FDA Looks to Ban Caffinated Alcoholic Drinks

The FDA is expected to rule that caffeine is an "unsafe additive" in alcoholic drinks - that ruling could come later this week. It would effectively ban drinks like Four Loko - a drink that is fruit flavored, packed with caffeine, and 12% alcohol. It's known as "Black out in a can". The high levels of caffeine in the drinks can make the consumer less aware of how drunk they are. Four states have already banned caffeinated alcoholic beverages (Oklahoma, Michigan, Washington, and Utah). The action comes after several college students in Washington had been hospitalized after drinking the products.

This all sounds kind of reactionary to me. So a few idiot college students damn near killed themselves getting boozed up at a house party, big deal - been going on for decades. I still have to hear my friends ridicule me with the phrase "I loooovvvee Tequila" as they reminisce about me crawling from my bedroom to the bathroom to puke my guts our every 30 minutes. Ahh, those college days - makes me kind of misty thinking about it.

Anyway, I guess my point is that it's not going to accomplish anything to ban these products, much like the banning of anything else. So everybody raise your glass of vodka and Red Bull for a toast. Kids these days, what a bunch of pussies!

Kansas City Water Services Sneaks in Rate Increase

Kansas City Water Services Sneaks in Rate Increase

The Water Department started billing customers monthly last July. To some of you who have never lived in Kansas City, this may not seem unusual. But as long as anyone can remember, the KCMO Water Dept has billed every 2 months. Anyway, they effectively raised the service charge by almost seven dollars per month. I suspect they thought no one would notice. Well people did notice, and they're none too happy. Water officials claim that customers have been been asking for the change to make monthly budgeting easier. Monthly budgeting easier with an almost $7 increase in fees per month?

The Water Department claims that the increase is justified partially because of the increased cost to bill monthly. What? This is the same Water Department logic that has sleeping workers wait for hours for a concrete delivery. I am amazed (but shouldn't be) at the stupidity of this - government in action. Though rates in Kansas City are still very competitive, the fact that the increase was not communicated to the public shows that Water Services Director Terry Leeds is in over his head.