Don't watch us
There was no force of law - just a challenge - when state lawmakers from Howard County called for students in their area to stop watching television for one week.
National TV-Turnoff Week 2007 is April 23 to 29.
"Television cuts into family time, harms our children's ability to read and succeed in school, and contributes to unhealthy lifestyles and obesity," their press release says.
Which brings up an interesting tension, if you're looking for one.
Maryland Public Television airs selected bits of the General Assembly in action.
Will any Howard County students whine because they'll miss coverage of the bill to create a task force on the boating industry? Not likely.
But it's the principle that interests us.
So, go out and legislate, kids, instead of sitting on the sofa and watching others do it.
Not your average bill, part VI
The halls were alive Wednesday with the sound of anti-tax advocates in Annapolis. The occasion was a bill hearing on imposing - you guessed it - new taxes.
Services currently taxable in Maryland, the bill says, include commercial cleaning, cell phones, telephone answering, credit reporting and security.
The bill, sponsored by Del. James W. Gilchrist, D-Montgomery, would add many others, such as car washing, tanning, engineering, storage, shoe repair, tax preparation, dieting and direct mail advertising.
Wait, on the next page, there's more: stenography, exterminating, lab testing, sign painting and auctioneering.
Out of more than two dozen proposed additions to the list of taxable services, "independent lecture bureau" had an early lead in the "Really?!" category, edging "a weighing machine" and "shop window decorating."
That is, until the sharp Annapolis press corps zeroed in on the tastiest tax to be savored: "a dating or escort service."
Would nonprofits get tax-free companionship? Would philawwnderers move to other states to flee the tax burden? Would the lives of IRS auditors get a whole lot more interesting?
If only the Beatles were around to comment:
"If you go out to eat, I'll tax your plate. If you get too lonely, I'll tax your date."
