Posts by class_matters

what did you end up renting?  how was it?

Favorite movie = (original) Night of the Living Dead

I don't get scared (although I want to) by movies but I think a movie that did a GREAT job at building tension was the French film "Inside".

Original Post by sauvignon:

Take a state of anarchy, where you could essentially kill anyone with no repercussions. Take modern civilization, where there is a system that attempts to restrict this 'freedom'.

Umm... that isn't anarchism.  That's chaos.  Anarchism is about a different type of social organization.  Check out the Anarchist FAQ if you would like to learn more.

Unionize!

The weather should probably be a no-no also.  That might lead to talk about climate change and then there might be *gasp* disagreements!

Original Post by splitrail:

So what happens if too many complaints come in regarding the actions of the mods, under the direction and supervision of administrators? Like, let's say 20 complaints come in, as 19 is the precedent set for immediate action?

Even better, what happens if too many complaints come in regarding the actions of this Igor person?  Will he then have to give himself a warning with the threat of deletion upon further complaints?

Original Post by mesize8:

It may be perfectly legal and within their rights to bring guns to protests...but that doesn't mean it's not intimidating, and it could mean that well-meaning, good citizens interested in the political process are staying home instead of having their voices heard. 

Uhhh... people are staying home from protests already because they're afraid of a cop busting them in the head and being falsely arrested.  I've unfortunately seen this several times, seen it happen to friends and to myself.  Cop riots are no fun. :-(

Original Post by fightinginsanity:

The term "homophobic" is ridiculous.  I feel that the homosexual lifestyle is an abberation, but I am not afraid of homosexuals.  Nor am I afraid that I will catch a "disease" from them.  It comes across as a term used to encourage reverse discrimination.  Interesting, from a groupl that fights for acceptance, tolerance, and in my opinion, special rights. 

Ok... how about the term heterosexist?  Do you identify with that one more?  Gotta make sure you label your bigotry correctly.

Original Post by fightinginsanity:

In MY OPINION- society has suffered hugely because of the feminist movement. 

In my opinion, feminism has greatly helped both women and men not only move towards equality but also for both to become whole human beings.

#1- families are often negatively impacted when there isn't an involved parent (traditionally the mother) at home with the children.  Daycare centers, teachers and electronic media are NOT suitable substitutes.  Familes are failing children at a rapid rate around the world.  These children are the adults of the future.  There was/is great value in women devoting blocks of their lives to the upbringing of the next generation.  However, the feminist movement has largely convinced women that their worth can only be found in the "working world". 

Too bad you're looking back for a world which never existed.  The women in my family have always worked.  My Great-Grandma worked, my Great-Great Grandma worked (at a sweatshop that was located just down the street from where I'm sitting).  The fact is that women since the industrial revolution women have always worked outside the home, just not white well-off women. 

If you would read feminist literature you would see that it's not "convincing women that their worth can only be found in the 'working world.'"  In fact it talks about women having a choice to work outside the house if that's what they want to do.  If you read feminist literature you will see a lot about women's choices: the choice of whether or not to wear makeup, the choice of whether or not to have sex, the choice about whether or not to me a parent.  It's about empowering women to have control over their own lives.

#2- when you have two parents and both are working outside of the home to provide the famly with the extra money to live up to society's standards, parents often overcompensate with material goods.  There is a very large percent of the population that feels entitled to all the "goods" that the world has to offer because it has been handed to them since birth.  Where a bedtime story and hug use to suffice for showing love, a new gaming system is now an expression of love.  Thus- the birth of our material hungry world. 

Except for the fact that the materialistic society as we know it in the US began immediately after World War 2 when many white folks had spendable income for the first time.  "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan (which some folks mark as a beginning of the second wave of feminism) wasn't published until 1963.  So you can't blame a materialistic society on feminism.

Original Post by katesorad:

 I grew up Catholic and I tried several other religions such as LDS (I lived with Mormons for a while when I was in rehab), Scientology, Lutheran, and even went to a Jewish service once.  I just never found anything that stuck with me and made me feel like I was in the right place.

http://www.jesuscampthemovie.com/

I don't have any faith but just wanted to suggest that you might like a Unitarian church.

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

Okay... say you believe in Liberal principles - allowing people to decide things for themselves regarding their bodies, who they marry, who they associate with, their freedoms/rights/liberties. You also believe in regulating the markets because you read Wealth of Nations all the way through and not just the first part. You believe in regulation because you know about negative externalities. You believe in having a social safety net because you believe that bad things happen to people all the time and you never know when your turn for bad things is up.

I don't believe in the corruption. I don't believe in lobbyists. I don't believe in government wasteful spending.

No person in their right minds wants that. Unless you, of course, are corrupt yourself.

So then what? I'm not becoming a libertarian. I strongly disagree with the main tenets. I'm not joining the socialist party. I'm not really a socialist (no matter what anyone says, being for a social program doesn't make you a socialist). I'm not a communist. So....... do you see what my question was? What does someone, who hates the state our gov't is in now but disagrees with the tenets of independent parties, do?

From what you wrote you sound like a social democrat, which doesn't have an independent party in the US as far as I'm aware.  I think they tend to just work in the Democratic Party as the left wing of it.

Coffin: I love love love X-Ray Spex, but I don't know how much a metal fan would like it.

Other suggestions: Black Flag, Neurosis, Melt-Banana, Bad Brains, Avail, Circle Jerks, Fugazi, Randy, (International) Noise Conspiracy, Teenage Knockouts

wow.. that's an awfully male-heavy list.  glancing through my stuff i wasn't noticing any female bands that were rockish or metalish.

Local Cleveland punk:  Gotta go with the Dead Boys and Pagans of course.

I just got back from watching it and I probably would've liked it if the theater hadn't been full of people who felt the need to talk constantly and continually being on their cell phones.  The person in front of me was watching videos on his ipod for half the movie!  I don't understand why folks act this way.  I'm done seeing movies on friday and saturday nights.  I'll stick to the matinees and the midnight showings where folks actually want to see the movie.

I did Food Not Bombs in Cleveland weekly for several years (including doing the cooking in my apartment for most of it).  Just realized that since we shared food with on average 100 people a week that I helped provide around 26,000 meals.

So I do have quite a bit of experience with homeless folks - including a brief stint of homelessness myself.

I've also given money, books, utensils, clothes, rides, etc.  I don't usually give money because I don't really have enough to spare.  The one thing that does drive me nuts is when people approach me when I'm in or by my car - I had someone pull a knife on me and rob me when I was in my car once so I'm a bit sensitive about that.

People need to spend more time learning about the homeless.  For instance, many homeless people DO work.  The temp agencies make a killing because of the homeless.  But when they only get paid minimum wage to do some of the hardest dirtiest work imaginable, have to spend hours unpaid waiting to see if there's anything available, having to pay check cashing fees, ride fees, safety equipment fees, etc, then they're left with hardly anything.  You can't save up for a place when you don't make enough to live on.  And it's hard to get a place if you don't have a steady income (which temp agencies aren't).

So many folks complain that a homeless person might use the money for drugs or alchohl.  So effin' what!  Sure, some are homeless because of an addiction.  But some are using or drinking BECAUSE they're homeless.  Just imagine the stress that they're under.  It's incredible.  They constantly have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from, if the shelter is going to be full or not, where they're gonna sleep if it is, if someone is going to jack them for what little they have, whether that cop is going to be cool or not, whether that group of suburban kids are going to beat the crap out of him just for kicks...  It's not a fun life so if they want to unwind with a bottle then let them.

It's disgusting that so many folks look down on homeless folks.  Hell, with the economy the way it is, and the costs of healthcare, rent, car repair, etc., they way they are, it wouldn't take much for most of us to wind up in their shoes.  If I remember right tons americans are only a few paychecks away from it themselves. 

I loved it.

The ending was a little weak and it doesn't have the feminist sensibilities that Joss Whedon is known for, but overall it was a lot of fun.

Make sure you listen to the commentary.  They even do that as a musical!