a mind is a beautiful thing to taste

a second quick funny

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:52:41 -0400

Saw this on the "just posted" page as soon as I posted my ICHC pic. Link from random vox user who linked to this story.

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just "wow"

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:23:29 -0400

I have no words. From CNN.com.

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whip me, beat me, show me you care

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:09:16 -0400

There are those people who are dead set against it (although a portion of them suddenly reconsider once they actually have children). There are those who say there's nothing wrong with it, in moderation. I belong to the latter group. I'm talking about spanking. A disclaimer: I do not have, nor will be having, children, however I have been exposed to enough of them in my life that I feel I have a right to speak somewhat knowledgeably about the subject.

Last night, an anti-spanking bill was passed through the Canadian Senate. While you can read the whole story here, what the bill propses is this:

The bill proposes to eliminate Section 43 of the Criminal Code, which says any parent, schoolteacher or a person standing in the place of a parent "is justified in using force by way of correction toward a pupil or child'' over age two and under age 13 "if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances.''

The bill is by no means law yet, but this was a significant hurdle for it to pass. It's interesting that Anita and I had a conversation about spanking just the other day, when she was telling me stories about her sister and children, whom she is visiting.

I find it difficult when someone says they would never ever spank their children, but it all depends on delving further and finding out why the person feels that way. I personally don't equate spanking with beating the living daylights out of a kid. To me, spanking is a smack on the bottom or arm to get their attention when all else fails. Sometimes the shock value of a spanking is all that will work, most especially because it is a last resort. I don't feel that it's a way of showing power and strength over the child.

I don't have time to write a whole lot about this, but I'm sure some interesting comments will arise. Basically, I just feel that spanking has a time and a place, it should be used sparingly, and when done properly it can act as a significant deterrant for many children. It can't be your go-to punishment method, nor can it take the place of actual parenting. The one sticking point is about degrees of punishment and force, but I don't think that outright criminalizing any sort of force visited upon a child by a parent is the way to go.

I sincerely hope the bill doesn't become law. Actually, I'd simply like the existing law to be modified to reflect that only parents should have this right because I do disapprove of giving anyone other than a child's parent the right to even simple force, unless it's as a restraining measure to protect the child or those around the child.. We're already awash in impolite, disrespectful children (no, not yours - of course not yours) who are taught by the world that they should be calling Children's Services as soon as someone so much as threatens to lay a finger on them. It really is time to bring children back in control.

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canada in the news

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:21:47 -0400

Baby beluga born at Vancouver Aquarium. Story and video here.

Steven Colbert tries to license the Hockey Night in Canada theme song.

Colbert licenses the Hockey Night in Canada theme

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wtf story of the day

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:29:23 -0400

Pathetic.

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damn

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:44:08 -0400

We all knew the day would come, but it's still pretty damn sad.

Harvey_korman

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from the wtf files

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:51:50 -0400

Panties for Peace

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what a sales incentive

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Fri, 23 May 2008 23:07:26 -0400

buy a pickup, get a gun for free!

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they've gotta stop soon, right?

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:29:14 -0400

Another news story. I remember reading about this family when their last child was born nine months ago (you do the math). Raise your hand if you're surprised the father's name is Jim Bob.

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not soon enough, and I'm not even american

nobody@vox.com(arbed) — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:42:58 -0400

I'll take "How much longer until that asshat GWB leaves office?" for $600, Alex.

If you can't respect and honour the young folks who make up the majority of your fighting military and put their lives on the line for you, then who are you as a human being? I don't care what your views of war are, nor do mine figure into this, but other than the usual few bad apples, and of course their civilian leaders, you just don't shit on your protectors, they who are willing to put their lives on the line for yours. I know that stories of their medical facilities have been in the news, too - I'm not ignoring that or other discouraging military stories, I'm just pointing out this particular story as just one example of the US military's betrayal of those brave young folks who thought they were doing the right thing.

I was doing some noontime CNN.com reading and came across this story. Maybe there's more to it than I'm seeing, since, as I said, I am not American, and therefore not up on all the news to do with this subject, but the last lines of this story (GWB's negative response to the subject) made me sick, for way too many reasons to list.

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