26 + 1 Acts of Kindness?

After the Sandy Hook tragedy, there was a feel-good movement to do 26 acts of kindness in honor of the 26 victims of the shooting, not counting the mother Nancy Lanza. I haven’t followed this “movement” and I don’t know if people count small acts of kindness toward random strangers, like paying for someone’s cup of coffee. However, I personally feel that those 26 acts have to be more than small gestures and should include activism that could prevent future tragedies.

As I wrote on my blog and as comments on other people’s blogs, I truly don’t believe it requires a complicated solution. Similar tragedies in Australia, Europe and elsewhere have resulted in tighter gun/ammunition laws, resulting in lower gun fatality rates and near non-existence of massive shootings that are more commonplace in our gun-rights insanity. This is when the false freedom of a minority puts the majority in serious danger. I fear the day I have to send my kids to school.

For me, I’m planning to do my own 27 acts of kindness/activism. I might not log it publicly but this will include signing the gun control petition that’s circulating on the white house website, writing a letter or two, keeping informed of the issue, and as my 27th act in recognition of the murdered mother, figure out something I can do related to mental illness.

I will also try to focus my 27 acts (or possibly donations) on things that help kids and education/schools.

Here’s to a happier 2013!

Have You Eaten Pink Slime?

“Pink Slime” are trimmings that come from the parts of a cow most susceptible to contamination due to exposure to fecal matter, and was not considered fit for human consumption years ago.  Unfortunately the U.S. food industry found a solution that involved “treating” these trimmings with ammonia gas to kill germs.   Despite consumer concerns, the United States Department of Agriculture refused to stop this practice or at least make companies identify this process on food labels until a recent uproar due to ABC news coverage and this online petition.

The uproar concerned the use of pink slime in school lunches, which is a major problem, but it’s an issue that affects everybody.  One of my favorite recipes is ragu sauce with ground beef.  Luckily I’ve been choosing the organic ground beef and this confirms organic is the safer way to go.  Still, according to the ABC news video I saw, while organic is probably safe, the safest option is watching the butcher grind the beef for you.   The good thing is that major retailers are finally beginning to act in response to consumer demands.   

So far, the following have agreed to stop carrying products with pink slime:

• Safeway
• SUPERVALU, which operates Acme, Albertsons, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Hornbacher’s, Jewel-Osco, Lucky, Shaw’s/Star Market, Shop ‘n Save and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy
• Food Lion
• Walmart
• Sam’s Club

Pink slime is NOT in ground turkey or chicken, so I may start using that for my meat sauces and hamburgers.   Those are healthier options anyway!   Pink slime  is also in some processed meats.