I've lived in both Oakland and San Diego; the proverbial arm pit and sun tanned breast of California respectively. I thoroughly enjoyed both. I've got family out in the O.C. I've got friends peppered up and down the coast. I've always kept California near the top of my list of places I'd be willing to move to. But after this morning? Not so much.
The Scene: I'm in the kitchen making coffee. Lovely Wife is outside in the car port.Lovely Wife: Listen to the warning on this label: "Warning: This product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects and other reproductive harm."
Me: What is it? Cleanser?
Lovely Wife: A fishing pole.
Me: A fishing pole?
Lovely Wife: Yeah. A fishing pole.
Me: A fishing pole that causes cancer and birth defects?
Lovely Wife: Yeah. But only in California.
So there it is. If I can't fish there I can't live there and I'm not going to take the chance of catching birth defects from my fishing pole. Sorry, California. You're off the list.
I've been noticing that same warning on Christmas lights for the past couple of years. Apparently twinkle lights cause Cancer in California as well.
Awwe Jim...you disappoint me.
That warning you see is a result of good ol' Proposition 65, passed by the ignorant voters of CA back in 1988 or so, claiming to give all Californians proper notice when toxic substances are present. Unfortunately it was taken to an absolutely ridiculous extreme (typical for CA legislators) and really did nothing more than pay lip service to being "tough on toxics", and cause thousands of businesses to spend money on useless "warnings" that they are required to post on their premises.
BTW Jim, I used to live near both Oakland and San Diego at one time (Hayward to the north and Torrance, just south of LA, to the south). I never thought I'd say this again but I'd consider relocating back there again if it weren't for the ridiculous cost of living and brain-dead legislators.
Tiffani - I never said I wouldn't visit. I can go for days at a time without fishing.
dave - I can't voluntarily live near a place that has been a nighttime soap opera. That wipes San Diego, LA and the whole bay area. And north Cali has way too many hippies. Even if fishing wasn't deadly it would be hard for me to find a place there.