LEXINGTON, KY (AP) – A woman got more than she bargained for yesterday when she discovered fragments of a cow’s ass in her roast beef sandwich at a truck stop near Lexington.

The incident occurred Saturday night at the “Long’s Diner and Truck Stop” off Interstate 64 when Thelma Rodick, 53, of Bowling Green stopped for gas and decided to have a quick dinner.

“I was on my second bite when I bit into something kind of chewy. I pulled a small reddish chunk out of the sandwich and quickly realized it was a piece of cow ass. Very shaken, I nearly vomited and immediately brought it to the staff’s attention.”

John Wilson, the diner’s manager, said, “we take great pride in serving only the freshest and finest food to our customers. We’ve apologized to Thelma for her negative experience and hope we have the chance to serve her again – perhaps a salad or something.”

Officials from the Kentucky Health Department have said they are investigating, but offered no further comment.

“She was so upset when she found out what it was,” said another patron. “She was really freaked out and yelling that she’d found something gross in her sandwich.”

The diner remains open for business.

If you are ever in Santa Barbara and have need for a sushi fix – do yourself a favor and beg to be admitted to Arigato Sushi on State Street. I was out there last week at the Bacara resort, and a very kind (and cute) Bacara staffer named Merissa recommended it.

They don’t take reservations but I managed to arrange something with seven other friends (thanks to the very gracious manager, who even rang my cell when the table was ready). It was one of the best sushi experiences I’ve ever had – the service was excellent, the food was creative and delicious, and I was actually underwhelmed when the bill was delivered. Couldn’t have asked for more from this place.

Over the years, I have argued vehemently against the War on Some Drugs. To the specific issue of psychedelics and cognitive liberty, I think the criminalization of psychedelics is a war on a certain way of thinking. Many people use psychedelics in a sacred way, as part of a deeply personal journey of spiritual discovery. This threatens many who prescribe to more traditional ways of viewing the world and prefer having their spiritual beliefs prescribed to them in ready-made, clearly bounded, easy-to-digest ideological containers. I don’t think any way of thinking should have a monopoly, especially one that is codified into law. So long as you do not violate the rights of others, it should not be a crime to hunt for Truth, whatever your chosen path may be. At the very least, such exploration should not be an offense punishable by life in prison.

In that regard, it pleases me greatly that the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the Bush Administration today on the spiritual use of an illicit substance, DMT.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter has publicly come to the same conclusion I did about the Bush Administration’s wiretapping: that is was in “flat violation” of the law. See UPI piece from overnight.

Apparently the Catholic Church and Michael Jackson are discussing a music deal. No, I’m not joking.

Some of you know the only substantial complaint I have about my Audi S4 its its terrible navigation system. Aside from Boston being the worst city in the US to navigate (it’s about as friendly from a civil engineering perspective as it is socially), it’s also been under heavy construction since the 1970s. (“We’ll be finished next year, really.”)

I’m fascinated by this recent bit about VW and Google Maps teaming up.. and wondering to myself if this will show up in an RS4 or S6 in the near future? Dreaming, I know. But a setup like this would be awesome.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for the office you hold, Mr. Bush. Not as much for where you have gone with the honors. That’s another program.

However, sir, I feel inclined to set the record straight. Just because you always talk like you are addressing fourth graders, you are not, and never will be, my “Educator-in-Chief”.