RV Genius Or Fool

You might be a redneck...





This guy is either an RV genius or a fool.

Yup, I have too much time on my hands.

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Speaking Of The National Geographic

Yesterday I commented on the take over of The National Geographic Society by Rupert Murdoch. About the same time, scientists were reporting on one of the major discoveries in the history of human evolution - yes, evolution!

A trove of bones hidden deep within a South African cave represents a new species of human ancestor, scientists announced Thursday.  Homo naledi, as they call it, appears very primitive in some respects—it had a tiny brain, for instance, and apelike shoulders for climbing. But in other ways it looks remarkably like modern humans. When did it live? Where does it fit in the human family tree? And how did its bones get into the deepest hidden chamber of the cave—could such a primitive creature have been disposing of its dead intentionally? This is the story of one of the greatest fossil discoveries of the past half century, and of what it might mean for our understanding of human evolution. (National Geographic)

In order to recover these bones, they had to enlist the help of women scientists who were small enough to squeeze through the cave walls to get to the chamber.

What a stunning discovery.  Stunning.

Will this type of future research into human evolution be stymied by the creationists of Murdoch's empire now that they control National Geographic?

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Sold Out Values

The National Geographic Society, a nonprofit since 1888, including the National Geographic magazine and National Geographic channels, announced that it has been sold for $725 million to 21st Century Fox, the entertainment company controlled by the family of Rupert Murdoch.

What this means is that right wing zealot Murdoch, an outspoken denier of climate change and his Fox media outlets, a main source of global warming misinformation, will control all of the National Geographic Society, including the magazine and television network.

The National Geographic Society has long supported factual science and evolutionary discovery, as well as research into global changes.  Even though Murdoch says he will have no editorial influence over the National Geographic, that is doubtful.  Angry National Geographic fans have vowed to boycott its magazine and cable channels.

The National Geographic Society says in a mission statement that it is, “a global nonprofit membership organization driven by a passionate belief in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world.”  

It is unfortunate that the National Geographic Society has sold out their world conservation and scientific values to Murdoch.

Just one day more… 

I'm Weak

After my physical last month I am trying to follow the recommendations of my doctor and watch my food choices.  It ain’t easy.

I’ve cut back eating red meat to “occasionally” and trying to incorporate more fiber.  However, aside from the meat “withdrawal”,  I’m frustrated with the lack of selection - or at least my inability to make the right choices.

I recently watched a documentary on food which showed that there is a clear disparity between healthy food and processed food.  Essentially, our food is now supplied by only a few mega corporations providing only highly processed food.  Thus, the cost of processed food vs. fruits and veggies is much lower.  For example, the price of oranges has skyrocketed, so my attempt to augment my diet with them has slipped.

I also thought that eating more fish would help.  We live in a rural midwest area, so getting fresh seafood is almost nil - it is mostly packaged frozen.  Thinking I could deal with that I bought several frozen packages of tilapia.

It wasn’t until I read the packaging closer that I discovered that the fish was farm raised in China.  Come to find out the Chinese aren’t sanitary when it comes to raising fish and some organizations claim there is actually no nutritional value because of the way they are raised.

According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program—which makes recommendations for purchasing seafood that’s fished or farmed in environmentally sustainable ways—farmed tilapia from the U.S., Canada, and Ecuador are “best choices.” And though much (if not most) fish from Asia get a red light, Seafood Watch upgraded tilapia produced in China and Taiwan from its “avoid” list in 2011 to its “good alternative” list in 2014. These fish are still not considered a “best” choice, however, because of continuing concerns about waste management and the use of chemicals. Similarly, the Seafood Selector from EDF (Environmental Defense Fund) gives tilapia from the U.S. and Ecuador a “best” eco-rating and lists tilapia from China and Taiwan as “okay.”  Tilapia farms in the U.S. and Canada rate well because they typically use closed recirculating tank systems, which alleviate problems of water pollution and fish escapes. In Ecuador, tilapia are typically farmed in freshwater ponds at low density (meaning the fish are not crowded), which reduces disease, the need for chemicals, and water pollution.  (University of California)

I have also given up soda pop entirely, including diet soda, because of the ingredients, including artificial sweeteners and high fructose syrup.  I switched to a carbonated water product called Vita Ice, which has no sugar, no fat, no sodium, no carbs and no calories. 

Seemed like a good idea - that is until I read a report that gives the product low ratings and cautions.

Grade range for this category between

D and C-

•  Contains controversial artificial sweeteners

There is controversy as to the safety of artificial sweeteners consumed over a long period of time. Some studies have linked artificial sweeteners to cancer and other diseases. If you are consuming artificial sweetened food as a means to reduce calories and lose weight, please consider switching to a less sweet state of mind. Getting your palate used to less sweetened foods over the course of several months will save you the hassle of deciding between extra calories and risk of cancer.

•  Contains controversial artificial colors

Once upon a time, there were no food colorings. Then folks figured out that food looks better and sells more when it can be enlivened through dyes. For most of food history, the dyes were from natural sources – beet juice for red, turmeric for yellow,etc… However, in the quest to increase color intensity and lower manufacturing costs, cheap artificial dyes were introduced to market.  Unfortunately they pose a risk for hyperactivity in children, cancer, and allergic reactions.

 •  Highly Processed!

This product is highly processed. If you'll take a look at its ingredient list, you'll discover new words to add to your vocabulary. Many of theses ingredients are required to increase the shelf life of the product and improve the flavor that disappears when food is not fresh.

 •  Has EDTA, on FDA's toxicity watchlist

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used as a preservative to retain color. It may irritate the skin or cause skin rash and even asthma. It is on FDA's list of food additives to be studied for toxicity.  (source:  fooducate.com)

I’ve also switched from drinking dark beer - porters, ales and stouts (except when I cheat).  I tried Bud Select 55, however that wasn’t much better than drinking bad water.  So, I’m trying Miller Lite. Giving up the much loved dark beer is hardest of all.

This eating healthy is a real challenge.  I’m weak.

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Tuna Anyone?

I don’t mean to pile on, but Starkist Tuna has settled a class action lawsuit which alleged that over a period of years Starkist intentionally under-filled their tuna cans.

Consumers have long objected to companies putting less product in packaging and charging the same price.  In the case of Starkist they didn’t want a long drawn out trial, so they settled.  As part of the settlement anyone who files a claim has an option between a $25 check or $50 in coupons for Starkist Tuna products.  

Two and a half years ago, a man who eats tuna filed a class action lawsuit against Starkist, a tuna company. His allegation was that the company was deliberately under-filling each can by a few tenths of an ounce. That might not make a difference to one consumer making one tuna salad, but would add up over millions of cans. While Starkist doesn’t admit fault, the case has been settled.

If you’re a resident of the United States and bought at least one five-ounce can of any of these tunas from Starkist between February 19, 2009 and October 31, 2014, you’re eligible to file a claim:

Chunk Light Tuna in Water

Chunk Light Tuna in Oil

Solid White in Water

Solid White in Oil

As often happens with class actions for small items, they’re assuming that you haven’t saved your last five years’ worth of grocery receipts. They’re asking consumers to say on penalty of perjury when they file a claim that they have, indeed, purchased tuna during the period covered by the suit.

I have no doubt we purchased Starkist Tuna during the period of the claim.  In fact, we have some on our shelves right now.  So, I had no problem filing a claim.  The only problem I had was deciding between the $25 check or $50 in coupons for any of the Starkist products. 

File a claim at:  https://www.tunalawsuit.com/Home.aspx 

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Quintessential Tempest In A Teapot

John Boehner, John Kasich and the Ohio Congressional delegation are going bonkers over President Obama authorizing changing the name of Mt. McKinley in Alaska back to Mt. Denali.  Any review of history will show that their whining is either politically motivated or just plain daffy.

William A. Dickey renamed the peak, the tallest point in North America, Mt. McKinley in 1896. Why he got to name it is hard to fathom. Dickey had come to Alaska spurred by discoveries of gold in Cook Inlet.

McKinley

With three companions he made it to Talkeetna and saw Denali, "the great one" in the language of the nearby Tanaina Indians. According to C. H. Merriam, testifying before the U.S. Geographical Board in 1917, "The right of the discoverer to name geographical features has never been questioned," but Dickey was no discoverer. Native people had discovered the mountain thousands of years earlier.

Dickey had no serious reason to name the mountain as he did. William McKinley had not yet been martyred when he received the honor; indeed he had not even been elected president. Nor had McKinley ever been to the mountain, or even to Alaska.

"The original naming was little more than a joke," according to George R. Stewart, author of American Place-Names. From the first, some people preferred the Native name, and Dickey's frivolous reason for choosing McKinley gave them ammunition. Nevertheless, probably because he wrote about his trip in the New York Sun, Dickey's choice began to catch on. McKinley defeated William Jennings Bryan in 1896, so at least the mountain turned out to be named after a president, and, when McKinley was shot in Buffalo in 1901, after a martyred president.

Excerpts: 

Lies Across America

What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong 

By JAMES W. LOEWEN 


Changing the name back to Mt. Denali, rightfully so, is the quintessential "tempest in a teapot" if there ever was one.  Boehner and those loons from Ohio really need to move on.

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