Yeah, so I'm pretty tired. Stupid being busy all day!
In news: I have a paper due on Friday that's making me a bit nervous. This means there'll be lots of work tomorrow (just as there was lots of work yesterday).
In relationship news: pretty much zero. Every girl I've met has been married. It's a frightening thing. I went from having lots of friends who were getting married, to gaining lots of new friends who are ALREADY married. Talk about missing the boat.
But I've heard that's more common among summer starters, so I shouldn't get my panties in a wad (a phrase I don't get, btw, and a phrase I'm pretty sure I don't want to get).
Also, I should apologize for any previous comments. Sometimes I get overexcited about politics and become outraged when people don't take civil duties as seriously as I do. People should not take it personally.
Um. There's more, but nothing worth mentioning at the moment, so I think I'll take this time to sign off. Bis Morgen!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Bias?
Apologizes, all around. We haven't quite hit midterm elections yet, which means it's time to start talking presidents after bush. To get the party started, let's consider the follow verifiable fact.
The mass media press is biased.
I think we can all agree on that. I mean, look at the record. How can there be any contention? In the past six or seven years, they've routinely sided with the presidential candidate of one party and derided the presidential candidate of the other. They've devoted thousands of words to misunderstanding and lies about one party's candidate and maintained that the candidate of the other party was open and honest, regardless of actual history and reality.
Anyone see where I'm going with this one yet? Allow me to continue.
They've smeared one candidate's name through the mud for being, not only a liar, but a bad liar, though this candidate never once lied in any of the circumstances he was painted.
They helped make a war hero look like a monster in two opposing ways. First, they put in the mass media echo chamber the idea that he hated our troops and almost singlehandedly made the Viet Cong prison camps effective. Then, they managed to turn around and lead credence to the idea that he WAS an evil troop member, who shot innocent kids in the back.
Sure, these ideas may have originated from others, but LOTS of weird ideas are out there. It takes the mass media for anyone to know about them.
They completely ignored the scandal, profiteering, and possible insider trading of the candidate for the team they like, just to fit their ridiculously biased story that he was so "open, honest, and fun." Where they acted as the ultimate in echo chambers for lies and general dishonesty against the other team, for this team they breathed hardly a whisper of any wrong doing.
And it continues today. The two leading candidates for the 2008 election are on opposite sides. Ironically, I kinda like both of them, but the press obviously doesn't. Consider: The first candidate has been married to the same person for an adult life time. The second has been divorced once. The divorced candidate went on to marry a wealthy heiress, which allowed the candidate to finance a political career. The first candidate didn't exactly start out poor, but earned a great deal of wealth the old fashioned way: the candidate and spouse worked for it.
Naturally, if you just heard this, and you knew that the press was biased, you'd know exactly whose sex life they'd go after. The divorced one? Of course not. They're gonna go after the sex life of the continuously married couple. They're gonna paint the rigor and hard work of one candidate as ugly and unpleasant.
Why? It's simple. The press is as biased as they come.
I'm not going to bother wondering why. Maybe the press identifies w/ the side they are reporting against, and so the press does not want to be seen as pandering. Or maybe pandering to the other side is simply a monetary issue, as Noam Chomsky would have us believe in his book Manufacturing Consent.
I don't know, and I'm not willing to get into that argument. I'm only willing to state one thing for certain.
In recent presidential elections, the Mass Media (including the NY Times, the Washington Post, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, the LA Times, and, obviously, Fox news) has been biased...
...against the liberals.
(thanks go to Jamison Foser for his excellent article "Media Matters" in which he provides most all of the research in this post)
Edit: Also, sorry. I promise I'll write about that other stuff tomorrow.
The mass media press is biased.
I think we can all agree on that. I mean, look at the record. How can there be any contention? In the past six or seven years, they've routinely sided with the presidential candidate of one party and derided the presidential candidate of the other. They've devoted thousands of words to misunderstanding and lies about one party's candidate and maintained that the candidate of the other party was open and honest, regardless of actual history and reality.
Anyone see where I'm going with this one yet? Allow me to continue.
They've smeared one candidate's name through the mud for being, not only a liar, but a bad liar, though this candidate never once lied in any of the circumstances he was painted.
They helped make a war hero look like a monster in two opposing ways. First, they put in the mass media echo chamber the idea that he hated our troops and almost singlehandedly made the Viet Cong prison camps effective. Then, they managed to turn around and lead credence to the idea that he WAS an evil troop member, who shot innocent kids in the back.
Sure, these ideas may have originated from others, but LOTS of weird ideas are out there. It takes the mass media for anyone to know about them.
They completely ignored the scandal, profiteering, and possible insider trading of the candidate for the team they like, just to fit their ridiculously biased story that he was so "open, honest, and fun." Where they acted as the ultimate in echo chambers for lies and general dishonesty against the other team, for this team they breathed hardly a whisper of any wrong doing.
And it continues today. The two leading candidates for the 2008 election are on opposite sides. Ironically, I kinda like both of them, but the press obviously doesn't. Consider: The first candidate has been married to the same person for an adult life time. The second has been divorced once. The divorced candidate went on to marry a wealthy heiress, which allowed the candidate to finance a political career. The first candidate didn't exactly start out poor, but earned a great deal of wealth the old fashioned way: the candidate and spouse worked for it.
Naturally, if you just heard this, and you knew that the press was biased, you'd know exactly whose sex life they'd go after. The divorced one? Of course not. They're gonna go after the sex life of the continuously married couple. They're gonna paint the rigor and hard work of one candidate as ugly and unpleasant.
Why? It's simple. The press is as biased as they come.
I'm not going to bother wondering why. Maybe the press identifies w/ the side they are reporting against, and so the press does not want to be seen as pandering. Or maybe pandering to the other side is simply a monetary issue, as Noam Chomsky would have us believe in his book Manufacturing Consent.
I don't know, and I'm not willing to get into that argument. I'm only willing to state one thing for certain.
In recent presidential elections, the Mass Media (including the NY Times, the Washington Post, ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, the LA Times, and, obviously, Fox news) has been biased...
...against the liberals.
(thanks go to Jamison Foser for his excellent article "Media Matters" in which he provides most all of the research in this post)
Edit: Also, sorry. I promise I'll write about that other stuff tomorrow.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Sour
Do you ever have some days where you start out feeling pretty neutral, but then the undercurrents of your thoughts start to turn negative? Like, it never really affects your day; it doesn't change how you interact w/ the world during the day; in fact, for all intents and purposes everything is the same.
But somewhere, way deep down inside, you feel a little gremlin working away at a knot of unhappiness?
No? That's just me? Seriously? Well, that sucks. Freaking gremlins.
I believe there's even a phrase for it. "Sour." Such and such soured my day. That's how I feel at the moment. Not bad, exactly, just sour. Earlier I had a pretty minor interaction that didn't go the way I wanted it to. Now that I've had time to think about it, I've reallized that I'm going to have to have a bit of a confrontation about the whole issue, and I'm just not looking forward to that.
I hate confrontation. There are those who might argue that this could make me a less than ideal mate, but I don't care. I hate it that much. I'm a firm believer in the notion that almost all bad things go away if you ignore them. And so I'm gravely disappointed when I run into a situation where I get proven wrong.
I apologize for my vagueness, but such is the price one must pay for zero internet anonymity, as I recently discovered (some of you may remember).
Anyway, that's it for the moment. Tomorrow: my review of X-Men III and why I like rain. Also, for you die-hard fans, expect a new HTGBWET.
But somewhere, way deep down inside, you feel a little gremlin working away at a knot of unhappiness?
No? That's just me? Seriously? Well, that sucks. Freaking gremlins.
I believe there's even a phrase for it. "Sour." Such and such soured my day. That's how I feel at the moment. Not bad, exactly, just sour. Earlier I had a pretty minor interaction that didn't go the way I wanted it to. Now that I've had time to think about it, I've reallized that I'm going to have to have a bit of a confrontation about the whole issue, and I'm just not looking forward to that.
I hate confrontation. There are those who might argue that this could make me a less than ideal mate, but I don't care. I hate it that much. I'm a firm believer in the notion that almost all bad things go away if you ignore them. And so I'm gravely disappointed when I run into a situation where I get proven wrong.
I apologize for my vagueness, but such is the price one must pay for zero internet anonymity, as I recently discovered (some of you may remember).
Anyway, that's it for the moment. Tomorrow: my review of X-Men III and why I like rain. Also, for you die-hard fans, expect a new HTGBWET.
Friday, May 26, 2006
a disclaimer, a tribute, and a great adventure
So it occurs to me that current fellow students will begin checking out this blog of mine, which could be bad news, as the facetious nature of the title doesn't directly come across.
Tricky, tricky.
Um... But after some extensive thinking (almost 3 minutes!) I've decided not to make any changes. If it doesn't become immediately obvious that I am the last person to be handing out serious relationship advice, then there are problems. However, please allow me a brief disclaimer, just in case.
To all of you out there who might find my title offensive. 1st, both men and women may be called babes. 2nd, for the most part I never pretend to hand out any real advice. For an example of the kind of things I have to say, see this link. 3rd, I mean, really? Offended?
And now for an actual thought. At times I may feel inspired by one of my classmates, and at such times, I think I might write a little something about them (anonymously, of course).
Today I would like to mention a student that proved a recent theory of mine incorrect. Not long ago, as many of you know, I decided that revisiting past woulda-coulda flames was an act doomed to failure. It seems I was not correct. One of my fellow students is MARRIED to a woulda-coulda old flame.
Who'd have thunk it?
Not too long ago (like, yesterday) I was a pessimist. I lived in a world in which second chances could not be given, a world in which the lack of an immediate yes equated to a lifetime of neverending no. I'd finally decided that we all really are just as shallow as we seem to be.
And now, just as I resign us all to a cesspit of depravity and modern (sometimes called "agape") love, a story comes along to change all that. They'd known one another. They'd been friends. They parted ways, and then fate pushed them back together, and a free exchange of ideas sealed the deal.
Ever since I can remember, I've believed that those true, honest-to-goodness relationships began as friendships. I'd almost entirely abandoned that belief.
So here is to you, fellow law student, for giving me hope that the world isn't what sadly decided it was, and for inspiring in me a belief in humanity again.
Now I don't know if this inspires me to revisit any of those ships that have sailed for me, personally. For one thing, I don't know if there's any reason. Life right now seems too full of opportunities and options and good times to feel like my only choice is looking backward. I've begun what I think may be a great adventure for three fantastical years. I cannot know now if that means anything, but maybe the adventure itself is what I should be looking forward to right, rather than any prize at the end.
Tricky, tricky.
Um... But after some extensive thinking (almost 3 minutes!) I've decided not to make any changes. If it doesn't become immediately obvious that I am the last person to be handing out serious relationship advice, then there are problems. However, please allow me a brief disclaimer, just in case.
To all of you out there who might find my title offensive. 1st, both men and women may be called babes. 2nd, for the most part I never pretend to hand out any real advice. For an example of the kind of things I have to say, see this link. 3rd, I mean, really? Offended?
And now for an actual thought. At times I may feel inspired by one of my classmates, and at such times, I think I might write a little something about them (anonymously, of course).
Today I would like to mention a student that proved a recent theory of mine incorrect. Not long ago, as many of you know, I decided that revisiting past woulda-coulda flames was an act doomed to failure. It seems I was not correct. One of my fellow students is MARRIED to a woulda-coulda old flame.
Who'd have thunk it?
Not too long ago (like, yesterday) I was a pessimist. I lived in a world in which second chances could not be given, a world in which the lack of an immediate yes equated to a lifetime of neverending no. I'd finally decided that we all really are just as shallow as we seem to be.
And now, just as I resign us all to a cesspit of depravity and modern (sometimes called "agape") love, a story comes along to change all that. They'd known one another. They'd been friends. They parted ways, and then fate pushed them back together, and a free exchange of ideas sealed the deal.
Ever since I can remember, I've believed that those true, honest-to-goodness relationships began as friendships. I'd almost entirely abandoned that belief.
So here is to you, fellow law student, for giving me hope that the world isn't what sadly decided it was, and for inspiring in me a belief in humanity again.
Now I don't know if this inspires me to revisit any of those ships that have sailed for me, personally. For one thing, I don't know if there's any reason. Life right now seems too full of opportunities and options and good times to feel like my only choice is looking backward. I've begun what I think may be a great adventure for three fantastical years. I cannot know now if that means anything, but maybe the adventure itself is what I should be looking forward to right, rather than any prize at the end.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
an empty message about walking
So I just spent 40 minutes checking my email and reading news in a desparate attempt to avoid walking up the hill. I would consider acting in this futile way, but it just doesn't seem worth it to trade a bit of effort with endless amounts of boredom.
As such I suppose I shall make the walk now. Wish me all the best!
As such I suppose I shall make the walk now. Wish me all the best!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
the first few words about law school
Hi folks. Too tired from homework to make any coherent kind of blog. I would like to say that if you google my real name, you'll find this site listed in the FRONT PAGE! This may mean I need to be careful. Interesting.
Also, I appreciate all of the contributions in the previous post. I will certainly bring those up again soon.
About law school so far... it's alright. Being a guy who feels uncomfortable when presented with a "right" answer, I seem to fit right in. I guess our entire legal system is based upon "yeah, maybe, but what about in THIS case?"
Oh, also, our entire legal system is based upon so-called "legislating from the bench." The two kinds of law traditions most americans know about are civil law (big lists of what's legal and what's not) and common law (big lists of generalities with the specifics defined by the courts).
America (along with almost all other english speaking nations) is based in common law. Lincoln was a common law lawyer. Adams was a common law lawyer. Making laws from the bench based upon the precendent of previous laws and the constitution and the laws of the legislature is what America is all about.
So the next time you hear someone complain about "legislating from the bench" tell them to move to france, because they don't do that there. Then feel free to accuse them of being a "frenchy," because it is sure to piss them off.
Also, I appreciate all of the contributions in the previous post. I will certainly bring those up again soon.
About law school so far... it's alright. Being a guy who feels uncomfortable when presented with a "right" answer, I seem to fit right in. I guess our entire legal system is based upon "yeah, maybe, but what about in THIS case?"
Oh, also, our entire legal system is based upon so-called "legislating from the bench." The two kinds of law traditions most americans know about are civil law (big lists of what's legal and what's not) and common law (big lists of generalities with the specifics defined by the courts).
America (along with almost all other english speaking nations) is based in common law. Lincoln was a common law lawyer. Adams was a common law lawyer. Making laws from the bench based upon the precendent of previous laws and the constitution and the laws of the legislature is what America is all about.
So the next time you hear someone complain about "legislating from the bench" tell them to move to france, because they don't do that there. Then feel free to accuse them of being a "frenchy," because it is sure to piss them off.
Friday, May 19, 2006
The Future (comments accepted)
Have I mentioned that I enjoy reading the blogs of other individuals who remind me of myself, but who may be slightly more creative and gregarious? No? Weird.
Um. Tonight I'm not going to talk about anything major, because it's late and I'm tired. However, I would like to say... LESS THAN A WEEK!! I'm actually getting a little nervous. I haven't done real work in such a long time. I wonder if I'll remember how.
Today I'd like a talk back session in the comments section. The topic: How will Nathan do at law school over the course of the next 3 years?
A) Top 10%, job at Latham & Watkins
B) Top 50, will always live in Kansas, probably KC area
C) Top 75, starts at 22 grand, chases ambulances
D) Dropped out, became a surfer in LA, suddenly grew immensely popular when his novel went to the movies.
Feel free to make up your own possible outcomes as well. Creativity is key. And don't be afraid to hold back. I'll certain accept things like: "M) became a hippy, married a brazilian woman name Locquatia, eats mangos." I may post my favorites on the main board.
Um. Tonight I'm not going to talk about anything major, because it's late and I'm tired. However, I would like to say... LESS THAN A WEEK!! I'm actually getting a little nervous. I haven't done real work in such a long time. I wonder if I'll remember how.
Today I'd like a talk back session in the comments section. The topic: How will Nathan do at law school over the course of the next 3 years?
A) Top 10%, job at Latham & Watkins
B) Top 50, will always live in Kansas, probably KC area
C) Top 75, starts at 22 grand, chases ambulances
D) Dropped out, became a surfer in LA, suddenly grew immensely popular when his novel went to the movies.
Feel free to make up your own possible outcomes as well. Creativity is key. And don't be afraid to hold back. I'll certain accept things like: "M) became a hippy, married a brazilian woman name Locquatia, eats mangos." I may post my favorites on the main board.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
For the ladies (aka womyn) out there
Today allow me to parrot a quote I found on (where else?) MySpace.
So there it is. I'm not sure which part I find the stupidest. I'm giving to prize to either "and when he smiles you know he needs you" or "the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical."
The first one is pretty stupid, because it can be taken in a hundred billion negative ways (e.g. "when he smiles you know he needs you, because he obviously is a boxer, hockey player, or POOR toothbrusher" and "when he smiles you know he needs you, because he reminds you so much of Rain Man, and don't forget to wipe the drool away, hun!"). Seriously, "you know that he needs you"? It's so melodramatically meaningless that it makes me want to heave.
The second one brings to mind Alec Baldwin's amazing performance on Friends. Allow me to demonstrate.
Parker (alec baldwin): I don't want to forget this moment! It's like I want to take a mental picture of you! Click!
Chandler: I don't think the flash went off.
People who make every moment magical should be shot.
Parker: Is there something wrong?
Phoebe: Wrong? Really? You know the word, "wrong?" Everything isn't perfect? Everything isn't magical? Everything isn't "aglow with the light of a million fairies?" They were just brake lights, parker.
Parker: Well excuse me for putting a good spin on a traffic jam!
Ladies, today I'm going to present you with a special female edition of HTGBWET. Rule #1: If you met him at a bar, he's dressed preppy, wears a baseball cap backwards, likes abercrombie, and doesn't laugh EVER, he's a dill-hole. You don't love him; you love the picture of normalcy that society pushes on you. If you're looking for a great guy, look for one who laughs a lot, but isn't always smiling. Look for a guy who talks to you, before he makes assumptions about what you find romantic. And look for a guy who isn't acting chivalrous (society's fake), but who is definitely acting like he might love you.
Even then, there are no guarantees, but as a friend recently said, you're knight in shining armor could end up being "a loser in aluminum foil."
Wait for the boy who pursues you, the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical, the kind of boy who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better person. Wait for the boy who will be your best friend; the boy who makes you smile like no other and when he smiles you know he needs you. Most of all wait for the boy who will put you at the center of his universe, because obviously he's at the center of yours.
So there it is. I'm not sure which part I find the stupidest. I'm giving to prize to either "and when he smiles you know he needs you" or "the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical."
The first one is pretty stupid, because it can be taken in a hundred billion negative ways (e.g. "when he smiles you know he needs you, because he obviously is a boxer, hockey player, or POOR toothbrusher" and "when he smiles you know he needs you, because he reminds you so much of Rain Man, and don't forget to wipe the drool away, hun!"). Seriously, "you know that he needs you"? It's so melodramatically meaningless that it makes me want to heave.
The second one brings to mind Alec Baldwin's amazing performance on Friends. Allow me to demonstrate.
Parker (alec baldwin): I don't want to forget this moment! It's like I want to take a mental picture of you! Click!
Chandler: I don't think the flash went off.
People who make every moment magical should be shot.
Parker: Is there something wrong?
Phoebe: Wrong? Really? You know the word, "wrong?" Everything isn't perfect? Everything isn't magical? Everything isn't "aglow with the light of a million fairies?" They were just brake lights, parker.
Parker: Well excuse me for putting a good spin on a traffic jam!
Ladies, today I'm going to present you with a special female edition of HTGBWET. Rule #1: If you met him at a bar, he's dressed preppy, wears a baseball cap backwards, likes abercrombie, and doesn't laugh EVER, he's a dill-hole. You don't love him; you love the picture of normalcy that society pushes on you. If you're looking for a great guy, look for one who laughs a lot, but isn't always smiling. Look for a guy who talks to you, before he makes assumptions about what you find romantic. And look for a guy who isn't acting chivalrous (society's fake), but who is definitely acting like he might love you.
Even then, there are no guarantees, but as a friend recently said, you're knight in shining armor could end up being "a loser in aluminum foil."
Monday, May 15, 2006
Moving On. Facing up to the truth that is time to part. giving way to the...
Alright, so I lied. I'm gonna blog whenever I want, because that's what I do. I enjoy expressing my thoughts, and this blog helps me to coherently sum them up. And boy do I have a doozy of a few tonight.
First, I went to PR's house tonight, and I've gotta say: pretty impressive, especially for a starterhome/ bachelor pad.
Also, the only way to watch kung fu is in high-def. That should be some kind of law.
While there I discovered that Aimee had recently returned from her Cali sojourn. Talking to her was pretty neat. She's grown up quite a bit since her freshman year of high school. Perhaps this shouldn't surprise me?
And now on to the meat and potatoes of this post. So I went and watched a rained out baseball game recently, when I had a moment of realization. I saw a very pretty girl that I hadn't seen in an extremely long time who I once had a crush on, and I just walked by.
Later, when asked why I just walked by, I came up with a reason beyond simply "I can be very shy." And the more I thought about it, the more confident I felt in my response.
It does no good to revisit the past.
We live in a society where one single dismissal equals an eternity of dismissal. Relationships like those of Ross and Rachel do not happen anymore, if they ever did. I want to say that men would probably be very happy if these kinds of relationships did happen, because then I could blame the whole thing on women, but I don't think that would be very effective, true, or realistic.
The fact of the matter is that the only time any of us are willing to turn back the clock and give a previously dismissed person a chance is when either A) we once had a crush on that person or B) that person has changed so much as to be nearly unrecognizable as their old selves (and this must be change in a good way).
As far as I can tell, neither of these principals extend onto me, and, as such, there is no reason to concern myself with old woulda-coulda flames.
Anyway, that's my thought of the night. Here's a lesson to ally you HTGBWETers out there. It took a school of hard knocks that lasted many years before I finally learned this lesson.
She wasn't interested two months ago. She's not interested now. She isn't remarkably special, and she isn't worth it. There's that old phrase, "Her loss." Well, to that I say: maybe, maybe not. The only thing we do know that is REALLY isn't yours.
There are billions of people in this world, and we're all of us more alike than two chimps from different tribes at the zoo.
There are a hell of a lot of other people out there. Go find them.
First, I went to PR's house tonight, and I've gotta say: pretty impressive, especially for a starterhome/ bachelor pad.
Also, the only way to watch kung fu is in high-def. That should be some kind of law.
While there I discovered that Aimee had recently returned from her Cali sojourn. Talking to her was pretty neat. She's grown up quite a bit since her freshman year of high school. Perhaps this shouldn't surprise me?
And now on to the meat and potatoes of this post. So I went and watched a rained out baseball game recently, when I had a moment of realization. I saw a very pretty girl that I hadn't seen in an extremely long time who I once had a crush on, and I just walked by.
Later, when asked why I just walked by, I came up with a reason beyond simply "I can be very shy." And the more I thought about it, the more confident I felt in my response.
It does no good to revisit the past.
We live in a society where one single dismissal equals an eternity of dismissal. Relationships like those of Ross and Rachel do not happen anymore, if they ever did. I want to say that men would probably be very happy if these kinds of relationships did happen, because then I could blame the whole thing on women, but I don't think that would be very effective, true, or realistic.
The fact of the matter is that the only time any of us are willing to turn back the clock and give a previously dismissed person a chance is when either A) we once had a crush on that person or B) that person has changed so much as to be nearly unrecognizable as their old selves (and this must be change in a good way).
As far as I can tell, neither of these principals extend onto me, and, as such, there is no reason to concern myself with old woulda-coulda flames.
Anyway, that's my thought of the night. Here's a lesson to ally you HTGBWETers out there. It took a school of hard knocks that lasted many years before I finally learned this lesson.
She wasn't interested two months ago. She's not interested now. She isn't remarkably special, and she isn't worth it. There's that old phrase, "Her loss." Well, to that I say: maybe, maybe not. The only thing we do know that is REALLY isn't yours.
There are billions of people in this world, and we're all of us more alike than two chimps from different tribes at the zoo.
There are a hell of a lot of other people out there. Go find them.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
"Abstinent" rarely stay abstinent
Alright, so in leiu of a real post today, allow me to parrot a bit. The following article, which actually smears clinton a bit for being the one in office when abstinence only programs were first introduced as a federally funded thing, lists a few stats which I find of interest. You are all welcome to draw your own conclusions.
According to reproductive rights researchers from the Alan Guttmacher institute, the rate of unplanned pregnancy rose by nearly 30 percent for women living below the federal poverty line between 1994 through 2001-while falling by 20 percent during the same time period for women in families earning just $16,000 annually for a family of three.
Among the poorest women, the proportion of unwanted pregnancies that resulted in live births increased by almost 50 percent between 1994 and 2001, while it declined for women in families whose income was at least twice the official poverty level.
Unintended pregnancies led to almost even numbers of births and abortions.
U.S. teen pregnancy rates are double those in England and Canada, and nine times more than those in the Netherlands and Japan.
Research shows that when contraception is readily available, the rate of unplanned pregnancy drops. France offers free emergency contraception to teenagers, without requiring them to inform their parents, yet France has an abortion rate half of that in the U.S.
For the record, no scientific evidence exists to show that consensual sex between teenagers is harmful in any respect.
rollin rollin rollin
A thought occurred to me today. I should tell you.. I should tell you. I've got baggage.
Um. I mean, I should let everyone know that I may not blog very much over the next week or so, as I work out moving arrangements, take care of last minute things, and generally head north. If there is any particular topic you all would like me to expound upon, such as America's stance on East Timor, the amazing thing that is Victoria Tennant, or my own masculine awesomeness, just let me know.
Otherwise, I may write, I may not. Once the move ends, though, I'm sure I'll have a few things to say, like, "So I was watching Joel sleep last night, when I started to think about the origin of ice picks" and other humorous anecdotes. So keep your eyes open for that!
Tschuss!
Um. I mean, I should let everyone know that I may not blog very much over the next week or so, as I work out moving arrangements, take care of last minute things, and generally head north. If there is any particular topic you all would like me to expound upon, such as America's stance on East Timor, the amazing thing that is Victoria Tennant, or my own masculine awesomeness, just let me know.
Otherwise, I may write, I may not. Once the move ends, though, I'm sure I'll have a few things to say, like, "So I was watching Joel sleep last night, when I started to think about the origin of ice picks" and other humorous anecdotes. So keep your eyes open for that!
Tschuss!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Customer Service for Dell, Verizon Wireless, and Bank of America!
Nothing really to say right now, just wanted to make a quick note. I've made 4 customer service calls in recent weeks, and all have been NOT TERRIBLE!
Two calls were made to verizon wireless folks who helped me activated my old phone and then my new phone again. The first time I was helped by some guy who was not personable, but was exceedingly efficient. On the second call I was helped by a woman who lived in california and had an extremely sexy, cute voice. We chatted about weather and mountains and montana and the pacific.
Then I made a call to Dell to arrange financing of my laptop for law school. Once again, no problems. I was pretty concerned this time, because I thought my credit wouldn't hold, but once again the woman was extraordinarily efficient and everything was arranged lickity split.
Finally, I was dicked around a bit by Bank of America this week and given an overdraft charge that I didn't deserve. So I called them and got a very nice woman from Rhode Island; we chatted about the weather in New England; and that overdraft charge was IRRADICATED!
I feel like I've almost moved up to a new, more perfect state of being. Naturally, at some point this can't last, but for now I'm feeling pretty great.
Two calls were made to verizon wireless folks who helped me activated my old phone and then my new phone again. The first time I was helped by some guy who was not personable, but was exceedingly efficient. On the second call I was helped by a woman who lived in california and had an extremely sexy, cute voice. We chatted about weather and mountains and montana and the pacific.
Then I made a call to Dell to arrange financing of my laptop for law school. Once again, no problems. I was pretty concerned this time, because I thought my credit wouldn't hold, but once again the woman was extraordinarily efficient and everything was arranged lickity split.
Finally, I was dicked around a bit by Bank of America this week and given an overdraft charge that I didn't deserve. So I called them and got a very nice woman from Rhode Island; we chatted about the weather in New England; and that overdraft charge was IRRADICATED!
I feel like I've almost moved up to a new, more perfect state of being. Naturally, at some point this can't last, but for now I'm feeling pretty great.
Important Additions
And, last but not least, what would a wedding be without a beautiful maid of honor... or a kyle?
The life of the party
This little girl may well have been the life of the party. Here she is taking a breather with mom.
K-diddy and the groom
For those of you who weren't there, I thought I'd post a pic or two of Kristi's wedding.
Monday, May 08, 2006
An apology, in a sense
Well, my initial plan for this post was to write an apology to a particular person, but that just doesn't sound like me. I was right the first time around. Sure, I felt like an ass later and probably should not have broadcasted my thoughts quite so widely. Lord knows I've been able to keep my trap shut once in a while in other situations, but what's done is done.
What AM I sorry about? I know I am sorry, but let's consider exactly why.
I'm sorry for having caused conflict. I'm sorry for having dragged a real name into the story, when guilt/innocence was not proven. I'm sorry for having hurt feelings and making people feel uncomfortable. I'm sorry for having dragged attention away from where it belonged at the time.
Um. Yeah, I think that takes care of it. I'm not particularly sorry for talking about a famous type of interaction, because it's an important type to air out. I'm not sorry for airing my thoughts on the matter, nor for admitting my boundless lack of self-confidence.
And now... a tribute to Kristi: bow chick a bow wow! Chick a chicka bow wow! Chicka bow wow!
What AM I sorry about? I know I am sorry, but let's consider exactly why.
I'm sorry for having caused conflict. I'm sorry for having dragged a real name into the story, when guilt/innocence was not proven. I'm sorry for having hurt feelings and making people feel uncomfortable. I'm sorry for having dragged attention away from where it belonged at the time.
Um. Yeah, I think that takes care of it. I'm not particularly sorry for talking about a famous type of interaction, because it's an important type to air out. I'm not sorry for airing my thoughts on the matter, nor for admitting my boundless lack of self-confidence.
And now... a tribute to Kristi: bow chick a bow wow! Chick a chicka bow wow! Chicka bow wow!
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Moving On
Today I watched Hitch for the first time since I saw it in the theaters, and I have to say, it isn't as amazing as I remember. Sure, it's good. I definitely enjoyed it and saw the parallels in my life and personality, but (and this could just be wishful thinking) I think I've moved beyond that kind of thing.
So let's move on in general. Today I did a few things in preparation for school, which of course leads to daydreaming about school, which in turn leads to looking up other people who go to school at KU.
All of this leads me to believe one thing. To be successful in law school, you have to be a pretty funny person in the so-called blogosphere.
That said, I'd like to talk to everyone today about something near and dear to my heart. My Cell Phone.
That's right, my VX8100, which I affectionately refer to as Timmy (and which my two year old niece calls either "mines" or "pictures!"), has been cut off from the powers that be.
In other words, the power cord is not handy and will not be handy for about 2 weeks. The battery is dead. My social life is forever ruined.
Prostitutes!
This means I wasn't able to talk to or call anyone for a whole 24 hours. I ordered a replacement from ebay (S&H was 6.50, the replacement cord itself was 1 penny - ebay is amazing), but who knows when that is getting here?
So I cried... and I begged... for you to love me, love, say that you'll love me.
Um. I mean, I was sad. Then, like a vision from the heavens, I realized how to deal with my current crisis. My mom wanted me to clear out my truck in preparation for moving. I opened the truck bed, pulled out an extremely old bag, brought it inside, and opened it.
"What did you find?" you ask?
I found MY OLD PHONE FROM MONTANA!! That's right! That's why you don't throw things away and why Joey doesn't share!
I know!
And it took a long time and was probably totally unnecessary, but my old VX3100 is back in operating condition as of a little while ago. It has been successfully re-activated, and the good times are here again.
New Rule (unrelated to the maxims of HTGBWET): if you want to touch me, you have to be willing to perform strange phone related acts with me from many miles away. All others are verboten.
Except Kyle, who is my driving buddy this weekend. Also Kristi, I guess, but only because saturday is her special day.
Edit (5 minutes later): Also, whoever is from (or near) westlake village, CA should step forward. I'm curious who is reading my blog from out there.
So let's move on in general. Today I did a few things in preparation for school, which of course leads to daydreaming about school, which in turn leads to looking up other people who go to school at KU.
All of this leads me to believe one thing. To be successful in law school, you have to be a pretty funny person in the so-called blogosphere.
That said, I'd like to talk to everyone today about something near and dear to my heart. My Cell Phone.
That's right, my VX8100, which I affectionately refer to as Timmy (and which my two year old niece calls either "mines" or "pictures!"), has been cut off from the powers that be.
In other words, the power cord is not handy and will not be handy for about 2 weeks. The battery is dead. My social life is forever ruined.
Prostitutes!
This means I wasn't able to talk to or call anyone for a whole 24 hours. I ordered a replacement from ebay (S&H was 6.50, the replacement cord itself was 1 penny - ebay is amazing), but who knows when that is getting here?
So I cried... and I begged... for you to love me, love, say that you'll love me.
Um. I mean, I was sad. Then, like a vision from the heavens, I realized how to deal with my current crisis. My mom wanted me to clear out my truck in preparation for moving. I opened the truck bed, pulled out an extremely old bag, brought it inside, and opened it.
"What did you find?" you ask?
I found MY OLD PHONE FROM MONTANA!! That's right! That's why you don't throw things away and why Joey doesn't share!
I know!
And it took a long time and was probably totally unnecessary, but my old VX3100 is back in operating condition as of a little while ago. It has been successfully re-activated, and the good times are here again.
New Rule (unrelated to the maxims of HTGBWET): if you want to touch me, you have to be willing to perform strange phone related acts with me from many miles away. All others are verboten.
Except Kyle, who is my driving buddy this weekend. Also Kristi, I guess, but only because saturday is her special day.
Edit (5 minutes later): Also, whoever is from (or near) westlake village, CA should step forward. I'm curious who is reading my blog from out there.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Beta and the V-train
Hallo Leute!
It's been over a half week since my last post. I don't know if anyone noticed that, but I do heartily apologize. Starting on Thursday I had to house sit for my aunt, and it sort of precluded any excellent post writing, then on saturday I went apt. hunting in the lawrence/kc area.
All that said, I'm back! That's right. Welcome to HTGBWET 2.0.14.04212.63 BETA! Yes, it's been a long time in coming, but HTGBWET has been needing a new influx of talent and wisdom, and the only person I know with newer talent and wisdom than me is....
ME AGAIN!
Which means, of course, if you are actually keeping score, that virtually nothing has changed. Maybe next time.
However, I do have a bit of good news for at least one person out there. K-tastic, I did not fall off the V-train this week, which means, unless something very unexpected happens, you shall pass me in our little race.
You should know, though, that it looked like I could have. I met a REALLY freaky chick at the bars who was gonna go home with this couple and have a 3-way (swear to God. The two chicks were making out hard core. It was nifty). Anyway, she was gonna do that, but she offered me a ride home and, based upon a simple count of ass-grabbin', I'm pretty sure that things would have proceded in a very interesting direction.
However, the couple did not want her to take me home, and I eventually relented. I may have come to the conclusion that a nameless one-night stand might not be the best way to fall off the v-train. I guess there's something to be said for having a pre-existing relationship, before getting down to any hardcore boning.
Weird stuff.
For all of you other reads though, you need to take this as a lesson.
HTGBWET Tip #84: Lose your virginity early, so you don't have to worry about facing moral dilemmas later. It's very difficult to get babes when you are saying no to them.
It's been over a half week since my last post. I don't know if anyone noticed that, but I do heartily apologize. Starting on Thursday I had to house sit for my aunt, and it sort of precluded any excellent post writing, then on saturday I went apt. hunting in the lawrence/kc area.
All that said, I'm back! That's right. Welcome to HTGBWET 2.0.14.04212.63 BETA! Yes, it's been a long time in coming, but HTGBWET has been needing a new influx of talent and wisdom, and the only person I know with newer talent and wisdom than me is....
ME AGAIN!
Which means, of course, if you are actually keeping score, that virtually nothing has changed. Maybe next time.
However, I do have a bit of good news for at least one person out there. K-tastic, I did not fall off the V-train this week, which means, unless something very unexpected happens, you shall pass me in our little race.
You should know, though, that it looked like I could have. I met a REALLY freaky chick at the bars who was gonna go home with this couple and have a 3-way (swear to God. The two chicks were making out hard core. It was nifty). Anyway, she was gonna do that, but she offered me a ride home and, based upon a simple count of ass-grabbin', I'm pretty sure that things would have proceded in a very interesting direction.
However, the couple did not want her to take me home, and I eventually relented. I may have come to the conclusion that a nameless one-night stand might not be the best way to fall off the v-train. I guess there's something to be said for having a pre-existing relationship, before getting down to any hardcore boning.
Weird stuff.
For all of you other reads though, you need to take this as a lesson.
HTGBWET Tip #84: Lose your virginity early, so you don't have to worry about facing moral dilemmas later. It's very difficult to get babes when you are saying no to them.
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