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BREAKING: Senate FINALLY Passes Bill Naming Official State Rock

by: phillip anderson

Tue Jun 21, 2011 at 19:08:24 PM EDT

I've been awfully busy lately with doctors and job interviews (honestly) but I am happy to say I am back. And just in time! The New York State Senate has FINALLY decided what our official state rock should be. WHEW!

NY State Senate passes bill naming Herkimer Diamond as official state mineral

The state Senate today passed a bill that would designate the Herkimer Diamond as the official state mineral.
Sponsored by Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, who represents Herkimer County, where the doubly-terminated quartz crystal is found, the legislation passed unanimously.
"The Empire State has a proud tradition of recognizing and trumpeting the features that make it unique. Certainly, the Herkimer Diamond is one of those rare treasures well deserving of 'official' statewide status," Seward said in a news release.
He noted that New York's Legislature has previously designated an official gemstone (garnet), fossil (sea scorpion), shell (bay scallop), bush (lilac), salt water fish (striped bass), and reptile (snapping turtle).
An identical version of the bill is pending in the Assembly.

So glad we FINALLY have a state rock! Awesome!

Marriage Equality, fracking, rent regulations...all that stuff...will just have to wait.

phillip anderson :: BREAKING: Senate FINALLY Passes Bill Naming Official State Rock

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BREAKING: Senate FINALLY Passes Bill Naming Official State Rock | 13 comments

And Sweet Corn (4.00 / 2)

Is now the official state vegetable. Thank God, I love sweet corn and am allergic to onions which was the other choice.

FYI, my pet rock is soooooooooooo happy.

by: ROSALIE907 @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 00:24:19 AM UTC

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Call Senator Ball! (4.00 / 2)

We need allergic exceptions in the bill! Vegetables can't just be shoved down people's throats!

by: Soundpolitic @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:54:28 AM UTC

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No it isn't (4.00 / 2)

Sweet corn isn't a vegetable, it's a grain. Carl Palladino is a ...

by: Dan Jacoby @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 15:11:34 PM UTC

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Controversial Decisions.... (4.00 / 1)

...will the Herkimer County Clerk go along with this?

by: Soundpolitic @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 01:51:18 AM UTC

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Two rocks (0.00 / 0)

When the Republicans secede western New York from downstate, we'll have to do this rock exercise all over again.

Well, by focusing on this nonsense at least they're not declaring war on Vermont.

by: Jim in Holley @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 14:31:48 PM UTC

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Greg Ball weighs in (0.00 / 0)

Reporter: So you're on the fence...if you got all of the protections for Herkimer diamond retailers that you say you need, namely the right to refuse to sell to anyone suspected of using a Herikimer diamond in a non-mixed gender relationship, then in theory you support making the Herkimer diamond the official mineral of in New York?

BALL: What I would say, and I look at it from a different angle - without these protections for the good name of Herkimer diamonds and their retailers, I would be an absolute no...Retailers cannot be forced to sell diamonds to non-traditional couples. I mean everyone knows the saying --"Herkimer Diamonds are a girl's best friend." NYS has always stood for Adam giving minerals to Eve, not Adam giving minerals to Steve. We can't have a situation where our state mineral is being used in relationships and ceremonies that many in our state object to. Without these conscience protections for mineral retailers , from my perspective, I don't see how the governor and his Assembly allies get this bill done.

by: Jackbx @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 14:39:07 PM UTC

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our state legislators continue to have a (0.00 / 0)

...bizarre sense of priorities, to say the least.

by: paco @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 16:17:28 PM UTC

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They had a resolution on green ties last March 17th... (0.00 / 0)

...but it was filibustered.

by: Steaming Pile @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 22:35:30 PM UTC

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State Rock Choices Still Matter (0.00 / 0)

I know a state rock might seem like a useless gesture but when a poisonous one is picked it is sort of a problem. California still has serpentine - http://www.asbestos.net/medica... - as it's state rock. Inhalation of the dust created by this mineral has been linked to serious health problems such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. So at least the New York State Senate thought their choices out. Cheers, TM

by: travismichael @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 15:16:27 PM UTC

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Prior to the Constitution, we nearly WERE at war with Vt. (0.00 / 0)

Ethan Allen was probably less partial to Yorkers than he was to Brits . . . .

by: John Minehan @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 16:22:46 PM UTC

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Notice this fellow is from Herkimer? (0.00 / 0)

by: John Minehan @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 16:23:30 PM UTC

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Sorry, no. (4.00 / 1)

Senator Seward is "from" Milford. He represents Herkimer County. Not many people at all are actually "from" Herkimer. I once heard Senator Chuck Schumer joking that Herkimer was the only county in NY that he did not win in an election.... and when he talked to his aide about why that was, he answered, "well, there are only [small number] voters in Herkimer County... maybe they have all met you personally."

by: robinia @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 23:08:28 PM UTC

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Since he represents Herkimer, no real distinction. (0.00 / 0)

More stones than people there?

by: John Minehan @ Fri Jun 24, 2011 at 22:01:50 PM UTC

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