Durham's Bull

Krispy Kreme Bacon Cheeseburgers

No, that's not a typo.

I'm not sure whether to be disturbed or drool.

HT: James Poulos

Sentence of the Day

"It's odd to watch a political party arise for no other reason than to prove the existence of public choice theory, then demand to be elected because it's the only party that really understands the implications of public choice theory."

From Ezra Klein, reporting on the Dept of Agriculture's denial of Creekstone's right to test its own livestock for mad-cow disease.

This is just one of the many problems with one-size fits all regulation.  I understand that the trade-offs between economies of scale and the needs of innovators can be hard to balance at times, but this sort of issue could be solved fairly simply by moving from means-based regulation to ends-based regulation. 

Rather than punishing someone for not following your rules, punish them when they actually cause harm. 

Klein on the Carbon Cost of Meat

"It's better for the environment to try and cut meat out of your diet, but you can do a lot to reduce energy usage on the margins by simply switching from high-carbon meats like beef to lower carbon alternatives. Indeed, a recent study out of Carnegie-Mellon concluded that, for the average American family, shifting to an entirely local diet would have about the same energy impact as replacing one day per week's meat with chicken, fish, or vegetables."

More.

Undersize Me

A man goes on a McDonald's-only diet and loses 70 lbs.

Top 50 BBQ Restaurants in Texas

You might be asking yourself, self, why is he blogging about Texas? 

In addition to being from NC, and currently residing in DC suburbia, anyone who knows me well knows my disdain for all things Texas.  That said, my love for BBQ in general, and brisket in particular, swamps my rancor for "steers and queers."

Here's the list for the occasion that you should find yourself in that place that we all know is not really in the South.

FDA Regulation and Foodborne Disease

Alex Tabarrok shows us precisely why Paul Krugman is a schmuck.

The data looks too noisy to conclude much of anything, but certainly doesn't support Krugman's claims.

Hardees: Amazing

This is a great profile of Hardees' business model/corporate strategy.  It's long, but fascinating.  No wonder I love it so much. 

Seasonal Ingredient Map

For those of you who value local produce,  this thing is pretty sweet.

I am excited about being back in Falls Church (1 day and counting) for the farmer's market. 

HT: DCist

Summer Drink Do's and Don'ts from Dreher

"3. A real mint julep. I have a recipe Walker Percy wrote down, the secret ingredient of which is a dusting of fresh nutmeg. Seriously, this is a major sit-down-on-the-front-porch summer drink, and I can't recommend it highly enough, provided you use lots of mint, really good Bourbon, and pack the ice in pretty hard. Unfortunately, it's liquid hangover for me these days. Still, the occasion will present itself about once a year, usually in a situation involving a rocking chair, and I'll through caution to the wind. That's why the good Lord made Advil."

Anything Walker Percy would recommend is alright by me. 

See the full list here.

Feel free to add your personal favorite in the comments section. 

I, for one, disagree with his beer pronouncement.  I'm a big fan of pale ales in the summer.  I recommend this fine offering from Mad River Brewing Company.  When in the South, Sweetwater 420 is heavenly.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I will drink a bourbon and coke with lime anytime, anywhere, and summer is no exception.  Sublime.

I would agree with Dreher that Salty Dog's are consistently underrated.  If you dig grapefruit, it's a must.

Addendum: While we're on the subject, this is hilarious.  (Disregard the questionable picture of the scantily clad Asian chick in the top left corner.)

The Post on Grilling Pizza

Yum.