Independence Day Rodent Action

Have you ever wondered how an American would act, if he were a small rodent? I think I have the answer.

We noticed some mouse droppings, and our dog-sitter claimed to hear "scritching" sounds (her word, not mine). So I put out some traps, baited with chocolate peanut butter.  Figured that would be irresistible.

Next day...found this (click for an even more Independent image):

Two things are noteworthy.

• First, the trigger is licked completely clean.  This was extremely dense, sticky chocolate peanut butter.  Any jiggling and WHAP.  But no.  Licked it clean. Trap is still set, unsprung.  Balls.
   
• Second, and even more American:  note the two small objects in the left foreground.  Yes, those are what you think they are.  The mouse, after eating all the bait, took a dump on the trap.

And that, dear ones, is the sort of spirit that makes America great.  A happy Independence Day to you!

That's nacho cheese!

People can you imagine the pure adrenaline rush, the unmitigated joy, of cruising down the highway with 20 tons of stolen cheese in the back of your truck?

Meet Veniamin Konstantinovich Balika, who was apprehended in New Jersey with a load of hot Wisconsin Muenster.

Now, I personally believe that ALL Muenster cheese should be illegal, but that's a story for another day.

It certainly is no coincided that this malefactor of great cheese was arrested at the Vince Lombardi rest stop.

Maybe Mr. Balika should hook up with this guy.

Via Kottke.org, but the hat tip goes to loyal KPC reader Gerardo.


*****************UPDATE********************

According to NPR: this is what the arrest of Mr. Konstantinovich Balika at a New Jersey Turnpike rest stop looked like:

(clic the pic for an even less realistic-looking image)

The update hat tip goes to MK, another loyal KPC reader.

that's nacho cheese

I love Mexico but MAN oh MAN are things messed up there. Check this gem from the WSJ:

Days after the Casino Royale fire, Monterrey's leading newspaper published a video showing the brother of the PAN mayor of Monterrey, Fernando Larrazabal, receiving wads of money at one Monterrey casino. The paper suggested that many of the city's casinos, which lack legal permits, were paying off city officials—and drug gangs—to stay open.

The mayor has denied wrongdoing. His brother, Jonas Larrazabal, says the money was payment for selling cheese to the casinos.

There is a grand Mexican tradition of the politician's brother as bagman (Raul Salinas, you KNOW I'm talking about you), and apparently the PAN is not immune to it.

The whole article is interesting and depressing. A thriving illegal casino industry operates with impunity across the nation.