No Old Dudes

 

There Are Reporters, There Are Serious Editors, & Then There Are ChatBots

   Lately I've encountered a number of news articles that have some fairly glaring mistakes in the content, and it's given me a bit of pause in regards to accepting their veracity.

   For example, today on Yahoo.com there was an article published regarding a spike in Colorado drivers refusing to consent to toxicology tests when pulled over for suspicion of DUI, and it contained the following (I added the quotation marks and the italics, 'natch):

  "It's all because the Colorado Expressed Consent Law said Colorado Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Manager Sam Cole.

"Unfortunately, a lot of people do not know that if they are arrested for DUI, they have to take a toxicology test, that's either a blood test or a urine test," Cole said."

   Notice the tests cited? Take a look again at the one in the bold font. There's a fairly glaring error in that thar' statement.

   The State of Colorado statute regarding DUI gives a suspect the right to choose between a blood test or a breath test, as outlined in section 42-4-1301.1(2)(a)(I), C.R.S.

   Sure, it's kinda funny to imagine police officers pulling over a suspected drunk driver (especially if it's a woman) and requesting a piss test, but seriously, how did an editor not see this error in the article?

   I mean, I know most media outlets no longer have science editors, but no legal beagles either?

   Was the article actually researched and written by a human? Or maybe the mistake was made by the CDOT traffic safety manager Sam Cole? (that's even scarier though - he should know the law inside and out).

   ChatGPT anyone?

The Things One Sees While Stopped At Traffic Lights

   She had her hair wrapped in a towel as if she had just stepped out of a shower...but she was driving a Lexus SUV while smoking a cigarette and drinking coffee.

   All I could think was, "Hope she doesn't get in an accident as there'd be one helluva unintentionally funny police report filled out by the investigating officer."

The Early May Storm Rolled In

   The storm rolled in overnight, stayed for breakfast, then decided Denver was too nice a place to visit to only stay one day, so parked itself over the city for another 48 hours.

   The vegetation was grateful for the extended stay. 

The streets looked much better with a good wash, as did the majority of the buildings.

The brown haze that usually hung over the city was gone too, at least for a little while.

Something Just A Lot Scarier Upon Reflection

    So, at the gas station this morning. Rain coming down, not hard, but consistent.

    Cold, too.

   The Sprinter van was being filled up...but suddenly, out from under the Sprinter van, diesel started to flow, as if somehow the nozzle had slipped out of the fill spout...but a quick glance confirmed it hadn't. 

   Drop down to the ground and look under the Sprinter van and what to my wondering eyes should appear? 

   Diesel leaking out of the gas tank like a race horse after ten furlongs.

   Calmly stop pumping fuel. Calmly replace the gas pump handle back in it's holster. Calmly step away from the van and assess the situation.

   It's diesel, it's raining, and it's a cold rain - the outside temperature is 43 degrees (F).

   Breath a sigh of relief for that. 

   Diesel fuel is a class II combustible liquid, class II's have a flashpoint above 100 degrees (F) to below 140 (F). 

   Plus, diesel, while flammable, is much less flammable than other fuels and flammable solvents. If you toss a lit match into a puddle of diesel, it will go out - diesel is much less flammable than gasoline.

   No vapor to speak of, which is even better.

   We were oh so grateful for the consistent rain and the cold this morning in this particular situation.

   We got out of the way and let the fuel spill crew do their job.

   And pondered how the hell that hole got in the tank.

 

Put The Brakes On Celebrities As Admirable Characters

 Celebrity worship/idolization has really gotten out of hand, IMHO. 

The Carved Tree Sculptures In The Smallest Park In Lakewood

   Not quite sure when this very small (maybe 250 square feet?) park was built as I just noticed it the other day - well, I noticed the carved tree sculptures from a distance and walked over to discover they were in the smallest park I've ever stepped foot in...  

...and for good measure, a little motivational graffiti on the arm of one of the two park benches.