Miscellanea

The Queen of Swords has returned from her blogging hiatus.  Check out her piece on camel beauty contests.

——

Apropos of sucking the joy out of life: doctors get cranky about the idea of mums who run marathons too soon after having babies.  Now, if there were a risk to the developing child (diversion of nutrition and oxygen to support marathoning), there would be some cause for complaint.  Not here, though: the general idea is that a woman’s body is forever changed (probably those nesty hormones), so no more running until the child is at least in middle school, or perhaps old enough for her own pregnancy.  What is it about strong women that sends men through the roof?  Sheesh, people: after giving birth, a marathon would probably seem like a walk  in the park.

——

Michael Mukasey has been confirmed as the Attorney General.  In other GOP  news, the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley has misplaced some 80,000 items. 

——

NY regulation of food, blog post #2,971: state health inspectors have their panties in a twist over how bartenders put limes into Coronas.  The bartenders have the audacity to pick up pre-sliced limes with their bare hands and put them into the drinks.  No tongs, gloves, or bundle boards – just skin-on-lime contact.  For all anyone knows, those bartenders could have touched trans fats! 

Pachyderm prediction: in just under three years, New Yorkers will only be permitted to have organic, pesticide-free, vegan food IVed into their bodies in clean rooms.

——-

California is seeking a waiver from the EPA that would permit it to regulate greenhouse gas emissions in vehicles sold in the state.  In a freakish reversal of federalist principles, a state must ask permission from a federal agency in order to improve the conditions within its borders.  The EPA is not accountable to the electorate or to states and, thus, may act to thwart the will of the people and their elected officials. 

Automakers are complaining that this would result in a “patchwork of regulations” that they would have to meet.  Well, there’s no requirement anywhere in the Constitution that people be allowed to sell their goods in every state, under uniform standards.  As a policy matter, ignoring the Constitutional implications of this abrogation of state power, such a complaint is barely rational.  Automakers can sell base models that meet regulations in most states and have a low-emission option (much like, say, leather seats) for Californians and tree-huggers.  They could also make vehicles that meet the most strict requirements and sell them nationally, or they could forgo the California market, if either option is too expensive. Either way, there is no competitive disadvantage, as the rules apply uniformly to all automakers.