A space to contemplate the important questions of life...

[NoNamePerson]

Sept 26, 2016 19:29:16 GMT -5 msventoux said:

Glad the car was unscathed!

And I learned something new.  Certain states don't require front license plates.  I assumed they all did as I can't recall seeing one that didn't have one.  Excluding the piece of crap junkers held together with coat hangers and duct tape where you'd be surprised to see any license plate.

There are at least 20 states that do not require front license plates. Maybe the states that do figure their residents can't find their cars if license plates aren't on front and back. Easier to find in parking lots

[giramomma]

We're facing a very somber state budget. We're short like 85 million in this cycle, and the next two year budget isn't looking well, either.

 One of the proposed cuts for the DOT is that we go down to one license plate. I'm not really sure how much of an actual savings, that is though.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Sept 27, 2016 8:17:15 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Why does my Snapple tea say "gluten free".

Does tea contain gluten normally?

sometimes flours or cornstarch are used to help keep things separate - shredded cheese comes to my mind.

Also, a lot of companies are slapping a gluten free label on products because it's both an in thing and smart-ish marketing.

[milee]

Sept 27, 2016 9:05:20 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Sept 26, 2016 19:29:16 GMT -5 msventoux said:

Glad the car was unscathed!

And I learned something new.  Certain states don't require front license plates.  I assumed they all did as I can't recall seeing one that didn't have one.  Excluding the piece of crap junkers held together with coat hangers and duct tape where you'd be surprised to see any license plate.

There are at least 20 states that do not require front license plates. Maybe the states that do figure their residents can't find their cars if license plates aren't on front and back. Easier to find in parking lots

Yeah, here in Florida the older residents are starting to panic since the new fangled cars don't have radio antennas any more... how will they find their own car if there's nothing to affix a neon colored scrub sponge to? 

[giramomma]

Sept 27, 2016 9:21:32 GMT -5 milee said:

Yeah, here in Florida the older residents are starting to panic since the new fangled cars don't have radio antennas any more... how will they find their own car if there's nothing to affix a neon colored scrub sponge to? 

[milee]

Sept 27, 2016 9:11:50 GMT -5 giramomma said:

We're facing a very somber state budget. We're short like 85 million in this cycle, and the next two year budget isn't looking well, either.

 One of the proposed cuts for the DOT is that we go down to one license plate. I'm not really sure how much of an actual savings, that is though.

  Or... if they don't charge enough in license plate fees to actually cover the cost of the plate itself, they could make the charges at least equal to the cost of production or reduce the costs of production.  

This sort of stuff in government drives me nuts as a taxpayer.  Not that government can be run exactly like a business, but it's infuriating that nobody in government even has basic common sense or the desire to spend money wisely.  Why the heck are license plates being made at a loss right now anyway?  And no matter if there's a budget shortage or not, why hasn't one of the government officials ensured that either production costs are cut to be less than the fees charged or lobby to increase the fees to equal (reasonable) production costs?  Aaaaaggghhh!

[Lizard Queen]

I was thinking the same thing, but then thought, maybe they're talking about the cost to put plates on government owned vehicles.  Are they really going to save that much, though?  It's probably a big enough number, but relative to the overall budget, probably insignificant.

[milee]

Sept 27, 2016 9:33:29 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I was thinking the same thing, but then thought, maybe they're talking about the cost to put plates on government owned vehicles.  Are they really going to save that much, though?  It's probably a big enough number, but relative to the overall budget, probably insignificant.

OK, it could be for just the government owned vehicles.  If it is, and the dollar savings is significant, than it's time to have a public discussion about the risks, rewards, gains and costs of requiring the front plates.  Heck, if the dollar amount of front plates is in the millions for just government vehicles, it's many times that for the general public.  Is the benefit of the front plate really worth $___ per year?  No matter who's paying for it, it's money being spent and these are the sorts of questions that should be asked.  

[NoNamePerson]

Don't inmates/prisoners in some states still make license plates? Maybe that practice was stopped but I remember back in the dark ages my tags were made by inmates. Maybe inmates are demanding minimum so it isn't cost effective for them to be making the on the cheap. 

[Lizard Queen]

Sept 27, 2016 9:42:28 GMT -5 milee said:

Sept 27, 2016 9:33:29 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I was thinking the same thing, but then thought, maybe they're talking about the cost to put plates on government owned vehicles.  Are they really going to save that much, though?  It's probably a big enough number, but relative to the overall budget, probably insignificant.

OK, it could be for just the government owned vehicles.  If it is, and the dollar savings is significant, than it's time to have a public discussion about the risks, rewards, gains and costs of requiring the front plates.  Heck, if the dollar amount of front plates is in the millions for just government vehicles, it's many times that for the general public.  Is the benefit of the front plate really worth $___ per year?  No matter who's paying for it, it's money being spent and these are the sorts of questions that should be asked.  

Those are great questions, but probably way too logical for government politics. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Sept 27, 2016 9:42:28 GMT -5 milee said:

Sept 27, 2016 9:33:29 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I was thinking the same thing, but then thought, maybe they're talking about the cost to put plates on government owned vehicles.  Are they really going to save that much, though?  It's probably a big enough number, but relative to the overall budget, probably insignificant.

OK, it could be for just the government owned vehicles.  If it is, and the dollar savings is significant, than it's time to have a public discussion about the risks, rewards, gains and costs of requiring the front plates.  Heck, if the dollar amount of front plates is in the millions for just government vehicles, it's many times that for the general public.  Is the benefit of the front plate really worth $___ per year?  No matter who's paying for it, it's money being spent and these are the sorts of questions that should be asked.  

Well, front license plates could also just be a very visible red herring to draw taxpayers' attention away from areas of more profligate spending. People see license plates -- or the lack thereof -- every day so it appears as if government is asking the right questions. They don't see the money wasted behind the scenes where real budget savings could be had.

[justme]

Sept 27, 2016 8:17:15 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Why does my Snapple tea say "gluten free".

Does tea contain gluten normally?

I've seen popcorn say gluten free. I think it's just to catch those wanna be health freaks that don't actually realize what gluten is.


Though I do agree with oped that they put it in odd things.

[movingforward]

How are Survivor and The Bachelor still on television?  People are still watching this stuff?

[zibazinski]

Sept 27, 2016 7:35:45 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Sept 27, 2016 0:21:13 GMT -5 countrygirl said:

In Indiana we have no front license plates.

They're not required in Michigan either.

Nor Florida. I was surprised to see them
In Oregon

[milee]

Sept 27, 2016 8:17:15 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Why does my Snapple tea say "gluten free".

Does tea contain gluten normally?

The whole, raw fryer chicken I just bought has a large orange label saying "gluten free!"  

[dogmom]

Why does Vicks Vapor Rub have an expiration date?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Sept 29, 2016 12:31:11 GMT -5 dogmom said:

Why does Vicks Vapor Rub have an expiration date?

same reason ibuprofen does?

[tractor]

If no one in the country votes in the presidential election, do we get to start the process over with all different people?

[movingforward]

Sept 29, 2016 14:11:14 GMT -5 tractor said:

If no one in the country votes in the presidential election, do we get to start the process over with all different people?

Or why haven't the American people banned together and decided to all write in a particular person they all think is worthy.  Wouldn't that be the most awesome thing in the freaking world?  We the people have decided we don't care if you are on the ballot or not - X is who we want and X is who we are voting for.  We don't even care if X doesn't want it, X is who we are electing.  Now THAT would be Making America Great Again!

[tractor]

Is it hypocritical for vegetarians to own carnivorous pets?

[MJ2.0]

Sept 29, 2016 8:06:05 GMT -5 milee said:

Sept 27, 2016 8:17:15 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Why does my Snapple tea say "gluten free".

Does tea contain gluten normally?

The whole, raw fryer chicken I just bought has a large orange label saying "gluten free!"  

Well, it's not wrong....

[Deleted]

My father is notorious. I don't know if he tries or not but he will always find the one thing that has gluten, like if it was chicken he'd pick the one marinated in some gluten based medium..,.

[Deleted]

Oh the one time I was roasting a venison loin and he doused it with 'au jus' from a bottle ... Which, yeah... Gluten.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

How did I fall into this vortex of people who either won't do their jobs or can't do their jobs or are just plain idiotic?  

And, more importantly, how do I get out?  

[NoNamePerson]

Sept 30, 2016 15:56:35 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

How did I fall into this vortex of people who either won't do their jobs or can't do their jobs or are just plain idiotic?  

And, more importantly, how do I get out?  

A fifth of orange juice and a half gallon of vodka usually works for me. Throw in a smoke and you leave the idiots in the vortex while you escape on your magic carpet. 

[giramomma]

Why does it take so much energy to prepare for a few days away for me?

It's almost not worth the effort.

Almost.

[movingforward]

WTH is my upstairs neighbor doing all the time that makes so much freaking noise.  Is she picking up furniture and dropping it, does she have a golden retriever who plays basketball in the house, has she decided to mimic the role of Michael Keaton in Pacific Heights...I just can't figure it out.   

[Chocolate Lover]

Oct 5, 2016 13:22:31 GMT -5 movingforward said:

WTH is my upstairs neighbor doing all the time that makes so much freaking noise.  Is she picking up furniture and dropping it, does she have a golden retriever who plays basketball in the house, has she decided to mimic the role of Michael Keaton in Pacific Heights...I just can't figure it out.   

Dragging around dead bodies, bowling, running a marathon.......

[NoNamePerson]

Oct 5, 2016 13:22:31 GMT -5 movingforward said:

WTH is my upstairs neighbor doing all the time that makes so much freaking noise.  Is she picking up furniture and dropping it, does she have a golden retriever who plays basketball in the house, has she decided to mimic the role of Michael Keaton in Pacific Heights...I just can't figure it out.   

Jumping  jacks and on exercise equipment Or wearing combat boots maybe.  

[msventoux]

Oct 5, 2016 13:22:31 GMT -5 movingforward said:

WTH is my upstairs neighbor doing all the time that makes so much freaking noise.  Is she picking up furniture and dropping it, does she have a golden retriever who plays basketball in the house, has she decided to mimic the role of Michael Keaton in Pacific Heights...I just can't figure it out.   

Maybe she has cats. For being such small animals mine can easily sound like a herd of elephants crashing through a forest.