Like anyone needed a good excuse to quit riding the spike.

The French health ministry issued a warning on Tuesday after eight people died and seven fell sick in two European countries from using heroin contaminated by anthrax.

“Since December 6, there have been 15 confirmed cases of anthrax among heroin users, 14 in Scotland and one in Germany,” the ministry’s General Directorate for Health (DGS) said in a statement.

I’m going to avoid the self-righteous “well, that’s just efficiency, they’re killing themselves anyway” path.  Addiction is a motherf***er, and I’ve got the nicotine-stained fingers to prove it, and I’m not going to pretend my choice of drug is somehow healthier or less destructive than theirs.

What I’m trying to figure out here is why.  Nobody in the production or distribution chain for the product would have an incentive to do this.  It’d be the most bonehead terrorist scheme ever, and in a world of explosive tighty-whities that’s saying a lot.

Instapunk points out several recent instances in which CNN, rightly-maligned in our circles for its frequently lefty political leanings, has distinguished itself in the covering of the Haiti crisis.

Those of you familiar with Chris Rock’s standup routine might remember a segment in which he declines to praise someone for “taking care of their kids,” because it’s what they’re supposed to do.  It’s not above and beyond the call of duty, it IS the duty.  And perhaps you might detect a similar vibe here, in praising reporters for being decent human beings.

But I will neither sneer or suggest cynical ulterior motives.  I will take their acts at face value and give them due respect.  Their acts are distinguished because it’s not what we’ve come to expect from their kind, and good behavior should be acknowledged with grace.

A Democratic operative familiar with Martha Coakley and the DSCC’s massive get-out-the-vote operation says that outreach workers in and around Boston have been stunned by the number of Democrats and Obama supporters who are waving them off, saying they’ll vote for Scott Brown.

You think that’s bad.......

Close the book.

Well, there goes Easter.

After months of fierce resistance, Cadbury’s about-face to accept a sweetened 11.5 billion pound ($19.5 billion) takeover from Kraft Foods Inc.—forming the world’s biggest candy company—has alarmed British unions, lawmakers and chocolate lovers.

Yes, I know.  Easter has deep religious significance and has nothing to do with bunnies, whether real or chocolate.  This is not meant to short-change the “reason for the season.”

But when you were a kid, did you look forward to Easter for getting dressed up in the same itchy suit and tie and going to Sunday service?  No.  You were in it for the Easter egg hunts and the candy.  Because you were a kid, and that was okay.

I always loved these, partially because they were terribly bad for me and therefore delicious, but mostly because everyone else in my family thought they were so gross.

Anyway, on to a serious question: what’s Kraft, a company in debt so huge it had to sell its pizza division to Nestle just to scrape up the cash for a purchase, doing buying Cadbury?

And which will be worse...a Nestle pizza, or a Kraft creme egg?

I don’t know if that headline is true, but it must be pretty close.  Otherwise, there’s no reason why this…

“We have also had complaints from male survivors who have been raped by women and they are very distressed that their situation is being laughed at and made out to be humorous.”

I mean, if some anti-rape group has enough time on their hands to get offended about THAT, there must not be anything else going on in the office.  So, yay!

*splork*

France accused the US of ”occupying” Haiti on Monday as thousands of American troops flooded into the country to take charge of aid efforts and security.

The House Judiciary Committee this week voted down a resolution of inquiry that would have required the Department of Justice (DOJ) to explain to Congress why it dismissed a voter intimidation case involving members of the New Black Panther Party at a polling place in Philadelphia in November 2008. 

The measure, H. Res. 994, was defeated 15-14 on a straight party-line vote.  Rep. Daniel Maffei (D-N.Y.) originally “passed” on his vote, but then changed to “no” to bring about the resolution’s defeat.

So I’m thinking about this Massachusetts special election tomorrow and how some folks are saying it’s a referendum on Obamacare. If so…
The people of Massachusetts already HAVE a form of Obamacare. If they like it, why would they want to screw it up with the federal version...and if they HATE it then they wouldn’t want to screw it up MORE with the federal version.

Anyways, tomorrow feels like Christmas, I wonder what we’re gonna get.....

reason # 48378.2

A driver whose SUV plunged into a Northern California creek after he was startled by his hands-free cell phone device escaped the sinking vehicle by blasting out the window with a handgun. The 28-year-old man, whose name wasn’t immediately available, is an armed security guard at Thunder Valley Casino, north of Sacramento. He sustained minor injuries in Sunday’s accident…

Strong winds knocked out power to thousands of people across the Puget Sound overnight and caused problems on a number of roads blocked by toppled trees.

Puget Sound Energy reported nearly 40,000 customers out of service in 132 outages. Spokeswoman Lindsey Walimaki said the hardest-hit areas were in Thurston and Kitsap counties, especially Poulsbo.

Wind gusts in Everett and Olympia hit 56 mph and 60 mph in Hoquiam early Monday....

But I’m back now. What a freaking MESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kipling, via Vanderleun at American Digest.

All we have of freedom, all we use or know—
This our fathers bought for us long and long ago.

Ancient Right unnoticed as the breath we draw—
Leave to live by no man’s leave, underneath the Law.

Lance and torch and tumult, steel and grey-goose wing
Wrenched it, inch and ell and all, slowly from the King.

Till our fathers ‘stablished, after bloody years,
How our King is one with us, first among his peers.

So they bought us freedom—not at little cost
Wherefore must we watch the King, lest our gain be lost,

Over all things certain, this is sure indeed,
Suffer not the old King: for we know the breed.

Give no ear to bondsmen bidding us endure.
Whining “He is weak and far”; crying “Time shall cure.”,

(Time himself is witness, till the battle joins,
Deeper strikes the rottenness in the people’s loins.)

Give no heed to bondsmen masking war with peace.
Suffer not the old King here or overseas.

They that beg us barter—wait his yielding mood—
Pledge the years we hold in trust—pawn our brother’s blood—

Howso’ great their clamour, whatsoe’er their claim,
Suffer not the old King under any name!

Here is naught unproven—here is naught to learn.
It is written what shall fall if the King return.

He shall mark our goings, question whence we came,
Set his guards about us, as in Freedom’s name.

He shall take a tribute, toll of all our ware;
He shall change our gold for arms—arms we may not bear.

He shall break his judges if they cross his word;
He shall rule above the Law calling on the Lord.

He shall peep and mutter; and the night shall bring
Watchers ‘neath our window, lest we mock the King—

Hate and all division; hosts of hurrying spies;
Money poured in secret, carrion breeding flies.

Strangers of his counsel, hirelings of his pay,
These shall deal our Justice: sell—deny—delay.

We shall drink dishonour, we shall eat abuse
For the Land we look to—for the Tongue we use.

We shall take our station, dirt beneath his feet,
While his hired captains jeer us in the street.

Cruel in the shadow, crafty in the sun,
Far beyond his borders shall his teachings run.

Sloven, sullen, savage, secret, uncontrolled,
Laying on a new land evil of the old—

Long-forgotten bondage, dwarfing heart and brain—
All our fathers died to loose he shall bind again.

Here is naught at venture, random nor untrue—
Swings the wheel full-circle, brims the cup anew.

Here is naught unproven, here is nothing hid:
Step for step and word for word—so the old Kings did!

Step by step, and word by word: who is ruled may read.
Suffer not the old Kings: for we know the breed—

All the right they promise—all the wrong they bring.
Stewards of the Judgment, suffer not this King!