A Law Enforcement Merit Badge

Feb 20, 2013

I never thought about whether the Girl Scouts paid sales tax on the cookies they sell; but apparently in Idaho (and one other state) they do. Scouting officials say that they fork over about $140,000 each year in sales tax on the cookies.

In February 2011 I wrote that the Idaho State Police had requested an increase on the fee that people convicted of a felony pay, hoping to use the funds for its Training Academy. The legislature turned them down on the grounds that the fee was a tax, and we are opposed to taxes. (“No New Taxes for Felons,” Feb 2, 2011.)

If the Scouts can’t get the legislature to repeal the tax, maybe the state can shift that money to the State Police Training Academy. And the girls who sold the cookies could get a special, Idaho-issued “Law Enforcement Assistance” Merit Badge.

THAT'S Entertainment???

February 5, 2013

Note: If you’re straitlaced, don’t read this. I’m straitlaced, too, but I don’t use euphemisms.

So, I'm watching Beyonce do her stuff at the Superbowl, and this is what's running through my head (all thoughts pretty much simultaneously):

Dancing, excellent

Singing, not so much

Lights pretty good

What's with the underwear style of the clothing? That, combined with the dance, is clearly designed to arouse men. I wonder if it's working. We should survey the men in the stadium and the TV audience and see if they're actually aroused. If they are, why is this a good thing? If not, why is she carrying on this way? And what's in this performance for women? Sure, the dancing's good, but why is it so definitely aimed toward the men? Could she not have had great dance moves and still worn clothes? Is it true that teenage girls use performers as role models? If so, are they picking up the idea that no matter how talented you are, your career will do best if you make men horny?...

Keep Your Samsung Microwave Cool

 February 6, 2013

In August 2011 I broke our microwave. Now (a few months past the warranty expiration) our replacement microwave has broken door latches. I looked up online how to fix them, and it is apparently a big problem with Samsung microwaves.

I can’t imagine why nobody’s filed a class-action lawsuit. On TV it’s easy—you just walk into a lawyer’s office and boom! 50 minutes later (plus commercials) you have a multi-million dollar settlement.

The customer service person at Samsung offered two possibilities for the excessive number of broken door latches:

Option 1: Excessive heat can damage the latches.

I pointed out that microwaves are supposed to get hot. So shouldn't Samsung be working on a way to fix this issue?

I then was offered Option 2: Closing the door hard can damage the latches.

It’s not really a slammable door, so that wasn’t a good guess either.

Anyway, we’re replacing our microwave and I’m composing letters to Samsung.

Superbowl 2013

February 4, 2013

Dear Superbowl Organizers:

If you insist on driving up ticket prices by paying big bucks for overpriced halftime entertainment,

Can you at least make sure that the performers put some clothes on?