Tag Archives: Los Angeles

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

EdNet: The National Food Safety Educator’s Network


FoodSafety.gov

EdNet, the National Food Safety Educator’s Network, is a monthly, multi-agency electronic news journal from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). EdNet provides educators, consumer advocates, government officials, and industry representatives with a quick monthly summary of news about food safety programs and activities.

In this issue:

Advisories, Alerts, and Warnings

Resources for Educators

Industry

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

compare contrast check … 2nd hand & consignments


Shirts Hanging on Clothes Rack

I will be keeping all names confidential …

I went on a thrift buy and to be quite honest – to scope out what other small business owners of “thrift” are selling etc. I set out to compare, contrast and what I found was surprising, a bit disappointing. I live in an area that could cross the line of middle toward upper middle class.

I was not sure what price point I would be facing. I was looking forward to going to my favorite 2nd hands, but I only went to four shops as one of the most popular went out of business right around the 2008 economic crisis and the other; the biggest and the oldest in my area decided they were done with the whole 2nd hand business

I parked my car ready to be amazed but was overcome by the smell and ok, yes some 2nd hand/consignments stores may mean accepting some cleaning odors and this shop has great vintage items like women’s hats dated back to the 1920’s. They had some great looking vintage luggage, but then they decided to dedicate a whole section maybe half of the store to very new trendy items that were very ethnic and expensive. I found most of my own comparable 2nd Act/consignment items that were competitive or in slightly better shape and of course as a vintage/consignment shop, they offered a wide range from a house dress look some of our moms probably wore to some very beautiful vintage jewelry. I spotted some sheet music but that was not on the list. I walked a few blocks down to what used to be a favourite 2nd hand/consignment shop for designer clothes because of the abundance of smaller sized clothing. It was packed though unlike the first shop, it was in transition with a tag sale making room for recent donations. Good golly the smell!

looked at my phone and had to get going, the walk down to a very small store was wonderful as the weather was just as fabulous as the metro parking space … free. I admit I drive past this store all the time but the hours are not usually conducive as they have limited weekday hours.  It was open, thank goodness though somewhat dark as most of the clothes are designers in black, gray and white. I used to love this store and since most people wear black white and gray etc. the biggest issue for me was size not that the clothes weren’t great but the sizing just did not seem correct and all sales were final which makes sense, sometimes the risk works out, but … I took a pass.

It was a great morning to go hunting for deals and great surprises and while I came home without a 2nd hand/consignment item. I did find out that one of my favourite farmers market moved across the street.

It was not a failed trip by any means.

So, after a couple of hours of what turned out to be an eye opening experience … safe to say everything at http://www.beaseedforchange.org offers is clean, fresh fab finds, not tried on by hundreds of people and we are not against negotiating our prices.

Sometimes bigger is not always better and more inventory isn’t either unless of course it‘s about viable repeats, furniture, tiles and kitchen stuff …

Stay tuned

Be a Seed for Change

Buying from Be a Seed for Change makes you a part of our movement to Recycle Reuse Reclaim Reduce – The amount of materials going into Landfill and your Eco-Footprint

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

I work for Bath & Body Works … Stop Dumping


Petitioning Nick Coe CEO Bath & Body Works

Stop Dumping and Start Donating
Petition by Samantha Heard
Savannah, Georgia
2,754
Supporters

Imagine not being able to afford basic household items for you and your children like hand soap, shampoo or lotion. These are things every family needs to stay healthy, just as they need food and shelter. But while there are several programs, both government and nonprofit, that assist the poor in getting the food and housing they need, there are very few programs that help them get access to the most basic personal hygiene items.

The lack of these basic necessities impacts low income families in unimaginable ways. A student that goes to school feeling unclean cannot focus on their studies, a veteran who can’t afford soap can’t go into a job interview with confidence.  

As an employee at Bath & Body Works, I have seen thousands of dollars of tested and slightly damaged  products needlessly thrown away. These products are perfectly good, perfectly usable. I love working for this company, and I know it can do better for its clients and our surrounding community.

Please join me in asking Nick Coe, CEO of Bath and Body Works, to discontinue the wasteful practice of throwing out slightly damaged or “tested” B&BW products, and donate them to local charities around the United States instead. Every family deserves the dignity that comes with meeting their basic hygiene needs.  

There are many families who are struggling right now with the decision whether to buy a loaf of bread or a bar of soap. A study conducted by Feeding America suggests that 58% of low-income individuals who were unable to buy personal care products reported cutting back on food to afford toiletries; 40% reported skipping or delaying rent payments to obtain products. This causes untold strain on them.

There are thousands, if not millions of people that could benefit from these nearly-full bottles of hand soap, shampoo, body lotion, etc. If each B&BW store put together boxes for their local homeless shelters, safe houses, churches, or just someone in need, think about the good we could do. Think of the lives we could impact.

Please sign this petition to help change the mind of the company I love and do something good for those who need it most.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Don’t Let Businesses Weaken Health Care Law Protections


NWLCbannerBusinesses are trying to roll back protections that can save women and their families thousands of dollars — unless you help us stop them.

Not so long ago, medical debt was the number one reason for bankruptcy in this country. Then the health care law put a limit on out-of-pocket costs women and their families pay each year for medical bills, offering a critical protection against medical debt. But businesses want a loophole that will weaken this protection for families.

We need your help to keep the law’s strong protections in place.

Keep the Health Care Law Protections StrongTell Secretary Burwell to stand strong against efforts by businesses to roll back protections for women and their families.

Take Action

Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released guidance to protect families from extraordinary health care costs. But businesses are fighting back, claiming it will cut into their profits.

Stand up for women and their families. Sign our petition to Secretary Burwell and ask her to stand strong against attacks by businesses.

Thanks to the health care law, women and their families finally have peace of mind, knowing that they’re protected against insurance companies. Let’s make sure those protections stay strong.

Thank you for everything you do to ensure women and their families have access to quality, affordable health care.

Sincerely,
Gretchen Borchelt
Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights
National Women’s Law Center

~ In the Library

In the Library … “Social Security Works!”


 campaignForAmericaLgo
Nancy Altman and EricKingson, Social Security Works’ co-founders, have written a book that representsthe culmination of the work that we have all been doing. Simply called “Social Security Works!”, the book explains why NOW is the time to expand Social Security.If we can reach a #1 ranking on Amazon.com during this week, that will send a strong statement that the movement to expand Social Security and increase benefits cannot be ignored.

Click here to get Social Security Works (the Book)!Here’s what Senator Bernie Sanders has to say about the book:

“Social Security Works! puts expanding Social Security front and center on the national agenda, where it belongs. Everyone who has a stake in the debate should read this important book.”

Simply put, the book makes the case that Social Security is the program that can help stop the collapse of the middle class, lessen the pressure squeezing families from all directions, and help end the upward redistribution of wealth that has resulted in perilous levels of inequality.

Click here to get Social Security Works (the Book)! If you already read your copy click the link and give us a 5 star review on Amazon.

We’re going all-in on expansion in 2015 and we’re kicking the year off with a book release that will bring the real story of Social Security to the entire country. The book explains that not only can we afford to increase Social Security benefits, we can’t afford not to.

This book is a culmination of the work that we have been doing since our founding in 2010 and comes at the perfect time to grow the movement for Social Security expansion.

Thank you,
Roger Hickey
Campaign for America’s Future