We’ve lived in Arizona for more than a decade now. We’re very fond of our neighbors to the west. California is a beautiful state with amazing scenery, diverse entertainment and recreation options; great beaches, endless restaurant choices, fantastic walking trails. As a matter of fact San Diego is our chronic go-to for a spontaneous, weekend attitude adjustment. We’ve always found the people of California to be offhandedly open and friendly. I wonder if they’re aware that in a large portion of the lower 48, they are renowned for their support for innovative (read crazy) theories and adoption of regulations that imply they might just have a screw loose?

I’ve been guilty of rolling my eyes at California many, many times myself, but recently I stumbled upon something on the ca.gov website that actually stopped me in my tracks. It’s not a big thing by any means, just a… well, a stupid thing.

There is, and I kid you not, a law in the California Fish and Game Code that states that you cannot eat a frog that dies in a frog jumping contest. Wait…. What??? Are there so many amphibian connoisseurs in California that they felt the need for a law? Likewise, there must be an abnormally high occurrence of frog jumping contests. And seriously, does the manner in which a frog has croaked affect its edibility? Do they think that little frog jockeys overwork their charges on a regular basis in hopes of a hasty demise and a tasty barbecue? I have so, so many questions… like, do you ever REALLY know your neighbors?