BC

wacky but kinda cool... BC

Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:31pm EST
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Discount retailer Target Corp is requesting government approval to add a warning to the labels of meat sold in its stores that have been treated with carbon monoxide to keep the product looking fresh.

"Because certain modified atmosphere packaging preserves the color of meat, Target is working to add labels to those products that encourage guests not to rely on color or the 'use or freeze by' date alone to judge the freshness of the product," Target said in a statement.

Target sent the request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Meat packers sometimes add carbon monoxide to sealed packages to preserve the bright red color of fresh meat, but some lawmakers have tried to ban the practice, saying it is unsafe.

They have also pushed for a campaign that would inform consumers of the packaging practice and caution them against relying on color rather than a sell-by date when buying meat.

Target sells packaged meat in 210 of its stores. It operated 1,591 Target stores in 47 states as of November 8.

Now tomatoes are one thing, but please don't enhance the packaged color of meat so I have to smell it to be sure its good...BC

BC

Montana Dog

A young cowboy from Miles City, Montana goes off to college, but halfway through the semester he foolishly has squandered all of his money.

He calls home. 'Dad,' he says, 'you won't believe what modern education is developing. They actually have a program here in Bozeman that will teach our dog Ol' Blue how to talk.'

'That's amazing!' his Dad says. 'How do I get Ol' Blue in that program?'

'Just send him down here with $1,000,' the young cowboy says, 'I'll get him in the course.'

So .. his father sends the dog and $1,000.

About two-thirds through the semester, the money again runs out. The boy calls home. 'So how's Ol' Blue doing, son?' his father wants to know.

'Awesome! Dad, he's talking up a storm. But you just won't believe this. They've had such good results with talking, they've begun to teach the animals how to read.'

'Read?!' exclaims his father. 'No kidding! How do we get Ol' Blue in that program?'

'Just send $2,500. I'll get him in the class.'

The money promptly arrives. But our hero has a problem. At the end of the year, his father will find out the dog can neither talk nor read. So he shoots the dog. When he arrives home at the end of the year, his father is all excited.

'Where's Ol' Blue? I just can't wait to talk with him, and see him read something!'

'Dad,' the boy says, 'I have some grim news. Yesterday morning, just before we left to drive home, Ol' Blue was in the living room, kicked back in the recliner, reading the Wall Street Journal. Then he suddenly turned to me and asked, 'So, is your daddy still messing around with that little redhead barmaid at the Blue Sky Café and Tavern?''

The father groans and whispers, 'I hope you shot him before he talks to your Mother!'

'I sure did, Dad!'

'That's my boy!'

The kid went on to be a successful lawyer.