TMI
- No legs and a million dollars or A million legs and no dollars
- Dicks or Vaginas
- Vampire or Zombie
- God is: Dog spelled by dyslexics
- Tushy or Tuchus
May 1
Corydon commented on What's Wrong with the Plan B Compromise?.
@9 I think the point may be that at certain ages where girls (yes, girls) are capable of becoming pregnant, they most certainly aren't old enough to be trusted to make good decisions.
I would challenge everyone here to look back at the person they were when they were 13 and seriously tell me that they were capable at that age of making good decisions, especially regarding relationships and sex.
By definition, kids (yes, kids) that age are walking catalogs of bad decisions; this is precisely why they need responsible parents and other adults to take care of them and help them.
I would challenge everyone here to look back at the person they were when they were 13 and seriously tell me that they were capable at that age of making good decisions, especially regarding relationships and sex.
By definition, kids (yes, kids) that age are walking catalogs of bad decisions; this is precisely why they need responsible parents and other adults to take care of them and help them.
May 1
Corydon commented on What's Wrong with the Plan B Compromise?.
Honestly, this is kind of a BS excuse. I remember going to the drug store to buy condoms when I first became sexually active. And yeah, it was a bit intimidating and embarrassing. But I got over it. In the same way, I've had to get over talking openly about my HIV status with potential partners. And you know what? I got over that too.
If I can deal with the stigma that HIV carries, I think whatever minor amount of personal discomfort that comes with producing ID when you're buying contraception can be dealt with. Frankly, if you're such a shrinking violet that you're terrified to pull out a driver's license (just like you do to buy cigarettes, or beer, or marijuana now) then you probably have no business having sex anyways.
And please, for the love of pete can we agree that some things, like contraception, just like drugs and guns and alcohol and driving and voting and a whole host of other adult activities are not necessarily appropriate for children and teens to be procuring on their own? And if there is some kind of reasonable age limit (and 15 strikes me as eminently reasonable), then ID requirements to enforce that provision seem reasonable too.
The one case where I can see an exception is in the case of rape. But in that case, I would hope that any woman in that situation would be finding someone, anyone, to help her out. And regardless of whether that person is a friend, family member, roommate, boyfriend/girlfriend, case worker or stranger on the street, they should be more than willing to help find contraception.
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When a women or teen needs emergency contraception she typically is in a situation she would rather not publicize.
Honestly, this is kind of a BS excuse. I remember going to the drug store to buy condoms when I first became sexually active. And yeah, it was a bit intimidating and embarrassing. But I got over it. In the same way, I've had to get over talking openly about my HIV status with potential partners. And you know what? I got over that too.
If I can deal with the stigma that HIV carries, I think whatever minor amount of personal discomfort that comes with producing ID when you're buying contraception can be dealt with. Frankly, if you're such a shrinking violet that you're terrified to pull out a driver's license (just like you do to buy cigarettes, or beer, or marijuana now) then you probably have no business having sex anyways.
And please, for the love of pete can we agree that some things, like contraception, just like drugs and guns and alcohol and driving and voting and a whole host of other adult activities are not necessarily appropriate for children and teens to be procuring on their own? And if there is some kind of reasonable age limit (and 15 strikes me as eminently reasonable), then ID requirements to enforce that provision seem reasonable too.
The one case where I can see an exception is in the case of rape. But in that case, I would hope that any woman in that situation would be finding someone, anyone, to help her out. And regardless of whether that person is a friend, family member, roommate, boyfriend/girlfriend, case worker or stranger on the street, they should be more than willing to help find contraception.
May 1
Corydon commented on Hundreds March for Immigration Reform.
It is worth pointing out that there is some tension between the idea of a more liberal immigration policy and the idea of advancing the interests of American workers.
Who was pushing immigration reform in 2007? Democrats and Hispanic organizations, sure. But remember, quite a few Republicans, including President Bush and Senator McCain were all in favor of the idea too.
Why do you suppose that is?
And why do you suppose the Chamber of Commerce is so gung ho on the idea?
I suggest that the answer is that increased immigration of people from across the educational spectrum serves the interests not of workers but of employers. Immigrants add to the labor force, increasing its supply. And in an environment where demand for labor is already slack, that can only serve to push wages even further down (and add directly to the bottom line).
Moreover, new immigrant workers, especially migrants and guest workers, are far more likely to accept pay that is lower than the prevailing wage. Again, that hurts the interests of Americans already here.
Nor is this just an effect limited to blue collar work and unskilled labor. The expanded H1B program is directly targeted at displacing well-paid (or overpaid) white collar workers, especially in IT, something that ought to be of keen interest to The Stranger's readership.
I understand that the dynamics of immigration policy go beyond the economic sphere. There is a real history of racism and prejudice that needs to be addressed. But, as Cesar Chavez recognized, many of these immigration reforms are aimed squarely at attacking the interests of anyone not in the capital class.
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Who was pushing immigration reform in 2007? Democrats and Hispanic organizations, sure. But remember, quite a few Republicans, including President Bush and Senator McCain were all in favor of the idea too.
Why do you suppose that is?
And why do you suppose the Chamber of Commerce is so gung ho on the idea?
I suggest that the answer is that increased immigration of people from across the educational spectrum serves the interests not of workers but of employers. Immigrants add to the labor force, increasing its supply. And in an environment where demand for labor is already slack, that can only serve to push wages even further down (and add directly to the bottom line).
Moreover, new immigrant workers, especially migrants and guest workers, are far more likely to accept pay that is lower than the prevailing wage. Again, that hurts the interests of Americans already here.
Nor is this just an effect limited to blue collar work and unskilled labor. The expanded H1B program is directly targeted at displacing well-paid (or overpaid) white collar workers, especially in IT, something that ought to be of keen interest to The Stranger's readership.
I understand that the dynamics of immigration policy go beyond the economic sphere. There is a real history of racism and prejudice that needs to be addressed. But, as Cesar Chavez recognized, many of these immigration reforms are aimed squarely at attacking the interests of anyone not in the capital class.
May 1
Corydon commented on DRM-Free E-books Are the Way to Go.
The main reason I have refused to buy a tablet or e-reader of any kind is DRM.
I'm not interested in breaking copyrights. I'm not interested in creating myriad copies of books and sharing then with friends. I respect writers too much to do that.
But when I buy a book, physical or otherwise, I expect to own my copy of it. I won't surrender control of my library.
I'm not interested in breaking copyrights. I'm not interested in creating myriad copies of books and sharing then with friends. I respect writers too much to do that.
But when I buy a book, physical or otherwise, I expect to own my copy of it. I won't surrender control of my library.
Apr 30
Corydon commented on From the Mailbag.
I gotta give credit to anyone willing to take the time and effort to send a complaint in via snailmail these days. It really shows some dedication.
I'd actually love to receive letters in the post, hate mail or otherwise. I remember as a kid it was very exciting when something came addressed to me. Now, the only people who care are the bills and the ads.
I do make a point of sending my young nephew postcards from the road on a regular basis. Even in this day and age, kids really should not be denied the experience of finding something addressed to them in the mailbox.
I'd actually love to receive letters in the post, hate mail or otherwise. I remember as a kid it was very exciting when something came addressed to me. Now, the only people who care are the bills and the ads.
I do make a point of sending my young nephew postcards from the road on a regular basis. Even in this day and age, kids really should not be denied the experience of finding something addressed to them in the mailbox.
Apr 30
Corydon commented on Today In Too Awful to Think About.
I used to drive a truck for a company that delivered meat from processing plants (we used to call them slaughterhouses, btw) to various customers.
If anything will drive you to veganism, it's visiting one of those plants.
If anything will drive you to veganism, it's visiting one of those plants.
Apr 30
Corydon commented on Goods News About the State of the American Workplace.
You know, on the one hand, I'm not exactly a big believer in the theory that work is something that needs to be (or perhaps even should be) happy and fun. It is work, after all. There's an awful lot of the baby boomer attitude there. There's something morally healthy about learning to delay gratification (until five PM, until you get paid, until you retire) rather than expecting life to always cater to your likes and whims.
On the other hand, I'd consider work a hell of a lot more fulfilling if there were any sense of honor amongst employers.
I wonder if it's possible that the two problems are related. A lot of workers have unrealistic ideas about what, exactly, work ought to be like. Many, frankly, want to be paid a big salary with little or no experience to do little or nothing. And employers in turn take a hostile attitude towards their work force.
The whole idea that there are jobs Americans won't do is wrong-headed. We ought to view any legitimate employment as honorable and worthy of our best efforts, whether it's picking lettuce in a field or working as CEO. Likewise, every job deserves to be paid a living wage, including appropriate benefits (medical and paid time off), as recognition of the value of any sort of work.
This used to be the social contract here. I'm not sure who's blame for breaking it.
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On the other hand, I'd consider work a hell of a lot more fulfilling if there were any sense of honor amongst employers.
I wonder if it's possible that the two problems are related. A lot of workers have unrealistic ideas about what, exactly, work ought to be like. Many, frankly, want to be paid a big salary with little or no experience to do little or nothing. And employers in turn take a hostile attitude towards their work force.
The whole idea that there are jobs Americans won't do is wrong-headed. We ought to view any legitimate employment as honorable and worthy of our best efforts, whether it's picking lettuce in a field or working as CEO. Likewise, every job deserves to be paid a living wage, including appropriate benefits (medical and paid time off), as recognition of the value of any sort of work.
This used to be the social contract here. I'm not sure who's blame for breaking it.
Apr 29
Corydon commented on Marriage Equality: How Did We Get Here?.
I think the mere possibility of marriage was so shocking back in 1996 that we never did sit down and think about just what it was we wanted.
Gay relationships are different from lesbian and straight relationships in important ways. Sure, we all want the insurance benefits, the tax breaks and the right to visit the other half in the hospital. But the legal appurtenances of marriage are arguably the least important part of what it means to be married.
I still have personal misgivings about the idea of marrying my partner (though I wouldn't stand in the way of any other gay or lesbian couples who didn't share my opinions). I frankly would be much happier with some kind of recognition of my relationship that took into account the fact that I'm gay.
I have to say, if there's no real difference between being in a living straight relationship and being in a gay one, then why the hell did I go through all of the difficulty of coming out of the closet as a gay man? We are different, and I for one say, "Vive la difference!"
Gay relationships are different from lesbian and straight relationships in important ways. Sure, we all want the insurance benefits, the tax breaks and the right to visit the other half in the hospital. But the legal appurtenances of marriage are arguably the least important part of what it means to be married.
I still have personal misgivings about the idea of marrying my partner (though I wouldn't stand in the way of any other gay or lesbian couples who didn't share my opinions). I frankly would be much happier with some kind of recognition of my relationship that took into account the fact that I'm gay.
I have to say, if there's no real difference between being in a living straight relationship and being in a gay one, then why the hell did I go through all of the difficulty of coming out of the closet as a gay man? We are different, and I for one say, "Vive la difference!"
Apr 29
Corydon commented on Race, Recession, and a Growing Wealth Gap.
An illustration of the point:
Suppose you have a country with a population of 8. Four white and four black. One white guy earns $100. Everyone else earns $1.
On average, all the blacks earn $1. On average, all the whites earn $25.75.
Now, suppose you're the one white guy earning $100. You want to protect that. So what do you do? If the other seven band together against you, you're sunk. So you turn them against each other. Use the average to tell the blacks that all the whites are screwing them over. After all, on average, they earn 25x as much, right?
Get the lower classes squabbling over race and you laugh all the way to the Cayman Islands.
Suppose you have a country with a population of 8. Four white and four black. One white guy earns $100. Everyone else earns $1.
On average, all the blacks earn $1. On average, all the whites earn $25.75.
Now, suppose you're the one white guy earning $100. You want to protect that. So what do you do? If the other seven band together against you, you're sunk. So you turn them against each other. Use the average to tell the blacks that all the whites are screwing them over. After all, on average, they earn 25x as much, right?
Get the lower classes squabbling over race and you laugh all the way to the Cayman Islands.
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I'm frankly pretty flabbergasted that there are actual parents here who seem to think nothing of their thirteen year old sons and daughters getting into that kind of behavior.
Guess it just goes to show how unhip and not cool this old fart is. I mean, is raising your kids to act like the guests on the Maury Povich show (but oh yes, with birth control, so it's OK) seriously where we are now?
Geez. Thank Dog I don't have any kids of my own. I'm not really sure I'd want them hanging around in that kind of environment. I'd always thought that the homeschoolers were overreacting hysterically. But maybe they're actually right.