You have got to be kidding me…

[photo credit: of all the things to ban..., originally uploaded by Malingering.]

…but they’re not.

The ordinance calls for a maximum $1000 fine and/or six months in jail for use, possession, sale or distribution of Silly String in Hollywood from 12:01 a.m. on October 31 to 12:00 p.m. on November 1.

On a typical Halloween night, up to 100,000 people come to Hollywood Boulevard in search of something to do. Given the lack of a formal event, hundreds of illegal vendors flock to the street and sell Silly String which then becomes the sole source of entertainment for the night.

I knew things were “different” in California, but come on guys! I’m just waiting for the Hollywood Halloween Toilet Paper Ban.

While watching the Colts game tonight I saw a commercial for the “2001-2006 World Trade Center Commemorative” and knowing marketing types I half-jokingly said, “Yeah, it’s probably made from some of the debris”. Not a second later they mention that “The World Trade Center skyline is lavishly clad in gleaming silver miraculously recovered from a bank vault found under tons of debris at Ground Zero.”

Is it just me, or does this disgust anyone else? Much of 9/11 merchandise that has been released bothers me to some extent, but this one takes the cake. Sure, one may argue that it’s a piece of history, but how is that any different than someone offering pieces of Auschwitz for sale? Wouldn’t people be outraged over that?  A hundred years from now that may be a different story, but today it is too fresh in everyone’s memories and it is our lives.  Show some decency people.