Headlines (The art of being completely unlikeable; capsaicin is the alkaloid compound that makes hot peppers hot; hustlin' abroad).

Rove ignores subpoena, refuses to testify

Former White House adviser Karl Rove defied a congressional subpoena and refused to testify Thursday about allegations of political pressure at the Justice Department, including whether he influenced the prosecution of a former Democratic governor of Alabama.

Rep. Linda Sanchez, chairman of a House subcommittee, ruled with backing from fellow Democrats on the panel that Rove was breaking the law by refusing to cooperate — perhaps the first step toward holding him in contempt of Congress.

Lawmakers subpoenaed Rove in May in an effort to force him to talk about whether he played a role in prosecutors' decisions to pursue cases against Democrats, such as former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, or in firing federal prosecutors considered disloyal to the Bush administration. -- MSNBC

If you or I decided to flake out on a Congressional subpoena, the po'lice is kicking down our door and hunting us down.

If the White House's former Deputy Chief of Staff did the same, he's getting a shiny new presidential pardon.

So let it be known: Karl Rove is above the law.

Officials Add Jalapeños to Salmonella Warning

Federal health officials now blame raw jalapeños for some of the illnesses in the three-month-old salmonella outbreak and yesterday advised the elderly, infants and people with compromised immune systems to avoid them.

The jalapeño warning was based on the results of recent investigations of three large clusters of illnesses involving restaurants, the CDC said. A cluster is when at least two people get sick after eating in the same location in a brief period of time.

Some in the clusters reported eating dishes containing tomatoes and jalapeños, while others said they ate a dish that had jalapeños and did not have tomatoes, cilantro or serrano peppers.

"The accumulated data from all investigations indicate that jalapeño peppers caused some illnesses but that they do not explain all illnesses," the CDC said. -- Washington Post

Jalapeños are the default pepper whenever someone thinks "hot pepper," but as far as all hot peppers are concerned, they're actually pretty average-tasting. They rank right about in the middle, somewhere above weak-ass Anaheim peppers but below nuclear Scotch Bonnets and Habaneros.

The problem with jalapeños is that they're just spicy, but that's it. And peppers (quality peppers) should be more than just hot. There's little depth, little complexity to the jalapeños' flavor. It's just one flat note. And unlike the exotic, fruity fragrance of other peppers, jalapeños have a woodsy, grassy aftertaste that -- depending on how old the peppers are, and exactly how they're prepared -- can be unpleasant. I imagine it's the same sensation you'd get if you ate a handful of lawn clippings.

For pure heat, the aforementioned Scotch Bonnets and Habaneros are superior -- and on top of being spicy, they actually have their own distinct flavor. Dried poblano/ancho and chipotle peppers are good for stews or slow-cooking dishes, they add a lot of smokiness and richness without too much of the mouth-scorching heat. Serranos also pack a good punch, so I'm sorry to hear that they made the suspect list. And even though they aren't spicy at all, I love eating the mild Pepperoncini's with pizza.

All of that food elitism aside, I do like jalapeños, especially diced up fine in my salsa. And I can't get enough pickled jalapeños on my Publix subs.

And regarding the salmonella scare, it doesn't concern me. If I don't get sick from tomatoes or jalapeños, then I'll get sick from strawberries or carrots or Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies. Whatever, same difference. I'm not compromising my BLT sandwich because I may (but in all likelihood, will not) get sick.


Brandon Jennings might be a trailblazer, decides to play in Europe

Brandon Jennings' decision to bypass a one-year college commitment and instead sign a professional contract in Europe has trend-setting potential and could help end the NBA's so-called "one and done" requirement for elite prep players, the leader of the NBA players' union said Wednesday.

"I continue to be against an age limit, I'm against limiting the options these kids have," union executive director Billy Hunter said. "It's going to be a very big issue the next time we negotiate. . . . I'm strident in my position to eliminate the age limit."

Jennings, 18, a Southern Californian who played at Compton Dominguez High before moving to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his final two prep seasons, was a McDonald's All-American ranked by many as the nation's top high school point guard.

Jennings had signed to attend Arizona, and was awaiting an SAT score later this week that would determine if he would be eligible to play in college when he announced Tuesday he would play in a European professional league. An Arizona spokesman said Wednesday that university compliance officers have not yet received Jennings' test score. -- LA Times

As a (supposed) scholar, of course I endorse anyone and everyone getting a full education. If a school as prestigious as the University of Arizona is willing to give you a free ride, you take it. You'll better yourself personally, intellectually, culturally. Get smart, that's my motto.

But still, I can't blame him for his decision. He obviously doesn't care about the Pythagorean Theorem, doesn't care about the analogy of Plato's cave, doesn't care about the life span of a black hole. He doesn't care and never will care. Academics just isn't his bag. He wants to play basketball and earn lots of money. That's it. And I can't fault him for that. He was living in Compton, so poverty must have been a huge sticking point for him growing up. The NBA (with its age limits) force him to play at least one year of college ball, then the NCAA makes millions off of him by showcasing him in primetime games on CBS and other major market networks. And while the NCAA is counting its piles of cheddar, poor Brandon Jennings and his family is sitting down to a Thanksgiving dinner of Top Ramen. That isn't entirely fair.

If he can spend a year overseas, play some professional basketball, take in some culture, and earn an income while doing it, more power to him. I can totally support his choice. That way, he gets to have his cake and eat it too; he makes some money while waiting out the NBA's age limit in Europe, and then in a year, enters the NBA and makes even more money. As more teenagers (assuredly) follow his lead, the quality of college basketball will slowly suffer. And while I might resent that for selfish reasons -- I think March Madness is one of the single greatest things ever -- I can definitely respect a young man's decision to sell his trade, make money, and provide for his family. That's the essence of capitalism.

Oh, and Jennings has "Young Money" tattooed on his back. True that, friend.