Then I stand by my point.

Yes, you can still buy ephedra tea, at least according to my Googling.

The FTC actions challenge false advertising claims that the ephedra supplements cause rapid, substantial, and permanent weight-loss without diet or exercise, and that “clinical studies” or “medical research” prove these claims. The FTC also challenges claims that the ephedra weight-loss products are “100% safe,” “perfectly safe,” or have “no side effects.”

So we aren't talking about "Aunt Nellie's Ma Huang, eat at own risk". We're talking about a human-altered drug, taken in highly concentrated form, with false claims of safety.

I'm not arguing that it's safe, or should be labelled as safe, or that the manufacturers should not be held accountable for misleading claims. I may be reading the article wrong, but it sounds to me as if the judge's decision just punted the whole thing back to the FDA for something other than an outright ban.

The president just drove by, or his dummy-cade, (oh wait, they are the same thing) my house on his way to a baseball game about 12 blocks from here.

I guess that whole Middle East peace thing, the war on terror and our exploding budget have been sorted.

Brilliant. I guess he deserves a break.

Have a hot dog for me W.

He's throwing out the first pitch at the National's home opener. It's one of teh few things I like about the guy, he throws a decent first pitch.

he throws a decent first pitch

He missed his true calling as a baseball player, then.

NYC isn't big. NYC is a lot of small villages, smooshed very close together.

This is very true for me. It's my One True City. YnycMV

I'm very "legalize it all and tax it to hell" when it comes to drugs.

This is me, too. Could lead to lots of problems, I suppose, but it's not like we don't have lots of nasty problems with illegal drugs already.

He already had the coke habit (ducking) You guys need to read 'The Corner"...still not quite "studies and shit" but a very effective argument about the war on drugs, written by one of my journalistic idols. (/David Simon likes carrots) It changed the way I look at that issue.

He should go play with...okay, I'll stop now.

Very scary voices wafting in the window. Apparently, all the cars on East Capitol St. (a major thoroughfare) are being towed right now. All cars must be off the road for the next 5 hours.

Paranoid much?

And perhaps I should be MORE paranoid considering I'm two blocks away.

This is me, too. Could lead to lots of problems, I suppose, but it's not like we don't have lots of nasty problems with illegal drugs already.

Maybe it'd cut down on gang stuff. Like Gang X sells X on these blocks. Gang Y sells X on those blocks. The Man comes in and says, "Her eya go kiddies. Get it at 7-11." Maybe no more turf wars. I don't know. Maybe it wouldn't work. But the way it is now ain't working either.