CNN had a link to an article from Time regarding what should be considered rape. Out-and-out sexual assault is pretty clear: man wants woman, woman doesn't want man, man takes woman anyway. Consent on the part of the woman is central in this case. But what if the woman initially gives consent, then withdraws it during the act?
The Time article notes a case where a man and woman began sex consensually, then she asked him to stop, which he did. The article made it sound like that although the guy stopped almost immediately and did not ejaculate, he was found guilty of rape and sentenced to five years in jail. If the facts are correct, that's just wrong. Guy and girl start banging, girl says stop, guy does without blowing his load, and yet that counts as rape? Bullshit!
Obviously, true rape is a brutal mala in se crime. However, "withdrawal-of-consent rape" doesn't seem to be of the same level. A woman has the responsibility of judging who she lets in her bed. If she changes her mind partway through, then she's relying on the man to be honorable enough to stop. She did the screening, and should accept responsibility for such decisions. From a moral perspective, if a man doesn't stop, I'd say that makes him a scumbag, but not necessarily a criminal.
Of course that's discussion at a theoretical level. Saying that a woman is fully responsible is not acceptable because men could easily claim that she gave initial consent. I've read that some rapists seem to actually believe that their victims wanted the act. Plus, not punishing the man for continuing after 'stop' would accentuate the date rape problem. On the other hand, making it too easy for women to blame men after the fact, i.e. having consensual sex and then due to some later event, such as the discovery of other sexual partners, changing her story and declaring rape, is a disservice to men as well. (Promiscuity may be immoral, but it is not a crime.)
Ejaculation doesn't seem like a good criteria, either, because in the case of a "minute man", the woman might stay stop just a second too late; or in the case of a "marathon man", going against the woman's will would be a protracted assault!
The notion of a "consensual sex contract" is legally on-target, but practically absurd. Who would have sex with someone that asked for a signature first?
The bottom line is, in my opinion, that rape should only be used to describe a forced non-consensual sexual act, where the whole affair is from the start against the victim's will. If initial consent is given and later retracted, then it becomes simple assault. The former should carry much greater penalties than the latter, because the intent behind each act is very, very different. Of course either way, as with any disagreement between a couple, the issue will degenerate into a bout of he-said, she-said.
2007-02-06
2007-01-31
Ellen Feiss & Street Fighter
Another /. piece of news: an interview with Ellen Feiss, the "stoner" in the Apple "Switcher" ads. She's kind of cute now that she's 18. But now that she's shot down the stoned-while-shooting rumor, people going to latch on to comments she made in the interview that imply that she might be gay. That's what she gets for going to France! Just kidding. From the interview, she sounds pretty cool, actually.
There was a post about some Street Fighter thing on /. also, but what I found hilarious was the link to an amateur flick parodying the SF characters, like "where are they now?" The shorts are pretty well done—I want to see more! (Although predictably they mispronounced "Ryu" and he appears to be played by a Chinese guy.)
There was a post about some Street Fighter thing on /. also, but what I found hilarious was the link to an amateur flick parodying the SF characters, like "where are they now?" The shorts are pretty well done—I want to see more! (Although predictably they mispronounced "Ryu" and he appears to be played by a Chinese guy.)
2007-01-26
Chavez is a Turd
When I first heard about his antics in the news, I thought it was kind of funny, like a cheap circus act. Then I realized he was serious.
While it'd be nice if one of his own citizens would cap him in his fat head, if Chavvie wants to play hardball with expelling the U.S. envoy and reallocating other countries' investments to "the people" (i.e. him), then he can have it his way.
We pull out our people, and embargo the country. If they start procuring WMD, then we have license to go in and kick their asses!—after we pull out of Iraq?
Yeah, the Iraq war has been a fiasco not in that it got some soldiers killed—callous to say, but those are the casualties of war and the consequences of soldiering—it's reminded the world of the U.S.'s previous failure in meddling with another country's politics: Vietnam. It's also been a reminder that the American Military Might isn't all that it's cracked up to be, and all of a sudden all these little shitty governments like Iran and Venezuela are clamoring for a piece of the spotlight. As long as they're waving their cheap AK-47 clones, I don't really care. It's all about the nukes. If they decide they want to dance, maybe the world needs another demonstration of what happens to stupid dictators and their followers when they mess with their betters.
While it'd be nice if one of his own citizens would cap him in his fat head, if Chavvie wants to play hardball with expelling the U.S. envoy and reallocating other countries' investments to "the people" (i.e. him), then he can have it his way.
We pull out our people, and embargo the country. If they start procuring WMD, then we have license to go in and kick their asses!—after we pull out of Iraq?
Yeah, the Iraq war has been a fiasco not in that it got some soldiers killed—callous to say, but those are the casualties of war and the consequences of soldiering—it's reminded the world of the U.S.'s previous failure in meddling with another country's politics: Vietnam. It's also been a reminder that the American Military Might isn't all that it's cracked up to be, and all of a sudden all these little shitty governments like Iran and Venezuela are clamoring for a piece of the spotlight. As long as they're waving their cheap AK-47 clones, I don't really care. It's all about the nukes. If they decide they want to dance, maybe the world needs another demonstration of what happens to stupid dictators and their followers when they mess with their betters.
2007-01-18
2007-01-04
Kiuchi Beer
Hotel California
MRG forwarded me a note by a Japanese guy asking what the lyrics to Hotel California mean. How the hell should I know? Does anyone? Here are some opinions:
From Song Facts,
From The Straight Dope,
From Niniane,
And there's always Wikipedia.
From Song Facts,
From The Straight Dope,
From Niniane,
And there's always Wikipedia.
Travelstar
From the intranet front page at work there was a link to an article on Hitachi infringing on a Chinese trademark. An older article gives more info about the battle. What they didn't say was when the BTHC registered their trademark and when IBM/HGST first used the mark in China—seems to me that would be most saliently relevant.
In Japan, the U.S. maker Logitech has to use the mark "Logicool" because another maker in Japan has the name "Logitec". Certainly if Logitech didn't enter the Japanese market before Logitec was formed, then they don't have the right to use the mark.
Law is fraught with peril.
In Japan, the U.S. maker Logitech has to use the mark "Logicool" because another maker in Japan has the name "Logitec". Certainly if Logitech didn't enter the Japanese market before Logitec was formed, then they don't have the right to use the mark.
Law is fraught with peril.
2007-01-02
Pizza Deliverators
I think I was looking for info on how much to tip the pizza guy online, and came up with these links to the adventures of "pizza deliverators". (Think Neil Stephenson's Snow Crash.) [1] [2]
Not sure whether to pity them for enduring pitiable treatment, respect them for bringing me fresh za, or to think that I've probably got it worse!
And every time I hear "pizza man", I think of the song "Super Orgy Porno Party", which starts out with a dude delivering pizza....
Not sure whether to pity them for enduring pitiable treatment, respect them for bringing me fresh za, or to think that I've probably got it worse!
And every time I hear "pizza man", I think of the song "Super Orgy Porno Party", which starts out with a dude delivering pizza....
Japanese ok on Windows Mobile 5
I was looking at MDAs, thinking Sachie could use something more like a Japanese cell phone rather than one of the lame setups we have in the U.S. The Danger Hiptop (Sidekick) is cool, but doesn't support Japanese according to Katie and what I've read. T-Mobile had a couple phones that use Windows Mobile, which seems much more likely to support Japanese add-ons.
After some searching, I found out that it is possible to install a Japanese IME on Windows Mobile 5. Sweet! Now it's a matter of plunking down for a $400 phone and signing an onerous contract....
After some searching, I found out that it is possible to install a Japanese IME on Windows Mobile 5. Sweet! Now it's a matter of plunking down for a $400 phone and signing an onerous contract....
Condom Depot
B&E got the wife and I a condom sampler for Christmas. Apparently it was purchased at Condom Depot, in case someone out there needs to make a gift purchase.... "Condom Depot"—like Office Depot, except for condoms instead of office supplies!
2006-12-15
Fat Bitch
Not only is Rosie O'Donnell a hypocrite—bashing firearms rights on TV when her kid's bodyguard was packing a piece—she's a racist, too. From the CNN article:
Karen Lincoln Michel, president-elect of Unity: Journalists of Color Inc., said O'Donnell's remarks "really didn't sound like an apology to me."Yeah, that's not an apology. "I'm sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground" and how she's probably going to do it again. I guess I don't care if she apologizes or not. I'm still going to call her a hypocritical, racist, fat bitch.
...
"You know it was never (my) intent to mock," O'Donnell said on Thursday's show, "and I'm sorry for those people who felt hurt or were teased on the playground."
"But I'm also gonna give you a fair warning that there's a good chance I'll do something like that again, probably in the next week -- not on purpose. Only 'cause it's how my brain works."
2006-12-10
Rich Dad, Dipshit Author
I just found an article on the Web debunking Robert Kiyosaki's book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I must say, it was quite eye-opening.
When I read the book, I found it pretty inspirational. It gelled with the questions I had about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, so I started thinking about doing my business and such. The thing that I didn't like about the book was that it seemed to imply that everyone could be rich, which is physically impossible due to the laws of economics, like supply and demand. If even janitors have a million bucks, then the million bucks ain't worth much. If everyone is trying to shift real estate for a profit, then we get a real estate bubble like the one that just burst. The point about capitalism is that it rewards people who work hard and innovate, but indeed, it depends on wealth differential to maintain that motivating factor.
John Reed's thrashing of Bob Kiyosaki basically describes Kiyosaki as a charlatan and multi-level marketer (MLM). From the facts from multiple sources (such as Wikipedia) that would appear to be the case. If one claims to be an expert, then they better damn well give evidence to that fact, especially if they're selling advice. The problem with self-help books is that they tell people what they want to themselves believe, and thus prey on people's insecurity. I rather liked the blurb entitled The Fallacy of Success by a G.K. Chesterton that basically calls success books ego masturbation by the authors. If one is going to be successful, then one should go do it. Of course we'd like a how-to manual, but if it really worked, then people would catch on and the definition of success would change. So what is success? Getting what you want. That can only happen when someone else doesn't get what they want. We're all competing for resources, after all.
Indeed, Kiyosaki seems quite like an MLM con: taking advantage of the pyramid scheme of "everybody can get rich", which is impossible. Everyone joins, everyone pays forward, and the ones at the top get rich and the ones at the bottom go nowhere. On the other hand, when one thinks about it, that's essentially what modern capitalism ends up being—a pyramid scheme. How depressing. In that regard, perhaps Kiyosaki is somewhat truthful. If one finds the formula and milks it before others catch on, then move to the next thing, then some benefit is possible.
For the rest of us who would rather not play into the scheme, there's always dreaming of doing what one is passionate about. Get educated about business and do it rather than read bullshit self-help books. While it's important to think about changing oneself, it's important that oneself is the one doing the changing, not some scheming con artist. Motivation is the hardest thing to come by, which is why success remains a rare condition. Well, you never know till ya try, but as a wise green Jedi master once said, "Do. Or do not. There is no 'try'." Or something like that.
Hopefully this hasn't degenerated into a completely Nihilistic conclusion....
When I read the book, I found it pretty inspirational. It gelled with the questions I had about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, so I started thinking about doing my business and such. The thing that I didn't like about the book was that it seemed to imply that everyone could be rich, which is physically impossible due to the laws of economics, like supply and demand. If even janitors have a million bucks, then the million bucks ain't worth much. If everyone is trying to shift real estate for a profit, then we get a real estate bubble like the one that just burst. The point about capitalism is that it rewards people who work hard and innovate, but indeed, it depends on wealth differential to maintain that motivating factor.
John Reed's thrashing of Bob Kiyosaki basically describes Kiyosaki as a charlatan and multi-level marketer (MLM). From the facts from multiple sources (such as Wikipedia) that would appear to be the case. If one claims to be an expert, then they better damn well give evidence to that fact, especially if they're selling advice. The problem with self-help books is that they tell people what they want to themselves believe, and thus prey on people's insecurity. I rather liked the blurb entitled The Fallacy of Success by a G.K. Chesterton that basically calls success books ego masturbation by the authors. If one is going to be successful, then one should go do it. Of course we'd like a how-to manual, but if it really worked, then people would catch on and the definition of success would change. So what is success? Getting what you want. That can only happen when someone else doesn't get what they want. We're all competing for resources, after all.
Indeed, Kiyosaki seems quite like an MLM con: taking advantage of the pyramid scheme of "everybody can get rich", which is impossible. Everyone joins, everyone pays forward, and the ones at the top get rich and the ones at the bottom go nowhere. On the other hand, when one thinks about it, that's essentially what modern capitalism ends up being—a pyramid scheme. How depressing. In that regard, perhaps Kiyosaki is somewhat truthful. If one finds the formula and milks it before others catch on, then move to the next thing, then some benefit is possible.
For the rest of us who would rather not play into the scheme, there's always dreaming of doing what one is passionate about. Get educated about business and do it rather than read bullshit self-help books. While it's important to think about changing oneself, it's important that oneself is the one doing the changing, not some scheming con artist. Motivation is the hardest thing to come by, which is why success remains a rare condition. Well, you never know till ya try, but as a wise green Jedi master once said, "Do. Or do not. There is no 'try'." Or something like that.
Hopefully this hasn't degenerated into a completely Nihilistic conclusion....
Rochester Gelande
(In Japanese, a ski slope is called a "gerende", apparently from German "gelande". The German word has an umlaut over the 'a' it seems.)
One of these days I'll have to check out Welch Village's ski slopes. I figured it was just a dinky little hill, but it's got 1000-some feet of height to it, which is good enough. There's also the Elm Creek Park Reserve, which has a Burton-affiliated snowboard education program. Perhaps if I have time to hit the slopes often, I'll have to buy my own board....
One of these days I'll have to check out Welch Village's ski slopes. I figured it was just a dinky little hill, but it's got 1000-some feet of height to it, which is good enough. There's also the Elm Creek Park Reserve, which has a Burton-affiliated snowboard education program. Perhaps if I have time to hit the slopes often, I'll have to buy my own board....
2006-11-23
2006-11-19
Noritake
Yesterday the wife and I went shopping for some Noritake bone china, and ended up buying a set for six in "Blue Sorentino". The style is pretty funky, a non-existent (alien?) flower pattern that looks like it might be found on the back of playing cards. It's weird but looks like one wouldn't get sick of it.
Anyway, apparently Noritake makes a bunch of other stuff like VFDs (vacuum fluorescent displays).
A search turned up one site selling the Noritake yearly Totoro plate from Japan.
Anyway, apparently Noritake makes a bunch of other stuff like VFDs (vacuum fluorescent displays).
A search turned up one site selling the Noritake yearly Totoro plate from Japan.
Make Blog
I'm subscribed to the AIM MakeBot, which sends me the latest entries from O'Reilly's Make magazine's site, specifically the Make Blog. There's a bunch of quirky stuff on there, some of which is dubious, but some of which is pretty cool.
Like an article about how to soup up a DVD burner's laser diode and make a 200 mW laser. (via)
Then there's an site selling antique sock machines. No kidding. (via) Sounds cool, except they cost $2000 a pop.
Like an article about how to soup up a DVD burner's laser diode and make a 200 mW laser. (via)
Then there's an site selling antique sock machines. No kidding. (via) Sounds cool, except they cost $2000 a pop.
2006-11-18
2006-11-03
モテるかモテないか
会社のMさんが「モテぢから実力テスト」のリンクを送ってくれた。そんで、妻と俺が受験してみた。結果がまったく違って、なぜか俺がアイツの半分位。ちくしょー！まぁ、前から俺がモテないって分かっていたが、こんなにはっきり知らせられてムカつくなあ。
奥様の結果
俺様の結果
奥様の結果
俺様の結果
2006-11-02
2006-10-29
Adrienne Carey Hurley
Katy sent me a link to this blog saying it has some good J-lit info. Seems way to the left, which is not my style at all, but I'll link to it here so I don't forget about it. The taser video was interesting....
2006-10-24
Interesting News Links
Most around the world still believe in America (?)
Why the Republicans need to lose the midterms
Insourcing? - The only reason companies do this is to avoid tariffs!
The sun had sisters?
Dilbert cartoonist recovers speech
Why the Republicans need to lose the midterms
Insourcing? - The only reason companies do this is to avoid tariffs!
The sun had sisters?
Dilbert cartoonist recovers speech
2006-10-22
HDD Speaker
If one's into low-fi, apparently someone cooked up a way to mod an HDD voice coil into a speaker. Demented, but it comes with a video....
2006-10-20
News
Invention firms
Google earnings
CNN Money 25 rules to grow rich by
Internet addicts as ill as alcoholics? - Well, it's not a chemical addiction, anyway.
Wisdom of non-crowds - Yeah, crowds are dumb. Are non-crowds any better?
Samsung's hybrid HDD
Single pixel digicam - Interesting, but of questionable practicality.
Google earnings
CNN Money 25 rules to grow rich by
Internet addicts as ill as alcoholics? - Well, it's not a chemical addiction, anyway.
Wisdom of non-crowds - Yeah, crowds are dumb. Are non-crowds any better?
Samsung's hybrid HDD
Single pixel digicam - Interesting, but of questionable practicality.
2006-10-17
CNN News
Bigger families on the rise
Teaching students to fight back - Sweet!!
Scalia says Constitution silent on abortion, etc.
Sara Evans divorce - She always seemed like a good girl, but this seems too weird to just be the ex at fault!
Teaching students to fight back - Sweet!!
Scalia says Constitution silent on abortion, etc.
Sara Evans divorce - She always seemed like a good girl, but this seems too weird to just be the ex at fault!
2006-10-15
Various Linx
These linx (bastardized plural as with "pix") are quite dated. Too busy to blog these days.
From 9/1.
How to prevent lost luggage
From 9/8.
Requirements for HD video on PCs
A distributed system where HDD servo systems are used to predict tsunamis
Xerox's reusable paper: "transient documents"
More than 2.5 billion cell phone lines in use in the world
Fastest Microsoft patch ever: 3 days ... for their DRM
From 9/14.
Next-gen DNS info on Wikipedia: Extensible Name Service ; XDI
From 9/21.
Sourced from a combination of CNN, Slashdot, and other....
Attempting to reach space on the cheap
Impressive cabling
Book that apparently has some stuff on Galois
Ansari arrives at space station
USB-rechargeable batteries
The "Methusela Foundation" has an M-Prize with regard to aging.
Strangely amusing 1st person fiction by Bruce Sterling on teenage angst in a Net world
From 9/26.
CNN special on Japan's new prime minister: article
From 10/5.
Sleeplessness and health: CNN
On Sarbanes-Oxley: Wikipedia ; sarbanes-oxley.com ; bio.org
Investment Company Act of 1940? Wikipedia
From 9/1.
How to prevent lost luggage
From 9/8.
Requirements for HD video on PCs
A distributed system where HDD servo systems are used to predict tsunamis
Xerox's reusable paper: "transient documents"
More than 2.5 billion cell phone lines in use in the world
Fastest Microsoft patch ever: 3 days ... for their DRM
From 9/14.
Next-gen DNS info on Wikipedia: Extensible Name Service ; XDI
From 9/21.
Sourced from a combination of CNN, Slashdot, and other....
Attempting to reach space on the cheap
Impressive cabling
Book that apparently has some stuff on Galois
Ansari arrives at space station
USB-rechargeable batteries
The "Methusela Foundation" has an M-Prize with regard to aging.
Strangely amusing 1st person fiction by Bruce Sterling on teenage angst in a Net world
From 9/26.
CNN special on Japan's new prime minister: article
From 10/5.
Sleeplessness and health: CNN
On Sarbanes-Oxley: Wikipedia ; sarbanes-oxley.com ; bio.org
Investment Company Act of 1940? Wikipedia
Havaria Information Service Alert Map
I received an interesting link from my uncle pointing to this alert map for the U.S. It shows seismic activity, biohazards, power outages, epidemics, storm reports, air accidents, etc. One has to wonder how they aggregate this information.
2006-10-04
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)