When kids start carrying the 1938 edition of Webster's unabridged dictionary on their backs - I will start to worry.

Dumbing down books - is what this is all about. Less weight..in more ways than one.

Why not make books illegal altogether! Trees die! Demand everyone purchase an e-book reader and mandate e-libraries.

If this legislation fails there are fallback positions:

Make backpacks of uniform strength and require testing.

Mandate a "maximum load" of books per pack and cite offending students.

This will then require a ne agency to be formed to enforce and monitor both students in schools and backpack makers.

Legislation between cited students (How about $400 a ticket for carrying an excessive number of books - for CA that seems about right) and the state can keep the lawyers happy and help make the payments on that Lexus 430.

If the first legislation passes, the flood of heavy, illegal books can make their ways into the hands of renegade old book lovers - who can stash them away in their private libraries.

Then the police can break down the door and seize the contraband books (imagine the Elian Gonzalez picture except in the agents arms are big, heavy books and the book owner has the gun in his face)

California..the state where big brother is being fed regularly and growing daily.

A not too surprised - but very amused,

SDAI-Tech1