December 14, 2006
This is going to sound mean, but . . .
Why do people decide to go climb mountains in the winter? Wtf is wrong with them? It happens several times a year. Idiots decide to go climb a mountain in a blizzard, and then, when they get in trouble, all kinds of rescue people spend days and thousands and thousands of our tax money trying to find the idiots.
And then, the media talks about them all the time until they are either found dead or alive.
Natural selection can be a good thing.
Posted by Beth at 05:43 AM | Comments (2)
October 15, 2006
I'm so pissed
Thank God for credit card fraud departments! But, I'm still pissed - somehow, someone got our Debit Card account number and has been spending money all over Mexico.
I'll get the money back from my credit union, but our ATM cards have been cancelled and it will take 10 days to get new ones, I had to file a police report (fortunately, Leavenworth, Kansas has a great police department - no waiting!), and I have to call the credit union tomorrow morning to get our money back.
And this kind of thing really upsets me to no end. You see, I always worry about money - getting bills paid on time, etc., and anytime something happens that might screw up our account, I don't sleep, I fret, I do stupid things like go to the casino to get cash from a credit card to put it in our checking account to cover possible bounced checks - ok, well I have not done that for probably 6 or 7 years, but it was dumb.
Anyway, I'm going to go and attempt to put beautiful Mexican tiles (which were NOT purchased in Mexico - but locally) on my the table John and I made out of an old butcher block that we created a 36 inch square MDF top for - which will have the tile laid on top of that. I've been putting this off for months. It's going to happen - today and tomorrow.
Posted by Beth at 02:59 PM
September 05, 2006
Just what are these kids being taught?
Okay. I know, I know, I know.
Competitive sports teaches kids good sportsmanship.
That's the excuse adults everywhere give for encouraging their children to be involved in sports all the time.
Many Americans think that sports are more important than anything else when it comes to raising a boy.
Pop Warner football has become very popular in the 11 to 13 age group.
Okay, fine - but what are we teaching kids when a 33 year old assistant coach runs out on the field and knocks a player from the opposing team onto the ground from behind?
Go here. Watch the video. And parents, be sure that you can control yourselves and your coaches when you are at your kids' games, m'kay?
Posted by Beth at 09:35 AM
April 21, 2006
Children should be children, not sex toys
Raven, one of my Cotillion pals, has several pieces on the exploitation of children by sexual predators.
Raven managed to live through the incredible violence and horror of sexual predation as a young girl. It's a wonder she has survived to be the brilliant, caring woman she is now.
Please go read this post and leave a reply.
In fact, go read all the links above - it will take some time, and perhaps those of you who do not understand just how evil people are, will begin to see why sexual predators everywhere have got to be stopped.
Posted by Beth at 08:48 AM
March 08, 2006
It's what????
***Cross posted at The Cotillion***
Apparently, according to the United Nations (known for saving women world-wide from horrors such as stoning, genital mutilation, etc., *not*) today is International Women's Day.
I have some problems with this day thing - I mean, over 1/2 of the population of the world doesn't even get a whole month?
Geeze, did you know that there is an All American Breakfast Month?
Those of us with innies just get a day?
Darn, I am insulted!!
I mean, really - we don't even get a 3 day weekend for International Women's Day - it's Wednesday, for God's sake!
Seriously, though - feminism itself has not been a bad thing. Unlike many of my fellow female conservative bloggers, I remember when women did not become veterinarians, doctors, lawyers, physisists, etc., except in very rare cases.
When I was in high school, the State of Missouri had a requirement that all girls had to have one year of Home Economics before they could graduate. My high school counselor had to file special papers for me so I could exchange an AP Biology class for Home Economics.
That was not really so long ago, either - I graduated from high school in 1971. At least it down't seem that long ago to me!
When I went to college, there were many, many more men went on to get a higher education than women. I attended a college that had previously been an all male college - ratio of men to women about 8 to 1. I was counseled to give up on my dream to be a veterinarian because women were rarely admitted to schools of veterinary medicine. I remember being told that schools didn't want to put a lot of time into educating women in a profession when those women would just quit as soon as they got married and had children.
I was the only woman at several companies I worked for in my 20s. I had to convince a couple of companies to hire me - they told me straight out that a woman couldn't handle the hours and hard work, and I excelled in those jobs - and those companies hired more women - so, yes, my younger women friends, I did make it a little easier for you.
When my mother was born, women could not vote. That was 1918.
My grandmother could not vote until 1920 - she would have been 28 years old.
When I went to college, most of the women I knew were going to college to get their MRS degree. And many of my high school class mates did exactly that.
Fortunately, these days, the great majority of businesses and professions are open to people no matter their gender. And many conservative women bloggers think that there is no sex discrimination in business these days.
I disagree. I know of companies who hire women based first on their looks, then on their smarts. I once worked for a chain of jewerly shops - the manager of the store I worked in thought it was okay to slap my ass as he walked behind me. I complained to the owners, and I was transferred to a lower volume store - basically a halving of my commission.
On the other hand, many liberal women want to take offense at any hint of acknowledgement by men - they are offended by guys offering to help them carry a heavy projector - they are even offended if other women mention that they have cramps or are having a hot flash (yes, I have personally experienced this).
I am squarely in the middle. Both conservatives and liberals are blind to a lot of little realities -
Liberal women of the US - we are women, we bear children and this is a valuable thing. Families do not keep us barefoot and in the kitchen. We can be stay at home moms and later start a career, and be successful. Too many babies are aborted - way too many.
Conservative women - we are women, but we don't have to be baby machines to fullfill ourselves or God's will. We can work outside the home and still be good moms and wives. And the liberal women are right - there is still discrimination in employment. I've seen it, I've experienced it - not just sexual harrassment, but discrimination.
Women as a whole are different from men as a whole, but if you take one woman and one man, they may be extremely similar to each other in personality, likes and dislikes. In fact, the man might be more 'feminine' and the woman more 'masculine'. But who cares?
I am going on a bit too long here, but women's day, schmomen's day.
If it is a politial day, fine - let's see the UN outlaw the genital mutilation of women - the imprisonment of Islamic women by husbands and fathers - the laws of Muslim countries where a man can divorce a wife at any time for any reason and keep her children and leave her nothing.
Okay, okay. Enough for now. I need to do some work!
Oh, and go read the posts of my friends from the Cotillion!
Girl on the Right
Not Exactly Rocket Science
My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
Posted by Beth at 08:27 PM
September 01, 2005
I could not believe this
Yesterday evening, Mog and I had dinner together. I think we were both pretty surprised to see Moonbats protesting on the corner where we met. After all, our country is going through a hugh disaster recovery in the South right now, and this is all the Phoenix branch of Moonbats Unlimited can think to do.
Here are a few pictures:
Now, this woman claimed to be collecting money for the Red Cross, but she would not give a receipt saying so:
This guy was a little confused as to his sexual identity:
This man was just plain demented. I asked him what made him think George Bush was the Antichrist. His reply was - prove to me that he (Bush) isn't. Obviously, he did not take Logic in college.
There are a few more pictures in the extended entry:
There were several Air America signs. I asked a woman holding one of them when Air America was going to give back money to the charity in New York. She said that didn't happen - it was a lie.
Anyway, Mog met me at the restaurant, we had a great meal and when we went outside, the crowd of about 50 had dwindled to about 10 people or so with candles and Cindy Sheehan signs.
Posted by Beth at 09:19 AM
August 21, 2005
No more Drudgereport for me
I can no longer bring myself to go to Drudgereport.com. Why? Because everytime I go there, I get popups that somehow defeat my popup stoppers, I get spyware and those damnable toolbars that want to attatch themselves to my browser. I have to run adaware and spybot after every visit. It is ridiculous!!!
Until Matt Drudge cleans up his act, the heck with him.
Posted by Beth at 10:47 AM
July 22, 2005
What is wrong with these people?
Charmaine Yoest has discovered that the idiots on the left are spreading rumours that Judge Roberts is gay.
The leftist rumour-mongers are basing their accusations on the fact that he attended an all-male Catholic High School, wore plaid pants in the '70s, was a wrestler and was in theater and sang in the choir. And apparently, some of these assholes are planting the idea into the very small minds of their followers that the Roberts' beautiful adopted children are somehow proof of his gayness.
As an adopted graduate of an all-female Catholic High School, where I wore plaid, played field hockey and sang in the all-female choir and also did some theatre, I must be gay, too - at least according to the small-minded bigots on the left. Oh, and I guess my Daddy must have been gay, too.
Sheesh.
Posted by Beth at 09:19 AM
June 26, 2005
Short Rant
Just saw a Nissan Altima commercial. It showed some asshat driving the Nissan through a Railroad Crossing (with bars descending) to beat a train.
This seems to me to be the ultimate in irresponsibility on the part of an advertiser.
I have not been a fan of Nissan since a salesman at a Nissan dealership in Kansas City, Missouri refused to allow me to test drive one without my husband present. I swore I would never buy one.
This idiotic commercial just cements that promise.
Posted by Beth at 10:26 AM
May 30, 2005
More on Identity Theft
Well, it seems that an Illinois Day Care Center used my Social Security number to get a long distance account. My name is not on it anywhere, but my SSN is, so the collection agency thinks I'm the culprit. I explained to them that I have never lived in Illinois, never had a day care center and have never given anyone permission to use my SSN for anything ever.
I have to send them a letter with that info on it, and while I'm at it, I'm sending the info to the Illinois Attorney General and the Kansas Attorney General.
This really pisses me off!
Posted by Beth at 12:09 PM
February 22, 2005
This scares me
In England, a very obese man has been carted off by police because he is very obese. They brought him to a mental hospital against his will. He has a rare disease where his stomach never feels full. He had started exercising and dieting when the police took him - the British nanny state can't bear to let someone try to make things better for himself.
Remember how the Soviet Union would force political enemies into mental hospitals? Can the United Kingdom be far behind?
Posted by Beth at 05:15 AM
February 12, 2005
Credit Card Interest Rates
There is a credit card company in Britain that charges a 70% interest rate.
Many credit cards here in the USA charge 20 to 25% rates - outrageously high.
And poor people are the ones likely to be hit by these charges.
Other credit cards flat out lie about 'fixed rates'.
There used to be usury laws back in the day. They limited credit card and other interest rates to maybe 14 to 18%. I guess some court or other threw out usury laws, or perhaps lawmakers were convinced by bankers to get rid of those laws must have been during President Carter's time in office - when interest rates on homes were up to 15, 16% and more and no one could afford to buy one. Or perhaps it was Paul Volker. Here is a history of prime rates.
When the prime goes up, credit card interest rates go up - but I have never seen them go down - perhaps it is time to reconsider usury laws - stop the 'check cashing' businesses who prey upon the poor and put a top limit on credit card rates.
Posted by Beth at 10:22 AM
February 02, 2005
Damn, I really hate spam
I just spent an hour de-spamming our blogs. I hate you bob! I hate the Super--Bowl. Hate it, hate it, hate it!!
Between John and I, there must have been 200 comments from Bob.
Bad Bob.
Posted by Beth at 06:39 AM
January 08, 2005
Would you trust anyone from the UN with your children?
U.N. Troops Exploited Congo Girls
United Nations peacekeepers in Congo sexually exploited women and girls, some as young as 13, a U.N. watchdog office said Friday in a new confirmation that efforts to curb abuses by U.N. troops are not working. Peacekeepers regularly had sex with Congolese women and girls, usually in exchange for food or small sums of money, investigators from the world body's Office of Internal Oversight Services found. "We have had and continue to have a serious problem of sexual exploitation and abuse," William Lacy Swing, the United Nations' special representative to Congo, said at a news conference. "We are shocked by it, we are outraged, we are sickened by it. Peacekeepers who have been sworn to assist those in need, particularly those who have been victims of sexual violence, instead have caused grievous harm."
Somehow, I just don't trust the UN to save any people in the devastation left by the Tsunami.
Posted by Beth at 12:29 PM
September 30, 2004
Darn ATM Machine
I stopped at a local bank this morning to get some cash and after I got my cash and my receipt from the ATM machine, my card started to pop out, and was suddenly swallowed by said machine.
The bank said that the ATM lady had already been by this morning but that she should be able to get it back for me tomorrow morning.
Customer Service - First National Bank of Leavenworth needs some!
Posted by Beth at 09:02 AM
September 26, 2004
Some Europeans think they should vote in US Elections
I completely missed this, but Wacky Hermit has some good commentary on this knuckhead - no, let me call him a nincompoop (thanks for reminding me of this word, Ambra), Jonathon Freedland, who thinks that Americans are incapable of making the *right* decision.
So perhaps it's time to make a modest proposal. If everyone in the world will be affected by this election, shouldn't everyone in the world have a vote? Despite Bob Dole, shouldn't the men who want to be president win the support of Liverpool and Leipzig as well as Louisville and Lexington
And Euros call Americans arrogant?
It would not surprise me if Kerry and Company agreed with that sentiment.
Holy Cow!!!
Posted by Beth at 01:57 PM
August 19, 2004
Army Breast Care
Glen thinks that it is probably a bad idea for women under military medical care to be able to get breast implants He links to this article, where a pretty young thing, a porn star is protesting military women getting boob jobs via the Army.
I can understand where the pretty young thing doesn't understand what the hell is going on - but let me, someone who gets all her medical care from the military, explain.
Plastic Surgeons in the military need to be able to keep up with their specialty. These doctors treat women who have had breast cancer and need reconstructive surgery. They also need to be able to fix women who have been injured on the job - what if a mine blows up and shrapnel gets buried in a boob? Is that woman to lose her boob with no replacement? Shit - if you lose a leg, you get a prothesis - if you lose a boob, they should get a replacement, too. To keep in practice, they need to do a certain amount of breast implants a year.
If that means that an occassional young woman gets an implant, and another young woman gets breast reduction surgery, I'm all for it.
Many people are totally unaware that retired military folks and their spouses continue to have health insurance through the military.
If I ever lose a boob to cancer, I sure as hell want my military physician to be able to make me look good.
And, one more thing - these active duty physicians, these officers, give up a lot to be in the Army, Airforce, Navy, etc., the least we can do as society is to enable them to keep their specialties intact while they serve our country.
So, Glen, evil puppy blender - feel ashamed for jumping to conclusions. It's a dumb game!
Posted by Beth at 08:19 PM
July 31, 2004
Goodbye, Jerrod!
Subway Corporation is bad-mouthing America and Americans in Europe with its advertising.
Today the National Legal and Policy Center called on the SUBWAY restaurant chain to immediately stop a European advertising campaign designed to exploit anti-American sentiment in countries like Germany. SUBWAY restaurants in Germany now feature tray-liners and posters promoting the film “Super Size Me.” They portray an obese Statue of Liberty holding a package of fries and a hamburger and begin with the bold headline “Why Are Americans So Fat?”
No more lunches at Subway for me.
Posted by Beth at 06:14 AM
July 13, 2004
They do this to cows here in Kansas
Japan: Schoolkids to be tagged with RFID chips
Imagine being a teenager. Do any of you remember that?
You take off in the car, go to the park, go to the zoo, go to your boyfriend's (girlfriend's) house and then drive around the town hangout on the way to the grocery store for mom.
As a parent, and a once-upon-a-time teen, this is perfectly understandable behaviour. Now, imagine doing all those things while being tracked. Every. Single. Minute.
Bad for teen. Bad for parent. Bad for society.
Very bad for schools and teachers. Good for the chip implant manufacturers.
Posted by Beth at 07:17 AM
June 22, 2004
Haven't written much this week
I've been stewing over all the things that are making me absolutely crazy. So, I got to thinking that maybe it would be cathartic to just let my friends here stew about them too. (I hope this works like an earworm and I can get rid of these bothersome thoughts by passing them on to you!)
1. Music radio stations: here in Eastern Kansas, there is only one radio station that has the alternative music I like. I am very possibly the only listener over 50 they have, but I doubt it. When not traveling, I have a 45 minute commute to the office. I listen to the radio. But lately, I have been so fricking annoyed at the Rock the Vote advertisements on my favorite radio station that I have been just turning off the radio altogether. I am not against people registering to vote, but I am against convincing them to do so by calling the current administration a Nazi government. This pisses me off royally.
2. Polls and Polsters: One Poll is totally negative on President Bush. The next one is rather more positive. But which one gets all the press? The wording of questions on polls is so important - and can skew the answer one way or another - why does anyone take these things seriously?
3. Citizenship: More and more non-citizens are being allowed to vote in
schoolboard elections. Aside from the fact that these people should become citizens before being allowed to vote, what guarantee do these jurisdictions have that the same non-citizens will not be allowed to vote in the November Elections? This is totally ludicrous. Why even have a country with borders if anyone can come and vote? This makes me nuts, nuts, nuts.
4. Marriage. I'll get in trouble here with some of my readers. Let me say this - I am all for civil unions between two same sex people, but don't call it marriage. Marriage is between 1 (one) man and 1 (one) woman.
I am also against Muslim men being allowed to marry more than one woman. Actually, no man should be allowed to have multiple wives. There is an uproar in Ireland right now because the government forbids polygamy, and insists upon it.
5. Terrorism. This is a war. I'm so tired of people bitching about our 'casualties in Iraq". Every American life lost is a tragedy, but considering what we are fighting against, we are doing pretty darn well in that department. My guess is that we would have lost fewer lives had we not been so concerned about avoiding civilian casualties.
There will be more added to this list later - now, I must prepare dinner. And yes, you Vegans out there - we are having a rare, juicy prime rib roast! Gag on it you vegetable only eaters - gag!
Posted by Beth at 07:14 PM
June 20, 2004
Stupid Anti-Everything People
Chris Muir's Day by Day comic has been rightly mocking www.ruckus.org.
Ruckus.org offers some very interesting training "manuals" for people who want to protest anything that has any straight white men involved whatsoever (or so it seems, after reading their site).
I think that a lot of protesters would do well to hang themselves from billboards and other public edifaces as instructed in The Ruckus Society - Resources - Hanging from an Urban Structure.
With a little luck, enough of them will do themselves in that the rest of the world will see them for the absolute idiots they are.
Posted by Beth at 08:20 PM
June 17, 2004
Public Bathroom Behaviour
I've been meaning to bring this subject up ever since I started blogging. Fortunately, LeeAnn brought it up first, so no one can accuse me of not being a lady.
The topic is women peeing all over the place in public ladies rooms. Yuch! If we were meant to pee standing up, we would be men. How rude and selfish are all of you women who 'hover' (that's what QOAE calls it) and then don't clean up after yourselves?
Believe me, the rest of us know who you are.
When I am flying from one city to another, and I have a drink, or two, or three, and the turbulence is so bad that we are forbidden from leaving our seats, as soon as we are released from our metal tube prison, I race for the potty room.
There is nothing so awful, no nightmare so disgusting as rushing into a stall, removing whatever clothing needs removing, turning around and sitting on ....
someone else's pee.
I hate you, you women who pee on toilet seats. Go into the men's room and pee in urinals, or their toilet seats, because they won't even notice.
Yuch yuch yuch.
Blechhhhh. Gross.
Now, this doesn't happen too often, I try very hard to get to the potty in time to clean up after the beautifully dressed, high fashion business woman who left her urine all over the toilet seat, but on occassion, the need is such, and the pee is clear, and I don't see it and ...... yuch yuch yuch.
It's enough to give me the willies.
ick.
Posted by Beth at 05:26 AM
June 09, 2004
Ted Rall's 15 Minutes of Fame about over
Ted is sure that Ronald Reagan is Crispy and Brown in Hell by now. I'm sure that Ted is simply projecting.
Political cartoonist defends anti-Reagan Web tirade
This guy is unbelievable. I heard him on Hannity last night and he was a whiny, loud leftist with only his agenda on his mind.
There is no defense for his cruelty and bullshit. None.
Posted by Beth at 05:50 AM
June 08, 2004
I'm tossing out my old Smith's CD's
And if I could demand my money back, I would. From now on, anytime I hear this man on the radio, I'm turning it off.
'Bush should have died, not Reagan': Morrissey
music legend Morrissey sparked controversy when he announced Ronald Reagan's death live on stage during a concert - and then declared he wished it was George Bush who had died instead.Thousands of fans at Dublin Castle, in Ireland, cheered when the ex-Smiths frontman made the announcement that the former American president, who had battled with Alzheimer's Disease, had passed away.
And an even bigger cheer followed when Morrissey - who is no stranger to controversy - then said he wished it had been the current President, George W Bush, who had died.
And I hope he never enters the USA again.
Posted by Beth at 06:11 AM
June 06, 2004
Women's clothing designers should be punished!
They were called Pedal Pushers when I was a little girl - and they were cute on teenage girls.
Now they are called Capris - and they make them in every possible size. And that's the problem. Ony little girls and teenagers should wear them. They don't look right on women over 25. In fact, many of them look so wrong, that they remind me of the dreaded 'flood pants' of my youth - when someone wore pants so short that you could see the skin between the socks and the pants.
They even make them in my size - too big to mention. There was a woman much larger than me waiting for a plane last week, and she was wearing them. They made her calves look like overstuffed sausages that needed a shave.
Of course, this woman was trying to be fashionable - the whole make up thing with too-obvious lip liner and way too much skin showing between the bottom of her top and the top of her bottoms.
Designers who think of these things should be horsewhipped - no, wait - that is too kind. They should have to try these things on their aunts and mother's and grandmothers and watch them try to be comfortable or look good in them for a day. That ought to do it.
Bring back the shirtdresses my mom wore in the 50s and 60s. They were pretty, flowing, cotton dresses that buttoned from the waist up. They looked good on lots of people - not just the skinny minnies.
This will never happen. Too many designers are men who are interested in women looking like boys. And that's a whole different discussion.
Posted by Beth at 09:57 AM
May 16, 2004
Who made this decision?
Warning - I'm pissed, 4 letter words may follow.
Joe at the Moderate Voice pointed this Washington Times article out.
U.S. athletes told to cool it at Olympics - The Washington Times
American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. flag during their medal celebrations at this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, for fear of provoking crowd hostility and harming the country's already-battered public image.
Ok - who the fuck made this decision? Was it someone who is a member of the State Department? Was it someone in the government at all? Was it someone unaware of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution?
Damn. They were 'warned' were they? So, what is going to happen to the athlete if he or she says he or she is proud to be an American?
The spectacle of victorious athletes grabbing a national flag and parading it around the stadium is a familiar part of international sporting competition, but U.S. Olympic officials have ordered their 550-strong team to exercise restraint and avoid any jingoistic behavior.
Hmmmm - who elects the US Olympic officials? Lets look at the definition of the word jingoistic, eh?
Ah, here it is, from the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary: extreme chauvinism or nationalism marked especially by a belligerent foreign policy.
It doesn't appear to me to indicate that a person who wins a relay or high jump is jingoistic because they wave the flag of their country.
Obviously, the USOC (US Olympic Committee) would prefer for us to be overrun by terrorists than to embarrass them or the EU by defending ourselves and the world from terrorists.
Hell, they ought to be more concerned that Greece won't have any of the athletic fields finished before the Olympics start.
"American athletes find themselves in extraordinary circumstances in Athens in relation to the world as we know it right now," said Mike Moran, a veteran former spokesman for the United States Olympic Committee who has been retained as a consultant to advise athletes how to behave.
"Regardless of whether there is anti-American sentiment in Athens or not, the world watches Americans a lot now in terms of how they behave and our culture. What I am trying to do with the athletes and coaches is to suggest to them that they consider how the normal things they do at an event, including the Olympics, might be viewed as confrontational or insulting or cause embarrassment."
"What I am telling the athletes is, 'Don't run over and grab a flag and take it round the track with you.' It's not business as usual for American athletes. If a Kenyan or a Russian grabs their national flag and runs round the track or holds it high over their heads, it might not be viewed as confrontational. Where we are in the world right now, an American athlete doing that might be viewed in another manner."Mr. Moran added that the behavior of British athletes could face similar scrutiny in Athens, though the British Olympic Association insists there are no plans to ban them from celebrating with the Union flag.
Oh, now I get it - USOC (the US Olympic Committee) has decided that our country has embarrassed them by going to war against terrorists.
Why don't we just tell our athletes to lose on purpose, to make all the other countries feel better.
This guy needs to be fired, pronto - by whomever it is who hired him.
Oh, no such luck - the acting president of USOC thinks this is all a great idea:
"We're not the favorite kid in the world right now," conceded Bill Martin, the USOC's acting president. "We are sensitive not only to the security issue, but to jingoism in its raw sense. That is why we are sending people around to educate the athletes as to the appropriate behavior."
If I was an athlete competing in the Olympics, I would do what I felt in my heart was the right thing.
I would pick up the American Flag and wave it every time any American or Brit won an event.
Posted by Beth at 07:56 PM
May 09, 2004
Alrighty then
Somebody needs to Fisk this article outlining this speech that LA Times Editor, John Carroll delivered on ethics in journalism.
Gee, maybe I should try. Keep in mind, this is the article written about the speech by Ayisha Yahya in the University of Oregon's "Independant Campus Newspaper, the Daily Emerald". So maybe we should give her some slack for being a student.
Esteemed journalist lectures on ethics.L.A. Times Editor John Carroll spoke about journalism ethics and pseudo-journalism at the Gerlinger Lounge on Thursday.
Okay, so what makes John Carroll esteemed? Is it the fact that he is the editor for the Los Angelos Times? Oh, gee, that's a paper that I trust to be fair and balanced, don't you?
The media industry has been infested by the rise of pseudo-journalists who go against journalism's long tradition to serve the public with accurate information, Los Angeles Times Editor John S. Carroll told a packed room in the Gerlinger Lounge on Thursday. Carroll delivered the annual Ruhl Lecture, titled "The Wolf in Reporter's Clothing: The Rise of Pseudo-Journalism in America." The lecture was sponsored by the School of Journalism and Communication.
Wow, I thought - he must be admitting that Dan Rather and Peter Jennings are bending the news to their viewpoints - how cool. Someone in LA is 'getting it'.
Or, perhaps he will decry the Jason Blair's of the newspaper world, if he wasn't a pseudo-journalist, no one is.
"All over the country there are offices that look like newsrooms and there are people in those offices that look for all the world just like journalists, but they are not practicing journalism," he said. "They regard the audience with a cold cynicism. They are practicing something I call a pseudo-journalism, and they view their audience as something to be manipulated."
Wow, I can't believe someone from the big leftist media is admitting this! This is getting pretty damn exciting. Finally, someone from a large newspaper is being honest about what has happened to journalism.
In a scathing critique of Fox News and some talk show hosts, such as Bill O'Reilly, Carroll said they were a "different breed of journalists" who misled their audience while claiming to inform them. He said they did not fit into the long legacy of journalists who got their facts right and respected and cared for their audiences.
Arggghhh? Okay, I don't care much for Bill O'Reilly, but I have never considered him to be a journalist - just a whacky talk show host. Since when do talk show hosts have to be journalists? I wonder if he considers Oprah to be a journalist, or any of those talk show hosts on daytime tv? Odd definition.
But Fox News? This man accuses Fox News of not getting their facts right?
Please, tell me, Mr. Carroll, where do you get your facts?
Carroll cited a study released last year that showed Americans had three main misconceptions about Iraq: That weapons of mass destruction had been found, a connection between al-Qaeda and Iraq had been demonstrated and that the world approved of U.S intervention in Iraq. He said 80 percent of people who primarily got their news from Fox believed at least one of the misconceptions. He said the figure was more than 57 percentage points higher than people who get their news from public news broadcasting.
Ah, a study. Well, that means it must be correct, eh? We all know that 'studies' (in this case it sounds like a poll) are always correct, don't we!
Oh, oh, and a study that compares Public News listeners to FOX News watchers? Ummm, I think those are apples and oranges there. You know, TV vs Radio - normal people vs elite snobs, that kind of thing. I'm just making a guess here, but this 'study' doesn't seem to be based on stats that are even closely related.
As far as his WMD statement, even John Kerry believed there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, as did Bill and Hillary Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Jacques Chiraq and pretty much the entire world believed that there were WMD in Iraq.
Mr. Carroll goes on (and on, and on - kind of like that Energizer Bunny)
"How in the world could Fox have left its listeners so deeply in the dark?" Carroll asked.He added that a difference exists between journalism and propaganda.
As he addressed some of the hard hits journalism has taken in the field of ethics, Carroll noted that anyone could be a journalist because, unlike other fields, journalism had no qualification tests, boards to censure misconduct or a universally accepted set of standards.
However, Carroll said a great depth of feeling remains on the importance of ethics that is centered around newspapers' sense of responsibilities to their readers.
"I've learned that these ethics are deeply believed in even though in some places they are not even written down," he said. When ethical guidelines are ignored, their proponents respond with 'tribal ferocity,'" he added.
"If you stray badly from these rules, you will pay dearly," he said.
He said while much media has ended up "in the gutter," the L.A. Times has a different philosophy and was dedicated to taking the "high road."
Gosh, I'm sorry - you all need to finish this for me, as I just felt my blood pressure zip up after reading that.
Must.Control.Fisk.Of.Death
Posted by Beth at 08:21 AM
April 21, 2004
I am being harrassed in my comments
By a guy who I once had a very short relationship with 11 years ago. I have banned every IP address his comments come in on. I have notified AOL about this. Now he is insinuating blackmail. I deleted that comment, and sent a copy of it with my log information as to what URL he was posting from and which domain (AOL again) to AOL.
This time he used the name of a poster on an old, old Prodigy bulletin board - a man who probably has no clue that his name is being used like this.
Anyway, this is my warning to you, Don. One more comment and I am going to the feds. You are a sick, sick man. Go find a life for yourself.
Posted by Beth at 08:41 PM
April 20, 2004
I've been thinking about that troll
I am 51 years old, folks. Back when I was first separated from my ex-husband, I was 40. I made a dumb decision and met a guy who was 29 (my current troll/stalker). We spent one very short weekend together. He had an obvious drinking problem, among other issues. Story over. Or so you would think.
Out of the blue, 11 years later, this guy manages to locate my blog. Now, that would be no big deal except that my last name is different and I live in a different town. This same guy really liked my dog, Mickey, all those years ago. He knew what her AKC registered name was. What did he do, google for Mickey?
What kind of sad person would leave the comments he has left on the blog of a 51 year old woman? Did he never marry? What kind of juvenile pleasure does he get out of harrassing me?
As Calliope, Pam and John have all mentioned - this guy is pathetic. He is more deserving of prayers than of scorn, I suppose, because he is obviously so unbalanced - and looking back on the days when we talked on the phone all the time before meeting, I should have realized then that he was just as mentally unbalanced then.
Anyway, I have banned all the IP's he has used when commenting. If he attempts to comment again, I will delete the comments and ban those IP's.
I have asked AOL to please do something to block my blog from him, if possible.
Posted by Beth at 06:30 AM
April 19, 2004
Well, well, well
It seems that the troll who has been visiting lately is someone I once had a very short relationship with - about 11 years ago.
I can't even remember his last name. His first name was Don, and we had an internet romance and then he came to visit me one time, and he was a jerk.
He was also a die-hard Democrat, which is why I suspect he is dirtying up my blog.
Seems he probably still has dialup access, as his IP is different everytime he writes one of his sweet little nothings. I checked my stats, and he is coming in from AOL. If I could only remember his last name, I'd report him to AOL and have his account turned off.
So, my friends - suggestions on how to handle this fat ass? And believe me, he is fat. He didn't ever send me a picture - all of you out there considering entering into an internet relationship - demand a picture now, with a time stamp on it!. When he got off the plane, I was shocked - the guy must have weighed close to 400 pounds.
Now, I would have never mentioned these things to you, but if he is going to be an asshat, well, I can be just as mean, and I'll tell the truth, unlike Don (who so impressed me that I have forgotten his last name!! Ha!!)
Posted by Beth at 05:41 AM
April 14, 2004
More on Charlottesville Racial Profiling
As I mentioned this morning, the police in Charlottesville, VA are asking hundreds of black men for DNA samples, in order to prove they are not the serial rapist that has apparently been around for some years.
On one of the Richmond radio stations, this was under discussion yesterday morning - I was appalled as caller after caller said that if someone is innocent, they should not mind giving a DNA sample. One man even had the gall to say that if he was a black man, he would give the sample.
Doesn't anyone learn about the Bill of Rights in high school anymore?
Let's look at the facts - the police are stumped - stumped they are! Therefore, they are going to ask the entire populace to voluntarily give their DNA up for testing.
This tells me that the police have absolutely no fricking idea who this criminal is.
This tells me that the police are too lazy to investigate these crimes properly.
But what worries me most of all, is that none of the news reports discusses the 4th Amendment*. Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.
Nowhere have I seen where anyone is advising black man in Charlottesville to just say no.
Where the hell is the ACLU? Isn't this a case they should be actively pursuing?
The Charlottesville ACLU is concerned about the Patriot Act. The actions of the police in this case have nothing to do with the Patriot Act - why can't I find a reference anywhere on the Internet where the ACLU there is working to educate the men of Charlottesville on their Constitutional Right NOT to give their DNA to a police department which is apparently less competent than Inspecter Clouseau.
Why is not the ACLU filing suit against the Charlottesville Police Department for their tactics?
Please, Glen Reynolds, oh ye of legal brains, please comment on this!
Oh, I found more. I checked out the Charlottesville Police Department's web site, and found that they "are proud of our motto "Solving Crime Through Science" in reference to their extensive DNA testing to 'clear' people of crimes.
I would be more impressed if they could solve crimes through investigation rather than testing every guy in town on the off chance they might find a criminal!!!!
* Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Posted by Beth at 10:22 PM
I don't get it.
Jerks like 'Nicht' come in here (see post below) and soil this place, striking particularly classless low blows, that aren't even really relevant to the post they come in and drop a load on.
Whassup with that?
Tell ya what - ya got beefs, lay 'em out.
Ya just wanna display a sophomoric sensibility and toss around new words you just learned in Health class, c'mon over to Castle Argghhh! We like people like you.
As training dummies.
Posted by John at 08:09 PM
Getting close to a police state in Charlottesville, VA
There has been a lot of talk about this case on talk radio here in Virginia. I was stunned that people see this as racism rather than an attack on the Bill of Rights -
To make a long story short, there has been a serial rapist in Charlottesville, VA for years. The police only have one clue - the guy is black.
So these "officers of the law" have convinced hundreds of black men to submit to DNA tests to clear themselves. Only ten of the men, so far, have refused. The police come back time after time to try to coerce them into giving up their DNA.
There are many, many things wrong with this, but to me, the unreasonable search and seizure component is number one. These cops don't have warrants, and apparently the populace is afraid to ask for them. I hope that Instapundit will give us a legal viewpoint on this gathering of DNA by police.
I have more links, but I have to run to work, I'll post them tonight.
Posted by Beth at 07:12 AM
March 31, 2004
In California, they may think you are growing pot
If you have high electricity bills. Here is the story:
CARLSBAD, Calif. - When police noticed Dina Dagy's family was spending $250 to $300 a month on electricity, they suspected a marijuana farm was flourishing under high-intensity lights inside their suburban home.What they found when they showed up with a drug-sniffing dog and a search warrant was a wife and mother who does several loads of laundry a day, keeps a dishwashing machine going, has three electricity-guzzling computers and three kids who can't remember to turn the lights out when they leave a room.
Go read the whole thing - then comment on why you think the war on drugs should be abolished.
DrugWar Rant does a great job of summarizing this story.
I have to go to work - see ya later.
Posted by Beth at 07:12 AM
March 28, 2004
UN wants control over the Internet
Groups Debate U.N. Control of Internet
You must read it. Here is an example of their reasoning:
The United Nations would be a good platform for that, because it has legitimacy. The countries are all represented," said Izzeldin Mohamed Osman, a computer science professor from the Sudan University of Science and Technology
Right. The UN has legitimacy because countries like Sudan are represented, eh? They practice slavery there, for God's sake!
They also follow Sharia Islamic Law.
Sorry, the UN gets no legitimacy whatsoever because countries like Sudan have no legitimacy whatsoever with the Human Race.
Posted by Beth at 11:29 AM
March 24, 2004
What kind of a teacher does this?
Teacher Under Fire For Killing Baby Rabbits As Class Watched.
Her reasoning is that the baby rabbits were rejected by their mother. However, reading further, one of them was covered with fire ants - what kind of rabbit hutch would have fire ants in it?
If I had been a student there, I guarantee, I would have been expelled because I would have pulled the shovel away from the teacher rather than let her use it to smash baby rabbits.
Even if they were a day old, baby rabbits can be fed by bottle and can survive.
Posted by Beth at 07:44 PM
January 17, 2004
Ok- time to tell the story of the obnoxious Englishman
This is a bit of a long rant, so beware, I may go off a bit 'half-cocked' here. Everything below really did happen.
As I mentioned earlier in the week, I was on the concierge floor at the Marriott while in Los Angeles County. That means free food for breakfast in a rather comfortable lounge. I'm a friendly sort of person, so I normally say good morning to other people in the lounge while I select my fruit and bagel.
A well-dressed Englishman said, "Good morning, I do love your American breakfast beverages." I think I said something like, "Oh, that's nice". I figured that was the end of the conversation, but noooooo.....
The next words out of his mouth were, "Isn't it awful what Bush has done to America?"
At first I kinda looked around - was this guy talking to me? I guess so, there was no one else there. I'm sure I gave him a look of utter surprise and dismay (Kinda like Scooby Doo when he is a bit confused - I think I even made that arrrur? sound he does), and I said, "Well, actually, I think Bush has done wonderful things for our country."
Yes, those were his exact words - Bush has killed more people than Saddam Hussein.
Once again - the man said - Bush has killed more people than Saddam Hussein.
I looked at him, backed off a bit, and I actually said - "You are nuts".
I am sure I gave him quite a look - like you are a total knucklehead.
Aside from his bad math, and questionable statistics (I will have to defer to John on those stats, I have no clue), this man was definitely talking to the wrong woman. (here is my basement).
Wow, he got pretty pissed at me at that point, his face turned red, and his well-groomed hair, started standing on end - kinda like a mad dog.
And I left and went to work.
Posted by Beth at 10:54 AM
January 16, 2004
Boy, do I have a story about an obnoxious Englishman
And how arrogant some Euro-types are. But you will have to wait until I'm back home, I'm still working out here in L.A. County - busy busy busy!
Posted by Beth at 08:46 AM
January 08, 2004
Why Tort Reform is needed!
Couple sues Wal-Mart over broken grocery bag
Posted by Beth at 10:41 AM
December 18, 2003
Comment spammers
I guess I should have expected this - pharmacy ads in one of my comments.
81.218.208.148
Ban that IP!
Posted by Beth at 04:42 AM
December 13, 2003
California schools
Pam is absolutely correct. Go read her post about Allah in our schools.
I remember when people were upset that their kids were being forced to dress up like Muslims in a public school. And now, the 9th Circuit Court has upheld this practice.
I can only hope it goes to the Supreme Court.
Kid's in public schools no longer have Christmas vacation, they have Winter Holiday, but the kids can be told dress up like Arabs and pray to Allah in order to learn about Islam.
This makes me crazy.
Completely crazy.
Arggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Beth at 11:03 AM
December 10, 2003
new IP to Ban!!!!
62.213.67.122
Conmment spammers - ban those IP's!!!!
Posted by Beth at 09:22 PM
November 20, 2003
American liberals want us to lose
DC is braver than I will ever be. She is actually able to read The Daily KOS without having a stroke.
I tried, my blood pressure went up so hi, I had to lay down.
Anyway, DC has an excellent post about Democrats for Losing the War.
Posted by Beth at 11:31 AM
November 15, 2003
musicians
Seems that Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull doesn't like the American flag being waved around the country.
"I hate to see the American flag hanging out of every bloody station wagon, out of every SUV, every little Midwestern house in some residential area. It's easy to confuse patriotism with nationalism," Ian Anderson said in an interview published in New Jersey's Asbury Park Press. "Flag waving ain't gonna do it."
Damn, that guy got a lot of my money for concerts and albums many years ago.
UPDATE:
After realizing that he offended many of us, Ian has apologized:
I now regret the tone of these statements and offer my belated apologies to those offended by any perceived slur on the Stars and Stripes. I really didn’t understand - even after 35 years of visiting the USA on a regular basis - that this symbol had such fierce resonance for so many people as is now apparent to me.While I can’t support the international policies of either the current US administration or the UK government, I will always stand up to defend the honour and integrity of the American people, anytime, anywhere and in the face of anyone’s criticism.
They don’t deserve the anti-US views being increasingly voiced across the globe. As I believe I said in the interview concerned, the natural warmth, hospitality, and generosity of Americans is their great asset and the sad fact that many US citizens feel unable to travel abroad as a result of imagined or real fear of resentment from foreigners is, I think, an increasing factor in US isolation, in world terms.
Read his whole apology. I feel better now for spending all that money.
Posted by Beth at 01:44 PM
falling asleep in class...
There have been times when I fell asleep in class due to a combination of things - boredom, room temperature a bit too warm, boredom. My teacher would tap me on the shoulder and razz me about it a bit, but no note to parents, no demerits.
This, though, is going way too far - kid falls asleep in a boring class, the teacher sends him out to be drug tested. The kid is suspended for a day, even though he is as clean as he could be.
I'm so glad that our son is in college and doesn't have to deal with this idiocy.
Thanks to Joanne Jacobs for the link.
Posted by Beth at 12:39 PM
November 12, 2003
they think we are stupid morons
but they will take our money any day:
You (and Bush) are likely too dumb for this
Damn celebrities who say bad things about us when they are out of the country. They probably think we are too dumb to find out about what they say.
Posted by Beth at 07:07 AM
November 10, 2003
Comment Spam
Here is the IP address of the SPAM that was in my comments this morning:
209.208.9.254
Ban them!
Posted by Beth at 05:27 AM
November 09, 2003
No responsibility required
The New York Daily News' Tracy Connor seeks to absolve Rosie O'Donnell's nasty temperment by insisting that it just ain't her fault -New York Daily News - Home - Rosie's demons are unleashed.
... as she strides into the courtroom to defend herself in a $100 million lawsuit, there is another unseen presence - the demons of a painful childhood.An adored mother who died young. A father who was cold and distant. A little girl starved for approval and affection. Abuse by a male relative. "I would say she has never sufficiently dealt with these feelings of abandonment and loss of control," Dr. Carole Lieberman, a Beverly Hills psychiatrist, told the Daily News.
"She's desperately trying to maintain control - and she's doing it by trying to intimidate people and by acting like a child again."
In my opinion, she is just another spoiled star who indeed does act like a child, but does it because she is a selfish, rich bitch, not because she (like the rest of the world, it seems) had a difficult childhood.
Posted by Beth at 08:14 AM
November 06, 2003
property rights
I agree with Brian of Musings from Brian J. Noggle
He writes:
More property rights hijinks. This time, a man who refused to remove junk from his yard is sentenced to a year in prison. He's completely framing it as a property rights issue, and whereas I dispute the aesthetic appeal of the man's "cause," I have to agree.
Of course, I might be that guy if I had neighbors who didn't like my pond in the front yard, or my mountain and tunnel (for our Garden Railway).
That is one of the major reasons we don't live in suburbia.
Posted by Beth at 02:54 PM
October 29, 2003
Sometimes I just get pissy
Sometimes, I just want to rant and I don't want to deal with anyone else's ideas, especially if they are just lame excuses. I felt like that yesterday, and deleted all comments to my rant on how much I hate it when people describe themselves as WhateverEthnicOrigin-American.
The only person who replied used "black person" as a name. This really annoyed me for some reason.
"Black person" stated that because I am white I cannot understand anything that a black person would ever experience.
Frankly, I think that most of that is pure bullshit. Yes, there are evil people in this country, and everywhere in the world, who would hurt someone simply for the color of their skin, their religion, their ethnicity. Islamic Jihadists come to mind, as well as the KKK, and other groups.
But that person never explained why calling him or herself an African-American made them feel any better. "Black person" wrote 4 long comments, all pretty repetitive, and not really conducive to any kind of discourse.
This person completely missed the point, and I was frustrated and pissed so I deleted everything.
Back when I was a social worker, I had a few very scary incidents in the inner city.
I had a group of teenage black men surround my little car and not move to let me leave a parking space. I layed on the horn until some people came out of their houses, and the young men finally left.
I had my purse snatched by two young teenage boys, who also happened to be black.
I was chased around an apartment by a black woman weilding a knife - I had gone to visit her to explain to her that her children had to go to school.
After that last one, I quit. Social Work does not pay enough to put my life on the line.
I am not really sure what my point is - as I said, I'm kinda pissed off today.
But perhaps it is that some black people scare the hell out me, yet I still don't feel the need to call myself white-chickenshit-American.
And I don't blame all black people for what those particular people did to me.
Yet, it's okay for black people to blame all white people for everything that has ever happened to them - ever.
I guess that is what I don't get.
Okay, on to better things now.
Posted by Beth at 07:34 PM
October 25, 2003
bullying babies in Croatia
Another reason why it's good to be a stay-at-home mom - A one-year-old boy has been bitten 30 times by a group of more than a dozen other babies at a nursery in Croatia.
Interestingly, "Police have launched an inquiry into the biting frenzy but admit they are clueless as to the babies' reasons for attacking."
What, are they going to interview each little perpetrator?
Poor baby. Imagine how frightened he must be.
Posted by Beth at 06:27 AM
October 21, 2003
dumped dogs
I was late getting off to work this morning, and perhaps there was some cosmic reason for that. On my way into work ( it's a 40 mile drive) two incredibly beautiful Newfoundlands were wandering around in the middle of the road - a 55 mile per hour speed limit road.
They were trying to look in car and truck windows - probably for the asshat who dumped them there.
Me being me, I stopped and got them out of the road and called the County Sherriff's Department. After about an hour, a deputy arrived and the two gentle giants ambled into the back of his police car. He is taking them to the Platte County, Missouri Animal Shelter.
.
I filed a complaint against whomever it was who dumped them, not that it would do any good, I doubt they will come looking for the dogs.
If I did not already have a full household of critters, I would have brought them home, as I have always wanted a newfie.
I hope that someone kind will want them and adopt them. I will check in a few days to be sure - if not, I'll contact a dog rescue organization to try find homes for them.
sigh. bad people.
Update: The Gentle Giants are back home - about 6 miles from where I found them in the highway - Pam's guess was right - they did have microchips and they were returned home. I'm really very relieved
Posted by Beth at 10:57 AM
arggghhhh
NoMarriage.com - Only marry foreign women.
what can I say - such bullshit. I wonder what he'll do if his wife gains weight or becomes ill - fire her and go find another foreign, obedient woman?
sheesh.
Posted by Beth at 07:58 AM
October 20, 2003
Another DOS attack
Hosting Matters had another DOS attack this evening. It affected the big guys - Instapundit, GutRumbles, Misha - and us little guys.
but what really pissed me off about it is that Emperor Misha linked to me, moi, myself and I have had more traffic in the past two days than in a normal two week period, and the fricking bad guys had to go after our servers today, tonight. What a disappointment!
sigh.
Actually, I truly hope that they can be caught and stopped. If it is a bunch of anti-semetic people, as has been hinted, I would be happy to cut off their balls for them and stuff them in their mouths.
Gee, I sound like I could be in a Quentin Tarantino movie, eh?
Posted by Beth at 09:05 PM
Nina's not nice
Nina Totenberg, on Inside Washington said of Gen. Boykin: "I Hope He's Not Long for This World" --10/20/2003-- Media Research Center.
Read the whole story.
Posted by Beth at 02:24 PM
October 17, 2003
Cases like this
This is the widow of a young American who was killed in Gaza yesterday. He was a former Marine, and after he was discharged, he took a job with a private security firm in hopes that he could pay for her cancer treatments. She is still an 'airman' in the USAF, in San Antonio.
One of the things in life that really pisses me off is that the military does not take care of their own in too many cases.
It's probably because the Congress and the Executive Branch want all defense funding to go to new and exciting weapons programs, not to soldiers' care and feeding.
I agree we need to develop new weapons programs, but all too often, they forget about those men and women who actually put their lives on the line to protect and defend us.
Not only did this young woman lose her husband to terrorists, but she is an airman, herself, with the US Air Force, and the military doesn't seem to want to pay for her bone cancer treatments. They say it must have been pre-existing before she joined the military - but they graduated her from basic training.
I'm confused.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News
Perhaps Sir John the Merciless can explain how this works (sorry, sweetheart, but something doesn't seem quite Kosher)
Thanks to Jennifer for the story and the links.
Jennifer stands by our soldiers and sailors and airmen like no one else.
Posted by Beth at 07:17 PM
This is what happened to our servers
Little Green Footballs has the scoop. lgf: Al Qaeda Attacks Blogosphere.
I am adding both LGF and Internet Haganah to my blog roll. As soon as Internet Haganah is back up, go donate money.
Posted by Beth at 03:26 PM
Last Night I was inspired
I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote. I found many appropriate links - this one, Lileks, Natural Born Killers, , Girl Power and many more.
I outlined a well-thought out and well-documented argument against Kill Bill being the greatest movie ever. I hit Save. It all disappeared.
The server was down....
And there is no way I'm going to reproduce it again.
Posted by Beth at 06:39 AM
October 16, 2003
Cell phones, Schmell phones
Why is is that people think they have to be connected all the time, and that their kids have to be connected to them all the time?
I cannot believe how many parents buy their kids cell phones - all on the premise that the kid can call Mommy whenever he or she needs to.
My son is now a freshman in college. He managed to get all through elementary school, middle school and high school without a cell phone, a pager, a wireless palm pilot, etc.
If I was needed, the school would call me.
Or, he could wait until he walked home and call me from home after school.
Both John and I have cell phones, but we only use them when we travel for work - it is a lot cheaper to call home on a cell phone than from the hotel room using a calling card. Andy is actually going to college (trumpet noise here - ta da da) *without a cell phone*.
Now, he does have one kick ass computer that glows in the dark and has a plexiglass side panel so you can see all the guts, but no cell phone.
Now it looks like kids everywhere are using cell phones to irritate teachers and other students, cheat on tests, 'look cool', etc.
For Techies, School Bells Mean 'Let the Games Begin'
It is no wonder so many kids are do dumb these days. (Even many college graduates I have worked with are barely literate - many unable to write up an agenda for a client engagement).
"Nationally, close to a third of American teenagers now carry cellphones, according to the United States Department of Education"
One teacher states, ""I have heard that during the regents math exam, kids go to the bathroom and use their cellphones, which have calculators built in, to solve equations." said Anne Manwell, who teaches molecular biology and research methods at Stuyvesant."
Of course, since when are kids allowed to go to the bathroom during an exam?
Obviously, I could go on - this is one of my very pet peeves, but I have to bathe, dress and go out and try to make a living.
Posted by Beth at 06:42 AM
October 06, 2003
LA Times and Politics
Jill Stewart makes a damn good point here: L.A. Daily News - Their Opinion
Posted by Beth at 04:56 AM
October 01, 2003
Trolls
Way back in the early 90s, before the time of AOL, Prodigy (if anyone remembers) had these really nifty BBSs (or were they called forums?). They were all text (good thing since no one had a pc which displayed graphics yet) and divided into different interest groups, kinda like newsgroups.
I happened to meet John on one of BBSs - it was called the Rush Limbaugh forum, and people who had opinions on Rush, good or bad, spent a lot of time reading and writing and bitching at each other on Prodigy.
There came to be a group of people there who wrote the most on the boards. People would disagree and fun arguments would start that could go on for weeks. But then, I remember a couple of people who started going for the jugular.
I think one was named Mark something and there was another named Arachnia or something else spider like. They would post stupid rude things to people just to get everyone upset. Obviously, it was some kind of attention getting thing for them.
These days, trolls are getting even worse and more personal. Emperor Misha has run into a couple of really nasty ones - one of whom apparently tries to get those he disagrees with fired from their jobs.
People like that are beyond contempt. I can understand why Rachel Lucas and Instapundit don't have comments.
But I should say, I love to read comments on everyone's blogs, and occasionally leave them. I do wish those who didn't have comments available would reconsider, as I promise them that we would deal with the trolls, so they would not have to.
I think that Emperor Misha, AcidMan and others have better blogs than Rachel's or Instapundits because they are brave enough to face the faceless trolls.
They didn't add to the political discussions, they just tried to
Posted by Beth at 06:45 PM
September 28, 2003
Cub Scouts and Snobbery
I have been reading Da Goddess for quite some time now. Today, she wrote:DaGoddess: I Don't Think Moving to a New Village Is An Option, and I can totally understand how she feels.
I was my son's Cub Scout Den Leader when he was in second grade. His dad and I divorced that year, and many of the parents of the kids in my den were incredibly awful to me about it.
I would come home from cleaning houses (yes, that was what I did for awhile to help make ends meet) and there were messages on the answering machine from so-called friends telling me that they were praying that I would get back together with my husband. (yes, after trying for 18 years and failing, I instigated the divorce).
Even our parish priest would tell me that I had a duty to go back to my son's dad. It was awful. Parents quit sending their kids to cub scouts because they didn't want a 'divorced woman' as den mother.
After Andy finished that year out, I moved him from parochial to public school - the pressure on me and on him was unbelievable. It ended up that the so-called wonderful school district there was not so great, but after a few years, I met John and moved to a different area, where the district, without fancy buildings, had incredible teachers, and Andy soared.
Anyway, I thought it was just because we were in a Catholic school - now it looks like there are parents like that all over the place!
Andy quite cub scouts soon after that, and he has ended up doing just fine - he is a freshman in college majoring in computer science.
Gee, I'm starting to ramble, but go read Da Goddess's blog, it's pretty darn good.
Posted by Beth at 05:41 PM
Cry Me a River
I am adding
Cry Me A River to my list of links. This is Acidman's daughter's blog, and she is pretty good.
Because she is on Blogspot, the archives are a little screwy, but just link to her blog and scroll down to Muslim Hating and Women.
Excellent rant.
I have seen exactly what Sam describes.
Posted by Beth at 07:58 AM