Mernin.
Got the kids off to school at 11:22. Had to take a vicodin. My hip has been really hurting the past few days. For those who dont know, I have hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is an abnormal condition affecting the hip socket, or acetabulum, and the thighbone, or femur. In someone with hip dysplasia, the hip socket is too shallow, or the femur is in the wrong place. My femur should be about 130 degrees.... it's at about 90. Shortening my left leg about an inch from my right. It causes a little bit of a limp, and a lot of pain. I have had it since birth... but when I was younger I pushed my limits in sports causing it to get worse over time. My hip pops out of the socket often and pops back in. I guess that's why tattoos were never a big deal to me... the pain isn't even close.
Anyway, while the kids were having breakfast I was reading the news. I came across a story in Michigan that is also being covered Nationally. The banning of the drink Four Loko. Four is a caffeinated alcoholic energy drink. The FDA is researching the effects a caffeine and alcohol mix saying they believe the combination to be dangerous. They claim that drinking a caffeinated/alcoholic drink, the caffeine allwos the drinker to not feel teh complete effects of the alcohol until later causing them to drink more. So far 9 people have been hospitalized due to over consumption of Four Loko.
Michigan has voted against the sale of the drink here. With in 30 days they must pull all products out of the state. Another reason they are using is that a 14 year old girl was raped recently after a homecoming dance after having drank Four Loko mixed with rum.....
Huh? They are actually blaming a drink for a girl getting raped. Even though rum was added to it... the boys that raped her did the raping, and the fact that some 14 year old girls ignorant parents allowed her to go to a hotel party unsupervised isn't the problem.... It was Four Loko!! How many 14 year old girls have been raped while drinking Budweiser? Or Jack Daniels? Should we ban those too? Way to take the true issue of RAPE out of the argument, Michigan. Don't keep all fingers pointed at teh people who committed teh crime... no, that would be too much pressure on them. Let's try and take blame away from the parents who "may" lack the parenting skills to raise kids who won't be apart of these kind of actions. And while we are at it.... why not put some of the blame on the 14 year old victim because she drank Four Loko. Fucking idiots.
I'm really getting sick of the government trying to tell me what I can or can't buy. I've had it a few times, it's not that great to me personally.... but thats my choice to buy it or not. They are actually claiming it's being marketed towards kids..... because of the colors on the can. Are you kidding? So every thing that contains alcohol needs to be in a bland can now?
Look at this example the state used as a picture "proving" that Four Loko is targeting kids...
Caption: Ronnie Jamil, owner of Bella Vino Fine Wine and Spirits in Farmington Hills, holds up a can of Four Loko Cranberry Lemonade alcohol energy drink, left, and AriZona Ice Tea and Mango drink.
So is it because the cans are the same size? Is it because they used 2 colors that are also used on the Arizona can? Al I know what it is..... It's because Arizona passed the immigration law against illegal aliens and "loko" (loco) is a Spanish word!!!! Thats it. Four Loko is targeting the illegal Latino children by using a Spanish word and bright colors. Now it all makes sense.
That picture shows nothing even debatable.... at all. The Four Loko cans CLEARLY say it IS an alcoholic beverage and puts the ABV % CLEARLY on top. What the fuck is the problem? Some people like it, some don't.... but if the laws in place regarding sales to minors... then what is the problem? Do you think that removing these types of drinks are going to stop underage drinking? I can't believe that with Michigan being one of the worst states regarding unemployment, government spending, housing foreclosures, homelessness, and crime...... they are going to waste their time worrying about bull shit like this. This is such an ignorant state.
"I think it's a good step for the state," said Mike Tobias, executive director of Michigan Alcohol Policy. "It helps, particularly, teenagers and young adults. ... I think they're clearly marketed toward teenagers and young adults."
You sir, are a fucking idiot.
"I feel pleased. I feel health and safety have increased (as a result)," he said. "Each week, there are stories in the news about problems with alcohol energy drinks." Said Justin Bishop, prevention specialist with a non-profit organization called Clean Teens.
Horse shit.
"You're intoxicated, but you don't think you're intoxicated," she said. "The feeling is, I'm alert and I can handle this. And while the alcohol content is noted on the can you have to look for it." Said Therese Doud, a substance abuse prevention coordinator for the Washtenaw County Public Health Department.
These people actually have jobs? The ABV is ON THE CAN. Do they want it to be in bright lights? The ABV printed on the can is at least 5-10 times the size the ABV that is printed on a can of Budweiser. And it's also printed on teh TOP of the can.... not mixed in with teh brewer information. If you don't see it, you arnt looking for it. Also maybe the "Contains Alcohol" printed largely on teh top of the can isn't a give-away either? Or how about teh fact that every store, by law, must group ALL alcoholic beverages together and can not mix coolers with alcohol with non-alcoholic beverages. Maybe that could be a hint too? Come the fuck on.
But I guess the state is concerned about me. They care. The see the caffeine/alcohol blends being dangerous for me and my health and are going to step up for my best interests so I will not be subjected to such a mixture of toxins.
"Four Loko? No thank you... that mixture of caffeine and alcohol has been deemed dangerous to my health by my governing state..... I'll just have a rum and coke".