Jerry Wolkoff Blog

Friday, January 13, 2017

NUTS FOR NUTELLA-PART 2

I wrote a previous Blog post in 2015 about my love affair and addiction to Nutella (CLICK HERE).

A short time after that Blog post I quit "cold turkey" my need to consume mountains of Nutella.

If you have never eaten Nutella , I can only describe it as a near religious experience, a taste of sweet heaven.

A European report is claiming that refined palm oil, a key ingredient in Nutella, may increase your risk of cancer. In response to the news, some retailers have boycotted the ingredient, pulling it from grocery store shelves across Europe.

Although initial concerns about palm oil were announced by the European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) in May, the news is only just reaching the US, where there are currently no FDA restrictions against its use.

Many processed foods use palm oil, including ice cream, cake mixes, margarine, and packaged bread. The oil can also be found in some non-edible items.

1. The EFSA Claims That Palm Oil Can Pose a Cancer Risk

Science says Nutella can cause cancer, Nutella cancer, Study shows nutella causes cancer

Jars of Nutella are displayed on a shelf at a market on August 18, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The threat of a Nutella shortage is looming after a March frost in Turkey destroyed nearly 70 percent of the hazelnut crops, the main ingredient in the popular chocolate spread. Turkey is the largest producer of hazelnuts in the world. (Getty)

In May, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) claimed that palm oil is carcinogenic, and “generated more of a potentially carcinogenic contaminant than other vegetable oils when refined at temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius.” Glycidyl fatty acid ester (GE) is at the center of the cancer concerns, and GE is only produced when palm oil is heated above 200 degrees celsius.

1) In May, the chair of the ESFA panel that investigated palm oil, said: “There is sufficient evidence that glycidol is genotoxic and carcinogenic, therefore the Contam panel did not set a safe level for GE.” The ESFA has not yet recommended stopping the use of palm oil.

On December 7, an academic study funded partially by UK charity Worldwide Cancer Research claimed a link between palm oil and the rapid spread of cancer in mice. Mice who were fed a high fat diet and large amounts of palmitic acid (a large component of palm oil) developed the most aggressive cancer spread, according to the study.

2. Ferrero Is Defending the Use of Palm Oil

Chef Dominique Ansel poses with his latest creation, Nutella Pancake Cone, made especially for Nutells?s International Pancake Tuesday event on February 17, 2015 in New York City. (Getty)

Ferrero, an Italian corporation, has launched an advertising campaign to assure the public of Nutella’s safety.

In their commercial campaign, Ferrero says that Nutella would not be the same without palm oil and that they “use it in a way that isn’t dangerous.” In the add, Ferrero’s purchasing manager, Vincenzo Tapella, explains that the palm oil used by Ferrero is not only processed at a controlled temperature, but it comes from freshly squeezed fruits, making it safe.

3. Nutella Was Trending on Twitter Wednesday Night

As of Wednesday evening, Nutella was trending on Twitter, and people across the globe were voicing their opinions on the news. Many have commented that despite cancer claims, eating Nutella is still worth it.

4. Palm Oil Is the Cheapest Vegetable Oil

Palm oil is the cheapest oil in the market, and Ferrero uses about 185,000 tons of the ingredient each year, according to the SF Gate. A switch away from palm oil could cost anywhere from $8 to $22 million more each year.

Tapella has also said using another oil in place of palm oil would change the character of Nutella. Tapella told Reuters, “Making Nutella without palm oil would produce an inferior substitute for the real product, it would be a step backward.”

5. Nutella Profits Have Gone Down 3%

(Getty)

According to the Daily Mail, Nutella’s profits have taken a 3% hit since the EFSA claimed palm oil is more carcinogenic than any other oil.

Nutella makes up about a fifth of Ferrero’s sales, according to Channel NewsAsia, and the palm oil industry is currently valued at $44 billion.

As of January 11, the US Food and Drug Administration had not banned using palm oil in food.

Whenever something tastes so good, I assume it's not healthy for your body.

With Nutella you cannot follow the usual advice of eat in moderation. It's either all or nothing.

Smear that Nutella on your fingers, bread, waffles, ice cream., cake, or just mix it with anything and you will smile as you eat it all up.

Say it ain't so that Nutella allegedly increase the risk for cancer.

While I don't currently eat it, those who do should be able to savor it's mystically, magical taste.

How could they ban Nutella?

It calls your name in the supermarket, "buy me, buy 1, no buy 3, you can handle it, just one more time".

The World need Nutella.

Thursday, January 12, 2017

THEY DON'T HAVE A HEART AND THEY DON'T CARE

Sometimes people do unimaginable, insensitive, cruel, actions to others when just a little compassion to others is the only small thing required.

The story below defies how supposed human beings could act in such a callous manner to two grieving sisters and were somehow perceived as a dangerous "threat".

Debbie Hartman, who, along with her sister, Trisha Baker never got to say goodbye to their dying father.

The two sisters said they were humiliated after Allegiant Air kicked them off their flight claiming they were a "threat".

"I just wanted to see my dad," said Debbie Hartman, who, along with her sister, Trisha Baker, missed being with their father for his final moments, WKMG reported.

Hartman and Baker were on their way from Sanford, Florida, to Asheville, North Carolina, to visit their sick father, who was in hospice care Monday.

While the plane was waiting to leave the tarmac, Hartman's sister got a text message that their father only had hours to live.

"I didn't know if my sister was getting the same text and (I) was I thinking, 'I need to go back and tell her,'" Baker said.

Baker said once she got up to tell her sister, a flight attendant stepped in.

"She said, 'You need to sit down' and I said, 'Well, can I just sit here? I just want to console my sister. We just got word that my dad's dying,'" Baker said.

Hartman said she started having a panic attack and the situation escalated after Baker confronted the flight attendant for not being compassionate.

"(My sister) said (to the flight attendant), 'You're being very rude. My father is dying, and I'm comforting her,' and they said she needed to keep her personal problems off the plane," Hartman said.

Minutes later, the sisters said the flight attendant called the captain, the plane turned around and airport security escorted them off the flight.

"People were like, 'What's going on?'" Hartman said.

One passenger complained about the situation and posted her reaction on YouTube.

"That was the most inhumane, deplorable thing I've ever seen any human being do," the passenger said.

Hartman said their father died shortly after and she wants the airline to be held accountable.

"I would like to see them in some way be punished in a way where people understand. This is not humane. One-hundred thousand percent I blame them. They were the gate between keeping me from my father to say goodbye," Hartman said.

The airline released the following statement:

"At Allegiant, we rely on our crew members to provide and oversee a safe environment for every passenger, on every flight. We expect that authority to be exercised both judiciously and consistently, with empathy and with good judgment. We take this customer feedback seriously and are in the process of conducting an investigation into what occurred. "

Bullshit response Allegiant. Not even the name of the person issuing the statement is listed.

Too little, Too late. Too phony.

Just a heartless, scripted, meaningless response from them for inhuman, cruel and disgusting behavior from their Staff.

No accountability, no human reaction, no apology, no remorse.

Unacceptable!

Posted by Jerry Wolkoff at 10:28 PM

Saturday, December 17, 2016

FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US IN 2016

HAPPY FESTIVUS

The Winter Holiday season, in particular Christmas are portrayed in our society as the happiest time of the year, an opportunity to be joyful and grateful with family, friends and colleagues.

It has always seemed to me that this time of the year highlights the hypocrisy of Society by designating the period for everyone to be joyful, compassionate toward those less fortunate, being friendly, courteous, and doing "all the right" choreographed things in their interactions with others.

Suddenly sick children in hospitals are showered with free gifts by strangers, magical Santa Claus appears to provide needy children with toys, the poor are given free warm clothes, food, and treated as human beings.

What about the rest of the year, when most of these very same people who are still suffering, become invisible, ignored by most others, where does the kindness they received during the Holiday Season go? It simply disappears, these humans no longer are worthy of being recognized.

According to the National Institute of Health Christmas/Holiday Season is the time of year that people experience a high incidence of depression.

Hospitals and police forces report high incidences of suicide and attempted suicide.

Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers and other mental health professionals report a significant increase in patients complaining about depression.

One North American survey reported that 45% of respondents dreaded the season.

It appears to have more to do with unrealistic expectations and excessive self-reflection for many people.

For some people, they get depressed at this time of the year and even angry because of the extreme commercialization with the focus on gifts and the emphasis on "perfect" social activities.

Others get depressed because it appears to be a trigger to engage in excessive self-reflection and rumination about the inadequacies of life (and creates a "victim" mentality) in comparison with other people who seem to have more and do more.

Still others become anxious because of the pressure (both commercial and self-induced) to spend a lot of money on gifts and incur increasing debt.

Some report that they dread Christmas because of the expectations for social gatherings with family, friends and acquaintances that they'd rather not spend time with.

And finally, many people feel very lonely at Christmas, because they have suffered the loss of loved ones, are distant from family members, or live alone.

To counter all of this, I suggest that we all look back to the truly positive holiday spirit of "Happy Festivus" which is the traditional greeting of Festivus, a holiday featured in "The Strike" episode of The Seinfeld Televison show aired on December 18, 1997.

According to the Seinfeld model, Festivus is celebrated each year on December 23rd.

However many people celebrate it other times in December, and even at other times throughout the year.

The slogan of Festivus is "A Festivus for the rest of us!"

The usual holiday tradition of a tree is replaced by an unadorned aluminum pole, which is in direct contrast to normal holiday materialism.

Those attending Festivus may also participate in the "Airing of Grievances" which is an opportunity to tell others how they have disappointed you in the past year, followed by a Festivus dinner, and then completed by the "Feats of Strength" where the head of the household must be pinned.

The Festivus celebration includes four main components:

The Festivus Pole: The tradition begins with an aluminum pole, which is used for its "very high strength-to-weight ratio."

During Festivus, the unadorned Festivus Pole is displayed.

The pole was chosen apparently in opposition to the commercialization of highly decorated Christmas trees, because it is "very low-maintenance," and also because the holiday's patron, Frank Costanza, "finds tinsel distracting."

The Airing of Grievances: At the beginning of the Festivus dinner, each participant tells friends and family of all the instances where they disappointed him or her that year.

As quoted from Frank Costanza: "I've got a lot of problems with you people, and now you're going to hear about it!"

Festivus Dinner: A celebratory dinner is shown on the evening of Festivus prior to the Feats of Strength. In the episode the meal appeared to be meat loaf or spaghetti in a red sauce.

The Feats of Strength: After the dinner, the head of the household tests his or her strength against one participant of their choosing.

Festivus is not considered over until the head of the family has been pinned. However, a participant may be allowed to decline to attempt to pin the head of the household only if they have something better to do instead.

Set aside today, or any day this month, including December 23rd and break out the meat loaf, because Festivus is once again upon us!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

THEY ARE nAZIS, BIGOTS,RACISTS-THAT"S WHAT THEY ARE CALLED.

Bodies of Jews Murdered in Holocaust by Nazis

NEVER AGAIN!

Those are real human beings in the horrific picture above slaughtered by nazis during the Holocaust.

nazis killed 6 million Jews during the holocaust and an additional 6 million non Jews= 12 million innocent human beings according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Today we have the same newly branded alt-right=nazis in the United States. They are planning to do some similar ethnic cleansing here.

Could a Holocaust happen in America. Sure why not?

They are nazis,Bigots,Racists-That's what they are called.

Now the media calls them the alt-right -a sugar coated word that legitimizes them.

If you see it the media use the words alt-right call them, email them, write to them, Tell them this must stop!.

The media must refer to them as Nazis before their phony name becomes reinforced in the minds of the public.

One of the reasons they’ve achieved such widespread recognition is the “catchiness” of their name. If you can evoke the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazis and sound kind of edgy, it seems you can make it in a digital age where one’s values and basic human decency can be tossed out the window with a whim and an Avatar.

Think Progress is done with coddling these slimy creeps with cute nicknames. One of their more visible spokesmen these days is Richard Spencer who just held a gala conference in Washington D.C. to celebrate Trump’s victory.

Instead of high-fives, people gave each other Sieg Heils and Nazi salutes. Yes,that happened this weekend. He’s head of a White Supremacist organization called the National Policy Institute, whose murky goals amount to complete separation of the races.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, Spencer keynoted an NPI conference in Washington, D.C. Over the course of his speech, he approvingly quoted Nazi propaganda, said that the United States is meant to be a “white country,” and suggested that many political commentators are “soulless golem” controlled by Jewish media interests.

That, in a nutshell, is the face of the so-called alt-right. As Spencer himself has said, the core of alt-right ideology is the preservation of “white identity.”

As the ThinkProgress Editors note, there’s nothing distinguishing these people from the cowardly jackasses in the white hoods who burned crosses in helpless people’s yards and ran around in groups at night terrorizing people because of their skin color.

This new group of haters just aspires to do it with the assistance of the Internet. Where they can’t physically harass someone they’ll threaten them on line. And why not? It’s cleaner, most of them don’t ever show their face, and it’s a source of constant reinforcement. Much better than holding furtive meetings in the cold, dark woods.

[Y]ou might wonder what, if anything, distinguishes the alt-right from more hidebound racist movements such as the American Nazi Party and the Ku Klux Klan. The answer is very little, except for a bit of savvy branding and a fondness for ironic Twitter memes. Spencer and his ilk are essentially standard-issue white supremacists who discovered a clever way to make themselves appear more innocuous — even a little hip.

So as the Editors point out, Trump’s de facto Chief of Staff, Steve Bannon, can brag about providing a platform for the alt-right with nine tenths of Americans not realizing he’s talking about the KKK and the NeoNazi’s. Alt-Right, huh, what? Like Alt-Rock? It’s sanitized and user-friendly. The cable networks love it—they can have special guest spokesmen from the alt-right come on their shows without ever once acknowledging the uncomfortable fact that they’re enabling White supremacists. It’s all in the name of news, after all, isn’t it?

With that in mind, ThinkProgress will no longer treat “alt-right” as an accurate descriptor of either a movement or its members. We will only use the name when quoting others. When appending our own description to men like Spencer and groups like NPI, we will use terms we consider more accurate, such as “white nationalist” or “white supremacist.”

One would hope that the rest of the media follows their lead, but the rest of the media are often slow to move.

So if you’re tired of giving people the benefit of the doubt after this election these are certainly the type of rotten people who don’t deserve any benefit and certainly aren’t worthy of any doubt.

We’re not going to get much satisfaction during the next four years but the least we can do is stop allowing these assholes to play their little games.

The point here is not to call people names, but simply to describe them as they are. We won’t do racists’ public relations work for them. Nor should other news outlets.

We have a responsibility to use morally precise language when referring to this group (which in this case, is “neo-Nazis”), to contextualize their influence (little, but more than it should be), and to unequivocally call them out.

“Alt-right” needs to go into the trash bin of history.

Which is exactly where these hatemongers belong.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

WHEN THEY CAME FOR ME

During these difficult times in America what have we learned from history?

The answer is NOTHING.

For me I have learned much & will defend it forever:

NEVER AGAIN!

Picture (with Poem) of a Small Boy Captured
During the April-May 1943 Warsaw Revolt

My God, How Could You Have Failed So Miserably?



I. I would like to be an artist So I could make a Painting of you Little Polish Boy Standing with your Little hat on your head The Star of David on your coat Standing in the ghetto with your arms up as many Nazi machine guns pointing at you I would make a monument of you and the world who said nothing I would like to be a composer so I could write a concerto of you Little Polish Boy Standing with your Little hat on your head The Star of David on your coat Standing in the ghetto with your arms up as many Nazi machine guns pointing at you I would write a concerto of you and the world who said nothing .	II. I am not an artist But my mind had painted a painting of you Ten Million Miles High is the Painting so the whole universe can see you Now Little Polish Boy Standing with your Little hat on your head The Star of David on your coat Standing in the ghetto with your arms up as many Nazi machine guns pointing at you And the World who said nothing I'll make this painting so bright that it will blind the eyes of the world who saw nothing Ten billion miles high will be the monument so the whole universe can remember of you Little Polish Boy Standing with your Little hat on your head The Star of David on your coat .	III. Standing in the ghetto with your arms up as many Nazi machine guns pointing at you And the monument will tremble so the blind world Now will know What fear is in the darkness The world Who said nothing I am not a composer but I will write a composition for five trillion trumpets so it will blast the ear drums of this world The world's Who heard nothing I am Sorry that It was you and Not me .