Eggs!

In case you've ever wondered what all the labels on different egg cartons actually mean, here's a list (from the same site that had the cow video):
http://www.hsus.org/farm/resources/pubs/animal_welfare_claims_on_egg_cartons.html

I've read before that the ones labeled organic are the most decently treated and healthiest, all things considered. Probably explains why they're the most expensive.

Ethical buying

Hmmm ... ConAgra is here in Dining today, doing their sales pitch. How do I feel about that? I don't appreciate their business practices, and they're part of the reason I don't eat beef and try to buy my meat locally.

On a similar note, the evening news last night had a story exposing unethical/unsafe practices for getting sick animals accepted at slaughterhouses; a hidden camera showed pretty disturbing tactics for getting animals past the rules that are put in place to prevent cows with mad-cow and other diseases from getting into the food chain. http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7798872 (click on the 'graphic evidence' link in story for the video). For example, cows who couldn't stand on their own being dragged through inspection. The story says, "The US Department of Agriculture says it's investigating the allegations of abuse, but claims there is no immediate health risk." So please explain—how do you know there's no immediate health risk? I know there are lots of reasons a cow might not be able to stand, but mad cow is one of them. Maybe he meant to say, "We hope there's no immediate health risk." These happened to be animals whose meat was going into Indiana's school lunches.

Sometimes when people ask why I don't eat beef, I have a hard time coming up with an answer that doesn't make me sound like a conspiracy theorist or a left-wing nut; but this kind of story, and numerous others like it, are why.

By the way ...

I feel like clarifying--With all the talk about 'anti-smoker sentiment' out there recently, I want to make sure people know my beef is with tobacco companies, not with smokers. Yes, I would love smokers to quit, primarily for their health, but also so that their (many) dollars are not supporting tobacco companies. But my anger is toward the companies that promote and sell cigarettes, the people who sit down at the table and strategize ways to pull in more customers and develop whatever product—no matter how unsafe—will generate more revenue (several examples of that in the article below).

Kudos, Philip Morris International. Your caring spirit—you know, the one in your PSAs—shines again.

I have a hard time expressing how angry/sad/hurt I get when I'm reminded of the purpose of tobacco companies, so I won't even try this time. But here's the culprit in my latest surge of anti-tobacco soapboxing. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120156034185223519.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone

Another reason KEXP is pretty great:

http://www.kexp.org/support/ownapiece07.asp

Ceremonies for the unceremonious

I want to start having ceremonies for normally uncelebrated, even unrecognized, happenings. This is perhaps too much information, but you know those Big Lots underwear I bought that got holes in them the first time i washed them? I'm sure you don't. I'd like to have a throwing-away ceremony for them. It would end with a pledge to never buy undergarments at Big Lots again, followed by snacks. Attendees will always be wecome at my ceremonies, if I happen to announce them. And I'll be open to suggestions for ceremony-deserving mundanities, should you have any.

kexp.org

Every once in a while a station out of Seattle that I listen to, www.kexp.org, enlists listener help to promote the member-supported, commercial-free (at least when streamed) station. So, here I am doing my part to thank them for providing a great mix of interesting music the likes of which I've not found anywhere else. I especially like listening to the 'variety mix' in the a.m. So far today, a sampling of what they've played: Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Elliott Smith, The Narrator, Bright Eyes, Dead Can Dance, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, LCD Soundsystem, The National ... If you tune in, be sure to pull up the playlist page at the same time so you can find out what you're hearing; it's often new stuff/newer artists. I'd never heard of half of those I just listed, but they were great. KEXP has tons of other cool features too to help educate folks about music, not just play it for them. Check out the 'learn' section of the site for that. Plus, being out of Seattle, you can stir up all those warm (yet very cool) fuzzy feelings you have for '90s music. Has anyone seen my flannel shirt?