Subscribe!A California man, John Claassen, is suing eHarmony by alleging that they violated his civil rights by discriminating against him based on his marital status. He is in the process of getting a divorce, but it is not yet final. This case is completely ridiculous and without merit. eHarmony is a private company and has the right to provide service to whomever they choose. They have chosen to deny their services to married individuals, and for sound reasons. Can I sue a retailer for refusing to sell me a shirt because I don't have enough money to pay for it? Aren't they discriminating against me based on my financial status? The answer is of course no, the retailer has the right to choose who they do business with, and if they only choose to do business with people who can pay the full price, that is within their rights. So, John Claassen, you are without merit and should be counter sued for bringing such a frivolous lawsuit to court.
|
The Libloggery . . . blogging creative writing, photography, opinion, and random fun. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Archives*
|
March 28, 2006
Suit against eHarmony
A California man, John Claassen, is suing eHarmony by alleging that they violated his civil rights by discriminating against him based on his marital status. He is in the process of getting a divorce, but it is not yet final. This case is completely ridiculous and without merit. eHarmony is a private company and has the right to provide service to whomever they choose. They have chosen to deny their services to married individuals, and for sound reasons. Can I sue a retailer for refusing to sell me a shirt because I don't have enough money to pay for it? Aren't they discriminating against me based on my financial status? The answer is of course no, the retailer has the right to choose who they do business with, and if they only choose to do business with people who can pay the full price, that is within their rights. So, John Claassen, you are without merit and should be counter sued for bringing such a frivolous lawsuit to court.
The latest 'Cause du jour': Immigration reform
I haven't followed the issue too closely, so I can't offer a detailed opinion. However, I can offer some thoughts. On one side of the issue are those who are opposed to a bill that makes it a felony to be in the US illegally and make it a crime to give aid to illegal immigrants. My question here is, why do we need to make it a felony to be in the country illegally? Shouldn't the person just be repatriated? As for making it a crime to help somebody, that's going too far. At least on an individual basis. When there are people in the country illegally who are taking advantage of state and federal resources, that is a problem. But a church giving food to someone in need, that's not a crime. There are those who would like to reform the system to allow for a guest-worker program. The program would also give illegal immigrants a chance to work toward citizenship. The positive side to this is that it allows for employers to gain employees to do work that most Americans seem to think is beneath them (another issue all in itself) and it gives people a chance to become US citizens. While there are still problems with this, it is better than the current system. The guest worker program is opposed by those who fear it would create an underclass of employees. However, what do we have now? By creating the program, it would mean more control over the minimum wages for the workers, as well as give employers the chance to offer health benefits without fear of punishment. As to whether these benefits to the program would come to fruition, that's still to be seen. Those opposed to the bill in its entirety are insulting those who went through legal avenues to gain entry to the US and become citizens. If someone wants to enter the US, they should have to do so through legal means, not sneak in and then demand resources from the taxpayers of this country. While the current solutions proposed in the US legislature may not be perfect, they at least seem to be a step in the right direction.
How does an astronaut feel?
Ever wonder what it's like in space? A study in the March issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology (J Appl Physiol 100: 951-957, 2006) showed that all you have to do is lie down and recline your head at a 6-degree angle below your feet for a few days. So, that's your ticket to ride into space!
March 27, 2006
What is this man doing on the Supreme Court?
Both CNN and the BBC have reported Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's opposition to rights for Guantanamo Bay detainees. It is appalling to hear the arguments and statements by him:
We here in the United States actually have a Supreme Court Justice making emotional arguments rather than logical ones that take basic human rights into consideration. "Give me a break."? What kind of speech is that from a Supreme Court Justice? While we are at war and full jury trial may not be possible (and the precedent not there), we must recognize that this is a new kind of war. We are the ones setting precedent for this type of war, and this precedent should include basic human rights as its foundation. The people detained at Guantanamo are real people and should have some recourse to question their detainment ( I've already written about this in a previous post, "Disturbing echoes from history"). The capture of people during war is not perfect, especially given the highly questionable way in which some of the detainees were captured. We have a man sitting on the Supreme Court who it seems is poised to set dangerous precedents for our country. Let's hope he gives us a break. I mean, it's crazy.
March 26, 2006
The Integrity of Science
Last year, a paper authored by Woo Suk Hwang and published in the prestigious scientific journal, Science, turned out to contain fraudulent data. A similar incident occurred a few years ago when a Hendrik Schon published papers in both Science and Nature containing fabricated data. Many feel these incidents have given the scientific community a black eye and pointed out major flaws in how research is reported. However, I think it actually reinforced the integrity of science. Although one may get away with falsifying data and results for a short time, eventually their fraud will be discovered. During the peer review process, reviewers are interested in assessing whether the data and results support the conclusions made in the paper, and whether such results are worthy of publication. They do this under the assumption that the data presented is honest and veracious. If the burden of investigating the honesty of the data were placed on the reviewers, the advance of science would slow significantly as reviewers are also active in conducting their own scientific research. The prevalence of scientific fraud is too low to warrant such a burden on the reviewers. Thus, although a fraudulent paper may be published, when other scientists begin attempts to replicate the results or to build upon them, the fraud will be discovered. It does mean that resources of the later scientists have been squandered in the discovery of the fraud, but imagine the amount of time and money that would be required to verify data prior to publication of every paper. Thousands of papers are published every year in hundreds of journals, virtually all of them by honest scientists. The weak link in the current system seems to be that of the role of co-authors. It is the co-authors that need to take on a greater role in the verification of data, and thus holding them responsible for falsification of data is perhaps the solution to the problems in the current system.
Google Search: meaning of life
Googling meaning of life gives The Meaning of Life to an Armidillo as the top result on result page 42. Here's an excerpt: is as simple as the rain, He’s an armour plated pillow with a microscopic brain, He’s thoroughly disinterested in what the world has wrought, But spends his time in contemplative Armadyllic thought"
March 25, 2006
V for Vendetta
Last night I saw the movie "V for Vendetta". I knew a little about it going in, like it had originally been directed at Margaret Thatcher, it was set in England, and that it had a political slant. I must admit I did not have high expectations going into the theater. However, it is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. It explores some themes of what happens when a society gives up its freedoms for security, how governments are still run by people, people that can be corrupted by power and greed. The primary plot of the movie focuses on one man's vendetta against people who have done terrible things in the past to him and others. He is a well spoken individual known only as V and wears a Guy Fawkes mask, a man who V sees as a sort of hero. "Ideas are bulletproof", he says. I don't want to give away too much of the movie, but I do highly recommend it. The special affects are well done, echoing some elements of the "Matrix", but the screen play was written by the Wachowski brothers and they also share producing credit. It is a very timely movie, given the current state of affairs in the world. Rating: Willing to see again at non-matinee price. 
Another Unknown Caller
A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about an unknown caller. Now I have a new number to question, 1-800-258-0261. Apparently it is Audible.com. I purchased a podcast from them a week ago, so now they are going to pester me with phone calls. How nice of them. So, anyone wanting to buy from Audible.com, beware.
I was combobulated by the whole situation.
Isn't discombobulate a funny word? If one can be discombobulated, does that mean you can also be combobulated? Merriam Webster does not have an entry for combobulate. Isn't English just absolutely messed up?
March 21, 2006
World Baseball Classic Results Summary
Results from the World Baseball Classic. Japan defeated Cuba in the final. Japan is the champion of the first World Baseball Classic. Japan defeated Korea in game one of the final round. Cuba defeated the Dominican Republic in game two of the final round. The top two teams in each pool move on to the second round. The top two teams in both pools 1 and 2 move on to final round. *Clinched second round bid. **Clinched final round bid.
March 16, 2006
Blob Art, or, the doodlings of a bored high school student
Yes, I'm tooting my own horn with this post. Enjoy a blast from my past. Click on the image to see more drawings. 
March 15, 2006
Let's shoplift by hiding items in our skin-tight sweat suit!
Sometimes you really have to wonder how some people have survived for as long as they have in our society.
Failure!
I discovered this in another blog.
A Mexican Sunrise: Chapter 2: The Proposal
The next morning Isaac arose first and finally got a good look at Charlie. Charlie, despite being over six feet tall, was not an overbearing presence. He was clean shaven and had a surprising light complexion for someone who made his living off the land. The clothes he wore seemed remarkably unweathered and fit as though tailored for him. Everyone Isaac knew, including himself, had to buy their clothes at the ready-to-wear store where a proper fit was rare. The newness and fitting of Charlie's clothes made Isaac conscious of his own clothing, all of which was at least one size too large: a pair of black boots, blue wool trousers probably previously worn by a soldier fighting the Apaches, a long sleeve white (or used to be white) dress shirt, a black vest, and a grey blazer. He had been overjoyed the day he found an old train engineeer's hat at the ready-to-wear store, and that hat along with a brown bandana he wore around his neck were his only accessories. Charlie was wearing a pair of black dress shoes, black dress pants and a black suit jacket over a clean white dress shirt. The only thing that was missing was from the outfit was a tie. He also had a black bowler hat. As Isaac was taking this in, Charlie stirred and finally opened his eyes. They were green, and in this landscape seemed almost unreal, like the leaves of a desert rose. "Good morning." Isaac was a little startled. He wondered if Charlie had noticed him staring. After a brief pause, Isaac caught himself and responded awkwardly. "Good morning." "Are you hungry?" Charlie surprised Isaac once more by having breakfast in his bag: eggs and bacon. He cooked the eggs and gave the bacon to Charlie to cook. Isaac could not help but wonder what motive Charlie had in sharing his food. Surely he's not just being friendly. People willing to share such precious commodities as food with you never do so out of the kindness of their hearts or, as Charlie seemed to claim, laziness. But, each meal Charlie shared with him was one less meal he had to worry about later. Much like the night before, they ate in silence, the only sounds the crackling fire and the oil still sizzling in the iron pans as they cooled. Isaac was accustomed to most people talking too much for his taste, but this was the first person he had met that actually talked too little for his taste. It just added to his suspicion. During their breakfast, Charlie pulled out a newspaper. Isaac noticed Charlie read the paper with intense interest. He wondered what could be so interesting about old news, since that paper had to be two or three weeks old if Charlie really had been out hunting as long as he claimed. Charlie began to speak. "You remember last night when I said I was considering a change of occupation." "Yes." Isaac slowly replied, almost as if asking a question. "Well, this here story is why." "What's it about?" Charlie was briefly confused, but then realized that Isaac couldn't read. Most people out here couldn't read, especially those that had to make a living by hunting. "It's about train robbers." Isaac now bore the look of confusion. What could he be thinking? Certainly he doesn't mean to become a train robber? Perhaps he means to chase train robbers, or to become a deputy or bounty hunter. I've heard there's actually pretty good money in bounty hunting, especially with so many outlaws running loose. Or maybe there's hidden loot in some mountain cave and he means to become a treasure seeker. "You look confused." Isaac snapped back from his thoughts. "Oh, well, I don't really follow what you're trying to get at. Do you want to chase train robbers?" "No." "So, you don't want to become a deputy or bounty hunter or anything like that?" "No." The corner of Charlie's mouth began to curl into a smirk. "You want to go hunting for the loot they hide away in the mountains?" "No." Charlie was now smiling from ear to ear. Isaac sat for a moment, furrowing his brow. Certainly he doesn't mean to become a train robber! Does he? His eyes widened at the thought and his mouth opened a bit. "You figured it out?" Charlie asked, smiling widely. "You want to become a train robber?" Isaac asked meekly. "Precisely!" "But why?" "Let me read you the story." "Alright." Isaac absent-mindedly answered. He was a little shocked by the suggestion that somebody as well to do as Charlie seemed to be would become a train robber. He forgot his insecurity at being unable to read and for the first time since he was a child did not protest when someone offered to read something to him. Charlie looked down at the paper, still smiling. It was the Albuquerque Morning Journal, dated March 11, 1884. He cleared his throat and put on a more serious expression before reading the headline:
Isaac sat quietly listening the whole time, reacting to nothing Charlie read. Once he realized that Charlie had finished reading, he asked "Why does that make you want to become a train robber? They all got what they deserved. Just like the story said, I don't regret that they are gone never to return." "But." Charlie paused for emphasis. "They almost got away. If George had not ratted out the others, they would still be free. Plus, Frank Taggart was innocent. What kind of world is it where an innocent man is killed and his named sullied in the paper without so much as a trial? It seems to me that if you can get away with it, you might as well try. Besides, we can view our train robbery as a sort of punishment for the people that unjustly killed Frank." "I don't know. Frank probably was associated with the robbers, so I doubt he was as innocent as you claim. And even if innocent people are killed for crimes they didn't commit, at least they died innocent and will reap their reward in the afterlife. . ." Charlie interrupted. "Hah! Afterlife! I tell you, God is dead to me. There is no afterlife. You have to enjoy what little time you have here. It shouldn't be spent toiling out here in the wilderness hoping to catch a morsel for dinner!" Isaac glared at Charlie. "God is dead? Well, I don't know what path has led you to such a conclusion, but I'd appreciate it if you don't ever say that to me again. I know God is alive and well. I see him and his handiwork everyday. Look at those mountains. Look at the sunrises, the sunsets. Look at the desert flowers. Look into the eyes of a beautiful lady when she smiles. That's all the proof I need." "Okay, I see your point." Charlie replied, trying to calm Isaac. "But I still think that if George hadn't ratted on them, they would still be free, enjoying a good life. They should have gone to Mexico afterwards." "So, you think just because you think you can get away with it, we should do it? I haven't had much schooling, but even to me that seems wrong. You're still stealing money from people that worked hard to get it." "No, we wouldn't be stealing from people that worked hard to get it. We would be stealing from people who earned huge profits off the backs of hard working people. Plus, they should have insurance, so they actually won't lose anything. If they're too cheap to buy insurance, that's their own fault." "But still, it's just wrong." "Let me ask you this, what do you have to lose? You want to get married? Well, with the money we get from the train, you'll finally be able to afford a nice house and be able to settle down. That's my motivation. I want to get back to my wife." Those words reverberated in Isaac's mind. I want to get back to my wife. It was likely the earnestness in Charlie's voice and the intensity with which he said it that made them resonate in Isaac's mind. So that's why he wants to do this. He's just a desperate mine just trying to get home. But, why can't he just go? Why does he need to rob a train? He must have some sort of debt he has to pay off. He sat in thought for a bit longer before he finally spoke again. "I've never done anything wrong in my life, unless you count gambling. But that doesn't hurt anybody but me. I don't want to shoot or be a part of shooting an innocent engineer or anybody else that might stand in our way." "Nor do I, Isaac. That's why we need to come up with another plan, something more covert. These guys threw the train off its tracks and still nearly got away. Imagine if we could pull off a heist with the train still on the tracks. We could be halfway to Mexico before they even knew anything had happened. We won't carry any weapons." "Well, that at least sounds reasonable, if robbing a train can ever sound reasonable." "Plus, if you want you can take some of the money and do some good with it, you will have done more good with it than the previous owners had planned. You could be a modern day Robin Hood." "Robin Hood?" "Take from the rich, give to the poor. Nevermind. Just think it over some more and let me know what you think." Isaac nodded at Charlie but said nothing more. Charlie got up and walked away from their camp, leaving his stuff behind. He wanted to give Isaac some space to think, and he also thought that leaving his things might aid in gaining Isaac's trust. Many thoughts were racing through Isaac's mind. He did want to get married and start a family, and the loot from a train robbery would certainly afford him the ability to do just that. Plus, he could do more good with the money than it was currently likely destined. Then a new thought. If he were to turn Charlie in for plotting a train robbery, there would certainly be a handsome reward. But, the pay off from the robbery would be far greater than reward money. Still, either way he would probably be set for life. But, if he did turn Isaac in, there was no guarantee of reward money. There wasn't even a guarantee of a pat on the back. But here was also no risk of jail time. Unless he ran into a crooked deputy that twisted the facts to make him an accomplice so that he could collect some reward money. He had heard of that happening before. A part of him also felt for Charlie. Charlie seemed more than anything just to want to get back to his wife. You can't fault a man for that. Charlie returned shortly before lunchtime that day. Isaac had only one thing to say to him. "Let's do it."
March 14, 2006
Disturbing echoes from history
The recent history of the United States appears to be a repetition of past mistakes. As an example, I have written a brief snapshot of the history of habeas corpus from which you can make your own judgement. I was inspired to write this by an item I heard on the NPR program “This American Life”. Before beginning the history, it should be stated that the right to habeas corpus must considered a fundamental human right. It provides a means for an imprisoned individual to question the justification for his/her detainment and thus to seek a remedy to that imprisonment (whether it be freedom or a trial). No person, no entity, no country, should be allowed to indefinitely imprison anyone without justification verified by evidence. The right of habeas corpus should be extended to everyone, even those we might consider enemies or who are not citizens of our country. The first step toward tyranny is the sacrificing of rights for a bit of security. Many histories1,2 of habeas corpus mention the first codification of the right as the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679. However, seldom mentioned in the histories are the events immediately preceding this act (including the Act of 1671). In the years 1642-1651, three civil wars took place in England3. During these wars, King Charles I was tried for treason, convicted, and executed. To those loyal to the monarchy, this was murder, and a group that could murder the king was capable of any vicious act. This group (whose composition included some religious fantatics who believed the removal of the king from power would bring the kingdom of heaven to Earth) was eventually defeated and Charles II named king by those who hoped to bring some stability to England. However, attempts and plots to remove the king continued (see Venner's Rising)4. Such events certainly allowed those in power to justify the limitation or elimination of the civil liberties that existed at the time. And such actions by the government eventually led to the impeachment of one Lord Clarendon (born Edward Hyde). The list of accusations against him included the following5:
The guilt or innonence of Lord Clarendon is not at issue here. What is, however, is the fact that during the early years of the restoration, a fear existed in the government that at large remained individuals capable of plotting and carrying out unimaginably vicious acts. This fear was so strong that those who fell under governmental suspicion were imprisoned on remote islands so that they could be denied proper access to the law. Such was the outrage at this that the Habeas Corpus Act of 16796 was passed by Parliament, an act that specifically forbade the very things of which Lord Clarendon was accused. The current administration of the United States is telling us that the prisoners of the War on Terror are different than prisoners from traditional wars. These individuals are vicious, hate our society and our freedom, and thus we can imprison them indefinitely in order to find out what they know. However, we should counter that we are a country of laws. While many of the people imprisoned at Guantanamo and other detention centers may in fact do anything in their power to destroy our country, the fact remains that they are people, humans that deserve the right to question their imprisonment by our country. The government is run by people, and people make mistakes. The detainment of innocent individuals does occur, and it access to legal recourse that allows for such mistakes to be corrected. We must remember that we are living in the 21st century. We are a democracy, not a 17th century monarchy. If we are going to go into the business of nation building, it is our obligation to provide an example to the rest of the world of a nation of laws and respect for human rights, even the rights of our enemies. References: 1. Wikipedia.org: Habeas Corpus 2. BBC News: A brief history of habeas corpus 3. Wikipedia.org: English Civil War 4. Ex Libris: English Dissenter: Fifth Monarchists or Fifth Monarcy Men 5. British History Online: The History of Parliament, Debates in 1667, 1st-15th November, footnotes 6. Habeas Corpus Act
March 11, 2006
Concerning news about passports
I finally decided to apply for a US passport. I actually decided several weeks ago to go ahead with the process, but couldn't find the time. I was going to do it last weekend, but forgot my birth certificate. But, today I got everything together and made a trip to the post office. And wouldn't you know, they were having some sort of special "get or renew" your passport day, meaning there were many, many more people there than on a typical Saturday. But, I did accomplish my goal of getting bad pictures of me taken and turning in my application. I did so in anticipation of potentially going to an international conference or potentially Korea in the next year or so. However, I learned that perhaps I'm putting my application in just in the nick of time. While researching passports, I learned that the US State department will begin issuing passports with radio frequency identification (RFID) chips that would broadcast the carrier's information to customs agents. This news is very alarming, since anyone with the proper reader would have access to the personal information (social security number, address, etc.) already contained in the passport. In addition, I do not see how this might increase security or speed up travel times significantly. The convenience and reduction in time spent in lines does not outweigh the risk of identity theft (or worse) from unscrupulous individuals obtaining the ability to read the passports. We have been assured of security measures put in place, but I still must stand opposed to the idea, as did 98.5% of the 2,335 respondents who made comments to the State Department about this issue (see the article about the RFID chips and read the comments to the State Department here.) Since the new passports will be issued starting in October, 2006, there is still time for you get one without the RFID chip. Even if you do not see yourself traveling internationally in the next few years, it might be a good idea to go ahead and get one now. They are valid for 10 years. You can find more information about obtaining or renewing your passport here.
March 10, 2006
March 09, 2006
Unknown caller
Today I got a call on my cell phone today that showed up as "Unknown". The number associated with it was 888-232-9543. Anyone out there know any more about this number? A Google search returns a few links to people discussing telemarketers and also to what appears to be links to gambling/casino sites.
Today's Fortune Cookie
Life is like football. The minute you stop going for goals, the game is over.
Want a bigger brain?
Well, you're in luck if you are a steelhead trout. A study at the University of California-Davis found that hatchery reared trout had increased growth in some sections of the brain when stones were scattered on the bottom of their tank. The brains were closer to those of wild fish and the hatchery fish also showed behavior more similar to the wild-type. What does this mean? Well, I wouldn't recommend spreading small stones around your floor. Or, if you have a child, it's probably not a good idea to put small stones in their crib. But if you want some wild, big-brained trout, you now have a way to make your dream come true.
March 08, 2006
The Burger King Drive Thru Window
Last night I decided to stop by Burger King for a Whopper combo (medium with cheese and Coke, hmmmmm...). Once I arrived at the window, I paid for my meal and waited patiently for its delivery. While waiting, I noticed a sign on the window that stated that only customers in motorized vehicles would be served at the window. I thought to myself, "Why?" Does it really pose a danger to serve people that walk up or come through on a bike? I have actually ridden a bike through a bank drive-thru teller window before. In this time of high gas prices and air pollution, it seems counter productive to discourage those who would like to partake in the delicacies of BK from doing so via environmentally friendly methods such as biking or walking.
Google Search: "The World"
Googling "The World" gives the New York Times as the top result on result page 42.
Google Search: "University of Georgia"
Googling "University of Georgia" gives the Georgia Master Gardner website as the top result on result page 42.
March 07, 2006
Google Search: "Burger King"
I decided to do a random search on Google, and chose "Burger King" as my search terms. This link was the top result on result page 42.
Dirty Laundry (to the tune of "My Favorite Things", if you like)
Searching in closet, searching here, searching there, Finding little that is clean that I might wear, A stenchy pile in the corner does lay, These are a few things found on laundry day. Mismatching socks and black shorts for underwear, Hoping to avoid any curious stares, Worries of what other people may say, These are a few things found on laundry day. Empty hampers, Ordered drawers, When laundy day's done, I simply remember my dirty clothes fears, And then I don't feel so stunned.
Barry Bonds, how despicable
I wonder if the truth has finally come out. There is still the small chance that the recent story is from the imagination of jealous reporters, but I doubt it. It would seem that the accomplishments of one Barry Bonds, the fun that fans had following his homerun pursuits, have been tainted by his use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs. I personally feel as though I've been robbed. I believed Bonds when he claimed he was clean. I believed he was one of the best players ever to play. Now, he's nothing more than a cheater that deserves nothing more than a footnote in baseball history. His career numbers should be cut off at the point where we know for sure that he started using drugs (1998). Would he be worthy of Hall of Fame consideration at that point? It would be debatable. However, now with the truth known, he should never be considered. He is a liar, a cheat, and a thief for robbing millions of fans of the memories they thought weren't tainted.
March 06, 2006
Uncomedic comedy
Although I have not seen the movie, I have described to me a scene in the movie "Date Movie" where the two leads beat up a homeless man, just for something to do on their date. It is presented as comedy, but anyone who could possibly find it side-splittingly funny has some serious issues. Violence against the homeless is a real problem, but seems to stay off the radar because, for whatever reason, homeless people are seen as insignificant with no feelings or worth. Recent news stories report the beating and setting on fire of a man in Boston, the beating of another man in San Antonio, and a beating spree of homeless men in Fort Laurderdale, FL. The fact that such a scene could be placed in a movie as comedy is a sad commentary on our society. It may be the shock value that causes some people to laugh nervously, and even though it is a movie and not real, it is pathetic that anyone could find such a scene genuinely humorous.
March 04, 2006
March 03, 2006
An ignorant "pseudo-intellectual"
Late last year I had the pleasure of overhearing a conversation between two people on my daily commute. To set up the scenario, the conversation was between two men, one white, one Indian, and both spoke perfect English. The white man dominated the conversation, ranting about how people should learn English when they come here and that there should be a one year English requirement during the immigration process. He also stated that the world would be much more efficient with only one language, that we shouldn't have to waste time learning other languages. It was all I could do to bite my lip and explain to him that there are more benefits to learning another langauge than just being able to communicate (such as expanding your mind, finding new ways to express yourself in your native language, etc.). Some ideas just can't be properly translated from one langauge to another. I also was able to suppress the urge to suggest to him that since there are so many more Chinese speakers in the world that perhaps Chinese should become the "global language". (I do understand there are several dialects of Chinese). He went on to complain about not being able to understand one of his teachers. I've had trouble with that in the past, but it's an issue you have to deal with in the real world, so just accept it. Put a little more effort into trying to understand you teacher. He went on to tell the Indian man that he (the Indian man) spoke well, not perfect, but good enough to understand English. Once again I refrained from saying anything, but I would have guessed that the Indian man grew up here in the U.S. The last thing he ranted about was how he is a conservative and that liberals can't think straight. He said he thinks globally, but liberals think locally. I wanted to tell him that his global thought process makes him blind to the reality around him, and that makes him prone to making sweeping generalizations. The exact thing he was doing the entire conversation.
March 01, 2006
Surrounds us every day But seldom do we enjoy it As we hurry on our way Puffy white clouds In a blue summer sky A tiny little ant That's stronger than you or I A herd of grazing cows In a field of emerald green There is so much beauty Just waiting to be seen The laughter of a child The singing of a bird There is so much joy Just waiting to be heard The feel of a breeze On a hot summer's day The smell from a field Of freshly mown hay The taste of a peach Picked ripe from the tree All these things are out there And all of them are free The Lord in all his glory Provides so much good For us to enjoy if only we would --- Dolly Shubert, June 1999
Yelling at bus stop waiters. . .
So, I was waiting at the bus stop this afternoon (waiting for the bus, which should not shock you), when a car drove by with quite possibly the most intelligent person on Earth as a passenger. How can I make such a judgement in the short period of time this individual was in front of me? Well, as we all know, an astute power of observation is a key element to high intellect (actually, I don't know if that's true, but it sounds good). The individual in question, quite remarkably, noticed that people were standing at the bus stop. But, he took it one step further. He was able to reason that, since we were standing at the bus stop, we must be waiting for the bus! This observation was so moving to him that he had to yell at us, the bus stop waiters, that we were in fact waiting for the bus. I'm actually quite glad he did, because I must admit to sometimes forgetting why I'm standing at a bus stop. |
|
| | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright 2006 Libloggery. All images and text remain the copyright of the original owners. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
