Kava is not considered a drug by federal health officials. The FDA lists it as an nutritional supplement that can be used to relieve anxiety. Having visited southern California a time or two, I can see why an anxiety-relieving herbal tea would be in demand among drivers.
Now California prosecutors are cracking on kava-drinking drivers. San Mateo prosecutors obtained their first successful conviction in June, and have file charges in three other cases out of about a dozen kava-drinking-drivers that have been pulled over.
Motorists under the influence of Kava had a “thousand-yard stare,” Feasel said. “They’re drooling on themselves sometimes, their motor function is so bad.” He said that police had pulled over kava-addled motorists who were swerving, veering into other lanes and drifting onto the road’s shoulder. “Kava basically has the opposite effect of alcohol,” Feasel said. “Kava affects your motor skills before it affects your mental abilities.”
[...]“We’re cracking down on DUI drivers,” Feasel said. “Whether it’s driving under the influence of kava, or a good merlot or Advil, you’re going to be prosecuted.”
So… if you’re a kava drinker, and have the habit of consuming 20 - 30 cups before getting behind the wheel, be warned!
Taiwan’s pariament is notorious for the rowdy behavior of its members. Fistfights are not uncommon, and occasionally shoes or chairs may fly across the room. Some Taiwanese lawmakers seem to enjoy their 15 minutes of fame when such goings on net them a bit of media coverage.
On Tuesday, legislators were meeting to decide if a proposal to buy $18 million in weapons from the USA should be put on their Friday agenda. Apparently this was quite a derisive topic, because a food fight broke out and the lawmakers began to throw their lunch boxes at each other.
“You’ve got no shame!” screamed Chu Fong-chih of the opposition Nationalist Party, after throwing a take-out box of chicken and rice at Chen Tsung-yi, a legislator from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party who backed the special budget.
Chen responded by accusing Chu of sympathizing with Taiwan’s arch-foe China, and flung his own lunch box at her.
And we think our own Oregon legislators sometimes act like kindergarteners! They have much to learn from Taiwan.
lawn chairs recalled at Walmart
21,000 Al-Aluminum lawn chairs sold by Walmart have been recalled. Chairs with green or blue plastic arms can break, leading to falls. Walmart has received more than two dozen reports of broken wrists and other injuries. Customers should return the chairs to Walmart for a refund.
In Oregon, there won’t be much need for lawn chairs for another six months or so. Be sure to check yours when you get them out of storage.
And, please note that the chairs being recalled are the ones with green or blue plastic arms. Chairs with beige or white arms are not being recalled.
There’s no mention of why beige and white are being left out of the recall, leading one to speculate if the pigment somehow makes the plastic weaker?
Pilot runs a ship aground — at the Sydney Opera House
Ten passengers and four crewmembers were enjoying a day of sailing the Sydney harbor in the yacht “FT Spirit,” owned by the Financial Times. FT Spirit is a 79-foot racing yacht that compted in the America’s Cup under the name “Spirit of Australia.”
Apparently following the lead of the Finnish commuter ferry captain who twice ran his boat into a pier, the pilot of FT Spirit took his passengers just a little too close to the Opera House. The keel bulb tore off when the boat struck rocks, causing several of the passengers to be flung into the water when the ship capsized. All of the passengers and crew were recused and nobody was injured.
The yacht has been towed to a slipway for repair and the incident is under investigation. Police reported that the skipper tested negative in an alchohol breath test.
I wonder if he was tested for kava?
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