Support Michelle Obama!

This is too much. The Mid America CropLife Association- a lobby group for GMO producers among other things; the worst kind, in other words- sent this around last week:

>Did you hear the news? The White House is planning to have an “organic” garden on the grounds to provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the Obama’s[sic] and their guests. While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made Janet Braun, CropLife Ambassador Coordinator and I shudder. As a result, we sent a letter encouraging them to consider using crop protection products and to recognize the importance of agriculture to the entire U.S. economy.

So here’s the deal, people, you know how this works. Here’s the online petition:

[Um, click here.](http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wh_garden/?r_by=-1980621-3eR0YFx&rc=mailto)

And if you’d be so kind, please [click here](http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/) and email the first lady, letting her know that she’s a rockstar and we love not only the garden, but her finger in the eye of agribusiness.

Listening: “The Psychic” The Crash Test Dummies God Shuffled His Feet

Captain Obvious Hired By NY Times

Stop the presses for [this headline in the NY Times today](http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/health/policy/10food.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss):

>U.S. Food Safety No Longer Improving

Holy crap, I’m amazed.

You can read Captain Obvious’s assessment yourself, but *my* favorite moment was when
>Dr. Tim Jones, state epidemiologist in Tennessee, said that many of the easy improvements in the nation’s food-safety system had been made.
>“You can only tell people so much to wash their cutting boards and wash their hands,” Dr. Jones said. “I think we’re running out of things to do to make dramatic improvements.”

As if **that’s** the problem. How about not processing 40% of anything in one place? So that way, when the company succumbs to profit over civic duty- with a healthy dose of help from the USDA- not everybody in the world has to stop eating pistachios (or peanuts or tomatoes or spinach)?

Listening: Depeche Mode “Personal Jesus” Violator
That’s how I roll.

Si Se Puede!

OMFG, we did it! There is going to be a [kitchen garden on the white house lawn](http://www.kitchengardeners.org/2009/03/white_house_kitchen_garden.html)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m not a naturally positive person, but I try, and try hard to look for the good in things. And as much as I have never been a follower, it fills me with great joy and pride that America finally, again, has a leader.

Listening: Somewhat coincidentally: “Every Breath You Take” The Police Synchronicity

Trader Joe’s Goes [More] Protectionist

Trader Joe’s- the Wal Mart of health food stores- after a long relationship with the best widely available flour in North America- is stripping king arthur from the shelves in favor of a new TJ-branded flour.

Nevermind the fact that King Arthur has been the go-to flour for serious home and commercial bakers for umpteen years, nevermind that it was products like King Arthur Flour that put TJ on the map to begin with. Trader Joe’s has closed the supply chain and limited the availability of an American-made quality product, just like its big brother, Wal Mart.

In a very sweet and non-offensive way, PJ Hamel gently flipped TJ’s the bird by besting some of their processed baked goods with [a little number of her own](http://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2009/03/02/say-it-aint-so-joes/).

I would **much** rather eat PJ’s cookies.

Listening: “Lola” Chris Smither Train Home