Comments for If I Were King

Comment on As smart as cows? by Bruce Hoult

Bruce Hoult — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:37:27 +0000

Here in NZ a lot of such tests are done. Samples are taken from each farm every day and analyzed in a variety of ways: for fat and protein content, for bacteria, for antibiotics.

This has been true for as long as I can remember – let’s say for the sake of argument that I remember it being done in 1970, when I was seven years old. The milk tanker pulls up at the milk shed, connects the hose to the vat, starts the auxiliary engine for the pump (these days they’re driven off the main truck engine, but then it was a small petrol engine at the back of the trailer), collects a small amount of milk in a sample jar (about the same as you pee in at the doctor..), labels it with your supplier number (ours was 65), and puts it in a tray.

If your tests for antibiotics and other forbidden substances (e.g. hormones including from colustrum) come out badly then not only do you not get paid for that day’s milk, you also get fined heavily. I don’t recall precisely but you might lose payment for the entire week or even month. It was a very serious offense, and farmers take great care to segregate milk from newly-calved cows and from any being treated for e.g. mastitis. Any such milk is throw out or fed to pigs or calves.

I don’t know what is done today as I’ve been living in the city the last 25 years, but I doubt it’s any less now!

Comment on Birther spotted in the wild by If I Were King » Birthers, Redux

If I Were King » Birthers, Redux — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:45:31 +0000

[...] my introduction to the quotes I characterized the birthers of our day as “halfwits”. As I mentioned back in April, I encountered my first birther in a public place, having previously not really believed that such [...]

Comment on Obama blows it over Afghan command structure by jack

jack — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:22:53 +0000

You summed it up very well. I agree with you completely ( which, speaking as a graduate of West Point , and veteran of the Viet Nam War,
counts for something well said)
Jack

Comment on FDA on the Wrong Track by If I Were King » Transparency We Can Use

If I Were King » Transparency We Can Use — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:59:46 +0000

[...] mentioned a couple of days ago in our comments regarding the FDA, we need transparency in the health-care field. If any member of the royal household is facing a [...]

Comment on Discriminated Against? Better Act Fast by If I Were King » Whither Burris?

If I Were King » Whither Burris? — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:22:59 +0000

[...] Meanwhile, the letter of appointment was presented to the secretary of the Senate on the 5th, but the Senate refused to seat Mr Burris when the session opened on the 6th, claiming that the Senate rules and tradition require the certification by the Secretary of State. The Illinois Supreme Court carefully reviewed the Senate’s rules and determined that there was no such requirement. In other words, Harry Reid is full of the same rich nutrient material we suggested be taken to Akron yesterday. [...]

Comment on Gatekeepers and the Cost of Health Care by If I Were King » Better Gatekeepers?

If I Were King » Better Gatekeepers? — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:37:52 +0000

[...] In “Professor’s little helper” in the 20 December 2007 issue of Nature, Barbara Sahakian and Sharon Morein-Zamir raise the question of whether “cognitive-enhancing” drugs like the methylphenidate I depend on (see previous) should be more readily available. Although they argue the positive side, they are still coming from the perspective that, well, of course any access to such drugs will be under the supervision of healthcare professionals. I don’t think we need “kindler gentler” gatekeepers. If I Were King, adults would be able to choose their own advisors, do their own research, and make their own decisions. Posted by vanhorn @ 1:37 :: Politics Comment RSS :: Trackback URI [...]

Comment on What Were They Thinking? (Fresno division) by What Were They Thinking? (Fresno division)

What Were They Thinking? (Fresno division) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:27:25 +0000

[...] vanhorn placed an observative post today on What Were They Thinking? (Fresno division) [...]

Comment on Back to square one by Emily

Emily — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:40:29 +0000

Readed…

An unpopular rule is never long maintained…