image courtesy of Radeka Photography
My vacation is finally over and it's back to the corporate grind again. On Monday of this week, I had to come in during my vacation to make sure the marketing elements for my company were posted and live. It was all so gay, gay, gay, and more importantly; Super Gay.
When I say 'Gay' I don't mean it in a derogatory towards homosexuals 'Gay.' I also don't mean it in the 'happy go lucky, gay as a day in May' way either. When I say 'Gay' I mean the licentious, disregard-for-morality-and-correctness-Gay that permiates 90% of corporate offices I've worked in and 100% of the marketing projects I've worked on.
Marketing is totally gay in this way. All marketing generally lacks moral and legal restraints and tries to confuse and manipulate people into buying, using, wearing, trying, driving, eating, trading, and all other varieties of '-ing' that they seriously don't need. We see signs all over that say 'Sale' or '2 for $10' and 'Buy 1 get 1 Free,' but the shit that is generally resting just beneath these signs are there for a reason. The signs should read:
This stuff couldn't sell at $20 so we marked it down to $17 because are greedy and still wanted to make some money. When that didn't work, we dropped it down to cost which was that $14 sale thing that was here about six months ago. When this tripe still didn't sell, we threw it into that dump bin over there that said 'any title $10.' It still sat there like a tumor on a 600 pound shut in as no body saw it amongst the rest of the shit and, more to the point, nobody cared. We then went through the $9.99, $7.99, and $5.99 deals on this crap but then swiftly realized that we have spent tremendous effort trying to move a product that should never have been in this store in the first place. We have 12 people in our marketing department trying to move this festering stool of a product and the buyer who originally purchased this has moved on to another company. We are stuck with this ghost from the past that would have no interest to anyone, anywhere, at any price.
This is why we are giving you two of these pieces of shit for $10. If you weren't sure of throwing your money away on one useless thing, your problem is solved! Here are two relics from the sphincter of our organization for you for just $10. This offer is limited and selection varies by store, so don't miss out, rube.
Signage like this won't exist, because people who buy this excrement generally can't read anyway. Plus, who would ever think of putting 10pt text on a piece of P.O.P. signage? That would just be an R.O.I. tragedy!
6/30/2005
My first day back...sorta.
image courtesy of Radeka Photography
My vacation is finally over and it's back to the corporate grind again. On Monday of this week, I had to come in during my vacation to make sure the marketing elements for my company were posted and live. It was all so gay, gay, gay, and more importantly; Super Gay.
When I say 'Gay' I don't mean it in a derogatory towards homosexuals 'Gay.' I also don't mean it in the 'happy go lucky, gay as a day in May' way either. When I say 'Gay' I mean the licentious, disregard-for-morality-and-correctness-Gay that permiates 90% of corporate offices I've worked in and 100% of the marketing projects I've worked on.
Marketing is totally gay in this way. All marketing generally lacks moral and legal restraints and tries to confuse and manipulate people into buying, using, wearing, trying, driving, eating, trading, and all other varieties of '-ing' that they seriously don't need. We see signs all over that say 'Sale' or '2 for $10' and 'Buy 1 get 1 Free,' but the shit that is generally resting just beneath these signs are there for a reason. The signs should read:
This stuff couldn't sell at $20 so we marked it down to $17 because are greedy and still wanted to make some money. When that didn't work, we dropped it down to cost which was that $14 sale thing that was here about six months ago. When this tripe still didn't sell, we threw it into that dump bin over there that said 'any title $10.' It still sat there like a tumor on a 600 pound shut in as no body saw it amongst the rest of the shit and, more to the point, nobody cared. We then went through the $9.99, $7.99, and $5.99 deals on this crap but then swiftly realized that we have spent tremendous effort trying to move a product that should never have been in this store in the first place. We have 12 people in our marketing department trying to move this festering stool of a product and the buyer who originally purchased this has moved on to another company. We are stuck with this ghost from the past that would have no interest to anyone, anywhere, at any price.
This is why we are giving you two of these pieces of shit for $10. If you weren't sure of throwing your money away on one useless thing, your problem is solved! Here are two relics from the sphincter of our organization for you for just $10. This offer is limited and selection varies by store, so don't miss out, rube.
Signage like this won't exist, because people who buy this excrement generally can't read anyway. Plus, who would ever think of putting 10pt text on a piece of P.O.P. signage? That would just be an R.O.I. tragedy!
6/27/2005
Life in the Woolworth's Pet Department
I had a conversation with Brit In The US today about how my office is a lot like the pet department at a Woolworths. The breakdown, briefly, was:
Company CEO's are the dogs of the pet shop that sit in the window. Everybody looks at these guys first and these dogs are usually the first ones out of the store into a good home. Once in their new home, the dogs will basically sleep until it's time to occasionally time to catch a frisbee or tennis ball. The active, high energy ones usually are hit by cars in the prime of their lives.
VP's are the pet shop cats, and they all have their own agendas. They are all jealous of the dog's pull with prospectful owners. They all piss and shit on each other to get potential visability. They are often picked up by owners who neglect them and they complain about living in their own filth but are unwilling to do anything themselves to change the situation.
Next in corporate pet shop line are the Manager Rabbits. Manager Rabbits don't get window space often, and when they do it is because there are too many of them to keep in the shop. As cute as Managers look, under the fur they are dirty beasts who unknowingly reproduce and are so poor at digesting their own shit that they have to eat it again to process all of it. The heat from them piling on top of one another, coupled with the outdoor sun is usually what thins this group down.
Then you have the generic employees who are the pet Finches. These are nondescript birds that have the ability to fly to the heavens, but allow themselves to have their wings clipped and remain blindly restrained to the confines of a cage. Finches either die from banging their head against the bars so long that they die of exhaustion or they wind up developing a disorder that has them pulling all of their feathers out in a maddening attempt to become clean.
After the conversation, I went to do some research on Finches and I found something alarming in the 'Starting with Finches' manual. I went into MS Word and did a 'FIND/REPLACE' on the words Finch, Cage, & Seed with Employee, Cube, and Project. I then cleaned up some of the measurements (as finches are 4 inches) and what you have is...
Company CEO's are the dogs of the pet shop that sit in the window. Everybody looks at these guys first and these dogs are usually the first ones out of the store into a good home. Once in their new home, the dogs will basically sleep until it's time to occasionally time to catch a frisbee or tennis ball. The active, high energy ones usually are hit by cars in the prime of their lives.
VP's are the pet shop cats, and they all have their own agendas. They are all jealous of the dog's pull with prospectful owners. They all piss and shit on each other to get potential visability. They are often picked up by owners who neglect them and they complain about living in their own filth but are unwilling to do anything themselves to change the situation.
Next in corporate pet shop line are the Manager Rabbits. Manager Rabbits don't get window space often, and when they do it is because there are too many of them to keep in the shop. As cute as Managers look, under the fur they are dirty beasts who unknowingly reproduce and are so poor at digesting their own shit that they have to eat it again to process all of it. The heat from them piling on top of one another, coupled with the outdoor sun is usually what thins this group down.
Then you have the generic employees who are the pet Finches. These are nondescript birds that have the ability to fly to the heavens, but allow themselves to have their wings clipped and remain blindly restrained to the confines of a cage. Finches either die from banging their head against the bars so long that they die of exhaustion or they wind up developing a disorder that has them pulling all of their feathers out in a maddening attempt to become clean.
After the conversation, I went to do some research on Finches and I found something alarming in the 'Starting with Finches' manual. I went into MS Word and did a 'FIND/REPLACE' on the words Finch, Cage, & Seed with Employee, Cube, and Project. I then cleaned up some of the measurements (as finches are 4 inches) and what you have is...
Buying Finches and the Eerie Similarities to Corporate Management
Employees are a popular choice of corporate worker for many people, whether they're just starting out with employees or have had employees for many years. There are many reasons why they're so popular: their small size, tiny voices, ease of manipulation, and for some their unbridaled enthusiam.
Employees are small-to-medium-sized people designed for toil and hulling projects. Because of this, they are often referred to by the classifications "producer" and "project-eater.” Their lifespan is five to twelve years.
Although they're small minded creatures, when thinking of buying employees, you need to consider expenses, housing, medical benefit plans, 401K, and much more, just the same as for any other employees.
Employees aren't like Managers and lack the ability to talk or mimic in their environment, however they have many other wonderful traits in the place of speech. They aren't destructive and are relatively quiet, they're small and easily monitored, they can provide enjoyment to young and old alike with their activities, and offer other therapeutic benefits.
It's important to note that with all employees that you should always purchase a pair to keep one another company. Unlike Managers, who never look to humans for companionship, your Employees can often get lonely.
The Cube
Employees average at around four to six feet in height, so it's often thought that they don't need a lot of room. In actuality, employees are very lively and are active movers, so if you decide on a cube, then the minimum size for a pair should be 8 feet long and 4 feet deep; the height isn't as important because employees tend to sit for a majority of the day. As always, the bigger cube you can afford the better. Square or rectangular cubes are a must because the back corners give the employees a chance to get away if they feel they need to, whereas a circular cube doesn't. For ease of cleaning, it's best to get a cube with removable desks; this way, you can easily slide the desks out for cleaning without worrying about the employees getting loose.
Now you have the cube you need to consider furnishings for it, food and water bowls usually don’t come built into the cube. You'll need at least two chairs, one at each end but not too many because they need room to work. The best chairs have wheels and can swivel around 360. This is because these chairs exercise the employee's feet and provide entertainment on long projects. Toys aren't really used by employees, although some people offer telephones and computer and often hear their employees pecking at them.
First Employee
There was a time when, if asked what type of employee someone should start with, the answer would have been a pair of young employees without hesitation. However, in recent years, they have had to share their title as a beginner employee with foreign (Indian) employees.
Young employees and Indian are quite similar in character, both being lively and entertaining to watch. There is never a dull moment with them. They both come in various color mutations so you're not stuck with having just a grey employee, for example. Young ones and Indian come in the same price range usually costing around $24 an hour for a pair; this varies depending on color and breeding background. Picking a pair of Indian employees is more difficult than picking a pair of Young ones.
The most important thing to remember is to enjoy your employees and they will give you an enjoyable life in return.
Employees are small-to-medium-sized people designed for toil and hulling projects. Because of this, they are often referred to by the classifications "producer" and "project-eater.” Their lifespan is five to twelve years.
Although they're small minded creatures, when thinking of buying employees, you need to consider expenses, housing, medical benefit plans, 401K, and much more, just the same as for any other employees.
Employees aren't like Managers and lack the ability to talk or mimic in their environment, however they have many other wonderful traits in the place of speech. They aren't destructive and are relatively quiet, they're small and easily monitored, they can provide enjoyment to young and old alike with their activities, and offer other therapeutic benefits.
It's important to note that with all employees that you should always purchase a pair to keep one another company. Unlike Managers, who never look to humans for companionship, your Employees can often get lonely.
The Cube
Employees average at around four to six feet in height, so it's often thought that they don't need a lot of room. In actuality, employees are very lively and are active movers, so if you decide on a cube, then the minimum size for a pair should be 8 feet long and 4 feet deep; the height isn't as important because employees tend to sit for a majority of the day. As always, the bigger cube you can afford the better. Square or rectangular cubes are a must because the back corners give the employees a chance to get away if they feel they need to, whereas a circular cube doesn't. For ease of cleaning, it's best to get a cube with removable desks; this way, you can easily slide the desks out for cleaning without worrying about the employees getting loose.
Now you have the cube you need to consider furnishings for it, food and water bowls usually don’t come built into the cube. You'll need at least two chairs, one at each end but not too many because they need room to work. The best chairs have wheels and can swivel around 360. This is because these chairs exercise the employee's feet and provide entertainment on long projects. Toys aren't really used by employees, although some people offer telephones and computer and often hear their employees pecking at them.
First Employee
There was a time when, if asked what type of employee someone should start with, the answer would have been a pair of young employees without hesitation. However, in recent years, they have had to share their title as a beginner employee with foreign (Indian) employees.
Young employees and Indian are quite similar in character, both being lively and entertaining to watch. There is never a dull moment with them. They both come in various color mutations so you're not stuck with having just a grey employee, for example. Young ones and Indian come in the same price range usually costing around $24 an hour for a pair; this varies depending on color and breeding background. Picking a pair of Indian employees is more difficult than picking a pair of Young ones.
The most important thing to remember is to enjoy your employees and they will give you an enjoyable life in return.
6/20/2005
Cap'n E Bay McFaggotron III
Ahoy and Avast lubbers! It's time for another voyage on t' S.S. Crap Wagon with yer Cap'n E Bay McFaggotron III. Word from t' top o' t' yard arm be that e've got some steady seas o' garbage comin' our way. Put yer rubbers t' t' deck and be smartly about it. We're takin' on our first wave:
Sweet Neptune's beard! It must be one a them Sirens t' local lads have been goin' on about for a fortnight. Except this one looks like a pile o' seagull shite with a head so big she'd have t' step into her shirt. Bobble heads always depress t' Cap'n as they be merely a gateway doll into t' worlds o' Precious Moments figurines. Har.
No time for woe! Off t' starboard bow another useless piece of flotsam awaits:
Is it a man? Is it a fish? Great barnacle barf, be that Leonard Nimoy's voice I hear? Lookin' at this travesty o' a creature makes t' Jolly Roger want t' put eaye aft in its skull so he can gouge them out again. While I must admit, these items do look fancy on t' deck o' t' ship, thar be no place for a lassish gamin' contraption on Cap'n E Bay McFaggotron's ship. Throw her overboard, mateys!
Does me eye deceive me? Could this be? I thought these rare beasts were extinct t' world over! It truly be a sight t' behold:
Why it's a severely outdated, monochromatic sextant and captain's log. By Possiedon's starboard nut! I've been wantin' one o' these forever! Brin' her in lads and let me bask in t' warm glow that only two AAA batteries can give a man. Datebook? Calendar? Phone book? Why it's a veritable treaaye trove o' wisdom and knowledge in me calloused and salt chapped hands.
Wait...what does this say? PAYPAL ONLY! FIE AND CURSE THAT BARNACLE-CRUSTED SLAB-SIDED TUB o' AN AUCTIONEER! I AM TWIXED AND POX-FACED! We must move anchor now aft t' dry dock so I can set meself up an account!
Sweet Neptune's beard! It must be one a them Sirens t' local lads have been goin' on about for a fortnight. Except this one looks like a pile o' seagull shite with a head so big she'd have t' step into her shirt. Bobble heads always depress t' Cap'n as they be merely a gateway doll into t' worlds o' Precious Moments figurines. Har.
No time for woe! Off t' starboard bow another useless piece of flotsam awaits:
Is it a man? Is it a fish? Great barnacle barf, be that Leonard Nimoy's voice I hear? Lookin' at this travesty o' a creature makes t' Jolly Roger want t' put eaye aft in its skull so he can gouge them out again. While I must admit, these items do look fancy on t' deck o' t' ship, thar be no place for a lassish gamin' contraption on Cap'n E Bay McFaggotron's ship. Throw her overboard, mateys!
Does me eye deceive me? Could this be? I thought these rare beasts were extinct t' world over! It truly be a sight t' behold:
Why it's a severely outdated, monochromatic sextant and captain's log. By Possiedon's starboard nut! I've been wantin' one o' these forever! Brin' her in lads and let me bask in t' warm glow that only two AAA batteries can give a man. Datebook? Calendar? Phone book? Why it's a veritable treaaye trove o' wisdom and knowledge in me calloused and salt chapped hands.
Wait...what does this say? PAYPAL ONLY! FIE AND CURSE THAT BARNACLE-CRUSTED SLAB-SIDED TUB o' AN AUCTIONEER! I AM TWIXED AND POX-FACED! We must move anchor now aft t' dry dock so I can set meself up an account!
6/17/2005
Tom Cruise is Totally, Super-Not-Gay Again
Cruise Readies Himself For Third Divorce by Announcing Engagement to Holmes
By Ida Givasheet, Associated Press Writer
PARIS - Tom Cruise popped the question to Katie Holmes at the Eiffel Tower early Friday and then announced the news to the world - "I am so totally, super-not-gay."
No wedding date has been set, Cruise said. "We haven't discussed that - we're taking it one normal, heterosexual step at a time."
"Today is a magnificent day for me, I'm engaged to a magnificent woman, which is so right." the 42-year-old Cruise said. "It was early this morning at the Eiffel Tower, as I find Paris just so scruptious that I could eat it all up."
Cruise was in Paris to promote the French release of "War of the Worlds" next month. Holmes was in London earlier this week to publicize her new movie, "Batman Begins." Both actors have dismissed speculation their romance is a publicity stunt.
It would be the third "I'm not gay" announcement by Cruise. His first announcement came shortly before his marriage to Mimi Rogers and second moments after he proposed to Nicole Kidman.
Holmes has said she's embracing the Church of Scientology - Cruise's non-queer religion. The former star of television's "Dawson's Creek" has said she grew up wanting to marry someone so-not-gay like Cruise.
6/16/2005
No paradox for time travellers
Hooray! According to NewScientist.com, when we travel into the past, we can't change it, even if we wanted. If that wasn't bad news enough, we can only travel back on our own timeline! No switching timelines to tell girlfriends not to sleep with other guys and just to wait for you to come along.
Since we can't alter the past, that means that we, as travellers, are safe, because the past can't alter us. Since the past would be non-interactive, in order to be non-altering, we should be as nothing as possible. Which I believe is the Army's new slogan in 2006.
Jokes aside, here's a brief, one act play about my time travel experience:
I accompany my Phantom Timeline Guide (or ‘PhaTiGid’ as they are commonly referred to in space-time talk) to an iron gate. Looking around there is a row of gravestones walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds. The Phantom (also known as ‘PTG-matron’) points down to a grave then to me and back again.
NEAL
Spirit (also known as ‘Phantoms’)! Hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intervention. Why show me this, if I am past all hope?
The Phantom (also known as ‘Spirits’) is immovable as ever. I creep toward the grave, trembling; following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave which holds my own name and the inscription, ‘Here lies Office Helper, Library Aide, Second String Hockey Coaching Assistant and the man voted Most likely to do nothing with his life even if they find a time machine.’
NEAL (wailing)
Oh, Phantom Spirit (eg. Spirit Phantom)! I will honor high school in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!
In mental agony, I grasp the spectral hand, to witness an alteration in the Phantom's hood and dress. It shrinks, collapses, and dwindles down into a bedpost.
INT. NEAL'S BED-ROOM
NEAL
I don't know what to do! I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel; I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. I want to shout to the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!
Spotting a BOY IN SUNDAY CLOTHES, loitering on the sidewalk below.
NEAL
What's to-day?
BOY IN SUNDAY CLOTHES
Eh?
NEAL
What's to-day, my fine fellow?
BOY IN SUNDAY CLOTHES
To-day? Why, Homecoming Day.
NEAL (to myself)
It's Homecoming Day! I haven't missed it. Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can.
(to the boy)
What in the fuck are you looking at dipshit? Get me a tuxedo or I’ll break you in half, Freshman!
I accompany my Phantom Timeline Guide (or ‘PhaTiGid’ as they are commonly referred to in space-time talk) to an iron gate. Looking around there is a row of gravestones walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds. The Phantom (also known as ‘PTG-matron’) points down to a grave then to me and back again.
NEAL
Spirit (also known as ‘Phantoms’)! Hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intervention. Why show me this, if I am past all hope?
The Phantom (also known as ‘Spirits’) is immovable as ever. I creep toward the grave, trembling; following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave which holds my own name and the inscription, ‘Here lies Office Helper, Library Aide, Second String Hockey Coaching Assistant and the man voted Most likely to do nothing with his life even if they find a time machine.’
NEAL (wailing)
Oh, Phantom Spirit (eg. Spirit Phantom)! I will honor high school in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!
In mental agony, I grasp the spectral hand, to witness an alteration in the Phantom's hood and dress. It shrinks, collapses, and dwindles down into a bedpost.
INT. NEAL'S BED-ROOM
NEAL
I don't know what to do! I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel; I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. I want to shout to the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!
Spotting a BOY IN SUNDAY CLOTHES, loitering on the sidewalk below.
NEAL
What's to-day?
BOY IN SUNDAY CLOTHES
Eh?
NEAL
What's to-day, my fine fellow?
BOY IN SUNDAY CLOTHES
To-day? Why, Homecoming Day.
NEAL (to myself)
It's Homecoming Day! I haven't missed it. Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can.
(to the boy)
What in the fuck are you looking at dipshit? Get me a tuxedo or I’ll break you in half, Freshman!
6/08/2005
HOLY FUCKING SHIT!!!
BEIGE WARRIOR: WHAT IS THIS THING!
FOPPISH ROBED MAGE: It just popped out from under that willow tree! Oh my god,
BEIGE WARRIOR: OH MY GOD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Are you throwing a level 1 Magic Missile at it? Jeesus! You're only going to piss this thing off even more!!!
FOPPISH ROBED MAGE: I don't see you doing anything except make kung fu gestures.
BEIGE WARRIOR: WHY USE A FIRE SPELL YOU PRICK!!! This thing is breathing fire on us and you throw a pack of matches at him? Real smart, dip shit
FOPPISH ROBED MAGE: We'll at least I'm not a fag, fag
BEIGE WARRIOR: You're the one in the green robes
FOPPISH ROBED MAGE: You look like a Microfiber couch you dick
BEIGE WARRIOR: You see, I knew you were a fag, you wish I was a dick
FOPPISH ROBED MAGE: Shut up.
BEIGE WARRIOR: You shut up you level 10 cock gobbler
FOPPISH ROBED MAGE: Well you're a +10 asshole with bleeding
BEIGE WARRIOR: You'd like that, wouldn’t you, fag.
This is what I used to see every night playing games like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars. Why can't all of us fags, dicks, cock gobblers, and +10 assholes get along? What's it going to take to get these 30 year old, D&D-ers to escape the dungeon that is their Parent’s Basement of Evermore?
Editor's note: I left out the re-occuring dialogue that kept popping in to ask if 'there were any girls playing online right now.'
6/07/2005
"Yes, you in the front who has been ogling my ring"
Former President Jimmy Carter takes a question during the "One Ring Defenders on the Frontlines of Protecting My Precious" conference at The Smeagol Center in Atlanta, Tuesday, June 7, 2005. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)
6/06/2005
The problem with medical marijuana is...
BAD! BAD! BAD!
GOOD! GOOD! GOOD!6/02/2005
So what's the big deal?
Comcast's crack news team tells me that people in Saudi Arabia are up in arms about someone proposing the reversing the ban on women drivers.
It seems that the Saudi Arabian all male, all God, all the time, authority believe women should be shielded from strange men and say that driving will allow a woman to leave home whenever she pleases and go wherever she wishes. Some say it will present her with opportunities to violate Islamic law, such as exposing her eyes while driving or interacting with strange men, like police officers or mechanics.
"Driving by women leads to evil," Awammi me-Salammi wrote in a letter to the editor of the Al-Watan daily. "Can you imagine what it will be like if her car broke down? She would have to seek help from men."
This unequal treatment is just an example of what happens when a religious establishment has the upper hand in defining freedoms and lifestyle. We in the West (we're in the West part of this rotating sphere, right?) can't seem to fathom this degree of logic as we are liberated, educated, smarty-types who pursue happiness and equality for all people...unless you are from the south, or are poor, or need medical marijuana, or if you want to have a choice when you are pregnant at 12, or vote, or don't believe in the one true white-guy-with-brown-beard Jesus, or have a disease that could be cured with stem cell research, want to die with dignity, believe in evolution of species, or your gay, black, Hispanic, Canadian, or Democrat.
So my response to this story is, 'what's the big deal?' Why this belief system should surprise, alarm or outrage us here in the US is a mystery to me? Perhaps, if we see that women have no right showing their eyes in Saudi Arabia, we fret and worry for what's next? Water conservation and health board violations for those who don't shave their armpits in France? Laws for having only two children per Chinese family so you must strangle and bury five birthed and healthy daughters so you can have one son that will carry on your crazy gene? An edict that states: no less than 50 flies per starving Ethiopian?
If we don't do something now, America, it's gonna be like 1984 times a hundred!
"Driving by women leads to evil," Awammi me-Salammi wrote in a letter to the editor of the Al-Watan daily. "Can you imagine what it will be like if her car broke down? She would have to seek help from men."
This unequal treatment is just an example of what happens when a religious establishment has the upper hand in defining freedoms and lifestyle. We in the West (we're in the West part of this rotating sphere, right?) can't seem to fathom this degree of logic as we are liberated, educated, smarty-types who pursue happiness and equality for all people...unless you are from the south, or are poor, or need medical marijuana, or if you want to have a choice when you are pregnant at 12, or vote, or don't believe in the one true white-guy-with-brown-beard Jesus, or have a disease that could be cured with stem cell research, want to die with dignity, believe in evolution of species, or your gay, black, Hispanic, Canadian, or Democrat.
So my response to this story is, 'what's the big deal?' Why this belief system should surprise, alarm or outrage us here in the US is a mystery to me? Perhaps, if we see that women have no right showing their eyes in Saudi Arabia, we fret and worry for what's next? Water conservation and health board violations for those who don't shave their armpits in France? Laws for having only two children per Chinese family so you must strangle and bury five birthed and healthy daughters so you can have one son that will carry on your crazy gene? An edict that states: no less than 50 flies per starving Ethiopian?
If we don't do something now, America, it's gonna be like 1984 times a hundred!
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