Comments on: Blue Laws http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws A collection of Damn Interesting things Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:02:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Bob Nesbo http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws#comment-25472 Bob Nesbo Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:16:49 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=209#comment-25472 Who cares if Europeans are laughing? Why is it quite often that the value of one society is based or judge as to how it's compared to another? Who cares if Europeans are laughing? Why is it quite often that the value of one society is based or judge as to how it’s compared to another?

]]> By: ValiantDefender http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws#comment-23754 ValiantDefender Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:00:32 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=209#comment-23754 What a double edged sword. I would like the return of some blue laws. 1) Can't swear around kids or people who don't want to hear it 2) can't smoke around children or people who don't want to be smoked on 3) Adultary should be punishable by law (some states have laws but are mostly ignored) 4) Fornication (at any age) should be have consequences including making one immediately emancipated from one's parents (for teenagers) and enrollment in a tax that pays for medical costs of STD's and unwanted pregnancy. etc. But I wouldn't want to be subjected to someone else's blue laws....some religions are serously crazy! kthxbye What a double edged sword. I would like the return of some blue laws.
1) Can’t swear around kids or people who don’t want to hear it
2) can’t smoke around children or people who don’t want to be smoked on
3) Adultary should be punishable by law (some states have laws but are mostly ignored)
4) Fornication (at any age) should be have consequences including making one immediately emancipated from one’s parents (for teenagers) and enrollment in a tax that pays for medical costs of STD’s and unwanted pregnancy.

etc.

But I wouldn’t want to be subjected to someone else’s blue laws….some religions are serously crazy!

kthxbye

]]> By: Old Man http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws#comment-13024 Old Man Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:17:22 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=209#comment-13024 <p>Eh, I grew up in a methodist town in the UK, and they didn't allow any drinking at all (in the past, I mean). </p><p>All the pubs were built just outside the town, on one short road. Damn great for pub crawls - six pubs lined up and awaiting the challenge! My side of town was mostly churches, though.</p> Eh, I grew up in a methodist town in the UK, and they didn’t allow any drinking at all (in the past, I mean).

All the pubs were built just outside the town, on one short road. Damn great for pub crawls – six pubs lined up and awaiting the challenge! My side of town was mostly churches, though.

]]> By: SweetViolet http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws#comment-9218 SweetViolet Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:10:34 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=209#comment-9218 <p>I lived in the Boston area for a few years in the late 1960s and, coming from California, found the Blue Laws to be shocking. Bars closed at midnight on Saturday...at 12:01 it was Sunday, after all. Then, I discovered that although some of the small neighborhood markets were open for a few hours on Sunday, they were restricted as to what they could sell: necessities like bread and milk were OK, but frivolities like toothpaste were not! Eventually I moved back to California and forgot about the Blue Laws...and then I moved to South Africa.</p><p><p> It's a little schizophrenic here...the bars in Cape Town can stay open all night (and many do!) and serve booze by-the-drink until they close, but you cannot buy bottled liquor, beer, or wine after 5 pm on Saturdays or 8 pm on weekdays or at any time on Sundays. Wine can be sold in supermarkets, but beer and spirits only in liquor stores. The drinking age is 18 (as is the minimum age to get a driver's license), although the age to buy tobacco products is 16. This, despite the fact that the Afrikaaners and the Dutch Reform Church are no longer in control of the government. And yet, if you mention the "Blue Laws" to a South African, they have no idea what you are talking about and laugh at the absurdity of them when you explain! <p> Go figger!</p> I lived in the Boston area for a few years in the late 1960s and, coming from California, found the Blue Laws to be shocking. Bars closed at midnight on Saturday…at 12:01 it was Sunday, after all. Then, I discovered that although some of the small neighborhood markets were open for a few hours on Sunday, they were restricted as to what they could sell: necessities like bread and milk were OK, but frivolities like toothpaste were not! Eventually I moved back to California and forgot about the Blue Laws…and then I moved to South Africa.

It’s a little schizophrenic here…the bars in Cape Town can stay open all night (and many do!) and serve booze by-the-drink until they close, but you cannot buy bottled liquor, beer, or wine after 5 pm on Saturdays or 8 pm on weekdays or at any time on Sundays. Wine can be sold in supermarkets, but beer and spirits only in liquor stores. The drinking age is 18 (as is the minimum age to get a driver’s license), although the age to buy tobacco products is 16. This, despite the fact that the Afrikaaners and the Dutch Reform Church are no longer in control of the government. And yet, if you mention the “Blue Laws” to a South African, they have no idea what you are talking about and laugh at the absurdity of them when you explain!

Go figger!

]]> By: Stead311 http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws#comment-7802 Stead311 Mon, 07 Aug 2006 17:03:01 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=209#comment-7802 <p>I live in Massachusetts and I go to school in Connecticut. Probably the worst thing about the blue laws is buying some hooch. It was recently changed, but while I was growing up, trying to buy alcohol on sunday.... didnt happen. Then it was extended to 1.p.m. NOW.. I can buy beer until 9 but only hard liquor till 8 on sunday. I hate both these states... and I hate them even more due to the fact that my pistol permit is basically useless. The gun laws in Massachusetts are as queer as a 3 dollar bill. The blue laws are no exception.</p> I live in Massachusetts and I go to school in Connecticut. Probably the worst thing about the blue laws is buying some hooch. It was recently changed, but while I was growing up, trying to buy alcohol on sunday…. didnt happen. Then it was extended to 1.p.m. NOW.. I can buy beer until 9 but only hard liquor till 8 on sunday. I hate both these states… and I hate them even more due to the fact that my pistol permit is basically useless. The gun laws in Massachusetts are as queer as a 3 dollar bill. The blue laws are no exception.

]]> By: Filoviridae http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws#comment-6657 Filoviridae Tue, 27 Jun 2006 14:40:10 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=209#comment-6657 <p><span class='quote'>rk_cr said: "An interesting fact that I remember reading about was that the Puritans, at one point, had outlawed Christmas. They repealed this law due to the inconceivable notion that anyone would actually celebrate it. However, it does not look all that repealed according to the Blue Laws…</span></p><p><span class='quote'>Regardless, it just goes to show that you never know what might catch on."</span></p><p>A simple search on Wiki or even a look at the Encyclopaedia Britannica will show the roots of Christmas. It's not that far fetched of an idea to get rid of it. It's just that it's so ingrained in society now (and such a cash cow) that no one dares oppose it.</p> rk_cr said: “An interesting fact that I remember reading about was that the Puritans, at one point, had outlawed Christmas. They repealed this law due to the inconceivable notion that anyone would actually celebrate it. However, it does not look all that repealed according to the Blue Laws…

Regardless, it just goes to show that you never know what might catch on.”

A simple search on Wiki or even a look at the Encyclopaedia Britannica will show the roots of Christmas. It’s not that far fetched of an idea to get rid of it. It’s just that it’s so ingrained in society now (and such a cash cow) that no one dares oppose it.

]]> By: JustAnotherName http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws#comment-474 JustAnotherName Sat, 26 Nov 2005 13:35:44 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=209#comment-474 <p>I lived in Conshohocken (Khan'-Show-Hock'-En) from age 9-40. They used to have Blue Laws, I don't know if they removed them or just ignore them now. (It was the No Business Open on Sunday Law.) Anyway, it was a HUGE deal when a McDonalds opened in West Conshohocken just over the Conshohocken Bridge and off the Schuylkill (if you can't say or spell it try driving it) Expressway. THEN a PIZZA Shop, Tony and Joe's, opened right on the main street of Conshohocken (Fayette Street) and to this day is my favorite pizza. </p><p> Anyway, this 1 square mile of a Borough grew due to pretty good foresight of it's Mayors and Councel Members from long ago; mostly Italian, Polish, German, Irish immigrants. They somehow lured businesses in (maybe lower taxes or whatever) and there are more Gas Stations, Funeral Homes, Churches and Bars in this square mile than you can believe. In turn, over the Decades, many, many businesses and Corporations moved in. Doctors, Lawyers, Major Consulting Firms. Somehow Conshohocken has become THE place to live. So four years ago we sold our house and bought a nice Condo in LaFayette Hill. (LaFayette Hill is predominantly Jewish, so we expected the residents to also be Jewish. I never lived near so many Italians in my LIFE and I am Italian and have a huge Italian family. Everybody is always screaming!) Anyway, Conshohocken is now THE place to build and live. People who owned land here are now millionares; business offices and hotels are going up everywhere. Just a 1/2 hour from Philly, 15 minutes from one major Mall and 20 from another, 3 major grocery chains within the square mile, it's own free bus service for Elderly and disabled and $1-$2 for others to take you to any of these areas and more, several parks and recreation centers, restaurants and steak/hoagie (that's right, I said HOAGIE; and Zeps) Hair Salons, I can't even count the number of Car Dealerships, The new Metroplex (you know, the Basic Boarders Book Store, Target, Old Navy, Lowes, Best Buy and so on) where Half.com was founded and sold to Ebay and they are still building. Not just businesses but homes in any slip of ground they can. Get this, four particular small town homes have a view of a gas station and sell for $300,000 each and they were snatched up because afterall, they are just across from the bike trail that runs for miles into Valley Forge or Philadelphia (it is right behind the gas station) and President Bush (and Mrs. Clinton when First Lady) come to visit every so often as a prime example of how to build up a town of small businesses and major corporations while maintaining avenue after avenue of homes. And yes, there are two stops for the trains to take people to Philly or Norristown to work. Honestly, this place was the pitts to grow up in; now it is all the rage. I knew Conshohocken had really made it when it was featured in Philadelphia Magazine as the new hottest place to go; they featured the New Strip Club as one of it's "places to go." Now, if they can only build a Dog Park, all would be well. I'm sorry, what was the topic? Oh. Blue Laws. Good thing they were repealed or are ignored because this place is "all that." How did Conshohocken get it's name? Three names were placed in a hat. I can't remember the other two, but they were more "normal, spellable and pronounceable." Conshohocken was pulled out; it means Pleasant Valley in Native American. Suffice to say, most of the new Businesses and Business Centers go by "Pleasant Valley." By the way, I wrote a journal on Philly. Hopefully I am posting this link correctly. http://journals.aol.com/chatcruzin82361/BrotherlyLove If it does not work I will post again. </p> I lived in Conshohocken (Khan’-Show-Hock’-En) from age 9-40. They used to have Blue Laws, I don’t know if they removed them or just ignore them now. (It was the No Business Open on Sunday Law.) Anyway, it was a HUGE deal when a McDonalds opened in West Conshohocken just over the Conshohocken Bridge and off the Schuylkill (if you can’t say or spell it try driving it) Expressway. THEN a PIZZA Shop, Tony and Joe’s, opened right on the main street of Conshohocken (Fayette Street) and to this day is my favorite pizza.

Anyway, this 1 square mile of a Borough grew due to pretty good foresight of it’s Mayors and Councel Members from long ago; mostly Italian, Polish, German, Irish immigrants. They somehow lured businesses in (maybe lower taxes or whatever) and there are more Gas Stations, Funeral Homes, Churches and Bars in this square mile than you can believe. In turn, over the Decades, many, many businesses and Corporations moved in. Doctors, Lawyers, Major Consulting Firms. Somehow Conshohocken has become THE place to live. So four years ago we sold our house and bought a nice Condo in LaFayette Hill. (LaFayette Hill is predominantly Jewish, so we expected the residents to also be Jewish. I never lived near so many Italians in my LIFE and I am Italian and have a huge Italian family. Everybody is always screaming!)

Anyway, Conshohocken is now THE place to build and live. People who owned land here are now millionares; business offices and hotels are going up everywhere. Just a 1/2 hour from Philly, 15 minutes from one major Mall and 20 from another, 3 major grocery chains within the square mile, it’s own free bus service for Elderly and disabled and $1-$2 for others to take you to any of these areas and more, several parks and recreation centers, restaurants and steak/hoagie (that’s right, I said HOAGIE; and Zeps) Hair Salons, I can’t even count the number of Car Dealerships, The new Metroplex (you know, the Basic Boarders Book Store, Target, Old Navy, Lowes, Best Buy and so on) where Half.com was founded and sold to Ebay and they are still building. Not just businesses but homes in any slip of ground they can. Get this, four particular small town homes have a view of a gas station and sell for $300,000 each and they were snatched up because afterall, they are just across from the bike trail that runs for miles into Valley Forge or Philadelphia (it is right behind the gas station) and President Bush (and Mrs. Clinton when First Lady) come to visit every so often as a prime example of how to build up a town of small businesses and major corporations while maintaining avenue after avenue of homes. And yes, there are two stops for the trains to take people to Philly or Norristown to work.

Honestly, this place was the pitts to grow up in; now it is all the rage. I knew Conshohocken had really made it when it was featured in Philadelphia Magazine as the new hottest place to go; they featured the New Strip Club as one of it’s “places to go.” Now, if they can only build a Dog Park, all would be well.

I’m sorry, what was the topic? Oh. Blue Laws. Good thing they were repealed or are ignored because this place is “all that.”

How did Conshohocken get it’s name? Three names were placed in a hat. I can’t remember the other two, but they were more “normal, spellable and pronounceable.” Conshohocken was pulled out; it means Pleasant Valley in Native American.

Suffice to say, most of the new Businesses and Business Centers go by “Pleasant Valley.”

By the way, I wrote a journal on Philly. Hopefully I am posting this link correctly.

http://journals.aol.com/chatcruzin82361/BrotherlyLove

If it does not work I will post again.

]]> By: howhurley http://www.damninteresting.com/blue-laws#comment-439 howhurley Tue, 22 Nov 2005 23:47:42 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=209#comment-439 <p>I had a relative named Melchior that lived in Switzerland who dared to join the Anabaptists. What a massive mistake! He was violently driven out of his town and into Germany. He had a son who was also called Melchior. He escaped the remaining persecutions in his hometown and moved to the New World. He settled in a place later to be named Lancaster County, in the state of Pennsylvania. But it was hundreds of years ago! Just remember, it's easy to judge those not of our time and those we consider "others." Since everyone has an axe to grind, we have to give others the benefit of the doubt. </p> I had a relative named Melchior that lived in Switzerland who dared to join the Anabaptists. What a massive mistake! He was violently driven out of his town and into Germany. He had a son who was also called Melchior. He escaped the remaining persecutions in his hometown and moved to the New World. He settled in a place later to be named Lancaster County, in the state of Pennsylvania. But it was hundreds of years ago! Just remember, it’s easy to judge those not of our time and those we consider “others.” Since everyone has an axe to grind, we have to give others the benefit of the doubt.

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