Thought of the day

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Michael

I’m not saying we should harass fat people, but I am sick and tired of this credence that everyone gives to the idea that it’s okay to not try and be healthy. Don’t “love your body” regardless of what it looks like. Love the effort put forth in trying to be healthy. And if that effort pays off in a great body, then love your body.

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Joe E. Kirk is a douche

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Michael

Students at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) recently created a free speech wall on campus in response to a controversial social media policy instituted by their school. Some people wrote things about legalizing pot, others made funny quips, and still others made topical and political comments. One of those comments said “FUCK OBAMA”. Another person wrote “BUSH” under “OBAMA”. This is all protected free speech, of course, but that didn’t stop Professor and full-time douchebag Joe E. Kirk from vandalizing the poster:

But what happened next is what’s so outrageous. An SHSU faculty member offended by the insult to President Obama reportedly used a box cutter to cut the expletive out of the wall after students refused to accede to his demand to censor that particular speech.

In response, the students called campus ‘police’ to report the vandalism. One might think that Kirk would have been ordered to leave the area, what with his unconstitutional, douchebaggery destruction of private property. But nope. This happened:

But after the students called the campus police to report the vandalism, they were threatened by a campus police officer with charges of disturbing the peace and required to remove all profanity from the wall, or else take it down! Under this pressure, the students dismantled their “free speech wall”…

What usually happens in events like this is that the wrong-headed authority figures will defend their moronic actions. This time is no different:

Later that day, as reported by SHSU student newspaper The Houstonian, University Police Department Deputy Chief James Fitch stated that because Kirk was “offended by the use of the profanity,” its use “qualified it as disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor.”

That is a blatantly wrong statement. The courts have long held that free speech is free speech, no matter how indecent it may be. The above link discusses the specific cases, but this stuff should be basic knowledge to every American. The University Police, James Fitch, and especially Joe E. Kirk are all censorious, ignorant, douchebags. Each and every one of them ought to know better.

Oh, by the way: FUCK JOE E. KIRK.

originally via Popehat

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Two year marriages in Mexico

Posted on October 1, 2011 by Michael

Mexico City is proposing some pretty awesome ideas about marriage contracts:

Mexico City lawmakers want to help newlyweds avoid the hassle of divorce by giving them an easy exit strategy: temporary marriage licenses.

Leftists in the city’s assembly — who have already riled conservatives by legalizing gay marriage — proposed a reform to the civil code this week that would allow couples to decide on the length of their commitment, opting out of a lifetime.

The minimum marriage contract would be for two years and could be renewed if the couple stays happy. The contracts would include provisions on how children and property would be handled if the couple splits.

“The proposal is, when the two-year period is up, if the relationship is not stable or harmonious, the contract simply ends,” said Leonel Luna, the Mexico City assemblyman who co-authored the bill.

“You wouldn’t have to go through the tortuous process of divorce,” said Luna, from the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution, which has the most seats in the 66-member chamber.

(I presume there are also other contract lengths available.)

This is a good idea. The primary purpose of marriage is for couples to fulfill whatever meaning they attach to the idea. If they view it as a temporary agreement, then fine. Or, as I think will likely be the case, they view it in pragmatic terms – it’s something they want, but they can’t know if it will work out – then this is the perfect plan.

I’m sure conservatives are going to come up with every Armageddon scenario under the soon-to-be-falling sky, but this just makes sense. Even if it encourages marriages to end more quickly than they would otherwise, the fact that people can move onto a potentially better match without the fear of possibly going through another divorce proceeding, then they won’t need to hesitate because of dreaded, petty legal entanglements. This will lead to more net happiness and that’s a good thing.

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