They aren't just going to be hot in your mouth

What cute jalapeno peppers, oh why do you cause salmonella? The FDA has found that the recent out break of salmonella can be traced to a strain of salmonella that came from Mexican jalapeno peppers. Lou Dobbs must either have a shit eating grin or be very very angry tonight. So avoid Mexican jalapeno peppers for a while, and lay off the jarred salsa for a while too.

And the tomato industry is now claiming that the salmonella scare cost the industry approximately $100 million. Glad the CDC and FDA are staffed well enough to handle these outbreaks. Republicans again proving that when they run the government that the government is indeed a problem. That idea of small (and crony) government is also working out well, isn't it...Republicans? Conservatives? Anyone? Can't wait to bail out the tomato industry. Money for every industry!


_John

image: jalapeno peppers from flickr Alec Saunders

Food Alert

Reuters is reporting that the CDC has lifted the salmonella warning on tomatoes. Go, eat, and enjoy. Oh yeah, the CDC still has no idea what is causing the outbreak (and it is ongoing), it just ain't the tomatoes anymore. I'll let you know if they pick another vegetable. For now, I will continue my usual avoidance of all vegetables that aren't starchy, lettuce, or tomatoes from the farmers market.


_John

images: tomatoes from flickr Oz Baby

Thoughts before bed

Today was the run-off election for president in Zimbabwe, and tomorrow the results will be released. Wonder who is going to win? And just in time to make a difference the African Union is holding a special session focusing on Zimbabwe on...wait for it...Monday. Not much they can do after the election since economic pressures really can't do anything because Zimbabwe's economy is already ruined, and it is too late to put peace keeping troops in place to make sure the election is fair and legitimate. Here's to failed states. I will try to find the reaction of Bush, Obama, and McCain, as well as Mandela and other notable heads of state concerning the election results tomorrow.


I watched and listened to majority of David Addington and John Yoo giving testimony on the Hill yesterday. Crazy stuff from, let's face it, people with crazy ideas about law and the U.S. Constitution. The best headline that I read is from Andrew Sullivan, who quotes from Dana Milbank's piece in the Post. Both are short and very much worth a read if you want a thumbnail sketch of how the Bush administration came up with legal justifications for torture and other seemingly mind numbing Executive branch legal dictates. Good quote from Addington's testimony here.


Oh and keep an eye on the goings on with the salmonella outbreak. With more people getting ill, the CDC ain't so sure it's the tomatoes that are doing it. LA Times has the latest on the story.

Sweet dreams.


_John


images: Addington and Yoo by Melina Mara – The Washington Post; tomatoes from flickr Oz Baby