My News Updates

Pennsylvania has reversed it's decision to ban labeling milk as "hormone free" despite evidence that there's no substantive difference to consumers. This is largely in response to consumer demands, proving that at least on unimportant issues that don't affect campaign contributions or lobbyists, the populist spirit can still win out. The hormone treatment for cows is actually illegal in Canada, but not because of effects on consumers--turns out that while it's fine for the drinker, it's not always so good for the cow. Hormone-treated cows can produce around 10% more milk than their natural counterparts.

This comes during the same week that cloned animals have been declared fair game for food. This has produced a lot of commentary, including an interesting editorial cartoon I saw where you have two butchers standing behind a meat counter--a normal-looking guy behind the "Meat" section and a Frankenstein's monster knock-off in front of the "Cloned Meat" section. I'd just like to point out two things: (1) Frankenstein's monster was NOT a clone. He was artificially constructed from dead tissue by a fictional mad scientist. Not the same thing at all. Clones are genetically identical copies of organisms. (2) Given that clones are genetically identical copies, shouldn't we actually PREFER cloned meat? If I had an absolutely delicious steak or burger or chicken sandwich, and I wanted another, I'd relish the opportunity to eat another one just like it. Why roll the dice with a new animal of the same species which might not be quite as delicious? Give me the clone of the cow I just ate.

And finally, the Philadelphia area is going to see two new movie (and potentially TV) studios, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. These studios, to be constructed in Montgomery and Delaware counties, will effectively more than quintuple the soundstage square footage available to movie-makers. That plus major tax incentives for filming in Pennsylvania should not only draw more silver screen projects, but also help establish a "critical mass" of movie-making capabilities. This will allow skilled movie-making professionals to settle in the area soon, once they're able count on regular work. It should be a boon for the suburban economies, and hopefully some of these movies (and the people working on them) will take advantage of the city of Philadelphia as well. Unlike New York, when Philadelphia appears in movies, it's still standing when the credits roll.