why so stupid, stupid

For this first List Wednesday list in a while (yes, on Thursday), I'm going to have to share all of the instances in which I've experienced the most intense stupidity ever, all within the last couple of weeks.

1. This was at Room and Board. I walk into the 2-stall bathroom. There's a woman standing "in line." I stand behind her. After about 5 seconds of silence, she turns and says to me "I hope there's someone in there." WHAT? My mind is racing. I say "Did you even check?" She says no, and we both move toward a stall door. She does a pathetic little knock while I just open up the door - no one. I look at her. I open the other stall door. No one. Who doesn't check the stalls before standing in line, especially when it's silent? Why would you just stand there and "hope" someone is in there? How long was she waiting there before I walked in? How much longer would she have waited had I not walked in?? I was baffled.


2. The second instance took place in the driveway (see photo below, taken a few days after this incident) we sometimes take into our building parking garage that is shared with the public who patronize the businesses on our ground floor, which includes a shuttered grocery store, as indicated by the sign. (The driveway splits to resident and retail parking.) As we approach the driveway, we see another car just sitting in the driveway, blocking it. We honk. Nothing. We honk again. Nothing. HHOONNKK. Then a man gets out of the car waving his hand in a "take it easy" kind of way, and asks us if the grocery store was open. Let me, once more, refer you to the photo below. What part of "TEMPORARILY CLOSED" did they not understand?? (2 question marks = mind blown by stupidity)







3. If you have the capacity for one more stupid incident, here you go: It's rush hour on a southbound Metro train. A woman on a sit-scooter rolls onto the train, parks her scooter in the opposite doorway, gets up, and walks to a seat! At the next stop, the doors open on the side that her scooter is parked. As predicted, her scooter is completely in the way, creating a bottleneck for people boarding the train at rush hour. Furthermore, she's taking up a seat when she could have just stayed seated in her scooter. I'm looking at her seeing if she gives any inclination of "oops" or "oh sorry, let me move my scooter..." Nope. Nothing. And as expected, once out of DC, the scooter creates a bottleneck for people getting off the train...including me.


4. Here's one more little one: A woman speeds down my street in the early hours of a weekday morning without her lights on (it's still dark). She is proceeded by another car, who stops for a crossing pedestrian carrying a baby. The speedster then honks twice at the stopping car. 'nough said.

Stupidity doesn't deserve civility.

at the end of the day, it is what it is

It makes me cringe every time I hear it. I probably don't need to since I've yet to say it, but I resolve to never say "At the end of the day..." in the context of, well, in most cases, anything. Most of the time, there is no need to preface a thought with that phrase. A pretty accurate definition offered by Urban Dictionary called it "a verbal crutch" and I couldn't agree more. What I thought was just an epidemic within the professional sports world has not only been heard among my senior leadership at work but out of the mouths of congressmen.

Equally cringe-worthy is "...it is what it is..." What does that even mean? It adds nothing to a conversation and makes you sound like a dud who likes cliches. It's usually an afterthought, an under-the-breath statement said at a lull in a conversation, when before this phenomenon, one would just sigh. Hence, this 5-word phrase isn't even worth saying. You're better off just sighing.

I blame these linguistic fads on laziness. I hope they pass soon and we return to days when we spoke of ideas containing sincerity, substance and thoughtfulness.

not again

Not too long ago, I posted about state gun laws, and implied in a post a day later that the more lax a state's gun laws are, the more likely something like a mass shooting would happen in that state. (My soothsaying abilities still scare me.)

Well, I stand humbled in my love for my home state and for my first city of residence, Oakland. Yesterday's shooting at a small college in Oakland that left 7 people dead invalidates my implication. It saddens me that once again, Oakland is thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Read this piece about how Oakland is not getting the help it needs.

What saddens me more, though, is our nation's inaction against the proliferation of gun usage. I ask again: what will it take for our elected officials to take a stand against guns? There needs to be constitutional change to protect us from ourselves. Last night's Nightly News started with the Oakland shooting story and was followed by more coverage of the Trayvon Martin shooting. Story after story about gun violence. It amazes me that for everything else that causes deaths - be it something that can be unpredictable or sometimes even unpreventable like disease, poison, natural disasters, or something as infrequent as abortions - is scrutinized for solutions to combat and prevent it. But for guns, no action is taken. Our lawmakers are deaf. Numb. In my opinion, it qualifies as a public health problem. If there were 2 new stories in a single newscast about a pathogenic outbreak in food, action is taken immediately. But not for guns. What will it take?

voters' guide

List of people who shouldn't vote/be Republican:

1. If you care about others, especially those who are less fortunate.
2. If you are a woman.
3. If you are working, unemployed, struggling, or know someone who is.
4. If you are sensitive to the fact that the US is interconnected with a global community.
5. If you rely on publicly-funded programs, have ever utilized a public library, if you went to public school or university, are going to public school or university, or know someone who has or currently is.
6. If you think college or higher education is important.
7. If you believe that there should be a separation of church and state.
8. If you believe that everyone should have a fair chance at getting the health care that they need.
9. If you work for the American auto industry, or own or cherish an American car (or did in the past).
10. If you think innocent people dying from gunshot wounds is bad.
11. If you've ever said "It's such a nice day" and/or have ever enjoyed being outside and/or if you like animals (I think you know where I'm going with this one...).
12. If you have ever received government aid.

stop distracted driving

 (photo creds: here, here)

If there can be rules requiring technology such as this, then there can certainly be rules requiring technology that disables a driver's phone from being functional in a moving vehicle (unless, perhaps, it's hooked up to a hands-free device, although some research has shown that hands-free phone use is just as distracting as handheld phone use).

Look at those dumb-dumbs.

going the wrong way

There is a Times debate on whether or not people are getting dumber. One of the panels is Steven Pinker, a psychology professor at Harvard. He offers a more positive answer to the question than I would have given, saying that we may take for granted modern ideals and that we are living in a time of great intellectual accomplishment.

He also writes that we shouldn't forget how stupid things were in the past:
"It’s easy to focus on the idiocies of the present and forget those of the past. But a century ago our greatest writers extolled the beauty and holiness of war. Heroes like Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Woodrow Wilson avowed racist beliefs that today would make people’s flesh crawl. Women were barred from juries in rape trials because supposedly they would be embarrassed by the testimony. Homosexuality was a felony. At various times, contraception, anesthesia, vaccination, life insurance and blood transfusion were considered immoral."

Well. Many idiocies still exist today. There are some who still believe women are incapable and less superior, science is rubbish and that contraception vaccination and homosexuality are wrong. All the backward thinking that Dr. Pinker mentions as a thing of the past actually reflects many of the conservative views currently held by our most prominent Republican politicians, as well as their constituents. Apparently higher education and the separation of church and state are even under attack now. So, as much as I'd like to share Dr. Pinker's optimistic views, I can't disagree more. There is no doubt that conservative logic and ideals are backward.

Speaking of backward thinking, the Senate stopped a GOP bill opposing contraception coverage today by a slim margin (51 to 48). Whew! I'm so tired of this attack on the reproductive rights of women. I've noticed that in all the articles I've read, I have not once read a quote from a Republican politician who is a woman and supports her party's bashing on women. Where are they? What do they have to say and how can they defend their party? Why are all these men so vocal about the subject?

(photo cred: HuffPost)

And as a rancid cherry to top it all off, there are soulless beings like this thing, publicly spreading their detestable thoughts, poisoning and unfortunately influencing minds everywhere.

...so again, no, Dr. Pinker. I'm sorry to say that there is a strong case for people getting dumber.

f*^%$ing vaccinate your kids

Kids

everywhere

are

getting

sick.

CDC Recommended Immunization Schedule, 0-6 years

...and for the idiots, vaccines don't cause autism.

what's it going to take

Funny that one day after posting this, this happens.
Let's take a look at Ohio's gun laws.

According to the 2011 Brady State Scorecard for Ohio, the state scored:
                              7 out of 100 points

"Ohio has weak gun laws that help feed the illegal gun market and allow the sale of guns without background checks." According to the Legal Community Against Violence site, although the state requires a firearm owner to report the loss or theft of any firearm in the person's possession or under the person's control, the state does NOT:

• Require a background check prior to the transfer of a firearm between private parties;
  
• Prohibit the transfer or possession of assault weapons, 50 caliber rifles, or large capacity ammunition magazines;
  
• Require firearms dealers to obtain a state license;
  
• Limit the number of firearms that may be purchased at one time;
  
• Impose a waiting period on firearm purchases;
  
• Regulate ammunition sales;
  
• Allow local governments to regulate firearms; or
  
• Provide local governments with the discretion to deny concealed weapons permits.

In 2009, 991 people died from firearm-related injuries in Ohio. In addition, based on data published by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, in every year from 2006 to 2009, Ohio was one of the top seven interstate suppliers of crime guns. In 2009, Ohio was also the top interstate supplier of crime guns to both West Virginia and Michigan.

(Source: Legal Community Against Violence)

told you so

You all deserve it.

asian americans not on radar

Faux pas, Newt. Faux pas.

 (photo cred: Associated Press)

 
Yet another Republican candidate debate was on last night - this one was in Florida. Shown on NBC and moderated by Brian Williams, the debate also had 2 guest moderators, one of whom was Beth Reinhard from the National Journal and formerly of the Miami Herald.

Reinhard asked the candidates (but mostly directed this question to Newt) why is it okay to push for English as the country's official language, yet campaign in Spanish. I suck at paraphrasing, but allow me to try: Newt's response was that historically, campaigning has always met the voters on their own ground, in the terms of their culture. He continued his (what I thought to be convoluted) defense of his use of Spanish-language campaign ads, saying it's similar to interacting with Greeks on Greek Independence Day or Irish people on St. Patrick's Day.

The Irish on St. Patrick's Day?? The last I got drunk off multiple green-colored beers, I thought everyone who cared to wear green, get drunk and/or enjoy cabbage 'n' corned beef celebrated St. Patrick's Day. Aside from leprechaun decorations, St. Patrick's Day is as Irish as General Tso's chicken is Chinese. Americans have pretty much made it their own holiday (yes, even if there is an Irish Heritage Month, which I bet most Irish-Americans don't even know about). Sure, its origins are Irish but how many 'proud Irishmen' in the US celebrate it as an ethnic or cultural holiday? I doubt millions. Which brings me to my next point.  There are, however, millions of Asians in the US and billions worldwide who celebrated the first day of the Lunar New Year yesterday. According to the Census, there were 3.8 million Americans of Chinese descent alone in 2009. For this to not be on the mind of men who want to be president of the United States, especially when one can have the ability to think of something like Greek Independence Day (no offense to the Greeks), is a complete faux pas. Ignorance perhaps, but definitely unwise. Newt didn't have to say the Lunar New Year; he could have said Eid for all I care. I would just like to be refreshed by hearing recognition of the world beyond the West.

Yes, I'm biased, and yes, I'm always ready to use the race card, but that's because I've been correct in doing so time and time again and because it's natural for you to look out for your own, but this goes beyond that. Perhaps I'm thinking this through way too much, but implications for foreign and diplomatic relations can be milked from this too, since the rest of the world is undoubtedly watching, but it definitely reflects how Asians are constantly off the radar of policy makers (with a handful of exceptions) and how there is still a lack of cultural awareness. Maybe I'm being oversensitive. Maybe. But after thinking I may be oversensitive my entire life thus far, it seems to me that by now, I and other Asian Americans should have been thrown a bone by now.

news IQ

I'm proud to announce that I only missed one question on the Pew Research Center's news IQ quiz (the question about how many troops have been killed in Afghanistan). Take the quiz here and read about the results in this report. For my loyal readers, these questions may be no-brainers, which they should be, but as you'll see in the report, there's a large percentage of the public that can't answer the questions correctly. Since I express myself best using arrows and incomplete sentences, here are my thoughts regarding these findings:

bad economic situation -> people are pissed and tired -> people either have no work, working many low-paying jobs, working long hours to keep what job they have, or just have lots going on -> people have no time, interest, patience for what's going on outside of their personal lives, not a priority -> people become less informed -> people vote according to their anger, misinformation, frustration -> bad, corrupt people with their own agendas who exploited the frustration of their constituents are elected into office -> our country and world turn into poo

the shits. literally.

As a follow up to yesterday's post about raw milk advocates, I'd like to share this email I received today. It's a ProMED email reporting thousands in Utah have been sickened by Salmonella acquired from eating unpasteurized queso fresco. What. now. 

raw milk

Shoot - I forgot to write about this a couple days ago. I received this email from work:

These people are morons! Whatever - let them and their poor kids (who I'm guessing don't have a say of whether or not they want raw or pasteurized milk, which is more like a decision between getting sick and not) experience the excruciating GI symptoms associated with disease-causing pathogens including but not limited to E. coli, Salmonella, Campy, Listeria and Yersinia (yum!). I wouldn't be surprised if these are the same idiots who still think childhood vaccinations cause autism.

WTF morons

For the second time in what, a week?, Senate Republicans shot down the president's jobs bill, which apparently was already chopped up and slimmed down. Not sure what they're looking for, but it doesn't seem to be to help their country or the voters who gave them a job. I can only hope that the GOP is shooting themselves in the foot right now and that voters remember this and kick their asses at the polls.

UPDATE: Per MoveOn, the bill didn't even get this far...it was filibustered, so an up/down vote didn't even happen.

eerrgg

So I posted a short post last week about how the Republicans are bashing the president's jobs bill, which was a pretty good segue into this week's Senate vote on the bill. Not surprisingly, Senate Republicans killed it. In my post, I was trying to be fair by not exactly saying the Republicans have no ideas of their own to counter the president's jobs bill. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt. Why did I even bother? I should have just said what I wanted to say (I'm sure by not doing so, I committed some sort of blogger crime, and am sorry). Here we go: Their spiel is fluff. That plan I linked to is hot air. Their flavor of the month, Herman Cain, is a joke of a candidate.

Published yesterday in the Times was this editorial on exactly my sentiments. I'm glad my initial thinking was correct and validated by the Times, but I'm also still steaming from the lack of progress our lawmakers are making. I hope Republican voters are paying attention and not holding the president responsible for this lack of progress.  A recent poll (was it the NBC/WSJ one?) showed that a majority of Americans supported the president's jobs bill. Killing the bill was a political act that couldn't be more blatant. I can only imagine the frustration the president is feeling...forget Tiger Woods, I'd be slinging hot dogs at the Republicans right about now.

'yuns need to go

"...Mr. McConnell’s Republicans will filibuster any jobs bill, and Mr. Cantor’s will reject most of it." [NYTimes OpEd]

This in itself is despicable. We get it. The GOP wants the president to fail - but at the expense of those who gave them jobs (many of whom are unemployed themselves)? This is the only reason for their resistance to passing the president's proposed jobs bill. The bill is paid for! The bill proposes tax cuts! The bill proposes incentives for small businesses! Eeeeerrrggggggg

...but yes, I am biased. So I ask whoever wants to do a fact check on me - here's the Republican Jobs Bill Plan. Let me know if you see anything in there that doesn't jibe with the president's or that can't be combined to make the two plans complimentary to each other.

nice one...

...idiot.
(...and almost just as important as the article itself, read the Readers' Comments)

LISTEN, republicans!

Warren Buffet's Times Op-Ed: Stop Coddling the Super-Rich

idiots on parade

(reference: Max Whittaker for The New York Times)

check this nonsense

QUOTATION OF THE DAY

"Corporations are people, my friend."

MITT ROMNEY, responding to a hecklers in Iowa who want higher corporate taxes.

(reference: NYTimes)