Monthly Archives: July 2013

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Background Checks : 350K Signatures needed ~~ The Other Washington


 

We’re hitting the streets of Washington to collect 350,000 signatures — that’s 5% of Washington’s total population — to put criminal background checks before voters in November.

This won’t be easy. We can only succeed if everyone pitches in. We need your help to not only to sign the petition yourself, but to sign up your friends and family too.

Can we count on you to add your name to our petition, and sign up four others? Click here to request your petition form today!

Unfortunately, because of certain state restrictions, we have to mail you the form instead of having you just download it. (On the plus side, you don’t need to worry about your printer being out of toner!)

Once you sign up for a petition form, you’ll receive it in the mail in four to five business days. Collect a few signatures, and mail the form back to us. Even if you only collect one signature, that one signature will bring us one step closer to our goal.

Click here to sign up for your petition form, and help us reach the 350,000 signatures we need to get I-594 on the ballot.

Thanks to your generous support, we’ve made it this far. We won in court, and now we need to spread the word, start talking to our neighbors and coworkers, and collect the crucial signatures that will bring criminal background checks to the voting booth.

We can’t do this without you.

It all begins with one signature — yours.

Talk to you soon,

Zach Silk

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Daily Snapshot


whitehouselogo

What You Missed (In Three Minutes)

Yesterday, President Obama visited Knox College to kick off a series of speeches about his vision for rebuilding an economy that puts the middle class — and those fighting to join it — front and center.

If you missed yesterday’s speech, check out this three minute video and find out why growing the economy from the middle out instead of the top down is so important.

Have three minutes? Watch this video.

Empowering Women Through Education

Dr. Jill Biden visited the Anjuman-i-Islam Saif Tyabji Girl’s school. The all-girls Muslim school was founded in 1939 and serves 5,500 girls in grades K-12. The school has committed itself to being a dedicated public servant in the Mumbai area – many of the students are from local orphanages.

READ MORE

Addressing the Crisis in South Sudan’s Jonglei State

In response to the political crisis in South Sudan and the deeply troubling violence in Jonglei state, the White House hosted NGOs and advocacy groups to discuss the situation and confer on how the United States – in concert with partners and allies around the world – can help end the violence and support South Sudan’s democratic development.

READ MORE

Michelle Obama Empowers Latino Community at Nation Council of La Raza Conference

Speaking to over 1,800 attendees at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama exclaimed, “Food is love… it’s how we pass on our culture and heritage as meals become family traditions and recipes are passed on from generation to generation.”

READ MORE

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ~~ July 2013 ~~

1 Comment

English: Logo of the .
English: Logo of the . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
07/31/2013 07:41 PM EDT
Whole Foods Market announces that it is recalling Trois Comtois Morbier cheese in the Mid Atlantic, Southwest, Northern California, Southern Pacific and Midwest regions. This cheese is being recalled because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
08/01/2013 11:11 AM EDT
July 31, 2013 – East Northport, New York, Purity First Health Products, Inc. is voluntarily recalling two lots of Healthy Life Chemistry B-50 (100 capsules), one lot of Healthy Life Chemistry Multi-Mineral (200 capsules) and all lot numbers for Healthy Life Chemistry Vitamin C (200 capsules) to the consumer/user level. The B-50 capsules were tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and have been found to contain Methasterone (schedule III controlled substance) and Dimethazine.
07/30/2013 10:32 AM EDT
Lipari Foods of Warren, MI is recalling Wholey peeled, cooked, tail-on 31/40 count shrimp, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain
07/29/2013 10:01 AM EDT
Nova Diabetes Care today announced it is initiating a voluntary recall of 21 lots of the Nova Max Glucose Test Strips distributed both in the USA and outside the continental USA. Nova Max® Plus™ glucose meter kits that include test strips from the recalled lots are also included in this voluntary recall.
07/25/2013 08:21 PM EDT
ZIP INTERNATIONAL GROUP LLC, 160 Raritan Center Parkway #6, Edison, NJ 08837, is recalling herring fillet in oil (FOSFOREL, ATLANTIKA) 400 gram in plastic packaging due to Listeria contamination.
07/26/2013 02:01 PM EDT
Gold Star Smoked Fish Corp., located at 570 Smith Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, is recalling Rybacka Wies Brand Herring Fillets In Oiii”Matjes Sledz w oleju” due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.
07/22/2013 05:47 PM EDT
Grand Prairie, Texas, Herbal Give Care LLC is voluntarily recalling all lots of Esbelin siloutte te and Esbelin siloutte Herbal Blend with L-Carnitine (30 Capsules), to the consumer level. The products have been found to contain undeclared Sibutramine, N-Desmethylsibutramine, and N-di-Desmethylsibutramine.
07/24/2013 01:42 PM EDT
Ferrara Candy Company (“Ferrara”) is recalling 6 pound packages of bulk Brach’s Malted Milk Balls because they may contain undeclared tree nuts (i.e., Brazil nuts) and peanuts. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts and peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
07/24/2013 12:38 PM EDT
Olam Tomato Processors, Inc., today announced the voluntary recall of three production codes of Chunky Salsa because it may contain large glass pieces. The production codes for the Mild Chunky Salsa (UPC 3927759137) are L12142 (Best By Date June 2015) and L04093 (Best By Date October 2015) and for the Medium Chunky Salsa (UPC 3927759139) is L01313 (Best By Date July 2015).
07/19/2013 08:03 PM EDT
Square Mile Cider Company (SMCC) today announced the voluntary recall of 2,500 cases “Square Mile Original Hard Apple Cider” and “Square Mile Spur & Vine Hopped Apple Cider.”
07/19/2013 07:03 PM EDT
Long Beach, CA, Volcano Company is voluntarily recalling all lots of Volcano Male Enhancement Liquid and Volcano Male Enhancement Capsules to the consumer level. FDA test results revealed the Volcano Male Enhancement Liquid has been found to contain undeclared Desmethyl Carbodenafil, Dimethylsildenafil, and Dapoxetine
07/17/2013 02:02 PM EDT
Whole Foods Market’s Mid-Atlantic Region is recalling the following pimiento cheese spread because it contains eggs, an undeclared allergen.
07/15/2013 05:25 PM EDT
Western Mixers Produce & Nut Company of Los Angeles, California is recalling ARO and/or Treasured Harvest Pistachios, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
07/15/2013 11:13 AM EDT
Upon request of the FDA, Hardmenstore.com is voluntarily recalling 430 lots of Silver Sword and Clalis at the consumer level. According to representatives of the FDA, Silver Sword and Clalis have reportedly been found to contain amounts of PDE-5 Inhibitor Sildenafil, which could cause adverse reactions and drug interactions normally associated with the active ingredient in Viagra.

Olde Thompson Inc. Issues a Voluntary Recall of Earth’s Pride Organics: Organic Oregano 2.2 Oz Glass Jars With Cork Closure Due to Possible Salmonella Risk

07/12/2013 09:39 PM EDT
Olde Thompson Inc. Oxnard, CA in cooperation with the FDA is recalling Earth’s Pride Organics: Organic Oregano packaged in a 2.2 oz. glass jar with cork closure, Lot #: 060367, 060692, 061252 and 061864 due to possible contamination by Salmonella. If you have the recalled product, please do not consume it. Please dispose of the recalled product and its container.
************************************
07/11/2013 12:58 PM EDT
Western Mixers Produce & Nut Company of Los Angeles, California is recalling ARO and/or Treasured Harvest Pistachios, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
**********************************
07/13/2013 08:31 AM EDT
Torn and Glasser, Inc of Los Angeles, CA 90021 is voluntarily recalling some packaged Pistachios because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
07/05/2013 02:11 PM EDT
MANKATO, MINNESOTA – Hubbard Feeds Inc. announced today a voluntary recall of one lot of Hubbard Life Homestead FASTGROW AM.0.0125 NAB/NAB MEDICATED because of the elevated calcium and phosphorus levels which may be harmful to chickens and turkeys. Chickens and turkeys exposed to this product may exhibit decreased feed intake, decreased growth rate or death.
07/04/2013 12:13 PM EDT
WATERLOO, WI – Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese Company is issuing a voluntary recall for three specialty cheese products while regulatory agencies continue a multi-state investigation of Listeria monocytogenes. This organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
07/03/2013 05:24 PM EDT
Princeton, New Jersey, – Sandoz is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall to the retailer level of one lot of its Estarylla (norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol) tablets in the US, following a customer report of a placebo tablet present in a row of active tablets on one pack. Estarylla is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraceptives as a method of contraception.
07/03/2013 03:59 PM EDT
Today, Somersault Snack Co., LLC, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is voluntarily recalling a limited number of packages of 1 ounce Somersault Pacific Sea Salt products which were distributed to Target Stores in 6-Count Multi-Packs, and which were inadvertently mispackaged—limited quantities of Somersault Santa Fe Salsa flavored product were inadvertently commingled with Somersault Pacific Sea Salt flavored product in packages labeled as Somersault Pacific Sea Salt 1oz. The inadvertent commingling of these two products introduced another allergen (milk) to the Somersault Pacific Sea Salt 1oz. packages, and that allergen (milk) is not listed on the packaging as either an ingredient or an allergen
07/03/2013 03:59 PM EDT
Today, Somersault Snack Co., LLC, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is voluntarily recalling a limited number of packages of 1 ounce Somersault Pacific Sea Salt products which were distributed to Target Stores in 6-Count Multi-Packs, and which were inadvertently mispackaged—limited quantities of Somersault Santa Fe Salsa flavored product were inadvertently commingled with Somersault Pacific Sea Salt flavored product in packages labeled as Somersault Pacific Sea Salt 1oz. The inadvertent commingling of these two products introduced another allergen (milk) to the Somersault Pacific Sea Salt 1oz. packages, and that allergen (milk) is not listed on the packaging as either an ingredient or an allergen.
07/02/2013 04:18 PM EDT
The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) advises consumers not to eat Mediterranean Olives: Calcidica Sweet (Brand: Bel Frantoio) sold at any Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) stores. OSJL is voluntarily recalling the product after HEALTH staff discovered that these products were not handled appropriately to prevent production of the toxin that causes botulism.

Fresenius Kabi USA Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Benztropine Mesylate Injection, USP 2 mg/2 mL (1 mg/mL), in 2 mL Single Dose Vials

07/01/2013 06:12 PM EDTLAKE ZURICH, Ill. – Fresenius Kabi USA is voluntarily recalling four lots of Benztropine Mesylate Injection, USP, 2 mg/2mL (1mg/mL) in 2 mL single dose vials due to the potential presence of glass particles (glass delamination) in the vials. This recall is being conducted to the user level.

07/01/2013 11:42 AM EDT
Talenti® Gelato & Sorbetto is voluntarily initiating a product recall of Talenti Gelato Toasted Almond Gelato with the UPC # 1 86852 00039 6 with a BEST BY DATE of 11/15/2014 M1 as a precautionary measure. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the product containing pecans was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of pecans.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Action for Fair Settlement


Campaign for a Fair Settlement a project of Action for the Common Good

Take Action

We need to make sure local communities can decide their economic futures.

Full scale Wall Street freak out.

Five years after Wall Street criminals destroyed our economy there are still millions of underwater homeowners and millions more foreclosures in the pipeline.

The good news is that Home Defenders and local elected officials have figured out an innovative way – called Local Principal Reduction – to deal with this problem. The bad news is that Wall Street criminals are in in full attack mode fighting as hard as they can to stop us.

Tell Wall Street bankers: Stop bullying communities advancing local principal reduction and cooperate in keeping struggling families in their homes.

Here’s what’s happening. We have figured out a way to purchase certain underwater loans, reset them to fair market value, and then get the homeowners into new, sustainable mortgages. The costs of the program are borne by the private funders who the cities are partnering with and the beneficiaries are the homeowners, with affordable mortgages and new equity, and our communities, with greater economic activity.

The key to making this program work for everyone is the use of eminent domain – the ability of a government to take property for the public benefit – to acquire the underwater mortgages if the Wall Street investors refuse to make a fair deal. And that’s what’s freaking Wall Street out.[3]

Tell Wall Street: End your outrageous efforts to block local principal reduction programs that will keep families in their homes and rebuild local economies.

We are facing a stark choice. Either we and our elected officials control our economic future, or Wall Street criminals and their banks do. It’s clear where Wall Street bankers stand. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), made up same old Wall Street bankers that brought you the foreclosure crisis, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, US Bank, etc., is bullying and threatening cities that are exploring local principal reduction programs including El Monte, La Puente, and Richmond, CA; and North Las Vegas, NV. [4]

But that’s not stopping us. Stand up and tell Wall Street criminals to keep their hands off of Main Street and help struggling homeowners rebuild their lives and their wealth.

This fight is just starting; Wall Street and SIFMA are committed to fighting as dirty as they can to keep this from happening. With your help Home Defenders and our cities will take bold and courageous action to build a future that works for all of us, starting with the struggling underwater homeowners in our own back yards.

In solidarity, Brian, Campaign for a Fair Settlement
http://www.campaignforfairsettlement.org/

[1] http://www.marketwatch.com/story/underwater-mortgage-percentage-falls-below-20-2013-06-12

[2] http://www.newbottomline.com/underwater_mortgages_and_1_million_jobs

[3] Robert Kuttner “Seize the mortgages, save the neighborhood” Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/29/opinion/la-oe-kuttner-eminent-domain-mortgages-20130630

[4] Peter Dreier “To Rescue Local Economies, Cities Seize Underwater Mortgages Through Eminent Domain” Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/to-rescue-local-economies_b_3614326.html

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

News … from the Other Washington


WAseattleferriesdowntownbackground

Ballots are out for the Primary Election. While most of the races on Primary ballots are for city or county government, there is one race that will decide the fate of our state.

Nathan Schlicher of the 26th District is running this year to retain his seat in the State Senate. He is opposed by a high-profile, extreme, and well-funded candidate, State Representative Jan Angel.

If we want to see an end to the gridlock in Olympia caused by Rodney Tom and Senate Republicans, we need to stand behind Nathan today.

It’s critical that State Senator Nathan Schlicher has a strong showing in the Primary. Can you donate $5 today and help him reach Primary voters?

Nathan Schlicher has the momentum. His campaign has already knocked on over 21,000 doors and reached 50,000 people in his district.

At his campaign kickoff last week, Nathan was joined by 300 supporters, raised $20,000, and recruited 50 volunteers. The Nathan Schlicher campaign is off and running!

This is going to be a game won on the ground. The Nathan Shlicher campaign is ready, and now he needs our support.

There are only 12 days until the Primary, so there’s no time to waste. Help Nathan reach voters with a donation today.

Let’s build a Washington that is on track with our values – Help us retain Nathan Schlicher for State Senate.

Sincerely,

Dwight Pelz Washington State Democrats Chair

PS: Don’t forget to check out our Endorsement Finder to find Democratic Party endorsements for your Primary ballot.