NEWS - But do they get frequent flier miles?

In what sounded like a bad promotional tie-in for vacations to Disney World, or perhaps the movie "Snakes on a Plane," a whistleblower recently claimed that an American Airlines 767 had 900-1000 mice living on board.

I wouldn't dispute that having mice living on an airplane--even the airline's estimate of 17 mice--would be a health and safety issue (though, depending on the number of mice, it might not be a great enough safety issue to take the plane out of service immediately). However, I find it interesting that both the first online story I found on the subject (linked-to above) , and the TV coverage that first alerted me to the story both mentioned the figure of 900-1000 mice. Think about that number. A Boeing 767 is 159-201 feet long, depending upon the model--so in every foot of the aircraft, four to six mice supposedly not only found pressurized areas to hide, but enough food to eat for a couple of weeks. I have great doubts as to whether that's possible--let alone likely, yet the media is reporting that claim relatively uncritically.

In the meantime, I have to tell my cats that they've missed their chance to fly someplace with good in-flight meals.

JOKE - Just hanging around...

Is there any truth to the claim that Foucault was a real swinger?

(I just thought I'd dangle that one out there.)

JOKE - Telemarketer follies

This afternoon, we got a call from a telemarketer. I'll relate the conversation as best as I can recall it:

Their recording: "Hi, this is Jerry, and I'm with [some company whose name was meant to make you think it was Dish TV even though it wasn't; I don't remember the exact name]. I'll get right to the point..."

Me: "I'll get right to the point, too." Click.

MISC - Random thought on marketing

I think most people--myself included--would be a lot quicker to buy something containing "honey" than something containing "bug spit."

NEWS - Power mad politicians: a losing bet

Atlantic City's casinos closed Wednesday. State law doesn't permit them to operate without inspectors, and a budget impasse means those inspectors can't be paid. There has been much hand-wringing about the tourists making a beeline to Foxwoods or other casinos, tourist dollars leaving the state with them, and lost jobs and taxes as a result.

What is ignored in all the moaning is that this is a problem CAUSED by the state. The state could simply repeal the law mandating the inspectors' constant presence. It could even be a temporary exemption for the duration of the budget crisis. Even if you concede that it's probable that the mob would move in instantly to skim casino profits (a point I doubt--especially if the inspectors would be returning and casinos' licenses thus jeopardized), the benefits of keeping the tourism industry healthy would likely outweigh the drawbacks.

Of course, this would require the acrimonious politicians to behave rationally, would require said legislators give up a little power, even temporarily, for the good of the people, and would suggest the government's constant supervision might actually not be necessary. So I rate the chances of that as slim to none.