Kebabs labeled imminent threat

Bruce posted an interesting note about a “rational” response to peanut allergies today. I agree in theory with his suggestion that people need to move away from fear to find better solutions.

On that note, the BBC describes a similar issue with ‘shocking’ kebabs.

Apparently kebabs in the UK are not only bad for your health, they do not accurately state their ingredients.

Some 35% of labels listed a different meat species than that actually found in the kebab.

Six kebabs were found to include pork when it had not been declared as an ingredient. Two of the six were described as Halal – food or drink permitted for Muslims, which must not contain pork.

Just the words “different meat species” make me not want to eat a kebab ever again. Here is another shocking revelation.

In addition, there was little difference in weight between kebabs labelled as “small” and “large”, [Geoffrey Theobald, of Lacors] added.

“While some people may think they are making sensible choices by ordering a small kebab, this study showed little difference between small and large kebab weight.”

That might be a great thing when measured in simple economic terms, but the health/safety researchers seem to think less is more. They have even labeled some kebabs an “imminent” threat to public health. Will there be a kebab ban? Kebab control?

Maybe regulators should go the opposite direction and assign awards that emphasize kebab quality. That would surely help the folks too drunk at 4am at the Kebab stand. Although they are unable to tell if they are chewing pita or soggy paper wrapper/napkin, they should at least be certain they have purchased a healthy meat species. Wait, are we still talking about rational responses?

Surveillance Self-Defense

Adam of Emergent Chaos just posted a link to the Practical Nomad, who explains how to request your travel records from the US Government:

By popular demand, I’m posting updated forms to request your PNR’s and other records of your international travel that are being kept by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

In a similar vein, I recommend reading the EFF’s excellent Surveillance Self-Defense (SSD), which helps explain how to make informed security decisions about your data.

Girl and the Sea

by The Presets

Tonight the
Tonight the hills are watching her
as she runs towards the sea
Yeah she runs so she’ll be free

And of all the friends and enemies shes made along the way
They are nowhere in her thoughts
as she dives beneath the waves

And he’s the one that you’ve seen sometimes on TV
and his shirt is on the ground
while he’s tackled by police
And the parcel that he throws across the bridge into the creek
It’ll flow towards the sea
It will meet with her tomorrow

No place,
some time
We’ll clear
our eyes
And when
you’re down
I’ll come
around

And all the
places shes been along the way
Flames are licking at their walls
Night glows with their remains

From far away the animals come and gather round to see
But she knows not how they feel
and she knows not what it means

When she was young we’d ask her what she’d like to be
and she’d close her eyes and dream

Now we’re nowhere in her thoughts
as she dives beneath the waves

A place
I’ve found
could be
all ours
but I’ve seen
where you
would rather be