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Pastimes : The New Qualcomm - write what you like thread. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: slacker711 who wrote (4754)	6/8/2002 2:26:42 PM
From: Jon Koplik	Respond to of 12231

AP News -- Ice Cream Driver Ticketed Over Music. June 8, 2002 Ice Cream Driver Ticketed Over Music By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 12:40 p.m. ET BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) -- The familiar summer sounds of the ice cream truck making its way down neighborhoods and announcing itself by blaring upbeat music may be a thing of the past. In Brunswick, complaints about ice cream trucks playing their music too loud and too late have prompted city officials to watch, listen and issue tickets to drivers violating the city's noise ordinance. Last week, three citations were issued when a police officer heard ice cream driver Angela Hand playing her music too loudly. Hand's tickets were for: a violation of the city's noise ordinance, which carries a $360 fine; driving with a suspended license, which carries a maximum $600 fine; and driving with no proof of vehicle insurance, which carries a $240 fine. The citations have launched a public debate, creating somewhat of a meltdown in the city, said Joe Willie Sousa, the morning host of country music station WYNR-FM in Brunswick. Sousa said he's gotten several calls from listeners complaining about the police picking on ``the ice cream man.'' ``One woman called in and said anybody that would ticket the ice cream man would probably kill kittens,'' Sousa told The Florida Times-Union. Others claim the police are going after ice cream trucks because they're earlier [easier] to chase down than some of the faster vehicles blasting music. Brunswick Police Chief T. C. Cowan said the criticisms are unfair because officers frequently site other drivers for loud stereos. And in the case of Hand, two of the tickets were for violations other than loud music, Cowan said. Brunswick Mayor Brad Brown said cracking down on loud ice cream trucks is a logical response to the complaints the city has been receiving. Brown said he objects to the trucks operating late at night, and playing annoying versions of ``Turkeys in the Straw,'' and ``When the Saints Go Marching In.'' ``One (truck) came by my house at 9:15 (p.m.),'' Brown said. ``That's a little late for kids to be out buying ice cream when it's dark.'' Ray Gray, who manages a four-truck ice cream fleet for JD's Fatcat Ice Cream, said pumping loud music through the air is necessary to stay in business. ``It's summer, the air conditioners are on and they're inside with the doors and windows closed,'' Gray said. ``You've got to pull them out of the house.'' Copyright 2002 The Associated Press

To: slacker711 who wrote (4754)	6/8/2002 2:34:26 PM
From: Jon Koplik	Respond to of 12231

Nevada Rejects Mushroom Cloud License Plate. June 8, 2002 Nev. Rejects Mushroom Cloud Plate By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 12:29 p.m. ET LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A license plate design featuring an atomic mushroom cloud was rejected as insensitive to the times, Department of Motor Vehicles officials said. State lawmakers approved the special plates last year to commemorate the state's nuclear history and raise funds for the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation. DMV director Ginny Lewis said Wednesday that because of state efforts to stop a proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain and the fear of new terrorist attacks following Sept. 11, the new plates would be inappropriate. Nuclear testing was conducted above and below ground from 1952 to 1992 at the Nevada Test Site, the federal reservation north of Las Vegas that, at 1,375 square miles, is larger than Rhode Island. More than 100,000 workers helped develop the nation's nuclear arsenal in Nevada, and more than 800 fell ill for their efforts. Copyright 2002 The Associated Press

To: slacker711 who wrote (4754)	6/10/2002 1:04:42 PM
From: A.J. Mullen	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 12231

"The fanaticism of most countries over soccer is amazing..." Yes, from the BBC: This summer's World Cup finals could spark the biggest outbreak of truancy ever seen in England, with millions of workers prepared to "pull a sickie". A survey by Barclaycard revealed that as many as six million workers are ready to call in sick, rather than risk missing England matches. But the mass outbreak of football fever could cost the economy billions of pounds, especially if England do well. The survey sought opinions from more than 4,000 football fans, and 40% of them admitted they would be happy to call in sick if their working hours clashed with England matches. If that percentage is repeated among the estimated 15 million workers who want to watch England play, the cost to the economy if England were to reach the World Cup final could be as high as £3.2bn. Even if England fail to get past the group stages, the loss is likely to exceed £1 billion. Barclaycard sponsorship director Nic Gault said: "This research demonstrates the passion of football fans in the UK. "I'm sure many of them would argue that if England win the World Cup it will all be worth it." England's opening game against Sweden takes place on Sunday 2 June at 1030BST and is unlikely to have a dramatic effect on the workforce. Massive audience But their second match - against Argentina - kicks off at 1230BST on Friday 7 June, and is certain to attract a massive audience. The third game against Nigeria starts at 0730BST on Wednesday 12 June and could attract as many viewers as the Argentina match if England are in with a chance of qualifying. Subsequent games will have either early morning or lunchtime kick-offs. A Barclaycard spokesman said one way to tackle the problem would be for employers to provide coverage of the matches for their staff. "A huge number of our staff are football fans so we will be ensuring that they will be able to keep up to speed with all the Word Cup action by bringing in TVs," he said. news.bbc.co.uk Since that story, ENgland played Argentina last Friday. 5% took the day off, 10% called in sick, and 70% workplaces provided TVs. That one game is estimated to have cost 1.2 billion pounds, $1.8 billion. England won, one-nil.