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You remember that nice little story ol' Bobby Jindal told us about Sheriff Lee and the rescue boats? Turns out that was bullshit.
What's funny is that it was central to Jindal's premise, which I guess, is the government is the problem, never a solution. And Bobby felt he needed to lie to make the case.
TPM: Jindal admits lying
...I wonder what they, the dead at Pompeii, would say about it. It's all fun and games until that natural disaster comes calling right?
From SolidWood at Free Republic:
...I agree that his age, 38, may be a disadvantage at this point in his career, but he has a great future ahead of him. As my tagline suggests, IMO there are three bright lights in the Conservative movement today :Freeper-Jindal/Palin flame war
*BOBBY JINDAL* SARAH PALIN * ERIC CANTOR *. If you can find me a good solid Conservative Republican who actually has experience, and has a chance to get elected, I will support him or her.
This a free rant and rave thread to post on. Write about whatever you feel like.
Updated:
Alan Keyes goes Wingnutty!!!
NYTIMES:Steele says "fo shizzle we need rizzle"
“We want to convey that the modern-day G.O.P. looks like the conservative party that stands on principles,” Mr. Steele said. “But we want to apply them to urban-suburban hip-hop settings.”
Yesterday, the NY Post ran a cartoon of police shooting a chimp with the caption "they'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill".
Um, what does Travis the chimp have to do with the stimulus bill? Did he have some input into it? I must've missed that memo. Or are they trying to say that the stimulus package was written by a chimp? Can chimps even write?
OR are they insinuating that our President is a chimpanzee? Is he hairy? Does he like to swing from trees? I did not notice- maybe I missed that memo, too?
OR is the NY Post staffed by a bunch of hillbilly racists? I think thats the most likely reason this piece was ran and it makes me SICK. I am sick not only that someone would draw such an offensive cartoon but also sick that it got approved by the editors and publicists and anyone else who saw it before it hit the presses.
Yes, racism is alive and well in the United States and it makes me sick to my stomach and embarrassed to be an American.
Am I wrong? Can this "cartoon" be anything other than racist? Is there some correlation between Travis the Chimp and the stimulus bill????????????????
IS THERE ANY OTHER EXPLANATION????
Mr Bold adds-
The NY Post is a Rupert Murdoch rag, and he can't give that crap away. No really. I get hit up for a free month of daily propoganda from these people at least once a week.
The cartoonist, Sean Delonas, has a history of tacky cartoons that only racists and homophobes could love.
GLAAD:NY POST PUBLISHES YET ANOTHER GRATUITOUS VULGAR ANTI-GAY CARTOON
And this might be a good time to review "How To Tell People They Sound Racist."
Bored? Have a lot of questions about the economic crisis we're living through?
*pops popcorn*
Frontline:Inside the Meltdown
I just read a good comment at SadlyNo! and thought I'd share:
Seriously, and this goes for every two-bit “comedian” who pisses and moans about “political correctness” when no one laughs at their fag jokes, if it’s too hard for you to work around basic human decency - which is still a fairly new concept - maybe you should move into a new line of work. Fuckin’ crybaby.
You can rant and rave about whatever you want to here.
Suggested topics for discussion-
Was Hitler really breast fed past toddler stage?
What's the most effective way to get a teenage boy's mind off of sex and into school work?
These are just some of the burning topics demanding discussion. Goofiest comment should get a reward.
It should...didn't say it will.
Here's an article with some age on it, but it is still relevant to understanding the Conservative mentality-
CommonDreamsStudy of Bush's Psyche Touches a Nerve
This was written before I started really surfing the web.
Kit Bond on 02/10/09-
“Unfortunately, this bill stimulates the debt, it stimulates the growth of government, but it doesn’t stimulate jobs,” Bond said. “More important, it doesn’t provide the basic need we have in this country to deal with the problems we have in the home industry and the credit market.”
“This is the type of emergency stimulus spending we should be supporting – programs that will create jobs now and help families,” said Bond."
Here he is with "Here Comes The Hotstepper." Feel free to shout out whatever artist you want to share next.
Did any of you hear this story?
BELFAST, Maine — James G. Cummings, who police say was shot to death by his wife two months ago, allegedly had a cache of radioactive materials in his home suitable for building a “dirty bomb.”
Cummings grew up in California and lived in Texas before moving to Maine in August 2007. Although Robbins said Cummings told him he made his money in Texas real estate, it appears that the actual source of his wealth was a trust fund established by his father, a prominent landowner in the Northern California city of Fort Bragg. An Internet search of the James B. Cummings Trust indicated that it has an annual income of $10 million.
200 years ago today Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury England. His idea, that nature through selecting of mutations for reproduction is responsible for the biodiversity we see today, has become the foundation for modern biology. And he managed to piss off the people I like to piss off, the Xian fundies, for a hundred years.
From the BBC-
When the RNC picked former Lt. Governor Steele from Maryland to head the RNC, I thought, "Hey they did something smart for once!" Out of all the choices they had running, Steele came off as the most sane and nicer of the candidates. I've seen Steele on Bill Maher, where although wingnutty, he seemed good natured.
Well I don't think being good natured can overcome this kind of wingnutty:
STEELE: You've got to look at what's going to create sustainable jobs. What this administration is talking about is making work. It is creating work.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But that's a job.
STEELE: No, it's not a job. A job is something that -- that a business owner creates. It's going to be long term. What he's creating...
Let's hope so. Because like every sitcom that Ted McGinley shows up on, Joe's patrons seem to get canceled too.
Joe showed up for McCain. Canceled.
Joe showed up for PajamasTV as a war correspondent covering Gaza. Gaza over. PajamasTV sucking and shedding viewers fast.
Joe just signed on for spinning the stimulus package for the GOP. Will that mean the end of the GOP is nigh?
Here's the story of a wingnut who went on a hunger strike because of Obama-
bjkeefe: no-one-could-have-predicted
The last two weeks has pretty much removed any doubt that the man is certifiably insane.
I thought I'd share this one because it's Mr. Scruff and because it has donkeys partying. I like the visual. Enjoy!
In case you hadn't heard, Coleman has taken Franken to court over the recount. Yesterday Coleman's legal team turned in evidence that had been written on, redacted and edited without the changes even being noted.
TPM: minnesota-election-judges-toss-colemans-faulty-evidence-tell-him-to-try-again
Looks like the tax cutters have won. I guess we should have seen that coming. Honestly it's all they seem to know. They cut taxes in good times and bad times. It's like they don't actually care about the affects of tax cuts on our budget and economy. They just want more tax cuts.
As thereisnospoon noted at DailyKos there are 3 types of Republicans left:
Residual racists uncomfortable with any portion of their tax dollars going to blacks or Hispanics, and desirous of indiscriminately killing any ethnic or religious group around the world who makes them fear for their safety;
Religious fundamentalists furious that women may be having sex without the appropriate "consequences", and terrified that gay people might "recruit" their children if allowed to live out their lives in open happiness; and
Super-wealthy families desperate to keep their 8-figure incomes untouched by the nasty hands of the same "big government" that provides the services and protections upon which they so heavily depend.
Just wanted to say HEY to everyone. Sorry I have been so absent lately- I am working on a big, highly publicized trial right now and am working 70+ hours a week. I think we have one week left so I will be back soon.
Also, the chat widgy thingy doesnt work for me since the upgrade but I have already filed my official complaint with Mr. B:)
Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the new era of President Obama. I have only been able to catch 2 of his executive orders- closing Guantanimo and reversing the international funding ban on pro-choice orgs. I think both are great moves and cant wait to see what else he has in mind.
FYI the Chinese New Year is Monday. Jan 26th starts the year of the Ox- which is the year I was born under in 1973 and I am just thrilled my baby will be an Ox, too. I am fascinated by the rituals of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese believe that what you do on the new year sets the tone for the rest of the year. So, think happy thoughts on Monday, dont curse or get angry and DONT DO ANY CLEANING. In fact, hide all your cleaning products out of sight. I usually try to get my whole house clean on the Chinese New Years Eve so I can enjoy the new year in a clean space. I guess I should get busy on that, hmmmm.... Anyway, its also a good idea to wear red on the Chinese New Year and to NOT wear white or black. Color color color is the idea.
Thats all for me as I must get busy and be productive this weekend. All is going very well with the pregnancy- I will be 22 weeks tomorrow and have never felt better. Seriously, I am really enjoying being pregnant. I think I should be pregnant all the time- but daddy says no:)
xoxoxo,
S. City
Here's the are doing "The Battle of New Orleans" by John Horton.
When you say "I've known Mr. X their whole life" do you mean from birth 'til their death or do you mean from conception?
Senator Ted Kennedy, it is being reported, collapsed at a luncheon today. Senator Byrd was so upset he collapsed too.
That's friendship for you. When your buddy goes down, you better make sure your in the ambulance with him.
Senator Kennedy...you better not die today. You still got work to do.
Don't you just hate it when some punk Liberal comes along and tells you what you know to be real is bullshit? What's worse those silly fact checking sites like snopes and factcheck.org don't actually say what they should be saying.
Well try Conservo-copy editing and you can make those supposedly reality based fact checking sites say whatever you need them to!
Here's how it works. Say you're debating some punk ass Liberal about the causes of the economic mess. Now you and I both know as Conservatives, it's all ACORN's fault. Obviously factcheck.org, being a scrupulous fact checking site should say that. This couldn't possibly be untrue: "That's SO funny, because Factcheck--along with, like, the whole of the internet--states that ACORN bullied, threatened harassment lawsuits, and held protests to smear bank reputations to force them into the risky loans of the sort at the heart of our current financial crisis-"
But we got this punk ass liberal who says something to effect of: "It's funny you say factcheck.org backs up your claim that ACORN bullied lenders into writing bad loans, when in fact factcheck.org says nothing of the kind."
Now is the time to employ Conservo-copy editing to make that link say what you need it to say. So lets look at the portion of text we need to Conservo-copy edit: The McCain ad says that ACORN in Chicago engaged in "bullying banks. Intimidation tactics. Disruption of business" and "forced banks to issue risky home loans." In support of these statements, the McCain campaign cites conservative opinion pieces, including a column by Mona Charen posted by the National Review Online, titled "Guilty Party: ACORN, Obama and the Mortgage Mess."
It is true that ACORN has led demonstrations on a number of issues nationwide – predatory lending, immigration reform, neighborhood violence, utilities shut-offs, minimum wage increases. Sometimes the group's tactics are confrontational, veering into civil disobedience. For instance, in the late 1980s, ACORN activists in a number of cities, including Chicago, seized abandoned houses and encouraged "squatting" by homeless people, in an attempt to force local governments to salvage abandoned properties and convert them into low-income housing. The targets of ACORN's protests sometimes describe the activists as intractable or even aggressive. Other ACORN protests are less confrontational; Sen. McCain himself spoke at an ACORN rally on illegal immigration in 2006.
It stretches the facts, however, to say that ACORN "forced" banks to make risky loans, though it has certainly applied pressure on banks to make loans to minority and low-income borrowers. ACORN also has worked directly with banks in a joint effort to increase such lending. In Chicago these efforts date back at least to 1992, after a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston showed that minorities in that city were two to three times as likely to be denied mortgage loans as white applicants, and that high-income minorities were more likely to be turned down than low-income whites. Chicago ACORN then started a mortgage assistance program, in cooperation with five local banks, to help minority and low-income borrowers get mortgage loans.
The mortgages that ACORN worked out with the banks did have lower underwriting standards than were customary. They allowed a higher percentage of a family's income to go to debt repayment, and counted rent and utility payments, not just credit card payments, as evidence of ability to pay back a loan. The loans were also more forgiving of past credit problems, as long as the recipient was making a proven effort to address them. But ACORN provided loan deals only to people who went through counseling on budget and credit issues. In 1992, First Nationwide Bank Vice President Neal Halleran told the Chicago Tribune: "Transaction by transaction, [loans from the ACORN program] would appear to be performing no worse than our portfolio overall." According to the Tribune, First Nationwide had contacted ACORN to initiate the lending program.
Factcheck.org: ACORN accusations
Well there is some good stuff in there if you're a Conservo-copy editor. First of all we got to remember, the original author chose the order of points for a reason. Conservo-copy editing magically disregards this. Watch how it works. Take the second clause from the 1st sentence in the third paragraph. Never mind the first clause of that sentence directly contradicts what was claimed. So now we got ACORN pressuring banks, but we still got to add the bullying part in there so lets take the first clause from the second sentence and the whole fourth sentence in the second paragrah while capslock screaming "AGGRESSIVE."
Thus we get:
"[ACORN] has certainly applied pressure on banks to make loans to minority and low-income borrowers. ... Sometimes the group's tactics are confrontational ... The targets of ACORN's protests sometimes describe the activists as intractable or even AGGRESSIVE"
After we applied Conservo-copy editing we get a factcheck.org citation you would be proud to have your mother post on the kitchen fridge.
Mr Bold
In or around busting the liar who wrote this post:
stlouis.craigslist.org/pol/993645260
cross posted ad nauseum on St. Louis' politics board.
And I am too. I hope as much as Pubwoof does that we are going to see an end to the selfishness that permeates the American psyche. We're definitely going to see the end of anti-intellectualism in our public policy for a while. Wackadoodles who want to deny global warming and teach creationism in our science classrooms will not have a friend anymore in the White House.
This is an open inaugural thread. Feel free to leave comment about whatever you feel like.
"It's Monday Morning in America"
A little play on the Peggy Noonan's "Morning in America" she wrote for Reagan. Their message was that the sun is coming up and all is about to be better, etc. I sense a similar feeling amongst the populace nowadays, but with a greater degree of dread about how bad things are going to get (might get). If Obama wants to be one of our greatest presidential leaders, he needs to calm fears while preparing the nation for the enormity of the tasks that lay before us. The "Monday Morning" theme represents my opinion of how America should view the now; we may have a lot of work to do, but at least we can get started now, so let's get our asses in gear.
Obama will get bonus points as a presidential leader if he can begin to instill into Americans a greater sense of shared destiny. More teamwork, more looking out for the group, more connection to each other. Less selfishness, less fear, less isolationism. A renewed realization that we can stand only when together and can fall only when divided. What love can one really have for America when there is no love for other Americans? (here's mash up 2) "America simply can't work if the greatest thing we have to fear is what you can do for your country."
Of course, Obama isn't known to suck too badly at speeching, so I'm sure whatever he does will be pretty good too.
Pharyngula: Open Season on Fresh Meat
I agree with that 100%.
CNN ran a documentary the other day called "IOUSA." It's largely a series of one piece of misinformation after the other-which means it's great fodder for the wingnuts.
Here's a good response that corrects the record and informs you on some basic fundamentals of macro economics that's written in a clear, concise way-
Response to CNN's IOUSA
This is a great Dutch tradition that unfortunately was under siege by Global Warming. This year it was cold enough to do it at their traditional time.
The film maker around 3 minutes in makes a reference to the firecrackers heard in the background. That's the symptom of an unfortunate Dutch tradition of setting off fireworks right in front of your home.
I just don't know how if you are woman, you could possibly vote Republican. Today's vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act in the House of Representatives should confirm to all women that Republicans do not give a damn about your rights.
AP: House approves ending of wage discrimination
Bush is of course expected to veto this fair and just bill.
Thank the gods it's Friday.
Speaking of gods...they're still fighting over in the so called "Holy Land." I honestly don't think it's holy, but it's probably got some real sweet beaches.
And you know, I'd probably kill for a good beach too.
I just read a hilarious round up of highlights from American racists in 2008-
SPLC-2nd Annual Smackdown awards
Here they are performing "Severed Hand" live. The music starts right after the 2 minute mark. Eddie talks a LOT.
Al Franken has clinched the election in Minnesota. The recount is over.
I wonder what that means for my autographed copy of "Liars and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them"?
Congratulations Al! I gotta think Senator Paul Wellstone would have been proud to see the day.
Here is JBJ doing "Wanted Dead or Alive" live in NYC. The song begins around 1:10 minutes in.
I can't wait til we get a President again.
Until then Call of Duty: World At War will have to do.
BTW...have you gotten a PS3 yet? They're really freakin' awesome.
Jazz trumpet great Freddie Hubbard passed away at the age of 70. Here he is with Herbie Hancock playing "Cantalope Island."
IHT: Freddie Hubbard obit
Rick Warren calls people who object to his equating homosexuality with pedophilia, bestiality and incest "christophobes."
You know I thought Warren's recent softer approach was mending some fences. But this latest diatribe by him is just over the top. For those who don't have cable, Rachel Maddow sums it up nicely:
Updated:
I found something on the web that I thought was pretty powerful.
C&L: please-dont-divorce
I hope you all are having a great night.
Festivus was such a hit, Frank Constanza brought it to Congress-
What a great idea this is....
1)Corporate Elitists. Safely amongst the most despicable people alive. They represent greed, sloth, pride, gluttony, et.al., and are the primary movers behind virtually everything else we consider to be public/social ills --corruption, hegemony, constitutional abuses, war crimes, et.al. People who "make" money simply because they have money and because they spend money to grease politicians represent the absolute pinnacle of the entitlement culture.
2)Joe the Plumber. The third-class intellect who barged into the national discourse when he miserably failed to ambush Obama on tax policy during a photo op. His misrepresentations about himself, his shameless and moronic shilling for the McCain ticket, and his later attempts to land himself a country music deal showed that one doesn't have to run for office to be entirely full of shit. What a disgrace. What good was he other than post-Palin proof that any fool can become the darling of the GOP?
3)Brazilian Beer Barons. Over the years, the STL has lost many companies because they got bought out by bigger fish from other cities. However much those losses sucked, it was always comforting to know A-B would always be a STL icon. This one hurts me more because A-B never started planning to defend a hostile takeover until it came and because InBev got off on the cheap because of the weak dollar. It's like it never needed to happen. Damn.
4)The Rams. This year, I shall call you "The Lambs." I have nothing brilliant to say except it's just damn sad. I guess it's a shame too. Like, get better please. Sad.
5)"Real Americans". Anyone who considers themselves this cannot be a patriot. To believe that some parts of America, or that some Americans, are any more or less legitimately American is to disregard the essential wisdoms of our founding fathers that we are all equal and all that bullshit. If the mark of a patriot is the flying of flags or the sporting of pins, they should display the stars alone or the stripes alone to serve as a visual aid in explaining which parts of America don't count and why. The whole lot of them can go fuck themselves.
I have more, but I'm going to hold them deep deep inside me until they become suffciently hateful and twisted to be shared publicly.
Well this is interesting. Apparently a car jacking in St Louis goes for a minimum sentence of at least 5 years while a scooter jacking carries a penalty of at least 25 years.
Thoughts?
I will be composing my "Airing of Greivances" during the day and suggest you do likewise. Because after all, Festivus is for the rest of us.
Festivus: Rules and Rituals
Updated-
In accordance with tradition, I submit my list for the Airing of Grievances. The following have disappointed me over the past year:
1. My cat Vory. I plucked you out of the ASPCA and paid $125 for you and all I get are scratches and bites. Would it kill you to try to sit quietly in my lap and just purr every once in a while? I know I wanted an active cat, but not one that would physically assualt me.
2. Elliot Spitzer. Dude I believed in you. You were smart. You were on the ball. Bad guys would go into fits when they heard “Spitzer is on the phone.” Why did you have to go thinking with your d*ck?
3. The Senate Democrats-particularly the ones in good health like Leahy and Reid. WTF is wrong with you jerks? We won the election. Stop playing ball with the GOP who only want to destroy you. You can’t negotiate with people who want to kill you.
4. Randi Rhodes formerly of Air America. Look Randi…I know you were doing stand up. But really, you called HRC a whore. Was that necessary? I understand she was running a campaign that wrote the smears McCain would eventually use, but honestly…a whore? She’s a senator for crying out loud. I loved you on Air America. Now I only listen to Ed Schultz only because that’s really the only quality liberal programming I get.
5. St. Louis Craigslist the Rants and Raves section. I warned you about the flagging didn’t I? I told you content made that place and after the out of control flagging, there is little to no content.
6. My Dad. That’s between him and me. He knows what he did.
7. John McCain. You know I actually liked you once. Sure I thought you were kind of corrupt after the Keating scandal, but I thought you were a better candidate than W in 2000. I thought after going through the nastiest smear campaign I’d ever seen in 2000, you wouldn’t do likewise. Well I guess you thought you figured out what works from that. That was the wrong lesson John. I’m really disappointed in you. And thanks for introducing Caribou Barbie to the mix. Yeah that’s what we needed was some dumb wackadoodle on a power trip.
“I have a lot of problems with you people.”
I'm really starting to hate the Christmas musak. If I hear "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime" one more time, I'm going postal.
In other news...Obama is hiring the leading minds of the scientific community to handle guess what-science policy.
And don't forget, just because we won the last election, doesn't mean we stop shaming, mocking and deriding Conservatives. Let's remember they were pro Iraq quagmire, deniers of climate change, pro teaching creationism in science class and pro trickle down economics. Their ideas suck and they need to be continually reminded.
You can rant and rave about whatever here.
In other news, Al Franken is ahead of Norm Coleman in Minnesota by 250 votes. Finally the Senate will have a professional comedian in its ranks.
Hallelujah! I am so happy to see the fed finally dealing with this. I quit using Citibank years ago when they sent me a bill for 23 cents after I had paid in full the month before. They failed to explain to me how that was not deceptive and I am just lucky I caught it before they charged me a late fee and raised my interest rate. I cut the damn card up and mailed it back to them along with a check for 23 lousy cents - and demanded they close my account. I had had that account for over 10 years and they did nothing to correct the incident or otherwise try to keep me.
Now Citibank is "repricing" "certain" customers anywhere from 6% to 19% due to no fault at all on the part of the cardholder. What a sham!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I think these new rules are a pretty good holiday present, even if they dont go into effect until July 2010. I give the fed 2 snaps up for this!
*SNAP!*
*SNAP!*
Now in handy gif form.
Update:
There are reports coming out today saying the journalist who threw the shoes was beaten by the Iraqi police. Like others in the blogosphere, I agree that Bush actually handled this very well when he pointed out that stuff like this happens in a free democracy. In that spirit I hope you make a call to the White House- 202-456-1111 and express your wish that Bush ask the Iraqis for leniency for the journalist al Zaidi.
Looks like they have finally found poor Caylee Anthony's remains. I am actually relieved since all signs pointed to her being dead- and I was afraid her (insert worst adjective in existence and multiply that by infinity) mother was going to get off if they didnt find a body.
Still I am sad. Relieved, but sad. I wonder what that (insert worst adjective in existence and multiply that by infinity) woman will lie about next.
The Illinois Governor was caught on court authorized Federal wiretaps trying to sell Obama's senate seat. This morning the FBI seized Blagojevich at his home in Chicago.
Firedoglake: Blago indicted
Good riddance I say. Corruption in our politics should never be tolerated no matter which party does it.
Yesterday, November 28, 2008, the FDA issued an update on a synthetic plastic called melamine on their food safety website entitled, Update Interim Safety and Risk Assessment of Melamine and its Analogues in Food for Humans. The article provides the FDA’s maximum acceptable concentration of melamine (1 part per million) for baby formula manufactured in the US . In addition, the FDA confirms that US domestic sources of infant formula are safe. The alert comes after the tragic illnesses and four (4) deaths in China of babies exposed to melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula that was manufactured in China. It also comes over a year after the illnesses and deaths of pets in the US and subsequent FDA recalls of human and pet food products in the US that had contained wheat gluten from China that had been contaminated with melamine. The US FDA prohibits any melamine directly added to any US food products that are consumed by humans or by animals.
Melamine-contaminated food products on the FDA’s September 2008 recalls list for humans included: milk and milk-derived products that came from China and which contained melamine.
The FDA Human Food Recalls list included: White Rabbit Candy, the chinese candy with the white rabbit logo on the front which I relished a few years back; the fresh and crispy Jacobina biscuits, the philippino biscuits with many layers in them; and the Koala's March creme filled cookies, the cute japanese cookies shaped like a koala. For animal lovers who also love eating desserts, this has been a blow to their enjoyment of two loves packed into one dessert. The cartoon character and small size of these desserts hold great appeal to both children and adults. For a more comprehensive list of human foods with melamine (cute or not cute looking, such as Mr. Brown coffee), see: FDA Nov 28 update. All kidding aside, the melamine outbreak is actually quite serious and extended to even greater populations.
Pet Owners, do you remember the Pet food scare? Over a year ago (March 15, 2007), the public scare about melamine occurred in the US over a completely different and separate incident, when pets were getting sick or dying. It was determined in all cases that the pets ate pet food whose normal vegetable protein ingredient had melamine mixed in it. Pet food companies reported to the FDA about many kidney failures and deaths of dogs and cats that their customers relayed; the common thread among all the pets was they ate the same types of pet food. Not all pet foods on the US market had problems. On May 4, 2007, the LA Times reported that the FDA received 17,000 calls from people. The FDA reported in January 3, 2008 that 1950 deaths of cats and 2200 deaths of dogs were reported from these calls. This number does not include the number of reported deaths provided by pet food companies.
The American Veterinarian Medical Association issued a press release in May 2007 over the incident, and was collecting data via online surveys.
Among the melamine-contaminated pet foods, all contained wheat gluten imported from China that contained melamine and all had melamine in the food. In addition, some fish and farm animals used for the human food supply chain were given animal feed that was contaminated with melamine; these animals were later processed to make human food. The FDA then authorized a national recall for destruction of all pet foods, animal feed, fish feed, and vegetable proteins that contained melamine. On April 28, 2007, the FDA announced that hog meat and other meat were still safe to eat by humans; there would be no recalls on these processed animal meats[Source: FDA April2007] Between May 1, 2007 and June 2007, the FDA launched some protein surveillance audits across the US , to ensure that the US food and feed were safe from melamine contamination. [Source: Groter FDA 2007 report] Justice arrived for the unnecessary animal losses on February 8, 2008, when the FDA indicted one (1) Chinese company, its two (2) Chinese nationals owners, one (1) US company, and the owners (2 people) for importing products into the US that were contaminated with melamine when they were sold purely as "wheat gluten," which is made of many different ingredients, none which include melamine. [Source: FDA pet food site and Source 2: FDA indictment Feb 2008]
At that point, there were no questions, or questions were skirted about possible high melamine contamination in the human food supply and their effects.
Now in 2008, we are seeing the effects of melamine on the human food supply. It was not until September 11, 2008 that the FDA heard that melamine might have been found in powder baby infant formula manufactured in China . This sparked an international controversy in the press. Even more chilling, what did not get leaked to the press so quickly was the September 21, 2008 safety alert that the FDA learned, that as of that date, China had 52,857 reported cases of nephrolithiasis (and, in some instances, renal failure) "linked to consumption of this contaminated powdered formula" [Source: FDA website, October 3, 2008 alert] Nephrolithiasis is a medical term for kidney stones (renal calculi). It is rare for humans to develop kidney stones at such an early age. Renal failure means that the kidneys no longer worked, and they could not perform their basic bodily functions as natural and unnatural toxins build up in the blood as a consequence in either a chronic or even worse acute renal failure. What is most disturbing is that all the cases occurred in infants, who are still undergoing stages of development in their body systems, such as their renal systems. In addition, the powdered baby formula might have been the primary source of food for these infants, thereby exposing a vulnerable system to increasingly high concentrations of melamine in a body that does not yet have the full capability of removing the substance in the first place.
This essentially means that levels of melamine in a baby internally experiences levels that are potentially toxic, even potentially lethal. In fact, the FDA website noted "13,000 hospitalizations" in China from melamine contamination. One Chinese hospital reported 16 infants between the ages of 5 months to 11 months who had kidney stones, and some of these infants developed renal insufficiency. "3 deaths" of infants were reported in China from melamine exposure as of October 3, 2008. Have there been any more reported deaths since then? Not sure, but the World Health Organization has reported a 4th death in China on its website, and the WHO will discuss the melamine contamination worldwide in an international conference on December 4, 2008. The FDA's data feature prominently on the website. The Netherlands has also found melamine in the Koala brand cookies imported from China. Korea has located melamine in their Nabisco Ritz cracker cheese sandwiches that came from China. Other countries are checking their food supplies, see USA Today.
In case you were dozing off, here are the numbers again from the FDA and from China:
Animal cases in US:
-17,000 phone complaints to FDA
-1950 deaths of cats reported from phone complaints to FDA
-2200 deaths of dogs
Human cases in China:
-52,857 reported cases of nephrolithiasis (and, in some instances, renal failure) "linked to consumption of this contaminated powdered formula"
-13,000 hospitalizations
-4 deaths[Source: FDA website, October 3, 2008 announcement and WHO website]
Is melamine or some related contaminant with melamine the cause of this toxicity? Or is something reacting with the melamine to cause the reaction? The FDA is still investigating this question but has noted that melamine is inert on its own. Melamine and its derivative cyanuric acid combine together to form crystals. When the crystals block the flow of urine and other substances that naturally flow through kidney tubes, kidney damage and kidney failure result.
Definitely, these chemical interactions indicate that high levels of exposure (as found in a contamination) to melamine, combined with high levels of cyanuric acid, over a continuous, long period can lead to potential nephrolithiasis, kidney problems, kidney failure, and potential deaths. [Source: WHO website] The WHO even posted a website on clinical detection, diagnosis, and treatment of melamine contamination. Both melamine and cyanuric acid have been detected in the pet food from China . Only melamine has been detected, and there is still no information about cyanuric acid levels in the September baby formula scare in China. [Source: WHO website] So far, no human adult problems have been reported from exposure to melamine anywhere worldwide. [Source: WHO link2].
Just because human adult problems have not been reported does not mean they can't exist, making the numbers a potential departure from reality. It is easy to imagine being an adult who does not live in the US, and who loves constantly eating Nabisco Ritz cheese crackers, Pocky Men's chocolate cigarette biscuits, Cadbury chocolate, non-dairy creamer, M&Ms, KitKat, Snickers bars, and munches on rice crackers. While that is one unhealthy person who loves snacks, that is a potentially realistic scenario. No one can resist that snack attack. Now people around the world will have to hold back on that snack attack.
Ordinarily, melamine is used industrially in cleaning products, resins, foams, and pesticides. So, why would people illegally add melamine to wheat gluten, milk and milk-derived products? What value does adding melamine have? According to the WHO and European Union, melamine (chemical formula C3H6N6) has nitrogen content in it that can be utilized deceptively. Protein has nitrogen, and food testers use methods to measure the amount of protein in a food product. If a food product is originally made with less protein content than it is supposed to have, melamine can be added to inflate the amount of supposed protein in a food product and fool the measures used during the testing process. [Source: WHO link and EU link].
Surely a human life, baby or adult, cannot be considered cheap enough to hurt or kill in order for someone else to dodge some protein measuring standard. A pet's life cannot be considered cheap enough either in order to dodge some protein measuring standard.
Which foods utilize ingredients from China that contain melamine, aside from White Rabbit candy, Koala cookies, and Jacobina biscuits, snack items mainly Asians and Asian foodies only know? I just wonder whether the noodles I buy, which contain wheat gluten, as safe. What I wonder about are foods that contain milk-derived ingredients. Milk-derived ingredients are ingredients that include whole milk powder, non-fat milk powder, whey powder, lactose powder, and casein. Hopefully, FDA will continue testing of all kinds of foods. In their June 2008 report, the FDA identified many potential sources food products for humans, like soybeans, pie filling, soy milk, gelatin, whole grain, wheat and rice flour, rice, and corn, to name a few [See Groter on FDA website]. The reason is clear to me, as these are items that someone could easily substitute melamine into ingredients as a way to artificially increase the protein quota during testing.
This has food safety ramifications on vegan fans like myself, who try to eat less snacks and eat more healthy, more "natural" foods. Well, this situation turns the natural into something quite unnatural. Have the FDA and health authorities for other countries considered this consumer population?
As for baby formula produced in the US , while the FDA does not approve baby formula, the companies that manufacture baby formula must register their formula with the FDA, are under FDA's jurisdiction and must follow federal nutrient requirements. [Source: See FDA link].
In its November 28, 2008 report, the FDA announced that while no amount of melamine in baby formula is tolerated (Oct 3 alert "zero tolerance" policy), the scientific measure of 1 part per million (1 ppm) of melamine in baby formula is the maximum concentration that can be considered safe. The European Union and Canadian health authorities have not made such strong statements as the US FDA on what they will not allow. A few weeks ago, the FDA found traces of melamine in infant formula below the 1 part per million standard of one major U.S. manufacturer named Nestle Nutrition and cyanuric acid in the formula of a second major manufacturer named Mead Johnson. The melamine and cyanuric acid ended up in the formula unintentionally during the manufacturing process [Source:
FDA website]. As the samples did not contain both melamine and cyanuric acid, the formulas have also been acceptable and no cause for recall. Is everyone in agreement with this? The jury is still out on this one. Let's see how sales look after a few months for these companies.
So, I guess I'm lucky I'm not a baby and can eat other things.
In its October 3, 2008 report, the FDA noted that "melamine, in its chainlike 'polymerized' form, has been used to manufacture dishes, plastic resins, and components of paper and paperboard that may come in contact with food. Additionally, trichloromelamine is approved for use as a sanitizing agent on food processing equipment and utensils, except for milk containers and equipment, and it readily decomposes to melamine during such uses. FDA estimated that the cumulative dietary concentration from these approved food uses would be less than 15 µg/kg (0.015 ppm). This is an estimate of the average concentration of melamine in food from approved uses; it is not intended as an estimate of the acceptable maximum level of melamine in an individual food. Additionally, individual products may contain more or less melamine than 0.015 ppm of melamine as a result of approved uses. The levels would depend on the type of food and the conditions of the approved uses." [Source:FDA link]. Ever think about that? That your plastic wrap or plate could have substances like melamine that mix in with your food? The governments in other countries have followed in the US' footsteps, providing data from the FDA on their test results on melamine. Canada and the European Union have posted websites about melamine and their countries' standards of melamine exposure on the human population. [Source: Health Canada link and EU link].
It sounds like more melamine testing will continue around the world. This will not be the last word on food products and melamine. The solutions to this international problem rest in the continuing transparency or openness about any cases that arise, whether at the supplier, consumer, or service medical level. While the reports are heartbreaking, transparency and fast reporting are the only ways of identifying sources, thereby providing the necessary corrective actions towards ensuring the safe health and lives of everyone, both man and animal. The melamine outbreak is affecting those populations who cannot really speak for themselves or fully understand what is going on with their health--infant children and animals, those that are pets or food supply chain animals. It is up to those who care for these vulnerable populations to listen, pay attention, and protect their rights, safety, and welfare. It is also up to the governments to hold accountable those people who contaminate food supplies.
-Reported by the Boldly Liberal Intern
Like those at SadlyNo! I'm thankful I'm not B. Daniel Blatt.
I'm also thankful I'm not in Mumbai where thankfully the siege ended.
Like those at 23/6 I'm thankful for many things including: Obama will be able to place many liberal judges on the bench, even rich folks agreed to that it was a good idea to spread the wealth, the socialist takeover of banks happened on Bush's watch and Bush is probably drinking again.
Have a good thanksgiving. And now a totally gratuitous childhood memory jogger...
My apologies for the Popeye video with the messed up audio. This Tom & Jerry video is just fine. -Mr Bold
I've been getting the distinct impression from everyone on the right wing squawking on my TV, that Obama has been the President for the last 4 days.
Who knew that President Elect had this much power?
see Sarah Palin pictures
Warm and fuzzies? Yeah I got 'em.
I just read a fascinating piece I came across via Crooks and Liars. David Neiwert (Orcinus) highlighted this piece by Nate Silver over at 538:
538: Did-talk-radio-kill-conservatism?
This really grabbed me right here:
There are a certain segment of conservatives who literally cannot believe that anybody would see the world differently than the way they do. They have not just forgotten how to persuade; they have forgotten about the necessity of persuasion.
Apparently half of the Americans who took this failed it.
Take the quiz here.
I got 31 out of 33. Go a head and try to beat my score ; ).
Well the Missourians of 2008 broke their state's 52 year long streak of voting for the winner in the Presidential elections.
Progressives still have a lot of work to do in Missouri.
Here they are doing "Mouth For War."
You know while the pundits are all talking about Hil for Secretary of State...
If you're listed as a contributor here and there are blogs you regularly follow, shout them out to me and I will add them to the blog roll. It doesn't have to be about politics. I'd like the site to reflect the diversity in our authorship.
Thanks,
The Management
Click here for article
I cannot believe this article. Our religious freedoms are already protected. This is just anti-abortion language artfully disguised. It makes me furious, and I am glad that our President Elect is going through motions to see that it is nullified.
The Senator who gave us the bridge to nowhere has lost his bid for re-election. Former Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich will take Senator Ted Stevens' seat.
We'll miss good ol' Teddy-boy. He had cajones that were unmatched. Here he is arguing with a prosecutor about a gift he got:
He said he considered that chair a loan.
"And the chair is still at your house?" prosecutor Brenda Morris asked.
"Yes," Stevens said.
"How is that not a gift?"
"He bought that chair as a gift, but I refused it as a gift," Stevens said. "He put it there and said it was my chair. I told him I would not accept it as a gift. We have lots of things in our house that don't belong to us."
Playing to the jury, Morris appeared confused.
"So, if you say it's not a gift, it's not a gift?" she said.
"I refused it as a gift," Stevens replied. "I let him put it in our basement at his request."
Tomorrow there is going to be protest against Prop. 8 across the country. St. Louisans are going to assemble at the Old Courthouse at Market and Broadway at 12:30 pm. Show up and show solidarity.
Find out more here
Click here for article
Personally, I agree with this guy. I think the bailout was a terrible idea in the first place, and he's right, it will just open the door for more greedy corporations to "beg for government help".
+ video. Rant and rave about whatever you feel like.
Featured Artist-Casandra Wilson doing The Beatles hit "Come Together."
Came across this article on CNN:
Read all about it here
Amazing. Our government, in their infinite wisdom, made these men sign non-disclosure agreements to keep them quiet about these atrocities. Could you imagine going through something like that and then not even being able to talk to your family about it? That would make me go insane. No wonder so many veterans are in desperate need of psychological care.
I hope this guy publishes his diary. I'd like to read it, as morbid as that sounds.
I overheard a Mexicano looking dude listening to "I'm Proud to Be an American" by Lee Greenwood on his IPOD on my way home. Upon further reflection, that was probably a youtube video opportunity that passed me by.
Oh well.
Rant and rave about whatever you feel like on this thread.
ps-Obama is killin' it yo's.
Some Army recruiters are using Obama's victory as a recruitment tool:
via
Thinkprogress
There are three names floating around right now, although there are some "unnamed others", apparently: Timothy Geithner, Lawrence Summers and Paul Volcker.
This is such an important decision at this point in time. I think that either Geithner or Volcker would be a great choice. They've already weathered some financial crises, and seem to me to have a wealth of experience.
I was reading Wikipedia articles about each of these men, and Lawrence Summers scares me the most. He's a very vocal sexist pig, and is extremely controversial. I think he'd be the wrong choice for Obama's administration, and this position in particular, considering the economic mess he would have to clean up and his seemingly argumentative nature. I sincerely doubt that he would be an easy man to work with. And then there's this:
"In the fall of 2001 the US national media focused their attention on a private meeting in which Summers criticized prominent African-American Studies professor Cornel West, for missing too many classes, contributing to grade inflation, and neglecting serious scholarship. West, who later called Summers both "uninformed" and "an unprincipled power player" in describing this encounter in his book Democracy Matters (2004), subsequently returned to Princeton University, where he taught prior to Harvard University." - from the Wikipedia article on Summers
Seems as though he's not only a sexist pig, but a racist as well. I just hope he is showing his true colors to our President Elect.
She's a total trainwreck, I know, but she's an amazing singer. I love this song. Hope you all enjoy!
A wingnut thoughtfully points out:
"I know many of you are still drunk with elation that the Messiah has won but there still is a real world out there."
"Once Obama was declared the winner, the stock market faced its biggest drop in history."
"Russia is placing missiles on NATO borders and ordered its fleet with ballistic missile jamming capabilities out to sea. Putin is pushing for the Presidency again with a new six year term."
"Our enemies are as happy as can be. November 4th 2008 will be remembered as the day America died. Welcome to the real world."
I know many of you are still drunk with elation that the Messiah has won but there still is a real world out there. Once Obama was declared the winner, the stock market faced its biggest drop in history. Russia is placing missiles on NATO borders and ordered its fleet with ballistic missile jamming capabilities out to sea. Putin is pushing for the Presidency again with a new six year term. Our enemies are as happy as can be. November 4th 2008 will be remembered as the day America died. Welcome to the real world.
If you've followed the St. Louis or the Lisbon page *cough *cough, you are familiar with At My Desk. She's been a regular there for at least a year if not longer. She's always been a consistent voice for the underdog and other Liberal causes. I look forward to reading her first post.
Welcome aboard At My Desk.
We are becoming The Establishment. My hope here at BoldlyLiberal is to stay on top of debunking the right wing smears and myths that get thrown up to defend the top 1 percent.
There is no way McCain can win this thing. The race I'm watching now is Franken/Coleman in Minnesota.
Update 9:18 Franken is beating Coleman 44% - 39% on MSNBC.
This is a general public service announcement:
Happy Election Day!!
Just a reminder that Drinking Liberally will be hosting an Election Night party tonight at Premium Lounge beginning at 6PM. (Don't skip voting for the drink specials! Polls are open until 7PM and you can vote if you?re in line then.) The Lounge will be offering buy one-get one rails and beers from 6-8PM and you can get patriotic with red/white/blue shots! If you haven't been to Premium Lounge, it has plenty of cushy seating, free wi-fi, and a ginormous flat screen- a perfect place to gather with your Liberal friends for this exciting night.
See you tonight!
-Vanessa
P.S. If you have any problems voting call 1.877.MO.CHANGE
Our condolences goes out to the Obama family. I am sure there is some wingnut like Jerome Corsi starting some whisper campaign accusing Obama of murder.
