You'll Take Our Burgers When You Pry Them From Our Cold Dead Hands

So. New York has banned trans fats. I'm conflicted about this because, on the one hand I think this is paternalism going too far. On the other hand, I also happen to know how partially hydrogenated vegetable oil is made.

The hydrogenation process involves sparging [it's a filtering process] the oil at high temperature and pressure with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, typically a powdered nickel compound.

That's right. Powdered metal is mixed with vegetable oil. Then it's electrocuted. This is what we've been eating.

Makes head cheese sound inviting, doesn't it?

Didn't Voltaire say "I disapprove with what you're eating, but I will defend to the death your right to eat it"?

But what the hell. And, while we're at it, let's crack down on sugar, booze, live entertainment and full contact sports. I'm pretty sure we can manage to squeeze all the fun out of life. But the actuaries and economists will be happy.