Known to the State of California

Mike — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 03:09:35 +0000

Originally uploaded by MajorMike.

I had to laugh.

We were at Harris Ranch. A cool spot to eat between LA and Sacramento on I-5 in California. (They say “The Five” in CA). We stopped to eat and relax on our journey from Arcadia to San Jose. Here was this sign. I’d seen it before in California, but this time I had the camera.

I’m not sure why facilities in CA post these signs or what exactly they refer to (asbestos, mercury in the fish, global warming, contaminated Viagra), but I found the sign hilarious.

How can a state know anything? Scientists know, citizens know, people know, but implying a state knows is like saying, “a rock knows.” Jeepers, the State of Florida knows that drilling within 100 miles of the coast will destroy the tourist trade. Sheesh. It’s the citizens who know, or the experts in the state who know, or the legislators who think they know, but the state who knows?

Actually, those who require signs in the state of California who requred the warning sign I’m making fun of are serious about the risks they are warning about. Too bad they butcher the language in which the sign is written.

Ok, I’m a critic.

Los Baños

Mike — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 21:54:49 +0000

On our recent trip to California, we drove by a town called Los Banos. When I was a kid we used to drive through it on the way to go fishing or to Yosemite. It’s pronounced Loss Baanos.

I never made the connection, probably because of the pronunciation and the city omits the tilde over the n, but it struck me funny when I realized it’s from one of the few Spanish phrases I know.

¿Donde es el baño? (Where is the toilet?)

Baño actually means bath. But call me wierd, I got tickled when I realized that it could mean “The Toilets”.

Major Mike's Musings » California

Known to the State of California

Los Baños