Text driving vs drink driving

There is a debate raging across Maryland, and particularly in Howard County, about drink driving at the moment. And it’s an interesting one.

In the UK, drink driving is morally unacceptable. You just don’t do it, full stop, no excuses, end of etc.

My current experience is that it is more acceptable here, and the debate is about which is worse – text driving or drink driving. However, differences of opinion exist in the drink driving argument about what constitutes being over the limit and not retaining your ‘sobriety’……

These are some of the reasons as to why some people drink drive here (and it is not everyone)…

The bars are far away
It’s Maryland, we have to drive everywhere
If we didn’t get out in our cars, we would have no social life
Cabs are so expensive

Anways, recently a politican guy got caught with a DUI (driving under the influence) and set things a-stirring…..http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-02-23/news/bal-county-councilman-arrested-on-dui-charges-20130223_1_dui-charges-brooks-huff-tire-legal-limit

At a recent event I attended people declared: “I’m just having water. Did you see what happened to Todd Huff?”

To create even more anxiety, the police (who are called here HoCoPoPo, which I love) put out a press release that they would be on patrol this week predominantly to catch drink drivers (actually, they called it a Sobriety Checkpoint, which I also love) – see the fuss and reaction to it here: http://columbia.patch.com/articles/police-sobriety-checkpoint-social-media-post-sparks-questions

Whether text driving or drink driving, it’s an interesting, controversial and dangerous topic – and habit – to get involved in, but I am sure, much like guns, the debate will rage on here…..

Snow storm

Today we had a snow storm. There was endless advice given on all forms of social media, and we did spend a fair few hours looking over maps of the snow and what time it will happen, etc. Twas most exciting. Actually, the predictions and maps were more exciting than the actual storm. As I stare out the window now, the storm is here and it’s not that bad (look, I managed to get to Body Pump this morning, so really not that bad at all).

But this still means a snow day for the kids (a big ‘hooray’ from Harry) and the other half gets a day off too. Joyful for me 🙂

Kraft foods USA vs UK

Would you believe it, but American food IS WORSE. It is! Point proven by Kraft, who make Mac ‘n’ Cheese (that’s Macaroni Cheese to us Brits) completely differently for the USA and UK markets.

Get this:
http://www.change.org/petitions/kraft-stop-using-dangerous-food-dyes-in-our-mac-cheese

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in the US contains the artificial food dyes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. These unnecessary – yet potentially harmful – dyes are not in Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in other countries, including the UK, because they were removed due to consumer outcry. Kraft reformulated their product for the UK, but not for their fellow American citizens.

The rightful outcry is – ‘make a change!’

My mother would say make your own homemade macaroni cheese anyway, and maybe she’s right 🙂

I’m fine vs I’m good

The other day an American friend asked me how I was and I replied “I’m fine” and she asked me what was wrong.

No really, I’m fine.
You’re good?
Yes, I’m good.

She looked relieved. You see, no one says there are fine here – because that does not mean the same as saying you are good, which is positive. If you are fine, it might mean you are not good, and hiding something, and you need to be asked why you are not good, or maybe you’re just being passive aggressive.

An interesting difference, once again, across the Atlantic…..

But whatever, it’s all fine/good with me!