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Afternoon Links: Pave Breezewood, Sugar Tax Confuses Supporters, and the GAO Tries to Buy Guns

By Jim Swift

Pave Breezewood. I‘m back from my trip to Cleveland (where I covered the Browns #PerfectSeasonParade), and as is tradition, I had to drive through the godforsaken town of Breezewood, Pennsylvania. Over at the Examiner, Salena Zito has an appreciation of the place. One thing’s for sure, having driven through Breezewood for 15 years: It sure seems to be trending downward, paving the way for an interchange that wipes it off of the face of this planet forever.

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Dog survives eagle attack. Can you imagine if your dog were scooped up by a bird of prey, presumably never to be seen again? That’s what apparently happened in Pennsylvania to a bichon, which survived. Read the incredible story.

Sugary drink tax has public health advocates confused. Walter Olson published a funny thread from the Tax Foundation’s Scott Drenkard regarding Seattle’s insane new tax, which tacks on more than $7 to a $10 case of pop:

“First they interview people at the Costco who are rightfully shocked at how high prices on soda and sports drinks are now (they are almost doubled).” “Then they interview a public health advocate who says ‘that’s right! We want these prices to change people’s behavior and slow sales!'” “Then they talk to the consumer, ‘think you’ll change your behavior, maybe even shop somewhere else?’ And she’s like, ‘ya the Tukwila store is close enough.’ Then they ask a city council member if this will hurt local biz, who says ‘there is no data’ suggesting that.” “Then the SAME public health advocate says that people won’t respond to price increases, shopping elsewhere because it isn’t ‘worth their while.'” “You can’t have it both ways people! The tax is either big enough to elicit behavior change, which would slow sales and hurt local biz and potentially reduce calories, or it isn’t. Get your stories straight!”

Read the post to see the underlying video. It’s worth a laugh.

GAO tries to buy guns on the internet for a study, largely fail. Over at Reason, Ed Krayewski takes a look at GAO projectundertaken at the request of three Democrats in Congress:

Government Accountability Office employees posing as sketchy buyers tried and failed in 72 attempts to purchase firearms on the internet, part of a failed investigation called for by a trio of Congressional Democrats. While the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) insisted in its most recent strategic plan, as cited by the GAO, that “the privacy of the Internet makes it an ideal means for gang members, violent criminals, terrorists, and juveniles to traffic and obtain illegal firearms,” the new report released by the (GAO) could not corroborate any of it. The GAO did not fare much better on the so-called “Dark Web.” Agents made 7 attempts and were successful just twice, purchasing an AR-15 and an Uzi.

Be careful what you wish for!

Class warfare in video games? I haven’t played Grand Theft Auto in many years, owing to growing up, but it was a fun game that was certainly revolutionary (not in always good ways) and remains popular. Gaming blog Kotaku is now documenting how the rich of the online gaming world are now using expensive in-game toys to beat down on the proletariat. Talk about a first world problem.

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