dandelionpatch.net

Conceptionally I don't have a problem with this but the website really freaks me out.

In Philadelphia, a court as ruled that a "animal rights" organization has to stay at least 50 feet away from the restaurant that is hosting Bastille Day festivities. Now this is an organization that wants everyone to go vegan and dictate what restaurants can and cannot serve. But that is not what is interesting - after all they are just another delusional "animal rights" organization - they are hundreds of those. Its the name. "Hugs for Puppies". Doesn't it sound all cute and non-threatening? Even the website has a cute little puppy. Awwww. Which gives me ideas for how the Bush administration to improve its image. They should start renaming offices of the government with new names. The CIA should now be "Cuddles for Kittens" . The TSA? Can't go wrong with "Blueskies and Bunnies". Airport security checkpoints could be manned by officials in bunny outfits with light blue guns.

via hunger artist

Two months ago I canceled my satellite service. I was paying 80 bucks a month for a couple hundred channels of pure dreck. All the news channels have gone down the drain, movie channels were full of dull repeats, and specialty channel after specialty channel showing the reality show after reality show (next on the history channel: Ice Truck Drivers!). There are just so many World War II and Mythbusters repeats you can watch in one lifetime. I have replaced the dish with the likes of NetFlix, iTunes (Top Chef!), outright stolen shows (how else am I supposed to get Doctor Who from BBC?), and the latest video service betas. I'm not talking about the low resolution stuff from YouTube but new services like Joost (microsoft is also trying to get into the game). Joost and iTunes represent the future of video content delivery. They are solving the problems that the cable and satellite companies failed at time and time again.

What does this have to do with food? Running Joost tonight I stumbled upon Australian Food TV! Where else can you learn about cooking Kangaroo (98% fat free!) and wonderfully common phrases like "lesson in protein chemistry" and "wax coating tends to stick in your teeth, awful that" in an Australian accent!

Via the slate book club:

In preparation for P-Day, we are sending our toddler away to stay with her grandmother for the week, so that we may undistractedly devour the two hardcover copies of Deathly Hallows we plan to purchase Friday at midnight.

Shipping off your kid for a book is quite nearly the most selfish thing I've heard about in a long time.

Per gladling:

The family owned business, which has done quite well providing outdoorsmen with all the healthy nutrients they need, are now branching out to a product with entirely different benefits: wine.

So the question is will they come in little packets that you squirt in your mouth or in a dried form that you just add water too?

The Star Tribune has an article on the new Bloomington Farmer's market that starts off with this:

The problem isn't that there aren't customers. Bloomington, the latest city to jump on the market bandwagon, drew so many shoppers on its first Saturday earlier this month that many vendors sold out by 8:30 a.m., just 90 minutes after the market opened.

and then preceded with this:

The issue is with vendors. Drawn by that first day's success, almost twice as many sellers -- about 20 -- came the second Saturday. But after the morning rush, it was the flower vendors, the jam guy and the bread seller who were doing gangbuster business. Many farmers who were selling potatoes and zucchini and cucumbers had a lot of produce left at the end of the morning.

This is just plain bad reporting. Does the Star Tribune employ editors anymore?

A new market opens - people are curious and there may be a lot of interest the first or second weeks of opening. Vendors see this and adjust to this and sometimes over adjust to this. In this case the number of vendors doubled (if the Star Tribune is to be believed). And things didn't go as well. Is this enough information to go by to write it off?

I don't think the Twin Cities can support the large number of Farmers Markets appearing on the scene. But what will determine the success or failure of a given market are the customers themselves. Not some reporter who hasn't taken Econ 101.

Note: Original Star Tribune article written by Mary Jane Smetanka • 612-673-7380 • smetan@startribune.com

In our continuing coverage of Star Tribune's assault upon our godly calendar and the American Christian English Language(tm) we have caught them in the act again! The introduction of a new day! Call them now and demand they return to Jesus Christ!

...makes you fat.

New research suggests that your family and friends influance your weight. From an article on MSNBC:

Obesity spreads through social networks, according to the study, so if your friends put on weight, you’re more likely to put on the pounds, too. Your family members or spouse can also influence you; as they get heavier, you’re more likely to gain along with them. But, your friends—even if they don’t live anywhere near you—have the most sway. A close friend’s weight gain can even be downright dangerous.

But apparently only happens with same sex friendships and family members....

The study found a man’s weight gain would have no significant effect on his female friend’s weight, and vice versa, but the study did not have many male-female friendships to examine.

Gee - I wonder why? Perhaps they should hit up some gay clubs to further examine that connection....

Who ever thought of this should be fired.