On Second Thought for Feb. 25, 2013

   On Second Thought is a weekly feature that takes a lighthearted look at current events.

• Anxious to show Utahns that gun owners aren’t scary, a bunch of them showed up to a legislative committee hearing last week carrying huge rifles and menacing sneers.
• Hey, if you can’t afford a lobbyist, bring an assault rifle, I always say.
• The good news is Salt Lake City got a lucrative offer last week from a group that wanted to pay $1.35 million to buy naming rights to the Sugar House neighborhood. The bad news is the group was Sugardaddie.com, which sets up dates between rich old men and attractive young women.
• Actually, the offer wasn’t such an honor. The site’s owners already had been rejected by Sugar Land, Texas and have looked at Sugar City, Colo., and Sugar Creek, Mo., as well. Given the dangers of online dating, they might want to approach Truth or Consequences, N.M.
• True fact: Truth or Consequences changed its name from Hot Springs more than 60 years ago just so the game show by that name would come there once a year. Imagine what the city would do for $1.35 million.
• Actually, changing the name back to Hot Springs might be more appropriate for Sugardaddie.com
• The U.S. Postal Service has come up with a new strategy for saving itself from insolvency: sue Lance Armstrong.
• Also, the Postal Service has announced a new line of men’s clothing called, “Rain, heat & snow.” I’m envisioning something that looks like a barrel, which is about all the service can afford.
• Meanwhile, Congress and the president seem content to let those once unthinkable automatic spending cuts take effect on Friday. Republicans and Democrats each hope the other side blinks first. It’s a risky strategy. What if people decide they like a smaller government?
• Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the automatic spending cuts would cripple the nation’s air traffic system. In other words, it may take your luggage a few extra days to get to the wrong destination.
• The Chinese military made a huge blunder by successfully thwarting security systems and hacking into computers of companies related to the U.S. defense industry. That kind of success means the Chinese soon will have to compete with Silicon Valley recruiters to retain their talent.