Grumpy Editor

‘Alien’ joins ‘husband’ and ‘wife’ --- banned in California

 

California Gov. Jerry Brown has stirred up the Golden State again by banning the word “alien” --- and this does not refer to an extraterrestrial or creature from outer space, notes Grumpy Editor.

The word, starting Jan 1, will be a no-no in California labor laws.

It follows a new California law this year that banned the terms “husband” and “wife.”  Those words have been replaced with gender-neutral “spouse” to accommodate same-sex marriages, legal in the state.

“Alien” was inserted into various provisions in the California labor code in 1937.

That’s when “alien” referred to a resident born in or belonging to another country who had not acquired citizenship. In other words, a foreigner.

The federal government and other states continue to use “alien” to describe foreigners.

All this is making things difficult for dictionary producers.

Meanwhile, in still another California first, San Francisco --- in an action to combat public urination, a chronic problem in that city --- announced it will be coating walls of buildings with a liquid repellant that splashes pee back on offenders.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE ---

While the focus lately has been on Iran, North Korea is acting up again, threatening to "retaliate against the U.S. with tremendous muscle" if it didn't cancel multinational military exercises scheduled to start today…The military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported more than 35,000 combat veterans have had their health care delayed by a Department of Veterans Affairs computer program that automatically put them in limbo, many for years…Apple Inc. has hired more than 11,000 women worldwide in the past year, a 65 percent increase from the prior year…An Associated Press analysis found federal review of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline has taken five times longer than the average for such proposals…Stretching the police beat to China:  An Associated Press story reported a Chinese woman was stabbed to death and her French companion was injured by a 25-year-old Chinese man in one of Beijing's busiest shopping districts in broad daylight…Remember when a one percent gain in sales was considered small?  A major Wall Street Journal story on Friday exclaimed U.S. retail sales shot up 0.6 percent last month…News releases good as gold?  Hackers pocketed as much as $100 million from 150,000 press releases before public release via distributors Business Wire, PR Newswire and Marketwired…CNN reported a vintage Douglas C-47 transport aircraft used in World War II was weeks away from being dismantled when a donor and non-profit Dallas-based Commemorative Air Force, which preserves old military aircraft, raised $350,000 for its restoration…Expensive “ball field.”  Los Angeles Department of Water and Power dumped 96 million four-inch plastic black “shade balls” (price: 36 cents each) into a reservoir to block sunlight from penetrating the 175-acre surface.  Reason?  To curb evaporation and prevent chemical reactions that can cause algae and other problems, said W&P. (By the way, white balls would be more effective in reflecting heat from the sun).

 

A newspaper job that is really going to pot:

The Oregonian, Portland, was seeking an “experienced cannabis consumer” to review marijuana strains and other weed-related products in covering Oregon’s “robust cannabis culture and marketplace.”

No indication if reviewing/writing would be done in a tightly-sealed private office.

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Calif. Gov. Brown pushes for more brown in Golden State

California, known to be first in the nation with new methods to pry extra dollars from residents’ wallets, now is aiming fines up to $500 a day from those who waste water washing cars, watering lawns and landscaping, notes Grumpy Editor.

Obviously dirty cars and brown landscapes will be the “in” look now in the Golden State  --- with the blame pinned on the drought which is gaining much media attention. 

After finding conservation measures failing to achieve a 20 percent water reduction use sought by Gov. Jerry Brown, the State Water Resources Board last week approved fines for urban dwellers who overwater. 

“Out goal here is to light a fire under those who aren’t taking the drought seriously,” said a WRB official.  California’s new public service slogan:  Brown is the new green.

Los Angeles already has overwatering penalties of up to $600.  But in Glendora, 26 miles east of Los Angeles, voluntarily withholding water on outside greenery posed another problem.  A water-conserving couple with a wilted front lawn in Glendora received a letter from that city last week threatening a $500 penalty for not watering their lawn, giving them 60 days to “keep their landscaping looking healthy and green” in order to correct a “potential public nuisance problem.”

Already, though, Santa Cruz is bending for residents socked with hefty water fines.  Overwaterers can attend the “Santa Cruz Water School,” a free class that eliminates all water penalties, if successfully completed.  Among topics: how to read a water meter.

And regarding the much-talked-about drought:

California always has had years of varying precipitation.  Focusing on Los Angeles, while the 2012-2013 rainfall season saw only 5.85 inches of rain, two years prior brought no mentions of drought as 20.20 inches of rain drenched the area.  About double that --- close to a hefty 40 inches of rain --- were measured in 2004-2005, a season that triggered media headlines and photos showing flooded roads, tumbling hillsides and sliding homes.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

Drought headlines may soon take a back seat.  Risk of earthquakes rises for one third of the U.S., warned an update from the U.S. Geological Survey.  States with the highest risk of shakers:  California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Kentucky, South Carolina, Alaska and Hawaii…Inflation indicator:  A Rasmussen Reports survey tallied 88 percent of American adults said they are paying more for groceries this year than last year, up six points from last month and the highest since May, 2012…Lost among soccer stories:  Baseball still grabs attention as the All Star Game last Tuesday averaged more than 11.3 million Fox viewers to the American League’s 5-3 win.  That’s up from 11 million last year…Politico reported former White House Press Secretary Jay Carney joined the Washington Speakers Bureau which could result in payments of up to $100,000 per speech…A Hong Kong investor group has acquired a majority stake in Forbes Media LLC, which includes Forbes magazine.  Steve Forbes, chairman and editor in chief, will continue with the operation.

 

DOES THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER READ NEWSPAPERS, WATCH TV?  Despite bold headlines and lead broadcast stories on thousands of illegals crossing the porous border from Mexico, Harry Reid (D-Nev.) declared, “the border is secure.”  Responding to that, Pinal County (Ariz.) Sheriff Paul Babeu, highly involved with the illegal border crossers, said Reid is “completely devoid of reality.”

PETA request for road sign honoring deceased bass nixed

Did some media miss reporting on an accident in Southern California involving hundreds despite an on-scene account that “those who were not already dead from their injuries or lack of oxygen suffocated on the pavement,” asks Grumpy Editor.

Hold the phone.

Get rewrite.

But it turned out the deceased sprawled on the pavement in Irvine were --- fish.

Saltwater bass, to be exact, headed for market.

The obituary report on the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) website also noted:

“Because fish feel pain, value their lives and don't want to die, just like human beings, PETA has requested that Irvine allow us to place a sign at the accident site in their memory.”

The Oct. 11 incident involved a container truck with 1,600 pounds of live fish in a three-vehicle accident.

None of the humans in the accident was seriously injured.

 PETA’s website report on the event also mentioned, “Fish are intelligent animals who have impressive long-term memories and develop complex social structures. They use tools, tell time, count, and enjoy singing. “

A spokesman for the city of Irvine said there will be no fish memorial. 

Nothing was mentioned about a tribute to the clock-watching musical bass chorus. 

California's July 1 foie gras ban: more work for police?

Some editorial page writers in California should be busy over the next few days, prior to the banning of foie gras in state restaurants starting July 1, pointing out how police departments face another decision:  whether to haul in chefs who keep the delicacy on menus, notes Grumpy Editor.

Starting Sunday in the Golden State, producing or selling the engorged livers of forced-fed ducks and geese will be prohibited by law.  The law was passed in 2004 with a grace period that ends this week.

Restaurants that defy the ban will be subject to stiff $1,000 citations.

Pushing for the legislation were animal rights advocates who cited cruelty in fattening fowl by overfeeding them to produce fatty liver.

Talk among chefs, in skirting the ban, is to bring in the foie gras from outside California, such as Nevada, and serving it as a free side dish --- but charging for toast that goes with it.

But that could lead to some major action.

“We’re going to come down like a hammer on any chef or restaurant that wants to continue serving this very cruel product,” Bryan Pease, co-founder of the Animal Protection and Rescue League in San Diego, said in an interview with Bloomberg writer Alison Vekshin.

“If we find somebody still serving that product, the gloves are going to come off and we’ll use every legal means available to shut that place down, including lawsuits, protests and boycotts,” Pease added. “There’s just no reason to allow restaurants to do business in California that flout the law and torture animals for a table treat.”

However, major police departments in California --- already busy enforcing assorted crimes --- appeared reluctant to issue citations or handcuff law-breaking chefs.