Day: January 2, 2014

Laws….We Have Laws

A new year…..new laws……

We all bitch about the amount of laws that are passed every year…..laws that we are obligated to obey as part of our contract with the state……a social contract if you will……but 2014 will be an incredible year especially with the new laws that we must…….

Let me list a few that should be interesting to watch…….

Most of the 40,000 new state, federal, and local laws that took effect at midnight on 1 January,  are pretty dull but there are some doozies in there—including the legalization of recreational pot in Colorado, where over-21s will be able to walk into stores and buy weed for recreational toking. Other highlights, as per the Atlantic and Time:

  • Light bulbs. Production of 40 and 60-watt incandescent bulbs is officially over as of today, marking another step in the switch to more efficient bulbs that began with the phasing out of 100 and 75-watt bulbs.  (not much mentioned about the mercury content)……..
  • Drones. Illinois has moved to head off the use of unmanned aircraft in the state, restricting when law enforcement can use them to gather data and making it illegal for animal rights groups to use them to interfere with hunters or fishermen.
  • Voter registration. They’re still to young to smoke the state’s legal pot, but Colorado 16-year-olds will now be able to pre-register to vote when they get their drivers licenses—a law that actually makes it easier to vote, bucking the trend seen in numerous other states.
  • Shark fin. Delaware may not be a vital link in the shark fin trade, but the state has made it illegal to sell or distribute them there, a move aimed at protecting endangered shark species and ending the inhumane practice of finning.
  • Gun control. Measure introduced in Connecticut after the Sandy Hook school shooting will now take effect, including registration of assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines. California has also tightened gun controls with new measures including a 5-year ban on firearms possession for anyone who makes serious threats of violence to psychotherapists.
  • Placentas. New mothers in Oregon are now allowed to bring their placentas home with them—for ritual burial or for food, depending on their culture.

Just a few…..and the more interesting of the lot……there are more…..lots more……but space does not permit me to elaborate……and besides….I just don’t wanna to go on……

Sad Economic Statement

From the VOMITORIUM:

We now return to our regular schedule……..shake, rattle and RANT!~

I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and we have been a tourist destination for decades, especially now with all the casinos and such……and there other tourist destinations like Yellowstone, Statue of Liberty, ski areas of the West…….we like our sights and sounds……

But for the last several years there has been a slow decline of many our this country’s major cities…..sad indictment of this corrupt system, in my mind……but I read a story the other day that just made me want to puke…..and that is why I have put this in the VOMITORIUM…….

Detroit’s economy is famously not exactly booming, but the city does have one burgeoning industry: Tourism. Since the city declared bankruptcy, hotels tell the LA Times that they’ve seen more visitors coming intent on gawking at some of the city’s roughly 78,000 abandoned buildings. Restaurants in Corktown, which is strategically located near an abandoned train station, confirm that, and one tour guide the paper talked to said he’d recently upgraded to a 12-seat van. For $45, former aircraft mechanic Jesse Welter will lead visitors into derelict churches, once-luxurious high-rises, the deserted ballroom where the Who held their first US concert and more—often climbing fences or crawling on hands and knees along the way. It’s technically illegal, but police say they don’t mind. And visitors are impressed. “It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime thing you’re going to see,” said one British tourist. “You can really feel the history of a city. In Europe when things become derelict, they’ll demolish them.” Detroit hasn’t—in large part because it doesn’t have the money.

I can understand trying to find a way to make a buck….but this is a bit much for my tastes……and then there are those that gawk at the devastation of the inner city and marvel at the city’s woes……