Grazing the Net: Stinky science
The growing chorus from environmental activists pins much of the blame for climate change on livestock production. In fact, Denmark's Council on Ethics is calling for a "climate tax" on red meat, action they believe is an "effective response to climate-damaging foods."
Misplaced priorities, according to air quality specialist and UC Davis animal science professor Frank Mitloehner. "Both globally and in the U.S., energy production and use, as well as the transportation sectors, are the largest anthropogenic contributors of greenhouse gasses (GHG), which are believed to drive climate change," Mitloehner writes in a new blog post, "Livestock and Climate Change: Facts and Fiction."
To combat climate change, Mitloehner argues we should divorce "political fiction from scientific facts around the quantification of GHG from all sectors of society." He says scientists have quantified the impacts of livestock production in the U.S., which accounts for 4.2 percent of all GHG emissions, very far from the 18-51 percent range that advocates often cite.
Tarnished tacos
In addition to revenue declines of 23% in the first quarter, Chipotle's "reputation score" suffered after the food safety events last fall sickened customers in several states. In fact, Chipotle has gone from first to worst when compared to its closest rivals.
Moe's Southwestern Grill and Jack in the Box Inc.'s Qdoba ranking higher than Chipotle, according to WD Partners and Nation's Restaurant News.
Last year Chipotle had the best reputation among Mexican limited-service chains.
Silly sandals
We seldom comment about fashion, because...
well, if George Strait wouldn't wear it we're probably not interested. We admit, however, we've seen lots of folks wearing stuff they actually paid for that are just plain silly. That's how we would describe cowboy boot sandals, the brainchild of Scotty Franklin.
The footwear is what you would expect "if a drunk cowboy took scissors to his own boots to customize them for the summer heat." Franklin is touting them as a "hot new fashion trend," but we have our doubts any sober cowboy would wear them. Check out the links to fully grasp the wacky idea.
Mexico warns about clenbuterol
Mexico is watching out for the banned steroid clenbuterol — on the dinner plates of its athletes. Some Mexican ranchers have been known to use clenbuterol
to help increase meat yields, even though it is prohibited. Mexico's national sports commission, Conade, said Wednesday that coaches are keeping a special watch on meat supplied to athletes ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic games.
