Month: February 2011

Report: Wartime Contractors Waste, Steal Tens Of Billions — Then Come Back For More: “WASHINGTON — The chairmen of the bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting decried on Monday a federal system that has allowed contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan to commit fraud — then get hired again and again.

‘For the 200,000 people employed by contractors to provide support and capability in Iraq and Afghanistan, accountability is too often absent, diluted, delayed, or avoided,’ Republican co-chair Chris Shays, formerly a longtime congressman from Connecticut, said while calling to order a hearing of the commission Monday.

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Black Bean Brownies | No Meat Athlete: “I adapted this recipe from a King Arthur Flour recipe. I made a few changes like using whole wheat flour, raw sugar, and more coffee. Instead of adding chocolate chips (which add more sugar) I decided to use hazelnuts instead. The hazelnuts add a seriously fabulous ‘nutella’-like flair. “

City attorney, Pulitzer-winning Seattle paper call for marijuana legalization | The Raw Story: “Last year, many hopeful drug reform advocates expected California to be the first state to officially overturn the prohibition of marijuana. But after Prop. 19’s failure on the state-wide ballot at the end of 2010, few would have expected the next major push for reform would come from Washington.

Yet, here they are: the Washington legislature is poised to consider House Bill 1550, which would legalize and regulate cannabis, and apply taxes on sales.

The effort was enough to prompt a Seattle city attorney and The Seattle Times editorial board to come out in favor of the measure, urging legislators to make Washington State the first in the union to move for a repeal of prohibition.”

Colorado Springs school bans kid who takes THC lozenges for neuro condition from attending because of “internal possession” – Boing Boing: “”

50 Incredible Homes Made Of Repurposed Shipping Containers: Pics, Videos, Links, News: “”

New : NestRest – Contemporan: “Thanks to its cosy, protective, organic structure, NESTREST transforms your typical garden sofa into a small architectural piece, one that offers you a secluded, suspended sanctuary as it gently rocks you and puts you at ease like a warm embrace. It’s the perfect place for relaxation, meditation and open-air conversations. It is constructed out of a new, specially created DeDon Fiber, four centimeters wide, guaranteeing a sturdy and solid weave that is open, breathable and private, allowing those sheltered within to look out while preventing outsiders from seeing in.

Creators of the NESTREST, an innovative new hanging pod woven from supersize strands of DEDON Fiber, Daniel Pouzet and Fred Frety are two of Paris’s most intriguing design talents. Close collaborators of Jean-Marie Massaud, with whom they have forged new ways of working and approaching design, Daniel and Fred bring a rich diversity of experience to each project they undertake, alone or in a team.”

Recipe for Zucchini Cakes at Life’s Ambrosia: “These zucchini cakes make an elegant appetizer fit for those upcoming Oscar parties. Shredded fresh zucchini, is mixed with a little Parmesan, panko, paprika, garlic and a hint of ground nutmeg. The mixture is then pressed into patties and pan fried in olive oil until they are golden brown.

Makes: 8 cakes

You will need:

* 1 large zucchni grated, excess water removed (Note: To do this, after you grate the zucchini, put the grated zucchini into paper towels and squeeze to release the water) * 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese * 1 cup panko bread crumbs * sprinkle of ground nutmeg, about 1/8 teaspoon (Note: If you add too much it can quickly take over the taste, less is more) * 1/4 teaspoon paprika * 1 clove garlic, minced * 1 egg * salt and pepper to taste * 1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1. Combine all ingredients, except olive oil, in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Using a heaping tablespoon form the mixture into 8 patties. 2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once heated, add patties and cook until golden brown. About 3-4 minutes per side. Serve.

These are great when served with a dollop of ranch dressing. Enjoy!”

Johnson & Johnson Hired Fake Shoppers To Buy Up Bad Motrin, Avoid Public Recall – The Consumerist: “Ever since the FDA and Congress started asking Johnson & Johnson to explain why it keeps recalling medicine, there have been references to an unpublicized ‘recall’ that happened in November 2008. Last month, at a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a J&J executive swore that the company didn’t mean to mislead anyone. It turns out that wasn’t exactly accurate: Bloomberg has obtained emails from J&J’s company, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, that show executives knew the secret recall would trigger an FDA reaction if the agency got wind of its full scope.”

This Could Threaten the Future of Food – Destroying the Entire Food Chain…: “Roundup, Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide, is causing Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS), a serious plant disease, in many fields. Study after study shows that glyphosate is contributing not only to the huge increase in SDS, but also to the outbreak of numerous other diseases.

Glyphosate is the world’s bestselling weed killer; it was patented by Monsanto for use in their Roundup brand, which became more popular when they introduced ‘Roundup Ready’ crops — genetically modified (GM) plants that can withstand applications of normally deadly Roundup.

But the herbicide doesn’t destroy plants directly; instead, it creates a unique perfect storm of conditions that activates disease-causing organisms in the soil, while at the same time wiping out plant defenses against those diseases.

The Institute for Responsible Technology reports:

‘By weakening plants and promoting disease, glyphosate opens the door for lots of problems in the field. According to Don [Huber, a plant pathologist], ‘There are more than 40 diseases of crop plants that are reported to increase with the use of glyphosate …’

Some of the fungi promoted by glyphosate produce dangerous toxins that can end up in food and feed … They’ve ‘been linked to the plague epidemics’ of medieval Europe, ‘large-scale human toxicosis in Eastern Europe,’ esophageal cancer in southern Africa and parts of China, joint diseases in Asia and southern Africa, and a blood disorder in Russia.'”