The Life of flowers (Жизнь цветов) from VOROBYOFF PRODUCTION on Vimeo.
Something a little new and different for the open thread, in anticipation of spring. Don’t be put off by a little snow in the forecast. We are very spoiled for good weather this winter.
What is the down side of having no really cold weather to speak of?
Today Whitney Houston will be layed to rest. Her untimely death knocked her fans for a loop. The cause of death has not been released but that hasn’t kept the public from speculating and blaming her not-so-private addiction problems. The truth is, no one knows what was the cause of her death.
Meanwhile, the controversial New Jersey governor, Chris Christie has ordered the flag to be flown at half mast on all government buildings in honor of Whitney Houston. Sadly, he has been under a barrage of criticism for honoring Houston in this manner. One of his harshest critics has been a woman whose son was killed last month in Afghanistan. Much of the criticism has been that we shouldn’t be honoring pop stars, especially ones who have died from addiction problems.
Rick Santorum wanted to be anywhere but in that interview. Mitt Romney looks like a smooth talker compared to this guy in the hot seat. First he tried to throw his benefactor under the bus. Then he tried to blame Obama, followed by taking a few shots at the media and saying they were playing ‘gotcha.’
His worse offense, however, was trying to turn the discussion to kids and to talk about the sex habits of young people. The Foster Friess comments have nothing to do with young people. That is an entirely different issue.
What prompted the Friess remarks was the debate on health care covering contraception for grown working women. Grown women do not have to justify their sexual behavior to anyone. How dare Rick Santorum try to deflect a question about grown women by bringing up teenage girls? Is he implying that grown women are really just older teenagers?
Once again, the Virginia pro-life legislature has failed to deal with the danger of texting while driving. It’s perfectly logical for all but the most obtuse fools to know that texting while driving is distracting and your eyes aren’t on the road. Yet a driver can’t even be pulled over for that offense. If pulled over for another reason, the driver can be be cited for an offense carrying a penalty of a fine of $20 dollars.
WHAT??? Accidents are caused daily because some twit is behind the wheel of a car, texting away. Why don’t they just read a book, the newspaper or watch a movie while driving? Virginia must get serious and put some teeth into laws prohibiting the practice of texting while driving. It is a matter of life and death. Those the least experienced as drivers are the ones endangering everyone else.
According to the Richmond Times Dispatch:
A push to strengthen the state’s 3-year-old ban on texting and driving came to an abrupt halt Thursday morning in a House of Delegates subcommittee, but the bill’s patron says he’s encouraged by the result.
That’s because a measure that would have allowed a few more slaps on the wrist for the offense could be back next year — proposing jabs to the jaw instead.
A House Militia, Police and Public Safety subcommittee headed by Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, softly spiked Senate Bill 219, sponsored by Sen. George L. Barker, D-Fairfax, which would have allowed police to stop drivers for texting.
Under current law, the practice is illegal — punishable by a $20 fine for a first offense and $50 for subsequent violations — but a motorist can be cited only if pulled over for another reason.
Good for Senator George Barker. Is he the only person in the legislature with any sense? Maybe the Virginia legislature dropped the bill because it simply wasn’t salacious enough. Now if those teenagers were sexting you can bet that someone like MY legislators would have probably enacted laws sending them to prison for 10 years. In Virginia, things have to have a little touch of naughty in them to get our legislators off their apathy.
Save every ovum but don’t dare stop the 17 year old ”ovum’ for endangering the lives of the rest of us.
Note: In fairness, adults also text while driving. All should be arrested for reckless driving if caught.
