News of the day

[mzrowan]

The first Argentinian gay marriage may not happen today; a judge has blocked issuing the marriage license until the Supreme Court can examine the issue.

Well, that didn't last long -- who had "December 1" in the pool? Microsoft is investigating an issue in Windows 7 dubbed "the black screen of death".

The Beeb shows us photos of a day in the life

Comments

[lightcastle]

I personally suspect the DARPA thing of being a recruitment drive. I have no logical reason for this whatsoever.

I expected you were going to put the article with the woman using mindfulness (examples include the raisin exercise you gave us) as possible treatment to women who feel a lack of sexual desire. It was in the Sunday NYTimes Magazine.

The Food Stamps article has lots of annoying people. And the "People can vote themselves benefits will be the end of democracy" has been the mantra since forever. I think it shows up in pre-Revolution documents. Of course, it is only non-white people and the poorer classes who would abuse that. Corporations never vote for or influence representatives who would protect their interests.

[mzrowan]

It was in the Sunday NYTimes Magazine.

I haven't had time to read the Mag articles yet, and I don't like posting links to articles I haven't read. ;-) I'm sad, though, because that one looks really interesting!

And the "People can vote themselves benefits will be the end of democracy" has been the mantra since forever.

This breaks my head. What do these people define as "democracy"? Because to me, it's a system of government in which the populace gets to decide how they are governed, and the majority rules. So if the majority of people want more benefits...I mean, if they were saying, "Democracy will bankrupt our government and lead to anarchy", I would disagree, but at least the statement would make sense.

[delerium69]

Well I've long come to the conclusion that some folks only like democracy in theory; in practice scares the crap out them. Hence why you see people up in arms when they see someone actually practicing their right under a democracy, such as protesting against a government's policies. Just say you like a democracy then shut up about it.

[mzrowan]

Well, I have to admit, I'm a little less impressed with democracy this week, what with recent events in Switzerland.

[delerium69]

Yes, definitely the downside of allowing the "people" to decide.

[lightcastle]

And that is the point of many of the otherwise frustrating brakes on democracy in many systems.

Not that the system always works.

[lightcastle]

Sure. But the problem is the majority has "the wrong kind of people in it" a lot of the time. You know how it is. Those ungrateful people will steal everything from their betters.

Also, the "tyranny of the majority". If "the majority wants it" was the only point of judgment, then there would still be slavery, segregation, and women would probably not have the vote.

[mzrowan]

I'm reading it now, and it's bringing up so many thoughts for me that it'll deserve its own post. Which I have NO time to make. Argh!

[lightcastle]

I'm shocked entirely none.