Ouch! - The Ultimate Postumous Penalty?

For the time being, all death row inmates in Texas are going to be cursing the memory of Lawrence Russell Brewer, 44, the white supremacist who was executed yesterday for the grisly murder of James Byrd, Jr. , a black man.

Prison officials say ribs, enchiladas and ice cream are common last meal choices. Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons, however, listed Brewer's selection as follows:

1 pint of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream
1 slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts
3 fajitas with fixings
3 root beers
2 chicken fried steaks smothered in gravy with sliced onions
1 triple meat bacon cheeseburger with fixings on the side
1 cheese omelet with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and jalapenos
1 large bowl of fried okra with ketchup
1 meat lovers pizza
One pound of barbecue with half a loaf of white bread

When his last meal arrived, however, Mr. Brewer claimed he was no longer hungry and did not touch any of it before his execution.

Consequently, Texas prison officials say they're stopping the practice of special last meals for inmates facing execution. after a state senator complained about an extensive request from a man involved in a notorious dragging death.

Sen. John Whitmire said Thursday he wanted the "ridiculous" and "inappropriate" practice ended or he'd seek a state statute banning it. Prisons director Brad Livingston agreed and said the practice was ending immediately. He said condemned inmates will get the same meal as other offenders.

Sailors can imagine the foul language among Texas's temporary death row inmates. Mr. Brewer never knew how his name would be extremely reviled even by his fellow white murderers.

Good old lawyers are probably already suing Texas to prevent withholding of last meal rites.

Submarines are always silent and strange.