[Sca-cooks] A few of the things disallowed by the current MK > A&S rules

[Stefan li Rous]

Iasmin replied to me with:
> Stefan wrote:
> >I was just now updating a single file (raw-fruit-vg-msg) in the
> >Florilegium and ran across a few items that I think are disallowed by
> >the current Middle Kingdom [....] Some of these sound awfully
> >"medicinal" to me.
>
> Think "comfort and comestic". While not specifically stated, there has been
> a tacit understanding that if it is non-poisonous and could be purchased over-
> the-counter in the US then it can be entered.

"tacit understanding"? Bzzz. Doesn't cut it IMHO. Too open to knowing
the right people. Know the right people and get pointed to the loopholes.
Don't know the right people, or play by the rules as written and you
can't enter. Or put in a lot of work and hope you can argue your
entry in when you get there? Not conducive to a friendly atmosphere.

I think its better not to have such blanket prohibitions and simply
require that any item that contains something possibly harmful, give
the warnings on this and let the individual decide for themself
whether to partake or not. If you are unsure if an item is safe or not,
don't eat it. If you wish to create a master list of items that require
a warning message, then do so.

Define "non-poisonous". Non-poisonous to one that is well? Non-poisonous
to one that is pregnant? Non-poisonous to children or just adults?

How are poisonous items like those used in period pigments handled?
Are they allowed, but not some possibly poisonous herbs? Why?

> Now, keep in mind that this is
> *my* personal interpretation and I've gone round and round with entry
> judges on this and usually won. If you want the *real* poop on this you
> need to email or call the Middle Kingdom A&S Officer for his ruling.

Well, you said you (and others) were rewriting these rules. I'm not
in the Middle Kingdom. Likely any comments I made would be ignored
on this if I made and sent in an official set of comments.

--
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
   Mark S. Harris            Austin, Texas          stefan at texas.net
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****