Seriously, a milk carton?

As some of you know the shit has hit the fan at the RQ castle and every day I find myself in some new battle threatening legal action. For example, after not being paid for weeks I had to send an email to every single administrative head threatening a lawsuit for their repeat violations of federal law. Then I fought with my bank manager when the bank put a hold on one of my deposits. I pointed out how it was in violation of federal reserve law to hold that type of deposit. He said "I've been in banking for over 12 years and this is the first time a customer knew more than me". He apologized and fixed it, but not after bouncing a check. I haven't bounced a check in 5 years. Fuck.

So this is what I'm doing, everyday. In this case, the personal is political because everyday I find myself having to inform people who should know better what the laws governing their jobs are. I should so get an honorary law degree for this shit.

I am back to work maybe next week and I should have some time and space to write. I do miss you all, but sometimes you've got to hibernate when things are rough.

Ciao!

Marginalization: Fact or Fiction?

I got into a recent debate on a friend's blog regarding the nature of Hate Crimes, and why such a classification even exists. He, being a US Marine, felt a bit of injustice at the fact that harassment of military personnel isn't viewed as a hate crime... because it's stemmed from hate as well.

I explained that "hate crime" laws were established to protect minorities, and minority groups are marginalized by default -- they have less voice in the community than the majority, just by nature of sheer numbers. Less voice means less impact, and that the majority of laws and regulations will benefit the majority, and while utilitarianism seems to be a functional tactic for government, it certainly always sucks for the minority groups.

A counter-argument was presented: On an individual level, we each can petition on our own behalf; we can each go and educate ourselves and get a job, etc., etc. Since one individual is as much of a minority as another, the playing field is level. It's an interesting thought, and in my own case, I see it evident. I'm technically a minority (half-korean, half white), and I view myself as quite successful... but on the other hand, I don't have a collective mindset about my ethnicity. I don't embrace that part of my identity -- I don't think of myself as a part of a subset of the population. A woman might identify with being among "women," and a black man might identify with the plight of black-americans. Such a concept is entirely foreign to me, and I don't feel as though my voice has been marginalized.

What are your thoughts on this?

A little help here.....

Everybody hates us.

A european survey shows that 30% of Europeans (Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain) feel that the United States is the number one threat to global stability.

More than Iran, more than North Korea. Jeez.

SMOKERS: YOU'RE BEING TRICKED

This isn't an anti-smoker post. Mostly. The target of my indignation isn't the folks who keep buying the cigarettes - it's the corporations that are making billions of dollars exploiting people. Folks on the political left attack walmart and home depots for destroying economies and ruining diversity... but I really don't see a lot of folks on the left decrying the business practice of the tobacco industry.

I think it *might* have something to do with the disproportionate number of folks on the left that happen to smoke... but that's speculation based on personal observation, on account of my lack of data on the subject.

Anyhow, it turns out that the Tobacco industry has been increasing the level of nicotine in cigarattes over the last several years. Paritcularly, cigarettes known by the industry to be purchased most by teens and minorities. Isn't that nice.

More details here: at my site.

Soggy but safe & sound....

Well, What's left of Tropical Storm Ernesto has passed out into the Atlantic and should be visiting the Carolinas soon, hopefully It won't re-strengthen. Basically yesterday amounted to a really rainy day, & for Darlin' a day off work (he was actually gonna try & go get some work done but then it started to get reall rainy ... I have yet to check out the church interior, gotta do that soon....

I was supposed to hear back yesterday about a job I applied to, but i'm guessing they took the day off... I'll be making a phone call today...

Meanwhile...

It's Fursday!!
And for your viewing enjoyment, I bring you a man playing the piano with his balls


ok, maybe not so much funny as mildly amusing....

Nasty Weather

I thought moving to Central Florida meant I would miss most of the Hurricane/Tropical Storm fun.......

yep, that big blue blob in the middle is Lake Okeechobee. I'm about 50 miles away as the crow flies...

Not so much worried about personal safety this time... we're on relatively high ground & Mom & Dad's house is concrete block...

I'm just hoping the roof of the church stays in place & doesn't become completely porous

Time to batten down the hatches, I guess...