EMERGENCY CASH

Did you know you can get cash for your miles?  Well, if they’re American Express points you can.  Just go to the web site and cash in points at a rate of $100 for every 20,000 points.  They’re worth way more than that to most people – to me, they’re worth at least 2%, or $400 per 20,000 points – which is why Amex is happy to make the trade. 

 

MORE ON THE MEATRIX

George Berger: “Your link to the Michael Pollan column on humane treatment of farm animals got me searching for alternatives to factory-farmed products.   The one I found that I liked best is a program called "Free Farmed" run by the American Humane Society.  They're the people who monitor the film industry and certify ‘No Animals Were Harmed.’  Farms that pass their inspection get to display the Free Farmed logo on their products.  I'm very happy to have a grocery nearby here in Phoenix that sells dairy products with the logo.  I'm looking for more, but in the meantime I search out products that at least claim to be free-range or somehow indicate that they care about the welfare of their animals.”

AND WHILE WE’RE EATING

Starbucks Low-Fat Latte ice cream.  Run, do not walk.

 

LOOK FOR SCOOBIE IN GUANTANAMO

“Whenever I have a five dollar bill,” writes blogger Scoobie Davis, “I draw a speech balloon for Lincoln with the caption that reads, ‘The GOP is no longer my party.’”

 

F It is illegal to deface U.S. currency.  I doubt a lot of folks have been prosecuted for this, but then I wouldn’t have expected the Justice Department to prosecute the South Carolina man who held up a sign (NO WAR FOR OIL) in what turned out not to be a free speech zone.