To get the writing juices flowing.
Early morning playlist
1
910 sick: Sucks to be in jail in the Philippines
I’ve been in jail.
The food sucks, even if I helped make it better before I went into food safety.
Jonathan M. Hicap of the Manila Bulletin reports a total of 910 prisoners at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City have fallen ill due to apparent food poisoning since Friday.
Director General Benjamin delos Santos of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) told The Manila Bulletin that the “proximate cause is food served by caterer Thursday evening.”
However, investigators are also testing the facility’s water source.
“(We) will do lab tests on food and water tomorrow (May 29),” said Delos Santos.
Quoting the NBP report, he said 69 prisoners have been confined at the NBP Hospital and that one of them – an elderly inmate – was in critical condition.
“He is an elderly inmate from the minimum security compound and has been ill before,” he noted.
At least 600 other prisoners were diagnosed with diarrhea and attended to by doctors at the NBP Hospital emergency room since Friday.
Delos Santos said a total of 910 prisoners were affected including those who showed symptoms of diarrhea but could just treated at their own dormitories in the Minimum Security, Medium Security and Maximum Security compounds.
High heels and diarrhea really don’t mix; ‘I thought maybe the guy next to me had farted’ It was pole dancers with diarrhea in Florida
I used to hang out at a strip club.
When I was an undergrad, about 1984, when I didn’t have labs in the afternoon – which I did 3 days a week – I’d toddle home to Neeve St. in Guelph (that’s in Ontario, Canada, as I explained to a new neighbor I met on the morning walk to school today) and cross the train tracks to the strip club to eat lunch and read the paper (this was before, ipads, iphones, computers, whatever, we all bled the ink).
I didn’t really pay attention to the strippers.
I never went at night, because it was full of drunk bogans.
The Border Herald reports that a popular strip club in Jacksonville, Florida has been closed until further notice after several dancers contracted diarrhea last Friday night. The cause of the incident, which remains under investigation, has been initially linked to a contaminated buffet at the venue. While the investigation continues, the venue has not been named.
According to reports by local media, the strip club was nearly full on Friday night when the incident occurred, and both staff and customers were reported to have eaten from the free buffet, which included the usual selection of ribs, chicken and deep-fried shrimp.
While the results of the lab analysis are yet to come back, one source familiar with the investigation told reported that bad shrimp was the most likely cause is the diarrhea. “Typically shrimp are involved in cases like this, particularly when they are not cleaned thoroughly.”
That’s bullshit. It’s improper holding temperatures, probably Staph or C. perfringens (I spell it out so I can commend myself on being able to spell it). Or noro.
Patrons at the venue who were sitting near the stage were the most directly affected by the incident, which occurred close to 11pm. According to a witness at the venue, three dancers were performing on separate poles when the first sign of trouble emerged.
“At first I picked up a bad smell; I thought maybe the guy next to me had farted,” said the witness, who declined to be named. “However, the smell got worse and I noticed that a lot of other guys were looking around to see what it was.”
It was at this point the first dancer to suffer from diarrhea was unable to control her bowels any longer, and ‘a stream of brown liquid soon gushed over the stage,’ according to the witness. “It was absolutely disgusting,” he told journalists. “A number of guests immediately puked. I personally ran for the exit, I lost all interest in the show.”
The other dancers on stage also suffered from diarrhea soon after and were forced to abandon their performance. “They had a hard time getting off the stage,” said one witness, who stayed to watch after the incident. “High heels and diarrhea really don’t mix.”
Some guests who had been enjoying the show also contracted diarrhea and there was a rush on the men’s bathroom, which unfortunately did not have enough stalls to cope with the sudden influx in demand.
Cleaners who were hired to deal with the mess reportedly were shocked at the condition of the venue. “Strip clubs are generally dirty places, but this was on a whole new level,” said one of the cleaning staff. “In my time, I’ve seen faeces in a urinal once or twice, but never in the sinks.”
In an effort to compensate customers for the incident, the venue’s management took to social media to offer free entry to any guests who had been at the club on Friday night. Management also noted that the free buffet will not be available until further notice.
8 dead, 100 ill after consuming pork in India
The Hindustan Times reports that Ri-Bhoi district magistrate has ordered a magisterial inquiry to ascertain what caused the deaths. Villagers claimed the consumption of pork led to the tragedy
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Eight children in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district have died of suspected food poisoning and over 100 others are undergoing medical treatment, an official said on Tuesday.
The children died after consuming pork after attending a church gathering on Sunday at Nongkya village, Ri-Bhoi district magistrate Chinmay P Gotmare told IANS. “Three persons died on Monday and another five on Tuesday morning in hospitals,” he said.
Gotmare said he had ordered a magisterial inquiry to ascertain what caused the deaths. Villagers claimed the consumption of pork led to the tragedy.
The non-hockey fan’s guide to this year’s Stanley Cup Final
This is not the hockey I grew up watching, where players had a smoke and a beer between periods. This is fast, fun and furious.
And if Nashville can embrace hockey (the ice kind for my Aussie friends) so can anyone.
Pete Blackburn of Fox Sports writes:
So, what sport is this now?
Hockey.
Isn’t that the Canadian thing with the ice and skates that no one seems to care about?
Well, some of us care, and not just in Canada. But yes, it’s played on ice.
But why should I care now?
Because playoff hockey is amazing and one of the greatest viewing experiences in sports. At the end of the Stanley Cup Final all the players say the f-word on TV as they pass around giant trophy that everybody gets to kiss. It’s a lot of fun.
So, who is playing in this “Stanley Cup Final?”
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators.
Wait, you mean to tell me Nashville, Tennessee has a hockey team?
Yep! They’re quite good and the city has grown to love them. It’s becoming a really fun hockey town and their crowds are wild and loud. They probably have one of the best playoff atmospheres in hockey. They’re really good at shouting mean things at opposing players in unison.
You also mean to tell me that there are “hockey towns” in the United States?
Yes, and this Final features two pretty good ones. In fact, a Canadian team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 1993.
That must be embarrassing for them.
Yeah, let’s not get into that.
Well, which one of these teams is better?
Well, the Penguins are the defending champions and they have a very good team with a few of the best players in the world (Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin) so they’re slight favorites to win the Stanley Cup, even though they’re without their best defenseman (Kris Letang).
So I should root for them?
Sure, if you want to. They’re great at scoring goals (fun!) and it would be the first time in nearly 20 years that a team has won the Cup in back-to-back years.
How many Cups have the Predators won?
Zero. This is the first time they’ve even made it to the Final.
So they’re a bunch of losers?
No, that’s the Capitals. The Predators are just sort of new to the party. They’ve only been a team since 1997. The Penguins were founded 30 years before that. Nashville has a bright future.
Do the Predators actually have a chance?
Some of their better offensive players got hurt earlier in the playoffs but they’ve still got talented scorers like Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson and James Neal. They definitely still have a chance, mainly because their defense is so good, and that tends to be a huge factor in the playoffs.
Defense is for nerds.
Somewhat agree, but the Predators defense is pretty good at scoring goals themselves. They’ve got a few impressive defensemen that are good at creating offense, including P.K. Subban.
P.K. what now?
Pernell-Karl Subban. He’s on the Predators and is one of the best defensemen in the league. He scores a lot of goals and usually has awesome celebrations afterward. Plus, he’s funny and is really nice to sick kids. He once pledged to raise $10 million for a children’s hospital.
Oh, wow. Who wouldn’t love that guy?
Well…
What?
Well, he was actually traded to Nashville last summer by Montreal in a really surprising deal. He kinda got unfairly blamed for some of their disappointing playoff finishes and a lot of people think the Canadiens didn’t like his “character issues.”
What kind of character issues? Isn’t this the sport where the grown men are allowed to punch each other in the face?
Yeah, but some people apparently think that Subban is a clown for attracting attention to himself by having a lot of fun. The thought was that he “doesn’t hate to lose” enough. So they traded him for an older, more boring guy named Shea Weber.
How did that work out?
Well, the Predators are playing for the Stanley Cup and Montreal lost in the first round.
Oh. Yikes.
Yeah.
Is there anyone like that on the Penguins?
Well, a guy named Phil Kessel won a Stanley Cup in his first season with the Penguins last year. He’s awesome and goofy and really good at scoring goals. Toronto basically ran him out of town, too.
Why did they do that?
The team stunk so some of the media unfairly pinned it on him and said he was lazy, didn’t care enough and ate too many hot dogs.
Wait, what?
Nevermind. Let’s just move on.
So, yeah, you should definitely watch the Stanley Cup Final. You’ll either get to see a new-ish team with a wild fan base win their first-ever championship, or you’ll get to see some legends become the first repeat champions in almost two decades. Either way, it should be really fun and exciting, even if you’re not a big hockey fan.
But it sounds like both of these teams are enjoyable and likeable. Who do I choose?
Do you care about uniforms?
No, what kind of adult cares about sports uniforms?
I do. A lot.
Nerd. Who has the better uniforms?
Pittsburgh, by a mile. Their jerseys are some of the nicer ones in the league. The Predators dress like bottles of spicy mustard.
Go Predators.
Go Penguins.
Despite some first period jitters in game 1, I predict Predators in 7. And stay away from my bench (upper left, a look I perfected on graduate students who would submit writing but they hadn’t really tried; I’d get through one page and respond, try again).
Two grandsons, two birthdays, proud papa from afar
I had coffee with a friend this morning after dropping Sorenne off at school.
She was interested in psychology and I shared with her what I thought was relevant.
But it was watching the women in my life skating last night, and I just sat there with a shit-eating grin on my face.
Amy and Sorenne, playing hockey and wanting more ice.
Go figure.
Daughter 1 (Madelynn) and daughter 2 (Jaucelynn) both have children of their own now, with birthdays within a week.
Gabe turned 4, and Emerson turned 2.
They both apparently like cake
I miss them but it was best I leave, however painful that was.
And it was a long time ago.
Going public: Not. 49 sick, 1 dead after Salmonella outbreak at Dublin pub
The HSE has confirmed that more than 50 people have fallen ill after an outbreak of food poisoning due to Salmonella in North Dublin.
The statement comes a week after Sandra O’Brien, who was in her 50s, died from suspected food poisoning at a First Communion party.
The Health Service Executive confirmed that the outbreak has affected “multiple groups”.
The HSE is liaising with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and an Outbreak Control Team has been formed and an investigation is ongoing.
The statement continues: “The HSE is aware of more than 50 people (including 4 children) ill from a number of separate groups of family parties supplied by a North Dublin food business on Saturday 13th May and Sunday 14th May.
“To date five people were admitted to hospital and 16 of those ill have been confirmed as Salmonella.”
The first cases of food poisoning were notified to the HSE on Thursday May 18. The statement confirms that a north Dublin food business was identified as the common link in this outbreak.
“The investigation is focused on this business. A Closure Order was served on the food business on Friday 19th May.”
The HSE say the investigation is ongoing and includes further examination of the food business operation and food served and assessment of the information from ill and well persons who consumed food.
(BTW, the mask worn by Garth is somewhat equivalent to the mask I wore when I started playing goal in 1969, except Garth’s is better. A couple of years later, in pee wee, the kids could fire the puck and who knows how many concussions I had, along with playing middle linebacker in high school football, so questions of PTSD are never far from what is left of my mind.)
No excuses: Digital thermometer $10 at Walmart
My building contractor now only cooks with the tip-sensitive digital thermometer I gave him.
Making the world — except in the UK — a safer place, one thermometer at a time.
Thanks, Carl.
Handle flour like raw meat: More Canadian flour and people sickened with E. coli O121
In April 2017, health-types in Canada said E.coli O121 had sickened 26 people that was linked to Robin Hood All Purpose Flour, Original.
On May 26, 2017, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Ardent Mills is recalling various brands of flour and flour products due to possible E. coli O121 contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.
This recall was triggered by findings by the CFIA during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.
The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled products from the marketplace.
There have been reported illnesses associated with flour; however, at this time, there have been no confirmed illnesses associated with the products identified in this Food Recall Warning.
But there have been with Roger flour in B.C.
On May 21, 2017 the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) alerted British Columbians after six people in BC were infected with the same strain of E. coli O121 between February and April, 2017.
A sample of flour from one of the ill people was tested by the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory and found positive for the same strain of E. coli O121 as seen in all the illnesses.
While it is unknown at this time whether the other ill people consumed the same flour, the BCCDC recommends consumers:
Dispose of Rogers all-purpose flour in a 10kg bag with the lot number MFD 17 Jan 19 C. This flour was available to Costco customers in B.C. beginning in January 2017.
Although this outbreak is occurring at the same time as a national outbreak involving a different strain of E. coli O121 that has been linked to various flours and flour products, it is unclear whether there is a link between the two outbreaks.
The national outbreak has affected 30 people from six provinces: British Columbia (13), Saskatchewan (4), Alberta (5), Ontario (1), Quebec (1) and Newfoundland and Labrador (5). One of the 30 cases was a visitor to Canada. The illness onset dates range from November 2016 to April 2017.
These are the questions that remain about the interactions between Robin Hood, Ardent, Rogers and their flour: Do you folks all get your flour from the same place and slap your name on it like Trump slaps his name on towers? If so, where is the common processor, and why the fuck is there E. coli O121 in it? What are companies prepared to do, like offering pasteurized flour, especially so the medically vulnerable can continue to bake without fretting about flour dust?And when will the Public Health Agency of Canada move beyond boilerplate fairy tales like wash hands, and offer something meaningful to Canadians who bake?
Overpaid bureacrats, worried about their retirement savings rather than a nasty bug like E. coli O121.
Inhale the dust, assholes.
The outpouring of compassion for the victims is underwhelming.
Sweet summer basil with Salmonella
I love fresh basil.
Last night we had barramundi fillets, grilled in a garlic-butter-olive oil-lemon-and-basil coating that was delicious.
Unfortunately, the fucking possums in this country also like my basil and are helping themselves to it, bottom up.
They don’t care for the mint (in the background, and yes, that is our view from the deck).
Maybe we should stop feeding the cats so they will become a little more aggressive about chasing away the possums.
In New Zealand, they poison possums.
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Three Dolphins Wholesale is recalling L.A. Lucky brand Sweet Basil Seed from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.
The following product has been sold from Three Dolphins Wholesale, 4801 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia.
L.A. Lucky Sweet Basil Seed, 60g, UPC 8 20678 201697, Codes: all units sold from October 1, 2015 up to and including May 25, 2017
This recall was triggered by a recall in another country. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.