Matt Schonert

BBC News reports:

An Israeli member of parliament has suggested a new law that would limit the price of popcorn in the cinema.

Cinema companies broadly condemned the idea, drawing on the argument that markups on concessions sustain the industry’s profits, while filling seats merely lets them break even.

If MP Carmel Shama‘s proposition gains traction with lawmakers, it should be accompanied a requirement that customers sweep up after themselves, because if Israeli moviegoers are anything like American ones, that’s where half of the popcorn ends up.

More to the point, as anyone who’s ever done business in the real world knows, the $2.50 premium compensates someone else for—among other things—the time and the occupational risks of cooking it, the cost of manufacturing and disposing of single-use containers, and the equipment and personnel costs associated with serving food and drink.

But best of all, it ensures that the total cost of seeing a movie remains low for people who have freed themselves from the need to eat incessantly while being entertained.

But I’m afraid Mr. Shama is beyond being reasoned with:

“We have to put an end to this. The public should not have to mortgage their houses for a snack and a soft drink,” Mr Shama told the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Starting today, Arizonans with concealed weapon permits may carry in bars and restaurants, as long as the carrier abstains from drinking. Restaurant and bar owners have the power to opt out and maintain the ban at their place of business.

Mark DeSimone, owner of Phoenix’s Hidden House Cocktail Lounge, opposes the change:

“You don’t want people to even have a stick,” he said. “When I take steak knives out (for customers), I look for the ones that don’t have pointy ends.”

If violent tempers dominate the Hidden House Cocktail Lounge so much that patrons can’t be trusted with steak knives, perhaps banning customers is wiser than banning guns.

Popularity: 12% [?]

From the New York Daily News:

Donte Stallworth got 30 days in jail for killing someone driving drunk, while Plaxico Burress is facing 3-1/2 to 15 years in prison for shooting himself in the leg.

The alleged offense is carrying a loaded and unlicensed weapon. Exercising one’s right to bear arms in this manner in Manhattan is a crime that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 years.

“Mandatory minimum” means that a judge is not allowed to give a more lenient sentence, which is exactly what Burress’ lawyer wants and is sometimes what common sense demands.

Popularity: 12% [?]

From the Journal of the Michigan House of Representatives:

Rep. Geiss, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:

An amendment (1A) I offered to House Bill 4377 was not allowed a record roll call vote today. My amendment would have provided for Legal Smoking Rooms as part of HB 4377. In summary, the amendment would allow restaurants and bars to have a separate space for smoking, within their establishments. The LSR would be self contained and would have to be equipped with ventilation such that no smoke is allowed to leave the room. No individual or employee would be required to enter the room, nor would they be exposed to smoke. The room would be required to close one hour before the end of normal business hours to allow for the room to fully ventilate prior to any employee being required to enter and clean the room.

It is my basic belief that an individual has the right to choose, as long as their choice does not impact another person(s). It is my opinion that my amendment would have allowed for a win-win situation for all stakeholders: 1) Non-Smokers are not impacted by smoke, 2) Employees are not impacted by smoke, 3) Smokers can pursue their enjoyment without being subjected to cold winter outside or be forced to huddle in doorways.

In addition, Detroit Metro Airport, which is in my district, has raised concerns with House Bill 4377 as presented. Specifically, international travelers would be required to exit the building, smoke, then go back through security screening checkpoints and make it to their gate during layovers. It is the opinion of the Airport that many passengers would not go through this arduous task and would simply utilize the restrooms. My amendment would provide a solution without harming non-smokers.

While I have tried to equally weigh the rights of non-smokers and smokers within the state of Michigan, the bill as presented protects some of the people some of the time, a position I cannot support. Therefore, I respectfully vote ‘NO’ for this version of the smoking ban legislation.”

Popularity: 15% [?]

For some time, Michigan has been chomping at the bit to ban smoking statewide, but all legislation to that end has fizzled out one way or another. Not content to let the issue “smolder” (thanks Freep), the Michigan Legislature is giving it another shot this year.

State Representative Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) pushed for an exemption for Detroit’s casinos in the House version of the bill. The Detroit casinos argue that without an exemption, they will lose customers to gaming facilities on Native American reservations, which are exempt from compliance.

It is clear that this is a rent-seeking victory, and not a victory for individual freedom and enterprise. There are few voices in Lansing crying over the revenue our state’s hundreds of restaurants and bars will lose when their smoking customers are forced outside. But Johnson is happy to have saved three casinos while the legislature throws other business owners under the bus.

Popularity: 11% [?]

City lawmakers in Dallas are considering a measure that would ban minors from public places during school hours and impose a $500 maximum fine on violators.

The curfew is aimed at curbing daytime burglaries and car break-ins committed by juveniles.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Here is the list of countries which carried out executions in 2006, courtesy of Amnesty International:

• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Botswana
• China
• Egypt
• Equatorial Guinea
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Japan
• Jordan
• Korea (North)
• Kuwait
• Malaysia
• Mongolia
• Pakistan
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Uganda
• United States of America
• Viet Nam
• Yemen

Stats for 2007 were not available.

Facts & Observations:

There were no executions recorded in the Western world except for the 53 persons killed by federal and state governments in the United States.

Of the world’s 1,591 documented executions, 1,010 were by China. An additional 6,500 to 7,000 undocumented Chinese killings are estimated by “credible sources”. (The official count is a state secret.)

The top five executioners are (in order): China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, and Sudan. The United States is next in line. These six nations account for 92% of the world’s executions.

Popularity: 1% [?]