Tbogg, your good work for the cause of academia is duly noted. Someday, teachers everywhere will tell their students the sad and mournful tale of George Tierney of Greenville South Carolina.

No matter how often they may have heard the tale, the students will be on the edges of their seats, waiting for their favorite part of the story — every time the storyteller pauses to say “And then TBogg said . . .”

I think an honorary degree is in order. Or something.

Thanks, SD. I updated the post with a note about the 404 error.

You’re welcome.

There’s a cliche among preachers about this kind of dissonance, most often seen when someone complains that the pastor has “gone from preaching to meddling.”

The difference is this: when you’re talking about those people and their sins, it’s preaching. When you’re talking about us and our sins, it’s meddling.

I agree 100% with your suggestion, Scarecrow, and I am equally certain that Sen Schumer (D-Wall Street) will do his utmost to represent the interests of his constituents.

The last link is busted.

The correct link is here.

I’m not particular or fussy, about either the pony or a trial. You make either one happen, and I’ll adjust my schedule to be on hand.

Of all the stuff I’ve written at FDL over the years, that’s one of the pieces that I’m most proud of.

And for the record, if there’s a prosecutor who’d like to use it, I hereby release any copyright claims. Please, feel free to take it and use it yourself. You don’t even have to give me credit for it. Just take those three, put them on the stand, and nail their hides to the courthouse wall.

And I want a pony.

Once upon a time, that was not even a question.

Great post, Siun . . . though I’d love to see an American prosecutor pushing the same case — particularly against Bradbury, Bybee, and Yoo.

I even offered to help . . .

One minute into the piece, and that was enough for me to agree with you. She’s got some serious problems.

Why the folks who supervise the home you refer to aren’t keeping closer watch on her is stunning. If this video is typical of her behavior, she may not be an imminent danger to herself or others, but she clearly needs closer attention.

I have great difficulty with the idea of putting anyone’s rights up for a vote. Rights ought not to be subject to the tyranny of the majority.

I have even more difficulty with that idea when it is praised by someone whose family was the victim of such tyranny in the past. State’s rights established and protected the ban on interracial marriage; Loving v Virginia struck it down.

The reality of an African-American Democratic president praising states rights is more than a little jarring.

I remember that whole episode, and was distressed by it myself as I know a number of Ts personally, I have witnessed their struggles for protection and acceptance, and I was stunned by the sense of privilege and condescension that John exuded.

But I wonder — is John hypocritical as you say, or has he (like Obama) evolved in his thinking and gone so far as to put his evolved thinking into concrete action by calling attention to this anti-T bigotry by Romney’s adviser?

I don’t know the answer to that question, but I do wonder about it.

Thanks for the links and the reminder.

Executive orders are the memos that make the government work.

It’s no different in the corporate world, where the board sets policy and votes on major decisions, and the executives send out the memos that turn the policy into action, or describe in greater detail how the policy will be carried out.

Every law enacted by the process of democracy needs to be carried out or enforced in some way. EOs are a part of the administration of those laws.

I’ve got to go as well — but before I do, let me say once more that I highly recommend this book to anyone who is even mildly curious about the road that garlic took to get into your home.

You won’t look at a produce section the same way ever again.

I wasn’t expecting a kind of “let’s all chat about Al Gore’s Nobel prize” kind of thing, but was wondering if there was more down-to-earth chit-chat about farms losing out/shutting down because of heat overwhelming the land, or the problems of persistent drought that make it harder for anyone to find work these days, as opposed to 20 or 30 years ago.

Tracie, when talking about your in your work in the Central Valley, you note the importance of irrigation. Was there ever any discussion around you about the water battles between the western states, and the fact that climate change is making water an even scarcer commodity there?

I love the way the book bounces seamlessly between the narrative of working and getting by, the narrative of the legal/political system, and the overall context of how produce fits into the larger economy.

For instance, in telling about country of origin labeling on the shelves, Tracie notes that her supervisor Randy remarks that you can get a $25,000 fine if you don’t have it up. A well-crafted footnote includes the observation that since the introduction of the law in 2008, not a single retailer has been fined. Oh, and the fine is $1,000, not $25,000.

Tracie, I’m only halfway through your book, and it seems as if each couple of pages there’s a new nugget that grabs me.

In some places I’ve lived, I’ve done most of my produce shopping at a produce market. St. Louis has Soulard Market, and Berkeley has the Monterey Market. In other places, however, produce has been a supermarket purchase — and even there, it’s been hit or miss.

When I move to a new place, one of my measuring sticks for a new store is whether their produce people actually know anything about what they are putting on the shelves. Similarly, I’m stunned when I go to the checkout line at the supermarket and the clerk has to ask me “what’s that?” in order to ring me up.

Even so, your book has been an eyeopener. Thanks!