Quick Roundup 66

Humane Treatment for Lobsters

This article in the New York Times gives an amusing glimpse into just what it is that the customers of Whole Foods (aka "Whole Paycheck") are getting for their money.

Thus, the [lobsters] that wind up at the Whole Foods location in the well-to-do Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta get their own separate "lobster condo," a cooler, more hospitable water temperature and a dimly lit tank away from glass-tapping children.

"We wanted to treat them less like merchandise or a curiosity to be shown to a kid," said Amy Schaefer, a spokeswoman for Whole Foods. "It's not like buying a dozen eggs."

These measures are in place until at least June 15, when managers at the company's head office in Austin, Tex., have said they will decide whether such changes go far enough to ensure that lobsters are being treated compassionately before they are sold. If the managers decide the lobsters are not treated well enough, Whole Foods has said it will stop selling live lobsters altogether. [bold added]

What I personally found most amusing was the scientist at the end of the article who basically scoffed at the whole notion. What? Was the reporter not able to find an "expert" who would give scientific "evidence" that lobsters deserve humane treatment -- or was she just too lazy? Knowing how far-left many scientists (and scientific organizations) are, I am inclined to believe the latter.

At the same time, the scientist's comments unfortunately still indicated an acceptance of Peter Singer's basic incorrect premise that rights have their basis in the "capacity for suffering".

The Ethical Eraser

This cartoon is good for a chuckle and brings up an interesting point. Just how relevant to one's daily life can a moral code based on forgiveness really be? And might this built-in tolerance for failing to adhere to a religion explain in part how the West escaped the shackles of mysticism that are ruining the lives of millions in the Islamic world today?

HT: Adrian Hester

Trinidad and Tobago 0 - 0 Sweden

Boy, I could use some soccer leave!

My wife and I found a nice Irish pub Saturday for lunch and a bit of World Cup viewing, after I'd noticed the game on at home and we drove over during halftime. I figured that the Swedes would win decisively, but they didn't. For some reason, they just couldn't buy a goal that day, and after awhile, the Trinis started digging in. Trinidad could have won.

So the draw, being an upset of sorts, was the first surprise. The second surprise was that I was the only supporter of Sweden there! (My wife isn't really a soccer fan, although she is learning the game from me and we will encourage our kids to play....) Apparently, lots of Scots have adopted the Trinis because of the Scottish soccer rivalry with England, whose team is in the same first-round group as Trinidad, and because one of the players has "Scotland" as a surname! (Among Americans, there is frequently an urge to root for the underdog, which Trinidad certainly was.)

Somehow, though, my support of Sweden, though solo, probably doesn't make me a "Solo Protest Warrior", though it did make me think of Martin in that role!

Number Three!

Nick Provenzo posted the third Carnival of the Objectivists this past weekend. As always, he has done a fine job. This time, he introduces a few new faces to the lineup.

-- CAV

Updates

Today: Linked to Carnival of Objectivists.