Oct/110
» House Bill Would Criminalize Satire
Writing about H.R.3011, the “Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2011,” Kurt Nimmo of »Alex Jones’ Infowars writes:
Two thirds of the way through the ponderous bill, in Sec. 295, we find the following:
Whoever, except with the written permission of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Security (or the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service for issues involving the Federal Air Marshal Service), knowingly uses the words ‘Transportation Security Administration’, ‘United States Transportation Security Administration’, ‘Federal Air Marshal Service’, ‘United States Federal Air Marshal Service’, ‘Federal Air Marshals’, the initials ‘T.S.A.’, ‘F.A.M.S.’, ‘F.A.M.’, or any colorable imitation of such words or initials, or the likeness of a Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service badge, logo, or insignia on any item of apparel, in connection with any advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, software, or other publication, or with any play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, in a matter that is reasonably calculated to convey the impression that the wearer of the item of apparel is acting pursuant to the legal authority of the Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service, or to convey the impression that such advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, software, or other publication, or such play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service .(Emphasis added.)
In other words, if you print a t-shirt or produce a publication with a TSA logo, the government may soon be able to arrest and prosecute you.
The language states that it would be illegal to “convey the impression” that you are representing the TSA, but this interpretation would likely be left to federal prosecutors.
It is true that the language contains “convey the impression;” it also includes “acting pursuant to the legal authority” and “is approved, endorsed, or authorized” which would seem to narrow the wiggle room for prosecutor interpretation.
Oct/110
San Francisco Restaurants Want To Make 25% Standard Tip Rate
Not everyone is against the idea. Some have felt with the state of the nation’s economy is in, that 25% is not unreasonable. And some tip above the average already. Some went a step further to say if you want to reward service, you must start tipping the workers at fast food places as well. Most fast food workers earn minimum wage and rarely get tips.
How does the state of the economy fit in? The person getting tips has a job. This would be saying that a raise was appropriate because of the state of the economy.
Thinking about gratuities, what makes the level of service for delivering, say, a steak justify a greater expense than the same level of service to deliver a salad. The amount of service performed by the waiter or waitress is the same in either case.
h/t @Drudge_Report