Tainted China food update: Don't eat the ginger!

So what's going on with Chinese food imports. Hardly a week goes by that we don't hear of a new food product being scrutinized as something to beware of or to avoid altogether. The latest food to avoid, according to the USFDA is fresh ginger.

When it rains, it pours, or as the Chinese would say, "當下雨它傾吐." I wonder if they're learning what that means over there.

Call me a "Crunchy Conservatives", but wouldn't it be better if we tried to buy food that was grown as close to home as possible? If for no other reason than to support nearby farmers. When you take into consideration the disgustingly unsanitary conditions of various countries it only makes sense to buy homegrown whenever possible.

Click on the above "fresh ginger" link for a complete list of the foods from China you might want to avoid.

Gitmo prisoner begs to not be released

There's at least one patron of Club Gitmo who never wants to leave. How could that be, you might be asking. Apparently, the prisoner fears that he would be tortured or killed if sent back to his native Algeria. He said that his 'Guantanamo cell is better than freedom.' Well, well...I wonder if the NYT's will be carrying this story tomorrow; or maybe the Washington Post; ya think?

The implication, at least in this particular prisoner's case, is that he's not being tortured at Club Gitmo and is in no danger of being killed. Imagine that!

Add to that the opportunity to pray toward Mecca 5 times each day with his own personal government issued prayer rug and Koran, and specially prepared Muslim food in a kitchen blessed by Imams...(well, maybe not, but the diet has been approved by Muslim law).

If, by chance he has a room with a view, who the hell can blame this guy for wanting to stay?

Still, none of the Big Media folks are going to pick this story up. Doesn't fit the agenda.

Quote of the Day

By Tom Snyder:

Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air.

Tom Snyder died today after a long time battle with leukemia. He was one of the good guys; at least in my book. I seldom agreed with his politics, but I loved watching and listening to him since the '60's when he was still a local news guy.

Like the above linked article says, Snyder was ego driven and maybe abrasive to some, but he was one of the all time great broadcasters. He was a virtual caricature of himself and maybe that was one of the attributes which made him so compelling and entertaining. Dan Akroyd's portrayal of him will always be a classic SNL bit.

Check out NNDB for some interesting and pertinent facts about Tom Snyder's life and times.

I posted a piece here back in April of 05 when we first learned of his leukemia. Unfortunately the link to his "Colortini" website is inoperative.

I was just listening to Dennis Miller and he had some very admiring words for Tom Snyder. Miller said he was the last guest to appear on Snyder's show.

Here's some great Tom Snyder links for all you "Colortini" aficionados.

Here's an especially good piece.

Let's all raise our Colortini's for ol' Tom, just one more time. He's going to be missed!

The Global Warming Police State

There's an important piece for your consideration at RealClearPolitics by Robert Tracinski, titled The Seeds of the Global Warming Police State. Here are a few paragraphs:

For those seeking to justify this kind of all-encompassing government control, global warming is the best candidate to come along since the collapse of Marxism. Like Marxism, environmentalism steals the "scientific" aura of an established field--but in this case it has invaded the "hard sciences," which carry greater prestige than economics. And unlike previous environmentalist crusades, global warming is a threat that is global in scope and total and all-encompassing in its detailed application to human life. Other pollution scares--DDT, acid rain, the ozone layer--required only the banning of a single product or control over a single industry. None was big enough to require control of the entire economy over the period of a century, nor could any claim to be so urgent as to make dissent an "irresponsible" act that is not to be tolerated.

Global warming provides a basis for all of these claims: urgent action is needed, we are told, or the catastrophic effects will be irreversible. But to reverse global warming will require massive reductions in our use of power, requiring a total restructuring of the economy--and the deployment of the "carbon cops" to police every parsimonious detail of our everyday lives.

And this global warming police state has one big advantage over Marxism: it makes a virtue of the chronic shortages and privation that were such a mortal embarrassment to Communism. This time, the left won't have to explain away the lines at the stores, the decade-long waiting lists for tin-can automobiles, even the scarcity of decent toilet paper. These are not failures of the system: they are the goal of the system. They are all necessary to reduce our "carbon footprint."

A perceptive reader suggested to me recently that when left claims that "the science is settled" in the global warming controversy, what they really mean is that the political science of the issue is settled. The global warming hysteria reinforces all of their settled anti-capitalist prejudices--and it provides an open-ended justification for the central, dominant, overpowering role they think government ought to play in the individuals life

For those of us who eschew leftist politics and recognize the global warming fanatics for what they are, it's easy to dismiss their antics as superficial and ineffective. After all, does anyone really take Al Gore seriously? Didn't he invent the Internet? Weren't he and Tipper the inspiration behind the novel Love Story? Isn't he the one who said "there was no controlling legal authority" when that pesky problem of illegal campaign contributions arose with a California based Buddhist Temple? Isn't he the one who screamed uncontrollably that Bush "played on our fears" and isn't he doing that very thing by demanding the entire world believe as he does regarding global warming?

Those of us who don't believe that Western Civilization has anything to do with global warming are of the opinion that the masses will ultimately wake up and realize this is all a ginormous hoax to penalize the US via taxes in order to redistribute wealth to poor nations (international socialism)...at least we HOPE they'll wake up!

With the help of the media, academia, trade unions and well funded special interest groups, the left is winning. The constant drum of the big lie is perpetually repeated in every imaginable venue and it wears people down and they inevitably begin to believe and go along with whatever the left wants; if for no other reason than to just get them off our backs. But the left prods on and is never satisfied with what they've already achieved. They always want more. More of our freedoms, that is.

Maybe you thought Big Tobacco was evil and needed to be taxed and smokers needed to be penalized. Maybe you think Big Oil makes too much money. What about Big Fast Food? Did you ever think a method of deep frying would be banned in certain municipalities?

Why don't more people question Big Government? Why is it okay for Big Government to make more money on each gallon of gas (30 to 60 cents/gallon depending on the state) via confiscatory taxes than so-called Big Oil (which makes on average 8 cents/gallon of gas).

Why don't more people question Big Education which consumes voracious amounts of money and produces the least educated kids in the western world.

We can poo poo the leftist ideals all the doo dah day, but it seems like they eventually get their way. The leftists persist and conservatives too easily give in.

Be sure to read Rober Tracinski's piece. It's important and it's prescient.

East Texas Sunsets

This was taken while driving on I-20 between Canton and Dallas and the following pics were taken just west of Tyler off Hwy 110.

(Photos by rich glasgow)

Doing The Most Good

My daughter works for The Richards Group, which is one of Dallas' premier ad agencies. One of their clients has an ambitious and inspiring credo that would make most Christians embarrassed for want of doing good works for our fellow man. Here's their "brand manifesto" and see if you can guess which organization it identifies:

I am doing the most good.
I am hope.
I am compassion.
I am strength.
I am faith.
I am doing the most good.
I serve a community.
A region.
A nation.
A world.
I serve heroes.
I serve victims.
I serve a sovereign God.
I am doing the most good.
I am an Army.
Drafted by the Creator.
Commissioned by a man who defied death.
My enemies are despair and destruction.
My ammunition is grace and mercy.
My allies are generosity and benevolence.
I am an Army.
Helping others be all they can be.
I am doing the most good.
I feed empty stomachs and hungry souls.
I rebuild ruined homes and shattered lives.
I am a willing listener for a veteran with stories to tell.
I am a bottled water and an encouraging smile for a weary firefighter.
I am an answered prayer.
A silver lining.
A second chance.
I am doing the most good.
I am a humble steward of other people’s generosity.
I am a grateful courier of a stranger’s kindness.
I am the faithful executor of others’ goodwill.
I take my responsibility seriously.
I am blessed.
I am a blessing.
I am doing the most good.

Not many organizations can lay claim to such noble aspirations. I daresay that most churches fall way short in fulfilling these Godly duties to those in need. Can you guess which organization makes these claims?

It's The Salvation Army. Give their site a visit and see what all they do. Of all the charitable organizations out there, these guys really are doing the most good!

Leahy issues subpoena for Karl Rove

This was the reaction today when Karl Rove learned that Sen.Leahy (D-VT) issued a subpoena for him to appear before the self-indulgent Imperial Congress.

Get the story at The Hill.

The Right to Not be Offended

According to a piece in WorldNetDaily, if you live in Canada you better not offend anyone or "hurt their feelings." There are ramifications involved, but mainly, it's just not cool to offend homosexuals or Muslims.

Think it can't happen here? Think again....the leftists in Congress are pushing the hate crimes bill as stealthily as they can. If and when that bill passes you will not be able to denigrate or criticize those who are given special rights. For example, it would be okay to be critical of Christianity and Christians, but it would be absolutely forbidden to be critical of transsexuals, homosexuals and probably Islamofacists.

Additionally, there are pesky activist Supreme Court Justices who look to international law instead of our constitution as a basis for rulings. That being the case, you can bet this is one of those international laws that the aforementioned justices will be falling all over themselves to inculcate into our would be "living" constitution.

We live in very dangerous and unprecedented times. Far too many are content to go about their daily lives and not be concerned about the deterioration of the rule of law.

It takes vigilance to hold on to liberty. Are most of the people you work with, go to school with, party with, go to church with, play golf with...paying attention to what's happening in this country or do you think they they even care? They've got a job, a few bucks in their pocket, a nice car, a vast choice of restaurants, a great new mall in the community, a nice place to live; what could be possibly be wrong with life in America?

What a blessing it is to live in such peace and prosperity! Unfortunately it's numbing us and distracting us to the point of being oblivious of the breakneck speeds at which the foundations of this country are being knocked out from under us and we, as a country will not be able to survive when the constitution and the rule of law is ultimately destroyed by corrupt politicians and judges.

Please read the WND piece linked above. Is this the way we want our country to go?

When Politicians Can't Handle Criticism

This is one of the reasons the leftists in our country have such high esteem for the likes of Chavez, Castro et al...our leftists can only wish they had this much power!

Pay a visit to the Cox & Forkum site. These guys are good!

Updated Gen. George Patton Speech (if only....)

A major Hat Tip to Mark Levin, who played this brilliantly updated speech from the movie Patton on his show yesterday. If you don't do anything else today, take 8 minutes to watch and listen to the pure essence of fearless leadership.

This updated version of the George C Scott rendition of Patton's speech was masterfully done by Mike Kaminski.

Now check out this speech General Patton would give if he were alive today:

Bad Pet Food, Bad Toothpaste and now Bad Air!

Maybe China should clean up it's act. It all started with tainted pet food several months ago and then we got word there was an anti-freeze additive in some of their toothpaste. Recently I read that meat and fish processing facilities over there can be absolutely filthy. Someone over there needs to get their Yin and Yan together

Okay, we can choose not to buy their foodstuffs, but now it looks like they are exporting the polluted air they produce over there. You don't think Wal-Mart has anything to do with this do you?

Go the the WSJ Science Journal for the bad news.

America is going to be blamed for this. If we weren't buying so much stuff from them they wouldn't be producing so much pollution, right? We're bound to hear this from the folks who always give the bad guys a pass and blame America first.

So you see, it probably won't be long before someone really does blame Wal-Mart for this wave of Asian pollution.

But wait, there's more bad news from China! Reuters is reporting that our own Texas grown turtles are disappearing from our lakes and rivers and ending up in China soup pots.

Does anyone see a pattern here?

The American Hostages in Iran

When was the last time you heard anything about the three American hostages being held in Iran? And why is that anyway? Are we so afraid of confrontation with out of control madmen that we are willing to forget about fellow Americans who are probably being tortured the old fashioned way (as opposed to that devastatingly horrific method of forcibly wearing panties on one's head or the ferocity of nude human pyramids...oh, the inhumanity of those atrocities).

Mark Steyn, in his most recent piece, reminds us that unless we confront these animals, we can expect more of this intolerable behavior from them. This is must reading, folks!

And by the way, aren't the Israeli soldiers who were abducted prior to their war with Hezbollah, still being held hostage? We don't hear about those guys either. Pity!

A Carbon Neutral "24?"

So it looks like one of my favorite shows has given in to the dark side. It's just wrong! See the sad story at NewsBusters.

Good News from The Blue Star Deli

Just got this note from the owner of the Blue Star Deli:

Hello Rich,

Just to let you know. Business is doing much better. Our numbers are back to where they were before all of this started. As in before the radio shows started. It is greatly appreciated. I can't thank y'all enough for what you have done. I will be keeping the restaurant. But I will most likely find someone to manage for me during the daytime. I will be here early mornings and in the afternoons. Y'all have saved me from having to sell and I can't tell y'all what that means to me.

Thanks Again

Dave

It was our pleasure to help call attention to the plight of the Blue Star Deli. In so doing we discovered a quaint Texana breakfast, burgers and more establishment worthy of praise and patronization.

Special thanks to Mike Gallagher for inviting me on his show last Monday morning to plug our blogger's luncheon with TexasFred and so many others that joined us at the Blue Star Deli.

We're not going to forget this place. As a long time Foodie in constant search of unique places to eat, the Blue Star Deli ranks right up there.

"Suspicious Behavior" in Congress

Cox & Forkum aptly illustrate the inexplicable behavior of the congressional leftists who don't want law abiding folks to be able to report unusual behavior when we see it. What is WRONG with these people? Who are they trying to appease?

By all means go to the above Cox & Forkum link for some additional links regarding this incredible story. Have the regressive dems totally given themselves over to our enemies? Why should we think otherwise?

It Takes a Radio Talk Show Host

Major league kudos to Neal Boortz for putting his best politically incorrect foot forward by referring to radical Islam as "a cult, it's not even a religion."

No doubt the recently named "unindicted co-conspirator" Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will be all over this. But then, who cairs, er, cares?

Go to WorldNetDaily to get full coverage of this heartwarming incident.

It's about time people start casting aside the destructive thought and behavior control machinations of political correctness. Let it begin with talk radio and the freedom of the internet.

Lunch at the Blue Star Deli

We had a great time today at the Blue Star Deli. Pictured above from left to right is TexasFred, Mike Gallagher and moi, Rich Glasgow.

Mike Gallagher graciously asked me to be on his national radio show this morning after he learned there are some bloggers out here drumming up support for the good folks at the aforementioned deli.

Meanwhile, Fred Witzell, aka Texas Fred, was on WBAP's Mark Davis show this morning plugging our lunch extravaganza (Please see my previous post and visit the links for the lowdown on the Blue Star Deli).

If you live in the Dallas area you NEED to have breakfast or lunch there often. It's not one of those carbon copy, cookie cutter chains. This place is a Texas original which will capture your Texana taste buds. I had a terrific grilled Reuben sandwich for a little over 3 bucks. It'll be a tough choice between the burgers and the Reuben next time I go.

They can't sell you a beer because of those pesky Texas "dry areas," but if you spend 5 bucks they'll give you a beer! How great is that?

This is an ongoing deal, folks....we're not going to forget about this place. As for me and mine, we're going to be visiting the Blue Star Deli early and often!

Go there!

Y'all Come to the Blue Star Deli!

My buddy TexasFred is whuppin' up support in the blogosphere for the fine folks who own and operate the Blue Star Deli whose catering business has taken a huge hit recently. It seems that the now famous Deli lost it's Halliburton business due to a few nattering naysayers who didn't take it too kindly when Blue Star hosted the Mike Gallagher Radio Show.

Go to all of the above links for the full story. In the meantime, if you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, make it a point to patronize these good people. Texas Fred and I will be having lunch there Monday, July 16th, at noon. We invite and encourage our readers and fellow bloggers to come out and show your support.

Welcome Mike Gallagher listeners!