THIS MODERN WORLD

From this morning’s Times:

After a case of mad cow disease surfaced in Washington State late last year, federal regulators vowed to move swiftly to adopt rules to reduce the risks of further problems and restore confidence in the nation’s meat industry.

Some rules were adopted this year. But a few weeks ago, the Food and Drug Administration, after heavy lobbying from the beef and feed industries, took steps to delay – and to the concern of food safety groups, possibly kill – completion of the most controversial and perhaps most expensive proposal for cattle companies.

That proposal would sharply restrict what could be included in animal feed. Shortly after the administration slowed its consideration of the rule, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association broke its nonpartisan tradition and endorsed President Bush.

Translation: Federal regulators wanted the cattle industry to stop feeding their herds the ground up carcasses of diseased cattle, cow cannibalism being the method by which mad cow disease spreads from one cow to the next. But apparently the elimination of this handy source of animal feed would cost the cattle industry some money, so lobbyists whispered in the right ear, and the proposed regulation was scuttled. In short, the Bush administration is playing politics with public health in exchange for an endorsement.

Think about that the next time you eat a hamburger. Or enter a voting booth.

A good rundown from Layne. Too much interesting stuff to excerpt, just click on the damn link.

This cartoon made August the #1 Google search for “Some guy with a website” — and now he’s got shirts as well.

I certainly intend to buy one. And wear it proudly.

Kristof this morning:

True, Democrats have also engaged in below-the-belt attacks. Some of “Fahrenheit 9/11,” the Michael Moore film, was the liberal equivalent of the anti-Kerry smears. Its innuendos implying that Mr. Bush arranged the war in Afghanistan so backers could profit from an oil pipeline were appalling.

But I, along with some others, immediately complained about “Fahrenheit 9/11.” Aside from John McCain, where are the sensible conservatives?

— snip —

The only hope for stopping the mudslinging is if well-meaning people try to police their own side.

If they’re intellectually consistent, Democrats will speak out not only against the Swift Boat Veterans but also against Mr. Kerry’s demagoguery on trade, like his suggestion that outsourcing is the result of Mr. Bush’s economic policies. Trade demagoguery may not be as felonious as an assault on a war hero’s character, but it harms America by undermining support for free trade.

He’s a Sensible Liberal, and proud of it. And following his advice is the surest path to a Democratic defeat that I can imagine.

Decided to try out DSL, because the nice person at SBC told me I could cancel out within 30 days if I didn’t like it. Which, I emphasize, is the only reason I decided to take it for a test run at all. Well, long story short, I decided to stick with cable. And as it turns out, cancelling within that 30 day period is possible — it only takes about an hour and a half, immense stretches on hold (as Roy Orbinson sings “Anything you want, you got it” — hah!), interrupted by numerous arguments with SBC reps insisting that you owe them a $200 cancellation fee. Finally managed to convince one of them that they really needed to do the right thing and adhere to the terms as they were initially described to me — and to that helpful person I am indeed grateful — but that was waaaaaay more hassle than it needed to be.

Just needed to vent, but you may consider this a cautionary tale. Beware the glib promises of DSL vendors, especially if they are with SBC.