MaxRedline

Florida Gets Cool

Florida State Sen. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican and likely the next chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, has filed SB 168, known as the “Rule of Law Adherence Act,” which would require local governments to comply with federal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests and to repeal any already passed sanctuary policies. Democrats claim that banning sanctuary cities is unconstitutional and could lead to racial profiling.

Well of course Democratics would claim such things. Laws are pesky things, and they need more low-info voters. The "free stuff" crowd is their dream demographic.

California and Oregon are "sanctuary states", and that's been working out really well.

 

The Mormans Are At It Again

Beginning Dec. 30 — yes, the day before New Year's Eve — Utahns will have to be extra careful about drinking and driving. On Sunday, the state's blood alcohol content limit will drop from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent, marking the strictest DUI law in the country.

They'd really like to cite you for DUI at 0.00, but they know that's not really doable. Never mind that 70% of DUI wrecks involve people with a BAC of 0.15 or higher, they'll handle things the Mormon way. So effective Sunday, two drinks if you're a guy weighing 180 (less if you're a woman) is all it takes to get you popped.

 

Year In Review

Dave Barry weighs in again.

As always, you get a giggle or two.

 

Somehow, She Survived Christmas

A senior living center in Chehalis, Washington has banned its residents from saying

But Katrina will likely need somebody to change her Depends™.

A senior living center in Chehalis, Washington has banned its residents from saying “Merry Christmas” or displaying any Christmas cards or decorations with any religious significance in common areas. The trouble started when the building manager at Providence Place in Chehalis told a Christian resident she could not say “Merry Christmas” or hang Christmas cards with religious symbols on her doorframe because the center receives funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

On December 3, Assistant Housing Director Katrina Newman sent a letter to residents informing them that Nativity Scenes, the Star of David, and a crucifix were banned from common areas.

One slight little problem: HUD disagrees:

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development continues to strongly support and respect the display of all religious symbols on properties receiving HUD assistance. We discourage anyone from interfering in the free exercise of religion and prohibiting residents from celebrating the joys of the season.

Oopsie!

Providence Place has declined multiple requests for comment.

Kat might wish to pursue a career in generating bad PR somewhere else.

 

Introducing The Face-Plunger

MADISON, Wis. — A top state health official is giving emergency workers the green light use a new anti-choking device. 

"This could have been the end!" said Angela Powell of Idaho Falls, Idaho, who used it on her mother-in-law when she choked on a piece of steak.

"One push, one pull. Just popped right out of her throat and into her mouth and she's like, 'I'm good. I'm good,'" said Powell.

The face-plunger costs $70, but probably less since it's available on Amazon now.

 

Cue Up The Blonde Jokes

What kind of gas does a Tesla use?

 

What's Tom Hanks Done?

Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan in the "Forrest Gump" movie) paid to take 1722 Gold Star family members to Disney world for the holidays. It took 14 jets to get them there. His foundation raises $30 million a year - for the families of the fallen.

'We have counseling, we have all kinds of communal activities that focus on the healing aspect of a gold star family member who's grieving, but we also want to provide hope, happiness and joy.'

Someone who puts his name to something other than fame and fortune.

 

Pet Shop Biz

TAMPA — Maria Rodriguez never owned the puppy she thought she purchased from the pet store.

She leased it, like an appliance from a Rent-A-Center.

Yes, she took home the fuzzy black poodle her daughter picked out at Puppies Tampa. She got the food bowls, the leash. The toys, the treats. But the purebred dog came at a premium cost. One, she said, a pet store employee assured her could be managed through a finance plan for which Rodriguez would certainly be approved.

Rodriguez signed the paperwork on an iPad screen. She doesn't remember anyone using the word "lease." She assumed the contract she signed with Wags Lending was for a loan she’d pay off over two years.

She didn't realize the $1,500 dog would wind up tripling in price. She didn't know Wags legally owned the dog her family named Milly or that the company had the right to take its "property" away should Rodriguez miss a payment. Nor did she realize that if Milly died or ran away, Rodriguez would still be on the hook for payments — fees and all.

Britain, surprisingly enough, actually has the right idea: they've banned puppy and kitten sales from pet shops. From here on, they either get their pet from a "re-homing center" or deal directly with breeders. That's perfect; pet shops are into moving product, which in their case are animals. And in addition to inflating prices and forcing people into shady "leasing" practices, they often don't even know the condition of the animals they're trying to peddle.

We went with the breeder visitation thing when we purchased The Wonder Dog. Checked the paperwork, the whole nine yards, and got the pure-bred mini-poodle complete with vaccines and certifications from a licensed veterinarian prior to the transaction.

That's really the way to go: meet the breeder, check out all of the paperwork, meet the dogs, and go from there. Anything else is a waste of time and money.

 

Even The Dog Loves Christmas

It happens every year: we start unwrapping stuff, and the dog is beside himself, running back and forth among us on his hind legs, the better to check out what we have. Finally, he gets his package, which contains a new toy or two!

He tears into that sucker with abandon, getting rid of the pesky paper and bow, then gingerly opens the box, removes his toys carefully, and proceeds to guard them. Those are, after all, his toys, and woe be unto the person who may try to take one....

He was not trained to open the package; he learned by observation. He knows how we do things, so that's what he does as well. He also doesn't touch packages when they're under - or even near - the Christmas tree. Until they're handed out, he leaves things be.

But he's one happy pup-dog on Christmas day.

Hope you've had a good one as well.

 

Icing Tesla Owners

There's a new phenomenon among the redneck population these days:

In what appears to be an act of protest against Tesla, a bunch of pickup truck drivers used their trucks to block access to a Supercharger station and reportedly yelled profanities about Tesla until they were removed from the premises.

The incident happened in Hickory, North Carolina last weekend.

This is not exactly uncommon and it is referred to in EV community as ‘Icing’ a charging station – when ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles are occupying a space for an EV.

That seems a little hyper-reactive. They are, after all, American-made cars, if somewhat hypocritical; they run on electricity rather than petrol, but since most electricity in the USA is produced by burning natural gas or coal, the cars are still running on hydrocarbon-based fuels - the output's simply converted into electricity, which is somehow supposed to be "green".

I'd be somewhat more impressed if the vehicle roofs incorporated solar arrays with enough juice to power the things.