25 things about me and other top news

I have been "tagged" by a couple of friends on facebook to write "25 things about me," a "tagged you're it" exercise in self revelation I might have to work myself up to. Here is number one: The Fresh Talk blog has published 3,335 posts since its inception in 2006. One down, 24 to go.

Other big news of the day:

Tom Daschle's tax problems were related to taxes he had not previously paid for a car and driver provided by a big Democratic donor, a fact - as Jay Leno pointed out tonight - that seems especially ironic because of this early campaign ad from Daschle.





More headlines snatched from the Web:

Businesses fare better in Senate stimulus plan

Foreclosures dominate home sales More than half in California

Kroger calling customers who bought recalled foods

Supermarket groups urged to notify customers in event of recalls

Global firms buy out seed companies From The Monterey Herald
This week, GeneFresh Technologies, the company he founded in 2002, was acquired by Harris Moran, the Modesto-based arm of global seed giant Vilmorin & Cie, a French company which calls itself the world's largest independently owned seed company.

USDA tightens farm payments
In hopes of making it possible to enforce the law, Congress is expected to consider a bill to allow the USDA to access farmer's tax statements from the IRS.

Tesco's market share erodes slightly in UK

Potatoes, America's favorite vegetable From Idaho Potato Commission...
When asked to select their favorite vegetable, consumers picked potatoes (26%), corn (19%) and broccoli (17%).

Research: kids may not need vitamins

Sign up for pilot program begins Allows for program crop growers to plant veggies

Boxer vows cap and trade bill this year

On dining: let's be honest about local-organic-sustainable From Seattle PI
Please don't preach the local-organic-sustainable sermon, then turn around and sell duck from California, strawberries in the dead of winter or the ubiquitous mixed greens grown in Mexico. Most menus have an asterisk by those lofty claims, stating, "We'll serve local-organic-sustainable whenever it's possible" (and/or cost-efficient).

I think there's going to be a sea change as far as the whole local-organic-sustainable movement at restaurants is concerned. At least, I hope that change is coming. Chefs can be more upfront about their desire to put quality first, maybe calling their efforts "best practices fare."

Economist sees more dead banks walking Banks should be nationalized, say some

Federal officials to help with Salinas gang problem


Local or organic, which is more important From Washington Post, an opinion piece

Cold weather again in Florida