirates-based company DB World without the mandatory 45 day investigation and without Congressional approval. In a bi-partisan effort, Republicans joined Democrats (perhaps to save themselves in the approaching 2006 election) in a mission to put a Congressional halt to the deal. In a firm response, Bush threatened to use his first veto to override the opposition. Millions of dollars thrown away in Republican spending bills with no presidential vetoes and the president who claims he is conservative threatened to use his first veto to keep an Arab company in control of our major ports? Why did Bush defiantly put himself at odds with all of Congress, Democrat and Republican alike and the more than 90% of the American public who also disagreed with having a foreign company control our ports? There must be a lot at stake to go against your entire nation and put it in potential danger.
Incidentally, the Dubai company, DP World, promised it would sell the U.S. operations to an American company. The sale is currently still pending. A Republican controlled Congress finally got around to approving the major ports security bill just last week.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Plane crashes into NYC building. How safe are we really?
A small aircraft wanders into Manhattan airspace and crashes into a building? Well, we know it was a small airplane, but still, it crashed into a building and wasn't suppossed to be there. Why and how? Was anyone even watching? What if this had been a terrorist? I don't want to put any ideas out there in the universe, but there are ways a terrorist could accomplish a lot even with just a small plane. Are we really safe? Forever? Or have we just been lucky? This accident opens up a lot of questions about our airspace and what's been done since 9/11.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15232929/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15232929/
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
John McCain gets a head start for 2008
McCain gets a headstart for 08 and attacks Democrats
Instead of bringing parties together in a time of need, McCain does what Republicans do best, thinking about himself and fogetting about the American people. Today he put his foot in the 2008 race by attacking Democrats by blaming Clinton for today's problem with North Korea. What he forgets is that Clinton was working on a plan that was abandoned by the Bush administration in their first week in office in 2001. But we shouldn't hold it against McCain, he'll change his mind tomorrow.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15210254/
Republican Sen. John McCain on Tuesday accused former President Clinton, the husband of his potential 2008 White House rival, of failing to act in the 1990s to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.
"He must be trying to burnish his credentials for the nomination process," said Kerry, who labeled McCain's comments "flat politics and incorrect."
"The truth is the Clinton administration knew full well they didn't have a perfect agreement. But at least they were talking. At least we had inspectors going in and we knew where the (nuclear fuel) rods were. This way, we don't know where the rods are, the rods are gone. There are no inspectors. Ask any American which way is better," Kerry said.
Instead of bringing parties together in a time of need, McCain does what Republicans do best, thinking about himself and fogetting about the American people. Today he put his foot in the 2008 race by attacking Democrats by blaming Clinton for today's problem with North Korea. What he forgets is that Clinton was working on a plan that was abandoned by the Bush administration in their first week in office in 2001. But we shouldn't hold it against McCain, he'll change his mind tomorrow.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15210254/
Republican Sen. John McCain on Tuesday accused former President Clinton, the husband of his potential 2008 White House rival, of failing to act in the 1990s to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.
"He must be trying to burnish his credentials for the nomination process," said Kerry, who labeled McCain's comments "flat politics and incorrect."
"The truth is the Clinton administration knew full well they didn't have a perfect agreement. But at least they were talking. At least we had inspectors going in and we knew where the (nuclear fuel) rods were. This way, we don't know where the rods are, the rods are gone. There are no inspectors. Ask any American which way is better," Kerry said.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Happy 66th birthday to John Lennon
OCTOBER 9th Happy 66th birthday to John Lennon.
It's been 26 years since violence stole one of our greatest promoters of peace and love, but his music and message lives on.
GOD by John Lennon
God is a concept
By which we measure
Our pain
I'll say it again
God is a concept
By which we measure
Our pain
I don't believe in magic
I don't believe in I-ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't believe in Mantra
I don't believe in Gita
I don't believe in Yoga
I don't believe in kings
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in Beatles
I just believe in me
Yoko and me
And that's reality
The dream is over
What can I say?
The dream is over
Yesterday
I was the Dreamweaver
But now I'm reborn
I was the Walrus
But now I'm John
And so dear friends
You'll just have to carry on
The dream is over.
If only more people believed in themselves and the religion of love, the world would be a much better place.
It's been 26 years since violence stole one of our greatest promoters of peace and love, but his music and message lives on.
GOD by John Lennon
God is a concept
By which we measure
Our pain
I'll say it again
God is a concept
By which we measure
Our pain
I don't believe in magic
I don't believe in I-ching
I don't believe in Bible
I don't believe in tarot
I don't believe in Hitler
I don't believe in Jesus
I don't believe in Kennedy
I don't believe in Buddha
I don't believe in Mantra
I don't believe in Gita
I don't believe in Yoga
I don't believe in kings
I don't believe in Elvis
I don't believe in Zimmerman
I don't believe in Beatles
I just believe in me
Yoko and me
And that's reality
The dream is over
What can I say?
The dream is over
Yesterday
I was the Dreamweaver
But now I'm reborn
I was the Walrus
But now I'm John
And so dear friends
You'll just have to carry on
The dream is over.
If only more people believed in themselves and the religion of love, the world would be a much better place.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Bush supports Hastert in Foley scandal
Speaker Hastert has known now for over a year that Foley was engaging in inappropriate relations with an undergade boy, but chose to keep it a secret in order to save his political party. And Bush supports him?
Essentially, Bush supports a person who protected pedophilia.
The Washington Times, a newspaper with a consistently conservative editorial page, called for Hastert's resignation Tuesday, saying he was either grossly negligent "or he deliberately looked the other way in hopes that a brewing scandal would simply blow away."
Conservative activist Richard A. Viguerie kept up the drumbeat from the right, calling for Hastert to step down. "The fact that they just walked away from this, it sounds like they were trying to protect one of their own members rather than these young boys," Viguerie said on Fox News' "Studio B." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15113942/?GT1=8618
Should Dennis Hastert resign?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15115971/
"Can I have a good kiss goodnight," Foley was said to have messaged in one. A boy responded with cyber symbols and "
In another message, Foley invited the teenager to his Capitol Hill town house "for a few drinks" even though he knew the boy was under the legal drinking age. "we may need to drink at my house so we dont get busted," Foley messaged.
Essentially, Bush supports a person who protected pedophilia.
The Washington Times, a newspaper with a consistently conservative editorial page, called for Hastert's resignation Tuesday, saying he was either grossly negligent "or he deliberately looked the other way in hopes that a brewing scandal would simply blow away."
Conservative activist Richard A. Viguerie kept up the drumbeat from the right, calling for Hastert to step down. "The fact that they just walked away from this, it sounds like they were trying to protect one of their own members rather than these young boys," Viguerie said on Fox News' "Studio B." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15113942/?GT1=8618
Should Dennis Hastert resign?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15115971/
"Can I have a good kiss goodnight," Foley was said to have messaged in one. A boy responded with cyber symbols and "
In another message, Foley invited the teenager to his Capitol Hill town house "for a few drinks" even though he knew the boy was under the legal drinking age. "we may need to drink at my house so we dont get busted," Foley messaged.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Rice lies about 9/11 again
Condoleeza Rice is lying again about pre-9/11 intelligence that she and the administration ignored. She should be given an award for her outstanding perfomance as Liar of the State.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she cannot recall then-CIA chief George Tenet warning her of an impending al-Qaida attack in the United States, as a new book claims he did two months before the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15102882/
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she cannot recall then-CIA chief George Tenet warning her of an impending al-Qaida attack in the United States, as a new book claims he did two months before the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15102882/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)