Afternoon Links: October 7, 2010

1. New York wants to forbid residents from purchasing sugary drinks with food stamps.

2. Bedbugs are back in America with a vengeance. (Where’s DDT when you need it?)

3. A proposed San Francisco city ordinance would ban toys in McDonald’s happy meals unless the meals are under a certain calorie count and include fruits and vegetables.

4. There really is a market for everything: if you’re lonely, you can easily rent a friend for the day.

5. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is in hot water for casting out-of-state actors to play “ordinary” West Virginians in an ad attacking West Virgina Gov. Joe Manchin (D). The casting call specifically asked for actors with a “hicky” look.