tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27641780546253984602024-03-14T10:27:19.694+01:00Quit Your ApathyScience may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all -- the apathy of human beings. -Helen KellerAmiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-61691013358324345602009-08-03T18:20:00.004+02:002009-08-03T18:35:46.750+02:00Caring about Health Care<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://firstfriday.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/reagan.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 494px; height: 475px;" src="http://firstfriday.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/reagan.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />A big topic of discussion right now is health care and the proposal that Obama is hoping congress will come up with.<br /><br />I have never claimed to be an expert. I am just one person with an opinion and a blog. The things I write about are things I care about, and I am always open to your interpretation of things when given constructively.<br /><br />I have a very strong opinion on this topic, having lived in the U.S. for four years with no health insurance, and then having lived in a country with public health insurance for two years (Germany).<br /><br />I'd like to address some of the common arguments against a public option, or "socialized medicine" that I've heard. Please tell me what I am missing, I'd like to hear other arguments.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />It would force taxpayers to fund abortion.</span><br />To this, my response is that yes, you will have to pay for abortion to some extent because abortion, whether you like it or not, is currently legal in many states. I have to pay taxes that fund a war that I don't support where innocent lives are lost.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Keep government out of my business! This is socialism!</span><br />I think this kind of cowboy, fend for yourself attitude is unrealistic. I don't care for the type of people that would rather let their neighbors starve than have a government that lends a hand. The government is already involved in Medicare, medical care for the military, schools, libraries, fire departments, police forces, etc. People who think this step will mean socialism for the U.S. are ignoring the fact that the government is already involved and can be involved for good. Even if you don't agree with that, currently health care is dictated by the whims of health insurance companies and their shareholders. How is this any better? These people profit most when they give less care. Their incentive is to deny your care.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">There will be long waits for health care like in frightening Canada and terrifying France!</span><br />From what I have personally experienced and from what I have heard from others, the wait in countries with public health care is not significantly different than that of the U.S.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-27425308271259570482009-08-01T22:43:00.004+02:002009-08-01T22:59:33.076+02:00OstseePhotos taken in Rostock, Germany last week (click to see full image). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg254/abbeyrd84/IMG_5702.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 512px; height: 384px;" src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg254/abbeyrd84/IMG_5702.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg254/abbeyrd84/IMG_5663.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 512px; height: 384px;" src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg254/abbeyrd84/IMG_5663.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg254/abbeyrd84/IMG_5606.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 512px; height: 265px;" src="http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg254/abbeyrd84/IMG_5606.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-51267861286528375932009-08-01T18:13:00.002+02:002009-08-01T18:19:44.089+02:00Still WorseAs further proof that it can't get much worse than being an atheist in the eyes of believers, the <a href="http://friendlyatheist.com/2009/08/01/they-rejected-an-atheist-ad-for-being-offensive-but-they-allow-this/">Friendly Atheist</a> blogs about an atheist ad that was rejected by a company for being offensive.<br /><br />You've all probably seen this billboard by now:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://friendlyatheist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/imaginenoreligionbillboard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 450px; height: 136px;" src="http://friendlyatheist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/imaginenoreligionbillboard.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The amusing and somewhat baffling thing about all of this is that the same company accepted the following billboards:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.valleycentral.com/uploadedimages/kgbt/news/Stories/7-28-09%20BILL%201.jpg?w=500&h=375&aspect=nostretch"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://www.valleycentral.com/uploadedimages/kgbt/news/Stories/7-28-09%20BILL%201.jpg?w=500&h=375&aspect=nostretch" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I find this amusing given the fact that most Christians think that sexuality will be the doom of our society. But apparently atheists are still #1 on the threat list.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-37206400987970212012009-08-01T17:56:00.003+02:002009-08-01T18:07:01.302+02:00To Twit or not to Twit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.js-kit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/twitter_logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 477px; height: 200px;" src="http://blog.js-kit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/twitter_logo.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I suppose it's called tweeting, but really, what do I care?<br /><br />I've been fairly active lately with the twitering-tweetering-twatering, so if you are on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">twitter</a> we should make a twitter bond.<br /><br />I know some people are totally anti-twitter, but I love it for sharing interesting links and being shared interesting links with. I sometimes grow weary of my feed containing only atheist- and liberal-related content, and so I enjoy trying to mix it up and get a variety in there. I also try to share links on a variety of topics.<br /><br />And of course, I wouldn't want to disappoint you: there are also the occasional updates on my mood and what I had for breakfast.<br /><br />So if you are also on twitter, feel free to promote yourself to me and...well, probably just (who am I kidding?) in the comments.<br /><br />Oh, and here is a post by <a href="http://www.atheistrev.com/">vjack</a> about the <a href="http://www.atheistrev.com/2008/08/blogging-tip-9-twitter.html">benefits of using twitter as a blogger</a>.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-46973805628659028132009-08-01T07:24:00.008+02:002009-08-01T16:20:18.648+02:00Immodesty<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tiscover.com/at/images/CPS/218/CPS119718at/6strand-5695.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 407px; height: 175px;" src="http://www.tiscover.com/at/images/CPS/218/CPS119718at/6strand-5695.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I was reading a <a href="http://katemf.blogspot.com/2009/07/keep-them-covered-is-that-too-much-to.html">blog post</a>* where someone was very offended by the fact that people walk around with very little clothing on, namely women showing cleavage or wearing bikinis.<br /><br /><blockquote>If everyone just stopped dressing like a street walker we’d be one step closer to fixing what’s wrong with this country.<br /></blockquote>For some reason this really got my goat. Maybe because I think people shouldn't be allowed to forbid things just because they are offended by them. Or maybe because our country has a lot of other huge frigging problems that need solving besides this person's discomfort at seeing a breast. How very typical of conservative-types (and I'm making an assumption here about their political affiliation which I doubt is inaccurate) to think that the biggest problems in our society have to do with sex instead of the fact that our schools suck, people don't get health care and meanwhile in other countries around the world people are suffering and dying in terrible, degrading ways.<br /><br />There is only one way that I can partly sympathize with this, and it is that I feel women are overly-objectified and feel they need to show their bodies while men do not.<br /><br />However, I do not think that women should be forced to cover up. I think people should wear whatever they like as long as it does not endanger people around them. And that does not include hurting your feelings or making you feel squeamish.<br /><br />I was raised Baptist and also am from the U.S. so I understand the gut reaction of squeamishness. I still experience it sometimes at the sight of a naked body or something sexual. But I now realize it is unnatural to feel such shame about something so natural!<br /><br />Just last weekend I was visiting the Baltic Coast and saw my first nude bather. As an American and a former prude I was initially shocked by it. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed completely natural and the more my feelings seemed to be ignorant.<br /><br />I suppose if you are unwilling to accept to the fact that we are animals then you may not agree with this point, but what could be more natural than the human body and why should it be hidden? Why should we be offended at the very sight of it?<br /><br />If we were exposed to more nudity we would not have such shame surrounding our bodies. If we were exposed to average people nude we would not have such unnatural and unrealistic expectations about beauty, instead of only being exposed to airbrushed and surgically enhanced bodies. We would see all shapes and sizes, and stop feeling such shame about our own.<br /><br />So to respond to this blog post, I would like to say that <span style="font-weight: bold;">if everyone started walking around nude and getting used to the sight of the naked human body we’d be one step closer to fixing what’s wrong with this country.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">*At the end of this post the blogger stated "Am I out of line here?" seemingly inviting responses, and so I responded in a comment to the effect of "Not everybody thinks that the human body is shameful and should be covered up. Since you asked, yes I do think it is out of line to try to dictate what others should wear because you are offended by it." <br /><br />Apparently encountering somebody on her blog who did not share her world views was too much for this blogger and she quickly made another post apologizing for "ruffling feathers" because she got one comment politely disagreeing with her.<br /><br /><blockquote>I seem to have ruffled some feathers with my last post. Sorry "me" but I don't think that if I'm sitting you down at my counter and putting makeup on you that I should have to look at your breasts. I agree with you that the human body is beautiful but there is a time and a place and we seem to be forgetting that. I wear shorts and tank tops just like everybody else but I make sure that I have my personal belongings inside my outfit. Sorry if that offends anyone....was just blogging my feelings on the day after seeing way too much.</blockquote><br /><br />And now, her blog is inaccessible. Deleted? Address changed? I have no idea. <br /><br /> </span>Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-2995393557344705782009-07-02T18:50:00.002+02:002009-07-02T18:55:10.056+02:00The Burka<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oQKDHdflpO0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oQKDHdflpO0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />From <a href="http://www.atheistmedia.com">Atheist Media</a>, the Big Question discussing whether the burka should be banned in Britain.<br /><br />First of all I want to say I am disgusted by the things the woman in the Burka is saying.<br /><br />My biggest problem is with her insisting it is about freedom of choice, and her right to wear what she wants.<br /><br />BULL! I'd like to hear her say that to all of the women in the world who have NO freedom of choice and are forced to wear the burka for fear of death.<br /><br />I think her silence when asked why men shouldn't wear burkas was very telling. She kept insisting it wasn't about the subservience of women, but she had no answer for that.<br /><br />I also think it is incredibly ridiculous to let women wear these costumes in public places. If a man wore something concealing his entire face and identity, the cops would be called on him!Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-13525547253296708052009-06-17T18:52:00.004+02:002009-06-17T19:06:08.817+02:00Atheist BlogrollI mentioned the <a href="http://mojoey.blogspot.com/2006/09/join-mojoeys-atheist-blogroll.html">Atheist Blogroll</a> in a previous post, I have finally gotten around to applying.<br /><br />You can check out the scrolling marquis with lots of awesome blogs written by atheists and agnostics in the side bar.<br /><br />It is managed by Mojoey at <a href="http://mojoey.blogspot.com/">Deep Thoughts</a>, which is also worth a look.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-77120089121918752632009-06-15T14:37:00.006+02:002009-06-15T17:15:22.825+02:00Enablers<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/opinion/14rich.html">A great op-ed in the New York Times</a> about the Right's silent (and sometimes not so silent) enabling of hatred, violence, and even terrorism.<br /><br />It makes me pretty disgusted when I hear all the sensationalist and ridiculous lies that some on the Right are spreading. They are appealing to a very low and hate-filled segment of our population and I think that hate-mongers like Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh should be accountable for violent acts like the murder of Dr. Tiller and the security guard at the Holocaust museum.<br /><br />The fact that at a GOP fundraiser, Jon Voigt could say his wish was to "bring an end to this false prophet Obama" and then be praised for it by those present, is sick and frightening to me.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-63304907355164345832009-06-15T14:04:00.003+02:002009-06-15T14:44:03.549+02:00Vaccine DebateWas reading <a href="http://www.mojoey.blogspot.com/">Mojoey's Deep Thoughts</a> blog and he introduced a new blog on the <a href="http://mojoey.blogspot.com/2006/09/join-mojoeys-atheist-blogroll.html">Atheist Blogroll</a> (which I am meaning to join...any day now) called <a href="http://ziztur.com/">Ziztur.</a><br /><br />Started by reading an entry about the <a href="http://www.ziztur.com/2009/06/big-pharma-gambit.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">vaccine debate</span></a> and I really enjoyed it, so I will be following this blog in the future.<br /><br />I liked a few points that were made about the silliness of the argument that pharamaceutical companies are profiting off of poisonous vaccines or by suppressing homeopathic remedies that work.<br /><br />It was suggested that treating the illnesses would probably be more profitable for the pharamaceutical companies than selling vaccines for them. And that pharmaceutical companies could easily enter the homeopathy market and drive out the smaller companies, who, by the way, aren't necessarily struggling in their industry and are also making huge profits. Just as they claim that pharmaceutical companies have something to gain from driving them out, they also stand to profit from giving pharmaceutical companies a bad reputation.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-75530885486985614722009-06-11T18:41:00.004+02:002009-06-11T18:59:32.148+02:00Speak AmericanFound this very interesting list of <a href="http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/beastly/">correct American pronunciations</a>.<br /><br />Ashamed to say that I pronounce the following words incorrectly:<br /><br /><ul><li>grocery (I say GROH-shuh-ree)</li><li>irony (I say EYE-ur-nee)</li><li>medieval (I say mid-EE-v<u>u</u>l)</li><li>often (I pronounce the t)</li><li>parental (I say PAR-<u>e</u>n-t<u>u</u>l)</li><li>semi (I say SEM-eye)</li><li>spontaneity (I say SPAHN-tuh-<b>NAY</b>-<u>i</u>-tee)</li></ul><br />They also have some <a href="http://www.pbs.org/speak/">interesting quizzes about regional American accents at that site</a>.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-14119280737423326362009-06-06T14:55:00.003+02:002009-06-06T14:59:02.200+02:00$125,000-a-Year TeachersI read an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/education/05charter.html">interesting article in the New York Times</a> about an experimental charter school being set up where they have hired eight exceptional teachers and will pay them $125,000 a year.<br /><br />The school is looking to prove the theory that excellent teachers are what make the difference in education, not class size or revolutionary technology.<br /><br />I am interested to see how this turns out. It's a shame that one of the most important jobs in our society is also one of the most under-valued.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-35596971427520644632009-06-05T14:25:00.006+02:002009-06-05T14:36:01.587+02:00More Sex, Please<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,1538906,00.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 185px;" src="http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,1538906,00.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This is an insert from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Spiegel">Der Spiegel</a>, which is one of Europe's largest weekly magazines with a circulation of more than one million per week.<br /><br />It says "More Sex please! The movies have lost their lust."<br /><br />I thought it was very amusing since you would never hear that in the U.S.<br /><br />Instead there are people complaining about how much sex there is in the entertainment industry and how we're all going to hell and it's a sure sign of the coming apocalypse, and yada yada.<br /><br />I have to admit that my childhood in the U.S. has had a big effect on me. While I don't consider myself a prude, I still feel a bit uncomfortable during sex scenes in films, don't feel comfortable with people who wear their sexuality on their sleeves, and I don't enjoy seeing nude women on the back of every newspaper in Germany or on calendars in the supermarket.<br /><br />I guess my biggest beef is when the nudity is objectifying women or portraying unrealistic beauty. I think this gives both sexes unhealthy ideas about women.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-35078999118933127102009-06-04T14:52:00.002+02:002009-06-04T14:56:49.622+02:00LadiesWhenever a woman is in a bad mood, is upset, is argumentative, is emotional in any way, inevitably someone will make a crack about how she must be menstruating or PMSing or whatever.<br /><br />This is really frustrating and incredibly sexist. If I am rightfully angry about something this is used to completely invalidate my feelings and to shut me up.<br /><br />So it is even more frustrating when a fellow woman says this to me. Stop perpetuating this nonsense! When I am angry, it is usually because someone has angered me, not because of my monthly cycle!<br /><br />So try not to belittle the women in your life by telling them their feelings are just irrational hormones, because it is quite offensive.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-63530278968250758622009-06-03T23:39:00.004+02:002009-06-03T23:48:36.549+02:00Same-Sex Immigration RightsThis fall I am returning to the U.S. with my German husband where he will apply for a spouse visa to stay permanently.<br /><br />If we were the same gender, this wouldn't even be an option.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/03/same.sex.immigration/index.html?eref=rss_us">An estimated 36,000 bi-national couples face the same dilemma each year</a>, according to an advocacy group, Immigration Equality.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />The issue will be discussed in Congress on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, after 10 previous attempts to have hearings on the Uniting American Families Act.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council which opposes same sex marriage, has condemned the bill as "yet another attack on marriage at the expense of U.S. taxpayers."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear from couples facing deportation and split because of the law.<br /><br />Nineteen other countries, including much of western Europe and Canada, Brazil and Australia among others, allow nationals to sponsor same-sex partners for citizenship.</span><br /><br />An attack on marriage? I will never understand how these people think a gay couple's marriage will affect their own. It does not affect mine whatsoever.<br /><br />What this is, is an attack on freedom and on love.<br /><br />Recently I have begun to see the possible benefits of having government not recognize marriage, but only civil partnerships, and to let marriage be only a religious rite.<br /><br />But I am sure the same people will also find some reason to be against this because it is simply about their hate, not because their marriages are at risk.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-72131505566766592572009-06-03T15:03:00.005+02:002009-06-03T15:07:58.538+02:00BingWhen I think of it, I'll be trying to use <a href="http://www.bing.com/">Bing.com</a> to do all my searching instead of Google.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090603080633">It's supposed</a> to be better at helping you find the kind of site you want.<br /><br />We'll see about that!<br /><br />Still waiting for Sims3, which wont arrive until next week. I need a break from my usual routine.<br /><br />Might try to catch Obama while he is <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,623130,00.html">sightseeing in Dresden</a> this Thursday.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-37736568181621997312009-06-02T20:46:00.005+02:002009-06-02T20:57:23.292+02:00Soda<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.adamfoods.com/pepsi%20can.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.adamfoods.com/pepsi%20can.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I began wondering if soft drinks vary from country to country. And I'm not just talking about brands, but about the taste.<br /><br />Does a coke in the U.S. taste the same as a coke in Germany?<br /><br />Well, if you ask me, the answer is no.<br /><br />I looked around on the internet and found that the variables in the equation are water and sweetener. So a soft drink can even taste differently in different regions, not just countries.<br /><br />I found <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041109/news_1b9mexcoke.html">this interesting article</a> about how people are smuggling cokes back from Mexico because they contain cane sugar instead of corn syrup like in the U.S.<br /><br />Apparently the Coke in the U.S. used to also contain cane sugar, but they switched to corn syrup because of the costs. Now they are concerned that people are buying the product from Mexico, and that people are demanding a more expensive ingredient but are probably unwilling to pay the difference in cost.<br /><br />Sorry, I was a business major, so I find case studies like this very interesting. Coke is now trying to tell people that there is no perceivable difference in taste.<br /><br />But I don't agree. I have trouble telling the difference between Coke and Pepsi sometimes, but I can definitely tell there is something different about the coke in Germany. It is too sweet and not carbonated enough for my tastes. They also rarely have them in cans here, but that's probably because Germany is more environmentally conscious. I'm looking forward to a coke when I get back home, one that fizzes in my nose and burns my throat when it goes down. Sounds appealing, no?<br /><br />Oh and by the way, I was using the term coke very generally (unless capitalized) . I am a Pepsi drinker.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-60225601571902835442009-06-02T15:45:00.003+02:002009-06-02T15:49:23.332+02:00BigotryI am absolutely disgusted by the bigotry being displayed here by the criticism of Sotomayor.<br /><br />We should be embarassed of this.<br /><br />Are we actually using this woman's race and gender to insult her? Are we really going to insinuate that she is stupid when she is obviously educated? Would we ever do this to a white man?<br /><br />Oh how I wish we could just judge her based on her record.<br /><br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/01/buchanan-sotomayor-english/">Now Buchanan is mocking Sotomayor</a> for learning how to speak English from elementary grammar books and children's stories.<br /><br />I'd like to know what fracking foreign languages Buchanan can speak and if learned them some other way. What an idiot.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-51007396353681751402009-06-02T15:36:00.002+02:002009-06-02T15:43:23.650+02:00Value of LifeI've been thinking some more about the murder of Dr. Tiller.<br /><br />I often try to empathize with the other side of an argument. To try to understand why they would feel that way. But I'm having a hard time in this case.<br /><br />I understand that they think abortion is murder.<br /><br />What I don't understand is them thinking that a fetus' life is more important than the humans who are dying and suffering every day.<br /><br />There are policy makers who send soldiers to war and every day they kill human beings.<br /><br />These human beings have a sense of self, they have a personality, they have memories, they have friends and family.<br /><br />A fetus, in my opinion, does not have these things.<br /><br />I have heard the argument that unborn babies are innocent and that human beings are not. But I don't buy this argument. Are the children who die because of war and starvation and abuse every day not innocent as well?<br /><br />And since I am familiar with Christianity, I know that they often times view this life as painful and miserable, and just a waiting room of sorts to get to the afterlife. <br /><br />So I also have trouble understanding why they think it is so bad that a fetus has been deprived of a life if they believe it is going straight to heaven.<br /><br />Your thoughts are welcome.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-26237555329674906302009-06-01T11:46:00.002+02:002009-06-01T11:50:28.393+02:00Dr. TillerReading <a href="http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2009/06/dr-george-tiller.html">this</a>, I was pretty disgusted with whoever thought they had the right to take the law into their own hands and execute this man. Disgusted with whoever is now proud of what they have done and thinks their god is also proud of them.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-83263889328276032102009-05-30T12:31:00.001+02:002009-05-30T12:34:59.273+02:00Cultural Differences My AssWhen the first words you say upon meeting a new person are,<br /><br />"Your German is really bad!"<br /><br />you <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> a jackass.<br /><br />I don't care if you <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> German.<br /><br />I know Germans who would never say such a thing to me.<br /><br />So quit using your country as an excuse to be such an asshole.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-58655976925532262502009-05-27T21:45:00.007+02:002009-05-27T21:53:07.918+02:00Time Suck<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/946/946029/the-sims-3-20090116030420750_640w.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 360px;" src="http://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/946/946029/the-sims-3-20090116030420750_640w.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Ok so I guess I haven't been paying much attention, but apparently <a href="http://thesims3.ea.com/">Sims 3</a> comes out next week.<br /><br />I played Sims 1 & 2...I would say I spent a fair amount of time on them, but I think the part I liked most about the game was creating characters and decorating homes. I usually would scrap a family to make a new one before too long.<br /><br />So that's why I'm thinking I might buy the new one because there are supposedly limitless possibilities for customization. So I can waste even more time choosing the colors of my couch cushions and socks.<br /><br />Just not sure if I have the time to waste on another game when I have just become an officer in my kinship in <a href="http://www.lotro.com/">LOTRO</a> (nerd alert!).<br /><br />Wow, I better soak up this lazy-ass lifestyle while I have the chance this summer. Because it's job-searching time for me this fall when I return to the U.S, assuming there are any jobs left, of course.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-75654013431083449972009-05-27T21:28:00.004+02:002009-05-27T21:35:48.903+02:00Is This Guy for Real?Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies blogged that he thinks people shouldn't pronounce Sotomayor's name correctly by putting the emphasis on the last syllable because it is unnatural for English speakers.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;">"...insisting on an unnatural pronunciation is something we shouldn’t be giving in to..."</strong></blockquote>Umm...I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was such a difficult task to say a person's name correctly, Mr. Kry....Kree... oh to hell with it, your name is too complicated for me. I can't be bothered.<br /><br />What a bonehead.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">via </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://thinkprogress.org/2009/05/27/krikorian-sotomayor/">Think Progress</a>Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-66906438630735496742009-05-27T20:45:00.006+02:002009-05-27T20:53:03.023+02:00The Others<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE54K6TT20090521">This news story</a> is slightly old, but I was really horrified when I read it.<br /><br />I got to thinking, would this soldier have commited such a crime when he was at home? Would he have raped and killed an American girl and her family and would fellow soldiers have helped him?<br /><br />Maybe so.<br /><br />But I get the feeling that both the war and religious differences are making it easier for soldiers to dehumanize these people.<br /><br />They don't see them as fellow human beings, but as enemies & sinners who are beneath them.<br /><br />I think that's one of the terrible things that both religion and war do to people.<br /><br />On a much lighter note, I finallz got mz laptop back from being repaired (please don't ask me how much it cost, atleast it was cheaper than a new one), but have now become accustomed to using a German kezboard during the last week, and am now having trouble with switching mz Ys and Zs. Hmmph.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-842075361988487872009-05-25T18:32:00.002+02:002009-05-25T18:35:34.739+02:00Fear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjxjOtJ1uevfMJt34_doXfIaEyE8J04dK73bFagFr_YznRLI-k9fA_TyTp-AknonjwDKsz3vNvafVeQgQ4C9DWk2ZbrpZRCC3Hv9E8U-nXQ0O-ZLEl2CTQ8esU-_M7ihvtBZD2AawOY8/s1600-h/IMG_5033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjxjOtJ1uevfMJt34_doXfIaEyE8J04dK73bFagFr_YznRLI-k9fA_TyTp-AknonjwDKsz3vNvafVeQgQ4C9DWk2ZbrpZRCC3Hv9E8U-nXQ0O-ZLEl2CTQ8esU-_M7ihvtBZD2AawOY8/s200/IMG_5033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339801034904308738" border="0" /></a><br />Um...there's some really creepy imagery associated with religion.<br /><br />This picture was taken outside a church in Dresden, Germany.<br />Scary gargoyle babies.<br />Enough said.Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2764178054625398460.post-59306827851099903892009-05-23T23:49:00.004+02:002009-05-27T21:36:07.126+02:00FutilitySigns that the debate you are engaging in is futile:<br /><ul><li>Instead of answering any of your points, they attack you and your expertise/knowledge personally.</li><li>They deny saying things that they said, even when provided with quotes, which usually leads to...</li><li>They accuse you of quoting them out of context, even when the context does not change the meaning in any significant way.</li><li>They become condescending and tell you they feel sorry for you because you don't agree with them.</li><li>They continue to repeat an argument that you have already refuted.</li><li>They accuse you of taking things too seriously for continuing the debate, even as they are continuing it. </li></ul>Just a few I have encountered recently. Anything to add?Amiablehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09073278747374827558noreply@blogger.com3