Pet Food Poison Update

Latest reports are now saying it’s melamine (plastic) that is in the pet food that is killing dogs and cats. Nothing about China this time, though the plastic is used as a fertilizer in Asia. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about it.

There was a time when everyone I knew had some Texasware Melamine dishes because the factory was in Oak Cliff and we could go there and buy seconds.

As a school kid, I toured the place and watched them stamp them out.

It’s very difficult to imagine that the white crystal melamine could be a fertilizer, but then, that’s why I buy organic. Visiting a dairy in East Texas and watching a big truck dump a huge load of chicken shit there, and being told they fed it to the cattle because it was cheap and high nitrogen?

That was enough to convince me to stick to organic forever, even if I hadn’t already made that decision because of growth hormones and antibiotics.

And yes, I realize chicken shit is organic. You know what I mean. (And if somebody comes up with evidence that feeding chicken shit to cattle is healthy, feel free to let me know.)

Anyway. Plastic granules in gravy. Makes ya hungry, don’t it?

And in other news, If you’re Jewish, Israel’s Green Leaf Party would like to remind you that marijuana is not kosher and should not be smoked or eaten during Passover.

This cow may not be kosher, but at least it’s not eating chicken poop.

Thinking Bloggers

I have been graced with a Thinking Blogger Award.*

This bothered me at first, because not many people accuse me of thinking.

But then I read the description, that I am one of “5 Blogs That Make Me Think” (in this case, that make Jennifer think) and okay, I can live with that. I know I make people think. I make them think things like, “Man, won’t she just shut up about politics and leave President Bush alone?” and “This woman thinks she’s a writer, and she can’t even dangle a participle properly?” and “Clue! Clue! Give her a clue!”

Actually, I’m honored. Jennifer is amazing, and to think that I make her think is … thought-provoking!

But now I have to tag five blogs that make me think.

The first one is easy.

Diane

She’s a true pioneer of the online journal, all the way back to … 1997? (No, I’m told by a Reliable Source that it was 1996!) When there were fewer than 100 journals online. Maybe way less than that. When she crossed the vast empty expanse of the internet in a covered wagon and used the Sears catalog for toilet paper and ended up in a small apartment in Los Angeles with a computer and Ikea furniture. (My first introduction to Ikea.)

She not only has made me think, she has made me act. I bought a bike because Diane wrote about them and linked to great bike blogs and I finally couldn’t stand it any more and had to have one of my own. She’s constantly posting things and linking to things that make me think and act. What’s more, SHE thinks. She’s a real thinker, that Diane. So Diane has to be first. She was the first journal I read, the one I never stopped reading, and now that she’s a blog, the same still holds. Diane, the champ.

The Rob

I came late to the cult of the Rob. I’ve only known him as a father. His posts about Schuyler and her monster have made me think, laugh, and yes, have made my eyes leak. Rob is an amazing writer with a book coming out next year. A book about Schuyler’s Monster. Rob can write about anything and be fascinating, but when he writes about his daughter, his writing is transcendent. And of course, he’s just one of the best dads ever.

Michael

So, it started off as a simple idea. Michael was tired of driving a car for numerous reasons, and set out to maximize the number of times he used alternative forms of transportation one summer, and minimize the number of times he used a car alone. And then … he kept going. He makes me think and inspires me to act. I like that.

Mental multivitamin

A link I snagged from Diane awhile back. M-mv thinks a LOT more than I do. She even reads and loves Shakespeare! She homeschools, and is one person who I think can probably do a damn good job of it. She introduces me to new books, new ideas, and makes me want to join her as she rolls about and frolics in the pure joy of learning.

~~~

And … that’s it. Four. It’s not that I don’t have other blogs that make me think. It’s just that from this point forward, it gets too hard to choose. Especially when so many of them are by my friends. My friends make me think too damn much. I mean, sometimes a girl just wants to play. And I go to see if they can come out to play and see them posting about politics and important things and next thing I know, I’m enraged and engaged and my god, why won’t my friends just play with Barbie dolls and drink margaritas and read trashy novels and let me stop thinking all the damn time?!?

And there are so many good blogs on writing and GTD and other stuff I’m interested in that make me think. All you have to do is look at my blogroll.

But for this meme?

These are my four. Check ‘em out.

* The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote (there is an alternative silver version if gold doesn’t fit your blog).

When I’m Bored

Sometimes I just go to Merlin’s Tower and redecorate.

I mean, you just click and the whole background changes.

I’m not saying I do this a lot. I mean, that would be lame. In fact maybe I don’t do it often at all.

Or maybe … ever.

I actually never do that because it would be just totally lame.

Note: If you google “merlin’s tower” you will find all sorts of weird images, many of which have nothing to do with merlin or towers, none of which have anything to do with that website. Just saving you time.

Let’s not eat Dolly.

The FDA’s public comment period on the plan to allow cloned animal products into our nation’s food supply ends next week, April 2. As things stand now, the FDA has approved the sale of cloned meats and they don’t have to be labeled to state that it’s cloned. We will be the only nation that allows this, if it goes through.

On The Diane Rehm Show today they had the pros and cons. (Podcast, real audio and windows media player available on that site. Look for Wednesday March 28, 2007.)

The advocate, Ruth Kava (Director of Nutrition, American Council on Science & Health) responded to questions from listeners by stating that the industry is conscientious and wouldn’t allow anything bad to happen.

When a caller brought up the pet food situation, Michael Fernandez (Executive Director, Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology) agreed with the caller that if the been/pork/etc. industries followed the Menu Foods example, they’ll know they have problems for weeks/months and not admit it until enough people die that they can’t deny it.

Ms. Kava replied that anybody who had concerns could simply not buy cloned meats, and when asked how they’d know (remember — no labeling) she said she was sure that if people called the companies they could find out.

Mr. Fernandez went on to point out that a huge percentage of cloning attempts are failures (over 90%) and the way the current standards are written, the meat resulting from those failed attempts can be –

Are you ready for this?

Used to feed livestock and pets.

Fascinating listening. I do suggest you hear it.

The FDA says this is safe.

Some disagree.

I suggest checking it out and then letting the FDA know what you think.

The FDA encourages public comments on the draft risk assessment, proposed risk management plan, and draft guidance for industry for a 90-day period ending April 2, 2007.

Visit www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/dockets/comments/commentdocket.cfm?AGENCY=FDA,

and search for docket number 2003N-0573 to submit comments online.

Comments also may be sent to: Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Comments should include the docket number 2003N-0573.

(Note from Pooks: You’re running out of time if you’re using snail mail.)

The agency will review comments and evaluate additional data that may be shared during the comment period. The FDA will then issue a final risk assessment, risk management plan, and guidance for industry. The FDA will continue to closely monitor any changes in cloning technology and the development of clones and their offspring as a source for food as further data become available.

For More Information

www.fda.gov/cvm/CloneRiskAssessment.htm

You might consider emailing your Senators and congress critters while you’re at it.

I’m against it. But you knew that, didn’t you?

What happened to Dolly the Sheep, anyway?

The Proper Care and Feeding of an American Messiah

So it was at the AFI in Dallas, and so we went, the Resident Storm Chaser and I.

And hilarity ensued.

This was one funny movie. The cast was fabulous. I adored Brian’s wife and sister, especially. But to say that implies they were better than Brian, Aaron (and who am I forgetting?) and that’s not true. The entire cast was spot on perfect.

Smart script, solid production values, yadda yadda yadda. Chris Hansen did a great job.

But the only thing you’ll really care about is –

It’s funny.

Check the The Proper Care and Feeding of an American Messiah site for other festival showings!