Thursday, February 25, 2010

Calif. Lawmakers: Cut The Foul Language, Please - @KTVU San Francisco

Calif. Lawmakers: Cut The Foul Language, Please

Posted: 3:25 pm PST February 25, 2010

SACRAMENTO -- Californians had better start watching their mouths.

The state Assembly passed a resolution Thursday that would establish the first week of March as "Cuss Free Week" throughout the state. If approved by the Senate next week, the measure would take effect immediately.

The resolution includes no enforcement mechanism and is simply meant to promote greater harmony and connectedness, said Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, a Democrat from La Canada Flintridge and co-author of the measure.

"I've always wondered why we behave differently when grandma is watching than when we're on our own," said Portantino, who owned up to his share of four-letter words.

Portantino said the California Legislature -- known for imposing strict clean air and clean water laws -- is the first state legislative body in the nation to consider a statewide profanity-free week.

The resolution was inspired by a South Pasadena teenager, McKay Hatch, who started a No Cussing Club at his junior high school in 2007. Similar clubs have since cropped up in every state and 20 countries.

Hatch, who traveled to Sacramento with his family to support the resolution, said he sees a link between foul-mouthed incivility and other forms of problem behavior, such as drug use and bullying.

Next up for the 16-year-old? Promoting no-cussing measures in other states and internationally.

"Next year I want to do a world tour," he said. "Cussing is a hard habit to break, but anyone can do it."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Interesting idea. Could it work?

Posted via web from Doug's posterous

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Good on McCain for calling out "birthers" in campaign spot

CBS News' Political Hot Sheet Blog reports that Arizona Sen. John McCain's latest video spot takes on his opponent and "birther" J.D. Hayworth for focusing on "conspiracies" instead of the serious issues facing the nation. (Birthers are people who deny that President Obama is a United States citizen, despite what the CBS blog calls "copious" evidence that he is.)

More at http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/24/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6239856.shtml.>

Posted via web from Doug's posterous

Captive whale in this week's trainer death implicated in 1991, 1999 deaths

The nude body of a man was found at SeaWorld Orlando on Tuesday lying across the back of an 11,000-pound killer whale that was moved to Florida after it was involved in the death of a trainer.

Police were still trying to contact relatives of the 27-year-old Miami victim, whose name was not disclosed.

One expert said the 22-foot whale named Tillikum, the largest killer whale in captivity, could have mistaken the man for a toy.

If this article is true, and another one that I found indicating this same whale had issues when in a Canadian facility, I would hope that operators of aquatic zoos like this will reconsider holding animals like this in captivity.

More detail on the whale's past is now at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-seaworld-orlando-shamu-injury-20100224,0,942688.story.

It's on a slightly different subject, but if you haven't seen The Cove, please do. The massive slaughter of marine mammals occurs as a direct result of our desire to see them perform on command in captivity.

Posted via web from Doug's posterous