You can't eat while we fast

Nov 13, 2009 - http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,26343471-421,00.html?from=news+newsletter_rss&referrer=email&source=eDM_newspulse Parents say son was tormented for eating salami sandwich during Ramadan     The Daily Telegraph November 13, 2009 12:01am Helen Grigoriou comforts her son Antonios who was allegedly beaten by Muslim students at his school. Picture: Jeff Herbert

• Boy "chased, assaulted by Muslim students"
• Was eating salami during Ramadan
• Parents withdraw boy from the school

A SYDNEY couple has withdrawn their two children from a public primary school, claiming their 11-year-old son was bullied by Muslim students because he ate a salami sandwich during Ramadan.  Andrew Grigoriou said yesterday he complained to the school and to police after his son Antonios was chased and later assaulted by Muslim students after a confrontation over the contents of his lunch, The Daily Telegraphreports. Antonios, a Year 5 student of Greek-Australian background at Punchbowl Public School in Sydney's southwest, said he and a friend had to be locked inside the library for an hour after being chased by a group of Muslim boys offended by his choice of food while they were fasting. - 17 Comments

Nation Waits for FDA Overhaul

Apr 27, 2009 - Agency is so understaffed, it inspects less than 1 percent of imported food Tom Costello Published April 26, 2009 by NBC News The Food and Drug Administration may be the only federal agency that both political parties agree is in desperate need of an overhaul. The FDA is so understaffed it inspects less than 1 percent of imported food.President Barack Obama is promising action, though progress has been slow in the first 100 days. His choice to head the FDA - Dr. - 6 Comments

UN Budgets and Follow the Money

Nov 09, 2009 - UN Budgets and Follow the Money Kenneth Anderson • November 8, 2009 9:01 pm The New York Times reports on budget season at the UN and various battles hotting up. It’s a good piece by Neil MacFarquhar, dated November 7, 2009. As the article says, that fact that it costs the United Nations an average of $2,473 per page to create every single document in its six official languages, while outside contractors complete the same work for around $450, prompts diplomats to accuse the organization of running amok during a global financial crisis. - 0 Comments

Nestle recalls Toll House cookie dough products

Jun 19, 2009 - NEW YORK – Nestle USA on Friday voluntarily recalled its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after a number of illnesses were reported by those who ate the dough raw. The company said the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control are investigating reported E. coli illnesses that might be related eating the dough. - 15 Comments

Michelle's Garden Cultivating a Movement

May 01, 2009 - By Ari LeVaux (writes a syndicated weekly food column) May 1, 2009 http://www.alternet.org/story/139206/ When Michelle Obama broke ground for her 1,100-square-foot garden on the White House lawn, the shock waves were felt around the world. On her recent trip overseas, most of the press focused on the first lady's fashion statements. But world leaders, she said upon her return, wanted to discuss the statement her garden was making. - 16 Comments

Glenn Beck's Bizarre Outburst Against Meatless Mondays and Vegetarians

Oct 30, 2009 - This goes along with the story that I posted in 4.0 about Meatless Mondays in Baltimore schools Jon Stewart ended an interview with climate-change contrarian and Super Freakonomics co-author Steven Levitt on Monday night by noting, "I've apparently frightened our audience by suggesting that conservation isn't the only way out of any of the problems of the world. I sincerely apologize." He added, "And I do also believe that we should just eat vegetables." - 13 Comments

China Detains 19 as Toxic Formula Sickens Hundreds of Infants (in China & Taiwan)

Sep 14, 2008 - This is a Public Post, for general information SHANGHAI — China said Saturday that 19 people had been detained by the police as part of an investigation into how baby formula had become contaminated with an industrial chemical. The formula is implicated in the death of one infant, and at least 432 others have been afflicted with kidney problems. The government also said Saturday that the Sanlu Group, China’s biggest producer of milk powder formula, had first received complaints about its powder in March and had recalled some products but delayed reporting the problems to the government or the public. - 14 Comments

Iowa's early Halloween-goers need jokes for treats

Oct 30, 2009 - DES MOINES, Iowa – There's no trick to earning a treat for Halloween in Des Moines. All that's required is a good joke. Even if it's a bad joke. - 11 Comments

Getting enough sleep? They aren't in West Virginia

Oct 30, 2009 - ATLANTA – Sleepless in Seattle? Hardly. West Virginia is where people are really staying awake, according to the first government study to monitor state-by-state differences in sleeplessness. - 10 Comments