my own drum

It's being reported that the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. is closing it's doors in the wake of the largest processed beef recall in U.S. history. Some 143 million pounds have been recalled. Unfortunately, for consumers, some of this beef has already been eaten. School districts across the country are holding the potentially tainted beef, and apparently have little recourse except to order more beef from other sources.

The plant was closed after an undercover video was released which showed employees using various methods to get down cows back on their feet and on the way to slaughter. Electric prods, high pressure water and forklifts were the preferred methods.

Downer cows are potential sources of mad-cow disease, which can lead to a rare but fatal brain disorder in people. The incubation period in humans can be up to 30 years, so your school age kids could be having their own kids before any symptoms would appear.

The U.S.D.A. had inspectors inside this plant, because the plant was one of 10 processors approved to supply beef to the National School Lunch Program. So I question where these inspectors were, and what were they doing? I understand that a person cannot be in many places at once, but this practice was not isolated... and you can be sure that it is not isolated to Hallmark/Westland. This is as much a failure of the U.S.D.A. as it is of the meat packers. Hopefully those inspectors in the remaining nine plants are drinking less coffee and doing more inspection.

If you're a regular reader of this blog then you already realize the awful truth about those people we trust when it comes to the safety of our food sources. It would be pointless to fire the inspectors who failed to inspect. The Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, should be falling on his sword. He is a disgrace to this department, responsible for the feeding of our school children.

Here I am, like Waldo, turning up just about everywhere. This time I'm in Atlanta, one of the few big cities that I like. For the record, the other is San Fran/Bay Area. I don't seem to have much to write about tonight. However, for all the time - about 6 weeks - that I've been without an internet, I seemingly had a lot to say. One of these days I'll get a pocket journal.

One aspect of Atlanta is that my situation of being homeless seems to be exaggerated. It's hard to get into a decent shelter unless one is willing to get off of drugs and/or alcohol. That leaves me out, because I'm already clean and sober. I guess I could tell a lie...nahhh. And here's why. Going into one of the recovery situations also means giving up considerable rights and freedoms. I like coming and going as I please, going to meetings that I enjoy, and doing whatever work that brings me pleasure. I'm not about to tell some silly lie just to give those things up.

I learned a new word today, and interestingly enough, it applies to me. Here's how it came about. Last week I was taking a shower at a facility which caters to those in my situation. Unknown to me at that time, I had somehow lost a book that I had been reading. As I was getting dressed after my shower, a fellow entered the room and began giving away his possessions - we shall assume they were his to give away. He was giving all manner of things, clothes, shoes, bags, even a book, "The Bourne Ultimatum". It seems that the fellow had made up with his former girlfriend, and was moving back to her place. He didn't need these things. Besides the book, I managed to get a decent pair of tennis shoes, a knit cap and scarf, and even a small portable camp shower. It looks more like a colostomy bag, holding only a gallon of water. Still, it's a portable shower.

So I've been reading this book, and I ran across the word 'impecunious'. It means lacking money, penniless. I'm not quite there yet, but pretty darn close. (If you want to send money, I'll be happy to provide my PayPal ID to you.) So life is pretty good out on the streets. I'm relatively happy, particularly since I've gotten over my cold/flu/congestion/whatever the hell I had. I've learned a new word, and I've been staying busy every day. There is also the matter of getting a laptop, so now I can once again participate in the world of the web. Happy Days.