Veggie Booty Recalled!
June 29th, 2007
Veggie Booty, a popular snack food, is being recalled because of concerns about salmonella contamination.
The Associated Press reports,
All lots and sizes of Veggie Booty Snack Food are being recalled, the company said, following a report of 51 cases of salmonella poisoning that may be associated with the product.
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
According to the company website, if you have a bag of Veggie Booty, dispose of the contents and contact them at info@robscape.com for reimbursement.
Here’s my question: Will Pirate’s Booty be next?!
EWG Action Fund: Double Your Impact!
June 28th, 2007
If you read my earlier post on the Environmental Working Group’s support for organic farmers and the upcoming Congressional Farm Bill, perhaps you were left wondering, “What else can I do?!”
Perhaps you might throw a few dollars their way?
If you donate by midnight, Saturday, June 30th, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar, helping the EWG go to Congress, meet with lawmakers, and gain support for vital changes in the Farm Bill to help organic farmers.
Plus, for every donation of $65 or more, you will receive this super cute grocery bag, printed with the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce! Made from 100% organic cotton, of course!
The bag features a list of fruits and vegetables that have the highest and lowest concentrations of pesticides printed right on the bag, you’ll always know the best way to shop.
Donate today, double the impact of your gift, and walk away with a new tote to boot! What a deal!
What’s My Name Again?
June 28th, 2007
Here’s some good news for my husband: it turns out that memory loss could be just a sign that your brain is saving room for the really important things.
According to an article in the Stanford News,
For the first time, Stanford researchers using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have discovered that the brain’s ability to suppress irrelevant memories makes it easier for humans to remember what’s really important.
“It’s somewhat of a counter-intuitive idea,” said Brice Kuhl, a doctoral student working in the lab of Associate Professor Anthony Wagner of the Psychology Department. “Remembering something actually has a cost for memories that are related but irrelevant.” But this cost is beneficial: The brain’s ability to weaken unimportant memories and experiences enables it to function more efficiently in the future, Kuhl said.
So next time one of the three boys in my house forgets to put the seat back down, perhaps I can chalk it up to a greater good?
Tracks in the Sand
June 26th, 2007
The July issue of Vanity Fair is dedicated to Africa and its newsmakers. Guest edited by Bono, it provides a comprehensive overview of what’s happening on the continent — from the usual stories on health care and politics, to a surprising renaissance in books and music.
To showcase some of that music, Vanity Fair is offering Youssou N’Dour’s playlist of African music with one hundred percent of the cost donated to the Global Fund.
The Global Fund was created to finance a dramatic turn-around in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. To date, the Global Fund has committed US$ 7.7 billion in 136 countries to support aggressive interventions against all three diseases.
Check out iTunes to download any of these tracks and vote with your dollars!
1. “Li Ma Weesu,” by Youssou N’Dour.
2. “Senegal Fast Food,” by Amadou & Mariam.
3. “Savane,” by Ali Farka Touré.
4. “Jiin Ma Jiin Ma,” by Orchestra Baobab.
5. “Africa Challenge,” by Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra.
6. “Saa Magni,” by Oumou Sangare.
7. “Chet Boghassa,” by Tinariwen.
8. “M’bifo,” by Rokia Traoré.
9. “Sou,” by Cheikh Lô.
10. “Iniagige,” by Salif Keita.
11. “Miyaabele,” by Baaba Maal.
12. “Jaman Moro,” by Afel Bocoum.
13. “Sigui,” by Djelimady Tounkara.
14. “Debe,” by Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabate.
15. “Allah,” by Youssou N’Dour.
The Next President Clinton?
June 25th, 2007
In case you missed it, the New York Times Magazine ran a highly critical, but interesting article on Senator Hillary Clinton two weeks ago, primarily focused on her Iraq War vote.
Excerpted from the authors’ book, Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton, by Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta, the article paints a complex and rather grim picture of the senator, but a potentially important point of view for anyone sifting through all of the candidates in preparation for 2008.
You can read the transcript of Tim Russert’s interview with the authors from the June 10th episode of Meet the Press. Then prepare to get out and rock the vote!