… countertops, dry erase boards, fabrics, glues, housewares and flame retardants. Melamine is one of the major components in Pigment Yellow 150, a colorant in inks and plastics. ~Wikipedia

By the way, if you read the Wikipedia entry on melamine, you’ll probably be shocked to read that it is mixed with formaldehyde.

You might also chalk it up to the fact that China’s Communist government has nothing to fear from its people, and therefore feels no compunctions about putting melamine in baby formula (among many other things) just to raise the protein amount in it.

I must admit that my initial reaction was some what the same as Dr. Jerome Paulson, the Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Children’s National Medical Center in (of all places) Washington, D.C. He clearly stated that, and I quote, “(Dr. Paulson) thinks the FDA should research the impact of long-term, low-dose exposure to melamine and cyanuric acid, and not just “assume it’s safe, and then 15 years from now find out that it’s not.” My initial reaction is, that if according to the FDA these doses of melamine are “low-doses”, what happens when this substance builds up in the body of a person, especially a child if they are fed baby formula with melamine present in it? It seems to me that in the long haul this will not be good for the U.S. Dairy industry itself, as people’s reaction to it, and the evidence backs me up on this, would be to steer clear of products like baby formula. Does the F.D.A think we are that ignorant? That the modern parent is incapable of doing their homework on what products (more than likely imported) are or might be melamine tainted? And to make matters worse it would not surprise me that people would interpret this mandate on melamine consumption to mean that the federal government doesn’t care, just like the Chinese government doesn’t care. In the end this could wind up hurting the little man, more so than the federal government, because the F.D.A. clearly wants us to go against prevailing evidence and trust that their mandate will not wind up with American people in the hospital or some American father or mother mourning the loss of their child. So in that vein I’m putting this out as a simple warning to people to do your homework, educate yourself first, then use that education to influence your decision.

JDB

Links Referenced:

U.S. Government Sets Melamine Ingestion Standards

China reports huge increase in children sickened by tainted milk

November 4^th saw the election of America’s first black president. Illinois Senator Barack Obama was elected to the office of President in a landslide electoral victory over his challenger Arizona Senator John McCain. Many have lauded the impending Obama presidency copiously in light of America’s less than stellar past concerning racism. But one aspect of concern is the potential for race-politics. We all watched while the jubilant masses celebrated in Grant Park in Chicago, elsewhere in the United States, and the world over. If you kept up with the international news and newspapers you were inundated with leading stories and front page articles after front page articles praising the Senator. While I will be forth coming in saying that I did not vote for Senator Obama and neither did I vote for Senator McCain. In bringing up the issue of race politics I only bring attention to an ever present issue. The question is, will Senator Obama use or refuse to play the game of race politics. It is every American’s duty to be educated on the political issues of the day. And in that it is the right of every man to question the government in which he has elected and put his trust in. And in saying that when I look at President-Elect Obama, I do not see a black man, I simply see a man. A man, who will place his hand on the Bible, will raise his other hand in the air, and solemnly swear to uphold and defend the Constitution. By that oath to our United States Constitution I will judge him, no more, and no less. I will not judge him as a black man; I will judge him as a leader of what is left of the free world.

I do not profess to the know the mind of President-Elect Obama on this matter, but I do hope to see him repudiate all notions of race politics should this issue arise. Furthermore, I think it is a cheap way to undermine any opposition to President-Elect Obama as in today’s political climate charges of racism are swiftly reacted to. As for me I choose to set aside race as a factor in my criticism of the Constitutionality of any future choices of President-Elect Obama and do not desire to play such games with anyone. The jury is out on President-Elect Obama, and I for one will be there as a devoted defender of the Constitution to make that this precious document and President-Elect Obama’s oath are upheld.

JDB

Let’s get something straight; I’m not impressed in the least bit with all the sloganeering, and buttery sweet talk surrounding the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Why should I believe a repressive Communist government when they say, “One World, One Dream.” That I am expected to surrender my sense of freedom in the name of two weeks of “unity” and feel-good lip service is a mouth full of vomit I cannot swallow again. Ladies and gentlemen I am ardently anti-Communist. I am a believer in freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, due process, and all the things which challenge and man to think for himself, to know his rights and responsibilities and  not to depend on some state leviathan with a “I’m Watching You” mentality.

While I am sympathetic to the Tibetan people from a self determination stand point, the issue with China is not one of who Tibet belongs to; it is an issue of freedom. And while I am not a Chinese citizen with the choice to risk my life in the name of freedom, I believe it is nevertheless the right and responsibility of all freedom loving people to stand up and be counted in voice their opinion against actions which when in enacted inhibited, make illegal, and murder people for their stand for freedom. That we borrow billions of dollars from the Chinese to fund the current War in Iraq just exacerbates the issue, as the American taxpayer is essentially beholden to Communist China for a debt that daily increases. Furthermore, has anyone stopped to think what the Chinese are going to ask for when they finally tell us our debt is due?  Ladies and gentlemen, it seems the pinheads in Washington have once again forgotten the roots of our Republic. We are but beggars to our own demise if we stand idly by and let the destruction of our Republic come from the very things which fly in the face of everything we (should) hold dear. I fear that one day our beloved Constitution (Original document and otherwise) will be nothing but a relic, instead of the greatest human document ever authored in the name of freedom.  

Jhay Dee

1. I have known here since 2002…………We met when I visited the Philippines from Sept. 25th to Dec. 10th of 2002. We became good friends and kept in contact for over a  year when I went back to the U.S.

2. We are using a Visa Assistance service in Manila (Lawyers who know the system and submit the paperwork on your behalf and know the established precedent needed in  getting your visa approved.)

Just wanted to clarify that for those thinking we’ve only been together and known each other for the last 7 months.

JDB

That is the latest on our visa adventures. Let you know what happens next.

JDB

Features:

• Search and Advanced Search option (What searchable website doenst have this?)
• Multiple Formats (Good for anyone from the business man to the self-publisher.)
• If the document you are reading gives a website address, Scribd.com converts it to a link   which is clickable inside the document Window.
• Groups/Websites/Individuals that have uploaded are a part of a “Community” in which you can join the groups created by different uploaders, add documents, and start discussions.

I like Scribd.com and if you haven’t heard of it give it a look and let me know what you think by posting a comment. If you find something from Scribd.com you think is worth reading post it in the comments as well.

Jonathan B.

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J.D.B.

Here are my thoughts on a quote that really stuck out to me.

_______________________________________________

“Targeting terrorism at its source is an appealing notion. Unfortunately, the enemy is not cooperating. There is no central front on which al Qaeda and its radical jihadist imitators can be cornered and destroyed.”-Stephen Flynn

This first quote brings up a very undeniable point in the so called “War on Terror.” That point quite simply put is that the “enemy” in which we face, is an enemy that has no standard uniform, has no specific country of origin, and does not feel itself bound by the dictates of civilized warfare. In that, we find that the terrorist in which we face, be they jihadist who employ beheadings, or sleeper cells who sew themselves into the fabric of their target society, it is irresponsible to think that one can put the modern day terrorist into a certain, definable bracket. It is utterly impossible.

To that end we must conclude that a “War On Terror” is not possible, nor is it sensible. To truly fulfill the mandate that goes along with such a title, we would find ourselves the world over, fighting numerous foes, from Marxist guerilla’s to the ever present Jihadist. The oft used line of, “We fight them there, so we dont have to fight them here,” has been used to the point that it is much like a pair of old trousers which would be better served in being used as an oil rag. While our country goes bankrupt to support the Iraq War, you need only research to find that America is vulnerable, such as she was on 9-11. In a world where the gears of prosperity are oiled by trade, we find that our ports of call for ships hauling containers, all but exists as free entry ports for any terrorist with the gumption to smuggle a dirty bomb or nuke into our beloved country. While the Canadians, such as they are, can be considered a friend to the United States, according to Flynn all that stops a determined terrorist in Canada from passing into the United States are orange traffic cones. If you ask me that is hardly a secure detterent to committing a terrorist act, much less thinking about it. And of course the invitably leads to our Southern border. While the politicians court this ethnic group, or this minority, etc etc etc (ad nauseum) our Southern border goes untouched. Much like a nuke being smuggled into the United States in a shipping container, all it would take to unleash the power of a nuclear blast or a dirty bomb on a densely populated American city, would be a well-funded, determined terrorist and a willing, unscrupulous  “Coyote” (Guys who smuggle illegal aliens into the U.S. for a price).
Quite frankly what many people forget when it comes to Libertarian, Ultra-Conservative, Constitutionalist opposition to the Iraq war, that it is not about opposing a war based on being in opposition to doing the right thing. It is an opposition that springs from the well of Liberty. A sense that we must first secure what has been bequeathed to us (Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness), and then we can  condemn the evil(s) that inhabit the globe. Essentially the libertarian-Ultra-Conservative-Constitutionalist opposition to the Iraq War can be best described this way. There is an elderly man, he has one leg, and peg-leg. The problem is that his one leg is extremely weak, and his peg-leg is rotten with termites. Eventually the peg-leg will break, and what will he have to stand on but a weak leg. Seeing as this is the state of the current two-party system, If not already, which I believe to be so, then soon America will have nothing to stand  on but her one weak leg. Then when we speak of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, you can rest assured that the rest of the world will laugh us to shame for the way(s) in which we have operated.

J.onathan B.

 Amazon.com:”America The Vulnerable.”

In short my name is Jonathan……I am a Professional Amateur, meaning my interests are far-ranging. I am 24 years old, from South Carolina and currently live abroad with my wife (who is 27 years old) in the Philippines. First off I came to know of Lockergnome as a fan of Chris Pirillo’s. I use to watch Chris back in the day of TechTv (May it R.I.P.) and when I found his website, http://chris.pirillo.com
I instantly began watching and have watched on and off for the last few months. I hope to keep this blog updated regularly with various topics, from computers, to sports and even politics. But I must admit in my previous attempts at blogging I failed miserably, mainly because I was somewhat clueless as to how to get people to visit my blog. I have been reading up on how to perfect my blog and  make it better, and I am at least reasonably assured that because of Lockergnome I have a good chance of getting readers and commentors.

Jonathan B.

Seventeen months ago, give or take, I found myself as a hardcore Conservative Republican, but deep down in my soul I felt uneasy about the Iraq War. I felt disturbed by the fact that I no longer felt a twinge of pain when I heard of the most recent deaths of American soldiers, or that I found it easy to ignore, and walk away from the television when news about the war was on. Now this is a post for another time, but lets say my conversion began when I heard one Ron Paul speak in my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina at one of the first Republican debates, and I began to see that my attitude and political philosophy was dangerous. Now intertwined in all that is a war I admit that I wholeheartedly supported at first, but have turned against. Let me clarify, my father is an E-7 Combat Photographer (Ret.) who served thirteen months in Vietnam. I have heard of the stories of soldiers being spit on, my father witnessed and was the recipient of such an act. Soldiers being called “Baby-Killers” and such. Now you can see my quandary here, cant you? I am a patriotic American, a firm believer that the greatest document to be written in the History of mankind is the United States Constitution, I believe the Iraq War is wrong, but I wholeheartedly support our troops. I believe they are an arm of a strong national defense, and that while we endlessly labor in Iraq that arm is becoming weaker. I have been told, as have many who hold my position or positions like it, that we are aiding the enemy by condemning the Iraq War. It has become part and parcel of Conservative hardliners to accuse anyone who opposes the war or the actions of our current president as unpatriotic. It ceases to amaze me how good men with our countries constitutional best interest in mind are made to be on par with Devil himself.

Now in closing. We have all heard of the saying, “My rights end, where yours begin.” That is an apt illustration of my view on this matter of spitting on, and assaulting men and women of the United States Armed Forces. We all believe in the right to freedom of speech, “I disagree with what your saying (doing) but I will defend your right to say it.” I defend a persons right to protest the war, to say what they think, but I clearly draw the line at assault. Knowing of the character of many of the honorable men and women of our Armed Forces, many, if not all walk away. For that they should be commended. For they show a grasp of honor, and respect for what our country believes in that the average individual who contemplates, much less acts upon, such a vile act as spitting in someones face or assaulting them, has no clue about.

Jonathan B.