Tag Archives: Government
Today’s Headlines … As the Clock Strikes Midnight…
Davan Maharaj, editor of the Los Angeles Times
Time ran out on the National Security Agency’s authority to collect massive amounts of Americans’ telephone calling data Sunday night. The Senate appears poised to pass a House bill this week to reform the NSA’s domestic surveillance practices, but debate among Republicans especially has become a major element in the 2016 presidential campaign.
A Soccer Tournament in Jeopardy
The federal corruption investigation of FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, may jeopardize the much ballyhooed 2016 Copa America tournament in the United States. The alleged bribery connected with the tournament was one of the major examples in the 161-page indictment handed down last week. The tournament has never been held here and its coming was taken as a validation of the sport’s growing prominence in this country. Now, it’s uncertain if the tournament will take place in the U.S. after all.
Squiggling L.A.
The Sixth Street Viaduct has been one of the most revered — and dilapidated — icons in the city. Due to a fatal flaw in its concrete, the bridge will soon be replaced with a new span designed not just as a utilitarian crossing between Boyle Heights and downtown, but as a squiggling connector, destination, urban artwork and playground. Demolition begins this summer. The $428-million project is scheduled to open in 2019.
Sheriff’s Deputies Admit Lying
Two sheriff’s deputies have broken ranks and changed their stories in a jail beating case. The deputies now say in a plea agreement that the victim, a visitor to the jail, was handcuffed while he was beaten. The two deputies have agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges and testify against three other deputies who have been indicted on federal assault and civil rights charges.
Gastronomical Science
Do you eat your food or subject it to weights and measures? Chef-turned-food writer Christopher St. Cavish does both. In his quest to find the perfect Shanghai soup dumpling known as xiao long bao, he set off across the city of 24 million to rate dumplings. Inspired by the ones he enjoys at Din Tai Fung, the Taiwanese restaurant that has expanded to the United States, St. Cavish studied how thin the dough was, how much soup was served with the dumpling and the weight of the filling inside. Then he published his findings. Restaurateurs weren’t impressed, but he was satisfied. In more ways than one.
Share this:
Mary Jane could be executed any day
 Earlier this month, Mary Jane Veloso’s scheduled execution was paused because of global outcry to save her life. But her fate remains uncertain, and she could still face execution any day. Read on for more information. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Share this:
FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety May
05/30/2015 09:50 AM EDT
Paleteria La Jalpita of Pasco, Washington is recalling ice cream bars and popsicles because it may contain undeclared milk and sulfite. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk or sulfite run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
05/27/2015 05:12 PM EDT Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets Inc., a Lakewood, Colo., based natural grocery chain, is recalling two lots of Natural Grocers brand Macadamia nuts as the product 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.
05/26/2015 05:56 PM EDT Jose Madrid Salsa of Zanesville, Ohio has issued a voluntary recall of Jose Madrid Salsa Original Mild Salsa packaged in 13oz jars, due to potentially improperly sealed jars. An unknown number of jar lids may have been convex instead of vacuum sealed.
05/26/2015 05:57 PM EDT House of Spices of Flushing, NY is recalling its 200 gm packages of “Laxmi Dry Apricot” food treats because they contained undeclared sulfites. Consumers who have severe sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.
05/26/2015 05:56 PM EDT
Jose Madrid Salsa of Zanesville, Ohio has issued a voluntary recall of Jose Madrid Salsa Original Mild Salsa packaged in 13oz jars, due to potentially improperly sealed jars. An unknown number of jar lids may have been convex instead of vacuum sealed.
05/23/2015 08:20 PM EDT Falcon Trading Company, Inc./SunRidge Farms of Royal Oaks, CA announced that it has taken the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling the one bulk item mentioned below. This item was distributed to the East Coast on May 7, 2015.
05/23/2015 09:11 AM EDT Falcon Trading Company, Inc./SunRidge Farms of Royal Oaks, CA announced that it has taken the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling the one bulk item mentioned below. The product may contain very small stainless steel wire, the kind and type used in the screening process during manufacturing.
Recall Summary Name of product: Nest Booster Seat
Hazard: if you bought one from September 2014 – present
Consumer Contact:
OXO at (800) 545-4411 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at info@oxo.com or online at www.oxo.com and click on Customer Service under the Contact Us tab at the bottom of the page for more information.
The stitching on the restraint straps can loosen which allows the straps to separate from the seat, posing a fall hazard to children
LQNN, Inc., a Garden Grove, Calif. firm is recalling approximately 213,192 pounds of chicken, beef and pork products that were produced without the benefit of inspection and misbranded because of the unauthorized use of a USDA mark of inspection. The products which were moved and sold in commerce, included the unapproved use of another facility’s mark of inspection, which has been identified as Establishment number 18995. LQNN, Inc., operating as Lee’s Sandwiches, has been processing products from federally-inspected establishments and re-packaging them without the benefit of inspection. Products produced without inspection present potential of increased human health risk.
05/19/2015 06:50 PM EDT A&S FOOD TRADING INC at 4425B 1ST AVE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11232 is recalling HUA ZHI YING BRAND GOURD CANDY because it contains undeclared sulfites. People who have severe sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.
NHTSA Statement on Takata Air Bag Inflators
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received notification from BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota that they are conducting limited regional recalls to address a possible safety defect involving Takata brand air bag inflators.
“Today’s action is influenced by a NHTSA investigation into six reports of air bag inflator ruptures, all of which occurred in Florida and Puerto Rico.
“Based on the limited data available at this time, NHTSA supports efforts by automakers to address the immediate risk in areasthat have consistently hot, humid conditions over extended periods of time.
Consumers impacted by the recalls should have their vehicles serviced promptly once they receive notification from their vehicle manufacturer. NHTSA remains in close communication with the supplier and automakers to gather additional data and will take appropriate action based on our findings.”
- Information on NHTSA’s investigation (PDF format)
- Takata letter to NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- RecallnotificationsNHTSA has received from each manufacturer (PDF format)
05/18/2015 11:15 AM EDT ZYK Enterprises, Inc. a Duvall, WA establishment, is recalling 2,522 pounds of boneless veal trim and whole veal muscle cut products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
05/15/2015 08:48 PM EDT OC Raw Dog of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is voluntarily recalling 2055 lbs. of Turkey & Produce Raw Frozen Canine Formulation, 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.
05/15/2015 10:09 PM EDT Aurora Products, Inc. is conducting a voluntary recall of RAW MACADAMIA NUTS packaged under the Aurora brand label and various Store brand labels. Products are being recalled because they have the potential to contain Salmonella 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.
Blue Bell Ice Cream Recalls 3 oz. Institutional/Food Service … leads to layoffs of 1450 of listeria
Safety 2015-04-21 | http://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls/ucm439533.htm
… Firm’s Press Release Third Recall Expansion. FDA Investigates Listeria monocytogenes in Ice Cream Products from Blue Bell Creameries. …
FDA Investigates Listeria monocytogenes in Ice Cream … Food
2015-05-14 | http://www.fda.gov/food/recallsoutbreaksemergencies/outbreaks/ucm438104.htm
… contact with the potentially contaminated ice cream, it is … Blue Bell urges consumers who have purchased these items … pm CST or go to bluebell.com …
05/14/2015 07:15 PM EDT AA Poultry Processing, LLC, a Ridgeland, Wis. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,191 pounds of chicken and 21 pounds of turkey products, which may have been contaminated with trichloro-s-triazinetrione, which is not approved for use in poultry processing.
05/11/2015 12:44 PM EDT Good Seed Inc. of Springfield, VA is recalling all packages of soybean sprouts and mung bean sprouts because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to individuals with weakened immune systems.
05/02/2015 02:14 AM EDT Sun Rich Fresh Foods Inc. of Richmond, BC, Canada is voluntarily recalling sliced apple and products containing sliced apples, from its Northeast Fresh Facility located in Brampton, ON, Canada because they have 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.
05/02/2015 01:17 AM EDT
Bi-Lo Supermarket #5406, a Rossville, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 11-22 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with pieces from a small plastic pop-up timer.
05/02/2015 01:17 AM EDT
Victory Kitchens, a Toronto, Ontario, Canada firm, is recalling approximately 4,672 pounds of chicken noodle soup products that contain chicken from a country that is not eligible to send product to the U.S.
Share this:
Through the Google lens: Search trends May 22-28
Posted: 29 May 2015 03:19 PM PDT
From corruption charges rocking the football world to a 50-foot dinosaur, here’s a look at what everyone was searching this week:Deadly storms in Texas
Widespread flooding caused by heavy rains in Texas and Oklahoma has left many dead, missing or unaccounted for, along with seriously damaged property and abandoned vehicles. With more severe weather predicted this weekend, cities across Texas topped the places searching for “storms,” with “How long does it take for streets to clear a flood?” and “where is it flooded in Houston” among the top storm-related questions.
Widespread flooding caused by heavy rains in Texas and Oklahoma has left many dead, missing or unaccounted for, along with seriously damaged property and abandoned vehicles. With more severe weather predicted this weekend, cities across Texas topped the places searching for “storms,” with “How long does it take for streets to clear a flood?” and “where is it flooded in Houston” among the top storm-related questions.
Soccer scandal
Football’s governing body was in the search spotlight this week after the arrest of several FIFA officials in a dawn raid at a hotel in Zurich, Switzerland. There were more than half a million “FIFA” searches on Tuesday alone, with a top related question being the basic “What is FIFA?” (perhaps for those that call it “soccer”). Just as fans of “The Beautiful Game” span the globe, so do searches related to this week’s alleged ugliness. Costa Rica and Uruguay—home to two of the indicted officials—are among the top 10 countries searching for #FIFAarrests.
Hold on to your butts … again
It’s a Jurassic World. We just live in it. Twenty-two years after the original “Jurassic Park” movie, the release of “Jurassic World” is set to wow audiences worldwide, and ticket pre-sales and general dino-excitement have caused a 100,000+ search spike, while the trailer has topped 60 million YouTube views. Search-wise, the U.S. and Australia are most excited about the blockbuster, which will pit star Chris Pratt against a 50-foot-tall dinosaur named Indominus Rex. We’ll have to wait until June for the showdown, but based on current search interest, our money’s on Pratt.
Tip of the week
This weekend is Manhattanhenge, the moment when the setting sun aligns precisely with Manhattan’s street grid. Whether you’re in New York or not, you can find out when the sun will dip below the horizon with a simple “Ok Google, when does the sun set?” You’ll get an answer tailored for your location.
Posted by Abbi Tatton, who searched, a little indignantly, this week for [why do babies say “dada” first?]
Be a Seed for Change 
You must be logged in to post a comment.