Whipped Cream Difficulties

Sorry, folks. I’ve been out of sorts for a couple of days now and the tank is low.

I don’t have much to add to the Hitchens parade except that I really liked Why Orwell Matters: here’s a link to an interview from The Atlantic with Hitchens talking about that book.

The NYT has an article up about the new Texas cockfighting laws:

Under the new law, people who breed fighting birds, profit from a fight or own cockfighting paraphernalia with the intent to use it can also be charged with crimes.

“people who breed fighting birds”? Uh, they’re roosters. Is there a visible difference between regular roosters and cockfighting birds? Other than maybe the plumage? (Obligatory: “Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn’it, ay? Beautiful plumage!”)

“own cockfighting paraphernalia with the intent to use it” So how is law enforcement supposed to determine “intent”? And what constitutes “paraphernalia”?

I’m not a big fan of cockfighting (though I am a big fan of Cockfighter) but I swear, the way some people act is going to drive me to subscribe to “The Gamecock” and “Feathered Warrior” (the latter may have stopped publishing, but I can’t tell for sure). I wonder if those constitute “paraphernalia”.

I’ve also been withholding comment on the Dakota Meyer situation. Frankly, I don’t know what to make of it, and I’m not comfortable passing judgement either on the man or on the award. I do feel compelled to make note of the controversy, though.

I also want to point to this piece by Dustin Curtis: “Fly The Airplane”. Don’t have much to add to that, either, because Curtis is saying something I’ve been known to say. A lot.

(And The Checklist Manifesto was one of the best books I read this year, though I think the hardcover came out in 2010.)