continuing proofs America is wacko [3]

Just what we need: the possibility of losing our best defense against gerrymandering.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/supreme-court-weighs-overturning-dozens-of-congressional-districts-20150302

Florida Officials Were Barred From Using The Term 'Climate Change' Once Rick Scott Took Power
The Huffington Post | By Amanda Terkel


Officials responsible for making sure Florida is prepared to respond to the earth's changing climate are barred from using the terms "global warming" and "climate change" in official communications, emails and reports, according to new findings from the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.

"We were told that we were not allowed to discuss anything that was not a true fact," said Kristina Trotta, a former Florida Department of Environmental Protection employee.

Another former employee added, "We were dealing with the effects and economic impact of climate change, and yet we can't reference it."


Climate change is a major problem for Florida. Last year, the National Climate Assessment named Miami as one of the cities in the United States most vulnerable to damage from rising sea levels. A Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact paper has also warned that water in the area could rise by as much as 2 feet by the year 2060.

But the state's governor, Republican Rick Scott, has frustrated scientists by downplaying the problem.

Last year, a reporter asked Scott whether man-made climate change "is significantly affecting the weather, the climate." Scott tried to change the subject and replied, "Well, I'm not a scientist."

When asked by the Tampa Bay Times in 2010 whether he believed in climate change, Scott simply replied, "No."

In August, five climate scientists met with Scott and told him he needs to do more to protect the state from rising sea levels.

According to the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, the policy against mentioning global warming went into effect after Scott took office in 2011 and appointed Herschel Vinyard Jr. as the agency's director.

Christopher Byrd, a counsel with the state Department of Environmental Protection, said he first heard about the policy at a staff meeting in 2011.

"Deputy General Counsel Larry Morgan was giving us a briefing on what to expect with the new secretary," Byrd recalled, saying he gave them "a warning to beware of the words global warming, climate change and sea-level rise, and advised us not to use those words in particular."

"I did infer from this meeting that this was a new policy, that these words were to be prohibited for use from official DEP policy-making with our clients," he added.

The agency's press secretary told the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting that "DEP does not have a policy on this." The governor's office similarly said, "There's no policy on this."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/08/florida-global-warming_n_6826824.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

Eldorion wrote:Just what we need: the possibility of losing our best defense against gerrymandering.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/supreme-court-weighs-overturning-dozens-of-congressional-districts-20150302

The Arizona law is logical, but it would be better if some constitutional mechanism was put in place to reduce gerrymandering everywhere. It's funny that the Arizona Republicans put the law into effect, and Supreme Court conservatives may strike it down. They really should leave it be unless they want to force a constitutional amendment.

Read it and weep, Brits.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/supermarkets/11037156/Americanisms-that-take-the-biscuit.html

Edit: see also http://m.bbc.com/news/14130942

http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/lindsey-graham-ive-never-sent-email-n319571

I'd like to see an age stratified comparison between democrats and republicans with regard to technology use. I wonder if there's a difference?

Eldorion wrote:Read it and weep, Brits.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/agriculture/supermarkets/11037156/Americanisms-that-take-the-biscuit.html

Edit: see also http://m.bbc.com/news/14130942

In all seriousness though, I have noticed more and more Americanisms creeping into British English, some of it is common sense admittedly (I didn't realize we spelt 'Jail' Gaol until I was 18...) but it is kinda annoying remembering which is which...

Well the good news is that in 50 years all the current Americanisms will be so firmly entrenched in British English that no one will remember where they came from. Though I imagine there will be newer Americanisms to annoy people in the future too.

The servant has become the master?

You can't only just now be noticing that, Blue.

What happened to the British Empire?

It's still around ... technically.

Don't forget the 50'x50' tract of beach where Captain Cook was killed in 1779 on the Big Island in Hawaii. It was ceded to Great Britain by the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1873 and still remains under  Crown rule today. (Why it doesn't have a pub I'll never understand )

Where did it all go?

The Romans asked the same question

malickfan wrote:... I have noticed more and more Americanisms creeping into British English, some of it is common sense admittedly (I didn't realize we spelt 'Jail' Gaol until I was 18...) but it is kinda annoying remembering which is which...

Wait, are they meant to be pronounced the same way? I just assumed that 'gaol' was a british word for jail that we never use over here...not the same word.

David H wrote:Don't forget the 50'x50' tract of beach where Captain Cook was killed in 1779 on the Big Island in Hawaii. It was ceded to Great Britain by the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1873 and still remains under  Crown rule today. (Why it doesn't have a pub I'll never understand )

Really?! I never knew that. That's kinda cool. Got to be some sneaky way to make use of it: I assume US has no authority there, so you could conduct all sorts of nefarious activity and buggery on that little square so long as nobody tells the UK about it...

halfwise wrote:

Really?!  I never knew that.  That's kinda cool.  Got to be some sneaky way to make use of it: I assume US has no authority there, so you could conduct all sorts of nefarious activity and buggery on that little square so long as nobody tells the UK about it...

I was thinking maybe Edward Snowden could build a little bungalow....

{{{by the way, I believe buggery is legal in Hawaii. It would be a nice way to celebrate Captain Cook's naval legacy though... }}}

Mrs Figg wrote:The Romans asked the same question

Yes, bu do you think they've gotten an answer yet?

Entropy?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/19/wonkbook-obama-suggests-requiring-everyone-to-vote/?tid=rssfeed

Yeah, this is a terrible idea.

Maybe, what do the OZhobbits think- they've had this law for a while I believe.

What is the penalty in Oz for not voting? Chris? Orwell? Get in dis thread!!!!

What is the penalty in Oz for not voting? - Bungo

Boomeranged? Strapped to a hyperactive kangaroo and released into the outback? Forced to drink American beer?

one of those funnel web spiders down the pants