California Customers at P&C...It Has Begun.

[brian64]

I just can't hold it in any longer...have to burst out in song.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Can't we all just get along?

 

[BROBS]

I have nothing against the people of California or the state itself..
I do have something against their policies.

 

[brian64]

Any state that gave us Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang can't be all bad.

I shudder to think of the 20th century without those cartoons.

 

[Bowie]

Can't we all just get along?

I second this sentiment. A thread about signing for packages took a suddenly hostile turn.

Every state has its own beauty and its own nutty policies.

Signing for packages certainly helps solve the "porch pirate" package stealing issues.

 

[sablebrush52]

I coined the People’s Republic crack. I was joking, of course. No offense to your home state. In fact, as a Resident of the bizarre and imbecilic Planet Florida I can attest we give California a run for its money on weird, stupid and dumb.

I’m definitely in a glass house as I type this on my tablet (which if it or ANY product is for sale in California- also has a sticker on it that says “California wants you to know that this thing -object- widget -gizmo whatever etc.you are holding- using -looking at - walking past- probably causes cancer.”). I literally saw this sticker on a Glock handgun case.

So you have to kinda admit, California did put the “kick me” sign on its back for some of this ribbing.

Truce?

Truce. I'm second to no one at being critical of the bullshit and hypocrisy in California, and they are slow to deal with problems as witnessed by the tent cities of homeless growing by the day, the lack of affordable housing, as well as outbreaks of cholera, typhus and plague in the major metropolitan centers. San Francisco is being turned into a public toilet. And it's not the only state with "issues", nor particularly notable for the low quality of its government. Every state has it's problems, stupidity, shortsightedness and corruption.

Yet there is a lot that is wonderful here as well and a lot of opportunity. Where else could you get to hang out with Bugs, Daffy and Scooby?

So, yes, truce. Please pick another state to gang up on for a change. Or better, don't gang up on anybody's home.

 

[sablebrush52]

Can't we all just get along?

Good ol Rodney King. I knew he'd show up. Isn't he back in the slammer?

 

[sablebrush52]

Well Sablebrush,

I got my package yesterday also. No stickers and everything was intact. But, I cant help but to think that this is the shape of things to come. Each increase in oversight, each in change in the law, by itself is slight. But looking at all the changes in aggregate we can see the drift. It's pretty easy to foresee a time when.... well, you know the rest of this monologue.
I agree with you that our state has more than our share of troubles.- But it is beautiful still and (as you point out) it does contribute a heck of alot of $ into the national economy. If I'm not mistaken people are getting cranky and frankly scared of all the changes engulfing the nation these days. People see what has happened here (crime, high taxes, kooky laws) as the fault of Progressive, well meaning SF types . Perhaps folks from nearby states see all the people leaving California in droves; and voting , and overwhelming local values. Who can blame them. Taxes going up to pay for things they don't believe in. Hello, Virginia, I'm lookin' at you.

I can tell you that almost everyone I know over 50 has discussed selling their house and leaving CA to transplant "safer" or cheaper areas in out of state. Nice as Californians may be,, they can't help bringing their progressive values with them and voting in their new homes. Rinse and repeat. People notice a pattern so they get mad and rant.
Nobody doesnt like the old Ca of the Beach Boys,Gidget and Kramer's of Beverly Hills. It 's Jerry Brown , Crap and syringes on the sidewalk they dont want in their towns, IMHO.

Jerry Brown wasn't a bleeding heart by any means. He was tough fiscally. The state has definitely changed in my lifetime, in some ways for the better, in other ways for the worse. I'm one of those planning to leave when I retire.

 

[Akousticplyr]

Any state that gave us Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang can't be all bad.

I shudder to think of the 20th century without those cartoons.

Truce. I'm second to no one at being critical of the bullshit and hypocrisy in California, and they are slow to deal with problems as witnessed by the tent cities of homeless growing by the day, the lack of affordable housing, as well as outbreaks of cholera, typhus and plague in the major metropolitan centers. San Francisco is being turned into a public toilet. And it's not the only state with "issues", nor particularly notable for the low quality of its government. Every state has it's problems, stupidity, shortsightedness and corruption.

Yet there is a lot that is wonderful here as well and a lot of opportunity. Where else could you get to hang out with Bugs, Daffy and Scooby?

So, yes, truce. Please pick another state to gang up on for a change. Or better, don't gang up on anybody's home.

Agreed! How about Canada? It's basically the 51st state anyway.

 

[brian64]

Good ol Rodney King. I knew he'd show up. Isn't he back in the slammer?

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that he passed away.

 

[litup]

I’m definitely in a glass house as I type this on my tablet (which if it or ANY product is for sale in California- also has a sticker on it that says “California wants you to know that this thing -object- widget -gizmo whatever etc.you are holding- using -looking at - walking past- probably causes cancer.”). I literally saw this sticker on a Glock handgun case.

I was at the garden center the other day and looked at the tag on a little tree and there was a Prop 65 warning that the product is known to the state of California to cause cancer. I wasn't sure if they were referring to the plant tag itself or the tree. Probably both.

 

[jaytex1969]

I bought a new rake a few weeks ago.

I was surprised and entertained to learn that the chromed springs on it were a potential cause of cancer in California.

We have tent cities forming under our roadways, as well. Not just a California thing.

My delivery persons never let a little thing like a signature requirement slow them down. I once came home to an antique military rifle leaning against my house in a cardboard tube...

Rodney King passed in 2012.

 

[sablebrush52]

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that he passed away.

Yep, died of accidental drowning in 2012.

 

[docpierce]

Anyhoo, here's the text of the original email:

Dear (DocPierce),

Here at Pipes and Cigars, we work tirelessly to provide you with the best possible cigar shopping experience. As you may be aware, your state's law regarding the purchase and delivery of tobacco recently changed. Purchasers of tobacco products must be 21 years old or older, and the delivery of sales to any address requires signature upon delivery by someone 21 years or older (Section 22963 of the Business and Professions Code). Our records indicate that we need to obtain a copy of your government-issued ID so that your next purchase -- and all future purchases -- can process without delay.

You can provide this requested information by updating your account online:
1) Go to Pipesandcigars.com
2) Login to your account.
3) From your account dashboard, in the Age Verification section, click on the link "Verification Required"
4) Follow the prompts to complete the Age Verification process, and upload your ID. This and other key steps are highlighted below:

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact one of our Customer Service Specialists at 1-800-494-9144.

Respectfully,
The Pipes and Cigars Customer Care Team

 

[docpierce]

"The state has definitely changed in my lifetime, in some ways for the better, in other ways for the worse. I'm one of those planning to leave when I retire."


I hear what you're saying, Sablebrush. Moving is tough. The idea of moving literal anvil collection and pottery studio discourages such daydreams.
MDW and I are thinking the same thought as you in regards to vacating upon retirement. But if we do-we promise to NOT vote to change red to blue when we get there.

 

[brian64]

Here at Pipes and Cigars, we work tirelessly to provide you with the best possible cigar shopping experience.

The conspicuous absence of pipes and pipe tobacco in that statement might explain a few things.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Good catch. I 'read' right by that, and the absence wasn't noticed.

 

[sablebrush52]

Anyhoo, here's the text of the original email:

Dear (DocPierce),

Here at Pipes and Cigars, we work tirelessly to provide you with the best possible cigar shopping experience. As you may be aware, your state's law regarding the purchase and delivery of tobacco recently changed. Purchasers of tobacco products must be 21 years old or older, and the delivery of sales to any address requires signature upon delivery by someone 21 years or older (Section 22963 of the Business and Professions Code). Our records indicate that we need to obtain a copy of your government-issued ID so that your next purchase -- and all future purchases -- can process without delay.

You can provide this requested information by updating your account online:
1) Go to Pipesandcigars.com
2) Login to your account.
3) From your account dashboard, in the Age Verification section, click on the link "Verification Required"
4) Follow the prompts to complete the Age Verification process, and upload your ID. This and other key steps are highlighted below:

​

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact one of our Customer Service Specialists at 1-800-494-9144.

Respectfully,
The Pipes and Cigars Customer Care Team

Yep, a requirement of the California STAKE law. Online retailers of tobacco are required to have verifiable proof of age to sell in CA. So expect SP and all other online sellers to request the same info if they intend to sell tobacco in California.
Honestly, I don't see this as the start of anything. Compared to other activities going on, this is small potatoes. The movement to identify you and to track you has been going on for a long time and the tools for doing so are getting better. Every image of you ever posted on the internet has already been entered into a commercial database used currently by law enforcement to identify and locate criminals, victims or other persons of interest. That same database may someday become available to anyone willing to purchase a subscription for whatever purpose. Your cellphone tracks your movements thousands of times a day.

I just got my REAL ID so that I can board a plane after October. Even though I had already been vetted and received my TSA Pre ID, I was required to get a REAL ID.

In a very short space of time, all privacy has effectively been eliminated. At least in this instance you know about it. For the really intrusive stuff, no one is telling you anything.

 

[brian64]

I just got my REAL ID

Wow...how did you manage to get by with a fake one for so long?

 

[docpierce]

Yep, a requirement of the California STAKE law. Online retailers of tobacco are required to have verifiable proof of age to sell in CA. So expect SP and all other online sellers to request the same info if they intend to sell tobacco in California.
Honestly, I don't see this as the start of anything. Compared to other activities going on, this is small potatoes. The movement to identify you and to track you has been going on for a long time and the tools for doing so are getting better. Every image of you ever posted on the internet has already been entered into a commercial database used currently by law enforcement to identify and locate criminals, victims or other persons of interest. That same database may someday become available to anyone willing to purchase a subscription for whatever purpose. Your cellphone tracks your movements thousands of times a day.

I just got my REAL ID so that I can board a plane after October. Even though I had already been vetted and received my TSA Pre ID, I was required to get a REAL ID.

In a very short space of time, all privacy has effectively been eliminated. At least in this instance you know about it. For the really intrusive stuff, no one is telling you anything.

I agree w/ everything you just said. Well put.
Upshot: I will keep deepening my cellar to the fullest extent available to me. Kind regards to all on this thread and all on this board. Happy IPSD!