Given that the outbreak of swine flu probably originated in a US owned pork processing factory farm in Mexico, I can understand why Smithfield's CEO is pressuring the powers that be to stop calling this a swine flu outbreak.

I don't know anyone stupid enough to think they will catch swine flu from eating bacon. I think the pork processors are much more worried that people will catch the drift that factory farming in unregulated environments bred the H1N1, er, SWINE flu which is evolving into a pandemic.

Factory farming, in addition to be abject misery for the animals, is a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Porcine viruses are especially able to jump the barrier to infect humans.

Pump the animals full of antibiotics so that you can crowd more of them together before they get sick and die before you can kill them to be eaten, and you help resistant strains of bacteria to develop.

Bacteria aren't viruses, but unhealthy conditions breed virus and bacterial mutations that are resistant to drugs.

if he wants to stay locked up, by all means lock him up! stupid is as stupid does...

"how about a little fire, teabag?"

Watched "Thief" again the other night - great movie, great acting by James Caan...

addiction... (to power)

withdrawal... (from control)

denial... (of reality - you're not in power anymore)

acceptance... (you'll wait a long long time)

If Whole Foods Market sponsored this program. I see from the letters that some folks don't appreciate having their ox gored - it's ok, he was grass fed and gave his life willingly.

Bashing the UK media might gain points with the WH press pool, but the European press is a lot more honest about US misdeeds than their domestic counterparts.

And, let he who publishes without lying cast the first stone...

a truly LOL moment - thanks Carol!

Glad I saw this - I never go to the movies - more horrific than bad acting and rancid popcorn is the behavior of cinema patrons, but I might make the trek to see this one.

Maybe Raimi's next epic can be about swine flu / zombie flu being spread in theaters across the country.

PS - I vote ++++ on Bruce and Evil Dead I & II and Army of Darkness...

.... mundane

dogcow named "Clarus" that goes "moof" . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogcow

Under the public option, all of us now barely struggling to make ends meet but fortunate enough to have health care would have to choose between (1) reducing our net income to keep our coverage or (2) dropping our coverage to maintain our standard of living (and absorbing the risk of catastrophic sickness expenses).

Not many folks I know can afford to take a hit in income equal to a major percentage of their health insurance bill - certainly nobody I work with, and we have a good plan.

If I had any faith that the Obama government would do the right thing, I would drop my health care and pick up the public option. Thing is, they'll probably screw this up like they did the banker's bailout.

I mean, I voted for the guy, but if they had really wanted to 'stimulate' the economy at the grass roots, they would have given us the bailout instead of the bankers, so we could pay off our debts and medical bills - everyone wins.

Instead JP Morgan Chase makes out like a bandit and we the people get General Motors, but without the free ride.

Trickle down fails again...

I really enjoyed this article - this is the kind of quality writing I read salon.com for.

I have to say, this post was the first news I had read of the Iranian election outcome, so of course I rushed over to the "paper of record" to read their report.

NYT's headline article considers whether it was it was cheating or fear on the part of the voting public that kept Ahmadinejad in power.

It is obvious that it was cheating - has it gotten to the point where 21st century "journalistic integrity" means that we always have to hear "two sides" in every North American media news story: fiction and truth?

PS: @American Fascist, you're full of **it.

Putting all the sniping in these letters aside, it is pleasing to read real news from behind the scenes in Tehran. it is just a matter of time before revolution breaks out again in Iran.

At least this time, it's not the CIA doing it...

but at least Europe knows what is going on:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-irans-day-of-destiny-1706010.html

Don't bother with the "paper of record" - they're out to lunch on this one...

We had a very hilly yard, and mowing it was abysmally trying. Raking it in the fall was even worse. It was my most hated chore, hot, hard work, and we got screamed at, not for doing it wrong, but for not wanting to do it at all...

I waited until I was 49 to buy a house, and I only mow every other weekend - I love seeing the ridiculously long grass growing with nobody telling me it has to be done this Saturday...

We read about the Ronald McDonald houses without understanding what's really involved there, so it's good to hear that the corporation is known for more than fast food...

You saw it here first; it's Ruben's attempt to jump-start an internet meme, and, so far, so good!

For background, see:

http://www.google.com/search?q=The+Ghost+of+James+Caan

Guess I'll keep reading salon.com, despite "Ask A Wingnut"...

Seems too close to reality to actually be funny...

talking about another. too bad it wasn't rush they found with cardiac arrest - then again, give him more time...

Hey, it's almost time for Rush! You can listen to him rant about how those black people are holding you back...

Uhh, dude, stick a fork in that relationship, it's done.