I learned something new today...I learned the origins of the trend for young black men to wear their pants slouched down around their knees. This "slung low" way of wearing pants began in prisons. It initially was a signal to other prisoners that the wearer was available for sex! In that the prison system is gender specific, the idea was that the pants were down to allow access to the posterior regions!

This information was provided by two African-American students in my class. We were discussing how manners, communication, and appearance can have negative economic consequences to an individual and I mentioned how silly this phenomenon was in my opinion. The students were quick to tell me of its origins and that most of the young men emulating the style had no idea of its significance. I can believe that! I cannot believe that is the signal these kids are trying to send.

When I returned to my office, a colleague expanded my knowledge of the subject. She told me a friend of hers who works as a prison guard told her that the sexual signal had been the start of the practice. He explained that, like so many other cultural aberrations, it had devolved and had become a way for prisoners to hide weapons. Pants that fit properly clearly showed the outlines of anything concealed; slouchy pants did not.

I expect it is the "weapons on board" signal rather than the "ready and willing" signal that most young black men are seeking to send by adopting this style of dress. Of course, there are probably more of these adopters who are unaware of the origins of the style and simply wear it to be "cool". Either way, it is a cultural trend that can stand more scrutiny.

Here's my thinking:

1. If the style retains its sexual intention and the wearer is unaware of the signal being sent, he has a big problem. Not only does he appear ludicrous to the rest of society, he is running the risk of having his unintended invitation being accepted - even by force.
2. If the style is being used to hide weapons, I don't want him near me - much less in my classroom. If the wearer is not hiding a weapon, but has purposely taken on the posture of wearing his clothing in a way to suggest that he might be, I can only surmise that this is an intimation tact employed by someone with low self esteem and inferiority issues. Again, stay away from me and mine.

I read of a town that tried to pass an ordinance forbidding this style of dress. Of course, in the ACLU-dominated America of today, the ordinance was attacked as a way of limiting personal freedom and it failed to pass. At what point is my personal freedom being threatened by a kid wearing a style of clothing that says he might be holding a weapon that could maim or kill?

Freedom and security are often opposing philosophies. I understand that a balance is necessary. But I will always want that balance to make sense. Allowing a prison-inspired fashion sense to dominate a whole generation of young men is stupid!

It's even worse if they are not aware of where the style came from. Ignorance of the origins of a style that has been adopted out of little more than a lack of positive cultural identity is tragic!

*What I like about the Marine Corps:

I like the fact that if you are a self-declared enemy of America, that
running into a Marine outfit in combat is your worst nightmare... and
that your health record is about to get a lot thicker or be closed out
entirely!

I like the fact that Marines are steadfast and consistent in everything
they do...regardless if you agree with them or not.

I like the fact that Marines hold the term "politically correct" with
nothing but pure disdain.

I like the fact that Marines stand tall and rigid in their actions,
thoughts, and deeds when others bend with the direction of the wind and
are as confused as a dog looking at a ceiling fan!

I like the fact that each and every Marine considers the honor and
legacy of the Corps as his personal and sacred trust to protect and
defend.

I like the fact that most civilians don't have a clue what makes us
tick! And that's not a bad thing. Because if they did, it would
probably scare the hell out of them!

I like the fact that others say they want to be like us, but don't have
what it takes in the "PAIN-GAIN-PRIDE" department to make it happen.

I like the fact that the Marines came into being in a bar, Tun Tavern,
and that Marines still gather in pubs, bars and slop chutes to share sea
stories and hot scoop!

I like the fact that Marines do not consider it a coincidence that there
are 24 hours in a day and 24 beers in a case. Because Marines know
there is a reason for everything that happens!

I like our motto...SEMPER FIDELIS...and the fact that we don't shed it
when the going gets tough, the battlefield gets deadly, or when we hang
up our uniform for the last time.

I like the fact that Marines take care of each other...in combat and
time of peace.

I like the fact that Marines know the difference between "Chicken Salad"
and "Chicken Shit" and aren't afraid to call either for what it is!

I like the fact that the people of America hold Marines in the highest
esteem and that they know that they can count on us to locate, close
with, and destroy those who would harm them!

I like the fact that people think we are cocky....yet we know that we
have confidence in everything we do and the fact that they don't know
the taste of that makes them look at us as if we are arrogant!

I like that fact that we know the taste of freedom and would give our
very lives for it! And that it is a taste that the protected will never
know!

I like the fact that Ronald Regan said..."Some people spend an entire
lifetime wondering if they made a difference...Marines don't have that
problem!"

I like the fact that we are brothers to the end...and that no matter
what happens in life we know we have one another's "six"!

I like the fact that a couple of years ago an elected member of congress
felt compelled to publicly accuse the Marine Corps of being "radical and
extreme". And, I also like the fact that our Commandant informed that member of Congress that she was absolutely correct and that he passed on his thanks for the compliment!

I like the fact that Marine leaders --- of every rank --- know that
issuing every man and woman a black beret --- or polka-dotted boxer
shorts for that matter does absolutely nothing to promote morale,
fighting spirit or combat effectiveness.

I like the fact that Marines are Marines first...regardless of age,
race, creed, color, sex, and national origin or how long they served or
what goals they achieve in life!

I like Marines...and I love the fact that I am able to be humbled to
walk along the ranks of other Marines!

I like the fact that you always know where you stand with a Marine!
With Marines, there is no middle ground or gray area. There are only
missions, objectives, and facts.

*****************************************************************

If you aren't a Marine the next best thing is to have a Marine for a
friend.

**

*Thanks to Col. Donald J. Myers, USMC

** Thanks to "Doc Chuck Hancock", USN/USMC/FMF

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.634320&w=425&h=350&fv=embedId%3Dc786f936-2ff9-412a-bc4a-3794137b0f7b]

I can't even find ground for it's presence in the form of discrimination, because blind people will never use it!  They can't drive, so it's a no brainer that it just serves zero purpose aside from making political correct nazi's happy.  

Taking Braille away from a drive-thru wouldn't harm blind people in anyway, and it would certainly look less silly.  

In related news, about a year ago Mcdonalds refused to serve an armless women by the name of Dawn Larson who bought food.  That is just dumb, hand her the food, who cares if she grips it with her feet?  The employee stated things like "I'm not doing this!  I'm just not!" Like she's too good to serve her with her burger flipping job.  Get over yourself people, the girl has no arms and yet still manages to drive herself about, and have a normal life and you act like she's diseased.  

Can I move to Europe yet?

So what is it in society that has brought us to this point today? Is it a fear of being discriminating after having such a less than perfect history? Or is it just a sign of the times, where anything goes so we have to be sensitive to all needs. I'm not so sure what it is, but I do know I'd like to not be scared to say what's really on my mind at times.

But to be honest with you though, the only reason I bring this up is because I want to share the best story with you ever. The following is an article from the Washington Post talking about the dangers of censorship. I would just like you to know that the last comment from the story made me laugh until I could laugh no longer.

The American Family Association obviously didn't foresee the problems that might arise with its strict policy to always replace the word "gay" with "homosexual" on the Web site of its Christian news outlet, OneNewsNow. The group's automated system for changing the forbidden word wound up publishing a story about a world-class sprinter named "Tyson Homosexual" who qualified this week for the Beijing Olympics.

Tyson Gay wins the men's 100 meters final at June the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials. (Reuters -- Mike Blake)
The problem: Tyson's real last name is Gay. Therefore, OneNewsNow's reliable software changed the Associated Press story about Tyson Gay's amazing Olympic qualifying trial to read this way:

Tyson Homosexual was a blur in blue, sprinting 100 meters faster than anyone ever has.

His time of 9.68 seconds at the U.S. Olympic trials Sunday doesn't count as a world record, because it was run with the help of a too-strong tailwind. Here's what does matter: Homosexual qualified for his first Summer Games team and served notice he's certainly someone to watch in Beijing.

"It means a lot to me," the 25-year-old Homosexual said. "I'm glad my body could do it, because now I know I have it in me."

Stefan who also happens to be the chairman of the board of our denomination (www.efk.se) demands from FRA’s director Ingvar Åkesson answers to the following questions:

1. Why was secret wiretapping exercised in the case of Ekman? Which public authority ordered it?

2. Are there more examples of Christian or other religious leaders who secretly have been wiretapped? (Without having been suspected of having committed crimes or for security reasons). If so, why were they wiretapped, and who gave the orders to do so?

3. As we now through the FRA LAW expand our praxis of the law by not only considering “external military threats” but even “external threats” – how does the reigning government secure that wiretapping, and thus abusing the integrity of religious leaders will not be done, not now, nor in the future?

Personally I am not surprised that Ulf Ekman was under scrutiny, my subjective convictions are that other potential threatening people were scrutinized too. With potential threat I do not necessarily mean people who have the plan to commit crimes or who are a threat for our nation’s or people’s security.

In our quiet and almost peaceful, tolerant nation there are many slumbering volcanoes hidden under the surface waiting to erupt. When one does not fit the mould one can be considered a threat to the Status Quo or our so carefully well-planned, well kept balance and perspective on our reality. (Whether our perspective on this reality is false or true doesn’t matter –don’t rock the boat!)

With that in mind I foresee a multiplication of potential “external threats” (see question three), and I am also convinced that religious and especially Christian leaders will be considered to belong to those. Why? Because they follow another King. The kingdom that they belong to is not of this world and thus their allegiances are not foremost here in the kingdom of Sweden.

Late history in Sweden shows that Christians are harder to deal with that other “religious” people, that’s why there is less tolerance for them. (It is rather significant that in a so-called Christian nation where we preach tolerance we are able to show tolerance to almost all religions and peoples except Christians…)

To be honest, I don’t care too much about it on a personal level since I remember a man with a cross who wasn’t the favorite in His time either... But politically and publically I want to raise my voice about this matter since it reeks injustice and shows intolerance. I will keep you posted on more of my perspectives on FRA!

That’s the Way I see it and I am open to be wrong!

John

]]> http://caughtinthemiddleman.wordpress.com/?p=216 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:17:06 +0000 Middle Man http://caughtinthemiddleman.wordpress.com/?p=216 All the news is depressing at the moment. Mind you, you wouldn't think that we are busy fighting two major wars at the moment - Iraq and Afghanistan hardly get any coverage. They do not seem to be as important as Traffic Cameras in Swindon and holiday jobs for students! But, every news bulletin seems to include a piece on the imminent recession and the fact that we are all likely to be found dead on our doorsteps, murdered by some knife-wielding, maniacal twelve year old.

As I write, my friend Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, is busily backing down and performing u-turns and somersaults on the subject of knife crime initiatives. And there is much talk about extending the right to search of teachers to include searching for weapons, drugs, and alcohol. What has the world come to? In my day we would have jumped to comply with an "Empty your pockets, boy!" bellow from a domineering teacher. Mind you, in my day, all you were likely to find in a teenage boy's school trouser pockets were a snot-soaked hankie, a comb (metal ones with a sharp handle could be considered a weapon!), a pack of Top Trumps Cards, and illicit sweets or chewing gum (both of which were banned inside of school). And, of course, cigarettes. Cigarettes were schoolboy currency. You "collected" cigarettes even if you did not smoke yourself.

That is not to say that the problems with teenage kids so evident today did not exist twenty or thirty years ago. Kids smoked - the local shops around my school would sell cigarettes in singles to make them more affordable. Kids drank - not out of bottles of cheap cider on street corners, but, in pubs with a relaxed attitude to underage drinking (as long as you took your school blazer and tie off you were in). Kids had sex. Kids stole. Kids fought. And, kids carried knives. While I choose not to implicate myself in any of these various crimes and misdemeanours - my dad reads these posts, occasionally. I was personally impacted by schoolboy knife crime back in 1983 when a 13 year old bully was stabbed through the heart by a 12 year old victim and died in my arms. See my earlier post.

Indeed, I understand that 80% of kids who carry knives do so out of a belief that they need to defend themselves. A belief driven by a fear of bullying, mugging and gangs. Well, I hope my personal experience shows the foolishness of carrying a knife to deter a bully. From victim to killer in a single motion.

In reality, only 16% of kids admit to carrying a knife because of an involvement in criminal activity such as mugging and gang-related crime.

But, some of the initiatives that the Government and others are touting around to tackle the problem are just non-starters. Parenting classes? Many of these kids are born into single-parent families to pramface mothers who have dropped out of education. Jail? We would have to scrap all greenbelt initiatives to build all of the jails that would be needed. Awareness? Do we really think that these kids are going to be deterred by meeting convicts and victims? These are kids that are largely excluded from "adult" or "normal" society. They have few positive role models (unless you include Jeremy Kyle - which I do not). They do not read newspapers or watch the news. They live a You Tube, Facebook or Bebo existence. They live on street corners and in bus shelters. They have welcomed our politically correct world and become mini-lawyers aware of their rights (but seemingly not their wrongs).

So what can be done? Well I am all in favour of Alf Hitchcock's (the so-called Knife Tsar) for a form of National Service. Schools should be able to ban and confiscate those things which may encourage muggings such as mobile phones, MP3s, and designer goods. Schools should revert to strict school uniform rules which would eliminate gang paraphernalia. Parents and teachers should be able to use reasonable punishment to clamp down on bad behaviour, including the cane or a slap round the back of the legs. Put metal detectors on school doors and into the hands of the police. For those that get caught carrying knives, give them hard community service - cleaning the streets and sewers and the like. Lock up those that use the weapon. Remove the privileges and benefits for the families of repeat offenders - take their council house, housing benefit and unemployment benefit away until they and their offspring comply with a strict social contract.

Take away temptation, impose real and meaningful deterrents and punishment. And, make Jeremy Clarkson Prime Minister.........

Here we have the classic nanny state reaction to a problem. As part of their anti-knife crime bill the British government has proposed that knife attack offenders should visit their victims in the hospital to see the damage they have done.

The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, yesterday rushed out plans to bring youngsters caught with knives face to face with the victims of stabbings in an attempt to deter them from carrying weapons.

But a leading accident and emergency doctor today warned that the proposal could lead to a "secondary victimisation" of individuals at the hands of the perpetrators.

Smith said that she believed that confronting offenders with the consequences of their actions was more effective than jailing anyone convicted of possessing a knife.

But the plan drew a scathing response from the opposition parties, who described it as "half-baked" and "ill-thought through".

Brown said the measure was "one of the ways" that knife crime would be tackled.

"I wouldn't want people to think there is one measure we are taking alone," he said. "There will be tougher sentences, tougher enforcement and a toughening up on prevention to tackle knife crime."

Smith's measures include visits by offenders to A&E wards where people are being treated for knife wounds, meetings with the families of stabbing victims and prison visits to offenders jailed for knife offences.

An A&E doctors' leader attacked the idea of bringing offenders into hospital, arguing that patients being treated in emergency departments would be in "extremely vulnerable states".

Donald MacKechnie, clinical vice-president of the College of Emergency Medicine, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the proposal was impractical for a busy emergency department, whose priority was the patient.

He said: "When someone is brought in having been stabbed or assaulted with a knife, it's a very emotive situation. Doctors and nurses first of all have got to assess the injuries and then manage those injuries.

"We certainly don't think it would be a good idea if then potential or actual perpetrators of knife crime were marched through to see these patients, who are in an extremely vulnerable state.

"It's tantamount to secondary victimisation of someone who has already suffered a horrendous insult to them. From a practical point of view, working in an A&E department, it's very difficult to see how this would work."

The home secretary defended her proposals, as she rejected Tory demands that anyone caught carrying a knife should expect to go to prison.

"I am very keen that we make people face up to the consequences. In my book it is tougher than simply saying there is one simple solution and that is: everyone goes to prison," she said.

That's what you want to see when you are stretched out in a hospital bed, hopefully recovering from your knife wounds. You want to see the guy who stabbed you coming through your door. Or as was put by one person:

Dee Edwards, who runs the campaign group Mothers against Murder and Aggression, said: "This is a load of old rubbish, a load of old tosh. As if victims who are lying there dying are going to want to see the perpetrator turn up with their mobile phone taking footage to put onto Youtube.

Not that the brain power on the opposition benches is any weightier. The previous week the Conservatives (according to this article) were calling for jail sentences for anyone carrying a "bladed weapeon".

The Conservatives, who only last week called for mandatory jail terms for anyone caught in possession of a bladed weapon, dismissed the proposals as "piecemeal", "ill-thought through" and a "knee jerk reaction".

And a mandatory jail term for anyone carrying a "bladed weapon" isn't "ill-thought through" and a "knee jerk reaction"?

You could see what would be coming next on that one: some kind of licencing for people who need a "bladed weapon" to carry on their jobs.

Or the usual convoluted legal description as to what constitutes a "bladed weapon" and what defines a "bladed non-weapon". Oh well, those definitions could always be thrashed out in court. That always saves writing good legislation the first time around.

Makes me wonder if Toronto's Mayor David Miller has been talking to the Brits on how to solve their problems or vice versa.

Which brings me around to another question. Why do we pass laws to stop "gun violence" or "knife violence"? Why don't we worry about violence in general?

Politicians (and others with their personal agendas) call for mandatory jail time for gun crime and knife crime but what about if the perpetrator beats the guy half to death with a baseball bat. Or puts the boots to his victim's head? Are these "nicer" crimes of violence.

From a politician's point of view it all comes down to what's on the front pages of the newspaper today or the lead story on the evening television news.

Seems two Dallas County official have take offense to the term "BLACK HOLE" felling it was a racist remark. Appears that devils food cake and angels food cake are racist also.

Yes, that right, the word "BLACK HOLE"! It used to be that any person with even the slightest knowledge of science knew what a "BLACK HOLE" was. So, as a public service message to these two Dallas commissioners Here is a link to the definition of a "BLACK HOLE" is. Just in case that is a little to technical for the, here is a link that even has nice, simple animation for them.

Did I forget to mention the name of these two very insulted gentlemen? John Wiley Price and Judge Thomas Jones. Will I guess this speaks volumes for our judges. (Something both Mr. Bob and I knew for a long time.) Here is the Honorable John Wiley Price defending his argument that the term "BLACK HOLE" is racist.

With our busy lives, we don't have time to search all of the 11,800,000 English web sites that the Google search produced. We also apologize for not searching all of the 14,600,000 Google images that were found. And yes, "safe search" was turned off. Yahoo Search produced 212,000,000 web page hits and Ask search displayed 11,800,000. Perhaps these two fellas have time to look at all those sites themselves.

As is said, a picture is worth a bunch of words. Here is how Mr. Bob sums it up...

Have a fantastic day,

Ms. Ruby & Mr. Bob

P.S. Don't even think about using terms "black sheep/white sheep"!

The one thing I decided when I first started this blog was that it was going to be how I chose it to be, it would morph right along with me, it'll have moods, highs and lows, fun and ridiculous nuttiness, it will be a true reflection of me in real life, the real me.  So far I have stuck to this original plan and I don't foresee it changing anytime soon.

I believe in very strongly that we must laugh in the face of adversity, through thick and thin we must laugh.  Sure I fall off the laughter barrel, crash boom bang, but ultimately laughter makes the "world go round".  Some of the stuff that I may post, both have done's and going to's, might not be what most will call "politically correct".  Lets put it this way, the Irish are the only ones allowed to tell an Irish joke to an Irishman.

My life has been one big joke from start till now, for those that know my history I understand you may shake your head but it really has been.  I mean it is no wonder I am the way I am considering what my hair really did look like when I was born.  You thought those photos were a joke didn't you? Forget it, I was nicknamed "broom brush" from the age of 5 days, yip, not kidding...

"Hun can you pass me the broom I spilt a few crumbs on the floorrrrrr" ... Father hands mother me hanging upside down swinging in time with the brushing movements.  No I am not posting anymore photos of this wonder.

After my father passed on (thanks dad the daisies look so pretty) our two basset hounds went missing, I was just 5 and I loved those dogs! So I start searching outside calling them frantically, running around in a flat out panic.  I remember what happened next clearly as if it were yesterday.  My mother came up to me and stood next to me.  She then turned to me and said that the one had died and the other Spiderman had stolen. I LOVED Spiderman but could not watch him again until I was 22. Yes I was that heartbroken that that barsteward would dognap my dog!

Better than that though is the fact that when I was 8 I was in hospital quite a bit.  Lying there in solitary, about to go for another brain scan thingie, this nurse walks in and says "Hey I know you, I delivered you".  Right, now picture an 8 year olds face lying there all drugged up, all I could say was "Huh???".  The nurse proceeded to tell me how she was the one that "caught" me when my mother was "producing" me.  She told me that, I quote, "I recognise you by the ball of putty on your face".  It all flashed before my eyes, mother telling me how the midwife and the nurses had laughed when I was born, about how I had a ball of putty for a nose.  There I had been thinking that she had been ripping me off as always had done only to realise that she was telling the truth.  My heart broke and I lay in bed for the rest of the time holding my nose down to make it straight.  It never quite got there.

Yes I still find myself pressing my nose down while I read. I only bite my lip while I type.  Once I was concentrating so much I bit my lip till it bled.  Sadly I am not joking, it takes a lot of brain power getting some thoughts out, well for me anyway.

Then if you will remember there was me and that plug, electrocuting myself till my hair stood up for days, months, years and now decades (yes I am that old).

I don't really talk about the time I lived in Saudi out of respect for their culture, we had a few clashes but that was personal.  I don't really want to add to any hate/love/hate/ situation so I leave it well alone.  I loved that country and found its culture interesting.  How's that?  Right now Saudi as you may know is very strict especially for expats, add to that the fact that we were South African meant that we got übber attention.

Expats in Saudi is already more foreign than foreign, the visa process is intense and the security checks on entering are just plain scary.  Now imagine the following.  My mother, younger brother and I all have different surnames (yip that is why I loved that Terry joke).  The passport control folks could not for the life of them work out nor understand how the three of us were related.  No matter how we explained it they just couldn't get their heads around it.  Now add to this scenario the fact that my mother is 6 foot tall and brunette, my brother scrawny and blonde as a surfer boy on lemon juice and me, good ol' shorty with a big bum and light brown hair.... confusion galore.  After a few times going through this whole palaver we got it down to an hour of explanation, prodding and probing.

Yers you heard right

I don't drive because I ran over the poor traffic officer testing me during my test, I probably can't get one in the whole of South Africa for this reason.

My second name is so embarrassing that I can't even spell it - yes I spell it wrong all the time! (Wish I was kidding)

I have visited porn sites on clients instructions only to realise I miss spelt the web address all this after I'd adamantly told him that he gave me the wrong address, instead of the "topic" being about personality profiling it was about spanking and S&M.  The client? Oh, prim and proper, button up type.

I also get blamed for spreading insanity - my old boss started telling managers in a meeting to service each other... *shrug*

As you know this is only a fraction of it all... add this to the rest ... now can you blame me for having fun in the face of adversity?

... for having a warped sense of humour?

... for laughing at everything?

... punk?

... huh?

Deal with it... I used to get shocked every time I walked through a door frame!!!

Yeah a really shocking experience

I also found out that three other people from the department weren't even granted interviews, and they were hurt I got one, since I don't work there still ... now I feel bad for them. Why even bother posting a job in this horrible economy if you are going to just give it away to a pal. Don't waste our precious interviewing time!

1. Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, said it seemed that central collections office "has become a black hole" because paperwork routinely gets lost there.

2. That caused Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is black, to shout "Excuse me!" before correcting his pigment-deficient colleague, saying the office has become a "white hole." 

3. And that caused Judge Thomas Jones, also black, to demand an apology from whitey Mayfield for his racially insensitive comment.

Seriously people -- this again?!?
I feel a crying jag coming on.

I'll grant you, so far the 2008 Verbal Retardation Award has to go to the Brits who wanted to ban 'brainstorming' in favor of 'thought showering'  -- but these Dallas County Commissioners have definitely earned themselves a most dishonorable mention in the '20 Kinds of Asshatednessly Overboard Responses' subcategory.

What other perfectly legit words and phrases will we next be asked to quit?
Hmmmmmmm .....

God help the environmentalists once the aliens go PC ...

Jesse Jackson disses Obama on race

By Michelle Malkin  •  July 9, 2008 05:10 PM

But, you know, it’s us meanie conservatives who are responsible for all the race-based smears.

Uh-huh.

Just as long as you admit it's true.

When your cast of characters pretty much agree with Jesse Jackson, you can't say it's not true.  The unison of your nutbag chorus/comment section pretty much confirms it.

That's what you get when you don't allow other comments.  The revelation of your own bright fan base, confirmation of your own opinion.  Your point sort of backfires, doesn't it?

E'un po come se la Clinton avesse dato  del nigger ad Obama. In piena campagna elettorale poi. Da una come la Guzzanti, icona gay da sempre insieme a Moana Pozzi e Raffaella Carrà, proprio nessuno si sarebbe aspettato un'uscita del genere. Tanto meno molti omosessuali che si sono trovati un pò spiazzati.

Frocio evidentemente, in tempi di fairplay politically correct, ormai lo può dire solo qualche sindaco leghista autorizzato, ma una "di sinistra" proprio  no, si è pensato.

Anche perchè l'etimologia di frocio è abbastanza concorde nello stabilirne l'origine nel comportamento "feroce" -oggi si direbbe promiscuo- dei lanzichenecchi luterani che non si curavano affatto di fare distinzioni di sesso nelle loro spedizioni stuprativo/punitive.  Sentirlo nella stessa frase a tre parole di distanza da Papa, fa sempre un certo effetto. Ma i lanzichenecchi a Roma ce li portò Carlo V  e ritrovarseli anche all'inferno, per citare la Guzzanti, è un contrappasso sin troppo feroce, anche per il chiacchieratissimo pontefice, di cui troppo si mormora.

Ma non tutti sono d'accordo nell'usare eufemismi pietosi per aggirare verità spesso scomode. Non vedente, audioleso, diversamente abile, omosessuale, afroamericano. La lista è lunga.

Secondo alcuni desemantizzare dovrebbe essere la parola d'ordine, dal momento che trovare modi più "urbani" per definire delle persone non implica affatto, d’emblée*  nella testa di chi li usa, annullare il preconcetto delle barriere di disprezzo e discriminazione.In Germania, ad esempio, gli omosessuali hanno cominciato ad autodefinirsi Schwul, frocio, finché non è diventata una offesa  perseguibile per legge.

Non vorrei mai sentirmi chiamare "diversamente sessuale" da uno che mi sta sputando faccia, - mi dice un amico, attivista GLBT -preferisco un bel "frocio" per poter meglio contestualizzare la cosa.

A chi ancora si sconvolge per argomentazioni che riguardano la privata determinazione sessuale, consiglio un piccolo esercizio di stile: Provate a leggere  Kavafis e fate finta di non sapere che sia uno scrittore  gay.

Non perderete  molto della sua poesia.

Days of 1903

I never found them again -- the things so quickly lost....

the poetic eyes, the pale

face.... in the dusk of the street....

I never found them again -- the things acquired quite by chance,

that I gave up so lightly;

and that later in agony I wanted.

The poetic eyes, the pale face,

those lips, I never found again.

Μέρες του 1903

Δεν τα ηύρα πια ξανά -- τα τόσο γρήγορα χαμένα....
τα ποιητικά τα μάτια, το χλωμό
το πρόσωπο.... στο νύχτωμα του δρόμου....

Δεν τα ηύρα πια -- τ' αποκτηθέντα κατά τύχην όλως,
που έτσι εύκολα παραίτησα·
και που κατόπι με αγωνίαν ήθελα.
Τα ποιητικά τα μάτια, το χλωμό το πρόσωπο,
τα χείλη εκείνα δεν τα ηύρα πια.

Κωνσταντίνος Π. Καβάφης (1917)

*espressione francese che significa al primo colpo; immediatamente»

(GRADIT) Per l’etimologia, Trésor de la langue française informatisé:)

At the student/intern party my company threw earlier tonight, I went downstairs to man the entrance in case there were stragglers who couldn't find us. About 45 seconds later I returned upstairs, but not before I became BFF with Tyrone, bouncer extraordinaire! Tyrone was fun, and quite the teddy bear. I may be back.

Also, this morning I got grunted at on the way to work. (This may not have been a good example of BMLM but more of a general New York's Skeevy Creeps Will Hit On Anything That Moves.) But for the sake of statistics, we'll count it! I have totally downgraded from getting "hey baby hey baby hey baby" and "I just saw you from across the bar and I wanted to tell you you are absolutely gorgeous honey what are you Japanese?" to "Unhhhhh."

Yeah -- it sounded like you're imagining.

I may start a new blog called Black Men Like Me. It may be funnier.

"But Teresa!" you say. "You already have seven blogs! How will we keep up?" What, are you going to say that when I write my seventh book? Shitty friends, jeez.

Better yet, I can do The Catcall Chronicles, and specifically document the age, ethnicity, location, quote, and gesture of each come-on I receive. If I get desperate for material I'll just wear less, drink more.

So smart, this girl! Can you believe I only had a 3.5 GPA in high school? I know right?

Side note, I've totally given up on being politically correct. I was never really politically correct to begin with but I tried to avoid being blatantly politically incorrect. The time has come to accept that I'm a politically incorrect person, which makes sense because I like PI(E) more than I like PCs. PCs are old-school. Pie -- pie never goes out of style.

Seriously. 2:40 now. At least there's free Starbucks iced coffee tomorrow

1. Nu este o "papusa" sau "pisi" ci este o "persoana inzestrata cu sani?

2. Nu este "usuratica" ci este "accesibila orizontal"

3. Nu este o "blonda proasta" ci o "o persoana cu parul deschis care s-a
abatut de la calea informatiei"

4. Nu este o "fosta" ci este o "persoana de a carei companie m-am bucurat"

5. Nu te "sacaie" ci devine "repetitiva verbal"

6. Nu este o "prostituata de pe centura" ci este un "furnizor cu preturi
mici"

7. Nu "gateste prost" ci este "compatibila cu cuptorul cu microunde"

8. Nu "poarta prea multe bijuterii" ci este "ingrunata metalic"

9. Nu este "narcisita" ci este "excesiv de preocupata de calitatile sale"

10. Nu "s-a ingrasat' ci "a depasit pragul metabolic"

11. Nu este "grasa" ci este "provocat orizontal"

12. Nu "flirteaza" sau "amageste" ci "se angajeaza in simulare artificiala"

13. Nu este "anorexica" ci "proeminenta scheletic"

14. Nu "uraste fotbalul" ci este "ignoranta din punct de vedere atletic"

15 Nu este "rece" sau "frigida" ci este "inaccesibila termic"

16. Nu "are straturi de fard" ci a atins o "saturatie cosmetica"

*Cum sa vorbesti despre barbati si sa fii "politically correct"*

1. Nu este un "alcoolic" ci a dezvoltat "o capacitate de a depozita
alcoolul"

2. Nu este un "dansator prost" ci este un "mult prea caucazian"

3. Nu "se rataceste tot timpul" ci "investigheaza destinatii alternative"

4. Nu "cheleste" ci este intr-o "regresie pilozitala"

5. Nu se poarta ca un "cretin" ci a dezvoltat o "descrestere a
capacitatii creierului"

Sursa mail.

This was brought to mind by a recent article regarding the plan by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to eliminate or at least severely reduce feral cats on San Nicholas Island off the coast of California in order to further protect endangered bird populations on the island.

As to be expected, there was an uproar with the plan being called "misguided and inhumane" as well as "irresponsible, cruel and simply unacceptable."

The absolutely silliest comment was a quote by a spokeswoman from an organization called Alley Cat Allies, which is an advocate group for feral cats, who said:

....there is no proof that the cats are eating the birds. Though bird remains have been found in cat stomachs, she said the birds could have been dead when the cats ate them.

"They honestly have no solid proof that these cats are killing the
birds," she said. "They are not making an effect on the population."

This is from someone who is supposed to know something about cats? Cats are natural born killers. They live to hunt and kill. Your well-fed cuddly old house cat will haunt the bird feeders of the neighbourhood, stalking and killing songbirds. The cat doesn’t need the food but the instincts are strong. Those feral cats don’t affect the bird populations on the island? Get serious.

The message apparently being that it is more important to protect feral cats than endangered bird populations.

In Surrey, B.C. the problem lies with beavers. These furry little dam builders regularly move in and construct dams in areas that threaten to flood homes, buildings and farmlands. To control this problem the city traps and kills these specific animals.

City staffers point out that there are hundreds of sites in the Surrey area where beavers are left to their own devices. They also note that relocating the animals out of problem areas is not an option, because they are territorial creatures and will do battle with interlopers which is why the Ministry of Environment bans relocations.

However a former Vancouver parks commissioner and animal advocate Roslyn Cassells says that trapping and killing the problem beavers is "inhumane, cruel, and unethical."

It seems we have heard that mantra before.

Unfortunately there is no other practical solution. Some property owners say they have abandoned beaver dams on their property and they would adopt a beaver. But that option, even if viable, is extremely limited. But practicalities have no place in this discussion.

Mayor Dianne Watts, back in her office today after a trip to China, has called for relocating beavers. "I do not support the killing of wildlife," she said in a statement.

Way to support your staff! Maybe the mayor will personally solve the problem by taking the surplus toothy little fellows home with her.

It may be this philosophy that drove the city of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas to solve their failed animal shelter problem by simply turning unwanted dogs loose in the national forest. Sure, it’s illegal and the dogs might starve out there but at least you don’t have people telling you that you’re "inhumane, cruel and unethical,"

I wrote a post in January or February about a dream I had about pissing in Steven Tyler's shower and this story still gets a ton of hits daily.

I think I also posted a blog about Rock of Love where I mentioned that one of the girls (Daisy, of course) looks like a drag queen.

I also am shocked at the high number of searches for Kim Kardashian Ass and Jennifer Lopez Ass. I guess I'm glad my blog attracts all different types of people, as I write about all different stuff. I wonder how many people out there found my blog due to something naughty and keep coming back for my regular posts. If you are one of them, and brave enough to admit it, post a comment. Believe me, I'll think it's funny.

Had a long, stupid and sickly weekend. Thursday I go to my doctor's office after work, and discover crap is missing, and of course I have to come back the next day to pick it up.... as in the 4th of July. Afterwards I drive to the post office and arrive just before 6 pm, and there is a hand note up saying they are closed early for the weekend. No bigs, I just had some Partylite stuff to mail out, but the lady next to me was so mad. She was all like "Well, at least it was both of us, I feel better." And she asked me if they can do that. I laughed, and explained that I work for the gov't, and tell her "oh yeah, the government is shady like that. We do what we want." Which is also sad ... I mean, if my supervisors are civil servants, then why do they feel like they can do what they want without consequences? I feel that if you work for the govt you should work hard, not slower ... your working in a sense for yourself. Sadly, about 95% of my co-workers do not share my views. Every time I visit another gov't agency I get run around and bull crap, then I say, "Hey, I work for ___" and suddenly I'm being taken care of. Like I'm in some secret society .... hell, I shouldn't have to say stuff like that, but to get my crap from Secretary of State a little quicker, I certainly will. They are the ultimate evil govt agency, I'm convinced ... I'd rather die than even work for them. Every year I go into their office to renew tabs they all are the biggest beotches until I drop where I work. It's just sad.

Friday, instead of sleeping in, I have to wake up @ 7:00 am to be to my doctor's office @ 8 am, to get his dumb attorney to give me the last page of my FMLA paperwork. Of course, it takes forever, and then he hands me the unsigned copy. And the thing is full of typo's ... who the f spells HEALTH wrong? And I argue and win for free copies of my entire medical records partially just to spite him for my inconvienance. The entire time the office manager, who refuses to now speak to me hides in the back room. He told me on the phone last week that he had been preparing those for years ... no one has every questioned him, and that my boss is nuts. I totally agree with him, but how can you explain in 30 seconds to an evil officer manager that your supervisor really just doesn't give a crap about you, and wants to make everything hard for you, so he denies your signed by a doctor FMLA paperwork .... my god I am only trying to get about 3 random days off without pay. But, I've already covered this. I'm betting as to when it will be approved. Like two weeks ... right in time for them to say no before I go on summer vacation.

Saturday and Sunday I was dizzy, spinning, and had nausea again. Sick of it, was bored as hell being stuck in a house without being able to watch good tv. Why is it whenever your sick there is NEVER anything good on tv. I went to bed by 6pm Saturday night ... pathetic, right?

Sunday I did manage toperk up and went to the park and read with hubby on a blanket. We have the best park by our house ... so glad to get out and feel the sunshine. Oh, I got a pedicure, and of course, the chick was annoying, skimped out on my foot massage and kept going on and on about seeing Ted Nuggent in concert over the weekend .... I wasn't in the mood for her rambling. Ugh! And, I finally got to see the pilot episode of Mad Men, which is returning this summer on Sunday nights @ 10 pm. Such a good show ... Ad agency men in NYC in the 60's. Lots of smoking and drinking at the office ... trust me, watch it once, and you'll like it.

Quotas are one-size-fits-all remedies for problems that deserve more careful and specific treatment. The way to help Canadians in poverty, including aboriginals discriminated against in the past, is to provide targeted money and education based on individual need. The worst thing a government can do is to use the scattered approach of quotas, which only creates new victims.

To illustrate, in the West Coast fishery, the new quota victims include fishermen of Vietnamese, Japanese and even aboriginal ancestry. The combination of the discrimination-is-OK section of the Charter and federal policy means Kim Nguyen, the first woman of Vietnamese ancestry to join the B.C. fishing industry, is now a second-class Canadian citizen.

The Charter-plus-policy discrimination racket also means George Horne, an aboriginal who has been fishing for 50 years and who belongs to the Saanich Indian Band, can't fish commercially on an equal basis because of such quotas. He belongs to the "wrong" aboriginal collective.

A third unintended victim of intended racial quotas is Leslie Budden.

Budden is of Japanese ancestry and wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2006 to note how her family now faced discrimination for the second time in a century because they were not of the proper race. She noted how in the 1920s the federal government created race-based commercial fisheries that handicapped those of Japanese origin -- including her grandfather, Rintaro Hayashi. Eventually, the fishermen went to court and won. Equal rights were restored in the fishery by the Privy Council in England in 1929.

As noted in the previous post it will remain to be seen how this decision plays out in other areas.

What if I were to tell you that there never was, in the history of man, a country known as “Palestine”?  What if I were to tell you that the closest we can come is what the Ancient Romans used to call the Holy Lands which was Caesarea Palestinia?

What if I were to tell you that Yasir Arafat was in fact an Egyptian who invented modern notions of “Palestine”because he needed to invent a country that had been wronged by the Jews?  What if I were to tell you that Yasir became President of a country he made up as a propaganda stunt who we now accept as legitimate so that we can be seen to be “fair”.

What if I were to tell you that the land of modern Israel was a wasteland with a few nomadic Arabs before the Jews began to immigrate to their ancestral lands?  Israel is about 1% of the Middle East and it was indeed a wasteland before the Jews turned it into the prosperous thriving land it is today.

What if I were to remind you that the United Nations created the land of Israel after World War II when Europe was done killing some six million Jews?  After all, the conscience of the world was pretty raw in those days, so the nations of the world decided that the Jews could have their homeland back.

What if I were to tell you that a bunch of Jews settled the land, improved it, built farms and homes and industries on it and had to defend it time and time again from massive combined attacks by their Islamic Neighbors? What if the Jews were attacked by massive invasions not once but many times and prevailed each time against astronomical odds. 

What if I were to tell you that the Arabs became envious of what the Jews did with a worthless scrap of wilderness and suddenly flooded the area themselves to try and get a piece of the pie from the Jews?

What if I were to tell you that the Arabs want this land because the Koran teaches them that once a land has “belonged” to Islam that it can never be possessed by an infidel?  Any person who does not follow Islam is an unbeliever and essentially a waste of skin that is subject to being killed by a Muslim at his whim.  The land was a wilderness before the Jews migrated back but it was just the idea that Jews could make the land bloom that so infuriated the Arabs.

What if I were to tell you that “Tolerance” is a western, Jewish / Christian value and not, defiantly not, an Arab/ Islamic one?  It’s not just the Jews with whom the Moslems can’t get along .  They can’t get along with any of their neighbors from India to the Jews, to the Americans, to the Buddhists, to anyone who does not believe exactly as they do.  They can’t even get along with themselves. The Shiites hate the Sunni and everyone seems to hate the Kurds.

What if I was to tell you that “Palestinian” children were taught from earliest schooling that Jews and Christians were little more than crafty monkeys and were essentially sub human?  What if this “education” has been going on for decades?  Would it help you to comprehend how one human being can get in a giant bull dozer and deliberately drive over other human beings?  As a good, educated, sophisticated product of our politically correct school systems would you defend the “Palestinian” right to continue to teach kids that Jews and Christians are sub human or are you ready to disregard political correctness and call this indoctrination into hate and Child Abuse.  Have you the courage to impose your values onto another culture and proclaim what these schools are doing to be wrong?

Is it possible that we have a conflict where one side is right and the other wrong?  Can we be educated and sophisticated and conclude that one party to this conflict is so full of hate that their perspective on the conflict is not worth considering?  What kind of people wire their women and children to explode in the hope of killing some infidels? Is the price of diversity, tolerance, global citizenship the ability to celebrate blowing up autistic children in the marketplace, a cowardly craven disregard for our own humanity?

Is it possible that after all the “Aid to Palestine” that the money has largely been stolen by its “leaders” or spent on weapons; while it could have been spent on roads, houses, schools, nurses, I pods and lollypops?  After decades of aid can anyone understand why anyone gives them so much as a dime when the “Palestinian” population continue to live in a dung heap of their “leaders” making?  Why does the USA give any aid to a non country who acts this way?

Is it possible that Israel has given away more land than the present Israeli state by returning to its attackers the land that the invaders lost in there many failed sneak attacks on Israel?

If we had Mexicans exploding at shopping malls or running over people with bulldozers on Main Street what do you think the USA would do to the perpetrators of this mindless violence?  Do you think we would try to understand them, negotiate with them, and treat a gang of thugs with the respect due a legitimate nation or a and head of state?

How is it possible that a rational thinking person must believe that the “Palestinians” must have some valid point of view and a valid grievance in continuing this mindless violence all these decades in order to be “Progressive, Worldly, Educated, Sophisticated, Fair Minded,” and all the other attributes that we would like to think we are: instead of a sap, a chump, a babe in the woods, a mark, or simply a fool?

The Muslims blow up priceless Buddha statues, they have violent shoot outs in the Church of the Nativity, they destroy the artifacts of other religions, they desecrate Joseph’s tomb and now they claim that Jerusalem was never Jewish!  They claim the temple mount never had a Jewish presence on it!  What manor of adults are we if we are so morally degenerate that we can’t label the nonsense the Muslims spout as nonsense and hold them to account for it?  We are not obligated to believe any obvious falsehoods to be tolerant but we are obligated to act on the truth of the matter to be responsible and accountable human beings.

I don’t see a valid claim from the Muslims on the Holy Land.  The fact is that the map of Mideast counties was largely drawn up by colonial Europeans in general and the British Empire in particular.  The Jews have been dispersed from their ancestral home in the holy land three times and over thousands of years have held fast to the land of their origin and have created a state in 1948 against UNBELIEVABLE odds.  The Jews have earned the right to that land over and over again and the Muslims need to get a life, forswear violence, and make peace with their neighbors.  How anyone can champion the Palestinian cause is a mystery to me.

I got my Deborah DeDreba from Prague. Hahaha. She wears a T-shirt with no pants. Tsk tsk. Hahaha. Oh well. Too bad it is not anything that sounds Czech... I've been wanting to name one of my sheep that!! And stop asking me to give Theresa Von Terasa an Irish sounding name. And especially not Murphy. That'll just be ridiculously freaky. And I don't want orang lain yang terasa tiba-tiba pulak. Or maybe just perasan, though the latter maybe unlikely. I name my sheep whatever I want; those that got their name before Theresa was named by Faliq... Hence some of the ridiculous name. He named one of my sheep Chombee Mumba. Chombee because... I don't know... Because I'm Malay and it is such a kampung name? And Mumba after Samantha Mumba. Oh, I should mention that Chombee is a black sheep (no Rainbow sheep in my collection; just those wearing a scarf and with shamrocks on one side) and that Samantha Mumba's Irish, in case any of you didn't know...

Prague Prague... My mom went insane a bit with the crystals. We had a bit of a problem trying to pack our luggage. I was trying to imagine if Faliq was around; if he'll encourage my mom to buy even more. The crystals made my mom really really happy. And with such a happy face, how could I discourage her from buying anyway? I am still trying to discourage her from buying fine china though... It's ridiculous!! We're not using ours anyway!!!!! Gahh!! I've got a big problem when one owns something and you don't use it. For decorating purposes is still using it, by the way. You still look at it and derive pleasure from looking at it.

I didn't take as many pictures in Prague like I did for Norway. Can't dedicate a whole blog for it. I don't know... Somehow, going with my mom... I had no mood for taking pictures. Prague was beautiful, don't get me wrong... Yes, there's a but coming along... However, I don't know what to say after the said "but"... So I'll leave it hanging that way.

Prague was beautiful. Architecturally. Brought out that little girl who used to read history of architecture (or is it architectural history?) in me. Well, I'm still her, I suppose... Just that I can't pick and choose what I like to read to cover my spare time. Actually... Now I can, being the professional grape picker that I am and not searching for another job. Still, I don't know where those books are. Farid called me crazy... or maybe along those lines anyway. He, being an architectural student, didn't enjoy reading about it and I did when I was younger was just plain mad, I suppose. I found them beautiful though; absolutely amazing that they could come up with those designs. I used to be able to tell what designs were what and from what year. Now, if I could actually tell what design is what (apart from Gothic)... I'm lucky. I can't remember what designs were from what era already. And if design is the right word for it even. Horrible horrible. Sad that now my interest lies in human rights... But I don't support the idea. Or at least, I don't believe in a "universal level of human rights." I believe it needs to be adjusted to culture. Lalala... I won't talk about that just yet. ;)

And I have nothing else to talk about. Haha. Seriously, I don't know what to say about my trips. I prefer letting the pictures tell the story; it's mostly sights. I enjoyed myself; I definitely did. Just that, ironically, I think, that I feel that I can spend freely when my mom's not around than when my mom is... I suppose since when she's not around, I don't have to defend my purchase before I get them rather than when it's already too late. Oh, she does want me to shop more... Just... on more 'important" things for a young woman; clothes. Rather than stuffed lamb. Sigh.

Good thing I'm not going to Belfast then!! Imagine, every time I cross the border to Ireland, I get another sheep. Hahahahahahahaha. To a point that if a kid enters my room and see my sheep collection, they would think that every sheep has a shamrock on it. Nyek nyek. Then those Oxfordshire charities would have to change their so called "politically correct" rendition of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (the black is changed to "rainbow" even though there's no such thing. However, considering that the LGBT symbol is usually the a rainbow flag... could it be that the sheep is being "discriminated" or pointed out because it is gay?) to Baa Baa Shamrock Sheep. But I suppose that would be the task of some Irish county's council? Do they have such thing there as well? Local government crap in England confuses me enough as it is, to be honest.

... Though, now that I think about it... Baa Baa Shamrock Sheep might make it look as if the whole world are discriminating the Irish.

Why can't we see things differently? Is it really discriminating that the black/rainbow/shamrock is being put to attention? Isn't it actually flattering for the sheep? Especially since we actually ask the black/rainbow/shamrock sheep whether it has any wool left for us? Isn't it like saying "hey!! I prefer the black sheep's wool than the white!!" However, then there would be problems of affirmative action... And I'm sure most Malaysians wouldn't want that!! Especially the Chinese, yes? Positive discrimination is a big no no in Malaysia.

Oh who am I kidding. I'm racist too!! No need to be shy in admitting it. "Everyone's a little bit racist" sang the cast of Avenue Q. Even though having puppets makes talking about the "sensitive subject of race" makes it more acceptable... When you think about it... Those words were really the words of Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, since they wrote the songs and lyrics (Jeff Whitty could be pardoned since he wrote the book).

Ahhh... (in)equality. The wonders of it. Sigh. I very much regret not studying harder. Still, what's in the past is in the past. I'll learn what I can from whatever source I can. This LLB has taught me enough, I think.

Damn, what was supposed to be an entry on my trip to Prague ended up as my talking about... I don't know. Being politically incorrect?

Off to sleep now. No idea when will I next blog. Probably tomorrow though not hoping much.

He continues, "so I've got a cheap white shirt and I'll just right something studenty on it like 'so and so's so gay."

I for once don't bite my tongue (yay me), "but something that is less of a homophobic slur, right?"

"well I wasn't really going ot right that, and i mean it ironically"

I keep trying to explain that it is still hurtful, and inappropriate language since it's origins are what a group of people self identify as, and it is being used to say that things like that group of people are wrong.  and even if it is a joke it perpetuates an acceptance of that language.

He became defensive because asking him to not use homophobic language was stifling his white male middle-class heterosexual life.  He see's himself as a "nice guy" so he wouldn't admit that he was in the wrong, because then he's have to change to still be a "nice guy".

I'm. just. so. angry.  This is someone who thinks they are modern and forward thinking and nice.  I just don't know what to do.  it's so depressing.