Another current event I’ve been remiss in sharing here. Have you seen the propaganda videos that young Iranians have been putting out on social media tolling tRump?
You may see them on social media, like tiktok, but youtube seems to be censoring in the US; at least, I had to dig for it. I found this one through a French youtube channel. Its a reel of the best of them.
This below from The Young Turks podcast over the recent BBC interview with one of the anonymous creators of these state sponsored vidoes.
Here’s one of the creators, persiaboihemmet speaking on his motiviation
Thank you for reading today's post. Have an InterStellar Day! ~PrP
You’re a lesbian? You lucky bitch….
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX6_eDpNCgn/
Louisiana is the worst of the repugnants, imo.
Does anyone have faith our society will be able to come back this destruction and negate it?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXwTvgtuPrT
We are so fucked. I’m glad my time left is relatively short.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVEu_DHDZ-V
Except, it’s not.
It all depends on your perspective
Only a trump administration would attempt to contact us to gain an advantage for not sharing their knowledge of our existence. Just another confirmation that this species of human beings should have been left to die when they were pushed into the colder areas of the planet.
What do you expect from a species that doesn’t want to cure a disease or human problem? Their entire aim is to design a drug to lessen the symptoms so one has to take the drug for life. We gave them knowledge of the Leaves of Copaifera lucens Dwyer, a tree primarily found in Mata Atlantica, which contains a chemical compound capable of neutralizing covid-19 via a “multitarget mode of action” that disables the deadly virus’s arsenal of spike proteins and enzymes. But they hid the discovery in favor of drugs their patients would have to take each year to minimize the effect of the virus.
What? We gave them knowledge of a variety of extracts from Copaifera lucens called galloylquinic acids which are able to beat covid-19 in ways that the virus can’t easily mutate to avoid, slowing the deadly impact of future variants.
They have as yet to use the information because they have shots humans will have to take for life to avoid getting a strain of the virus.
We discover an anti fungal cure for toe fungus that plagued some of our people on Earth. It too was from that plant. Further testing revealed that it could HIV-1 and other viral and fungal afflictions humans have.
We too found that the European derivative species of the human race were not interested in a cure. They preferred to tinker with the cure to produce a product that needed to be taken for life.
That’s why we gave our knowledge to the Egyptians. Unfortunately while sharing this knowledge with the European species, the result was for the billionaires to unite in an effort to destroy the Brazilian rainforest. Recent discoveries show that there are several plants there and in the Immortal’s preferred area, Mata Atlantica, there are several plants that can give practically immortality to humans. The various plants have cures for most if not all human ailments.
The European billionaires have secured the data they need to reach 200 plus years of life so they want to destroy the biodiversity that could end the profits they earn from insuring that global public health depends on drugs that do not cure.
PrP, why is it when I click the link to take me back to “VenusGuard” it doesn’t work.
And if you do get there, clicking on the arrow pointing towards going back to Legoland doesn’t work either.
Link I put up for the donation works for me. I just tested it.
Did You Know
The flag of Nova Scotia was flown for 155 years before it was formally adopted. It was formally adopted only after an 11-year-old girl’s school research project revealed that, at no point in the preceding century and a half, had the Canadian province actually voted on the matter.
You are advised to discontinue dining at “Jersey Mike’s. Its menu provides nothing healthy for the human body.
Travel Experts Get Real About The Grossest Things On A Plane — And You Are Likely Using Them
Read this before you use that seat back pocket.
I’ve taken hundreds of flights. For most of them, I grabbed the pillow waiting on my seat and wedged it behind my head without a second thought. Then, on a long-haul flight to London, I picked one up and found a large, damp stain spread across the fabric. Drool? Something worse? I didn’t investigate further, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I put it under my seat and spent the next ten hours wondering how many passengers had pressed their faces into that same pillow before me.
That was several years ago. I haven’t laid my head on an airplane pillow since. Instead, I place them behind my lower back for lumbar support, where I’m not so worried about how often they get cleaned. Turns out, most regular travelers have their own version of this moment. For many of them, the biggest culprit is the seat-back pocket.
Travel content creator Tara O’Reilly used to tuck her iPad into the pocket on every flight. “One day, I took out my iPad and an omelette-like mixture was smeared across it,” she said. “I hadn’t eaten an omelette, and it didn’t look like anything I had eaten previously.”
A flight attendant suggested it could be vomit. O’Reilly moved to a new seat, and she hasn’t reached into a seat-back pocket since.
Phil Lockwood’s breaking point was even worse. On a cross-country flight, he watched a passenger tuck a used diaper into the pocket because no flight attendant was nearby. “Once you see it, you can’t unsee the logic,” said Lockwood, who runs luxury travel agency ABC Trips. “The seat-back pocket is essentially an anonymous drop box for anything a passenger is too embarrassed to hand someone directly.”
Frequent fliers break down the amenities they try not to use when they’re in-flight.
Frequent fliers break down the amenities they try not to use when they’re in-flight.
The problem is, airlines often have just 30 to 45 minutes to turn a plane around between flights. In that window, crews collect garbage, wipe tray tables and reset seat belts. Even the wiping is questionable. Data published by Travelmath, an online trip calculator and travel service, found tray tables averaged roughly 2,155 colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch. A fabric pouch filled with whatever the last passenger left behind will barely get a glance. Blankets and pillows in non-premium cabins often get refolded and repackaged rather than replaced.
Runbo Li, CEO of Magic Hour and a frequent flyer, calls it “cleanliness theater.” A former flight attendant walked him through what gets skipped during a standard 40-minute turnaround. “Hard surfaces get wiped,” he said. “Fabric doesn’t.”
His rule is simple: if it’s fabric and shared, he won’t use it. If it’s a hard surface, he wipes it himself before touching it. Li estimates those seat pockets get a genuine deep clean roughly once a year.
The in-flight entertainment screens are no better. They look pristine because they’re smooth and shiny, but they’re typically only disinfected during overnight service or extended ground time, not during the quick turnaround between flights. “You’ll notice fingerprints, smudges or residue on the screen when you board,” said Christian Petzold, founder of The Team Trip, who worked in aviation. Passengers tap through menus while eating, pressing fingers onto a surface that hundreds of other fingers may have already touched that day. Petzold uses a stylus or his phone to navigate, avoiding direct contact entirely.
Pockets and screens may seem like obvious things to avoid. Coffee and tea are not. Rachelle Lucas, a food and travel journalist, took a sip of coffee on a flight to California and tasted something metallic. She didn’t get sick, but she looked into airline water systems afterward and didn’t like what she found. A recent study from the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity examined more than 35,000 water samples across 21 airlines over three years and found 2.7% tested positive for coliform bacteria, with 32 E. coli violations recorded.
“No one wants a stomach bug while traveling,” Lucas said. “Even if it is a small percentage, that’s not a risk I want to take.” She now travels with a portable espresso maker that uses Nespresso-style pods, brewing her own coffee in the air with bottled water. It gets through security without issue, though it occasionally receives a second look. “Once they see it in action, they want one too,” she said of curious flight attendants and passengers.
Dean Rotchin, who runs private jet company Blackjet, stopped using airline headphones after watching crew members repackage used pairs into fresh wrappers. “It gives a positive illusion of cleanliness,” he said. Passengers use them without hesitation, not knowing who used them last. “Once I saw what the backstage looked like, I swore never to use such headphones again,” he said. He’s packed his own earbuds on every flight since.
The bathroom faucet is another surface that concerns frequent flyers. Petzold remembers flight crews joking about how filthy the faucets were. At first, it sounded like industry folklore. Then he started speaking to maintenance staff and looking at the data, and the jokes stopped being funny.
“Hundreds of people will touch and use the sinks within minutes of each other, and they’re usually wet,” Petzold said. The surfaces look clean, which is part of the problem. Internal airline audits and the same water quality study have repeatedly found high bacteria levels on bathroom fixtures despite routine cleaning. He now skips the sink entirely and uses hand sanitizer instead.
I gave up the airline pillow years ago. After writing this, the headphones and entertainment screens are next. When the drink cart rolls around, I’ll skip the coffee. Hopefully, the person next to me has a portable espresso maker I can borrow.
Related
The Ripeness Level Of Your Banana Actually Matters For Your Health — Here’s How
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-ripeness-level-of-your-banana-actually-matters-for-your-health-heres-how-goog_l_69f0f632e4b01910ba19c506
The truth about plastic bags:
That trusty plastic bag sitting in your kitchen drawer might be hiding something you never expected. A recent class action lawsuit has put one of America’s most popular food storage brands under the microscope, claiming that those convenient bags and containers could be releasing tiny plastic particles into your food every time you freeze or microwave them. This isn’t just about one company, either – it’s raising questions about all the plastic storage we use daily without a second thought.
The lawsuit everyone’s talking about
Linda Cheslow, a California resident, filed a class action lawsuit against SC Johnson, the makers of Ziploc products. She’s claiming that these popular storage bags contain undisclosed microplastics that get released when you freeze or microwave them. The lawsuit specifically targets products labeled as “microwave safe” and suitable for “freezer” use, arguing that this marketing is misleading when the bags are made from materials that release plastic particles under these conditions.
The legal filing names several specific products, including various sizes of freezer bags, slider bags, and storage containers. According to the lawsuit documents, these products are made from polyethylene and polypropylene, materials that scientific studies show can release microplastics when exposed to temperature changes. SC Johnson has responded by stating that they believe their products are safe when used as directed and that the lawsuit lacks merit.
What exactly are microplastics anyway
Think of microplastics as tiny pieces of plastic smaller than a grain of rice – we’re talking about particles less than five millimeters long. These microscopic fragments come from the breakdown of larger plastic items and have become widespread in our environment. They’re now found in drinking water, food, and even the air we breathe. When plastic containers or bags degrade, whether from heat, cold, or just regular use, they can shed these particles.
The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that microplastics have been detected in both human and animal tissue. A 2023 study by the American Chemical Society found that just one square centimeter of some plastic containers can release over 4 million microplastic particles within three minutes of microwave heating. Even storing items at room temperature or in the refrigerator can cause millions of these particles to be released over six months.
Which products are mentioned in the lawsuit
The lawsuit isn’t targeting every Ziploc product on the shelf, but it does name some of the most commonly used items in American kitchens. These include the standard freezer bags in pint, quart, and gallon sizes, plus the popular slider versions that don’t require you to press the seal closed. The complaint also mentions the slider storage bags and various storage containers that many people use for leftovers and meal prep.
What’s interesting is that the lawsuit specifically notes these aren’t the only products that might contain microplastics – they’re just the ones being highlighted in this particular case. The legal filing suggests this could be a broader issue affecting many plastic storage products beyond just these specific Ziploc items. The company’s website states that their bags and “Endurables” line are made without BPA or phthalates, but doesn’t provide detailed information about what materials are actually used in production.
The science behind plastic particle release
Temperature changes seem to be the main trigger for microplastic release from storage containers. When you pop a plastic bag in the microwave or freezer, the material expands and contracts, potentially causing tiny pieces to break off. The lawsuit claims that the very conditions these products are marketed for – microwaving and freezing – are exactly what causes the plastic particle release that consumers want to avoid.
Research has shown that heating plastic containers can dramatically increase the number of particles released into food. Even without extreme temperatures, normal storage conditions can cause plastic degradation over time. The molecules in plastic aren’t completely stable, and various factors including light, air, and mechanical stress can cause them to break down. This is why you might notice older plastic containers becoming cloudy, brittle, or developing a rough texture after extended use.
How this affects your daily routine
Most people use plastic storage bags and containers multiple times throughout the week without giving it much thought. You might grab a bag to store leftover pizza, freeze some soup for later, or reheat yesterday’s dinner in a plastic container. If the lawsuit’s claims are accurate, these routine kitchen activities could be exposing you to plastic particles that weren’t there when you first stored the food.
The timing of exposure matters too. The research suggests that microwave heating can release millions of particles in just minutes, while freezer storage might cause a slower but steady release over months. This means your morning routine of reheating coffee in a plastic cup or your weekly meal prep sessions could be contributing to your overall exposure. The cumulative effect of these daily interactions with plastic storage might be more significant than any single use.
What experts are saying about exposure
Toxicologists are taking a cautious but measured approach to the microplastics issue. Dr. Jamie Alan from Michigan State University points out that it’s logical to assume all plastic products come with some level of risk, but scientists are still working to understand the long-term consequences. The key concern isn’t necessarily a single exposure, but rather the cumulative effect of using plastic storage products day after day, year after year.
Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a toxicologist at MedStar Health, emphasizes that completely avoiding microplastics in modern life is nearly impossible. However, she suggests that reducing single-use plastic products and avoiding reheating food in plastic containers when possible could be beneficial. The expert consensus seems to be that while we can’t eliminate exposure entirely, we can make informed choices about when and how we use plastic storage products.
Alternative storage options worth considering
Glass containers have become increasingly popular as people look for alternatives to plastic storage. They don’t release particles when heated or cooled, and they’re completely transparent so you can see what’s inside. Many glass storage containers come with plastic lids, but the food only touches the glass surface. They’re microwave-safe, dishwasher-friendly, and can go straight from freezer to oven in many cases.
For bag alternatives, wax paper bags and parchment paper can work well for many storage needs, though they’re not suitable for liquids. Metal containers, particularly stainless steel options, are another choice that doesn’t have the microplastic concerns. Some people are rediscovering older storage methods like using ceramic bowls with plates as covers, or wrapping items in cloth before refrigerating. These alternatives might require slight adjustments to your routine, but they eliminate concerns about particle release from plastic materials.
The company’s response to these claims
SC Johnson has firmly rejected the lawsuit’s allegations, stating that Ziploc products are safe when used as directed. The company acknowledges that microplastics have become widespread in the environment, coming from many different sources including the food we eat, water we drink, and air we breathe. They emphasize that this is a broader environmental issue, not something specific to their products.
The company also mentions they’ve been working for years to raise awareness about plastic issues and invest in better solutions. However, they maintain that the current lawsuit lacks merit and that their products perform as advertised. This creates an interesting situation where consumers must weigh the company’s assurances against emerging research about microplastic release from plastic storage products. The legal process will ultimately determine whether the marketing claims about microwave and freezer safety are accurate given current scientific understanding.
Simple changes for your kitchen storage
Making small adjustments to your storage habits doesn’t require a complete kitchen overhaul. Instead of microwaving food in plastic containers, transfer it to a glass or ceramic dish first. When freezing items, consider using glass containers with tight-fitting lids, or wrap items in parchment paper before placing them in plastic bags. These simple steps can reduce direct contact between your food and plastic during temperature changes.
For everyday storage, pay attention to the condition of your plastic containers and bags. Replace items that show signs of wear, cloudiness, or cracking, as these are more likely to shed particles. When possible, let hot food cool to room temperature before storing it in plastic containers. These practical adjustments can help minimize potential exposure while you continue using the storage products you already own. The goal isn’t perfection, but rather making informed choices about when and how plastic storage makes sense for your household.
This lawsuit represents more than just one company’s products – it’s highlighting questions about plastic storage that affect millions of American households. While the legal case works its way through the courts, consumers are left to make their own decisions about kitchen storage based on the available information. Whether you choose to stick with your current plastic storage, switch to alternatives, or find a middle ground, the key is being aware of the ongoing research and making choices that feel right for your family’s needs and comfort level.
If you’re one of those people who stocks up on Giovanni Rana ravioli every time you hit Costco, you need to check your fridge and freezer right now. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service just issued a public health alert for a specific ravioli product sold at Costco stores in Maryland and New Jersey, and the reason is genuinely unsettling. What was supposed to be beef and burrata cheese ravioli actually contained shrimp ravioli in lobster sauce. Two completely different products, in the same packaging, with zero indication on the label that shellfish was inside.
Let’s break down exactly what happened, what products are affected, and what you should do if you have this in your kitchen.
The Exact Product You Need to Look For
The product under the alert is the 32-ounce plastic bag packages of Giovanni Rana RANA Rustic Beef Sauce & Creamy Burrata Cheese Ravioli. If you’ve got one of these in your fridge or freezer, flip it over and look for a few things. First, check the “use by” date. The affected packages have use-by dates ranging from 05/14/2026 through 06/25/2026. Second, look for the establishment number “Est. 44870” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the packaging. If your bag matches both of those details, you’ve got the product in question.
These ravioli were produced between March 10, 2026, and April 21, 2026. They were shipped exclusively to Costco retail stores in Maryland and New Jersey, so if you shop at a Costco in either of those states, this one’s directed at you.
Did You Know
The “Bone Wars” of the late 19th century were the paleontological equivalent of the California gold rush; prominent paleontologists Edward Cope and Othniel Marsh spent the last decades of the century racing to discover and name the most dinosaur fossils.
Did You Know
The number of pet dogs in the city of San Francisco outnumber the city’s children by the thousands, according to city estimates and census data.
Did You Know
Despite their prevalence in Italian cuisine, tomatoes are from the Americas and were not widely adopted into Italian cooking until the late 17th century.
Sunday Is Costco’s Single Busiest Day
This isn’t just a guess or a feeling. One self-identified Costco employee on Reddit put it bluntly: “I work at Costco and Sunday is our busiest day of the week. Friday and Saturday tie for second.” That tracks with what pretty much every shopping expert and insider has confirmed. Sunday is the peak of the peak.
Part of the reason is simple math. Most people don’t work on Sundays, so the entire customer base funnels into one day. But it gets worse. Costco closes at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, compared to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays. That means you’re cramming the same number of shoppers (actually more shoppers) into a much smaller window of time. The crowds get compressed into fewer hours, and you can feel it the second you pull into the parking lot.
If you’re a fan of Zapp’s or Dirty brand potato chips, you need to check your pantry right now. Utz Quality Foods, the parent company behind both brands, issued a voluntary recall on May 4, 2026, pulling nine specific products from shelves across the entire country. The problem traces back to a single ingredient: dry milk powder used in the chips’ seasoning. That powder, sourced from California Dairies, Inc., may be contaminated with salmonella.
No one has gotten sick. Utz says the seasoning batches actually tested negative before they were used. But the company decided to pull the products anyway after the ingredient supplier flagged the issue. So if you’ve got a bag of Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch sitting on your counter, keep reading before you tear it open.
What Exactly Got Recalled
This isn’t a blanket recall of everything Utz makes. It’s very specific. Nine products total, split between two brands: Zapp’s and Dirty. Both are kettle-cooked chip lines that Utz acquired over the years. Zapp’s started in Louisiana and built a cult following around bold Cajun-inspired flavors. Dirty is another premium kettle chip brand with a reputation for strong, punchy seasoning profiles. Both are sold at grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores all over the country.
According to the FDA recall notice, no other Utz products are affected. That means your regular Utz chips, Boulder Canyon, On The Border, Hawaiian, and the rest of Utz’s massive snack portfolio are all fine. This is only about certain flavors, certain sizes, and certain batch codes of Zapp’s and Dirty.
The Full List of Affected Zapp’s Products
Here’s every Zapp’s product included in the recall. You’ll need to check both the UPC code on the barcode and the best-by date printed on the bag. If both match, toss it.
1.5-oz Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips (UPC 83791272917). Best-by dates: August 3, 2026 (batch 26030070101), August 10 (batch 26036070102), August 17 (batch 26043070101), August 24 (batch 26052070103).
2.5-oz Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips (UPC 83791272924). Best-by dates: August 3, 2026 (batch 26029070104), August 17 (batches 26044070104 and 26045070104), August 31 (batch 26058070104).
8-oz Zapp’s Bayou Blackened Ranch Potato Chips (UPC 83791272931). Best-by date: July 27, 2026 (batches 26024070105 and 26024070104).
8-oz Zapp’s Big Cheezy Potato Chips (UPC 83791192246). Best-by date: August 31, 2026 (batches 26058070104 and 26059070104).
2.5-oz Zapp’s Big Cheezy Potato Chips (UPC 83791192208). Best-by date: August 31, 2026 (batch 26058070104).
1.5-oz Zapp’s Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (60-count) (UPC 83791010144). Best-by dates: August 3, 2026 (batches 26030070101 and 26031070101), August 10 (batches 26036070102 and 26037070102).
The Full List of Affected Dirty Brand Products
The Dirty brand side of the recall is smaller but still important to check. All three are 2-oz bags.
2-oz Dirty Brand Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips (UPC 83791520148). Best-by dates: August 3, 2026 (batches 26030070104, 26031070104, 26031070101), August 10 (batches 26038070102 and 26038070103).
2-oz Dirty Brand Maui Onion Potato Chips (UPC 83791520162). Best-by date: August 8, 2026 (batch 26052070103).
2-oz Dirty Brand Sour Cream and Onion Potato Chips (UPC 83791520094). Best-by date: August 31, 2026 (batch 26059070104).
Every single recalled product has a best-by date in either July or August of 2026. If your bag has a date outside that range, you’re in the clear.
Where These Chips Were Sold
Here’s the tricky part. The FDA recall notice doesn’t list specific retailers. That means these bags could have been on shelves at any store that carries Zapp’s or Dirty products. We’re talking major grocery chains, smaller regional stores, gas stations, airport shops, convenience stores, you name it. If it sells snacks and stocks either of these brands, there’s a chance the recalled bags were there.
Zapp’s in particular has wide distribution. Originally a Louisiana brand, it became popular across the Southeast and then expanded nationwide after Utz bought it. You can find Zapp’s in everything from Publix to Target to random truck stop snack racks. Dirty brand chips are a little less common but still show up in plenty of grocery stores and specialty snack sections across the country.
Retailers have been instructed to pull all affected products from shelves immediately. But if you already bought a bag before the recall hit, the store won’t come knocking on your door to tell you about it. That part’s on you.
Why This Recall Happened
The root of this whole thing is a dry milk powder made by California Dairies, Inc. That powder gets used in seasoning blends, and those seasoning blends get sprinkled on chips during production. A third-party supplier provided the powder to Utz’s seasoning manufacturer, and somewhere along that chain, a potential salmonella contamination was flagged.
Here’s what makes this interesting. Utz says the seasoning batches they used actually tested negative for salmonella before they went onto the chips. The recall wasn’t triggered by Utz finding something wrong with its own products. It was triggered by the ingredient supplier issuing its own recall of the milk powder. Utz decided to pull its products as a precaution even though its own testing came back clean.
That’s actually a pretty responsible move. A lot of companies would sit on something like that and wait to see if anyone gets sick. Utz didn’t. Zero reported illnesses, negative test results on their end, and they still pulled the products.
How to Check Your Bags
Grab the bag and flip it over. You’re looking for two things: the UPC code (that’s the number under the barcode) and the best-by date, which is usually stamped or printed near the top or bottom seal of the bag. Some bags also have a batch code printed nearby.
Match the UPC against the list above first. If it’s not one of the nine UPCs listed, you’re fine. If the UPC does match, check the best-by date next. If it falls between late July and the end of August 2026, and the batch code lines up, that bag is part of the recall.
If you find a match, don’t eat the chips. Throw them away. If you want a refund, you can contact Utz’s customer care team by emailing them or calling 1-877-423-0149. They’re available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.
No Illnesses Reported So Far
As of the recall announcement on May 5, 2026, Utz says nobody has reported getting sick from any of the recalled products. That’s good news, and it’s consistent with the fact that the company’s own testing came back negative. This is a precautionary recall, not a reaction to people ending up in emergency rooms.
Still, the reason companies take this seriously is because salmonella is no joke. It can cause some truly miserable days, especially for young kids, older adults, and anyone with a compromised immune system. Symptoms can show up anywhere from a few hours to several days after exposure. If you ate chips from one of the recalled batches and start feeling off, contact your doctor.
What About Zapp’s Voodoo Chips?
This is probably the first question a lot of Zapp’s fans are asking. Voodoo chips are the brand’s signature product, the flavor that put them on the map and turned them into a cult snack brand. That sweet, smoky, slightly spicy seasoning blend is what most people think of when they hear the name Zapp’s.
Good news: Voodoo chips are not part of this recall. The affected Zapp’s flavors are Bayou Blackened Ranch, Big Cheezy, and Salt and Vinegar. If you’ve got a bag of Voodoo sitting in your cabinet, it’s not included. Same goes for any other Zapp’s flavor not on the list above.
The Bottom Line
This is a limited, precautionary recall. Nine products, two brands, specific batch codes and dates. No one has gotten sick, and Utz’s own testing didn’t find any contamination. But the ingredient supplier flagged a problem, and Utz did the right thing by pulling the products rather than waiting around.
If you buy Zapp’s or Dirty chips regularly, take 30 seconds to check your bags against the list. Look at the UPC, the best-by date, and the batch code. If everything matches, throw the bag out and call Utz for a refund. If nothing matches, eat your chips in peace.
For the most up-to-date information and product images, you can check the official FDA recall page. And if you have questions, Utz customer care is reachable at 1-877-423-0149 or 1-800-FOR-SNAX.
Those of you looking to us burner phones to assist with our communication problems should note: the era of the burner phone could end with the rollout of new “Know Your Customer” rules voted on by the FCC on April 30, as noted by the blog of the D.C. telecom law firm Wiley Rein. Customers would, according to the proposed rules, have to present a government ID, a physical address, a full legal name, and an existing phone number. FCC rules at this phase are not yet in force, and would not go into effect for a year after full approval. The commission is still seeking comment, and is asking to hear privacy concerns specifically.
I am not pleased with the lost of more than $1,000,000 on May 8’s Fantasy Five. You told me that the winning numbers would be 5,4,3,2,&1. So I played 0+5 =5 to get the first number.
5 then I added 4 to get the second number [9]; then I added 3 to that to get the third number [12]; then I added 2 to that to get the fourth number [14]; then I added 1 to that to get the fifth and last number [15]. Yes, the winning Fantasy Five for May 8th was {5, 9, 12, 14, 15|. But to my surprise two others had picked the same numbers. Thus I had to split the $1.5 million three ways.
Why did I have to do all that math to end up sharing with some random picks? You sent me here without financial support and when I ask for some help, you give me this. Fix it please.
It may have turned out differently had you not shared the math with others.
I want the next Democratic president to arrive in Washington with no illusions, no nostalgia, no trembling respect for institutions that refused to respect democracy.
I do not want another restoration presidency or another soothing adult in the room speech. I do not want another Democrat who genuflects before norms that Republicans incinerated years ago, then acts shocked when the arsonists ask for matches.
I want the next Democratic president to say, right now, before a single vote is cast, exactly what will happen on day one when he or she takes the oath of office. I have no idea who that person will be but I do know that not one prospective Democratic candidate is saying what needs to be said at the moment. That needs to change.
Republicans who claim to be Catholics showed once again that the most important thing to them is the color of your skin. They have no problem with the idiot they elected dissing the Pope as long as he continues to promise that the lowest white man will be better off than the most accomplished non white man.
The rest of you idiot non-whites better wake up. If “white” america could establish ovens for your asses, you better believe that most of them would be okay with it. I’m “white” and I am starting to think that you idiots deserve a hot end.
If you identity gets stolen, no matter how small, you should file a police report. You file the police report or affidavit so there’s legal jeopardy attached to lying about it.
Otherwise anyone can just claim they were never customers and get everything written off. If you can recognize that people scam carriers with others’ personal information, you should be able to reconcile yourself with the fact that people also scam carriers by using their own information, then lie about never having signed up for it. This how to weed those people out. You’re claiming you were a victim of a crime. Johnny Law has to be involved in order to get satisfaction.
If you hold a company responsible for your husband’s information being available everywhere and then being used with said company, it’s not the company’s fault and you have unrealistic expectations about how things work in the modern day.
Okay, you republicans who are naturalized citizens and you those of you who voted republican for whatever reason have something to worry about. Your boy tRump is creating a department whose sole job is to strip you of that naturalized citizenship.
Aww, too bad for you assholes who wanted a few more dollars in your pocket; or who didn’t want your daughters going to the ladies with men; or you fill in the ________ that republicans gave you to vote for them. Now you can worry about that in your former shitty countries. Goodbye, and good riddance to you idiots.
The asshole that was sucked into a Frontier jet engine really pissed me off. I missed my restaurant reservation because of the piece of shit. WTF!
Putin is incensed at the thought that the Ear will reenter his war against Ukraine. He is aware that some of the oligarths in Russia are willing to work with the Ear to stage a coup.
The meat processing industry paid tRump a huge sum to get him to change the federal rules in their favor. More people in the US will get sick and die from the changed rules.
In February, the United States Department of Agriculture announced two proposed changes to federal rules governing the rate of production in meat processing plants—a move advocates say would endanger workers, public health, and the environment. One proposed amendment would raise the maximum line speeds in poultry slaughter from 140 birds per minute to 175 for chicken and from 55 birds per minute to 60 for turkey. For swine slaughter, the agency is proposing there be no cap on line speed at all.
The proposals are in line with other Trump administration policies that encourage higher meat consumption among Americans—like the revised food pyramid with its emphasis on eating more protein. But despite the promise of lower costs and higher efficiency, experts say these proposed rollbacks pose more risks than benefits to the public.
The benefits to electing tRump just keeps getting better.
When the Power is Gone: Cowardice of Nazi Leaders.
Nazi leaders were cold and fearless as depicted in history. However the reality is far otherwise. At the time these men were eventually apprehended they were not tough at all. They were mere fearful men without uniforms and their guards.
Their great image was broken to the point that they fell into despair when they knew they were about to die.
Hans Frank was a horrible person in Poland. He was a man with no heart. However, he had reformed by the time he got to the gallows in 1946. He said that he was a new man who had discovered God in prison.
He did not say anything heroic as he was standing upon the brink of death. He only pleaded with God to spare him. It is weird that a man who had shown no mercy to millions of people now requested the same to be given to him in his dying breath.
Adolf Eichmann: The Letter to save his life.
Adolf Eichmann was a coward and was one of the leaders behind the holocaust. In 1962, he made an attempt not to be executed by writing a letter to the President of Israel.
At that time he did not behave like a leader did. He pleaded over his life claiming that he was only a small person who was obeying the orders. He attempted to put the blame on all parties to avoid being hanged. When he was killing he felt strong, but when it was his time to die he was terrified.
Julius Streicher: The Screaming Exit.
Nothing was worse than Julius Streicher. He did not meet his death with any honor. They took him to the gallows shaking and screaming. His entire life was spent being a bully but he perished crying like those he would torment.
My Final Thought
This teaches us a major lesson that Bullies are just bold when they carry a weapon. They are the ones that are normally afraid when the power is gone. These men had the desire to be remembered as giants yet they passed away as small trembling men who demanded a second chance, which they had never afforded to others.
The majority of voting Cardinals said they would never vote for an American Cardinal to be Pope. That was because all of them were “white” Americans. Then along came Robert Frances Prevost, he was American and although he was passing as a “white” American, he was black from his maternal side. The voting Cardinals knew that. Since he was free from the stain of being a “white” American Cardinal, they felt free to cast a ballot for him. The term “white” is unique to America. No other country recognizes the term as distinguishing, a European from a non European. Only in America did racists call themselves “white” so as to keep certain Europeans (Irish, Italians, etc) and non Europeans in a lower caste.
You will never hear Pope Leo XIV referred to as black in America by “white” Catholics. It would be an anathema for those racists to accept the absolute authority of a Black Pope of the Catholic Church. He will henceforth be referred to as a person of Creole background. Read this and weep MFs.
Pope Leo XIV, elected in May 2025, is Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cardinal with deep, previously unknown Louisiana Creole roots. His maternal grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié, were people of color from New Orleans’ Seventh Ward who moved to Chicago in the early 1900s, according to genealogical research by Jari C. Honora.Key Details on the New Orleans Connection:Maternal Lineage: Pope Leo XIV’s mother, Mildred Martinez, was the daughter of New Orleans natives.Grandparents’ Background: His grandparents, Joseph Martinez (born in Santo Domingo/Haiti) and Louise Baquié (born in New Orleans), are listed as Black or “mulatto” in early 20th-century census records.Seventh Ward Roots: The family resided in New Orleans’ historic Seventh Ward, known for its diverse Catholic community, and were married at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church on Annette Street in 1887.Generational Roots: Genealogists traced his maternal family back to the 18th century in Louisiana, with records revealing some ancestors were free people of color.”Passing” as White: His grandparents moved from New Orleans to Chicago between 1910 and 1912, where they transitioned from being identified as people of color to living as white.While born and raised in Chicago as a white man, Pope Leo XIV is considered the first American and the first Creole pope, with direct links to New Orleans’ Creole of Color history.
Teaching humans how to remove Methane gas from their atmosphere via iron salt aerosols should be forbidden. It could result in a chlorine enriched Earth atmosphere. Our species have lived on Earth far longer than humans. That kind of atmosphere enrichment would be dangerous to us.
Republicans always get to yes.
Can we stop an election already underway so we can redraw the map? Yes.
Can we stack a Supreme Court with justices who will rush a ruling into effect so our legislatures can erase Black political power before November? Yes.
Can we carve up Democratic districts, cancel primaries, confuse voters, invite lawsuits and call the whole thing “election integrity”? Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.
Democrats, meanwhile, always manage to get to no.
Can we fight back? No, precedent.
Can we redraw our own maps? No, process.
Can we use the same procedural hardball Republicans use? No, too extreme.
Can we change the rules when the rules are being used to strangle democracy? No, not enough time.
Can we use power before power is taken from us? No, someone on The New York Times editorial board or Morning Joe may disapprove.
This is how well-intentioned people lose countries, while congratulating themselves on having followed the proper process.
Look at Louisiana. The Supreme Court issued a ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that blocked Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district and weakened a key part of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling has already prompted Republican-led states to redraw maps in ways that put safely Democratic House seats at risk before the midterms. They cannot win by appealing to a majority of voters, so they curate districts to ensure that Democratic votes are disenfranchised.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry did not respond by wringing his hands about voter confusion or institutional norms. He postponed the state’s May congressional primary so the Republican-led legislature could draw a new map. Campaigns were already underway and ballots had already gone out. Voters were already participating. He did it anyway. When 60 Minutes asked him about it on Sunday, he shrugged and all but said that the voters will get a new chance to vote at some later date under the rigged map he and his legislative enablers will devise.
Landry has every right to be cocky. He knows full well that the Supreme Court is acting more like an arm of the Republican National Committee than an impartial tribunal. Normally, the Court waits thirty two days before sending its formal judgment to the lower court. This time, the conservative majority let the ruling take effect ahead of schedule, which was only the third such departure in twenty five years. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned that the Court was departing from standard procedure in a way that favored Louisiana Republicans. Justice Alito and other conservatives huffed that her criticism was unfair. Of course they did. The getaway driver is always offended when someone writes down the license plate.
That is Republican politics in one scene: find the lever, pull the lever, dare anyone to stop you.
And then there are Virginia Democrats.
Last week, the Virginia Supreme Court struck down a voter-approved congressional redistricting plan that could have helped Democrats win as many as four additional House seats. The court ruled that the legislature violated procedural rules in how it placed the constitutional amendment on the ballot, voiding the referendum and handing Republicans a significant win before the midterms. Democrats had invested more than $64 million in the campaign and saw the map as a way to counter Republican redistricting efforts nationwide. The voters of the Commonwealth agreed.
Then came the usual Democratic paralysis. Virginia Democrats initially discussed a procedural counterstrike: changing the judicial retirement age to force resignations on the state Supreme Court, replace justices and seek a rehearing. They decided against it. State Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell argued that the timing did not work and that the state’s election systems needed maps entered by May 12 for August primaries.
Really? Landry literally stopped primary voting as it was underway, but Virginia Democratic leaders are worried about running out of time before a primary three months away? The story remains damning: once again, Republicans got the result they wanted, and Democrats found the reason they could not respond.
Why? Because Republicans plan for power and Democrats plan for criticism.
That has to end.
Democrats should stop acting as if the law requires unilateral surrender. There is a difference between lawlessness and hardball. Republicans understand that difference perfectly — though when they want to act lawlessly, they run to the Supreme Court, which blesses their behavior. That’s because Republicans have planned for this moment for years. While Democrats were worrying about what the law school faculty lounge was going to think, Mitch McConnell held up a Supreme Court vacancy for a year in order to get his kind of justice on the court. That was a decade ago and Democrats have not learned a damn thing since.
If Democrats win back either chamber of Congress, they should put Jared Kushner under oath immediately.
Kushner is not the only scandal. There are, of course, many other fires to put out, from what Donald Trump has done with health care, tariffs, immigration, and politicized prosecutions to the courts, DOGE, and voting rights. But Kushner should go first because he is the clearest, most nauseating example of what this administration is. He is the business model that underscores how pursuit of the almighty dollar has impacted every single policy decision it has taken.
Affinity Partners, Kushner’s investment firm, saw assets under management jump to $4.8 billion by the end of 2024 after it secured new money from Middle Eastern investors, including Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi-based Lunate. Shortly after he left the White House at the end of his father-in-law’s first term, the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund handed $2 billion to Affinity, despite the trepidation of its investment professionals — who were overruled by the Kingdom’s de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman. (He of the hacksaw.) Kushner is Affinity’s sole owner.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi are three Gulf power centers with enormous business before the United States. They care about Iran, Gaza, oil, weapons, sanctions, shipping lanes, security guarantees, and American silence on human rights. These are not passive investors in an index fund. They are foreign governments and state-linked vehicles buying proximity to the president’s family.
That is not a conflict of interest. That is the conflict of interest — and Congress should treat it that way. The good news is that it appears some Democrats on the Hill might be taking this seriously enough to finally hold Kushner to account…
Sit down for this one. John Roberts would like Americans to stop saying the Supreme Court is political.
Seriously.
Roberts, speaking at a judicial conference in Hersey, Pennsylvania, complained that the public increasingly views the justices as “political actors” and insisted that they decide cases based on the Constitution, not on policy preferences. He had the temerity to say this with a straight face as his conservative supermajority overturned Roe v Wade, gutted affirmative action, weakened voting rights, expanded gun rights, kneecapped federal regulation and handed Donald Trump an immunity doctrine no president in American history had ever enjoyed — and one that is found nowhere in the Constitution.
Gaslighting, thy name is John Roberts.
Roberts does not want Americans to believe the Court is apolitical because the Court has behaved apolitically. He wants Americans to believe it because the Court’s power depends on everyone pretending not to see what is right in front of our faces.
You aliens are desperately looking for the Immortal. As a being who knew him for at least 200 Earth years, I say if he gave you his friendship, It makes you different from other mortals. You must accept what that means. Only then can you unlock the doors to your own potential. Embrace that friendship and you will discover powers that you never imagined. He will always be there. You just have to be ready for him. He will never try to change your mind, but he has given you a gift.
And be warned abuse it and it will lead to your destruction. Respect it, and it will save you and those you love.
When the student is ready the master appears…and when the student is truly ready the master disappears. This has taken me a while to adjust to. But I get it. I understand the nuance. I remember and appreciate all that I was taught and experienced. For me, Tzarme and the others coming into my life changed things for me. Michelle and I were together for over 20 years and they were with us throughout. I also know that they began visiting me since I was 8 years old.
Throughout my life I feel blessed to have been able to experience so much amazing and mind altering lessons. I am forever grateful for my friendships with so many different beings that were created along the way. I am grateful for all of the healing, learning, expansion and so much more that I received.
Another case for the DOJ and Congress when the Dems get control of the WH and Congress:
Eric Trump is accompanying his father on a state visit to Beijing while a company linked to the Trump family’s crypto interests is pursuing a deal with a Chinese chipmaker. That company, Alt5 Sigma, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Nano Labs, a Hangzhou-based company, to explore AI-related ventures, including building American-based data centers, cloud AI platforms and AI-native payments.
Eric Trump holds an observer position on Alt5’s board and the company is chaired by Zach Witkoff, the son of Steve Witkoff and a partner in World Liberty Financial, the Trump crypto venture. Another Alt5 board member, Zachary Folkman, is also a World Liberty co-founder. World Liberty Financial is the lead investor in a $750 million portion of Alt5’s $1.5 billion share offering, while Alt5 holds roughly 7.3 billion WLFI tokens on its balance sheet at a stated value of $1.05 billion. (Alt5 is now rebranding as AI Financial Corporation.)
That is not a minor coincidence. It is a collision of public power and private interest — much of it related to China — that stands to massively enrich the family of the president of the United States.
This scandal involves foreign intelligence assets, Chinese influence, and Middle Eastern money. It should be leading nightly newscasts and the front pages of the nation’s newspapers. Instead, it has been buried under a mountain of other China-summit coverage, despite its explosive tentacles
Again we ask that Er*/^ not be allowed melt any of the ice in Mars’ southern polar ice cap. A mishap by them could cause the entire planet to be covered by an ocean 36 feet deep.
Standing in front of the seafood counter, that bargain-priced fish looks pretty tempting. After all, who doesn’t want to save a few bucks on dinner? But here’s the thing about suspiciously cheap fish – there’s usually a reason it’s priced so low. Some of these budget options come with hidden problems that range from bland taste to questionable farming practices. While you don’t need to break the bank for good fish, knowing which cheap options to skip can save you from a disappointing meal.
Tilapia from overseas farms spells trouble
Walk into any grocery store and tilapia is usually one of the cheapest fish options available. It’s everywhere, it’s affordable, and it seems like the perfect budget-friendly protein. The problem is that most cheap tilapia comes from overseas farms where quality control isn’t exactly a priority. Many of these operations use practices that would make your stomach turn, including feeding fish waste products and using chemicals banned in the United States.
Even setting aside those concerns, tilapia just isn’t that great to eat. It’s basically the blank slate of fish – meaning it has almost no taste at all. Plus, it’s surprisingly low in the healthy omega-3 fatty acids that make fish worth eating in the first place. If you want something mild and affordable, try wild-caught trout instead. It has similar cooking properties but actually tastes like fish should.
Asian catfish goes by many sneaky names
Here’s where things get confusing at the fish counter. You might see fish labeled as swai, basa, or tra – all of which are actually Asian catfish from Vietnam or China. These fish can’t legally be sold as “catfish” in America because that name is reserved for domestic species. The reason for this labeling law becomes clear when you learn about the farming conditions these fish come from.
Many of these operations use heavy amounts of chemicals and antibiotics that aren’t allowed in American fish farming. The environmental conditions where they’re raised often involve polluted water that you definitely wouldn’t want your dinner swimming in. American catfish, on the other hand, is actually a great budget option that’s responsibly farmed and tastes much better. Stick with domestic catfish if you want that mild, versatile fish experience without the baggage.
Atlantic cod populations are in serious trouble
Atlantic cod used to be so common that people thought the supply would never run out. That confidence was misplaced – by the 1990s, cod populations had crashed so hard that entire fishing communities lost their way of life. Even today, decades later, Atlantic cod numbers haven’t recovered. When you see cheap Atlantic cod at the store, it’s often from the few remaining sources that are struggling to rebuild their populations.
The methods used to catch the remaining Atlantic cod often involve bottom trawling, which damages ocean habitats. While Pacific cod from Alaska is doing much better and makes a great substitute, Atlantic cod is best avoided entirely. If you’re craving that classic fish-and-chips experience, try haddock or Pacific cod instead. They have similar texture and taste without contributing to the problem.
Orange roughy lives way too long for its own good
Orange roughy might seem like a good deal when it shows up cheap at the grocery store, but this fish has a unique problem – it lives for up to 100 years and doesn’t start reproducing until it’s around 20 years old. That means when fishing boats catch orange roughy, they’re often taking fish that took decades to mature. It’s like cutting down old-growth forests – once they’re gone, they take forever to replace.
To make matters worse, orange roughy accumulates mercury throughout its long life, making it one of the highest-mercury fish you can buy. The FDA specifically warns pregnant women and children to avoid it entirely. Even if you don’t fall into those categories, there are much better alternatives available that don’t come with these issues. Try barramundi or mahi-mahi for similar texture without the problems.
Farmed salmon can be surprisingly nasty
Not all salmon is created equal, and the cheap farmed Atlantic salmon you see everywhere is often the worst option. These fish are raised in overcrowded pens where disease spreads quickly, leading farmers to dose them regularly with antibiotics and pesticides. The cramped conditions also mean the fish don’t get much exercise, resulting in fatty, less flavorful meat that’s nothing like wild salmon.
The color of farmed salmon is often artificially enhanced because their diet doesn’t naturally produce the pink color we associate with salmon. Wild Alaskan salmon costs more upfront, but the difference in taste and quality is dramatic. If budget is a concern, look for salmon steaks instead of fillets – they’re cheaper cuts from the same fish with all the same benefits.
Pink and keta salmon disappoint every time
When salmon is on sale in the freezer section, it’s usually pink salmon or keta salmon (sometimes called chum salmon). There’s a reason these varieties are cheap – they’re the least desirable types of salmon you can buy. Pink salmon is small and has a very mild taste that many people find boring. Keta salmon was literally called “dog salmon” because it was once primarily used as dog food.
Both of these salmon types are much leaner than their premium cousins, which means they dry out easily when cooked. They lack the rich, buttery texture that makes salmon special in the first place. While they’re not harmful to eat, they’re prone to overcooking and generally disappointing. Spending a little more on sockeye or coho salmon will give you a completely different – and much better – eating experience.
Tilefish packs way too much mercury
Tilefish is one of those fish that sounds exotic and interesting when you see it at the market. It’s often reasonably priced and has a sweet, almost shellfish-like taste that many people enjoy. The problem is that tilefish are large, long-lived predators that spend their lives accumulating mercury from smaller fish they eat. By the time they reach your plate, they’re essentially mercury sponges.
The FDA has found that tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico consistently have the highest mercury levels of any commonly sold fish. Atlantic tilefish aren’t much better. Even occasional consumption can be problematic, especially for women who might become pregnant. Instead of rolling the dice with tilefish, try grouper or snapper, which have similar taste profiles without the mercury concerns.
Winter skate breaks down too quickly
Skate wing might look interesting at the fish counter, and it can be delicious when it’s absolutely fresh. The problem is that skate has unusual body chemistry that causes it to break down much faster than regular fish. When skate isn’t handled perfectly from boat to store, it develops a strong ammonia smell and taste that’s thoroughly unpleasant. Most home cooks can’t tell if skate is still good just by looking at it.
Beyond the freshness issues, winter skate populations are in trouble due to slow reproduction rates and overfishing. Many related skate species are also struggling, with some avoided being listed as endangered only because there wasn’t enough data to make the determination. Unless you’re buying from a trusted fishmonger who specializes in skate, it’s better to avoid this option entirely and choose more reliable alternatives like flounder or sole.
Escolar causes embarrassing digestive problems
Escolar is sometimes called “white tuna” and can seem like a great deal when you find it cheap. Here’s the thing though – escolar contains natural wax esters that human digestive systems simply can’t process. Eating more than a small portion of escolar can lead to a condition called keriorrhea, which is exactly as unpleasant as it sounds. We’re talking about oily, orange-colored digestive issues that can last for hours.
Some restaurants serve escolar in small portions as a delicacy, but buying it for home cooking is asking for trouble. Most people don’t know about the portion limits, and even a normal-sized serving can cause problems. The FDA doesn’t even recognize escolar as safe for commercial sale. If you want something with a similar rich, buttery texture, try black cod instead – it has all the good qualities of escolar without the digestive drama.
The next time cheap fish catches your eye at the store, remember that the best deals aren’t always the ones with the lowest price tags. Smart fish shopping means knowing which bargains to skip and which alternatives will actually deliver a good meal. Your dinner table – and your wallet in the long run – will thank you for choosing quality over rock-bottom prices.