What's the difference between a gay man and a child-molesting priest in the eyes of the Catholic church?
One goes to hell, and the other goes to a different congregation.
It's just so good to see the hypocrites fall on their faces.
Well, no, it's horrible that any of this happened. I'm glad the Catholic church is finally taking a look at the log in its own eye rather than focusing on the splinters in the eyes of everyone else.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Friday, October 28, 2005
Gimmie a Gun:
I have noticed that the conservative Christian agenda has been getting a lot of press lately. They're screaming about conservative judges, pushing intelligent design in schools, and basically ruining the planet.
I'd like to volunteer to do my part and knock off a few.
Ok, no I'm not serious. I plant potatoes that grow sprouts because it's "beautiful life." I am sad every time I see road-kill. We all know humans are NOT my favorite species, but they're still worth capture-neuter-releasing.
I think, in some ways, humanity would have done better if we had participated in a more restrictive breeding program. Someone should have kept the wackos from inbreeding, and maybe culled the herd a little when the fighting started. Maybe castrating a couple of the males to lessen their aggressive tendencies would have helped. There are DEFINITELY some that shouldn't have bred because of real mental problems. I'm thinking we should put them in one of those habitats where there's a giant moat separating the "special" ones from harming the rest of us. They wouldn't even see the fences!
And some people, especially a couple of politicians, should have been put to pasture before they did any more harm. We should learn from those mistakes.
This is why I stick to hedgehogs. They're so much smarter than some of the people in the news. UGH.
~Kristen
I have noticed that the conservative Christian agenda has been getting a lot of press lately. They're screaming about conservative judges, pushing intelligent design in schools, and basically ruining the planet.
I'd like to volunteer to do my part and knock off a few.
Ok, no I'm not serious. I plant potatoes that grow sprouts because it's "beautiful life." I am sad every time I see road-kill. We all know humans are NOT my favorite species, but they're still worth capture-neuter-releasing.
I think, in some ways, humanity would have done better if we had participated in a more restrictive breeding program. Someone should have kept the wackos from inbreeding, and maybe culled the herd a little when the fighting started. Maybe castrating a couple of the males to lessen their aggressive tendencies would have helped. There are DEFINITELY some that shouldn't have bred because of real mental problems. I'm thinking we should put them in one of those habitats where there's a giant moat separating the "special" ones from harming the rest of us. They wouldn't even see the fences!
And some people, especially a couple of politicians, should have been put to pasture before they did any more harm. We should learn from those mistakes.
This is why I stick to hedgehogs. They're so much smarter than some of the people in the news. UGH.
~Kristen
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Harriet Miers Withdraws!!
This has really made my morning. :) I really hated her. "Bush is the best governor ever!" Ugh, make me puke.
The only scary thing... Bush still gets to nominate another future-judge. Maybe this one will have some background in, oh, constitutional law, or at least be less in awe of a coke-snorting false prophet.
I can dream, right?
~Kz
This has really made my morning. :) I really hated her. "Bush is the best governor ever!" Ugh, make me puke.
The only scary thing... Bush still gets to nominate another future-judge. Maybe this one will have some background in, oh, constitutional law, or at least be less in awe of a coke-snorting false prophet.
I can dream, right?
~Kz
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Wal-Mart and Healthcare:
There's been a lot of talk about Wal-Mart and their role in the continuing health care crisis. From my work, I've found that the most profitable corporation in the nation has average salaries below the poverty line and provides health care for fewer than 44% of their employees. Even when they DO provide health insurance, their employees face expensive premiums in relation to their low salaries and delays of 2 years for part time workers, which Wal-Mart defines as anyone working up to 36 hours per week. In light of these and other equally condemning data, Wal-Mart appears to be using its power for ill, rather than for good.
As I do fact-finding work and write reports extolling the faults of Wal-Mart, I've been trying to figure out how much I believe and how much I'm doing because it's the right political move for "our side." I have to admit, the politics behind the criticism of Wal-Mart is very complex and sometimes convoluted. There seem to be groups who want to fight Wal-Mart regardless of what the fight is about. There are some who hate "the man" and big corporations just because of what they are and their influence over access to the free market.
I, personally, am not a critic of all large business. While I do like small, local businesses because of the quality of service, the diversity they bring to the market and because of the quality employment they can provide, I think that the "market" is becoming more global and large corporations will have the initial ability to connect nations who can produce and those who will purchase. I do not, however, support businesses that take unfair advantage of a nation's poverty or powerless residents to maximize profits regardless of the costs.
I am very skeptical of Wal-Mart's innocence in the many claims brought against them in regards to employment practices, gender equality, and general honesty of business practices. I think they've been a bad, bad corporation.
I don't, however, blame Wal-Mart for not wanting to provide health insurance to its employees, though I suspect they have less than altruistic reasons for their policies. Providing health care in the current environment flat-out sucks.
That being said, Wal-Mart cannot continue lobbying against health care reform while simultaneously refusing to participate in our current system that relies on employers to provide health care. I believe strongly that all Americans deserve health care, and that providing this care will decrease bankruptcy, loss of productivity, shortened lifespan and danger of quickly spreading of communicable diseases or pandemics. Wal-Mart needs to provide health care or use its tremendous world-wide influence to bring about change in the system. In the end, it really is to the benefit of all.
The report I worked on is still in a holding pattern. Meanwhile, it appears that Wal-Mart is bending to pressure to provide better access to its health care program. This is really a dynamic and engaging issue, at least to a nerd like me.
~Kz
There's been a lot of talk about Wal-Mart and their role in the continuing health care crisis. From my work, I've found that the most profitable corporation in the nation has average salaries below the poverty line and provides health care for fewer than 44% of their employees. Even when they DO provide health insurance, their employees face expensive premiums in relation to their low salaries and delays of 2 years for part time workers, which Wal-Mart defines as anyone working up to 36 hours per week. In light of these and other equally condemning data, Wal-Mart appears to be using its power for ill, rather than for good.
As I do fact-finding work and write reports extolling the faults of Wal-Mart, I've been trying to figure out how much I believe and how much I'm doing because it's the right political move for "our side." I have to admit, the politics behind the criticism of Wal-Mart is very complex and sometimes convoluted. There seem to be groups who want to fight Wal-Mart regardless of what the fight is about. There are some who hate "the man" and big corporations just because of what they are and their influence over access to the free market.
I, personally, am not a critic of all large business. While I do like small, local businesses because of the quality of service, the diversity they bring to the market and because of the quality employment they can provide, I think that the "market" is becoming more global and large corporations will have the initial ability to connect nations who can produce and those who will purchase. I do not, however, support businesses that take unfair advantage of a nation's poverty or powerless residents to maximize profits regardless of the costs.
I am very skeptical of Wal-Mart's innocence in the many claims brought against them in regards to employment practices, gender equality, and general honesty of business practices. I think they've been a bad, bad corporation.
I don't, however, blame Wal-Mart for not wanting to provide health insurance to its employees, though I suspect they have less than altruistic reasons for their policies. Providing health care in the current environment flat-out sucks.
That being said, Wal-Mart cannot continue lobbying against health care reform while simultaneously refusing to participate in our current system that relies on employers to provide health care. I believe strongly that all Americans deserve health care, and that providing this care will decrease bankruptcy, loss of productivity, shortened lifespan and danger of quickly spreading of communicable diseases or pandemics. Wal-Mart needs to provide health care or use its tremendous world-wide influence to bring about change in the system. In the end, it really is to the benefit of all.
The report I worked on is still in a holding pattern. Meanwhile, it appears that Wal-Mart is bending to pressure to provide better access to its health care program. This is really a dynamic and engaging issue, at least to a nerd like me.
~Kz
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Reporting:
I'm writing a report for Wisconsin Citizen Action. Look for it in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sometime in the next week. Darcy Haber will probably be quoted or mentioned. My name, of course, will be left out. :) Somehow these sorts of things lose credibility when people find out they're written by law students...
Oh, a couple other clues to help you find it:
1. It will be about Wal-Mart and other large companies in Wisconsin
2. It will feature numbers like $33 million and $65-$130 billion
3. The author will say things like, "According to a new report from Wisconsin Citizen Action..."
Maybe I'll find it online and post a link.
I think this is the most important thing I've ever written. I even had to compile data and crunch numbers. Anyone who knows me well should know what a big deal it is for me to have crunched numbers.
Sorry I can't write more right now. Head hurts, report due in 17 hours.
~Kristen
I'm writing a report for Wisconsin Citizen Action. Look for it in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sometime in the next week. Darcy Haber will probably be quoted or mentioned. My name, of course, will be left out. :) Somehow these sorts of things lose credibility when people find out they're written by law students...
Oh, a couple other clues to help you find it:
1. It will be about Wal-Mart and other large companies in Wisconsin
2. It will feature numbers like $33 million and $65-$130 billion
3. The author will say things like, "According to a new report from Wisconsin Citizen Action..."
Maybe I'll find it online and post a link.
I think this is the most important thing I've ever written. I even had to compile data and crunch numbers. Anyone who knows me well should know what a big deal it is for me to have crunched numbers.
Sorry I can't write more right now. Head hurts, report due in 17 hours.
~Kristen
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