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ME weathered track health warning.

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Posted by locoi1sa on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 7:35 PM

betamax
With the California rule, even a decoder would require the warning, as it may have been assembled with lead solder, not to mention other toxic elements commonly found in electronics.  As long as you don't put it in your mouth or swallow it... even then, how must risk is there?

 As a matter of fact the last decoder I purchased had the sticker! The coffee maker I bought last weekend also had the sticker. Sometimes I feel like I should sign some sort of waiver stating to stay out of California. Its almost like a restraining order.

  Pete

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

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Posted by germanium on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 6:31 PM

I expect the gunslingers in the old Wild West had a problem with lead poisoning. Wonder what they would have made of the California sticker on a box of ammo.

Dennis

 

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Posted by betamax on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 2:57 PM

The real issue with these labels is: They are vague and misleading.

They warn you about something, but they don't tell you what it is.  There is no reference number, or a website/phone number where one can learn more about the warning.  From that viewpoint, it is almost useless.  Even worse, the "substance" that earned the package the warning label can change in status over time, as the list is updated. For that reason, the seller simply puts the label on everything, because it might be sold in California, and it may contain a listed substance at the time.

At least your usual warning symbols on something (probably federal mandate for consumer protection) graphically indicate the hazard, include a name for the substance in question, and instructions on what to do.

It's poison, this the the chemical in question, if ingested do this and see a doctor immediately.  You bring along the container so the doctor can identify the problem and determine the best way to deal with it.

With the California rule, even a decoder would require the warning, as it may have been assembled with lead solder, not to mention other toxic elements commonly found in electronics.  As long as you don't put it in your mouth or swallow it... even then, how must risk is there?

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Posted by twhite on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 2:32 PM

maxman

[

I'm sure that the majority of us in the affected areas are appreciative of all the help you are able to send, and we are very greatful.  And I suspect that most of what is being considered bashing is just some good natured kidding such as we'd hear in the boy's locker room.

But, how can we be sure that all those guys and gals coming this way are not just trying to escape? Mischief

(Just kidding!!!!)

Maxman: 

LOL!  Maybe they are, come to think of it!  Wink   I've been in touch with about 10 or so of my ex-students who are studying at various colleges on the East Coast, and from what I understand and have seen on TV, the devastation is almost overwhelming.  My prayers and best wishes go out to you all on the East Coast.  I know you'll all come through even this, because that's the kind of people you are.  God Bless.

Tom Big Smile

 

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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 1:50 PM

twhite

Well, while we're all happily bashing my home state, I might mention that California is sending their National Guard and a large contingent of Pacific Gas and Electric construction and maintanence personnel--to say nothing of hundreds of Red Cross Volunteers to help the East Coast begin to recover from Sandy. 

I'm sure that the majority of us in the affected areas are appreciative of all the help you are able to send, and we are very greatful.  And I suspect that most of what is being considered bashing is just some good natured kidding such as we'd hear in the boy's locker room.

But, how can we be sure that all those guys and gals coming this way are not just trying to escape? Mischief

(Just kidding!!!!)

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 1:47 PM

This is starting to wander into the government/political realm. Please get the topic back on track.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
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beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by bpickering on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 1:39 PM

I don't see it completely the fault of government.

The bozos who sue (and win) over cases where they didn't take proper care THEMSELVES* are a fundamental part of the problem, not being willing to take responsibility for their own actions.

Government then steps in (for example, at the request of businesses, aka constituents**, asking how they can be protected from this nitwits) and creates well-intentioned regulations, which then due to further lawsuits, end up applying for nonsense purposes they weren't intended to.

Welcome to The United States Of Litigation.***

Brian

* pithy saying #1: Common Sense, Isn't.

** after all, due to Citizens United, corporations have many of the legal rights of Personhood.

*** Yes, I'd sarcastic/jaded about the topic. After four years of doing litigation support, digging into emails and documents for lawyers to support for/against some of these cases, I bet you would too.

Brian Pickering "Typos are very important to all written form. It gives the reader something to look for so they aren't distracted by the total lack of content in your writing." - Randy K. Milholland
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Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 1:28 PM

NorthCoast RR
I never understand how the bashing of California is tolerated. The state of California is a bell weather state for the union and the largest economy in the union. Our agriculture alone is the most profitable on the planet. It, like many states, has its issues...and it has some odd people. But its not all weirdos. I live in an area that produces more timber than the rest of the state combined....
What you are all complaining about is directly related to railroads! Back in the day the railroads ran the state....and there was a vast, far reaching populist movement. An outcome of this enabled laws to be placed on the ballot for the general population. Some of these laws are poorly written.....this law may be one of those....but it is direct democracy on action. Exactly what our founders warned against! Many of our problems in the state can be blamed on this, but at least we, the people, have to own it.


Come to my county of Humboldt....i will show you one of the most beautiful places on earth. Redwood trees, amazing rivers, fishing, beaches, hunting.....and funny warning labels on products.

Im sure Kansas City is nice too pastor. God bless.

And may I point out our Prop 13 that doesn't allow your property taxes to go up more than two percent a year (most hold it to 1 percent). It has saved countless people  (including my mother) from losing their houses. I remember living in Maryland and having my taxes double in one year!!!!!!!!

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Posted by cuyama on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 12:15 PM

NorthCoast RR
I never understand how the bashing of California is tolerated.

Let 'em bash -- hopefully it will help keep the rabble away. Why should we share the great weather, fabulous scenery, and cosmopolitan culture? Smile

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Posted by JimRCGMO on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 10:41 AM

SBCA - Here's what you can do.

1) Get a friend in Nevada, Arizona, etc.,

2) Have the stuff sent to them, and

3) Have the friend tell you when it arrives. So long as you can get it past the California 'border guards' (oh, they don't have those...yet?)Smile, Wink & Grin,

4) Drive back home with the required items for your MRR project.

Jim in Cape G.

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Posted by pastorbob on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 9:36 AM

Northcoast Modeler

you have sent me two personal messages that I cannot respond to because the system doesn't seem to want you to receive responses.  The answer to your question to me in a PM is "Yes"

 

Bob Miller http://www.atsfmodelrailroads.com/
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Posted by NorthCoast RR on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 11:45 PM
I never understand how the bashing of California is tolerated. The state of California is a bell weather state for the union and the largest economy in the union. Our agriculture alone is the most profitable on the planet. It, like many states, has its issues...and it has some odd people. But its not all weirdos. I live in an area that produces more timber than the rest of the state combined....
What you are all complaining about is directly related to railroads! Back in the day the railroads ran the state....and there was a vast, far reaching populist movement. An outcome of this enabled laws to be placed on the ballot for the general population. Some of these laws are poorly written.....this law may be one of those....but it is direct democracy on action. Exactly what our founders warned against! Many of our problems in the state can be blamed on this, but at least we, the people, have to own it.


Come to my county of Humboldt....i will show you one of the most beautiful places on earth. Redwood trees, amazing rivers, fishing, beaches, hunting.....and funny warning labels on products.

Im sure Kansas City is nice too pastor. God bless.
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Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 11:24 PM

You may say these warnings are bull but you would be amazed at how stupid people are and how they don't watch their kids. I am sure there has been more that one case of a toddler chewing on the track!!!!!!!!!!!

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Posted by twhite on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 11:20 PM

Well, while we're all happily bashing my home state, I might mention that California is sending their National Guard and a large contingent of Pacific Gas and Electric construction and maintanence personnel--to say nothing of hundreds of Red Cross Volunteers to help the East Coast begin to recover from Sandy. 

So I guess we're good for something, eh what?

Tom  

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Posted by galaxy on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 10:23 PM

"CALIFORNIA IS KNOWN TO BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH"

The warnings for California are over-rated. They are, indeed on almost anything sold that is, or might be, sold in California. It covers in case of accidental injury.

Other labels are the product of lawsuits or liability issues if the user misuses the product or cannot read the instructs, as mentioned. It means, like "ignorance of the law is no defence" that if the user is harmed because they did not read or comprehend the instructions, the company is not liable. Around here, we call them "DEstructions".

In a lawsuit happy society, that is what happens.

PEAHRENS>>> does that Great Pumpkin have a warning label on it? IT SHOULD.

 

 

**Comments not valid where restricted by law.Close cover before reading. Limit one per customer. DO not use on or near water. May be hazardous to your health to read this post. Liability not limited to listed items. adverse reactions may occur. Do not read while drinking hot coffee or tea. Do not iron while wearing. Please see full additional warnings at website. Not void if you do not have a computer, access to one, or access to the Internet.. Have a nice day.

Geeked

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by NittanyLion on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 10:18 PM

Medina1128

The dumbest ones yet:

  • Do not ingest. Do not point nozzle at face. Do not smoke while refueling vehicle. (Really? People THAT stupid shouldn't be allowed to drive.
  • Thanks to the lady that put a scalding hot cup of coffee between her legs while driving, McDonald's had to put a warning on the cup: "Warning: hot" (Again, really???

Medina1128

The dumbest ones yet:

  • Do not ingest. Do not point nozzle at face. Do not smoke while refueling vehicle. (Really? People THAT stupid shouldn't be allowed to drive.
  • Thanks to the lady that put a scalding hot cup of coffee between her legs while driving, McDonald's had to put a warning on the cup: "Warning: hot" (Again, really???

Read what the McDonald's one was actually about and then realize she was completely right.  First off, she was not driving.  She was parked in the McDonald's parking lot.  Secondly, the coffee produced third degree burns on 6% of her body and second degree on 16%.  The actual injuries are pretty nasty and I won't repeat here.  McDonald's sold its coffee at a significantly higher temperature than its competitors, who did so specifically to mitigate the potential to burn its customers.  McDonald's also said they sold overly hot coffee because their customers waited to drink it when they arrived at a destination, but their own research showed this to be untrue.  They were, quite clearly, selling an unsafe product and were aware of it.  Finally, McDonalds was only found to be 80% at fault, because the jury found it wasn't their fault the lid failed.

I've held two jobs in my life that involved making coffee (not making pots at work, I mean as a barista).  I've spilled a lot of coffee on me in my life and a lot of it really hot.  But I sure never had to spend eight days in the hospital and get skin grafts.

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Posted by bing&kathy on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 10:01 PM

Hey! I used asbestos in my scenery when I was a kid. Great Stuff! My dad would bring home large blocks of it. I wiuld soak it in water, after breaking it into smaller chunks, mold it to shape, let it dry and paint it. Really nice lightweight scenery material. Also all the hot water pipes in the basement were wrapped in asbestos bioler pipe wrap. There were still some asbestos blocks in the basement when my mother sold the house.

You ask where did my dad get this stuff. He was a railroad engineer and this was in the days of steam. The shops were ful of this stuff. Glad I didn't live in CA so it didn't affect me, affect me, affect me......Cough, cough ...

God's Best & Happy Rails to You!

Bing  (RIPRR The Route of the Buzzards)

The future: Dead Rail Society

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Posted by reklein on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 8:36 PM

It used to recommended, late 40s 50s ,by this magazine ,thta asbestos fibers be added to paper mache or plaster to improve the strength and texture for scenery.

In Lewiston Idaho,where they filmed Breakheart pass.
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Posted by peahrens on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 7:34 PM

Good grief, people!  Tomorrow night the Great Pumpkin is coming and you are worrying about this??

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 9:32 AM

locoi1sa
   Does,t the warning label itself contain products known to be hazardous?

Hummmm... Seems that would need a label too.

*

NorthCoast RR
Hey Jeffrey.... do us Californians a favor....keep you and your cancer causing sharpie marker away from our state!

Not a problem. There are way too many of those sold there anyway. Last time I was in California was just after I got out of the army. It was sort of a stopoff point when I went to climb El Capitan. Since then I've had no reason to go back. I can keep my locos, track and cars away too if you think it'll help.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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Posted by BRAKIE on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 9:06 AM

One of the dumbest warnings I even read was on a container of catfish dough bait: Warning..Not for human consumption..The smell alone should been a hindrance.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by locoi1sa on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 8:48 AM

I live on the other coast and the warnings are very similar.

 The very large plastic tag on the wifes hair drier says in large red letters in several languages to "Not to be used in the shower" My thinking is the person that caused that label to be printed should have.

  The insurance company at work made us apply stickers on the back of all our dump trucks and trailers that read in several languages (even Vietnamese) "Do not stand here while dumping" Also my opinion is that the person who would stand behind a dump trailer while dumping should stand there.

  One thing the insurance companies and government has never heard of. Culling the herd! 

   Does,t the warning label itself contain products known to be hazardous? I bet I could make a fortune printing T shirts with the Cali warning label on it. But then I would have to put a label on the T shirt and a label on the label on that label and so on.

        Well at least I don't live in California.

          Pete

 I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!

 I started with nothing and still have most of it left!

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Posted by pastorbob on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 8:34 AM

I will remain in Kansas City and be happy and dumb and forget California exists.

Bob

Bob Miller http://www.atsfmodelrailroads.com/
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Posted by dknelson on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 8:10 AM

cacole

Rooto Professional Drain Opener sold at Ace Hardware:  "If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product."

That's wonderful -- I like the clearly communicated sense of exasperation in that notice.    Those of us who operated on the late Mike Ziegler's Conowingo Central layout remember the sign on his big jar of pretzels: "If you are unable or unwilling to tighten the lid perhaps you should reconsider your decision to open the jar." 

Now that we have taken various whacks at the state of California, let us at least concede that in years past many products including model railroad products, were put on the market without the least knowledge or concern about health effects.  The various solvent based paints and cements are an example, and I still remember a very sobering letter to MR from a guy who did custom painting but was dying of cancer whose doctor strongly suggested the paints and lack of a good paint booth as the causes.  MEK is by no means something to be taken lightly.  The bland advice back in 1950s era Model Railroader articles to use carbon tetrachloride for this or that purpose -- and the next article probably sang the praises of asbestos in your scenery. 

A small manufacturer could spend a fortune on testing to see exactly what is in the various products and compounds and by contrast, the "known to the State of California" notice is free -- and is proven to have no effect on sales. 

Dave Nelson 

 

 

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Posted by Rastafarr on Monday, October 29, 2012 11:03 PM

It's selective immigration, that's all. California is deliberately trying to exclude people who obsessively lick everyday objects for fun and profit. Discrimination!! Free licking for all!

SoapBox

Streamlined steam, oh, what a dream!!

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Posted by NorthCoast RR on Monday, October 29, 2012 11:00 PM
Hey Jeffrey.... do us Californians a favor....keep you and your cancer causing sharpie marker away from our state!
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Posted by Medina1128 on Monday, October 29, 2012 10:44 PM

The dumbest ones yet:

  • Do not ingest. Do not point nozzle at face. Do not smoke while refueling vehicle. (Really? People THAT stupid shouldn't be allowed to drive.
  • Thanks to the lady that put a scalding hot cup of coffee between her legs while driving, McDonald's had to put a warning on the cup: "Warning: hot" (Again, really???
  • Member since
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Posted by rrinker on Monday, October 29, 2012 9:13 PM

Yup, only one warning sticker needed for everything:

Warning: Life is hazardous to your health. Death will occur

 

          --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by wholeman on Monday, October 29, 2012 9:07 PM

Those warning labels are sometimes hilarious.  I work in a metal fabricating shop.  We use welding wire in the MIG welders.  There is a label to not stick any part of the wire in any orifice.  Also, the CO2 bottles have a label on them to not inhale. 

Just face it, being alive causes death.

Will

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