Pink Slime Burger! Really? You gotta love this "Pink Slime" thing. Today, the makers of the product, BPI, had a news conference and really came out swinging, defending their product. Now, for those who aren't sure of what is in pink slime, just imagine all the trash from beef production that we typically use in dog food. Then take those parts, grind them up and cleanse them with ammonia and you're there! Sounds yummy, doesn't it? Ready to run out and get that "Pink Slime" Burger? Well ya'll, I am not! Being a Texan and raised around those wonderfully hooved animals that gives us T-Bones and hamburgers, I strongly object to BPI. I think that what amazed me the most was the arrogance and downright bully attitude of BPI in their comments. BPI seems to be offended that the contents of their product has been grossly misrepresented and their good name has been besmirched in the media, especially by ABC News. Further, BPI says they are closing 3 of their 4 production lines, but paying the assigned workforce for 60 days. At the end of that 60 day period, if production and sales are not reinstated, they will have to layoff those workers. Now, this is where my anger starts to rise with BPI. Let's look at the facts. BPI has made a product that is typically dog food and mixed it with ammonia and put it in my hamburger. They did this without making the consumer aware of the ingredients we are consuming. Now that the consumer is aware, BPI is being told by a clear public voice that we don't want that product in our food. I believe that behavior was, at the least sneaky, at the most downright dishonest. To top that off, they tried the guilt trip on the American public by saying layoffs will occur to those innocent employees if we don't agree to accept their product. This comment by BPI is not only irresponsible, but downright shameful. BPI, the message is clear. You got caught acting in a manner that is unacceptable to the American public. Our opinion has been overwhelmingly voiced. You as a company are solely responsible for those employees and their financial futures. Don't try and guilt us on the layoff of those employees. Your poor business decisions are directly contributing to their plight. Sounds like BPI has some explaining to do.

The Tragedy Of Trayvon Over the past few days, we have keenly followed the heart-breaking death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida. I have found the details of this case tragic and extremely disturbing. As the case has unfolded in the media, we have seen a young man who was brutally accosted and gunned down by a man who claims to have acted in self-defense. There seems to be little doubt that the claim of self-defense by Mr. Zimmerman is weak and thinly veiled. The incompetence of the initial police investigation has protected a dangerous man from being brought to justice. I am very hesitant to have much hope in a resolution that will bring the Martin family any peace or justice for the death of their son. The Justice Department and Florida Attorney General are moving along too slow to provide any confidence with the family or the public. Take a few minutes of your time and review the "Stand Your Ground" law in Florida. As you will see, the application of this law does not fit the actions of George Zimmerman. This does then bring into question the handling of the case by the Sanford Police Department. From the beginning, the Police have behaved in a manner which defies reasonable logic or explanation. The Martin family deserves justice in this matter. They cannot ask for vigilante justice. This man should be tried by a jury of his peers and adjudicated, in the death of this young man. The longer this basic tenet of American #life eludes this family, the more their basic rights are denied. The longer justice fails the Martins, the long the American people will seek justice through anger and frustration. Each of us needs to join the Martin family in demanding justice, through our freedom of speech and peaceful demonstration. Join your voice with the Martins and do not allow it to fall silent until justice is done. Be heard in the name of Trayvon Martin.

A Thought Minds are like parachutes ... They work best when open.

A Disgrace >This week we have seen pictures of an incident of misbehavior from the battle zone in Afghanistan. The video, as posted on You Tube, depicts several members of our Armed Forces urinating on the dead bodies of enemy combatants. As with other scenes of atrocities committed by our Armed Forces in recent years, it is nothing less than shameless and despicable. I do not wish to spend a great deal of time insulting the honor and integrity of those many service members who selflessly sacrifice for their country. My comments are not intended to demonstrate a lack of support or understanding of their challenges suffered in combat zones. Our struggles in conflict in the Middle East during recent years have been challenging. Combat is as always, a violent and abhorrent action that takes lives. It causes the suffering of both innocents and combatants alike. The mission of our military is to execute lawfully issued orders. These orders require our men and women to close and engage with enemy combatants with superior force in such a manner as to defeat their will to fight. Once the enemy has been defeated, killed or surrendered, that action of engagement is ended. Continuing to disrespect and desecrate the remains of enemy combatants is unacceptable and nowhere in the code of the American fighting man. We hold our troops to a higher standard of behavior. Our enemies have been known to not behave in such a manner. There are plenty of documented atrocities committed against US Forces over decades of war. However, it is incumbent upon the fighting force of the United States to rise above this type of inhumane behavior. We cannot allow or tolerate such behavior. Time has proven that this type behavior strengthens the resolve of our enemy and their supporters to respond in kind, with more violence and inhumane treatment of our military. Setbacks like this in such a complicated battle zone results in longer periods of war and loss of #life. Americans are ready for our conflicts in the Middle East to end and to bring our troops home. With that said, we will not want them home until the enemy is defeated and the threat to our security is neutralized. It is critical that our fighting forces must fight in a manner that brings victory, but it also must be done honorably. To those fighting in our Armed Forces -- Follow your orders. Defeat the enemy. Do it honorably. Do not allow yourself to stoop to the levels of animal behavior sometimes clearly demonstrated by our enemies. For those who behaved in an illegal or immoral manner on the field of battle, you will be held accountable. America cannot allow your conduct to continue. This most recent incident clearly demonstrates a failure. A failure by those who engaged in the abhorrent behavior, a failure in the leadership of those committing those acts and a failure of morality. I tip my hat in shame

A Real Dog Growing up in Texas, we always had dogs in the family. I am a big fan of dogs and have always seemed to get along with them. Our family pets included German Shepherds and Black Labs. They were such loyal animals and always up for a game of fetch or tug of war. When my neighborhood buddies and I would take off on our Saturday adventures, the dogs were always very close by. As we got older, those dogs were our companions when we went hunting, fishing or on horseback rides. Our canine friends were always there as companions and protectors, keeping us out of trouble best they could. We all were convinced they had a secret pack with our parents, because they always managed to steer us away from doing something stupid. They had many opportunities. Somehow, I don't think we really appreciated their intuitive oversight. As I moved on to my military travels, I also left those canine friends behind. There never was an opportunity to have a dog in those circumstances. My career allowed me to be around Military Working Dogs and I learned quickly to appreciate their role in our daily operations. These were wonderfully smart and loyal animals. Each were training in specific roles such as bomb and narcotic detection or patrol dogs. I loved having that exposure to them and appreciated their partnership. In a very tense or violent situation, there is nothing like having a 90 pound land shark as your back-up. It does lend to a certain sense of comfort, especially if you understand their ways. My career progressed as I traveled the world. At each stop and every location, I found an opportunity to work with those animals. I enjoyed those times, but always found myself missing having the companionship of a dog. Then came my transfer to California, in my current profession and I hoped for an opportunity to find a special dog to have along in my adventures. Being a bachelor and very happy with my circumstances, it surely would have been the perfect opportunity. My opportunities never were timed with the perfect pet and I consequently delayed my action. Then came along the love of my #life, and she had a dog! I was pretty happy about that… until I met the dog. The first time we met, this furry, fuzzy white haired poodle looking thing came down the stairs, barked at me, then backed up the stairs and peed. I just knew this was going to become a very interesting relationship. I just shook my head. This wasn't a real dog! He was this fuzzy, white poodle mix with food aggression and fear of anything that moved. It just wasn't going to work having a toy dog. I needed a real dog… a land shark, that could swim, hunt and fish with us. That dog just wouldn't do and my friends in Texas might just get a good giggle out of this one. Well, as fate would have it, I finally married Tweety and grew very fond of the dog. Anderson the dog and I went through some serious training and bonding during that time. I found myself becoming ever attached to this fuzzy white toy dog and we became great friends. He changed his ways and lost the fear that could make him a biter. The nasty food aggression disappeared, and he became a very relaxed pet. I started to find all those qualities in Anderson that I missed from those dogs I grew up with in Texas. Soon enough he took their place in my mind and my heart. He has his little quirks, and I always tease Tweety that he isn't a real dog. I love him and value his companionship. Then came a decision I never thought I could ever make. Last Valentine's Day I surprised Tweety with a Chihuahua mix. She squealed with excitement as I introduced her to our newest pet, Kona. Now we have two toy dogs, much to my own amazement. Kona has fit in well and is a great pal for Anderson. They are a true pack. I have always wanted a real dog… a land shark. A masculine he-man kind of dog that could keep up with all of those activities that are truly manly and macho. But alas, it may just be a dream that may never be realized. We are in LA and those toy dogs are all the rage. Very chic. Not exactly the place that is friendly or accommodating to a real dog. However, Anderson and Kona are about as real as it gets in LA, and those boys have captured my heart. Now, we just have to work on their real dog skills. We have a long trail ahead…