Comments on: Comments on 7611

Post number 7611

phunkone — Thu, 10 May 2001 14:21:54 -0800

Important Massachusetts Legislation shown here makes me pruod to live in the Commonwealth...

By: whatnotever

whatnotever — Thu, 10 May 2001 14:26:51 -0800

Sweet! I think that I should get them for free now, seeing as I pay my taxes and all... ... Yeah.

By: jwells

jwells — Thu, 10 May 2001 14:33:56 -0800

It's no wonder it just took me an hour and a half to drive 30 miles.

By: DiplomaticImmunity

DiplomaticImmunity — Thu, 10 May 2001 14:51:37 -0800

That's definitely one of the sillier "official X's" ive seen...anybody wanna contribute others that are equally weird?

By: a3matrix

a3matrix — Thu, 10 May 2001 15:08:09 -0800

Hmm, I have lived in Mass since last September. Recently I registered my motorcycle and had the unpleasant surprise of seeing my rates go up 150%. Bear in mind that I moved from Long Island NY to Sterling Mass. Sterling is a somewhat rural town. None of the brand name insurance companies do business in this state. State Farm, All State, Geico...... Now I haven't even gotten to property tax and the rest of the taxes. I had always heard the term Taxachussets but didn't realize what it was all about until I came here. I pay my taxes too, and I want a hell of a lot more than a free donut dammit.

By: elsar

elsar — Thu, 10 May 2001 15:46:00 -0800

on a lighter note: i was told once on a visit to the state capitol of florida in middle school that a page in the state House forgot who ordered a tuna sandwich. the issue was brought up & said tuna sandwich was finally passed, altered, as a roast beef sandwich on whole wheat bread. it was then sent to the State Senate, where it was amended again, and finally passed as a corned beef sandwich on rye. i guess that's easier than election reform.

By: baylink

baylink — Thu, 10 May 2001 16:47:22 -0800

I can't *believe* no one went here: "Ooooooooooooh! Donuts!"

By: MarkAnd

MarkAnd — Thu, 10 May 2001 16:56:41 -0800

Ich bin ein Bostonian

By: jennaratrix

jennaratrix — Thu, 10 May 2001 17:01:06 -0800

baylink: do you mean "Mmmmmmm . . . . donuts . . ." (read: with Homer Simpson inflection)?

By: briank

briank — Fri, 11 May 2001 06:57:40 -0800

The Boston suburb in which I currently reside has no less than EIGHT Dunkin Donuts by my last count. We Massholes are a donut-lovin' bunch of folks. Lest you think the Official State Donut is the silliest of legislative acts, a couple of years ago there was actually serious debate about the Official State Cookie. One faction favored the Toll House Cookie, which was invented at the Toll House Restaurant here in MA, and the other faction favored the Fig Newton, also invented here and named after the City of Newton. The Toll House Cookie won. You can see all the State Symbols here.

By: ljromanoff

ljromanoff — Fri, 11 May 2001 08:39:19 -0800

I think we can be sure that this is one piece of legislation that Governor Swift will definitely sign!

By: anapestic

anapestic — Fri, 11 May 2001 08:57:16 -0800

From my years in Boston and environs, I would have guessed that honey dipped would be the official state donut. But then again, I'd also have been completely wrong on the official State Polka Song. Not to mention the State Muffin. BTW, what's with all these "State" symbols anyway? It's a Commonwealth.

By: MarkAnd

MarkAnd — Fri, 11 May 2001 09:13:07 -0800

anapestic: It's clearly a State on some level, as it is known as the Bay State. Heck, it even says "The Bay State" on the commemorative quarter.

By: baylink

baylink — Fri, 11 May 2001 09:34:30 -0800

As an ex-Masshole myself, for 16 years, I can tell you that it's a state called "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts". It's one of 4 (or maybe 5) "Commonwealths" in the country, I remember Pennsylvania and Kentucky, and I *think* PR is one too, but it seems that there's one more I'm forgetting. There is absolutely no doubt in my mine, however, that someone from that particular Commonwealth will pipe up and let us know... :-) And yes, Jenna: that was what I meant. Been a while...

By: anapestic

anapestic — Fri, 11 May 2001 09:41:09 -0800

Virginia is also a commonwealth.

By: CrayDrygu

CrayDrygu — Fri, 11 May 2001 10:14:19 -0800

So what's the difference between a state and a commonwealth anyway? I live in MA, shame on me for not knowing =)

By: MarkAnd

MarkAnd — Fri, 11 May 2001 10:26:54 -0800

I live in MA, too, and I don't know. I suspect that's because the only difference is the "state" charter says "commonwealth" instead.

By: briank

briank — Fri, 11 May 2001 10:30:55 -0800

As usual, Uncle Cecil explains it all.

By: MikeB

MikeB — Fri, 11 May 2001 10:46:20 -0800

I used to work for a state agency and had to read every bill that came out of the legislature. Believe me, this is hardly the strangest one you will find. I used to keep a file of some of the more amusing ones, but alas I can't remember them anymore.

By: nofundy

nofundy — Fri, 11 May 2001 12:51:52 -0800

"What is a commonwealth anyway?" Hmmm.....commonwealth.....commune....communal...communitarian Archie to Meathead: "Anyone who lives in a commune is a communist!" Especially if s/he happens to be the governor of Virginia or Massachusetts.

By: CrayDrygu

CrayDrygu — Fri, 11 May 2001 16:16:42 -0800

Thanks, briank. Glad to have that cleared up =)