From the AJC:

Whole Foods Market is recalling its 365 Organic Everyday Value Swiss dark chocolate bars because they may contain almonds, which can cause a severe or life-threatening reaction in people who are allergic to the nuts.

No illnesses have been reported. The recalled chocolate bars have a wrapper code that begins with L71423, followed by a four-digit time stamp between the times of 11:33 and 12:15.

Consumers who have bought the chocolate bars can return them to Whole Foods for a full refund. For more information, consumers can call 512-542-0656.

The government of Israel says they are "correcting a 60-year-old blight"…

Six million Jews were killed by the Nazis during World War II. Hundreds of thousands who survived concentration camps came to Israel after the war. Many suffered physical or psychological damage from the torture and deprivation they suffered at the hands of the Nazis.

Six decades after the war ended, the remaining survivors are elderly, and many have been unable to provide for themselves in their final years, suffering chronic shortages of money for medical and psychological treatment and in some cases even food.

…

"We are correcting a 60-year-old blight," he said. "Holocaust survivors living in Israel are entitled to live respectably without reaching a situation in which it is beyond their means to enjoy a hot meal."

Beginning next year, the amount allocated for 120,000 needy survivors, about half the total number still living in Israel, will be $28 million annually, according to Olmert's statement.

But that works out to an average of just $20 a month for each survivor.

Apparently, the cost of living respectably in Israel is just $19.44 per month, that's the amount their generous stipend works out to be.

The number 1944 is ironic enough if you ask me.

[Crossposted at RetroMental]

Gidget is a remodeling nut. When she gets in the mood, and we have a little bit of pocket change to spare, she kicks into high gear and remodels one of the rooms of our house.

Our master bedroom is her latest project. She slapped a different colored paint on the walls a few weeks ago and now she has the window treatments in her sights. A few years ago she made some custom curtains for those windows, but her new plan calls for fabric blinds instead, which is fine with me. When she designs a room, it ends up being comfortable, inviting, and beautiful.

I wonder when she's going to focus on my office? I sure could use some blinds in here too.

Almost everyone I know seems to have been to Jamaica. I was talking to some guys at work, and one of them just got back from his vacation, which was in Jamaica. The other guy went there last year. It was weird listening to them talk about places and things, where they had both been, especially because I have never been there.

If I went to Jamaica, the first thing I would do is try all of the food. As most of you who have been long-time readers know, I love to cook, and the one culinary style I have not mastered yet is the Jamaican Jerk style. I have tried several times and always end up with something that is "similar" but it's not quite right. It would be a delight to actually try the real thing.

The next thing I would do, is charter a boat and go fishing. When I lived in Hawaii I missed a golden opportunity to go deep-sea fishing, and Jamaica's Northern waters are famous for their deep-sea and sport fishing. It might cost me a bundle in charter fees, but I could spend the rest of my time sitting in a boat out on the open water.

Needless to say, the conversation with the guys at work ended up with me longing for that overdue vacation. What would you do if you had the chance to travel to Jamaica?