Campaign for Safe Cosmetics : Video: A Closer Look

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics : Video: A Closer Look

Newt Gingrich: Impeach judges - Crush and Replace the Left - 2012 "Victory or Death!"

Why is range-fed and grass-fed meat and poultry better?

The natural behavior of cows, chickens turkeys, pigs, and other animals commonly eaten for food in the United States is to live outdoors and to consume food that is part of the natural habitat. For example, in the case of ruminant animals like cows, there is a long history of development in which the digestive system of the cow has adapted to foraging and consumption of plants often referred to as "forages." These plants include many grasses and legumes.

When cows are fed in a non-natural way, digestive tract problems can develop, and medications may be needed to offset problems caused by the cows' non-natural diet. For example, when being raised to provide non-organic beef, it is not unusual for a cow to be fed more than 10 pounds of corn per day. Since the cow's digestive system is poorly matched to this large volume of grain in the daily diet, it is placed at risk for certain problems including bursting of the stomach from excessive amounts of gas that can be produced by fermentation of grain. In the case of non-organic beef, medications that prevent gas formation (like poloxalene) may be given to cows on a preventive basis as part of their standard diet to prevent this gas formation. However, the routine administration of a medication like poloxalene cannot be carried out in the raising of certified organic beef. Research studies have made it clear that cows remain healthier when they are fed and raised in a natural way. Healthier cows also mean healthier meat for all individuals who include meat in their diet.

One great benefit of grass feeding is the increased presence of omega-3 fatty acids in beef provided by grass-fed cattle. I've seen two studies on Australian beef that clearly document this trend, which stems from the natural presence of alpha-linolenic acid (also known as ALA, the omega-3 fatty acid that serves as the building block for all other omega-3 fats) in pasture grasses and legumes. While more complicated omega-3 fats like EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are not present in pasture crops, these critical omega-3 fats are produced in the cow's body from the ALA present in the pasture plants and you can receive substantial amounts of EPA and DHA from pasture-fed beef along with its ALA. These amounts are still very low, however, in comparison with the far greater amount of EPA and DHA provided by an equivalent amount of an omega-3-containing fish like salmon. The amount of ALA in grass-fed beef is also very much lower than the amount of ALA provided by plant foods like flaxseeds and walnuts, which are rich in this omega-3 fatty acid.

I want to point out that the purchase of certified organic beef, poultry, and other meats does not guarantee range-feeding. Unfortunately, the livestock living conditions spelled out in the National Organics Program only includes "access to the outdoors" and "access to pasture" and does not specify any required period of time for natural outdoor living. Nor does it require any amount of foraging crops in the diet. For this reason, you'll need to look for the terms "range-fed" or "grass-fed" on the label in addition to the organic certification. Organic meat that is not labeled either "range-fed" or "grass-fed" is still a very good option for you in the market, but if organic combined with range-fed or grass-fed is available, I encourage you to consider that combination as your best option.

--George Mateljan

It's that BPA baby! Ick!

This vid took a turn I wasn't expecting...

Trapped in Traditional Thought by Scott McKain

In this recent blog, McKain points out that a thirty second spot on the number one television show, "NCIS" costs $133,304 while a thirty second spot on "Grey's Anatomy" costs $240,462. Given the fact that "NCIS" has four million more viewers than "Grey's Anatomy", why would the ads cost less for "NCIS"?This contradiction points to the traditional agency approach and thinking when it comes to what population segments to target. The demographics for "Grey's Anatomy" are younger and the agencies believe that younger viewers will be more easily influenced and become brand loyal over time. McKain points to the fact that his brand choices during his younger years have indeed changed over time. In his younger years, he drove a Chevy and now he drives a BMW, he drank Pepsi and now drinks Diet Coke, he listened to a Sony Walkman and now listens to an iPod, etc.Matt Thornhill, in his book, Boomer Consumer, states that Baby Boomers are no where near done consuming. They will be buying things marketed to them for the next 20 years. And they represent a very large segment of the population. He also points out that with age comes wisdom and that Boomers are not particularly brand loyal. They are ripe for conversion, if a product appeals to their needs.So why should the advertisers and ad agencies focus more on Boomers than the younger generations? Let's start with the fact that Baby Boomers spend $2 trillion a year on consumer products and services. That is $400 billion more annually than their younger generation counterparts. Baby Boomers represent one of every three adults in America. Almost 80 million Americans are Boomers!Boomers like to travel, they buy lots of tech gadgets, they are still buying cars and homes, they are into fitness, and they eat out regularly. Given that a large portion of the Boomers are empty nesters with disposable income, they should be the prime targets of the marketers and advertisers in this country. And even the Boomers who aren't empty nesters, keep their kids clothed, fed and supplied with plenty of music and electronics.Baby Boomers control 70% of the wealth in America. So why don't the advertisers and ad agencies target them more? It is beyond comprehension. And as a Boomer, believe me when I say, we would really prefer fewer advertisements about erectile dysfunction and bladder issues. Keep in mind, Baby Boomers on average feel like they are 14 years younger than their actual age. Treat them as seniors or older Americans and you won't sell them anything.Use words like mature or senior in your ad and the Baby Boomers will tune you out in a New York minute. So if you expect to capture their attention, don't try to take them back to the sixties or seventies or use age related content. Most Boomers still believe that they are young and vital. Treat them as such and you will be more successful. Don't over do it, though. If you treat them like twenty or thirty year olds, then you will miss the boat and waste your ad dollarsThe characters portraying Boomers in advertisements should be cool, hip, and youthful, not grandpa or grandma. Baby Boomers remain idealistic, eager to embrace change, and believe in self empowerment. Don't expect them to march in lockstep or be influenced or persuaded by traditional approaches. If an ad agency expects keep its clients, it had better begin targeting this segment of the population and use non-traditional, innovative approaches when designing the campaigns.Finally, when creating the ads, the agency should understand that Boomers are more receptive to the ads that tell a story. Boomers expect the ad to appeal to their generation, so make sure you personalize the pitch to them. When using personalities in an ad, ensure that the Boomers can identify and relate to the personalities. Be sure to include a "what's in it for me" connection. Follow these simple rules, create a compelling ad and you should be able to capture this lucrative market segment.

I agree with the majority of what this article says...

Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Ditch the Climate Change Debate by Ron Jones

A recent editorial cartoon that I ran across cleverly expressed a great deal of my own thoughts around the climate change debate. The cartoonist (Joel Pett, Lexington Herald-Leader) depicts an obviously unconvinced audience member at a presentation where benefits of clean energy are being displayed on the stage screen. The attendee is shown demanding an answer to a question similar to the following:

"What if it turns out that climate change is all a big hoax and we create a better world for nothing?"

The presenter he is questioning has a list of goals on the screen including:
• Energy Independence
• Preserve Rainforests
• Sustainability
• Green Jobs
• Livable Cities
• Renewables
• Clean Water, Air
• Healthy Children

In a single frame, and with surgical irony, the cartoonist has masterfully steered us to the question I have been asking myself and others for a long time, which is essentially, why are we not able to shift the dialog onto a productive level that leaves the polarization and bickering behind so we can just get started on the enormous task of cleaning up the mess we've been helping to make?

We don't have to reach some final, indisputable conclusion on the "climate" debate to know that there are plenty of good reasons to take steps to replace 18th and 19th century technologies and the polluting energy sources that have been fueling them.

The answer must reside somewhere deep in human nature. There seems to be an irresistible force of passion that makes us dig in our heels and refuse to budge when we feel strongly about something. In this case, it doesn't really matter if we're talking about those who view "climate change" or "global warming," as some prefer to refer to it, as the great challenge of our time or those who are absolutely convinced that it is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind.
It seems that those who have taken a passionate stand either way are prepared to fight over this for as long as takes, and unfortunately, the fact that people in both camps seem determined to drive to an "all or nothing" resolution keeps getting in the way of potential progress on the things we could agree on.

Even the most hardcore climate skeptics don't try to make their case by denying or stating opposition to goals like those listed by the cartoonist, they just refuse to go there. At the same time, their counterparts, who are every bit as passionate in their insistence that mankind's activities are at the center of all the problems in the world, often appear to be pushing for absolute and immediate solutions with little or no willingness to explore common ground. The net result is an ongoing bitter conflict that is often stalled by distractions leaving those of us in the middle stranded and feeling like we can't do anything meaningful to influence the outcome.
I am personally convinced that we are indeed witnessing measurable levels of global climate change. I only make this statement based on personal observation and certainly not because I believe the reports of governments, including our own, or the findings of scientists I have never met. I have reached my conclusion because I have observed certain evidence with my own eyes. I've visited glaciers from Alaska to New Zealand that are receding at unprecedented and alarming rates. I have flown over millions of acres of America's western forests and seen the beetle kill that is resulting from milder winter temperatures to the detriment of not only the trees, but also virtually every species in that ecosystem.

What I have no way of verifying on my own is how much of this shift is attributable to the activities of the human species. I seriously doubt that it is the primary factor. Both sides of this debate agree that the scale and complexity of the Earth's atmosphere and its global climate have seen numerous dramatic shifts to one extreme or the other over time.

What I do know is that I have seen the contrast between the air in Beijing and other cities in the Northern Hemisphere with that of still pristine regions of the South Pacific. The calamity is there for anyone who is interested to see. I have also fished a variety of streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs throughout North America where the fish populations face collapse from human-caused pollution and where signs are posted to warn against consuming the fish that are there.
Put simply, we have used our one and only planetary home and all of its natural systems as a garbage dump of one kind or another for practically all of recorded human history. Sadly, the situation has only worsened over the last few centuries as we made industrial "advances" and as human population has swelled. We have treated it like a trash can and no matter how big the can is, it can only hold so much. We are reaching that point and before it's too late we need to revise our practices. It's time to clean up our act and "create a better world"—whether global warming is a hoax or not.

Where are regulations regarding organic foods heading?

It's important for all of us to be aware that the USDA's process for certifying organic foods is constantly evolving. Already, the organics process has seen proposals to allow genetically engineered food and irradiated food within the scope of certified organic labeling. Proposals to allow sewage sludge in the cultivation of organic food have also been introduced. Thanks to widespread public involvement, including letter writing and in-person testimony, none of these proposals were adopted and certified organic food is still free from genetic engineering, irradiation, and sewage sludge. However, many changes will continue to be proposed. For example, much current debate is focused on a proposal to allow organic certification of fish and shellfish products, and the details of this process are still being discussed and formulated. For more information about current issues in organic labeling, or to become more involved in public comment opportunities related to organic regulations, you can visit the National Organics Program (NOP) website. The NOP Newsroom can be a good place to start to learn about recent notices and announcements related to proposed changes in the organic certification process.
George Mateljan

Where can we find the best source of antioxidants?

There is only one place outside the body where we can count on finding the health-promoting combinations of antioxidants that are necessary for optimal health. That place is a balanced diet containing natural, whole, minimally processed and organically grown foods. The reason is simple. We need more than just vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, glutathione, or other single nutrients for our antioxidant health. We need all of the food components that provide natural colors and flavors to food, the flavonoids and carotenoids and other types of pigments that can only be found in whole natural foods. You cannot get a complete antioxidant team when you take a dietary supplement, no matter how high in quality. Nor can you get a complete antioxidant team when you eat processed foods with artificial flavors and colorings in place of natural flavonoids and carotenoids. It takes a whole, natural foods diet to provide you with genuine antioxidant teamwork. That's one reason I feel so strongly about the value of the World's Healthiest Foods.

George Mateljan

Key Lime Pie -- in the raw :>

Okay. No way does this look like the traditional key lime pie. Well. The truth is, whenever I make these 'raw' recipes, the NEVER work out, or look like, how they're supposed to!

All that said, ladies and gentlemen, I am here to tell you that I have sneaked a nibble or two or three while preparing said raw key lime pie -- and it is scrumptious!

Crust: coconut, macadamia nuts, walnuts, sea salt, medjol dates

Filling: avocados, lime juice, honey, blueberries, kiwi

Crust is frozen for 20 min and then filled and then in freezer for at least 2 hours.

I will be tasting this later today, and I cannot wait. The flavors will be outstanding.

Visually though...not so much.

Graffiti Boys..

When you graffiti outside my office door like this...well...on some level I don't mind so much. :>

"Climategate"

December 10, 2009SummaryIn late November 2009, more than 1,000 e-mails between scientists at the Climate Research Unit of the U.K.'s University of East Anglia were stolen and made public by an as-yet-unnamed hacker. Climate skeptics are claiming that they show scientific misconduct that amounts to the complete fabrication of man-made global warming. We find that to be unfounded:* The messages, which span 13 years, show a few scientists in a bad light, being rude or dismissive. An investigation is underway, but there's still plenty of evidence that the earth is getting warmer and that humans are largely responsible.* Some critics say the e-mails negate the conclusions of a 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, but the IPCC report relied on data from a large number of sources, of which CRU was only one.* E-mails being cited as "smoking guns" have been misrepresented. For instance, one e-mail that refers to "hiding the decline" isn't talking about a decline in actual temperatures as measured at weather stations. These have continued to rise, and 2009 may turn out to be the fifth warmest year ever recorded. The "decline" actually refers to a problem with recent data from tree rings.

Factchecker.org

What's the problem with refined grains?

When it comes to grains, most people also eat far too many refined grains. Extensive processing of grains can leave very little in the way of nutritional value. It can also leave grain products that are rich in the simpler carbohydrates and elevate blood sugar levels in a problematic way. Refined grain flours are usually defined in terms of "percent extraction." Wheat flour is 60% extraction when only 60% of the original whole grain remains in the flour, and the other 40% has been removed. Most of the wheat flour products in the United States have been made from 60% extraction flour. Unfortunately, over half of the original nutrients in whole wheat are lost from 60% extraction flour because extraction involves the removal of the germ and bran, which are the primary sites for nutrient storage in the grain. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that refined grain products cannot serve as the basis of a healthy diet.

George Matlin

What type of cookware should I use for microwave cooking?

Pyrex, a special type of glass known as thermal shock resistant glass, is a cookware material we like, especially if you have decided to do microwave cooking. Pyrex is a fairly stable material that includes both boron and silicon, two minerals not present on the 2007 ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) priority toxin list.

We are highly concerned about migration of plastics from containers into food. Therefore, we would suggest avoiding its use in cooking situations including in the microwave. (For the same reasons we would avoid using "boil-in-a-bag" type vegetables.)

The George Mateljan Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation with no commercial interests, is a new force for change to help make a healthier you and a healthier world.

2 tomatoes, 1/4 green pepper, handful of parsley and of spinach, and some wheat grass.







And walla! Budweiser! Seriously, this is one of my all time favorite juice drinks. I added a scoop of hemp protein power and sucked it all up.

New study finds synthetic musks in umbilical cord blood.

Today, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics founding member Environmental Working Group released a new study that found 232 chemical contaminants in umbilical cord blood samples from 10 newborn American babies. Among the findings: two synthetic musks, components of fragrance, were found in 7 of the 10 cord blood samples.

Artificial musks commonly added to fragrances and personal care products can be absorbed through skin or inhaled, and concentrate and persist in our bodies - so our many small exposures can add up fast. Synthetic musks have also been found in human breast milk and fatty tissues, and are ubiquitous in wastewater and rivers.

The cosmetics industry and other industries that use "fragrance" in their products use a whopping 9,000 tons of synthetic musk annually, despite the fact that little is known about the safety of these chemicals. Unfortunately, preliminary research raises concerns: musks may disrupt hormones and are toxic to aquatic life.

Because of a loophole in labeling law, the ingredients in "fragrance" are considered trade secrets, so companies don't have to tell us what's in scents - often dozens or even hundreds of synthetic chemical compounds like synthetic musks and other ingredients linked to harm.

Biomonitoring studies like this one make clear that chemicals - many of which have never been tested for long-term safety or are known to be harmful - used in everyday products are ending up in our bodies and in our ecosystem. At the same time, cancer, infertility, and behavioral and developmental illnesses linked to many of these chemicals of concern are on the rise.

As consumers and citizens, we can fight the fragrance loophole. Here are three ways you can make a difference:

Contact the manufacturer of a cosmetic product in your bathroom that lists "fragrance," "perfume" or "musk" on the ingredient label, and ask the maker to use non-toxic ingredients and fully disclose all ingredients on products labels. Click here for contact info, talking points and a short response form so you can let us how your conversation went!

This holiday season, choose gifts free of synthetic fragrance. Consult the list of companies that have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, and use EWG's Skin Deep database to run an "advanced search" of products without synthetic fragrance.
Check out our DIY cosmetics recipes for creative, fresh gifts for you and yours!
Thank you for making a difference in 2009, whether you wrote a letter to a company or Congress, contacted the FDA or switched out your old products for safe alternatives. You're a vital part of our work for safer cosmetics and smarter laws that protect our health.

It's Tradition!

The day after Thanksgiving...setting up the Christmas decorations

Labeling packaged food...

"When I shop these days, I can't help but notice the number of competing health logos on packaged foods. As you are lured to purchase "natural," "smart choice" or "high fiber" foods, their meanings have become fuzzy and unreliable. Labeling that was initially intended to aid consumers to make healthier food choices has turned into a nightmare of confusion and even distrust.

According to our Breakthrough News for this week, in the United States, health and nutrition statements on our prepackaged foods have never depended on genuine, overall food quality. It goes on to say that a kid's ready-to-eat cereal can contain over 2 teaspoons of sugar per cup, have sugar as its number one ingredient, and still claim "now provides fiber." A good example of this is the recent labeling of Froot Loops as nutritious enough to sport a big checkmark on the front of boxes signifying that choosing the cereal was indeed smart.

When people ask me what makes the World's Healthiest Foods so special, one of my first answers is "because they are nutrient-rich." That's why I was so heartened by the potential use of a new research tool developed by researchers at Nutrition Impact, which measures nutrient-richness and overall food quality to lead the way in providing reliable food labeling for consumers.

Nutrient-richness takes into consideration the number and quantity of nutrients in relation to the number of calories a food contains, so we are never just focusing on one nutrient. That's why a food such as romaine lettuce, which contains only 16 calories in a two cup serving but supplies a good, very good, or excellent source of almost 20 nutrients, is one of the most nutrient-rich of the World's Healthiest vegetables."

-- The George Mateljan Foundation

2 Tom, 1 Red Pepper, Wheat Grass, Hemp Powder

It's a fire-crackin' drink, baby! Yum!

Zesty Cranapple

1/2 c cranberries - organic OF COURSE! Doh! A handfull of red grapes - better for you than the green ones, 1/2 lemon - well, I used bottled juice - sue me, 2 apples - ORGANIC.



Now does this not look GOOOOD? 206 calories, Vit A, D, E, folic acid, potassium, and a bunch of other stuff.

How you doin'?

It's Vitamin D, Stupid

George Mateljan Article - What does GMO mean?

"GMO" stands for "Genetically Modified Organisms," and in the case of food, it usually refers to foods which have been genetically engineered for reasons unrelated to health or nourishment. You may also see the term "GE foods" (which stands for "genetically engineered" foods) or terms like "genetically altered" or "genetically modified" or "genetically improved" to describe these foods.

The process of genetically modifying foods is very new to the world of agriculture. In 1994, there were zero acres of GE food crops in the entire United States. At present there are more than 100 million acres! The Center for Food Safety, a non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy group headquartered in Washington, D.C., estimates that 70-75% of all grocery store products contain at least one genetically modified ingredient. You have almost certainly already consumed many GE foods, whether you knew it or not!

Uncertain health risks with GE foods

The health risks associated with GE foods have not been clearly identified. However, many scientists have speculated that these foods are more likely to trigger allergic reactions in some people. Additionally, they suggest that they may change the protein composition of foods in a way that could present problems for the body's immune, inflammatory, digestive, and cellular signaling systems.

GE soybeans and GE corn are of special concern

In addition, a 2004 survey conducted by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology determined that 45% of all corn, 85% of all soybeans, and 76% of all cotton produced in the U.S. were genetically engineered. This very high percentage of genetic engineering for corn and soybeans is alarming because corn and soybeans are processed into so many commonly used ingredients in processed and prepackaged foods.

For corn, of course, the most common processing product is HFCS, or high fructose corn syrup. This product is found in literally thousands of processed foods, including sodas, baked goods, and many other foods. Other processed food ingredients that often come from corn include corn syrup, corn syrup solids, malt, maltodextrin, maltose, maltol, ethyl maltol, malt syrup, mannitol, dextrose, dextrin, and polydextrose. Of course, corn starch, corn flour, and corn oil are also corn-based ingredients.

As the most common GE food in the U.S., soybeans can be even more difficult than corn to identify in processed and prepackaged foods. The list of processed food ingredients derived from soybeans is a long one and includes: hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), textured vegetable protein (TVP), textured soy protein (TSP), textured soy flour (TSF), lecithin, meat analogs, isolated soy protein, isolated vegetable protein, soy protein concentrate, and structured protein fiber (SPF). Of course, soy bran, soy fiber, soy nuts, soy oil, soy sauce, soy grits, soy meal are also made from soybeans.

Unless you stick with certified organic foods, you will need to avoid any products with the ingredients listed above if you want to minimize your risk of GE foods. There are simply too much GE corn and soybean crops being raised for you to be sure that your non-organic foods are "GE safe".

Organic will help you avoid GE foods

Since the National Organics Program forbids the genetic modification of foods to be certified as organic, you can go a long way in avoiding GE foods by purchasing organic. For example, a food that is certified as 100% organic cannot contain any of the ingredients listed above if those ingredients have been derived from genetically engineered corn or soy.

"Non-GMO" or ""GMO-free" on food labels

Unfortunately, no labeling laws for GE foods exist in the United States, even though England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, China, Indonesia, and over 25 other countries require labeling of GE foods. (Some GE food crops are actually banned in many countries, including England, Japan, Brazil, Norway, India, and Thailand). In the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has generally discouraged the use of terms like "GMO-free" or "non-GMO" on food labels and has expressed concern about these terms as being misleading. From the FDA's perspective, any statement that implies superiority of a "GMO-free" food is misleading because they note that there is no scientific evidence to support any increased health risks associated with GE foods. While I agree that scientific studies are sadly lacking in this area, I also believe that GE foods can logically be expected to bring with them added health risks, and I would like to see all GE foods and non-GE foods clearly labeled for this reason. However, until such labeling is widely adopted, the only way to lower your GMO risks is to stick with certified organic foods. Fortunately, with the exception of water and fish, every single one of the World's Healthiest Foods is available as certified organic!

References

Center for Food Safety. (2008). Genetically engineered food. Campaign report available online at: http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/geneticall7.cfm.

Fernandez-Cornejo J and Caswell M. (2006). The First Decade of Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States. U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-11) 36pp. Available online at: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB11/.

Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. (2004). Genetically Modified Crops in the United States. Pew Charitable Trusts, Washington, D.C. Available online at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_detail.aspx?id=17950

Tomato Salad Express

Here's what you juice together: 2 tomatoes, 1/4 green pepper, handful of parsley and of spinach...and wheat grass - very cool.



Here's where you juice it...



Add a little Hemp powder and badda bing badda boom. This alone takes care of almost 5 of my required daily 10 fruits/vegetables. How you doin' so far?

And no, it's not a Heineken.

Erm...

I don't even know where to begin..l

What are the basic organic standards for livestock (animals)?

Quite simply, organic livestock must be fed organic feed.

The NOSB recommends that conventional feed be allowed only if the organic feed supply has been compromised by a national, state or local weather emergency, or by fire or flood on an organic farm.

Growth promoters and hormones, and plastic pellets for roughage in feed are prohibited. Synthetic vitamins and minerals are allowed.

Organic Livestock Production

Standards for organic livestock production are meant to assure both an organic product to the consumer and living conditions for farm animals that limit stress and promote good health. They address substances used in health care and feeding, as well as herd or flock management and housing.

Livestock includes cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, fish, wild or domesticated game and horses raised for slaughter or used as draft animals. There are even standards for organic bee-keeping.

Regardless of whether they're raised as breeding stock, as dairy animals, or for slaughter, all livestock is covered by the Act.

The following highlights address some of the questions most frequently asked about the NOSB Recommendations for Organic Livestock Standards.

Housing and Health Care for Organic Livestock

Healthy living conditions and attentive care are considered first steps in the prevention of illness. Therefore, animals must not be overcrowded, and must be allowed periodic access to the outdoors and direct sunlight.

Antibiotics, wormers and other medications may not be used routinely as preventative measures. See The National List for specific details on medications recommended by the NOSB for use in organic livestock health care.

Recordkeeping for Organic Livestock

Records must be kept on all feeding and health care practices for each animal or flock, and there must be a verifiable audit trail to trace any animal or flock back to the farm.

I crack myself up...

People of Walmart

Okay. This is by FAR the FUNNIEST thing I've seen in awhile. It's a toss up which is funnier, the pics or the captions. Hilarious!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!


Who needs cake? Pie! Although, kind of ruined the presentation when Mom inadvertently blew out a few of the candles. /sigh


Helmet cam


Kewl, right?


A Goofball for....

Give Me A Hug! Incredible...

Doh!

THIS is amazing!

Yes kiddies...

...this is a PINK Mustang complete, I might add, with PINK bucket leather seats. Some things should NEVER EVER be P-I-N-K!!!

Remember Inspector Gadget...?

See more funny videos and Entertainment Videos at Today's Big Thing.

American capitalism gone with a whimper - Pravda.Ru

American capitalism gone with a whimper - Pravda.Ru

Posted using ShareThis

Check it out...

IRS Debunks the Rich Not Paying Fair Share of Taxes

8/5/09 9:37 AM
July 29, 2009

Tax Burden of Top 1% Now Exceeds That of Bottom 95%
by Scott A. Hodge

Newly released data from the IRS clearly debunks the conventional Beltway rhetoric that the "rich" are not paying their fair share of taxes.

Indeed, the IRS data shows that in 2007—the most recent data available—the top 1 percent of taxpayers paid 40.4 percent of the total income taxes collected by the federal government. This is the highest percentage in modern history. By contrast, the top 1 percent paid 24.8 percent of the income tax burden in 1987, the year following the 1986 tax reform act.

Remarkably, the share of the tax burden borne by the top 1 percent now exceeds the share paid by the bottom 95 percent of taxpayers combined. In 2007, the bottom 95 percent paid 39.4 percent of the income tax burden. This is down from the 58 percent of the total income tax burden they paid twenty years ago.

To put this in perspective, the top 1 percent is comprised of just 1.4 million taxpayers and they pay a larger share of the income tax burden now than the bottom 134 million taxpayers combined.

Some in Washington say the tax system is still not progressive enough. However, the recent IRS data bolsters the findings of an OECD study released last year showing that the U.S.—not France or Sweden—has the most progressive income tax system among OECD nations. We rely more heavily on the top 10 percent of taxpayers than does any nation and our poor people have the lowest tax burden of those in any nation.

We are definitely overdue for some honesty in the debate over the progressivity of the nation's tax burden before lawmakers enact any new taxes to pay for expanded health care.

It looks like they're gaming. But are they? Hmmmm....

Nora

I've said it 1000 times: cats rule. Let me say it 1001. Dogs could never play the piano because their slobber would ruin the piano keys. Blech.

The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard

The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard

Amy Lee, man!

I don't appreciate many female singers. Amy Lee I do.

Search history history

Unfreekenbelievable

I have said to people before that the government can do what ever it wants whenever it wants to. That the laws that are in place now will simply be revised or removed at the pleasure of the government to serve its needs. Democracy is on fade.....

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Check out how after the guy does this stunt he appears to keep looking back to the slide like he's amazed he's conscious! Heh.

Slap Chop It Baby

Slap Chop Rap Remix - watch more funny videos

I LUV this guy! Best commercial since Aflac and the E-Trade commercials.

Break-it-down!

Fireworks

These videos may not seem especially outstanding. But realize that I am shooting this in my lawn chair laying almost prone with my head tilted all the way back and shooting straight up over my head. The fireworks were directly above me.

Before it got too dark to see, we could see the mortor tubes being lit and fired into the air. Cool beans.

As it happened, we ended up seeing three series of fireworks this year. Not planned. But cool none the less. :>

Aflac?

Do the math babies!

Exactly..

Food, Inc.

Land of the Lost

The discription of this movies begins, "Space-time vortexes suck." Hey. This movie sucks. I can't remember the last time I saw a movie this bad. And the fact that this movie was actually done four years ago and Will Ferrell has since then further perfected his craft [which IMO is highly debateable], who cares? The best parts were the previews on TV, and they weren't all that terrific. I can't believe I got suckered and went to this. Too bad. There was a lot of potential here.

Btw. I realized that I don't think I have ever seen the original Land of of the Lost. Am I the only one on the planet then?

Visiting Mom

Haven't posted in a bit. Stuff. You know...

At Mom's for two weeks. Heading back this weekend. Been busy with yard work: edging the driveway [that was more like taking a shovel and a pick axe to the sod growing over the driveway], cutting overhanging branches off of some trees [you really have no idea how many trees there really are until you start doing this], planting flowers, killing ants [they were living in paradise until I arrived], and sweeping and raking those propellers that sail down from the trees this time of year [this goes back to before with all the trees...the propellers pile up on mounds there are so many...when the wind blows it looks like it's snowing].

The weather has been perfect while where I live it's in the full throws of summer heat. Neener neener. :D

Mom on the other hand is another story. Since Dad died it's a new experience for me to see her this way. It's scary. It stresses me, but I certainly don't complaint because of what she is going through. The depth of despair that comes from another human being is something to behold.

Cougar vs Bear

Crazy Hilarious

Ferrari in paris

Finally, a video that LASTS for awhile while zipping through the countryside, or city as it were...or Paris for THAT matter! I thought the shifting and handling of this car was amazing. Obviously an expert was driving.

Yes, this is what I thought, only to read afterwards that there is a possibility this could be fake in some way.

I don't care. I choose to play dumb, and enjoy. Cuz this will be the closest I'll ever get to doing this; living vicariouly through this video....

"On an August morning in 1978, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch mounted a gyro-stabilized camera to the bumper of a Ferrari 275 GTB and had a friend, a professional Formula 1 racer, drive at breakneck speed through the heart of Paris early in the morning . The film was limited for technical reasons to 10 minutes; the course was from Porte Dauphine , through the Louvre, to the Basilica of Sacre Coeur.
No streets were closed, for Lelouch was unable to obtain a permit.
The driver completed the course in about 9 minutes, reaching nearly 140 MPH in some stretches. The footage reveals him running real red lights, nearly hitting real pedestrians, and driving the wrong way up real one-way streets.
Upon showing the film in public for the first time, Lelouch was arrested. He has never revealed the identity of the driver, and the film went underground."

Kermie drove me to work this morning...

There's a Birthday in the House

The Birthday Boy turns 1! Look at Birthday Boy blow out his candle. Poor Kermie...

Walk On

The Demographics of the Muslems

Intolerance:

Tolerance:

Ever wonder what a God-given gift sounds like?

Amazing! I get exhausted watching!

April Snow Showers? In Georgia? It's definately the end of the world...

I spent all of my dream researching and investigating a newly discovered book in the Bible. The name of the book is......Frank. Yep. Matthew Mark Luke John..............and Frank. This is what happens when you mix antihistamines with wine. :P

We used to go to this restaurant in town almost every Saturday. The food got bad for some reason so we stopped going there. But every Saturday the same corvette would arrive. So, after some time of not eating there, we stopped in -- and who should be there??? :>

[Is the food any better? Great of you don't count grissle.]

Aahh!



Aaaaahhhhh!!



AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

"...devalued Prime Minister of a devalued government"

Karma Kula

Men's Brain vs Women's Brain

ROFL

This is a direct quote from a podcast I listened to from Scott Sigler done in his ever so familiar lilt of sacasm that he does so well:

"When the bell rings an angel gets its wings, an Ancestor comes along and bites its head off."

C r a c k e d me up! Of course you'd have to know the context to get it. Don't? Too bad.

Cool

My son showed me this pic -- and it does look like the seal is a camera hog! Heh!

Hilarious

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Unlock Your Survivor IQ...

I'm a Fighter. :D

Dream

So I'm scaling a wall in this castle. I look behind me as I am trying to make my way up a rope that is dangling from an opening above me, and I see a line of many people. Apparently they are following me out of darkness below. I have some trouble getting into the opening because the rope, at its end, changes to a smooth piece of material that is hard for me to grip without slipping. I finally manage to hoist myself up into the opening when I notice, for the first time, that I am gripping a long sword in the right hand. The sword it quite long and sharp and thin with a groove along it. The hilt is fairly simple, wrapped in black leather with a plain black tassel hanging from it.

At this point I also notice that the opening seems foreign to the castle as it is cut perfectly square. Then I realize that I may have lead my people into a trap and I panic because I need to quickly think of a way to tell them to turn back. I stand up and move with my back along a castle wall. It is dark, but I manage to make out two wolf-like forms. I raise my sword and yell, "En Garde!" Before anything happens the room lights up and I see a man who might be an alien being standing in front of me. He has golden-blond hair and gold symbols I do not recognize on his clothing. He says, "I am a Cylon."

I look around and notice the room is set up as if to prepare for a class of some kind or for a speech by the cylons. People are glathering to listen.

Then Steve wakes me up to say goodbye before he leaves for work.

And here's where the dream begins.....

Superbowl '09 - scroll from bottom to top

This is either a real serious moment in the game, or a very kewl commercial.

Me and my nephew. And who would we be rooting for?

Kick-off baby!


Here's a heart-stopper for you. Yum..

I Then Shall Live

I'm not into the Gaither Brothers so much, but this song, together with its lyrics is pretty powerful to me.

We had a soloist at church sing this. It was the first time I heard it. She had an excellent voice and barely any accompaniment. It was a real WOW momment for me.

Oh yeah. Here's another invisibility deal....

In high school a friend and I compete in a Key Club talent contest. We win second place. [Beat out by a drum soloist.] No one took pictures. There was no mention of the entire contest in the yearbook, much less the winners.

Too bad.

Random Acts of Citizenship: Pickin' Up Trash After Inauguration

130 tons and counting...

As I mentioned previously, I am [since it's new year] logging my incidences of being overlook, forgotten, and generally being invisible.

I belong to an organization for about nine years now, involved on most every level locally and some nationally. New year. New Board. New secretary. Passes out small cards with the lunch item we ordered along with our name. Everyone gets one but me. Ah yes. Overlooked once more.

In October the Principals of our firms city-wide came to an annual gathering we host. During the gathering the Board decided this year to hand out certificates to those members that contributed in some way during the year -- and firms as well. So there I am, sitting with two of my Principals my certificates get completely overlooked [there's that word again] along with the certificate announcing the monetary contribution the firm made to this organiztino. I get an appology at the office after the meeting. That's nice. But...would have been nice for the Principals to hear what I had be doing during the year, and for them to be reconized among others in the industry that contributed along with them. Get this: one of the Principals, while the certificates were being announced, whispered to me that I suppose you're getting a few of these. Then. Nothing. Ugh!

US funds for abortion

Here's the quote from Population Action International:

"Family planning should not be a political issue; it's about basic health care and well-being for women and children," it said. "Women's health has been severely impacted by the cutoff of assistance. President Obama's actions will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don't have access to family planning."

Then there's the statistic that 49,551,703 [yes that's 49.5 MILLION] abortions have been performed in the US since 1973. If that figure gives you pause [and if it doesn't you have no conscience], perhaps you need to take that pause and explore it.

Of course there are women who need medical help when they are pregnant. I don't know if each and everyone of those cases would require an abortion. But almost 50 MILLION since 1973?!

NPR held a call-in last year on the anniversary of Roe vs Wade. I don't believe I would be exaggerating to state that almost all of them that called in expressed deep, lingering regret. As a matter of fact, that was a direct quote from one of the callers.

50 MILLION dancers, singers, rocket scientists. 50 MILLION souls.

Every 10 years something bigger than the other years in between occurs, and not always a good thing. I listed them in another blog I subscribed to, but I cancelled it awhile ago and I'm too lazy to list them again even thought it's not that many. I mean. I'm not 100.

Aanywaay...2008 was my '10th'. It was a year of self-discovery, apparently. Here's what I found out:

1. I have what is known as a 'chirpy' in an eye, which is like a mole. I was born with it, but is was not seen before now. It's on the very edge or peripheral of my eye so it's very hard to see. I have to get checked once a year to be sure it doesn't turn cancerous, which is rare. After three more years I can't quite with the annual check ups.

2. I have keratoconus [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratoconus] in both eyes, discovered when I was checked to see if I could have lazik surgery. It's a sloughing of or steepening of the shape of the eye. It's hereditary, but I don't know from whom. Ten years ago there was no test for this and I would have had a lot of problems with my eyes if I would have had this done.

3. I asked my dermatologist a question about a surgery. It wasn't a surgery I wanted for myself, but I was curious what his thoughts were on it. He suddenly asked me to bend my thumb back to my wrist as far as I could. Well. I can just about touch my wrist with my thumb. He told me I was double jointed and any surgery would leave a slight scar. [I have noticed this in past surgeries but thought it was normal.] He said I have a very mild condition where the collagen in my skin and connective tissues is set further apart than normal skin. It's called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehlers-Danlos_Syndrome] I guess if I had the full blown syndrome I'd be like those people in the circus that can stretch their body like a rubber band.

4. I have adrenal fatigue. Your adrenal gland kicks in whenever your body is under stress; negative stress or positive stress. Guess it came in handy during the hunter/gatherer times. It means I have a diminished 'backup' in these situations. I become super stressed physically and overly tired. If I had adrenal failure, I'd be hospitalized with a nervous breakdown. What causes this is either ongoing stresses with no relief, or one big stressor. You have to nurse your strength back both mentally and physically but making the right decisions and reducing the stress around you. Of course that means the people around you need to to their part to help. Yeah. Right. The symptoms are not apparent to those around you. You appear as if you are behaving normal. I'd like to invite you in my head for a day..

5. My cortisol is flipped. It should be low and night so I can sleep and high in the morning so I am awake and alert. I'm backwards. Between this and the adrenal fatigue, you can feel 100 years old.

6. I have osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis. I had no idea 51% of all women get osteoporosis! How come we're not hearing about this so that we can get our young women on a healthy regimen at an early age to prevent this? Is it possible there's money to be made on this in the health care industry? Say it isn't so! Cod liver oil is gross I'm told, but it will prevent bone loss taken throughout the years. Take it with a teaspoon of sugar. Better than risking your skeletal structure.

7. I have random breakouts that are a result of being resistant to food. Which food...I dunno. Do I want to go through all that fool allergy testing nonsense to find out? No.

You know, all my life I've been healthy as a horse. Dang DNA.

Select a date and listen...

Is was kind of nostalgic to listen to tunes connected to family members – especially to hear those with the static in the background. :>

Visiting friends...

Hooking up with Deb and Jim takes me W A Y back -- and it's like there was no time in between visits. Cool.

Um. It's pretty obvious the one who's consuming the wine is the camera holder. I'll let you guess who that is...

Visiting friends...

It's easy to see why we love hooking up with Patty and Brent when we can....

Okay. New lable for some blogs going forward in '09; the 'mini-vent.' Yep. It's my blog, and too bad if you think it's stupid, but these are my vents, mini as they may be. I declare early on that these vents will 100% relate to my theory that I am invisible in this world.

How many of you can say that you have been skipped when waiting in the drive-thru at at Starbucks? Today, I can.

/sigh

Scooter Girl demontrates her prowess at...jumping!

This is the video of Adam taking still shots of Scooter-Girl. You can see the results in the previous blogs that shows the stills.

This I wasn't too concerned about in '08...

Oil consumption
US money supply
World population; exponential growth
Worldwide water use
Species extinction
Fisheries exploited
Forest loss

Scooter-Girl an Olympic Champion in "Get-the-ball!"

FDIC Strategic Plan 2005 - 2010

Gleaned a few things from speed reading this document...

Ultimately the FDIC will pursue regulatory and statutory solutions as it is effected by business cycles of agriculture, commercial real estate, energy, interest rates, inflation, unemployment.

Adverse economic or financial conditions abroad are taken into account.

An economic downturn could adversely impact the financial services industry resulting in slower asset growth, increased loan losses, and dimished profitability.

Concentration of deposits in fewer insured depository institutions increases risks to the funds in the event a large insured depository institution fails. This could be from a sudden and large fraud perpetrated, also, national disasters, public policy changes, sudden economincal financial market crises.