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This year’s “Mindset List”

Ron — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:57:23 +0000

Every fall, Beloit College makes up a “Mindset List” to reflect the world of the new incoming college students (born in about 1991, this year) — what their life has included, and what it hasn’t. Understandably, reading it makes those of us over, um, thirty feel old and alienated. And who doesn’t like that? So check it out; here’s a few of my favorites from this year:

5. Salsa has always outsold ketchup.
6. Earvin “Magic” Johnson has always been HIV-positive.
9. Rap music has always been mainstream.
15. Babies have always had a Social Security Number.
22. The European Union has always existed.
30. There has always been a Cartoon Network.
32. Their folks could always reach for a Zoloft.
34. Women have always outnumbered men in college.
38. Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Latvia, Georgia, Lithuania, and Estonia have always been independent nations.
68. Official racial classifications in South Africa have always been outlawed.

Abstinance-geared “sex-ed” causes pregnancy & syphilis

Ron — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:43:05 +0000

Imagine my surprise: We’re now reaping the “rewards” of Bushies’ Jeebus-driven anti-sex health “education” policies. A new CDC report has both of these “rising sharply among a generation of American school girls who were urged to avoid sex before marriage under George Bush’s evangelically-driven education policy”. (US teen pregnancy and syphilis rates rose sharply during Bush’s presidency)

Old folks: We got ours already

Ron — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:26:43 +0000

No federal health insurance for the rest of you, say the over-65’s who already have it.

via Matthew Yglesias

Discrimination for God is A-OK

Ron — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:16:04 +0000

Apparently religious employers can discriminate all they like, for any reason they like — at least in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Supreme Court rules in anti-discrimination case. “The court basically ruled that a judge cannot impose hiring or firing standards because it would interfere with religious freedom.”

Suzie and God’s plan

Ron — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:32:48 +0000

The Story of Suzie (and her love for Jesus). Via Pharyngula and God is for Suckers.

Sotomayor and the Klan-loving Senator Sessions

Ron — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:43:28 +0000

Matthew Yglesias has a nice “Thought of the Day”:

I would pay good money to hear Sonia Sotomayor say, “Senator Sessions, I think it’s ironic to be facing these questions from a man whose judicial nomination was rejected by this very committee on the grounds that he’s a huge racist.”

Same-sex marriage dies in NY for now

Ron — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:08:36 +0000

Giving Up on Marriage Equality, for Now:

The lord-of-the-flies chaos in the NYS Senate has killed any chance gay marriage had in New York this year. Perhaps that was part of the point?

The Atheist Apocalyse

Ron — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:47:03 +0000

The Atheist Apocalyse is coming!

Conservatives Prepping for Race War Against Sotomayor

Ron — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:43:05 +0000

From Matthew Yglesias: “More than one-third of the witnesses on the Republican’s list for Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearing are lawyers and academics who’ve based their careers on opposing affirmative action, and activists who have become symbols of the anti-affirmative action movement.”

Report: Bush surveillance program was massive

Ron — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:30:25 +0000

Far beyond the warrantless wiretapping previously acknowledged.