On Fired Up
Posted on April 27 at 12:41 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It occurs to me that with most of these "stupid" parents, the real problem is not stupidity but selfishness. Like someone said, they have more important things to spend their money on (cell phones, etc) than winter clothes, and they want that cigarette more than they CARE about their kids, at least at that moment. Not that I'm surprised by the general attitude of selfishness and pleasure seeking in our society when we've taken out the Bible and prayer from schools and the public domain and replaced it with evolution and humanism.
On Fired Up
Posted on April 23 at 11:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Along the lines of what thekid said, you could keep a stash of dust filter masks in your car; when you see someone smoking near a child, give them one and say "here, your child might want one of these." Would it work? I guess we would have to hear from some smokers who in the past smoked around kids and ask them what finally convinced them to stop.
But in general, especially for parents, it's a good idea to assume they mean well. I know there's some things I probably did that were stupid, but deep down most parents are not intentionally trying to kill their kids. So if you must say something try to say it out of love for a struggling parent and their child, and not to call them stupid or make them the butt of a joke (so maybe the dust mask idea should get thrown out).
On Assembly to vote on legalizing raw milk
Posted on April 23 at 11:16 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
One of the reasons seemingly trivial bills are given time as opposed to big controversial ones is that lawmakers either: a) know pretty well that their controversial bill idea would never pass with the current composition of the representatives, or b) don't want to alienate a large portion of their constituency.
For example, legalizing pot is a very controversial issue that does not necessarily jive with democrat/republican division. So lets say a lawmaker got elected by republican voters, but then introduces a pot bill that offends half of his/her voters enough to not vote in favor in the next election. That lawmaker just lost the next election. On the other hand, since nobody seems to really care about legalizing raw milk, and even if you disagree with a lawmaker's raw milk bill you're not likely to stop voting for him/her because of it, therefore proposing raw milk legislation is a "safer" bill. Everybody always complains when trivial bills are "wasting time", but yet when big controversial bills actually are put forward, everybody complains when there is so much arguing and compromises and stalling that no real decision is ever reached. That's government for you.
On Study: Wage gap between Wis. men and women widens
Posted on April 23 at 11:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
As with any company, hospitals will pay their nurses and doctors what it takes to keep a sufficient number on staff. Regardless of gender, there's nothing stopping a nurse from pursuing medical school to become a doctor, other than the time and money to pay for schooling (which is applied equally to men and women by the way). Doctors get paid more because there is a lot more schooling and training involved than to be a nurse, not because more doctors are men and more nurses are women and there's a male conspiracy to keep women from being doctors.
As for the educational system being a hindrance to women, I hardly see how that's possible today. Maybe 30 years ago, but today college engineering departments love to see more women enroll (the goal being diversity and all). If any high school teacher told a young girl today not to pursue a field because it's male dominated that would be an exception to the rule. You will always have exceptions like that, just like I'm sure similar comments may occasionally be made of (straight) men wanting to go into cosmotology or interior design.
By the way, in the original context, what I meant by "an ok job" was an ok paying job (that you enjoy doing) as opposed to a great paying job that you hate and makes your life miserable.
"Women can be anything they chose to be as long as they are nurtured, guided and offered the opportunity to become so."
Amen! And I also try not to impose any stereotypes in raising my children (one of whom is a girl). All I'm saying is, even when everybody has the same nurturing and opportunity, we should not be surprised when men and women choose different careers (on average).
On Study: Wage gap between Wis. men and women widens
Posted on April 22 at 12:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
justsome1here, "The reason that these professions are generally “dominated” by women IS because of the pay..."
I'm not sure what you mean by this. The job is female-dominated because it pays low? Or do you mean the reverse, it pays low because it is female-dominated? As to the first, I doubt women are intentionally seeking low pay; they seek jobs they enjoy that will pay the bills, like men do. Actually, I think men are typically more money-obsessed than women which is why they will work themselves to the bone and stomp over anyone that gets in their way to get that high paying job that will leave their soul empty and lifeless. Most women don't seem to have that strong desire for money above their families and health, and so are willing to settle for ok jobs, especially when they can help people (nursing, teaching, etc). I intend this as a complement to women. Men (on average) need to spend a little less time running the rat race and a little more enjoying their families and raising their children.
On What are your Earth Day memories?
Posted on April 22 at 12:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm not sure paperless billing would actually help. I do know that tree farms are beneficial to the environment and for oxygen generation. Some people seem to think we are cutting down the rain-forest to make paper, but that's completely false (it's farming). Furthermore, electronic billing means more time reviewing records and making payments at a computer, which is consuming electrical resources, so in the end it might actually be a net loss.
Oh, and more to the story, I wasn't born in 1970 and have never celebrated earth day, so I have no memories. I do agree at the annoyance of seeing litter all over; not so much for environmental reasons as cleanliness. Really slobs, learn to use a trash can.
On Assembly to vote on legalizing raw milk
Posted on April 22 at noon ( Suggest removal )
They can only advertise on their premises? What do they want to keep them hidden? You know with today's world there would quickly spring up blogs and facebook entries for those looking for raw milk; why not just let them advertise if they want to? Either legalize it or don't.
On UWM athletic director placed on leave
Posted on April 22 at 11:52 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Is UW-Milwaukee commonly abbreviated UWM? I would have guess UWM was UW-Madison from the headline. Ok, it's off-topic, nevermind.
On Evolution of gazettextra.com continues
Posted on April 22 at 11:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Would it be possible to allow comments on national and state stories as well? Currently it seems like national comments are not allowed, and a small number of state comments are allowed. Is it some kind of restriction for licensing AP stories?
I second the request to not have video download by default; some of us are actually on dialup still (for those unfamiliar, dialup existed long long ago and is even slower than DSL or cell-phones).
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On Evolution of gazettextra.com continues
Posted on April 27 at 12:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
The only other reason I thought of why state and national stories usually don't allow comments is that they don't want millions of people trying to comment on a story. That's why I don't mind commenting on stories at Gazette, because it's a smaller audience and I can usually keep up with the other comments (if a story has about 40+ comments I don't even bother reading them, because I won't have the time to follow them.)