Feminine Products Toxic. Food For Thought. "Real Food." GMO Labeling. China Destroys GM Corn. Healthiest Fare. Johnstown Flood.

 

For “Foodie Friday:

But first this:

Most Feminine Hygiene Products Contain Toxic Ingredients

“When chemicals come in contact with your skin, they are absorbed straight into your bloodstream without filtering of any kind, going directly to your delicate organs

Feminine hygiene products such as tampons and sanitary pads are an oft-ignored source of a variety of potentially toxic ingredients, including genetically modified organisms and pesticides

Manufacturers of tampons and sanitary pads are not required to disclose the ingredients used in their products.

One conventional sanitary pad contains the equivalent of about four plastic bags

A number of plasticizing chemicals have been linked to endocrine disruption and disease processes associated with heart disease and cancer. Conventional tampons and pads may also contain dioxins, synthetic fibers and petrochemical additives

Tampons can react with bacteria in your body to create the ideal environment for bacteria to flourish, triggering potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome (TSS). 

What's Really in Your Sanitary Pads and Tampons?

Naturally Savvy sets Always Infinity and Natracare 100% organic cotton pads on fire. See what happens when they are compared side-by-side. You won't believe it!”

Complete article at: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/22/feminine-hygiene-products.aspx

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Food For Thought

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Food For Thought

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"Real Food, Patriotism on a Plate”

How our food was changed in 1994.

“Robyn shares her personal story and how it inspired her current path as a "Real Food" evangelist.  Grounded in a successful Wall Street career that was more interested in food as good business than good-for-you, this mother of four was shaken awake by the dangerous allergic reaction of one of her children to a "typical" breakfast.

Her mission to unearth the cause revealed more about the food industry than she could stomach, and impelled her to share her findings with others. Informative and inspiring.”

“Do you know what you are eating? In this extraordinary personal account, Robyn O'Brien tells the story of how she started paying attention to what's in food. The answer may surprise you and it will certainly inspire you to be more deliberate about your food choices.”

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Genetic Roulette Movie Trailer

“Are you and your family on the wrong side of a bet?

When the US government ignored repeated warnings by its own scientists and allowed untested genetically modified (GM) crops into our environment and food supply, it was a gamble of unprecedented proportions. The health of all living things and all future generations were put at risk by an infant technology.

After two decades, physicians and scientists have uncovered a grave trend. The same serious health problems found in lab animals, livestock, and pets that have been fed GM foods are now on the rise in the US population. And when people and animals stop eating genetically modified organisms (GMOs), their health improves.

This seminal documentary provides compelling evidence to help explain the deteriorating health of Americans, especially among children, and offers a recipe for protecting ourselves and our future.”

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GMO A Go Go - Truth about GMOs

“New animated cartoon covers all the basics on why GMOs are dangerous.”

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GMO Labeling Laws Advance in Vermont, Maine, Connecticut

“Legislators in three New England states are signaling the biotech industry that they’re ready to go to battle for consumers’ right to know about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

GMO labeling bills recently cleared hurdles in Vermont, Maine and Connecticut. They still have a way to go before becoming law. But it’s a good sign that despite millions spent on lobbying, and despite threats of lawsuits against states that pass the GMO labeling laws, lawmakers are starting to take a stand.

On May 10, the Vermont House of Representatives passed H.112 by a vote of 99-42. The bill will be taken up by the Senate in January, 2014. On May 14, Maine’s L.D. 718 passed out of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee by a vote of 8-5. If passed, the law won’t go into effect until 2018, and then only after four of the nine northeastern states approve similar laws. And on May 21, the Connecticut Senate approved SB 802 by a vote of 35-1. The bill moves next to the Connecticut House.”

More on Vermont    More on Maine    More on Connecticut

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Breaking News: China Destroys 3 US Shipments of GM Corn

“Could the global tide in support of GMOs be turning? A new report reveals that the formerly pro-GMO Chinese government, one of the largest consumers of GMO food crops in the world, is beginning to crack down on GM corn shipments from the US that have not followed appropriate biosafety regulations.

The first two shipments entered Wanzai Port in Zhuhai City on May 7^th, and were subsequently destroyed.  The existence of a third shipment was confirmed in a May 19^th article appearing on news.china.com.cn titled, "Harbin intercepted a total of 115 kgs of GM corn seeds, which will be destroyed":

"[T]he new government's decisive move to destroy the illegal GMOs "progressive, encouraging, and satisfying". He regards it as a sign that it is keeping its promise to work for the people and the nation.
Mr Li said: "The deeply pro-GMO old government would not have made such a thing public. It would have secretly returned the shipments, or in most cases it would not even have inspected shipments that could contain GM ingredients." More at: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/breaking-news-china-destroys-3-us-shipments-gm-corn-a

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How to Find the Healthiest Fare in Meat and Produce Aisles

“Research has shown that pesticides and other agricultural chemicals can cause disruptions to your neurological system and your brain. Your best bet is to buy only organic fruits and vegetables, as synthetic agricultural chemicals are not permissible under the USDA organic rules

For conventional produce, the Environmental Working Group has released its updated annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, detailing the foods that have the highest and lowest amounts of pesticide residues

Recently published data from tests conducted on supermarket meat samples reveals the presence of several disease-causing bacteria, including the super-hardy antibiotic-resistant versions of salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli on virtually all types of store bought meats

In a recent analysis of reported food violations spanning 73 countries, China was identified as having the most violations. Excessive pesticide levels were the number one complaint. Chinese seafood was also found to be high in antibiotics and other drugs

The USDA is expected to reduce the number of inspectors in poultry facilities by 75 percent, instead allowing the companies to put all the poultry through an antimicrobial wash, using chlorine and other chemicals. The agency plans to implement the new rules by September 2014.”  Complete article at: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/05/08/ewg-pesticide-guide.aspx  

See: 7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits, Vegetables.

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On This Day:

The Johnstown Flood, May 31, 1889:

“In a river valley in central Pennsylvania, heavy rain and a neglected dam lead to a catastrophe in which 2,209 people die and a prosperous city, Johnstown, is nearly wiped off the face of the earth.

Johnstown, located at the confluence of the Little Conemaugh River and Stony Creek, was 14 miles downstream from Lake Conemaugh, a reservoir turned recreational lake that was owned and maintained by the prestigious South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. The sporting club, which catered to a wealthy clientele from nearby Pittsburgh, included Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick on its membership rolls. Lake Conemaugh was held back by the South Fork Dam, a large earth-fill dam that was completed by the club in 1881. By 1889, the dam was in dire need of repairs.

When several days of heavy rain struck the area in late May 1889, club officials struggled to reinforce the neglected dam, which was under tremendous pressure from the swollen waters of Lake Conemaugh. The dam began to disintegrate, and on May 31 the lake's water level passed over the top of the dam. Realizing that the dam's collapse was imminent, club officials sent riders down the valley to evacuate area residents. However, flooding was a familiar occurrence in the valley, and few Johnstown residents heeded the riders' desperate warnings. Most just took the same simple precautions they did when Little Conemaugh River flooded: They moved their belongings to the second story of their homes and settled down to wait out the storm.

At 3:10 p.m., the South Fork Dam washed away, drowning several laborers who were struggling to maintain it. Club officials on high ground watched awe-struck as 20 million tons of water went roaring down the valley toward Johnstown. The deluge swept through the communities of South Fork, Mineral Point, Woodvale, and East Conemaugh, accumulating debris, including rocks, trees, houses, barns, railroad cars, animals, and people, both dead and alive. By the time it reached Johnstown, at 4:07 p.m., the flood appeared as a rolling hill of debris more than 30 feet high and nearly half a mile wide. In a terrible swoop, the northern half of the city was swept away, sending some 1,500 demolished Johnstown buildings tumbling down with the roaring torrent.

It took 10 minutes for the waters of Lake Conemaugh to pass through Johnstown, and 2,000 people were drowned or crushed in the torrent. A few survivors were washed up along with numerous corpses several miles down the valley. At the old Stone Bridge in Johnstown, debris piled 40 feet high caught fire, and some 80 huddled survivors of the flood perished in the flames. A total of 2,209 died as a result of the disaster.

Among the survivors of the calamity, there was a scarcely an individual who had not lost a friend or relative in the Johnstown Flood. Despite the great scale of the tragedy, reconstruction of the devastated community began almost immediately, and Clara Barton and the American Red Cross constructed shelters for homeless residents while well-wishers around the country sent tons of relief supplies. The South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club was widely criticized for its failure to maintain the South Fork Dam, but no successful lawsuits were ever brought against the organization.”

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Yesterday:

Misty and I went to get Jay and had our walk down there.  Misty has a certain spot there that she prefers to use, so she goes right to it, and then we can carry on with our walk.

When we got back here, we started back on the roof of the screen porch in front of my living room.  Jay had put some white polycarbonate roofing on it, but it is the kind that does not let in any light, so it wasn’t any good for the many aloe plants in there, or for brightening my living room.  If there is no light coming from above, my aloe all grow sideways to the light.  I need something where they will grow straight up to the light. Clear would be too bright in the TX sun, but translucent would be fine.  The roofing company says it lets in 85% of the light, without glare, so that’s what I need. 

Jay was in an funny mood, and I suspect that he fell off the wagon. I didn’t like the way the porch roof was framed, and when Jay really looked at it from the road, and from inside my living room, he didn’t like it either.  He removed the roofing, and reframed the roof, so it is level now.  But we didn’t have time to screw on the new translucent panels.

Finally, someone is supposed to be here to put in a driveway between the two houses, today.