Thomason Tracts

Alabama soaked by highest beer tax in nation

Forget corporate welfare and targeted tax breaks. This state will never be able to attract enough outside investment as long as beer taxes are at this level… This is partly those Taliban attitudes I was talking about, but also because the state is afraid to levy taxes openly on income or property. Sales taxes are way too high, but also the state has these hidden taxes on alcohol, which are added to the purchase price so people don’t realize how much they are.

CNN.com - Hot find: Historic Tabasco bottle unearthed - June 29, 2002

Um… Is it really archaeology to dig up something 130 years old? At this rate, I’ll be able to get archaeology students from the University to come over and clean up my apartment.

A very good year for vintners

This story about wine production in the United States (with the news that there are now bonded wineries in all fifty states) struck me for the quote from an Alabama winemaker: “The Taliban are alive and well in Montgomery.” That’s an exaggeration, but not by much; one look at the Republican primaries and you’ll find lots of people with Talibanic attitudes toward just about anything fun. But I also couldn’t help but think about the leader of Jose Padilla’s old mosque… who lives in Montgomery.

The Nando Times: Mediation ordered in TVA-EPA dispute

If the federal government’s own Tennessee Valley Authority is going around polluting the atmosphere with old and dirty coal plants, how can the government ask private power producers to not pollute? Well, not very easily. I’ve a notion that doesn’t bother the current administration very much.

Belgium wins 2002 Fair Play award

In the World Cup, which thank God is finally over so we can go back to not pretending to care about soccer for another four years. Anyway, isn’t it wonderful to see that Belgium won the “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game” award? Is that symbolic, or what?

washingtonpost.com: Sandler’s ‘Mr. Deeds’ Goes to No. 1 at Weekend Box Office With $37.6 Million

What is wrong with you people? First “Scooby Doo”, now this!

Firefighter accused of starting huge Ariz. blaze

You know, I used to have a generally positive view of firefighters… Some people will probably make — or have already made — snide remarks about public employees. Let the record show that this was a contract employee who is basically paid by the fire and started the fire to make money. You can blame government firefighting policy, but don’t blame the people who fight the fires.

Powell Urges Vigilance on Fourth of July

So, as you’re going around playing with your explosives, keep an eye out for anyone who looks like he’s planning to blow things up.

Bush resumes power after colon test

“The president says he feels ‘great and will resume his normal routine at Camp David,” Fleischer said.

Whatever you say, Ari. Except that (a) anyone who feels great after a colon exam is a better man than I, and (b) Bush used the same words (”I feel great”) before the exam. I don’t know if that means anything other than he needs a thesaurus, I just wanted to point it out.

Cheese germs carry anti-cavity vaccine: study

I just love stories like this… Lactobacillus bacteria, normally found in cheese, kill streptococcus mutans bacteria, which cause cavities. At least, in the mouths of rats they do. They last about three weeks, and maybe some day when we go to the dentist (I really need to get a checkup) for a cleaning we’ll also get a cheesing.