Out of an abundance of caution

Last week Enfamil pulled all their products off the shelves coast to coast out of an abundance of caution after four babies died from Cronobacter bacteria; it MUST have been in the baby formula and the news media ran with the story.  The FDA later made the statement, “the bacteria that are found naturally in the environment and in plants such as wheat and rice”.  

“The FDA tested factory sealed containers of powdered infant formula and nursery water with the same lot numbers as the opened containers collected from Missouri and no Cronobacter bacteria were found.”

No harm, better to be safe than sorry; and besides, Enfamil has made a fortune selling products to the pubic; it’s their duty to absorb such losses. 

The latest victim in the “let’s scare the public half to death” and pull all their products out of grocery stores is lettuce. California pulled all Arizona Lettuce off the shelves because a field NEXT to a place that grows lettuce tested positive for salmonella. 

“None of the lettuce in the markets has tested positive for salmonella but the grower alerted retailers of the test results and sought a withdrawal of the product “out of an abundance of caution.”’

I think this all has something to do with Islamic terrorist networks trying to recruit illegal Mexican labor and George Soros’s desire to be World Emperor.  If you’ve noticed, all these products require either paper or plastic bags to transport home; could be a Green Movement uprising, never can be too sure about folks who watch Whale Wars on television.

“Out of an abundance of caution”, if translated into terms we all understand means, “Our society has become so litigious that if we don’t do something drastic to show the world we did Everything humanly possible then we’ll be seen as heartless greedy capitalists who don’t care what happens so we’d rather go bankrupt and throw perfectly good inventory down the toilet and minimize our losses if and when this ever goes to court”. 

There may be a sinister plot to destroy American consumer goods one crisis after another until we all start eating Soylent Green, the daily nourishment bar made from our “dearly departed”. Is the purpose of collapsing the free market so we can usher in some form of state issued product like Soylent Green to take the place of dangerous privately produced or manufactured goods?  Never let it be said the government hasn’t shown an abundance of caution; it’s taken years to destroy our free market system one brick at a time.

This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

The Aromas of Christmas

Christmas time is when I’m prone to catching colds, this year being no different.  My work takes me out in the elements and this past week we’ve had our share of damp and soggy air; not complaining, after this year of drought we needed the rain.  Monday the symptoms started to appear so we took steps to minimize the impact; lots of vitamin C, extra Zinc and Lucy’s magic box of essential oils.  I don’t claim to know the names of these mysterious fluids, only that she applies some to the soles of my feet and around the base of my neck and instantly my breathing becomes more efficient.  Remind me to avoid trips to Salem; last I heard they burned witches for this sort of thing.

  

  “Double, double toil and trouble;     Fire burn, and caldron bubble…”

Lucy has a fancy diffuser machine for these same oils, a futuristic oblong thing which casts a pale blue light while operating.  Small amounts of mist escape from the opening spreading a most enjoyable fragrance throughout the house.  The properties of oils which make up the mist are supposed to kill viruses and germs.  The best part of having the diffuser going may be how it makes the air smell like crushed Cedar or Juniper tree needles; pretty neat since our Christmas tree comes in a box for easy storage and contains no aroma of its own.

This evening Lucy will be in the kitchen with our granddaughter helping bake the last batch of gingerbread cookies, a family recipe that at one time was kept under lock and key.  Some folks dream of waking up to a brand new car in the driveway, a huge red ribbon wrapped around it on Christmas morning; at least that’s what television commercials would have us believe.  There’s nothing wrong with getting a new car, bicycle or even a genuine Red Rider BB Gun; but a tin filled with home made gingerbread cookies from this recipe is on top of my list.  I could handle some Dark chocolate, maybe some Maple syrup candy to melt in my mouth and then, as I breathe out, carefully let the vapors circulate in the olfactory caverns for a second chance to enjoy the subtleties created by that confectionary delight.  These varied aromas make Christmas a special time; and me with a cold, go figure.

This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

Canons and Cloning

The human soul responds to certain musical tones when arranged properly.  Shepherds watching their flocks by night were treated to heavenly inspired messages inviting them to visit the Christ Child in a manger and we’ve marked this advent with music down through the ages. 

Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D major has always touched my spirit and it has been transformed in many way, even been called the Christmas Canon.  This one short piece of perfection may well be the master key that opens a gate in heaven; aligns the angels row upon row to greet those who’ve come this far past the sentinels who stand guard. 

“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”  13th Article of Faith

Robert Tiso is a master at plying the glass harp and needed to clone himself in order to perform this version of the Canonin D major.  May the music find a place in your soul this day and find you at the gates of heaven one day.

This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.

The Gift of Life

 

It’s Christmas time and we go about looking for gifts, enjoying store front windows filled with items of interest and trimming the tree to create a pleasant atmosphere in our homes.  My wife and I attended a simple Nativity re-enactment this past Saturday, Journey Through Bethlehem, one which required an hour’s drive to the country; but  set the tone we wanted as we approach Christmas.

Yesterday the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints presented its annual Christmas Devotional.  Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Councilor in the First Presidency of the Church shared his thoughts as he reminded us, “Christmas is about Christ”.  He related a story from when he was a young boy enjoying magical visions created by a candle he’d held in his hand as the energy from it danced behind a curtain in the front window.  The magic of that moment turned to horror as the curtains caught on fire.  He wondered if he’d destroyed Christmas as his parents pulled the burning fabric from the window and put it out.

Before President Uchtdorf could finish his story my mind immediately knew where it was going; the young boy holding the magic of the flame as it danced before him made my stomach tighten.  He was describing my own youth, a boy sitting at the dinner table watching a candle flicker while his mother took dishes into the kitchen after our evening meal.

I’d been entranced by the flame as it beckoned further attention.  Passing my finger through it permitted a line of carbon to form, a line which rubbed off easily and didn’t hurt.  It would be neat to leave similar trails on my paper napkin; dragging it carefully through the flame.

In only a moment the napkin flashed into a ball of flame startling my ability to control its decent as it fell from my hand and landing on the table.  I should explain; my father was a furniture salesman and our dinner table was a fine Cherry wood piece polished to near perfection.  In only a moment the flames from the napkin ignited the gloss finish as a wave of blue flames pushed from one end of the table to the other quickly and yet; at the same time, in stop action moments stacked one against the other, a never ending nightmarish reality.

Mom ran from the kitchen and put out the flames and if any words were said I don’t remember them.  My feelings of guilt and horror required compassion rather than scolding as she gathered me in her arms.  I don’t recall ever hearing my father scold me; but I know the pain it must have caused, destroying a piece of furniture was secondary to nearly burning down the house.  It amazes me to this day I survived the moment, that he let me live.

Along the way to adulthood I’ve tested my folk’s ability to keep me alive; and to my amazement they still are pleased to call me Son, go figure.  How does this tie in with Christmas?  Have you always been this slow?

Our Father in Heaven has given us His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  He is our Savior and mediator with the Father.  He gave us life in this mortality and beyond that, eternal life.  He is easy to forgive our frailties and remembers them no more.

“I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable  servants.”   Mosiah 2:21

This Christmas as we search for gifts, pleasing packages with items that will bring a smile or a hug, let us not forget the Lord; His only requirement is a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  Merry Christmas.

This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal, a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.