Or not... the latest news is a warning from the New Jersey Department of Health not to eat the squirrels. According to the AP report, the problem is in the northwestern part of New Jersey (near the Ramapough/Ramapo Mountains, the home of the Ramapough Tribe and Jackson Whites), where toxic runoff from an old Ford Motor plant / Superfund site may have led to contamination in the food chain.
If you're willing to take your chances, make sure to track down the 1975 edition of The Joy of Cooking for helpful tips and stick to the gray and black squirrels (as opposed to the red ones).
Courtesy of Gridskipper (yet another arm of the Gawker empire), a handy tip to avoid the in-room coffee pot on your next hotel visit.
Note the helpful explanation from the local sheriffs in Alabama -- "look for burnt red or orange coloring in the pot" as your cue to stay away. Doesn't that describe just about every glassware coffee pot in existence after a few weeks? It gets better, though -- you can even watch the original evening news report on the website of WAFF-TV in Huntsville, Alabama (search around on "video on demand").
I love "public crisis" stories masquerading as news almost as much as "human interest" stories masquerading as news.
An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...
Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.
Older Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer: Can I see your license please?
Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
Officer: Don't have one?
Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
Older Woman: I can't do that.
Officer: Why not?
Older Woman: I stole this car.
Officer: Stole it?
Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer: You what?
Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please! The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Older woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Older Woman: Murdered the owner?
Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers. The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer.
The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.
Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.
Courtesy of American Airlines:
1.5 hour flight, Coach -- Beverage service (full can on request) plus mini-bag of snack mix.
3.5 hour flight, Coach -- Beverage service (full can given immediately, with follow-up later in flight), opportunity to purchase "snack pack."
When one spends $550 for the privilege of spending 5 hours in an airborne sardine tin, isn't it reasonable to expect at least one-half ounce of snack mix per flight to be included in the fare? Or should we all begin bringing our own snacks (as my wife says is already the case)? What happens when the person allergic to peanuts (who already caused the airlines to switch to non-denominational cracker-and-pretzel mix) winds up next to the PB&J fiend?
From Martanne's in downtown Flagstaff, a hippie diner where the skulls represent both the Grateful Dead and the Mexican "Dia de los Muertos." We had a fabulous lunch here... our first taste of real southwestern food in too many years.
As seen at the Arizona Welcome Center on I-40 westbound on the New Mexico border...
