Tag Archives: United States

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Marissa Graciosa, Reform Immigration FOR America


I've learned a powerful lesson in my years of organizing: you get what you ask for.

Tell your representative to show leadership and pass immigration reform now!

Send a postcard!

I’ve learned a powerful lesson in my years of organizing: you get what you ask for. With countless activists like you making calls, joining rallies and marches, and even risking arrest to ask for nothing less than a fair pathway to citizenship as part of immigration reform legislation, all we need now is for our representatives in the House to come forward and lead on the issue.

While our communities show true courage, our legislators in the House of Representatives are hiding. They are choosing political theater over working together to fix our broken immigration system. They are hiding from our demands for bold action to keep our families together.

It’s time the House followed our lead. We’re sending postcards directly to Congressional offices with images of our communities showing real leadership and a message demanding action. Send your representative a clear message: “Real leaders don’t hide. Pass immigration reform in 2013.”

We elect our members of Congress to lead, yet the House has failed to do so by refusing to take action. We must remind them that, as representatives of the people, they answer to us — and we challenge them to model the bravery and leadership that thousands are demonstrating in the streets every day by passing immigration reform this year.

We are closer now than we have ever been to passing real reform, and our representatives need to know that we aren’t backing down. Send your message now: step up and lead on immigration reform! Click here to send a postcard.

Standing strong,

Marissa Graciosa
Reform Immigration FOR America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Obamacare, Obamacare, Obamacare

2 Comments

 Health Care and the ACA ~~ Originally posted on 8/22/13

the Progress Report

In less than 6 weeks, millions of Americans will have the chance to sign up for quality, affordable health coverage for the very first time. Progressives are doing everything possible to educate Americans about the law and push back on the never-ending conservative misinformation campaign against Obamacare. Conservatives are, well, trying anything and everything in order to try and derail the law at the very last minute.

(Things are not going very well for conservatives.)

Here’s a roundup of the very latest Obamacare news:

For the latest news, be sure and check out ThinkProgress health.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

TransCanada’s US location and Keystone XL tar sands pipeline (Texas)


Yesterday, a group of courageous people just like you were arrested in the belly of the beast: TransCanada’s U.S. headquarters in Houston, Texas. These were mothers, fathers, grandfathers, great grandmothers, scientists, and teachers who staged a peaceful sit-in with a clear message: No Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

March to TransCanada Headquarters

At RAN we have a policy never to ask you to take an action, online or offline, that we don’t believe will make a strategic difference and have an impact that is worth your time. What I’m about to ask you to do might be one of the most important political acts you take this year.

Right now President Obama and his State Department are weighing their decision on whether this disastrous dirty energy pipeline is in our national interest. Our job must be to show enough opposition to the pipeline to ensure the president stands on the right side of this historical moment. That’s why we need you to join those standing up against Keystone XL in protest.

Will you join more than 75,000 people saying No to Keystone XL? Sign up for an action near you TODAY!

More than 75,000 people, including many of you, have signed RAN, Other 98% and CREDO’s Pledge of Resistance to the Keystone XL pipeline—pledging to participate in peaceful civil disobedience, to risk arrest if necessary, to stop this dangerous tar sands pipeline.

This is our next big step in the Pledge of Resistance together. This summer, after months of hard work and organizing, more than 400 volunteers have stepped up to lead acts of dignified protest in towns and cities across the country.

Will you join them by signing up today to participate in a local protest in your hometown?

To be clear, this is a serious request of your time, your passion and, potentially, your liberty. We’re asking now because it’s critical.

These actions are coming together because of months of work by literally hundreds of people. A group of seasoned direct action organizers built a training curriculum and traveled to cities around the country to teach people like you how to plan and lead a safe, strategic sit-in. Hundreds of activists stepped up to attend these rigorous two-day weekend trainings, and then went home to put that training into action. Now we’re asking: Will you join them?

The dates for these local actions have not been set, but the dates of action trainings have. We’re asking everyone to get in touch with local action leaders so we can prepare for action now and are ready to respond if President Obama signals his intention to approve the pipeline. That is our most strategic window to have the biggest impact.

Find your nearest Pledge of Resistance action and sign up to be a part of it!

Soon after you sign up for an action, you’ll be contacted by your local action leader, who will send out a time for your group to meet in person, get trained up, and move forward to put together everything you will need for a local sit-in action. There will be roles for everyone: those risking arrest and those not risking arrest.

The location for these actions will be relevant to your town. Likely locations will be: Administration buildings like State Department, EPA and Federal offices, oil industry contractor offices, and branches of TD Bank, a major investor in tar sands development.

All that’s missing is you.

Scott Parkin

In Solidarity,
Scott Parkin
Senior Energy and Finance Campaigner
Twitter:@dirtyenergy

P.S. Got questions? Check out http://nokxl.org/why-pledge-resistance/.

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety

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


English: Logo of the .
English: Logo of the . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
09/25/2013 10:20 AM EDT
W.S. Badger Co. Inc. today announced it is voluntarily recalling all lots of its 4-ounce SPF 30 Baby Sunscreen Lotion and one lot of its 4-ounce SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen Lotion
09/24/2013 03:17 PM EDT
Garden-Fresh Foods is initiating an expansion to our voluntary recall on various ready-to-eat salads, slaw, and dip products sold under various brands and code dates (see attachment). The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes-fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
09/19/2013 01:39 PM EDT
A limited number of P.F. Chang’s Home Menu Pork and Leek Dumpling frozen appetizer sold at retail in 12.5 ounce bags is being recalled due to the possible presence of undeclared allergens, crustacean shellfish (shrimp) and fish (pollock). There have been no reported cases of illness. This recall does not affect any P.F. Chang’s restaurants.
09/19/2013 07:09 PM EDT
Baxter International Inc. announced today it has initiated a voluntary recall of two lots of its Dual Luer Lock Caps (Product Code 2C6250, Lots 10043 and 10044) because of the presence of loose particulate matter found in the packaging. Particulate matter entering the fluid path from the Luer Lock Caps may result in thrombotic and embolic events, including: pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction and stroke.
09/20/2013 02:26 PM EDT
Semifreddi’s Inc. of Alameda, CA is recalling all packaged Almond Biscotti and Chocolate Dipped Almond Biscotti because the food allergens milk and soy were not declared on the product labels. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk or soy run the risk of serious allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, if they consume the products.
09/16/2013 03:28 PM EDT
HeartSine Technologies, Ltd. initiated a voluntary global correction of certain Samaritan® 300/300P PAD public access defibrillators to address two separate issues that may affect the ability to deliver therapy to a patient in a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) event, if needed.
09/19/2013 04:25 PM EDT
Wegmans is recalling 4,327 units of Wegmans brand APPLE CINNAMON Mini Muffins, Net Wt. 14 oz., because the product contains undeclared soy. People who have an allergy to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.
09/13/2013 07:11 PM EDT
Myerstown, PA – September 12, 2013 – As a result of an internal review, Dutch Valley is issuing a recall on Honey Roasted Peanuts due to undeclared Milk and Wheat Ingredients. Individuals with food allergies to Milk and or Wheat may run the risk of a serious or life threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
09/13/2013 06:52 PM EDT
Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), announced today, on July 12, 2013, it initiated a voluntary nationwide recall to the user level for one lot of 0.25% Bupivacaine HCl Injection, USP (2.5 mg/mL), 30 mL Single-dose Vial (NDC 0409-1159-02). An expanded recall was issued on August 29, 2013 for one lot of 0.75% Bupivacaine HCl Injection, USP (7.5 mg/mL), 30 mL Single-dose Vial (NDC 0409-1165-02).
09/12/2013 05:51 PM EDT
Schwebel Baking Company today recalled 18,979 units of Golden Rich Buns with Honey due to mislabeling and undeclared egg. Through the package validation process the problem was discovered.
09/11/2013 03:44 PM EDT
Leiter’s Compou
09/13/2013 10:56 AM EDT
Ge Pharma, LLC of North Haven, CT is recalling Creafuse Powder Grape Lot# GE4568 and Creafuse Powder Fruit Punch Lot #GE4570, packaged in a white, 600 gram container with an expiration date of 2/2015 because it contains 1,3 dimethylamylamine (DMAA). DMAA is commonly used as a stimulant, pre-workout, and weight loss ingredient in dietary supplement products.

nding Pharmacy is voluntarily recalling 3 lots of its sterile products due to concerns of sterility assurance with Front Range Laboratories, Leiter’s Compounding Pharmacy’s independent testing laboratory. The use of a non-sterile injectable product exposes patients to the risk of contracting serious life-threatening infections.

09/11/2013 03:52 PM EDT
Talenti® Gelato & Sorbetto is voluntarily initiating a product recall of Talenti German Chocolate Cake Gelato pints with the UPC # 1 8685200063 1 with a BEST BY DATE of 11/04/2014 M1, 11/24/2014 M1, and 11/24/2014 M2 as a precautionary measure. The recall was initiated after it was discovered by the firm that the product may contain undeclared almonds.
09/10/2013 07:23 PM EDT
Bubbles Baking Co. is voluntarily recalling 9,229 cases of Blueberry Muffin 14 oz and Blueberry Loaf Cake 16 oz. due to undeclared milk and soy allergen. People who have allergies to milk and soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening reactions if they consume these products
09/09/2013 03:07 PM EDT
Avella Specialty Pharmacy is voluntarily recalling two compounded sterile medications. The recall is a result of concerns of sterility assurance with the specialty pharmacy‘s independent testing laboratory, Front Range Laboratories.
09/10/2013 01:54 PM EDT
Park Compounding is voluntarily recalling one lot of sterile medication Testoserone Cypionate (Sesame Oil) 200mg/ml Lot #05072013@1 Exp: 11/3/2013 for injection in 10ml amber vials, to the consumer level.
09/09/2013 03:16 PM EDT
General Mills announced today a voluntary Class II recall of a limited quantity of refrigerated Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with Icing. No other flavors or varieties of Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls or Pillsbury dough products are being recalled.
09/06/2013 05:49 PM EDT
McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. (“McNeil”) is voluntarily recalling at the retail level three lots, approximately 200,000 bottles, of Concentrated MOTRIN® Infants’ Drops Original Berry Flavor 1/2 fl oz bottles distributed in the United States (see full product list below). This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
09/05/2013 11:51 AM EDT
Chobani, Inc., of Twin Falls, Idaho is voluntarily recalling Greek Yogurt. The company has ceased the distribution of the product due to reports of product bloating and swelling and some claims of illness as the company continues its investigation to identify the root cause.
09/06/2013 05:07 PM EDT
GoPicnic Brands, Inc. is voluntarily recalling two vegan ready-­‐to-­‐ eat meals, GoPicnic Black Bean Dip & Plantain Chips and Hummus & Crackers, containing Professor Zim Zam’s Extraordinary Sweets Dark Chocolate with Orange and Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt. The chocolate products in these meals may contain an undeclared milk allergen.
09/06/2013 07:18 PM EDT
University Compounding Pharmacy is voluntarily recalling the following preparations (see below) for injection, to the consumer level. In a recent inspection, FDA investigators observed that methods used by the Independent Third Party laboratory to assess sterility may have resulted in pharmacies receiving inaccurate laboratory test results. FDA has concerns that results obtained from
09/06/2013 10:01 PM EDT
Aqueboque, NY, Altaire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announces today that it is voluntarily recalling a total of nine (9) lots of Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium 0.5% Ophthalmic Solution, 30 mL, to the consumer level. There have been no reports of adverse effects to consumers so
09/05/2013 03:04 PM EDT
Medaus Pharmacy is voluntarily recalling certain sterile compounded consumer products (see table) due to our inability to confirm that the quality control testing performed on these specific lots by an independent, third party laboratory was conducted in a manner consistent with the highest standards of excellence we demand from ourselves and on behalf of our patients. Though Medaus received test results indicating that these lots met all safety standards, they are being recalled because the independent testing lab’s sterility testing practices as applied to these lots indicate that the product’s sterility cannot be confirmed
09/05/2013 05:01 PM EDT
Cains Foods is recalling 2,273 six-pack cases of 16 oz. Olde Cape Cod Chipotle Ranch dressing with a “Best By” date of Nov. 30, 2014 because it may contain undeclared milk and egg. People who have allergies to milk and egg run the risk of serious or life-threatening reactions if they consume products containing these ingredients.
08/30/2013 06:22 PM EDT
Garden-Fresh Foods, Inc. of Milwaukee Wisconsin is recalling A Limited Quantity of Spartan Fresh Selections American Potato Salad In 16 oz. Packages, 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. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
08/30/2013 08:24 PM EDT
Hospira, Inc. announced today it is initiating a voluntary nationwide user-level recall of one lot of Aminosyn II 10 percent, Sulfite-Free, 500mL, NDC 0409-4164-03 Lot 26-138-JT. This action is due to one confirmed customer report where an unknown foreign particle was included in the injection port and in contact with product. The foreign particle was confirmed by Hospira as human hair. To date, Hospira has not received reports of any adverse events associated with this issue for this lot. This recall is being conducted as a precautionary measure.
08/30/2013 08:37 PM EDT
Premier Foods, LLC of Santa Fe Springs, CA is voluntarily recalling four flavored sauces due to the failure to declare the following allergens on the product labels: milk, soy, and/or wheat. The products were sold at Williams-Sonoma. People who have allergies to milk, soy, and/or wheat run the risk of serious or life-threatening reactions if they consume products containing these ingredients.
08/30/2013 04:31 PM EDT
St. Louis, Missouri, Nestle Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) is voluntarily recalling a limited number of 3.5-pound bags of its Purina ONE beyOnd Our White Meat Chicken and Whole Barley Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food from a single production run and shipped to retail customers in the United States. This is being done because one bag of the product was found to be contaminated with Salmonella.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The Affordable Care Act & small business


Image representing U.S. Small Business Adminis...
Image via CrunchBase

When it comes to the Affordable Care Act, our nation’s leaders maintain a dialogue with the country’s businesses, large and small. The work is ongoing, but the Administration has responded to your concerns by making changes to simplify the reporting process and giving businesses more time to comply.

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