"Right now, I can't read too good. Don't send me no more letters, no. Not unless you mail them from Desolation Row." Bob Dylan - "Desolation Row". (c 1965, 1993)
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I read a couple posts the last few days about someone wanting a tall woman or whatever. If I could find it I would link it, but I couldn't.
This physical preference thing is a little tricky to talk about, because people seem to take it as a personal insult if someone doesn't want to date whatever type they are. I don't understand this.
Just as a couple examples, there are plenty of women out there that prefer that a guy have hair - that leaves me out - I don't get all pissy about it and make comments like "they don't know what they are missing" and all that BS. It's their preference, and they are entitled to have it. Likewise I see many women wanting a "tall" guy. Now, while this is understandable for a woman that's say 5' 8", I even see real shorty's stating this. My being 6' this doesn't usually affect me, although it could if a woman's definition of "tall" was over 6'. However, and again, everyone is entitled to their preferences. I also see women wanting a guy that's athletic. Never mind that she's not athletic at all - she wants her date to be. Again, no problem for me, and her preference is more than valid.
Then, we flip it around, and it seems that men are not allowed to state a preference for tall women, or thin women, lest they be labeled some kind of bigot or something. It sounds like a double standard to me.
Personally, I have never seriously dated a woman under 5'7" nor one that couldn't be described as "lithe," "athletic" or "slim," whichever, and I have dated A LOT of women. Hair style or color, eye color, type of dress, all are unimportant to me, as are race and religion. I also have never dated a woman that was not at least a college graduate, and usually date women with graduate degrees. If she doesn't fit into those categories physically and (somewhat) intellectually, I'm just really not going to be interested.
Not that there's anything wrong in the least with anyone that doesn't fit within those parameters - it's just that those women that do not don't attract my interest. So what am I supposed to do? Prove to myself what I already know? I just like tall women, have always been attracted to them, and like the "feel" of the match up. I went out with a woman at one time that was 5'10" and wore heels - she just towered over everyone - it really turned me on. Ha!
This physical preference thing is tricky. We all have the preferences, but apparently we're not supposed to talk about them or admit it. Why?
We talk about the clothes we like, the colors we like, the foods we like and dislike and pretty much every other preference - why not the physical characteristics of our dates?
Obviously we have a fairly 50/50 split in the Democratic Party between the two candidates. However, it is more than likely that Senator Obama is going to be our candidate. I welcome this, personally, although I was and am a supporter of Senator Clinton.
The one thing I think is true is that it's time our generation be handed the keys. These "circa WWII" and before people had their opportunity for a good, long time, and left us in the sorry shape we are today. The "60s" generation of liberals did a lot, but could never wrestle the mantle of control away from people that were and have been around since NIXON!
Personally, I don't see the Clintons as bad. In fact the opposite is true. Under Bill, we saw a great expanding economy, budget surpluses and a President that dropped trou in the Oval Office. What could be better than that? I don't see Hillary Clinton as evil or the 'politics of the past' or anything like that. In fact, it will be fun to watch how they team up the Clinton team and donors with the Obama team to take on McCain in the fall.
I do not think they will offer Hillary the VP position, nor am I sure she would take it if they did. However, look to Obama to offer the position to a Clinton supporter, or at least someone that can draw that "white working class" vote. It's troubling to me that this is breaking along racial lines in some respects. While we've come a long way, we still have a good long way to go, and it's not exactly all downhill. I don't think an Edwards endorsement gets him there.
So, as a proud progressive, I will be throwing all my support and further donations to the Democratic nominee. While I don't see either of them really progressive enough, the reality is that you can't be too progressive if you want to actually be elected.
So if you are/were a Clinton supporter are you supporting Obama or not?
If not, why would you prefer to ensure a McCain victory in November rather than an Obama presidency?
It's amazing these weird Democratic Party primary rules. Your vote doesn't really count at all. The delegates don't have to follow the popular vote. They are the "gatekeepers." Imagine if everyone got together and voted for Bozo the Clown (which we are and have). The delegates could get together and still put Obama on the ballot despite that.
Just as an example, Massachusetts voted for Clinton. However, the Massachusetts delegates still can vote for Obama.
To me, this would at first blush appear to violate the one person one vote rule set forth in the Constitution, and gives each delegate pproximately 13,000 times the voting power that you or I have. But not so fast, because the Democratic Party being a private organization can make up whatever rules it likes, and is not bound by any voting law or Constitutional rule. Very strange, no?
There are only two kinds of people in this world, those that use Macs and those that use Microsoft on PCs. We get that idea, of course, from Apple and Microsoft. There may be other operatng systems, but Apple and Microsoft are the bigguns. Biggy Billion dollar Bigguns who, in their own advertising, each refer to each other guy as the only alternative. Just so long as people using one or the other. Makes you kind of wonder if they're really in this together after all.
When it comes to presidential elections, we again have only two billion dollar giants in control - Democrats and Republicans. The American people might get to vote for Commander in Chief but they really only get two choices. Choices selected by two very private organizations who are both in bed with Big Oil, Big Tobacco, Big Pharmaceuticals, Big Banking and all the other Bigguns you can think of. As a result we only get the candidates that big business and the two parties decide to favor us with.
Let’s also not get all confused by the talk of one of the candidates that “he doesn’t accept PAC or soft money.” The DNC is busy accepting plenty of it on his behalf, and in the end, everyone will “play ball.”
So where's the Democracy {or Constitutional Republic, actually)? The sad fact is it seems that Democracy has completely lost its way. And as long as we remain a two party system we'll forever be denied the use of any other operating system no matter how good because Apple and Microsoft have cornered the market.
Let's let the Democratic National Committee make whatever rules it likes. Never mind that delegates can ignore election results. Who cares that states like Florida and Michigan are thrown out or discounted? Big deal that in Iowa the Democrats don't cast secret ballots. Why should we worry that in Nevada the caucuses were on a Saturday which meant observant Jews couldn't vote?
It's kind of fun -- this year the Democratic nominee might be decided by the super set of super duper delegates. The political inside insiders who not only don't have to listen to the voters at all, but who according to DNC rules are allowed to, and do, accept money from the candidates. Insiders who, in fact, have to date accepted over a million dollars from the Clinton and Obama campaigns.
There are certainly consequences here. For one, Presidents get to start wars. Kids, mostly the innocent kind born of minority parents die in them. Lots of kids die. There are other consequences. And as long as presidents get to start wars and pick Supreme Court Justices, as long as they represent the American people to the world, a world which increasingly hates us specifically because of our presidents and what they do, you would think that we the people should really get to weigh in on a one person, one vote basis.
Look at the choices this grand two-party system has produced this year. A grumpy old man who wants to stay at war for a hundred years against whomever the Democrats eventually pick (or get paid off to pick).
You all keep thinking you have any real say in the results – that will help.
Maybe it's time for us to take a little break from Iraq and the other countries and start spreading a little more democracy at home.
When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don’t take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don’t know. I was sitting at my desk when I remembered a phone call I’d forgotten to make. I dialed what I thought was Robyn’s number.
A man answered, saying, “Hello.”
I politely said, “This is MD. May I please speak with Robyn?”
Suddenly a manic voice yelled out in my ear, “There’s no Robyn here. Get the right f**king number!” and the phone was slammed down on me. I couldn’t believe that anyone could be so rude.
When I tracked down Robyn’s correct number to call her, I found that I had accidentally transposed the last two digits. After hanging up with her, I decided to call the ‘wrong’ number again.
When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled, “You’re an asshole!” and hung up. I wrote his number down with the word ‘asshole’ next to it, and put it in my desk drawer. Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I’d call him up and yell, “You’re an asshole!” It always cheered me up.
When Caller ID was introduced, I thought my therapeutic “asshole calling” would have to stop. So, I called his number and said, “Hi, this is John Smith from Verizon. I’m calling to see if you’re familiar with our Caller ID Program?”
He yelled “NO!” and slammed down the phone.
I quickly called him back and said, “That’s because you’re an asshole!”
One day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking spot.
Some guy in a black BMW cut me off and pulled into the spot I had patiently waited for. I hit the horn and yelled that I’d been waiting for that spot, but the idiot ignored me.
I noticed a “For Sale” sign in his back window, which included his phone number, so I wrote down the number.
A couple of days later, right after calling the first asshole (I had his number on speed dial), I thought that I’d better call the BMW asshole, too.
I said, “Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?”
“Yes, it is,” he said.
“Can you tell me where I can see it?” I asked.
“Yes, I live at 34 Mowbray Blvd., in New Rochelle. It’s a yellow house, and the car’s parked right out in front.”
“What’s your name?” I asked. “My name is Don Hansen,” he said.
“When’s a good time to catch you, Don?”
“I’m home every evening after five.”
“Listen, Don, can I tell you something?”
“Yes?”
“Don, you’re an asshole!” Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial. Now, when I had a problem, I had two assholes to call.
Then I came up with an idea. I called Asshole #1. “Hello.” “You’re an asshole!” But I didn’t hang up.
“Are you still there?” he asked. “Yeah,” I said.
“Stop calling me,” he screamed.
“Make me,” I said.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“My name is Don Hansen.”
“Yeah? Where do you live?”
“Asshole, I live at 34 Mowbray Blvd, New Rochelle, a yellow house, with my black Beamer parked in front.”
He said, “I’m coming over right now, Don. And you had better start saying your prayers.”
I said, “Yeah, like I’m really scared, asshole,” and hung up.
Then I called Asshole #2. “Hello?” he said.
“Hello, asshole!” I said.
He yelled, “If I ever find out who you are…”
“You’ll what?” I said.
“I’ll kick your ass,” he exclaimed.
I answered, “Well, asshole, here’s your chance. I’m coming over right now.”
Then I hung up and immediately called the police, saying that I lived at 34 Mowbray Blvd, New Rochelle, and that I was on my way over there to kill my gay lover.
Then I called Channel 9 News about the gang war going down in Mowbray Blvd., New Rochelle.
I quickly got into my car and headed over to Mowbray. I got there just in time to watch the two assholes beating the crap out of each other in front of six cop cars, an overhead police helicopter and a news crew.
Since it cost a lot to win And even more to lose You and me bound to spend some time Wondering what to choose
Goes to show, you don't ever know Watch each card you play and play it slow Wait until that deal come round Don't you let that deal go down, no, no
Thanks to Bob Hunter for those words of wisdom.
Obviously, yesterday there was a handy, dandy list of the little group of long-standing bloggers (you know, the ones that have been here forever and think they own the place) who all banded together to help rid you of the evil misogynist (that would be me). It was the same 6-8 people - the principal antagonists and their hangers on.
They provide no evidence, just act like a pack of rabid McCarthy-ists (now Cheney-ists) doing their thing. They admitted in the thread to sending in multiple (false) abuse reports, sending ten, twenty and thirty private messages to members lobbying them to ignore me and report me for abuse (I guess the more the merrier) or whatever, make up stories about posts that apparently don't exist (but why worry about the facts). Also there was a exhotation to block me, and not to post to my blog, lest you be "banned" by one of the ringleaders.
Over what? Who is at the top of the blog standings?
It's clear that these people seek to keep this blog and what is published on it within whatever it is they decide is right and allowable. All you people are going to stand for that shit?
I refuse to stand for it. Therefore, I take these people on regularly, and they don't like it. They can't meet me on the field of ideas, so they go about their behind the scenes defamation and make things up out of whole cloth.
Obviously, and eventually, since they are filing dozens of abuse reports one is going to slip through and this profile will be thrown off. That will be fine, as then I will return and we'll really have some truth, and we'll name names and publish private emails I have received (and saved) and all that fun stuff, just like they do. Can't you hardly wait?
When I hear your name I start to shake inside When I see you stroll, I lose my self control - Little Milton
So what is their problem? Seems like every time I write something, there they are, shovels and pitchforks waving, threatening people and making false allegations. Emailing 30 people behind the scenes to report me for abuse or ignore me. It doesn't matter what I write - this is what they do. Let's skip over the apparent question of whether they have nothing better to do with their time or something more important in their lives - obviously we answer both of those in the negative and move on.
As we can see from the last post, these allegations of "misogyny" are just bullshit. Apparently they also don't like the fact that I have some money. Christ, it's not like I'm Steve Forbes. But what is the hating about? It's ok to hate people that make a good living? Now they have another little sock puppet up there doing its thing, and of course the two others I supposedly made up to be "abusing them."
However, haven't we heard this before?
Wasn't I once "Mahon" and "Mahonito" until the perpetrator slipped up and was outed by Tantrika? Where was the mob then? Tantrika left the site because of it. So, you had a member, the boyfriend of one of these e-mailers, who created a malicious profile to abuse people which ended up in a long-standing and good member leaving the site.
Where is the call to ignore? Where is outrage? Where is the exhortation to ban this bastard? It's not coming. Why? Oh, well, because it was NI and her boyfriend, so that just means it was ok in the end because these people have been here longer. Have you ever in your life seen a clearer instance of hypocrisy?
Then I was BelleSans, until she put up a video. Then the allegation was I hijacked her profile, my being the mad computer genius I am.
What is this about: the blog standings? No, it couldn't really be that, could it? I don't know how I got up there in the first place and don't care in the least. However, the minute I was up there, this nonsense started, the false allegations of misogyny. The "puppet profiles" that were "supposedly me." Next appeared posts exhorting the board that a "woman should be at the top of the list." For you to post unique responses to anyone’s blog (or one in particular) to supplant mine. I mean, these people are in their 30s and 40s...some 50s...
You know what I'm getting a whiff of?
When I was in high school, I was what I'll call "medium popular." I wasn't unpopular, and I didn't win any awards. I was good at baseball and a wise guy and did some funny things that are still legend in the town in which I grew up (mush to the "benefit" of my nephew who also lives there and goes to that high school now, but I digress).
What I see is a whole group of people here that just may have been the outcasts in high school, maybe even picked on throughout their formative years. I used to hate when that was going on in front of me personally, but one could never say anything lest you end up the next target. It appears that these kind of people want to make someone the target of all the abuse they suffered in their formative years, and right now that person is me.
Hey, it's certainly as plausible as anything else any of these people is putting up there, so why not?
At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself the question, do you want this place to deteriorate into a McCarthy-like (and Cheney like) witch hunt or high school ostracizing festival, or should people just leave each other alone and let people write what they want to write...
Just remember, once I'm gone, they first will laud themselves and congratulate themselves and then will find a reason to find another target and focusing on you next...
I have a real suggestion that will solve the problem: Maybe these 6 or 8 people that want to control content should go start their own personal board somewhere and only allow people they want and who post things just like them.
This way, they can act just like the bigots and Right Wing Republicans they so closely resemble...and be happy about it all hating together, where they belong...
Of course the responses to this will be that they "didn't read it"and "you lost me" and all the vitriol that will follow encased in some airhead post telling everyone how terrible I am (and of course this post will provide more proof of that).
You know what? You can all have each other. At the end of the day, this site is a meaningless pimple on the ass of a flea as far as its importance to the world at large or any important place of cretaivity or real commentary. I hate to tell you that, but it's true. If these people want to be at the pinnacle of that, and do all these things to prove that they are, in the end it's their lives that are utterly sad and they should really be pitied...
Apparently we're not going to let this go, solet's continue then - let's air it all out. Then perhaps everyone will calm down.
All I keep reading about from these three or four people is how much of a misogynist I am. I can't figure it out. Perhaps you can all help me. They don't seem to be willing or able to point to any particular post or posts that is a "woman hating" post.
If you called an angel fish a shark, would that make the fish a shark, or you mistaken?
You know, if these people are making defamatory, false, malicious allegations against someone and calling for their ouster or to "ignore them" based on something that is, in fact, false, what should be done about them when it's indicated that they are making the whole thing up?
It could actually be pretty strange and outwardly malicious. I'm wondering what their agenda could possibly be. Perhaps I'll adress that subsequently, since apprently we are going to continue.
However, being the reasonable person I am, I'm open to the possibility that all or any of the below will absolutely show how much of a woman hater I actually am. So, here are some of them in one handy-dandy place, and I'll let you tell me. Which one is the most misogynistic? Where have I gone wrong? Pesonally, I saw these as philogyny, but I guess you could interpret anything any way, if you have an agenda.
Then please meet me here in the open and let's discuss it publicly like gentlemen. I am more than open to listening...and to discuss it openly, in public right here...
Big Daddy DP is Confused - He apparently thinks he's at home with his kids.
"If I see you commenting on MDs blog or if I see him commenting on yours" I'm going to ban you."
Wow, can you believe that? What is that supposed to be? Controlling who can and can't participate with each other now?
Look what it's come to. Instead of meeting someone fairly, this is what you get. A big list of someone's imagined bullshit, and a whole list of people to agree with it - - - wow.
Tell you what, if you don't want to participate in my blog, or block me from yours because of something like this, well really where are you in life? You deserve each other, and can have each other. Trying to control what other people do with something like that, that's no better than Dick Cheney and his merry henchman and a whole new level of hypocrisy.
I wouldn't put it past these people to have put up all those profiles last night for this specific purpose.
It's just unbelievable: the abject vitriol and childish anger.
He should be ashamed of himself, and anyone participating with him should be as well.
...those of you that hate together, certainly belong together...look at you, like a bunch of 12 year olds. It is just unbelievable...I pity you all...
Yes, now all of a sudden after the usual arguments with the same people, these sock puppets pop up and obviously they "must be" mine (because I'm too stupid to think this is exactly what these people are going to claim).
Then, not only that, the "new profile" is "using the name" that I supposedly used and disclosed to a "now banned" blogger to describe another person. (Who just as an aside, this now "banned blogger" was first also accused by the same person as being me, until she put up a video, then the story was I hijacked the profile, me being the mad computer genius I am).
Isn't it all just so convenient?
Please, enough with the obsessed stalking already - it really is getting ridiculous now. Move on to the next victim. I'm not going anywhere. And take down that foolish profile because only an idiot is going to buy into this nonsense and would think I was stupid enough to do something so transparent.
To link to this blog from blog posts/comments, use [blog MusicallyDiverse], from anywhere else use http://personals.theonion.com/blog/MusicallyDiverse,
and to read it remotely use the feed.
