Uncle John’s Giant 10th Anniversary Bathroom Reader
Page 56
3. b. Traffic signs and theft/damage disclaimer signs aren’t always enforceable on private property. Police can’t give you a courtenforceable ticket for exceeding a private speed limit or making a privately prohibited turn onto a public highway. Courts have ruled that a person violating this type of sign is only “negligent.”
F.Y.I: Police can’t issue citations for accidents or other traffic violations on private property, either.
Another bit of interesting info: Signs on private property (like shopping centers) that claim to waive responsibility for theft and damage to your vehicle or possessions while you’re doing business there may not be valid. A court has to base its decision on what they see as the property owner’s “duty” to provide a reasonably safe environment for people and their possessions.
Food for thought: What country has the lowest birthrate in the world? The Vatican.
4. c. Depending on your history, they could have you arrested. Writing a bad check is considered a theft ranging from a misdemeanor to a second-degree felony. The penalty depends on the amount of the check and the legal history of the person who bounced it. In any event, most state laws limit the amount a store can charge you for a bounced check. Usually the fee has to be reasonable, and it has to be agreed to in writing.
5. a. If a bank card is lost or stolen, the owner’s liability depends on how quickly the loss is reported to the company that issued the card. If it’s within 2 working days, liability is only for the first $50. If it’s within sixty days, liability is up to $500. If the loss isn’t reported within 60 days of the owner’s last financial statement, the owner is responsible for all charges—even if they total more than $500.
6. a. or c. Although a patent provides exclusive rights for 17 years, it may take time…and while you’re waiting, companies can infringe on it.
Plus, sometimes it’s smarter to keep it secret. A good secret can last forever. Had Coca-Cola’s formula been patented, for example, it would have expired years ago and everyone could be using it now. By keeping the recipe a secret, Coca-Cola has been able to enjoy its exclusivity for many more years. Bear in mind, however, that keeping a secret can be pretty difficult.
7. b. Only a handful of states honor oral wills. These include California, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, and Ohio. They have strict procedures that must be followed, including having witnesses who are not beneficiaries and putting the words in writing within a certain period of time after the verbal bequest is made.
How’d you do? We’ll test you again in the next edition.
Number of times Abraham Lincoln actually slept in the Lincoln Bedroom: 0
THE LAST PAGE
FELLOW BATHROOM READERS:
The fight for good bathroom reading should never be taken loosely—we must sit firmly for what we believe in, even while the rest of the world is taking pot shots at us.
Once we prove we’re not simply a flush-in-the-pan, writers and publishers will find their resistance unrolling.
So we invite you to take the plunge: Sit Down and Be Counted! by joining The Bathroom Readers’ Institute. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: BRI, PO Box 1117, Ashland, Oregon 97520. or contact us through our Web site at: www.bathroomreader.com. You’ll receive your attractive free membership card, and a copy of the BRI newsletter (if we ever get around to publishing one), and earn a permanent spot on the BRI honor roll!
UNCLE JOHN’S NEXT
BATHROOM READER IS IN THE WORKS!
Don’t fret—there’s more good reading on its way. In fact, there are a few ways you can contribute to the next volume:
1. Is there a subject you’d like to see us cover? Write to us or contact us through our Web site (www.bathroomreader.com) and let us know. We aim to please.
2. Got a neat idea for a couple of pages in the new Reader? If you’re the first to suggest it, and we use it, we’ll send you a free book.
3. Have you seen or read an article you’d recommend as quintessential bathroom reading? Or is there a passage in a book that you want to share with other BRI members? Tell us where to find it, or send a copy. If you’re the first to suggest it and we publish it in the next volume, there’s a free book in it for you.
Well, we’re out of space, and when you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go. Hope to hear from you soon. Meanwhile, remember:
Go with the flow.