Over 143 million pounds of meat from a Los Angeles slaughter house has been recalled by the USDA. Video of cattle too weak to walk into the slaughter house has been plastered all over the news, and consumers are digging through their freezers looking for packages of hamburger sold under the brand names Hallmark, Westland and Regal.
USDA officials are trying to calm down public fears by saying there is a "low risk" that any of the animals that already made it into the human food supply could have been striken with Bovine spongiform encephalopathy - BSE (mad cow disease). They say this even though everyone knows the classic symptoms of this disease is the inability of the infected animal to stand or walk. Here's a little blurb from Wikipedia:
It is believed that BSE or mad cow disease may be transmitted to human beings who eat infected meat. In humans, it is known as new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD or nvCJD), and by June 2007, it had killed 165 people in Britain, and six elsewhere with the number expected to rise because of the disease's long incubation period. Between 460,000 and 482,000 BSE-infected animals had entered the human food chain in the UK before controls were introduced in 1989.
A British inquiry into BSE concluded that the epidemic was caused by cattle, who are normally herbivores, being fed the remains of other cattle in the form of meat and bone meal (MBM), which caused the infectious agent to spread. The origin of the disease itself remains unknown. The infectious agent is distinctive for the high temperatures at which it remains viable; this contributed to the spread of the disease in Britain, which had reduced the temperatures used during its rendering process. Another contributory factor was the feeding of infected protein supplements to very young calves.
So if the US government has known about BSE since at least 1989, why has the USDA failed to draft legislation to prevent cattle from being fed ground up animal brains? It seems like such a simple matter to address that would potentially protect millions of American consumers, and yet they continue to do nothing but downplay the public's concern...
Could it be... a... conspiracy???
It probably comes down to two things: Too much time and trouble. Too much money. It always comes down to the almighty dollar. Time is money and so is trouble. (haven't had my coffee yet...hope I am making sense)
I ate a hamburger (which I hardly ever do) on Saturday night before our investigation, so if I start mooing and am unable to walk....put me out to pasture, okay? :-\
What is even more frightening about this whole beef recall thing is that millions of pounds of it have already gone out to public and private school lunch programs and have already been consumed.
Makes me want to go back to being a vegetarian. Can't get poisioned from a tomato. (well...maybe if it isn't washed) ;)
QuoteMakes me want to go back to being a vegetarian. Can't get poisioned from a tomato. (well...maybe if it isn't washed)
Watch out for Samonella!!! (sp?) I've gotten food poisoning twice from veggies.
Do people seriously trust that the governent is actually doing a good job protecting our food, toys, etc? They only inspect about 1% of actual imports that enter the U.S. (from what I've read). They do not have the resources to keep up with everything up to snuff. I think the main problem is that people just don't care. The fact that people would even let the cows be slaughtered in the first place are the issue.
Did you all hear about that one farm down here? They were torturing poor sick cows to stand up with stun sticks and whips so they could slaughter them. I love steak, but this is way out of hand.
My science teacher in junior high made us watch undescribable torture on animals in slaughter farms. They would burn a pig alive just to see how many layers of skin they can burn 'till the pig was dead. It is horrible. I eat meat too, but the way animals are treated by some of these farms is horrible and sadistic. I am sure there is some pissed off animal spirits roaming those places. :'(
No I don't think that the government is doing all that they can, but when you think about the sheer insane amount of food that is eaten every day, I think that the U.S. is doing pretty well. Yes some bad stuff happens once in a while, not not nearly as often as in other countries. So while I think we could do better, I think were doing "ok."
I'm an animal lover, but I still eat meat, go figure. What always surprises me though is that people get so worked up when they see people at slaughterhouses and other places behaving badly. I hardly condone their actions and such, but why are people so surprised? Think about it. Imagine working in a place where you see hundreds of cows being slaughtered each day. If you think about their "feelings," and such, you will probably lose your mind. Instead, people tend to disconnect and think of them as objects or whatever. So is it really that surprising that people treat "things" badly? I doubt you will find many animal lovers working in a slaughterhouse.
I hope I didn't offend anybody in this post. I am totally against cruelty to animals. I just don't understand why people get surprised by such things or act shocked that they go on.
You are so right. I am just concerned about the sick ones. They still force the sick ones to stand up to get slaughterd. What if it gets passed on to our food. We will all suffer. As cruel as this may sound, I don't mind the slaughtering, it's just the diseases that could pass on to humans.
Quote from: PPI Ellie on March 06, 2008, 11:35:50 PM
You are so right. I am just concerned about the sick ones. They still force the sick ones to stand up to get slaughterd. What if it gets passed on to our food. We will all suffer. As cruel as this may sound, I don't mind the slaughtering, it's just the diseases that could pass on to humans.
I 100% agree with you about that. They need to drop the hammer on the people doing that, there is a reason that you don't turn cows to sick to stand into food, it can make people sick. THAT in my opinion is the real problem, yet many people when they see those videos (and others,) get upset about the actual way the animals are treated. To me, it just isn't all that surprising.
dido. I still love me some meat!
LOL Funny that you say that! I miss tomatoes..
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on February 24, 2008, 12:42:15 AM
What is even more frightening about this whole beef recall thing is that millions of pounds of it have already gone out to public and private school lunch programs and have already been consumed.
Makes me want to go back to being a vegetarian. Can't get poisioned from a tomato. (well...maybe if it isn't washed) ;)
Quote from: Hyper on June 20, 2008, 03:48:51 PM
LOL Funny that you say that! I miss tomatoes..
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on February 24, 2008, 12:42:15 AM
Makes me want to go back to being a vegetarian. Can't get poisioned from a tomato. (well...maybe if it isn't washed) ;)
OMG. I can't believe I actually typed those words. That's it! It's my fault! Seriously though, how friggin ironic is THAT? ???
Ellie, get your mind out of the gutter!! :o
Quote from: PPI Ellie on March 07, 2008, 01:42:28 AM
dido. I still love me some meat!
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on June 20, 2008, 05:20:13 PM
Quote from: Hyper on June 20, 2008, 03:48:51 PM
LOL Funny that you say that! I miss tomatoes..
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on February 24, 2008, 12:42:15 AM
Makes me want to go back to being a vegetarian. Can't get poisioned from a tomato. (well...maybe if it isn't washed) ;)
OMG. I can't believe I actually typed those words. That's it! It's my fault! Seriously though, how friggin ironic is THAT? ???
That's why I grow my own tomatoes. ;D
Dang you Tracy!
Quote from: MichaelF (FPIE) on June 20, 2008, 08:30:32 PM
Dang you Tracy!
I know, I know. I'll never jinx another vegetable again.....I promise! :-\
Quote from: PPI Brian M on June 20, 2008, 08:05:39 PM
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on June 20, 2008, 05:20:13 PM
Quote from: Hyper on June 20, 2008, 03:48:51 PM
LOL Funny that you say that! I miss tomatoes..
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on February 24, 2008, 12:42:15 AM
Makes me want to go back to being a vegetarian. Can't get poisioned from a tomato. (well...maybe if it isn't washed) ;)
OMG. I can't believe I actually typed those words. That's it! It's my fault! Seriously though, how friggin ironic is THAT? ???
That's why I grow my own tomatoes. ;D
If I could keep the raccoons and bunnies out of my back porch, I'd grow my own as well. Hopefully your garden survived the thousand degree heat wave we had over the weekend.
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on June 23, 2008, 12:25:48 PM
Quote from: PPI Brian M on June 20, 2008, 08:05:39 PM
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on June 20, 2008, 05:20:13 PM
Quote from: Hyper on June 20, 2008, 03:48:51 PM
LOL Funny that you say that! I miss tomatoes..
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on February 24, 2008, 12:42:15 AM
Makes me want to go back to being a vegetarian. Can't get poisioned from a tomato. (well...maybe if it isn't washed) ;)
OMG. I can't believe I actually typed those words. That's it! It's my fault! Seriously though, how friggin ironic is THAT? ???
That's why I grow my own tomatoes. ;D
If I could keep the raccoons and bunnies out of my back porch, I'd grow my own as well. Hopefully your garden survived the thousand degree heat wave we had over the weekend.
Hi Tracy,
It wasn't too bad... only 111 degrees in the sun on Saturday! :P I actually spent a few hours out in the yard pulling weeds and trimming the roses before I threw in the towel. It was 106 in the shade!
The tomatos actually thrive in this hot weather. The garden on the side yard survived the heat as well... the corn is coming up nicely, and my bell peppers are so top heavy I have to prop them up. One tomato plant from last year is taller than I am, and it's blooming like crazy. The watermelon are starting to take off, and a cucumber that I didn't plant has sprouted mysteriously on the back row. My AC condensation drain line dumps into the garden, so I planted one pumpkin seed there to see how it does. The green beans are blooming too.
Unfortunately I couldn't keep the temps down in the "brewery" and a bottle of Irish Stout exploded. :'( That forced me to take drastic measures and crack open a few 1 liter bottles yesterday afternoon and last night to prevent further brew loss. I bought a whole bunch of extra ice packs so hopefully I can prevent additional losses when the temps spike again.
Brian - Between giantor tomato plants and exploding lager, sounds like you had quite the weekend. But, that settles it....you need to give me pointers on how to plant my garden. Hopefully I have enough room. Can always do raised beds I guess. It's just keeping out the darn critters that will be the biggest challenge. Oh to grow watermelon. Ahh...even the thought of it sounds great.
Oh...forgot to ask: Know anything about air conditioners? My air con unit to my house IMPLODED on Saturday night. We got home around 10pm from Tay's dance recital and it was about 150 degrees in the house, so we turn on the old ac and crank it up. About two hours later, we can't figure out why it is still 95 degrees upstairs. Then, all of a sudden I hear this GOD AWFUL screech. Lo and behold, my ac went bye-bye. We are going to have to get a new one and from what I have heard, they start at 2000k and that is if you don't have to replace the ducts and the furnace. THAT, I have heard can be between 6,800 - 10,000. :o So, when I heard that, naturally, I fainted. Apparently the new energy efficient 3.5 ton ac units are no longer compatible with the 20 year old duct/furnace units. Any advice or knowledge that anyone can bestow upon the situation would be greatly appreciated. (building an igloo is out of the question) ;)
Tracy, maybe I can help.
If you heard a screeching noise, it sounds like it may be your compressor. It's possible that if you don't use it very often that it just needs a good cleaning, it has what resembles a big fan inside. If it is your compressor, it may be repairable.
If you already had central air installed, I doubt you would need to replace the ducts and furnace. If it's not the compressor, it may the fan on your furnace that blew, in which case your compressor is good. Hard to tell over the internet.
I think Michael is right... sounds like either the furnace fan or the compressor fan. Did the screech come from your furnace closet or did you hear it outside? Furnace fans are supposed to have routine maintenance, but nobody ever does that. Could be a bearing on the fan and if that's the case, it shouldn't cost too much to repair.
I just installed a new HVAC unit at my house last fall. Set me back $4k. Our place was built in '78 and never had AC before. Our ducts were fine. Your ducts and registers should be fine too 'cause your place is a lot newer than mine. :)
As for your garden, have you tried containers? Bunnies and racoons won't eat tomato leaves because they're poisonous. :) You can pick up some humunguous plastic planters at Home Depot. I've even grown corn in containers! ;D They also sell huge rectangular planter boxes that are great for onions, radishes and carrots. Bell peppers do better in the ground than in containers, but my jalapenos and serranos do just fine in containers. Same goes for the basil, tyme, oregano, marjoram and rosemary.
The noise that I heard came from outside. Not the furnace upstairs in the hallway. The motor was hot but the fan was not turning at all. It is the original unit that was installed with the house when it was built in 1986. It truly doesn't work well. It freezes upstairs and doesn't cool the downstairs very much. There isn't a return upstairs either. The way the house was built was nuts. The builder even failed to use insulation in any of the walls. Now...isn't THAT special?
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on June 23, 2008, 12:25:48 PM
If I could keep the raccoons and bunnies out of my back porch, I'd grow my own as well. Hopefully your garden survived the thousand degree heat wave we had over the weekend.
I read somewhere that if you plant Marigolds around your garden it keeps the bunnies away. Apparently they don't like something about the golden flowers.
Quote from: Kristen on June 24, 2008, 05:19:38 PM
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on June 23, 2008, 12:25:48 PM
If I could keep the raccoons and bunnies out of my back porch, I'd grow my own as well. Hopefully your garden survived the thousand degree heat wave we had over the weekend.
I read somewhere that if you plant Marigolds around your garden it keeps the bunnies away. Apparently they don't like something about the golden flowers.
Great tip. It is definitely worth a try!
Quote from: PPI Brian M on June 23, 2008, 11:40:19 PM
I think Michael is right... sounds like either the furnace fan or the compressor fan. Did the screech come from your furnace closet or did you hear it outside? Furnace fans are supposed to have routine maintenance, but nobody ever does that. Could be a bearing on the fan and if that's the case, it shouldn't cost too much to repair.
I just installed a new HVAC unit at my house last fall. Set me back $4k. Our place was built in '78 and never had AC before. Our ducts were fine. Your ducts and registers should be fine too 'cause your place is a lot newer than mine. :)
So...one quote down...two to go. Sears quoted $5745 to replace both furnace and ac unit. (The guy said they both need replacing). But....for today, they can do the "special price" of $4596. However, once he leaves the house, the discount is no longer valid.
Next.....
The guy may "say" that both need replaced, and he may advise it, but that doesn't mean both NEED to be replaced. If the AC was working and then stopped, it's likely a single componant, meaning either the compressor or the furnace, probably the compressor if the sound was outside.
Turn your heat on, if it works and blows your furnace is fine. All the furnace does for your AC is use it's fan to circulate the cold air from the AC.
Most places will want to do everything, but if you ask them what the bare minimum you need done is, you can get just one done probably. Then again, I'm not there. Wish I knew somebody out here to give you a quote, my dad installed heating, ductwork, and AC for 40+ years and both my brothers do it now, but it's a long flight from Ohio....
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on June 24, 2008, 11:15:05 AM
The noise that I heard came from outside. Not the furnace upstairs in the hallway. The motor was hot but the fan was not turning at all. It is the original unit that was installed with the house when it was built in 1986. It truly doesn't work well. It freezes upstairs and doesn't cool the downstairs very much. There isn't a return upstairs either. The way the house was built was nuts. The builder even failed to use insulation in any of the walls. Now...isn't THAT special?
From what I remember, the building codes did not require insulation back when your house was built. Depending on what your heating/cooling costs are like, you might look into getting a quote for sprayed in insulation.
Glenn - Actually, the builder was supposed to put insulation in. In fact, they were sued by the community and the community won. Each home was paid two thousand dollars to have it sprayed into the walls. Apparently, the owners at the time used the dough for something else. We can get it sprayed for about 300 bucks a wall w/ a hole every 16 inches, which they do not patch up. That's fine though. We can do that. It's just a pain and extra added expense.
Michael - As far as the furnace goes, I have been really concerned about it. There was some sort of electrical fire in the closet where it is housed. Not sure how long ago it was, but evidence of it is there. It was definitely before we bought the home. I would feel more comfortable replacing the unit, just the same. Well, our next estimate is on Saturday afternoon, so we'll see what happens. Thank God it is cool....for the moment anyway.
HA-LAY-LOO-YERR!!!
I HAVE AIR CONDITIONING!! WOOO HOOO!! And we didn't have to spend Taylor's college fund in the process!!
I love honest people. Our first two bids:
Sears: the fix - $5700
Flood: the fix $6500
The third bid:
Seaside Aircon: the fix - $250 ( just needed the "Run Capacitor" replaced)
I no longer live in a sauna!
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on July 02, 2008, 05:54:28 PM
HA-LAY-LOO-YERR!!!
I HAVE AIR CONDITIONING!! WOOO HOOO!! And we didn't have to spend Taylor's college fund in the process!!
I love honest people. Our first two bids:
Sears: the fix - $5700
Flood: the fix $6500
The third bid:
Seaside Aircon: the fix - $250 ( just needed the "Run Capacitor" replaced)
I no longer live in a sauna!
Awesome, that's exactly what I was talking about. I don't care what you "think" I should do, what is the bare minimum that I need to do so that I can get it working. I bet if you ever do need to totally replace everything, I know who you will call first....
Yeah, no doubt, Michael. My younger brother is a contractor and owns his own business. On most of the homes he builds, he apparently uses this guy extensively. The guy could have charged us more. He walked in, said to turn it on, he listened to it, said turn it off and then uttered, "Easy inexpensive fix". I guess it helps to know people (or be related to a builder). Either way...I am happy that I have a nice cool home and not to have been taken to the cleaners.
I definitely owe my bro a steak dinner. :)
Quote from: TAPS Tracy on July 02, 2008, 05:54:28 PM
HA-LAY-LOO-YERR!!!
I HAVE AIR CONDITIONING!! WOOO HOOO!! And we didn't have to spend Taylor's college fund in the process!!
I love honest people. Our first two bids:
Sears: the fix - $5700
Flood: the fix $6500
The third bid:
Seaside Aircon: the fix - $250 ( just needed the "Run Capacitor" replaced)
I no longer live in a sauna!
That's awesome, Tracy! I'm glad it was such an easy fix.
Ain't modern technology great? ;D