Bees

[pen_grunt]

Six new laws came into effect in MN today. One is for bee research that gives money to the U of M to study the ailing bee population. Because without bees we're pretty much fucked. Well, maybe not fucked, but it definitely wouldn't be GOOD. One of the comments (I know. I know. COMMENTS: DO NOT READ THEM.) was:

I have a vegetable garden and I do not need bees to pollinate any of the vegetables or potatoes, herbs. I really do not believe we would be in a crisis. I think the research is fine but spending 8 million to do so?

Wow. Just. Wow. "Well, MY garden is fine, so therefore there isn't a problem!"

Other laws enacted today are an e-cig law (meh), higher education funding (yay?), tanning bed restrictions for minors (yay?), cell phone kill switches to prevent/thwart theft (yay?), and a heroin overdose law (YAY!). I think the heroin OD law (which stipulates that you--as a bystander--don't get charged for possession or drug use when you call 911 to report a friend ODing) will probably save lives.

But the bees, man. We need bees. I should persuade my parents to repair and restart their hives.

Comments

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

I hate those arguments. "Hey, my kids are grown up. Why should I still pay for public education?" "I'm not gay. Why should I care about marriage equality?"

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

It's a classic sort of libertarian argument: Well *I'm* fine, so everyone else must be too! *I* managed to pay for college, so why would anyone need financial assistance?

I hate it because it's selfish and it completely ignores the fact that we function better as a society when we all try to contribute and not be assholes.

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

I had someone on facebook call my views libertarian and I about lost it. I hate their rationale.

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

Jon Stewart has a great rant about Megyn Kelly and how she changed her opinion on paternity leave after she had a child. "They're only entitlements when someone else gets them."

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I get irritated by people who only have a change of heart about a topic once it involves them (i.e. Senators who find out they have gay kids and all of a sudden think marriage equality might not be that bad after all), but I guess this is how change happens. Slowly and personally.

Still. It doesn't take a freaking genius to empathize with other human beings even though you don't personally share their particular situation. My irritation remains.

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

Empathy is a powerful thing, and probably career limiting to politicos.

Done will never learn. Like Rush. All drug subsets are scum and gay marriage is eroding marriage. His OxyContin pusher and 4 ex-wives agree.

Lack of vision or feeling of stewardship is why climate change will be ignored by some... Because it'll never affect them personally.

Now I'm getting angry...

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

The most hopeful thing I read about climate change is that, while we will surely drive ourselves to extinction, the world will eventually repair itself.

We won't be around to see it, and it will take millions of years, but it still makes me feel better about the whole thing.

[sacramentalist.livejournal.com]

Life is extremely resilient. I hope it remains sentient.

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

The heroin overdose law does sound like a good thing! What kind of law would they have for e-cigarettes?

I have very conflicted feelings about the bees, stemming from my melissophobia. I like what they do, but wish that they would do it far, far away from me...or when I'm asleep or not around. I have a flowering plant at my front door and when I walk outside half the time there are bees just waiting to attack me. :/

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

E-cig law: Basically you can't smoke e-cigs in MN gov't buildings, public schools, or healthcare facilities (except in designated areas for the latter). Individual establishments like bars, etc., can permit/ban at their own discretion. E-cig liquid must now be in child-proof packaging.

I'm very comfortable with all things winged...well, and most things creepy-crawly too. I sympathize with those who are not, however. Thanks for doing your part for the bees even though you don't personally like them. :)

[tediousandbrief.livejournal.com]

It is more that I am very scared of them and do not have control over cutting the plant down. :D

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

Tell 'em the bees will help us build a weapon to blow up lotsa brown people who don't believe in Da Jeebus. Wait, I got it. A Wall of Bees across the whooooooole Rio Grande. Funding problems solved!

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

Wasn't there something about John the Baptist and bees or something? Maybe it was Herod? I don't remember. There were Bible Bees, though!

[newlifeinstpaul.livejournal.com]

Hm. I think he dunked the grasshoppers he liked to eat in honey.
He was crunchy before crunchy was crunchy!

[pen-grunt.livejournal.com]

I do seem to recall lots of honey...see: Bees are Biblical!