Living Car Free - Bicycles lead to population control!

Ah, yes, living in the age of idiocy...

http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=146839

"Dan Maes, a candidate for governor of Colorado, thinks he's found an international conspiracy that starts with bike sharing. The article describes his current complaints with the incumbent's policies. 'The bike program in it of itself, if that's all it is, I wouldn't be opposed to it,' Maes told 9NEWS. 'What I am opposed to is if it's part of a bigger program that the mayor has signed on to as part of a UN program. That I would be opposed to.' He goes on to argue that the bicycle program is only a gateway into bigger policies including, but not limited to, forced abortions and population control. I understand that bike seats are uncomfortable, but I had no idea it was on purpose."

I am seldom impressed with politicians in general and usually even less so after they open their mouths...

Aaron:)

So people are ticked off about the quality of their representation and government. I understand that. But why do they pick new alternatives who are even stupider and more out of touch than the old ones? Maes is an idiot. My take, as a non-Coloradan, is that he's trying to dream up dirt on Hickenlooper, who is probably one of the better elected officials in Colorado.

Colorado is full of fit, outdoorsy types. This should go over like a fart in church.

This should go over like a fart in church.

You'd hope so. :)

The greatest folly of our age is our willingness to embrace and legitimize any notion.

Politicians are as guilty as anyone of this, and often the more so. It has, in fact, become the fashion among today's politico's.

Hell, politicians are just running with the balls the lawyers gave 'em (and too many pols are lawyers too, BTW); when you can have a case actually GO TO COURT about some old woman who burned herself by setting a cup of coffee between her legs -- and OMG, WIN THE F'N THING -- the bottle has been opened, and the idiocy genie has escaped.

Hell, politicians are just running with the balls the lawyers gave 'em (and too many pols are lawyers too, BTW); when you can have a case actually GO TO COURT about some old woman who burned herself by setting a cup of coffee between her legs -- and OMG, WIN THE F'N THING -- the bottle has been opened, and the idiocy genie has escaped.
Aint it the truth.

The Republican party is being pulled further to the right than ever before thanks to the Tea Party. Maes is simply trying to attract more right wing votes by showing that he's against abortion, climate control, and population control from which the bicyle program is all about in the "Larger" picture! It's insane.

Hell, politicians are just running with the balls the lawyers gave 'em (and too many pols are lawyers too, BTW); when you can have a case actually GO TO COURT about some old woman who burned herself by setting a cup of coffee between her legs -- and OMG, WIN THE F'N THING -- the bottle has been opened, and the idiocy genie has escaped.

From what I understand, the woman in this case suffered third degree burns and had to undergo skin graft treatments due to McDonalds serving coffee at 180F. McDonald's own quality control manager agreed that food served at temperatures higher than 130F would burn the mouth. I think it's a fairly interesting case. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald's_Restaurants

On topic, Maes also stated he would fire 2,000 state employees if he is elected as governor. It's not a surprise he doesn't have much support from the Republican party itself, he seems bent on appealing to the most radical members of the tea party. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15750068

Conspiracy theories are beautiful things.

Conspiracy theories are beautiful things.

I know huh? And there are nearly endless opportunities for them, these days.

What a load of crap. I'm with Roody, why do these supposedly anti-authority/pro-revolution tea parties pick even bigger dumbasses than the ones already in office? It seems to be a running theme, I've seen the "tea party" candidates from every state, and they're almost always nuts.

PS- I grew up in Colorado, and it's definitely true that this won't be tolerated down there (particularly in Boulder :P). Still, the sheer fact that a person in power said this is pretty disturbing.

But surely we can all agree that there should be a study commissioned to look into this. What if it's true?

I am seldom impressed with politicians in general and usually even less so after they open their mouths...


If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner.
-- H L Mencken

From what I understand, the woman in this case suffered third degree burns and had to undergo skin graft treatments due to McDonalds serving coffee at 180F. McDonald's own quality control manager agreed that food served at temperatures higher than 130F would burn the mouth. I think it's a fairly interesting case. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald's_Restaurants

On topic, Maes also stated he would fire 2,000 state employees if he is elected as governor. It's not a surprise he doesn't have much support from the Republican party itself, he seems bent on appealing to the most radical members of the tea party. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15750068

Yes it is interesting, the woman could read english well enough to see they had coffee, she could read how much the coffee cost but couldn't read on the cup that says "Hot"? Maybe it is just me but if I have something even 130 degrees I am not going to hold it between my legs. We have moved to a society that will not take personal responsibility for any action. It is always someone elses fault and someone must be sued. How often do we brew coffee at home that is too hot to hold between our legs? In fact who with a ounce of common sence would put hot coffee so close to a part of their body not in need of hot coffee?

As far as political rethoric there is hardly ever any concern over truth only in saying what you think the people want to hear.

There may be a hint of truth to cycling and birth control but I believe it would apply more to those who don't know anything about proper fit and development. It would be more of a side effect that can be corrected with a proper saddle. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bike/

But dang if we had to pay attention to our equipment who would we sue?

Yes it is interesting, the woman could read english well enough to see they had coffee, she could read how much the coffee cost but couldn't read on the cup that says "Hot"?

Well, "hot" is a bit vague. A 100 degree and a 180 degree drink are both "hot." It's pretty easy with hindsight to say a person should have guessed which one of them was meant, based on the word "hot" being pre-printed on the cup. I don't think that had anything to do with literacy or the woman's mother tongue.

Well, "hot" is a bit vague. A 100 degree and a 180 degree drink are both "hot." It's pretty easy with hindsight to say a person should have guessed which one of them was meant, based on the word "hot" being pre-printed on the cup. I don't think that had anything to do with literacy or the woman's mother tongue.

No you are correct. We have only been drinking hot coffee for two hundred years or so in this country. It has even become a sight gag in TV and Movies when someone gets hot coffee spilled on them. So if I go into a coffee shop and they pour hot coffee into a cup why wouldn't I put it between my legs? Oh wait I know, I wouldn't pour hot water from my faucet on my pants. Unless she ordered ice coffee there is the perfect example of a letting someone out of the home unsupervised. Have you ever poured a fresh cup of coffee and thought how nice it would be t hold in between your legs? Don't they make coffee with boiling water?

Don't they make coffee with boiling water?

Robert, this could lead to a real :popcorn: moment if there are any coffee buffs around here. Correct temperature is around 200F, but better I think if the water first boiled, then cooled down to this temp.

http://www.coffeedetective.com/what-is-the-correct-water-temperature-for-brewing-coffee.html... read the comments (http://www.coffeedetective.com/what-is-the-correct-water-temperature-for-brewing-coffee.html)

What a load of crap. I'm with Roody, why do these supposedly anti-authority/pro-revolution tea parties pick even bigger dumbasses than the ones already in office? It seems to be a running theme, I've seen the "tea party" candidates from every state, and they're almost always nuts.

PS- I grew up in Colorado, and it's definitely true that this won't be tolerated down there (particularly in Boulder :P). Still, the sheer fact that a person in power said this is pretty disturbing.

Then I am sure you have heard the term, "That is so Boulder" when talking aboout an idea many times?:lol:

How'd we get from the ********** to coffee temperatures?

Robert, this could lead to a real :popcorn: moment if there are any coffee buffs around here. Correct temperature is around 200F, but better I think if the water first boiled, then cooled down to this temp.

http://www.coffeedetective.com/what-is-the-correct-water-temperature-for-brewing-coffee.html... read the comments (http://www.coffeedetective.com/what-is-the-correct-water-temperature-for-brewing-coffee.html)

I buy my beans whole, grind them and make my coffee. I almost bought a pressure maker like they have a Starbucks but I just couldn't spring for the extra bucks. Still my coffee water comes to a boil before dripping through the coffee and into the carafe. What I was talking about is how we have taken personal responsibility away from people who cause an accident and placed it on others to reward them for being stupid. I have been to many homes where they serve coffee fresh both after and during dinner. Never once did the hostess or host have to tell me not to put the cup between my legs. :eek:

The case mentioned was one of the ones that forced a change in the law and is almost a famous as the twinky defense. :lol:

I also don't see any difference between tea parties and tree huggers, or ELF or green peace. They all have an agenda and have agreed to meet together to support that agenda. They have that right and I doubt if their choice is any worse than the ones we already have. The only reason I think we shouldn't round up all the politicians in offce today and dump them in the ocean is I would have to see the ocean poluted anymore than it already is.:D

What I was talking about is how we have taken personal responsibility away from people who cause an accident and placed it on others to reward them for being stupid.

Doesn't McDonalds have a corporate responsibility to make coffee that's an appropriate temperature for drinking in a moving car? Stupid is as stupid does, whether you're a billion dollar corporation using a defective coffee maker, or some poor shmuck trying to balance a flimsy paper cup.

Doesn't McDonalds have a corporate responsibility to make coffee that's an appropriate temperature for drinking in a moving car? Stupid is as stupid does, whether you're a billion dollar corporation using a defective coffee maker, or some poor shmuck trying to balance a flimsy paper cup.

But Micky Ds didn't pour the coffee on the person. we seem to forget who did the act that caused the burn. :innocent: If I wanted luke warm coffee I would have put ice in it but I have never ordered luke warm coffee. She sued because she spilled a drink made from boiling water, remember water has to be 212 degrees to boil and only then is it filtered through the coffee grounds. No one at the store spilled the coffee for her she did it herself. I have to wonder how many times she burned herself at home? :rolleyes:

She should take responsibility for her actions, coffee is hot not warm, you don't put hot liquid in a paper of foam cup betwen your legs. If you do you shouldn't be allowed to sue the people you ordered "Hot" Coffee from. If she stuck her tongue to a metal ice tray should she sue Westinghouse for making the freezer? If she pokes herself while nailing a picture should she sue ACE for making sharp nails? :eek:

I am just sad that we have become a nation that simply doesn't believe anything is our fault. And I will fully accept the term Schmuck.

–nounSlang.
an obnoxious or contemptible person.

But then if you had spent and time near a jewish community you would know the Yiddish term simply can't apply to this woman.:lol:

Have you ever read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series? In one of the books, I don't remember which, someone decides to build an inside out building that's an asylum after reading instructions on a box of toothpicks. If we've reached the point at which we need instructions on toothpicks so as not to kill ourselves with them, the world is indeed insane.

There's a big difference between hot coffee and coffee that's nearly boiling. When I go to a coffee shop I'm expecting to be able to sip the coffee as soon as I get it. If the coffee is 180 degrees, I'm not going to be able to sip it for 5 minutes or more. How was this 79 year-old lady going to guess that her coffee was too hot to even handle, let alone sip? Was she expected to carry around a thermometer in the car and pop it into the coffee before picking it up? Of course not. And this was hardly excessive clumsiness - while she was adding sugar, the cup spilled and she was scalded.

At 180 degrees, the coffee would cause a third-degree burn in two to seven seconds. Prior to her lawsuit, there had been approximately 700 other burn cases involving McDonald's between 1982 and 1992. The woman was taken to the hospital. She had suffered third-degree burns. She remained in the hospital for eight days while she underwent skin grafting. During this period, she lost 20 pounds (nearly 20% of her body weight).Two years of medical treatment followed. The woman sought to settle with McDonald's for $20,000 to cover her medical costs, but the company offered only $800. So she hired a lawyer.

The jury found that McDonald's was 80% responsible for the incident and the woman was 20% at fault. The jury originally awarded her compensatory and punitive damages of over 2.7 million dollars, but she eventually saw less than $600,000.

A restaurant has a responsibility to provide food that isn't likely to burn the customer. It's all well and good sitting here and claiming this was the woman's fault and scoffing, but if anyone here got coffee at 180 degrees, they would hardly be happy, and spills happen all the time with those flimsy cups and lids. No one wants or needs coffee at that temperature, and simply getting it from the drive through window counter to the car's cup holder is an exercise in pain at that temperature.

If other coffee shops can produce coffee that's hot but not scalding, I'm sure McDonalds can - and should. Cooling a liquid after it has boiled is not rocket science and modern technology can cool a cup of boiling water within seconds using fairly simple methods.

In my view, McDonalds should have accepted her original settlement offer, which was fair, given that she had ongoing medical expenses from the incident. McDonalds' greed ended up costing the company a lot more.

"Doctor, doctor, it burns when I spill coffee on my private parts!"

"Well then, do DO that!"

Doesn't have to be rocket science; she could have waited ONE day (if her financial situation was that tight) to have that coffee, and used the money to buy a $1 cupholder at Wal-Mart. No coffee cup in the crotch -- no burned crotch. It's not McD's fault she's too stupid to prepare for a product she's chosen to buy.

It's HER fault she got burned at all -- it's just McD's fault it was that bad.

When I first tried the coffee from the new pot I bought for the house, it was noticeably -- and uncomfortably -- hotter than the old. Now, a month or so later, I don't even notice it. When it was uncomfortable, I waited an extra few minutes to drink it. If your life is that full that you need a specific window of opportunity to drink a freakin' cup of coffee, you're going to die at 49 from an aneurysm or something.

McDonalds had been told multiple times in multiple trials that their coffee was being served at too high of a temperature, and they needed to bring it into line with industry norms. Putting 'hot' on a product does not protect you from having it at any random temperature. If you buy an iced coffee that says 'Caution: Cold' on the side, aren't you going to sue when you take a drink of liquid nitrogen? 'But it says cold!'

In addition to serving their coffee well above industry norms, they used cups that were not designed to handle a product of that temperature. They were aware of this, and told to upgrade their cups in previous lawsuits.

As was mentioned above, both parties were found responsible. McDonalds was hit with a punitive punishment for neglecting multiple warnings to adjust their coffee temperature. And $600k or even $2million is not enough to function as a punitive damage for a company as large as McDonalds.

And again, she didn't 'spill' the coffee, as you may see on the movies where they just dump the cup upside down. The cup actually collapsed as it was not designed to hold a liquid of that temperature. In fact, taking the lid off seriously diminishes the lateral stability of the cup, causing it to be much easier to fold in, which is all the more likely at the extreme temperatures McDonalds was serving their coffee.

Again, if she'd had it in some sort of cup holder rather than squeezing it between her thighs with the lid off, it wouldn't have had the external pressure exerted on it to cause it to collapse and spill on her.

Again, if she'd had it in some sort of cup holder rather than squeezing it between her thighs with the lid off, it wouldn't have had the external pressure exerted on it to cause it to collapse and spill on her.

When I purchase food at a restaurant, I don't feel the need to provide my own utensils in order to prevent personal injury. I always assume that food service professionals will serve their products in appropriate containers. McDonalds failed this basic duty, and they deserved what they got. (One other change since the lawsuit was that McDonalds and other drive-thrus now put the cream and sugar in the coffee before serving it.)