Respect the Performers
Saw the show last night in Sebastopol—amazing to see the iconic Sylvia Tyson in person, plus the talent of Cindy Cashdollar on pedal steel, lap steel and dobro. The Community Center was jammed.
Not so fun was the boorish behavior of some audience members. After one song that had the dobro quieter in background, a woman yelled out “Up the dobro!” Puh-leeze! This isn’t your server in a restaurant. Then, too, many audiences members of a certain age left between sets, at around 10:30pm. Certainly we tire more easily as we get older, but come on! Respect the performers. Ms. Tyson is 73, yet graciously stayed after the final song. Would love to see these ladies again, together or separately.
Via online
Fox in the Henhouse
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is still expanding the list of retailers carrying meat unfit for human consumption (about 8.7 million pounds shipped through 2013 by Rancho Feeding Corporation of Petaluma) to Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, not to mention 970 locations in California alone
The recall comes in the wake of the USDA’s new “inspection” program that allows the meat industry to increase the speed of processing lines and replace federal inspectors with plant employees. According to USDA inspector general, this has resulted in partial failure to remove fecal matter, undigested food and other contaminants that may contain deadly E. coli and listeria bacteria.
Traditionally, the USDA has catered more to the interests and profitability of the meat industry than the health and safety of American consumers. Consumer interests come into play only when large numbers of us get sick. Having the USDA protect consumers is like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.
The Obama administration should reallocate responsibility for all food safety to the Food and Drug Administration. In the meantime, each of us can assume responsibility for our own safety by switching to the rich variety of soy-based meat products.
Santa Rosa
Love Conquers All
Kudos to Leilani Clark for the article “A Better Discipline” (Jan. 22). It was well written and researched. The concept was news to me. I think it also could have general application in our professional and social lives. I’m paraphrasing the apostle Paul, but his assertion that charity (love) conquers all may be true.
Santa Rosa
Climate Change Is a Fact
What are we doing about climate change in Sonoma County?
Many of our citizens have been working admirably to lower our county’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, we could be doing much more, and we must. What will help us accomplish that is a well thought-out and implemented county plan, one that brings the organizing capacities of our governmental and nongovernmental agencies more fully into the effort.
We are given the opportunity to voice our suggestions on how the county should address climate change through Climate Action community workshops. The final public comment workshop is Feb. 27, 6pm, at the Sebastopol Grange.
Sponsored by the Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA), the Climate Action 2020 initiative will develop a plan and implementation policy to lower greenhouse gas emissions for the county as a whole and within each city. In the fall, another round of public workshops will review the preliminary plan.
The RCPA and our city councils need our input. Sonoma County is progressive in lowering its greenhouse gas emissions, but we could be doing more. For more information on Climate Action 2020, visit www.sctainfo.org/climate_action_2020.htm.
Sebastopol
Hot Pockets
Congrats on your recent Top Five: “Like uninspected meat is the worst thing in a hot pocket.” That really cracked me up, and I needed a good laugh. Maybe you should expand to top 10?
Santa Rosa
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