Banning French Fries is a Dic TATOR ship

Tater Attacked as "Evil Food"

Mr. Potato Head in Disguise

In this week's news, Michelle Obama's fat mouth is flapping again.  Does it ever stay closed?  So what now?  The TATER is under ATTACK!  French fries are being banned.  "The White House has had enough with the obese in America.  'Americans can no longer be trusted to eat the right food,' said Michelle Obama to the National Nutrition Association (NNA).  Soon after, President Obama issued an Executive Order banning French Fries in America.  'Any restaurant serving french fries will be heavily fined, as will any individuals eating french fries in public OR in their own home,' said Jay Carney, the White House Press Secretary.  Carney told WWN that obesity is a major health epidemic in the United States and that this is the first of “many executive orders” that President Obama will issue that will serve to control what Americans eat.  'We have to make America great again, and we can’t be a great country with so many overweight people,' said Carney.  Fines for serving French Fries in a restaurant start at $5,000 per plate and for consumers – if you are caught eating one serving of French Fries that will cost you $200.  How will the Administration police all restaurants and homes.  'First off, we will be shutting down all French Fry production lines in America, so we will cut of the source of this evil food.  Secondly, we will encourage all Americans to report on their neighbors and friends.  If you see something, say something,' said First Lady Michelle Obama.  Even if it hurts business, restaurants should exchange their top dishes for healthier items with less fat, salt and sugar and they should begin serving smaller portions, Obama said. As an example the First Lady offered this; instead of French fries, restaurants should serve apple slices or carrots with hamburgers and they can use less butter and cream even if it compromises taste."   Hmm.  I wonder how much this whole NNA, WWN, MyPlate ordeal has cost American Taxpayers.  
Note to self:  "Americans can no longer be trusted..."
Another note to self:  "We have to make America great again..."

That Ain't No Lady

It pains me to refer to Michelle Obama as America's "First Lady."  I don't find anything first or lady about her.  While filling this position, her so called contributions have been nothing more that power plays.  Michelle's roll in changing America's food pyramid to the food plate (official June 2011) is really on my top 3 dumbest things this year.  Number one was the experiment of shrimp on a treadmill.  "Yes, the shrimp treadmill research cost taxpayers more than $3 million over the course of a decade. That includes a a $559,681 grant for research into "Impaired Metabolism and Performance in Crustaceans Exposed to Bacteria."  As you might imagine, senior citizens were outraged.  Before you blame Congress, it was the National Science Foundation (a government agency) that decided to fund the shrimp study.  Apparently, they have nothing else to do.  If you find yourself in their position, please drop them an informative line that they have shrimp for brains.

Meals on Tread Wheels.

Does Fried Chicken count as "protein"?

I'm not sure if shrimp is on the old food pyramid or on the new food plate but Michelle has your diet all planned out for you.  Before you know it, your meals will be coming via mail--well, not the U.S. Postal Service as they aren't doing so well.  Maybe Bus Force One can be used as Meals on Nazi Wheels since it will never see another 3 day tour.  
So why do we have a food plate?  It was a brainstorm between Michelle, Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin and Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.  If Vilsack's name sounds familiar, that's because it is.  If he had been doing his job at the USDA, we would not have all of the MEAT RECALLS (ground turkey and ground beef in the recent months).   
"It's called MyPlate, and it has four colored sections representing fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins. Next to the plate is a smaller circle representing dairy products.  'MyPlate is a truly simple, powerful visual cue to help people adopt healthy eating habits at meal times,' said Vilsack.  On MyPlate's website, the USDA emphasizes several important nutrition messages: eat smaller portions, make at least half the plate fruits and vegetables and avoid sugary drinks.  Nutrition experts believe a plate is a good choice."  Would someone tell me WHO these so called "food experts" are?  Names please.  And can I put fried chicken in the protein slot, fried okra as the vegetable, fried plaintains as the fruit, Cajun rice as grain and ice cream in the dairy cup?  I thought so.  Last time I checked, it is STILL MY BODY.

Home of the Free
America has ALWAYS been a country where we eat what is available.  The Native Americans did not have a food pyramid, chart or plate.  They had hunting and gathering skills.  Resources changed with the seasons.  In today's world, many American families have what is called a BUDGET which dictates what is on the "plate."  Others have dietary/physical issues that place restrictions or demands on an individual.  French fries are not BAD for everyone.  Our brains require fat as do our nervous and cardiovascular systems.  In  studies on children suffering from seizures, high fat diets have been encouraged and have shown healing effects.  In studies at John Hopkins, foods high in fat and low in carbohydrates, "...works by triggering biochemical changes that eliminate seizure-causing short circuits in the brain’s signaling system. It has been used successfully in several forms of epilepsy."  French fries are not low in carbs, but it may be the only fat food source available.  This is NOT a decision for Michelle Obama.  She is NOT a doctor.  She's not even an attorney anymore.  I'm not smelling fruits and vegetables, I am smelling CRAP.

By George, I think I've got it! 
Olive Garden and Red Lobster have also been under scrutiny and are apparently "bowing" to Queen Michelle.  "Encouraged by Michelle Obama's campaign to reduce childhood obesity, the company that owns the Olive Garden, Red Lobster and four other popular restaurant chains is pledging to cut the calories and sodium in its meals and overhaul its kids' fare."  Olive Garden might as well be renamed, "The Garden."  As for Red Lobster--perhaps just, "Reds."  My thoughts on any restaurant that "BOWS" to this administration while America is in the midst of an economic crisis, should be BOYCOTTED.  "For children, French fries and sugar-sweetened beverages will become the exception and not the rule."  I did not know that being the president's wife gave her authority to tell parents how to feed their children. 


First Ladies of the Past are Still FIRST
First Ladies, Barbara Bush and Laura Bush, are known for advocating for education and literacy (and much needed by an illiterate Barack).  In the current administration, I guess not being able to read--especially a menu is probably a good thing.  And being smart just might mean you don't vote Obama.  First Lady, Nancy Reagan, "...became involved with Foster Grandparents, a program started by Kennedy brother-in-law and Peace Corps founding director Sargent Shriver.  Her efforts helped bring Foster Grandparents branches to all California state hospitals, and the organization went on to take root in other states as well. She also worked with veterans organizations and prisoners of war (POW's), a sensitive topic during the Vietnam era. She organized four state dinners for returning California POW's, calling them "the high point of Ronnie's administration."  First Lady, Rosalynn Carter, was known for countless jobs of importance including her work as the Active Honorary Chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health.  Even First Lady, Betty Ford, made a great contribution by addressing substance abuse and breast cancer awareness. 

Last Word
The LAST thing this administration is going to do is tell me how to eat.  Yes, there are obese children and adults in this nation.  It is not solely due to French fries, McDonald's, fast food or eating out.  In defense of French fries, they are a WHOLE FOOD and there's something to be said for that.  Gotta go.  Order's up!

Disclaimer:  Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author unless otherwise stated.  You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.

My Ideas on "Creating JOBS"

A Government "Idea"

I think there are COUNTLESS solutions to stimulating the economy other than the food stamp program but according to Obama Ag Secretary, Vilsack, he thinks he has had a light bulb moment.  "Well, obviously, it's putting people to work...I should point out, when you talk about the SNAP program or the foot stamp program, you have to recognize that it's also an economic stimulus. Every dollar of SNAP benefits generates $1.84 in the economy in terms of economic activity. If people are able to buy a little more in the grocery store, someone has to stock it, package it, shelve it, process it, ship it. All of those are job . It's the most direct stimulus you can get in the economy during these tough times."  I love the press typo, "foot stamp program."  It says it all, INSERT FOOT IN MOUTH.  Hey Vilsack!  Is this "program" paying for itself?  If this is all he can come up with, Vilsack needs a "job" sacking groceries.  By the way, 1 in 7 Americans are on SNAP.

My Ideas

"Drill Baby Drill"

Number 1:  Lift the Moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico.  There are still questions regarding this issue--has it been lifted?  Texas Congressman Jeb Hensarling was asked this question in a pubic Town Hall Meeting (which I attended).  He did not answer the question and did not clarify if drilling permits were obtainable.  If drilling resumes, not only will jobs be restored, but new ones will be created as a direct result.  Drilling towns flourish (restaurants, grocery convenient stores, gas stations...).  If Hensarling could not answer this question, what is he doing in congress?

Note to Self:  Do NOT vote a STRAIGHT PARTY TICKET.

Number 2:  Stop the damn imports from China and other countries who do not play fair in the market.  In other words, if they directly restrict trade or levy high import taxes/duties, we should do the same to them.  Without imports, America has to make its own products.  Genius!  Put America back to work.  I've heard the response, "....blah, blah, unions, blah, blah....too much money to make American stuff because if unions...".  Really people.  If you have to decide which is worse--IMPORTS or UNIONS--which will you choose?  Will you choose America or China and other importing counties?  Not to mention, not all shops require a union.  STOP USING THE UNION EXCUSE.

Number 3:  Capitalism....Come on Down!  Let the rich get richer.  It maintains jobs, creates jobs and stabilizes the economy.  Don't focus on what others earn, focus on YOU. 

Number 4:  GET OFF THE 2nd AMENDMENT.  We have a Constitutional RIGHT to our guns.  How many would be unemployed as a result of revoking our gun rights?  America is a leading manufacturer:  Remington, Winchester, Marlin (to name a few).  We have a right to protect ourselves, our families and to hunt for food.  We also have a right to collect firearms and spend OUR money on them if we choose.

 

"Genocide" in Somali

Number 5:  STOP all the WARS.  HUGE savings to our country in lives and dollars.  America funds 75% of NATO (hit men).  Libya is none of our business.  We killed Osama and Hussain.  Wasn't that the mission?  Protect America from WITHIN.  Now, CNN keeps focusing on Syria.  How long before we attack their government?  Keep in perspective that Americans get killed every day in this country.  In 2008, statistics showed 45 murders per day.  Show more of THAT on TV.  Adding to this, we could actually be humanitarian in providing food to say Somalia instead of blowing people up?  Why are we part of the U.N. when it IS the United Nations of Communism and Terrorists?  The U.N is supposed to be helping Somalia and their food got stolen.  So they are starving AND getting shot at!

Bolton Farms, MA

Number 6:  Utilize farm land.  Our farmers need to GROW FOOD.    The Government should not regulate who should or should not grow crops.  As for the FDA, USDA and Department of Agriculture--if you can't do your jobs, they should be eliminated.  Those ARE government created jobs.  If they were being done correctly, their would not be all the food recalls such as the recent ground turkey (Salmonella contaminated--36 million lbs recalled Aug. 5, 2011) and ground beef (E. coli contaminated--60,000 lbs recalled August 15, 2011).  Not only does the growing of our own food support America, but enables us to SHARE with countries in need. 

Number 7:  Reinstate our SPACE PROGRAM.  There's nothing like unemployed physicists and astronauts.  Do you think they can "dummy it down" and get a job at Home Depot?  We--as a country--look like total losers with out it.  "The booming tourist area and haven for high-tech NASA jobs known as the "Space Coast" is struggling with sadness, bitterness and fear for the future as the US shuttle program draws to a close.  Three decades of human spaceflight driven by the iconic shuttle program have fueled growth in this Atlantic coast beach community, but the end of those glory days are hurtling closer with the final flight of Atlantis on Friday.  The last shuttle mission will trigger the disappearance of some 27,000 jobs either directly or indirectly tied to NASA's shuttle efforts, according to local officials."

U.S. Built F-16

Number 8:  Here's an EXCELLENT IDEA--How about BUILDING THE F-16 Fighter Jets for Taiwan?  "Bowing to Chinese pressure, the U.S. will deny Taiwan's request for 66 new F-16C/D fighter aircraft, a Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said. "We are so disappointed in the United States," he said.  A U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) delegation arrived here last week to deliver the news and offer instead a retrofit package for older F-16A/Bs that includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar."  Wow.  I wonder how many JOBS that would have created!

Number 9:  Nix the Obama Care.  We ARE NOT SOCIALISTS!  I was told by a pharmacist at Walgreen's that name brand drugs and "expensive drugs" are no longer being manufactured because of the "fear" Obama Care has put on the drug companies..  Example:  Merck.  "Merck is eliminating 7,200 positions, or 12% of its workforce, over the next 3 years. The pharmaceutical company has seen revenue from several of its biggest sellers decline recently."

Number 10:  With the Obama Care, 86 him too.  Talk about an economic bummer who can't stop blaming Bush.  Please take the credit for trashing America and LET the door hit you in ass on your way out--it needs a little stimulus.

"'Job creation' implies that Obama (and/or Congress) should do something to 'create jobs'. They have NO BUSINESS trying to create jobs. What they need to be doing is getting government's hands out of businesses' business. Like what Rick Perry said yesterday: They should be doing everything in their power to make the federal government as inconsequential in our lives as possible!"  Mark Sensmeier

Disclaimer:  Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author unless otherwise stated.  You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig.

USDA Recalls Ground Turkey: Salmonella ALERT

Turkey Recall

According to WASHINGTON (AP) and other news sources,  "Meat giant Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds of ground turkey linked to a nationwide salmonella outbreak that has killed one person in California and sickened at least 76 others.

Turkeys at Pitman Family Farms' 
turkey ranch in Sanger, Calif. 

Illnesses in the outbreak date back to March and have been reported in 26 states coast to coast.

Cargill said Wednesday that it is recalling fresh and frozen ground turkey products produced at the company's Springdale, Ark., plant from Feb. 20 through Aug. 2 due to possible contamination from the strain of salmonella linked to the illnesses.

Company officials said that all ground turkey production has been suspended at the plant until the company is able to determine the source of the outbreak."

Minnesota Meat Giants NOT Mental Giants

Did Cargill have to wait  FIVE (5) months to ACT on this issue?  I get that Cargill is a "meat giant" but obviously not a mental giant.  Cargill's president, Steve Willardsen now says, "Given our concern for what has happened, and our desire to do what is right for our consumers and customers, we are voluntarily removing our ground turkey products from the marketplace."   "Voluntarily"?  That's mighty kind of you Mark.

From personal experience of working in a plant, you know when you have contamination.  DAILY testing of machinery, surfaces, employees and product are MANDATED by the FDA, USDA as well as company policy. Cargill's turkey recall is a direct result of not following SOPs--Standard Operating Procedures. 

I am just guessing this will be a BIG problem.

1.  36 MILLION POUNDS of ground turkey is A LOT of MEAT

2.  It was likely packaged and sold to other companies

3.  The turkey could be in MULTIPLE products such as fresh, frozen and a variety of canned products such as soups all the way down to pet food. 

Cargill does state the recall code "Est. P-963" on the label.....including Cargill's Honeysuckle White."

Positive News:  Negative News

Salmonella is a Gram Negative (Gracilicutes) Bacteria and part of the family, Enterobacteriaceae or enteric bacteria.  It is a motile (has a flagella), rod shaped, facultatively anaerobic with simple nutritional requirements (Urease negative(-) and Mannitol (salt) positive(+).

(+) News
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) states that the contamination is all the same "strain of salmonella."  What does that mean?  Salmonella has around 2,500 different serovars (strains)--however, less than 100 have been incriminated as pathogens (strains that make a person ill).  If more than one strain were identified, the situation would be far more complicated--if you can imagine that!  
A "strain" is an identified and numbered strain or serovar used as a reference.  In the case of salmonella, the serovar is the basic taxon (classification) instead of a strain used in most Gram Positive (Firmicutes) and some Gram Negative bacteria.

S. typhi

Some examples:  (S. represents salmonella) S. abortusequi is hosted in the Equine species (horses) and causes mares in foal to abort.  S. choleraesuis is hosted in Porcine and causes pneumonia and septicemia in pigs.  S. typhi is hosted in Man and causes TYPHOID (results from ingestion of food or water that have been contaminated with feces).  In other selected serovars that infect humans and animals result in SALMONELLOSIS and Enterocolitis.  S. gallinarium and 
S. pullorum are host-adapted pathogens of birds.


 (-) News

"The CDC said the strain is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics, which can make treatment more difficult. The agency said 38 percent of those sickened were hospitalized. The states with the highest number sickened were Michigan and Ohio, 10 illnesses each, while nine illnesses were reported in Texas. Illinois had seven, California six and Pennsylvania five.

The remaining states have between one and three reported illnesses linked to the outbreak, according to the CDC: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin."

NOTE:  This means if you eat contaminated turkey, antibiotic therapy is NOT usually effective though may be used to prevent secondary infections.  Treatment requires MEDICAL ATTENTION.

Symptoms

Within 6 to 72 hours is the incubation time--meaning from time of ingestion to time of illness.  "Symptoms of Salmonella gastroenteritis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. In mild cases diarrhea may be non-bloody, occur several times per day, and not be very voluminous; in severe cases it may be frequent, bloody and/or mucoid, and of high volume."
NOTE:  Bloody diarrhea is a result of motile bacteria and important to mention for proper diagnosis.

"Fever generally occurs in the 100°F to 102°F (38°C to 39°C) range. Vomiting is less common than diarrhea. Headaches, myalgias (muscle pain), and arthralgias (joint pain) are often reported as well. Whereas the diarrhea typically lasts 24 to 72 hours, patients often report fatigue and other nonspecific symptoms lasting 7 days or longer."  A primary concern is dehydration.  Death can occur in infants, elderly and people with compromised immune systems."

NOTE:  Never buy into that stupid story that food poisoning takes at least 24 hours after ingestion.  This is NOT TRUE as it depends on the strain of bacteria as to how long it takes to act on the intestinal tract.

More Bad News--Cargill is Literally "Sorry"

"Cargill executive Willardsen said, "Public health and the safety of consumers cannot be compromised."

Disclaimer:  Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author unless otherwise stated.  You can put lipstick on a turkey but it's still a turkey.

Thank you:  Dr. Charles M Scanlan, Instructor of Microbiology, Texas A&M University