The Lazy Dog Cafe!

Temecula, CA- I'm always working. When I'm not at work, I'm busy doing school, writing articles and study guides, or chiseling away at my next artistic creation. Last Saturday, I decided to hit the road. Like Bon Jovi, my life is an open highway... I-15 to be exact.

Well, I ended up having lunch with some friends at a place called The Lazy Dog Cafe. It was awesome!



Located in the Temecula Promenade, an area of fine dining, shopping, and entertainment, stands a restaurant/cafe joint that actually caters to dogs like myself. On a hot, southern CA day, I was able to cool off in the nice air conditioned dining establishment that ended up blowing my mind away.



It was a big show but I wasn't sure what kind of food would be here. Would this just be another Bar and Grill that serves the same old song and dance? Let me guess... typical hot wings, expensive nothing burgers, and over priced drinks? Absolutely NOT!


The Lazy Dog had an amazing menu of more than just variety. Imagine a combination of Italian, Americana, and Greek foods, smoothed across the menu in a romantic tuscan harmony. Forget stuffing your face with fat, the menu had incredible delicious salads, healthy portions of our favorite dreams, and a delight of low calorie bliss meeting satisfying taste.


And the meal I ordered: A Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Penne dish. It was a delight. I mean, it was a celebration in my mouth. The noodles weren't over cooked and the flavor was out of this world. There's so many other things I want to try, but I have a feeling I'll order the same dish again.



The inside decor is funny. On every wall, ceiling, and table top is a picture, painting, or statue of a dog. There's even those video picture frames all over one wall showing several photos of random dogs. I love how the theme is catered to dogs and puppies. You can check out their website and find out more on this amazing place. I can't wait to go back.

www.lazydogcafe.com




After I left The Lazy Dog Cafe, I went right around the corner to a cupcake bakery joint called, Truly, Madly, Sweetly. It was a cute joint that served mainly cupcakes truly decked out with beautiful artistic icing.



Now, I'm not big on sweets, but a darling ponytail named Kristina talked me into trying a delicious Boston-creme chocolate cupcake.



Guess I'll be hitting the treadmill twice as hard tonight. LOL.

Truly, Madly, Sweetly website: www.trulymadlysweetly.com

Fight at Chicago Hooters

"Hi! Welcome to Hooters!"

That's what the Hooters girls say when you walk into a Hooters... see, I would know that because I watch SportsCenter.

A friend of mine sent me the link to an article that talks about a woman being thrown down by a cop at a Hooters. He asked me for my take on the situation. Because I'm straight, I gladly decided to check out what all the fuss was about.... well, all I heard him say was "....something something something Hooters something something..." so lets take a look:

Ok. For those of you who want my take on the video, this is what I got: Here we see lovely Tiffani (spelled with an "I" because her parents are retarded) talking to a customer... the supposed "Grandma", according to Chicago's Very Own (Liberal) News Network WGNTV.

First of all, I love how WGNTV.com totally abused the coverage of this story. The article on their sight is titled, "Grandma Claims Hooter's Guard Beat Her" ...wow. We all pictured in our minds Betty White being slammed by Dwayne The Rock Johnson. Not the case.

To see original article, go to: http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-hooters-sued-after-grandmother-alleges-beating-nov18,0,6533239.story

Well, IF YOU WATCH THE VIDEO CAREFULLY, You'll notice a lot more than some security guard beating up nana.


Obviously, this woman is very pissed off about something on her bill. (Keep in mind that in this economy, customers of restaurants can get very ridiculous about normal serving events, just to knock off the cost of that extra soda they ordered)

Cute Tiffani tries to apologize for the salad being too cold but scores nothing with the lady. Then, another Hooters waitress...we'll call her Jenna (If I had a dollar for every Hooter's waitress named Jenna...) Well, she walks over with the cop to follow waitressing protocol.

Watch carefully: Jenna tries her best to keep it real. You can tell by her smile. The cop is also chill! Notice he's leaning on the counter.

Eventually, the manager in charge, the woman in a blue polo, walks over to discuss the bill. You can't see the upset "grandma"'s face, but you can tell she's fired up. Look at her head bobbing.

Next, the manager in charge leaves with the bill, probably to "comp" the meal. Whenever an obnoxious customer complains about restaurant service, corporate would rather comp a $58 dinner, screwing the waitress out of a decent tip, in order to avoid a lawsuit.

This it where you can tell the "grandma" is in it to start something: As the manager in charge walks away, ...what the hell is that move: I thought she was going to break out doing the Michael Jackson Thriller.

Did you see it?


It's really fast so make sure you watch it carefully. She does this ...move. lol.


Now, EVERYONE HATES COPS. Even YOU! Yes, you. EVERYONE and their mom HATES COPS. Criminals, non criminals, men, women, teenagers, pastors, prostitutes, business men, and even other cops hate cops. EVERYONE HATES COPS, which is why EVERYONE is saying that the cop shoved the woman first.

OH HELL NO.

"Grandma" is obviously hot and belligerent. Two Hooter's waitresses have already tried to apologize for the wings being too spicy. And while the manager in charge is trying to take off that extra soda from the bill, "grandma" decides to get mouthy with Officer Viagra.

You find that funny because YOU HATE COPS!

She gets mouthy, AND shoves her finger in the cops face. The cop then walks up to her to tell her sternly to calm down. SHE is the one to bounce her badunkadunk first. Notice that she also strikes another woman IN THE BACK! ...yeah, the cops a reall @$$hole... come on people

Ok, you hate cops. AND YES, the Chicago PD is full of corrupt cops. But use some logic. If this off duty officer was corrupt, HE WOULDN'T BE WORKING A SECOND JOB AT HOOTER'S!

This cop is trying to survive Obama's Economy in a city that outlaws firearms. Any population that outlaws firearms from the American people is not only a violation of Constitutional rights, but a breeding ground of corruption and crime.

This cop is probably divorced or has a disaster of a marriage. He's over weight, not making enough money, and would rather bounce at Hooter's because Hooter's girls treat him better than his wife at home. Don't believe me, keep reading:

I would have done the same thing. This woman is being hostile. She's already acting immature about a stupid overcharge. She's also just attacked an innocent good Samaritan. Hell, I would have slammed her jaw on the edge of the bar Snoop Dogg style the moment she put her hands on that poor girl.

After the cop DOES THE RIGHT THING, the whole restaurant is involved including this douche bag in the picture below. Like EVERYONE, he gladly felt like telling the cop to back off. I would have broken his arm with my baton. (I can't wait for the next World War to send America back to the cowboy days)

This cop, who probably is to passive and poor to be corrupt, flirts with the Hooter's girls every night. Hell, they treat him better than what's waiting on him back at home. Plus, THIS IS CHICAGO! A Hooter's waitress in CHICAGO (a city with no righteous law) appreciates the presence of an off duty cop. With out this guy, these girls would end up raped in the parking lot.

That's when our Tiffani returns to get the angry mob off the cop. She actually gets one douche bag to back off the cop by man-handling him. Watch the video... I want this girl as my personal body guard.

Sadly, some broad shows up from the right to start a cat-fight and shoves 80 lbs. Tiffani to the floor. People are vicious.

This whole time, ALL I WANT is for my Hooter's waitress to finally bring me my ranch. Jeez.
I should have gone to the Tilted Kilt.

SO, What have we learned from the video?

-"Grandma" is an ungrateful bitch. She's probably upset that she doesn't look good in tight orange shorts anymore.

-Other sources of mine tell me that this woman is known to cause scenes at places in order to file lawsuits.

-The Hooter's girls do not show any disapproval towards the off duty cop. In fact, one girl goes down fighting for his safety.

-The Hooter's waitress tried to handle the woman perfectly, according to Corporate's protocol.

-People suck.

-There's nothing racial here. Just some dumb broad trying to cheat a bill.


The good news, the woman got sent to jail.

How Not to Feel Humiliated When Dining Alone

By: Heather Wagner

-If you’re single, travel for business, or just enjoy savoring a meal without small talk, you’ve probably had the experience of dining alone. This can be immensely pleasurable or incredibly daunting, depending on your temperament and overall approach. To ensure your next table-for-one adventure is as enjoyable as possible, BHG.com offers up these time-tested tips for dining alone.

For fine dining at home, try these delicious DIY bistro menu ideas from BHG.com.

1. Be Bookish. Always come armed with reading material. Having something to read not only keeps you from getting bored but also serves as a shield against waitstaff pity or unwanted conversational overtures from fellow patrons. Keep in mind that certain reading choices are better than others due to their portability and fold-ability (good: Sports Illustrated bad: War and Peace). In fact, frequent dining alone might be the real motivation for investing in a Kindle – although be wary of spilled beverages!

2. Try The Bar. For many would-be solo diners, the fear of being surrounded by lovey-dovey couples or raucous groups can be prohibitive. Requesting a seat at the bar is a good solution: Most restaurants will serve the full menu, bar seating is casual and low-profile, and you're likely to be surrounded by other content singletons.

3. Exude Confidence. Stride up to the host or hostess and proudly request your table. Never shrug or say, “just me” as though you’re apologizing. It takes guts to eat alone, and you should command the respect you deserve.

4. Eavesdrop. People in restaurants tend to be drinking, which often results in loud talking, over-sharing, bawdy jokes, or bitter marital brawls. Either way you can (discreetly) listen in on proximate tables and gain valuable insight into the human condition. Bonus points for detecting awkward first-time Internet dates.

5. Befriend Your Blackberry. Most of us are borderline addicted to checking our Blackberries or mobile phones. While it’s impolite to do this in the company of others, it's an absolutely acceptable activity when you’re dining alone: Reading the news, checking your Twitter feed, fondly reading old emails from loved ones, or scanning your secret crush’s Facebook page...the wireless possibilities are endless.

6. Go, Team! Even if you’re not terribly into sports, if there’s a game playing, become a fan for the evening. You’ll be surprised how an entranced gaze up at the screen now and then will give you a sense of purpose, as will a well-timed groan of defeat or hearty fist-pumping “Yes!”

7. Think Like A Food Critic. Pretend you are reviewing the restaurant. Observe the nuances of each course, take in the presentation, note the faults and strengths of the décor and keep a sharp eye on the service. This puts you in a position of judgment – always empowering.

8. Life Is Short, Enjoy The Steak. Finally, remember to relax, enjoy yourself, and focus on the positives of solo dining. Just think: There will be no quibbling over who pays, no awkward pauses, and no drawn-out discussions about your companion's relationship or work problems. You really can be your own best dinner date.

With Milk Prices Low, Dairy Farmers Kill Cows

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)- After burning through $1 million in savings and seeing no end to their losses, dairy farmers Jake and Lori Slegers figured they didn't have much choice -- they had to kill the cows.

So one day last summer their sons tagged all 1,571 cows, loaded them onto trailers at their farm south of Fresno, Calif., and watched them rumble away to a slaughterhouse.

Lori Slegers said her husband came into the house and broke down.

"He said it was the hardest thing he ever had to do," she said. "Luckily, my boys could do it."

Growing demand in developing nations drove up milk prices when times were good, and dairy farmers expanded their herds. But the global recession hurt exports and left farmers with too much milk on their hands. Milk processors cut the price they were willing to pay farmers, in many cases below what it cost to produce milk.

In the past year, hundreds of farmers have come to the same conclusion as the Slegers: The only way to raise prices is to reduce the supply, and that means killing cows. In some cases, whole herds have been turned into hamburger. In others, farmers have kept their best producers and sent the rest to slaughter.

The Slegers turned to an industry-run program called Cooperatives Working Together, or CWT, which pays farmers going out of business to kill -- rather than sell -- their cows and help remaining dairy operations by reducing the milk supply. Until this year, the 6-year-old program had paid for about 275,000 dairy cows to be slaughtered. This year alone, it has paid for more than 225,000 to be killed.

In addition, individual farmers are sending cows to slaughter at a pace of about 55,000 per week, said Robert Cropp, a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin. At that rate, about 3 million cows could be killed in a year.

Lifelong dairy farmers Keith Sammon, 55, and his brother, Mark, 53, decided to sell their herd to CWT last summer after considering the low milk prices, the cost of modernizing their operation and some personal health issues.

Keith Sammon recalled the somber mood as he loaded the 80 cows onto livestock trailers one Sunday morning at their farm in Faribault, Minn.

"As we milked the cows ... it was pretty quiet, but then my son came out with my granddaughter, who was 10 months old and she was just beginning to walk around. Just having her around made it easier," Keith Sammon said. "We would load the cows for a while and then go back and play with her for a while. It kind of took your mind off of it."

The slaughter has helped some. Dairy farms pay CWT 10 cents for every hundred pounds of milk they produce. As the cows have been killed, the price processors pay for milk has gone up an average of 66 cents per hundred pounds of milk, said Scott Brown, an assistant research professor for dairy livestock at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Consumers haven't seen prices go up because processors still pay dairy farmers much less than the retail price, Cropp said. In fact, grocery store prices may still drop some because the milk supply remains much greater than the demand, he said.

That's because even as thousands of cows are killed and many farmers call it quits, others are increasing their herds. In Wisconsin, the nation's second-largest dairy producer after California, the number of cows increased to about 1.25 million in August, up about 5,000 from the year before, according to state figures.

Most of the growth was the result of state tax credits and grants approved a couple of years ago to help the industry modernize and expand. When those credits were approved, the industry was booming.

Also, Wisconsin farmers haven't been hit as hard as those in western states such as California, where farmers must buy more of their feed. High feed, utility and other costs have compounded the losses created by the drop in milk prices.

CWT spokesman Christopher Galen said most of the cows slaughtered in the program have come from western farms.

For the Slegers, the future is cloudy. They are still farming corn, sorghum and winter oats this year but are looking at moving away and starting over. They're not sure what they would do.

"We still don't know if it was the smartest move we ever made," Lori Slegers said. "One day, when the dairy business turns around, will we kick ourselves? We promised we wouldn't do that."

YES! I TOLD YOU SO!

FAST FOOD CHAINS THAT ARE

AMERICA'S HEALTHIEST RESTAURANTS

By David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding

Eating out invariably raises a number of tricky questions: sit-down or drive-thru? Burgers or pizza? Thin or stuffed crust? Choosing one over the other could mean saving hundreds of calories in a single meal, and up to 50 pounds of flab in the course of a year and countless health woes over the course of a lifetime. That’s why Eat This, Not That! launched an investigation and put 66 major chain restaurants under the nutritional microscope—so that you and your family can continue to eat out, but do so knowing the types of insider tips and savvy strategies that can help melt fat all year long. And the good news is that many fan favorites scored top marks!

To separate the commendable from the deplorable, we calculated the total number of calories per entrée. This gave us a snapshot of how each restaurant compared in average serving size—a key indicator of unhealthy portion distortion. Then we rewarded establishments with fruit and vegetable side-dish choices, as well as for providing whole-grain options. Finally, we penalized places for excessive amounts of trans fats and menus laden with gut-busting desserts. What we ended up with is the Eat This, Not That! Restaurant Report Card, which will show you how all of the nation’s largest eating establishments stack up nutritionally.Check out those restaurants that scored a B+ or higher:

A- Chick-fil-A

Between the breakfast and lunch menus, there are only two entrées at Chick-Fil-A that break 500 calories, a rare feat in the fast-food world. What this means is that you can't possibly do too much harm—especially if you stick to the chicken. And unlike the typical fast-food chain, Chick-Fil-A offers a list of sides that goes beyond breaded and fried potatoes and onions. (Just beware the large cole slaw, which adds an extra 600 calories to your daily intake!) That's why we dub the Atlanta-based chicken shack one of our all-time favorite fast-food restaurants.Also, be sure to check out our exclusive list of the best and worst restaurants for kids to find out why Chick-fil-A receives an even higher grade when it comes to kids’ meals.

SURVIVAL STRATEGY: The worst thing you can do is supplement your meal with a milkshake—not a single cup has fewer than 600 calories. And instead of nuggets or strips, look to the Chargrilled Chicken Sandwiches, which average only 320 calories apiece.

A- Subway

A menu based on lean protein and vegetables is always going to score well in our book. With more than half a dozen sandwiches under 300 calories, plus a slew of soups and healthy sides to boot, Subway can satisfy even the pickiest eater without breaking the caloric bank. But, despite what Jared may want you to believe, Subway is not nutritionally infallible: Those rosy calorie counts posted on the menu boards include neither cheese nor mayo (add 160 calories per 6-inch sub), and some of the toasted subs, like the Meatball Marinara, contain hefty doses of calories, saturated fat, and sodium.SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Cornell researchers have discovered a “health halo” at Subway, which refers to the tendency to reward yourself or your kid with chips, cookies, and large soft drinks because the entrée is healthy. Avoid the halo, and all will be well.

Along those same lines, try to avoid anything from this indispensable list of the 14 worst “healthy” foods in America, too. They'll trip you up--and easily expand your waistline.

A- Jamba Juice

Jamba offers a viable and tasty solution to the dearth of fresh fruits and vegetables in the American diet: Stick it all in a blender and let us slurp it up. But make this your rule: If it includes syrup or added sugar, it ceases to be a smoothie. Jamba Juice makes plenty of real-deal smoothies, but their menu is sullied with more than a few faux-fruit blends. Just make sure you choose the right one.SURVIVAL STRATEGY: For a perfectly guilt-free treat, opt for a Jamba Light or All Fruit Smoothie in a 16-ounce cup. And unless you're looking to put on weight for your new acting career, don't touch the Peanut Butter Moo'd. On this shocking list of the 20 Unhealthiest Drinks in America, it sits worryingly close to the top. (You’ll be amazed by what’s number one!)

A- Au Bon Pain

Sure the menu has its pitfalls, but what menu doesn't? The bottom line is that Au Bon Pain combines an extensive inventory of healthy items with an unrivaled standard of nutritional transparency. Each store has an on-site nutritional kiosk to help customers find a meal to meet their expectations, and the variety of ordering options provides dozens of paths to a sensible meal. SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Most of the café sandwiches are in the 650-calorie range, so make a lean meal instead by combining a hot soup with one of the many low-calorie options on the Portions menu. And if you must indulge, eschew the baked goods in favor of a cup of fruit and yogurt, or serving of chocolate-covered almonds.

B+ Boston Market

With more than a dozen healthy vegetable sides and lean meats like turkey and roast sirloin on the menu, the low-cal, high-nutrient possibilities at Boston Market are endless. But with nearly a dozen calorie-packed sides and fatty meats like dark meat chicken and meat loaf, it’s almost as easy to construct a lousy meal. SURVIVAL STRATEGY: There are three simple steps to nutritional salvation: 1) Start with turkey, sirloin, or rotisserie chicken. 2) Add two noncreamy, nonstarchy vegetable sides. 3) Ignore all special items, such as pot pie and nearly all of the sandwiches.

B+ Cici’s Pizza Buffet

Cici's began in Texas in 1985 and now boasts more than 600 locations, proving definitively that Americans love a good buffet. The good news for our waistlines is that the crust is moderately sized, and the pizza comes in varieties beyond simple sausage and pepperoni. But if you check your willpower at the door, you're probably better off skipping the pizza buffet entirely. SURVIVAL STRATEGY: It takes 20 minutes for your brain to tell your body it's full, so start with a salad and then proceed slowly to the pizza. Limit yourself to the healthier slices like the Zesty Vegetable, Alfredo, and the Olé, which is a Mexican-inspired pie with only 108 calories per slice.

B+ McDonald’s

The world-famous burger baron has come a long way since the days of Fast Food Nation—at least nutritionally speaking. The trans fats are mostly gone, the number of gut-wrecking calorie bombs are now fewer than ever, and the menu holds plenty of healthy options such as salads and yogurt parfaits. Don't cut loose at the counter just yet, though. Too many of the breakfast and lunch sandwiches still top the 500-calorie mark, and the dessert menu is fodder for some major belly-building. SURVIVAL STRATEGY: The Egg McMuffin remains one of the best ways to start your day in the fast-food world—feel free to use it as a replacement option for any of these eight worst fast food breakfasts in America! As for the later hours, you can splurge on a Big Mac or a Quarter Pounder, but only if you skip the fries and soda, which add an average of 590 calories onto any meal.

B+ Taco Bell

Taco Bell combines two things with bad nutritional reputations: Mexican food and fast food. The result should be horrendous, yet somehow it works out so that a little prudence at the ordering window can bag you a meal with fewer than 500 calories. The potential for belly-building is still there, but the calorie bombs are generally easy to spot. And to limit the chances of a mistake, Taco Bell reengineered some of its classic items and listed them under the Fresco Menu for a savings of up to 10 grams of fat per item. SURVIVAL STRATEGY: Grilled Stuft Burritos, anything served in a bowl, and anything prepared with multiple "layers" are your worst options. Instead, order any combination of two of the following: crunchy tacos, bean burritos, or anything on the Fresco menu.

B+ Wendy’s

Scoring a decent meal at Wendy's is just about as easy as scoring a bad one, and that's a big compliment for a burger joint. Options such as chili and baked potatoes offer the side-order variety that's missing from less-evolved fast-food chains like Dairy Queen and Carl's Jr. Plus they offer a handful of Jr. Burgers that don't stray far over 300 calories. And for our money, the ¼-lb single is one of the best substantial burgers in the industry. Where they err is in their recently expanded line of desserts and a lackluster selection of beverages. But you're happy just drinking water, right? SURVIVAL STRATEGY: The grilled chicken sandwiches and wraps don't have more than 320 calories, which is less than even a small order of French fries. Choose the chicken or a small burger and pair it with a healthy side, and then hit the door before you receive the 500-calorie penalty for giving in to your Frosty hankering.

Top 25 Fittest and Fattest Cities in the U.S.

Here are the top 25 fittest and fattest cities according to Men's Fitness:

Top Fittest Cities

1. Salt Lake City, UT

2. Colorado Springs, CO

3. Minneapolis, MN

4. Denver, CO

5. Albuquerque, NM

6. Portland, OR

7. Honolulu, HI

8. Seattle, WA

9. Omaha, NE

10. Virginia Beach, VA

11. Milwaukee, WI

12. San Francisco, CA

13. Tucson, AZ

14. Boston, MA

15. Cleveland, OH

16. St. Louis, MO

17. Austin, TX

18. Washington, DC

19. Sacramento, CA

20. Oakland, CA

21. Atlanta, GA

22. Fresno, CA

23. Tampa, FL

24. Nashville-Davidson, TN

25. Pittsburgh, PA

Top Fattest Cities

1. Miami, FL

2. Oklahoma City, OK

3. San Antonio, TX

4. Las Vegas, NV

5. New York, NY

6. Houston, TX

7. El Paso, TX

8. Jacksonville, FL

9. Charlotte, NC

10. Louisville-Jefferson, KY

11. Memphis, TN

12. Detroit, MI

13. Chicago, IL

14. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

15. San Jose, CA

16. Tulsa, OK

17. Baltimore, MD

18. Columbus, OH

19. Raleigh, NC

20. Philadelphia, PA

21. L.A.-Long Beach, CA

22. Phoenix-Mesa AZ

23. Indianapolis, IN

24. San Diego, CA

25. Kansas City, MO

Look at all the Texas cities.... it's 'cause of all that delicious authentic Tex-Mex food; nothing like the crap in southern CA.... however, San Diego, CA has so many 24 hour mexican restaurant drive-thrus that make those giant Carne Asada Burritos... heck yeah!

Sure, obesity is a problem in this country, but when you think fat, you probably don't think Miami. So you may be surprised to find Men's Fitness magazine ranks Miami as the nation's fattest city in its annual survey. The fittest? Salt Lake City.

So what about the South Beach Diet... and all those buff bodies you always see in the ocean-side metropolis? Even though Miami has a high number of health-food stores per capita, Men's Fitness found it also has nearly three times the fast-food restaurants as the average city. And while there are 79 percent more gyms and health clubs than average, residents are less likely to regularly use their memberships. Not many residents take advantage of outdoor activities, either.

On the other end of the spectrum... Salt Lake City got top marks for being the fittest city because of its abundance of park space, athletically motivated residents, and below- average obesity rates. It ranks highest in the survey in the number of people who take part in activities like beach volleyball, racquetball, aerobics, hiking, basketball, yoga, tai chi, swimming, cycling, running, and kickboxing.

You Say Tomato, I Say Yuck!

CDC: Salmonella-tainted tomato illnesses reach 228

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON - The toll from salmonella-tainted tomatoes jumped to 228 illnesses Thursday as the government learned of five dozen previously unknown cases and said it is possible the food poisoning contributed to a cancer patient's death.

Six more states — Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont — reported illnesses related to the outbreak, bringing the number of affected states to 23.

The Food and Drug Administration has not pinpointed the source of the outbreak. With the latest known illness striking on June 1, officials also are not sure if all the tainted tomatoes are off the market.

"As long as we are continuing to see new cases come on board, it is a concern that there are still contaminated tomatoes out there," said the agency's food safety chief, Dr. David Acheson.

Government officials have said all week they were close to cracking the case, but "maybe we were being too optimistic," Acheson acknowledged.

How much longer? "That's impossible to say."

On the do-not-eat list are raw red plum, red Roma or red round tomatoes, unless they were grown in specific states or countries that the FDA has cleared because they were not harvesting when the outbreak began or were not selling their tomatoes in places where people got sick.

Also safe are grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached. That is not because there is anything biologically safer about those with a vine but because the sick have assured investigators that is not the kind of tomato they ate.

What if you did not go to the store armed with a list, or the store or restaurant manager cannot assure that any plum, Roma or round tomatoes came from safe regions?

"If you don't know, don't take the risk," Acheson said.

Cooking also kills salmonella, but the FDA is not formally advising people to cook suspect tomatoes for fear they will not get them heated thoroughly.

Mexico and parts of central Florida, two chief tomato suppliers, are still on FDA's suspect list. But the agency would not say they were top suspects, and in fact, said certain parts of Mexico that were not harvesting when the outbreak began are working to be cleared.

At least 25 people have been hospitalized during the outbreak, caused by a relatively rare strain of salmonella known as Saintpaul.

"At this point, there isn't a lot of data to suggest this is a more virulent strain," said Dr. Ian Williams of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

No deaths have been attributed to the salmonella. But the CDC for the first time Thursday acknowledged that the salmonella may have been a contributing factor in the cancer-caused death of a 67-year-old Texas man.

"SO FAR:

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin have found bad tomatoes. Now Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont have been added to the list. -Thrill"