That's assuming there was an autopsy, though. Given the constraints on public resources right now, I suspect they're only done when there's a reason to suspect foul play.

I don't think that's the case. Given my recentish experience with coroner's offices, though, it can take a long time before cause of death is well and truly determined, especially if toxicoloy part of the question (as I think it would be for a hot tub drowning victim). Fewer coroners, lab techs, etc. doesn't lead to fewer autopsies, just longer (much longer) turn around times. Five months is not too long a time for things to still be up in the air.

Worm in the apple. Ew, nature. Fortunately I caught it before I ate it.

A little extra protein with your fruit. Awesome.

What's worse than a worm in your apple?

Half a worm.

I heard a thing on Planet Money, and a quick google confirmed it, that autopsy rates in the US have gone down in the past half-century, and are quite low. The AMA has been campaigning for more, for public health reasons. My understanding is that if there's not a compelling reason for an autopsy, it's not done (and sometimes, not ordering one is the physician covering his/her ass)

eta: Ah. More detailed reading indicates that, at least in the 90s, the decline was in hospital, rather than coroner, autopsies, which is in line with -t's experience.

Score. My sister's dislike of coconut has resulted in my receiving a bag of really freaking good dark chocolate bars filled with coconut. They are "seconds" so the whole bag was a buck fifty! Dude. I'm glad this place is up in PA. And, finally, yum. (Don't feel bad for her - she got raspberry, which she does like).

David, that is just horrible. I hope the creepy husband trips up and the police get him.

and then we went to a rum tasting and had mahi mahi banh mi for lunch. Autocorrect wanted that to be banjos.

Mmm, mahi mahi banjos.

He finally left the Assemblies of God when he was told to preach against Smurfs.

Blue devils.

Awesome. Westboro is going to picket Dan Wheldon's funeral. They kinda should hope they are wrong and there isn't a hell, because if there's any kind of karma at all? They're probably screwed. I find myself just not even caring about them. They are real-life trolls.

I kind of want to spray Raid on the Westboro people. They are so odious.

It's a darn shame that good things that I really value come at the price of allowing terrible people to go around being publicly odious.

Mahi mahi banjos, though, seem like an unalloyed good thing.