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Is the Government Mad For Not Testing More Cows?

YumSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:45:27 -0700

Last Friday the Bush administration asked a federal appeals court to stop allowing meatpackers to test all animals for mad cow disease. That's right, the government wants companies to test fewer animals.

Currently, under Agriculture Department guidelines, less than 1 percent of slaughtered cows are tested for the disease. Yet due to a lower court ruling, Kansas-based Creekstone Farms Premium Beef has been granted the ability to more comprehensively test their beef. The government is hoping to stop Creekstone Farms by having the ruling overturned. They argue that widespread testing does not guarantee safety, and that companies are trying to create false assurances. They also stated that a false positive could scare consumers, and that testing would result in increased food prices.

Creekstone attorney Rusell Frye is not buying it and believes the government doesn't have the authority to stop companies from testing. He said:

This is the government telling the consumers, "You're not entitled to this information."

Call me crazy, but doesn't it seem like the more testing you do, the more likely you are to catch something wrong? The folks at Creekstone were supposed to begin testing last June, but because of this appeal the new testing process has been delayed.

So tell me, do you think companies should be allowed to test more cows? Or do you agree with the government and think that it causes false assurances?

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Cameron Hits Up Empty Meatpacking For Some Lunch

Molly — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:25:00 -0700

NYC Meatpacking District's Pastis held court for Cameron Diaz and friends for lunch yesterday afternoon. (Perhaps, in rumor-y dreams, she was gabbing about her recent friend time with JT.) The actress' upcoming projects seem to be entirely limited to the Shrek Empire, so I assume she's got some time for leisurely lunches and paycheck spending at upscale boutiques. Rough life. Also, I'm not sure, but I think celebrity Manhattan is some sort of bizarro world -- where is everyone? Is that a bike on the ground next to her? Though I'm no NYer, I did live there for a few years and sometimes it confuses.

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Nicole Announces Engagement to Joel and Shows Off Her Ring!

PopSugar — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:58:50 -0800

Nicole Richie announced tonight that she and Joel Madden are engaged! In an interview with David Letterman on The Late Show, Nicole admitted that she and Joel have decided it's time to make things official. Rumors about a possible wedding started circulating last week when Nicole was spotted browsing at bridal gown designer Monique Lhuillier's LA shop with Joel's twin brother Benji. It's such exciting news for Nicole, Joel, and their children Sparrow and Harlow, so congrats to the happy family!

The happy couple reunited after her appearance to grab dinner at Abe & Arthur's in the Meatpacking District. Joel took a minute to Twitter about the news by writing, "Yep. I'm engaged. Very happy. Yeah we've been engaged for a while so you're all kind of late on that. But thanks for the hooplah all the same." He also said that his family and friends have known for a while, but everyone succeeded in keeping things under wraps! The tweets have since been taken down.

Lots more images of Nicole and her beautiful new ring, so just read more.

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Flowers for McQueen

FabSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:33:13 -0800

After the Preen show this afternoon, I wanted to walk by the Alexander McQueen store in the Meatpacking for a private goodbye. I wasn't the only one . . . RIP.

Celeb Style: Katie Holmes

PopSugar — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:45:00 -0800

Katie Holmes braved a serious Winter storm in New York City, leaving Pastis Restaurant in the Meatpacking District without a coat, wearing peep-toe heels. She looked conservatively cute in wide-leg black pants and a crisp white wrap blouse, adding a cable knit gray beret for some much needed warmth. Carry a beige purse and you'll have Katie's look in no time! Shop it all now.

In the Spotlight: Keira Knightley Films "Last Night" in NYC

PetSugar — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:22:05 -0700

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Celeb Style: Sarah Jessica Parker

PopSugar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:00:00 -0800

Sarah Jessica Parker was spotted leaving the John Frieda salon in the Meatpacking District of New York City, despite the freezing cold temps. She bundled up in an oversize down coat, which she wore over a gray tee and her favorite green vest. Her gray jeans, which she nonchalantly tucked into a pair of Ugg boots, matched her Alexander Wang studded duffel to a T. Add a charcoal scarf and some dark sunglasses and you'll have SJP's look in no time. Shop it all now!

USDA Closes School Lunch Meatpacker, Kids Don't Know Pork

CitizenSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:00:50 -0800

The USDA just shut down an LA slaughterhouse that had been the distributor for Westland Meat Company, the ground beef supplier for the National School Lunch Program.

Meanwhile, on the UK side of the pond, LEAF, Linking Environment and Farming, just released a video to help kids learn that sausages don't grow on trees. The video "demonstrates the sausage-making process, from farm to plate." True story. This comes after a survey last year showed that 22 percent of adults didn't know that bacon and sausage come from farms.

Knowing where your food comes from and safety regulations are crucial. LEAF was founded to help environmentalists, consumers, and farmers make positive strides for all concerned. To see how the UK is winning at the smart and sane farm game, read more.

LEAF started because:

"They were motivated by a common concern for the future of farming and keen to develop a system of farming which was realistic and achievable for the majority of farmers."

The LEAF survey, among other things, showed that people are becoming increasing disconnected from their food and where it comes from. Part of the reason I'm vegan is that after having grown up on a farm, closer to where my meat and dairy originated, I know that beef doesn't spring forth, wrapped in Saran wrap, and land in a Safeway cooler. Environmental and legislative consequences are becoming increasingly relevant.

While exploring the Environmental Legislation posted on the British Pig Executives website, I uncovered this - in the US, each pig farm is responsible for its own environmental plan. Is this a good idea? Can agencies like LEAF be more effective than the USDA to help kids and the environment?

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Daily Tech: First Look at Apple's New Meatpacking Store

GeekSugar — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:00:38 -0800

Standing three stories tall, and boasting a winding glass staircase, the new Apple store in Manhattan opens its doors at 6pm tonight -cult of mac
American Airlines to offer Wi-Fi service next year -CrunchGear
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg finally makes a public apology about Facebook's Beacon -Shiny Shiny
There's still hope if you're hoping to score a Wii this holiday season. Check out some useful tips and tricks for Wii shopping - Yahoo! Tech
Apple may have secretly upped its three only iPhone purchase limit to five - Gizmodo

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Robert, Kristen, and the New Moon Cast Pause to Party

PopSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner were together for last night's special NYC screening of New Moon along with their many costars. It looks like they split up for the afterparty, though, with Robert and Kristen spotted afterward looking far more casual on their way out of a lounge in the city's Meatpacking District. The official afterparty was held in a different neighborhood at The Box, where Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr were spotted making a hasty retreat in the rain. Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, and Peter Facinelli were also there to party with a select group, and he even stopped to pose with fans on the way out. Elizabeth Reaser and Taylor had to rest up for an appearance this morning; he headed to The Today Show, so check his interview out after the jump.

To see lots more photos and Taylor's video, just read more.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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Images include: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Joan Jett, Nikki Reed, Ashley Greene, Peter Facinelli, Abigail Breslin, Olivia Palermo, Johannes Huebl, Alexa Chung, Agyness Deyn, Paris Latsis, Emma Roberts, Joan Jett, Taylor Momsen, Lydia Hearst