Insider tip on today’s big hoopla in Washington D.C.:

“Among its 2005 presidential inaugural activities and amenities in celebration of the second term of President Bush, the Ritz-Carlton Hotels of Washington will be serving guests gourmet rattlesnake nachos.”

And then this, on another website altogether:

“No other wild animal in the United States is as extensively exploited and traded without regulation or oversight as the rattlesnake. Several species could become extinct just as we are beginning to understand their ecological importance.”

Sounds like business as usual in term two.

Thanks to a mystery tipster for this inauguration menu update:

“Given that rattlesnake tastes just like chicken (apparently), why not just have chicken nachos? Last I checked, chickens were not protected by federal law.”