Molluscs, like most invertebrates, lack a complex central nervous system. They do not have “brains.” This is why they do not exhibit social behaviors, and why clams, lobsters, insects, etc are excluded from most animal cruelty legislation.

See:
http://www.vkm.no/dav/d1bfe88cf5.pdf
http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/372/lega/witn/shelly-e.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pain_in_invertebrates

This is not absolutely conclusive. If you’d still rather employ a more humane method of killing them, toss your clams/etc in the freezer for ~20 minutes prior to boiling.

But as a mater of science, that video shows nothing more than a chemical reaction with mildly amusing zoomorphic results. A clam is no more equipped to feel pain than a grain of salt or the table it sits on.

One does not further the decent treatment of animals by posturing in self-righteous ignorance of their biology. To use the word “torture” in this context is to debase it.

There’s a fine line between torture and dinner.

I’m usually against this escalate at all costs, respect mah authoritah! attitude of the cops, but in this case, what was he going to do? She refused to leave. The property owner wanted her gone. He can’t leave her alone, she won’t cooperate, and the property owner won’t let her stay.

At some point in time, handcuffs were going to come out unless she cooperated and left. She had no right to be there once the owner told her to leave.

That being said, if he really did charge her and get rough with her, then shame on him. However, since she didn’t file a complaint, and there was no investigation, all we’ve heard is her side of the story. More to follow, hopefully, but I’m going to wait to condemn the cop in this one until he gets his chance to tell the story.

As it is trying to dig itself back in, all it is finding is salt on a hard surface. The concertration of salt is far too saline for it, even though it is a saltwater creature, and it is probably burning it, whcih is why it retracts it’s foot whenever it hits the salt, making it look like it is “eating” it.

What we have here is an animal that is suffering, if a clam can, indeed suffer. What we need is to throw it into the pot and cook it and eat it, because clams are tasty and good to eat. Not to torture.

Look into the story of the destruction of the 1500-year old Bamiyan Buddha Statues sometime. in 1999, the Taliban announced they were gonna do it. The whole world gasped! Called ‘em ignorant savages! UNESCO with all its awesome might and influence jumped into the fray! Every member of the 54 nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference howled in protest, and appeared to joined the protest!!! Surely, _surely_ reason would prevail! These were unique, iconic historical TREASURES!!!

Then the 7th century fundy islamists running Afghanistan at the time gave *everybody* the finger, and blew ‘em up anyway. First they used artillery, then anti-tank mines, and finally essentially blew ‘em up by – of course – by hand. Afterwards, when the heat of the moment had subsided, the Taliban – spiritual brethren to the (non-military) guys now running Egypt – had this to say about the whole thing: “Moslems should be *proud* of smashing” (priceless, irreplacable, millenia-old) “idols!” and this gem, “We are destroying the statues in accordance with islamic law” – you know, the same law that calls for stoning [female] adulterers and hanging homosexuals – “and it is purely a religious issue.”

So yeah, precedent schmecedent! There ain’t no reason whatsoever to think the ‘destroy the pyramids’ story is anything but right-wing ‘aren’t the moslems crazy’ bullshit, right?

His conclusion is obviously wrong, but I can’t doubt his reasoning.

You’ve set a new record for priggishness on the internet. With a bundle of nerves that sits just this side of a central nervous system, clams are incapable of being tortured.

But guess what can be tortured? Moral arguments made on behalf of mollusks.

I agree about the tackling part. But it does smell a little like she was not acting properly herself and probably deserved a MUCH less violent arrest.

There are plenty of ways the government intrudes on our lives. You don’t need to make up new ones.

Dig a little deeper next time before you post something so paranoid, thank you.

It matters not. The Overton window has been moved.