American Thinker notes a culinary development:

In a breakthrough that could one day make an American-grown Perigord truffle as ubiquitous worldwide as the Big Mac, Mr Michaels has produced his first crop of the pungent nodules in his orchard, deep in rural Tennessee.

Seven years after planting acres of hazelnut trees impregnated with the spores of Tuber melanosporum, the 59-year-old scientist discovered just a few weeks ago that his experiment had finally born fruit. Recalling the moment of discovery, he said "I was jumping around yelling 'Eureka'."

These babies often sell for around $50 an ounce -- or up to $200 when fresh.

There's more in the New York Times.

A friend of mine, an artist, sniffs at the idea that people buy and hang reproductions of famous prints in their homes. She insists (can't imagine her motives) that everyone should patronize and buy original artwork.

While I think she's half right (if you like and can afford original works, by all means do so) I don't share her disdain for reproductions. Only a few hundred years ago, very few could glimpse one of the productions of the masters. Now, for about twenty bucks and framing, you can hang one on your own wall. What's wrong with letting average people enjoy what was only once available to the elites -- or required a long trip for a few moments' viewing?

One of the beautiful things about modern technology is that it means this decades' "poor" Americans can afford what only kings could afford a few centuries ago. And, if we'd stop using our governments to screw them up -- soon non-Islamic third world nations could have the same benefits.

But some people get really offended if the ordinary riff-raff get to enjoy the same things that only the wealthy could enjoy a few years ago. Needless to say, such elitism, which is so prevalent in certain circles -- disgusts me.

Bring on the truffles, please.