“Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill that officially classifies beer as alcoholic. Until now anything containing less than 10% alcohol in Russia has been considered a foodstuff.” [BBC, via Daring Fireball]

And here we thought it would be frogs:

An estimated one million fish turned up dead Tuesday in a Southern California marina, creating a floating feast for pelicans, gulls and other sea life and a stinky mess for harbor authorities.

The sardines apparently depleted the water of oxygen and suffocated after getting lost in the marina, officials said.

But here’s our favorite part:

“All indications are it’s a naturally occurring event,” said Andrew Hughan, a California Fish and Game spokesman at the scene.

Yes, because here in California, a million dead fish wash ashore all the time.

Mass Fish Death Fouls California Marina [ABC]

Our afternoon guest columnist is Dennis Kucinich’s lawyer.

As entities engaged in the business of serving food to customers, defendants Restaurant Associates, Inc. and Compass Group USA, Inc. have a duty to exercise due care and see that food served to their customers is wholesome and fit for human consumption and may be eaten without causing injury.

Defendants Restaurant Associates and/or Compass Group USA, by and through their employees and/or agents, breached this duty by serving plaintiff food that was unwholesome and unfit for human consumption, in that said food contained dangerous substances, namely an olive pit, that a consumer would not reasonably expect to find in the final product served.

As a direct and proximate result of defendants’ aforesaid negligence, plaintiff has suffered serious and permanent injuries for which he is entitled to recover damages, including but not limited to past and future dental and medical expenses, compensation for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment and other damages.

Kucinich v. Restaurant Associates et al [PDF]

Rep. Dennis Kucinich sues cafeteria over olive pit in sandwich [Cleveland Plain Dealer]

San Francisco mayor to veto city’s ban on Happy Meals [CNN]

“Mixing alcohol and caffeine is hardly a new concept, but a rash of cases involving students and others who landed at hospitals after drinking beverages that combine the two in a single large can has alarmed college and health officials around the country.” [NYT]

So, what does Silent Creative Partner do? Well, among other things, he does this.

The Human Carnival [Tumblr] • HC Twitter feed

Attention, Cannabis-Americans! Dianne Feinstein wants to harsh your mellow:

In the name of saving children from candy-flavored methamphetamine, the U.S. appears on the verge of mandating more than a year in jail for anyone who cooks up a batch of pot brownies.

A bill by California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein that has recently reached the Senate floor has cannabis advocacy groups concerned that potent, medical-grade edible products would become a higher crime carrying weighter sentences, ostensibly to protect children from ingesting strawberry-flavored meth.

Wait: Meth?

Read more »