Some Trader Joe's Salad Dressings Contaminated with Salmonella

Make sure you don't eat Trader Joe's Cilantro Dressing with a sell-by date of Feb. 9, 2011, or Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette with a sell-by date of Jan. 9, 2011.

The cilantro ingredient is contaminated with salmonella.

Other products sold in different states are also contaminated.  More information here.

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Fire at 191 Sands Street, Brooklyn

A fire broke out in the 4th floor compactor room of 191 Sands Street near Gold Street (near the Brooklyn Navy Yard) about 20 minutes ago, sending thick black smoke out over Downtown Brooklyn. Multiple Fire Department engines showed up within minutes; they got the fire under control by 11:38 p.m.

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Now We Can Use Any 'Cooks Source' Recipes for Free?

What fun! After plagiarizing a blogger's work without telling her and without compensation, Cooks Source editor Judith Griggs sent an absolutely ignorant and degrading letter to the blogger, Monica Gaudio, after she complained about be ripped off. Griggs told her that the entire web is "public domain," that her draft of the story sucked and she should be thankful to have an edited clip, and that Gaudio should pay her for all the editing work she did. (See NY Magazine.)

When Gaudio explained her dilemma online, a mighty Internet firestorm broke out, with people writing their thoughtful expressions of disagreement on Cooks Source Facebook page.

But something good comes of this. Now it occurs to us that we can finally start that cooking section we've always thought about but never had time to put together. Yay! Public domain recipes! Free for life! We thank Cooks Source for educating us about the entire web being public domain, and intend to make good use of this new source of cooking facts and recipes.

Mangia!

UPDATE: Cooks Source throws in the towel. They apologized to Ms. Gaudio --  but they also blame nameless "hackers" out there for their troubles.

UPDATE: More trouble for Cooks Source: it appears they have illegally plagiarized hundreds of articles. And here.
 
Photo by clevercupcake, Creative Commons license.

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We Got Us a Verizon Powertrusion Right Here in Brooklyn Heights

It's a Verizon Powertrusion, all right. A Class 5, 25-foot model.

It showed up on Cranberry Street the other day, all 229 pounds of it.

 They cemented the dang thing into the sidewalk right next to the playground.

Yes sir, a real Verizon Powertrusion. Who knows what the heck is coming to Brooklyn Heights next?

UPDATE: See what happened to it two years later!

Photos by MK Metz

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Get Your Free Flu Shot Today at Brooklyn Borough Hall

 We don't know if BP Marty Markowitz will be personally wielding the needle, but if you're looking for a free flu shot, you'll want to be at Brooklyn Borough Hall today (Friday, November 5) around lunch time. The free shots will be administered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a first come, first serve basis.

All recipients must be 18 years of age or older. Borough Hall in in Downtown Brooklyn at Joralemon and Court Streets.

Photo by otisarchives4*, Creative Commons license

*Otis Historical Archives National Museum of Health and Medicine

Photo shows: SP5 Lawrence E. Blackman (Darlington, SC) Hq & Hq Co, USASTC, receives the first typhus shot administered by Hypospray Jet Injector at Fort Gordon by Mr. John R. Gordon, representative of the R.P. Schere Corp., Detroit, Michigan. M/Sgt Edward Sammons (Rush, KY), Administrative NCO, Post Surgeon’s Office, who swabbed the patients arm, observes. Fort Gordon, GA. 08/26/1959. Photo by Roy C. McManus. Post Sig Photo Lab, Fort Gordon, GA.


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Trader Joe's Brooklyn Warns Customers About Crime Wave with Nice Hand-Letterd Sign

 Just a reminder from Trader Joe's to keep an eye on your stuff. (Or as Gothamist so aptly put it, keep an eye on your stuff "when shopping at the crime-ridden hellhole that is Trader Joe's.")

Photo by MK Metz

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Williamsburg Hotel Plan Questioned; A New Restaurant; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Two Trees' Williamsburg hotel plan questioned. Brooklyn11201 

- What the heck was this guy thinking when he strapped three pairs of floor mats to his car? WYDNKBYANM

- Did you miss the Zombie Librarians on Halloween? Found in Brooklyn has a wrap-up.  FIB 

- A new Italian restaurant is coming to Seventh Ave. (near Carroll) in Park Slope. Here's Park Slope

- South Brooklyn in Exel: How they decided who to vote for.  BK Southie 

 - How much can you really make collecting cans and bottles? Brokelyn

- Where the workers who made your iPhone sleep at night. Gizmodo

Photo by MK Metz

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Kicking Out the Vendors Not the Biggest Coney Island Story

 Much media attention has recently been focused on the new Coney Island amusement parks and the eviction of nine Coney vendors.

But the real Coney story is one that will start after next summer, says Brooklyn Eagle's Dennis Holt. This is when the second and most ambitious effort will probably begin — the construction of apartment buildings and hotels "that will change Coney Island more than all the changes in the amusement area."

Holt says, "If this new plan is actually consummated, it is almost impossible to predict what the impacts will be on this peninsula . . ."

Read the whole story at the Eagle. 

Illustration: Detail of CIDC Map of of Coney Island Redevelopment Plan. Salmon and cream color denote residential and residential towers.

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Preschooler Growing Hair to Donate to Brooklyn Charity Expelled For Long Hair

In honor of his grandfather who died of cancer, a 4-year-old pre-K student at St. Dominic School in New Jersey has been growing his hair to donate to the Brooklyn-based National Children's Leukemia Foundation. The hair was to be made into a wig for cancer patients whose lost their own hair.

Now, the boy's mother says her son has been expelled from St. Dominic's because of the length of his hair. The principal and the mother offer different versions what was supposed to be the haircut deadline.

The pastor refuses to get involved, saying his job is limited to church affairs.

The Diosese spokesperson said,  "The relationship with the family has been terminated on the basis of a required partnership between the school and the parents, which school administrators have deemed to be compromised. The student will not be returning to St. Dominic."

Why can't we all just get along?

Read more about this at APP.com and CBS

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Grimaldi's Is Suing their DUMBO Landlord

Frank Ciolli, the owner of Grimaldi's pizzeria in Dumbo (famous for tourists standing in long lines), is suing the landlord at his Old Fulton Street building for allegedly scheming to steal the coal-burning brick ovens from his shop, the NY Post reported.

The landlord attempted to evict the popular pizza joint this past summer.

- Ridiculous Lines at Grimaldi's Expected Till November, 2011

Photo by MK Metz

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