By now you’ve read about Irish Setter v. Romney, a transportation and accommodation case, well John McKay has found the appropriate response in The genius of capitalism.

I would note that cruelty to animals is one of the profile items for serial killers. They tend to be white males, socially adept, and well educated, as well.

From the Associated Press: Veggie Booty recalled due to tainting concerns

WASHINGTON – A popular snack food sold nationwide is being recalled because of concerns about contamination.

All lots and sizes of Veggie Booty Snack Food are being recalled, the company said, following a report of 51 cases of salmonella poisoning that may be associated with the product.

Georgine Hertzwig of Robert’s American Gourmet in Sea Cliff, N.Y., said the company acted after the Food and Drug Administration contacted them about the illnesses in 17 states.

Too bad there are no inspections at food processing plants to detect these problems before they leave the facility, instead of depending on the Centers for Disease Control and people’s gastrointestinal tracts to check for problems.

CBS reports: U.S. To Stop Some Chinese Seafood Imports
[Read more →]

Jeff Fecke posting at the back-up Shakesville blog caught a sad truth in A Doctor Quits.

Dr. Scott of Just Practicing, was a pediatrician in Waveland, Mississippi, the little town on the Gulf Coast that caught the eye of hurricane Katrina. He has been hanging on in Waveland, hoping for the recovery, but, as he explains, he has had Enough.

Despite the fact that 90+% of all structures in Waveland, and 100% of all public structures are gone, the Federal government won’t waive the requirement of 10% in matching funds before the town can receive assistance. All of the utilities are gone, so they can’t bill for them until they exist. Without utilities people can’t live there, so there’s minimal rebuilding. The only funds being spent on health care are going to regional hospitals.

The Doctor gave it his best for almost two years, but he has a family to support, so he has left. It isn’t just New Orleans that is being ignored, it’s the entire Gulf Coast. The Republican governors of Mississippi and Alabama just aren’t complaining, which you have to assume is for political reasons.

The Synod is on its way to showing what it means by stare decisis, rather than what everyone else thinks. They have rendered a decision that foregos that “new kid,” Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), and returns to the glory days of Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896).

Of course, if it weren’t for those pesky Constitutional amendments, they could have returned to their preferred judgment, Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. (19 How.) 393 (1856). Yes, they want to return to spirit of the first Roman Catholic Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Roger Brooke Taney.

The article on the decision has a wonderful quote:

“Instead of spending zillions of dollars around the country to place a black child next to a white child, let’s reduce class size. All the schools are equal. We will no longer accept that an African-American majority within a school is unacceptable.”

Teddy Gordon, attorney for Louisville school system.

Full speed back to Y1K!