The last several halloweens (with the exception of my sparse elf-hat appearance at (e:ladycroft)'s halloween party two years ago) I've attempted to go make an usual costume making use of a well-known cultural reference that is not typically the subject costume design. Two years ago, it was a "have a nice day smiley face". Last year it was "D*ck in a box". I wanted this year to go as the freecreditreport.com pirate complete with guitar, but the time constraints of new fatherhood make that unworkable. I'll still do something that's unique and a cultural reference, but I guess I'll have to settle for a bit of cop-out this year. It won't be great, but it probably won't make failblog.org
Carolinian's Journal
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10/30/2008 12:23 #46426
Costume CutbackCategory: halloween
10/25/2008 00:26 #46317
Sick HaikuCategory: haiku
10/16/2008 12:33 #46143
Other Commonly Held MisconceptionsCategory: funny
I found this during the last time I took my son to the Mosier clinic on Main St.
I always wondered why I never was able to find any Chlamydia on the Garden Walk.
I always wondered why I never was able to find any Chlamydia on the Garden Walk.
ladycroft - 10/17/08 05:18
hey, so how is the little bugger anyway!:)
hey, so how is the little bugger anyway!:)
metalpeter - 10/16/08 19:05
From what my sis told me some girl wanted to name her kid that because it sounded pretty but had no idea what it was. I admit I know it is an STD and don't know much more then that about it.
From what my sis told me some girl wanted to name her kid that because it sounded pretty but had no idea what it was. I admit I know it is an STD and don't know much more then that about it.
gardenmama - 10/16/08 19:03
A girl's name? Now that would be some parents with a twisted sense of humor!
A girl's name? Now that would be some parents with a twisted sense of humor!
metalpeter - 10/16/08 18:53
That is funny, but did you know it is also a girls name?
That is funny, but did you know it is also a girls name?
hodown - 10/16/08 13:58
That is awesome.
That is awesome.
theecarey - 10/16/08 13:16
hahahaha
"chlamydia is not a flower" is stuck in my head, a random loop playing over and over now.
hahahaha
"chlamydia is not a flower" is stuck in my head, a random loop playing over and over now.
gardenmama - 10/16/08 13:04
I bet if you tried (and probably not too hard) you could pick up some Chlamydia along the Garden Walk.
I bet if you tried (and probably not too hard) you could pick up some Chlamydia along the Garden Walk.
10/08/2008 09:05 #45988
Trying To Find Humor For The New YearCategory: humor
Happy Year Of Our Lord 5769. As a new year's resolution, I'll try to find the humor in ugly things. After hearing more dismal financial news on NPR today, something occurred in my head and made me chuckle.
If there was a merger between the two largest mortgage companies, you'd get
Freddie Mac + Fannie Mae = Frannie Mace.
If there was a merger between the two largest mortgage companies, you'd get
Freddie Mac + Fannie Mae = Frannie Mace.
tinypliny - 10/08/08 21:31
Completely tangential but I need to remark about this. There are so many trannies on main street, I didn't really realize it until I saw them all together again this past weekend. They are really always dressed perfectly.
Completely tangential but I need to remark about this. There are so many trannies on main street, I didn't really realize it until I saw them all together again this past weekend. They are really always dressed perfectly.
museumchick - 10/08/08 15:58
I laughed on what you said about that mortgage companies. I hope you and your family are having a wonderful L'Shannah Tovah:). I was just thinking about you recently, hoping everything was going well.
I laughed on what you said about that mortgage companies. I hope you and your family are having a wonderful L'Shannah Tovah:). I was just thinking about you recently, hoping everything was going well.
mrmike - 10/08/08 09:29
Happy new year! I think now that we are all owners, we should be able to get that renaming into place.
Happy new year! I think now that we are all owners, we should be able to get that renaming into place.
09/03/2008 00:41 #45544
Rare political postCategory: politics
A conservative vice-presidential candidates who has fought for abstinence-only sex-education as only effective way of combatting teenage pregnancy finds out that her own teenage daughter is pregnant. 
That's irony for you. Or karma, depending on your belief system.
That's irony for you. Or karma, depending on your belief system.
tinypliny - 09/03/08 19:29
@metalpeter: I just read your comment and something else came to mind. I was walking home from Guercio's a few days back and I was at the crossing in front of Lafayette high school. There was this little boy - around 9-10 years old purposely dribbling his ball across the road and stopping every motorist going past. I thought it was a one time thing and he was just crossing the road and playfully dribbling his ball. BUT NO. He was at it a whole half hour or maybe more! I could see him still stopping cars and annoying the hell out of drivers as I reached the roundabout. It was just so bizarre. He was doing all of it on purpose. Now what if a motorist had not been paying attention and had come zooming through the intersection? Was the boy looking for trouble? He was certainly old enough to understand that what he was doing was wrong.
I see this sort of behaviour as examples of poor parenting. I know it's a little harsh but what you are reflects on your kids. If you are irresponsible, so will your kids. You could argue that parents can't forever be watching kids and I agree. But if your kids respect you, then your constant presence would not even be required. If you have been a good parent then respect alone would make good habits a way of life, rather than a way of forced education. Environmental influences (including parental guidance and care) weigh in a lot on behavioural attributes of an individual.
@metalpeter: I just read your comment and something else came to mind. I was walking home from Guercio's a few days back and I was at the crossing in front of Lafayette high school. There was this little boy - around 9-10 years old purposely dribbling his ball across the road and stopping every motorist going past. I thought it was a one time thing and he was just crossing the road and playfully dribbling his ball. BUT NO. He was at it a whole half hour or maybe more! I could see him still stopping cars and annoying the hell out of drivers as I reached the roundabout. It was just so bizarre. He was doing all of it on purpose. Now what if a motorist had not been paying attention and had come zooming through the intersection? Was the boy looking for trouble? He was certainly old enough to understand that what he was doing was wrong.
I see this sort of behaviour as examples of poor parenting. I know it's a little harsh but what you are reflects on your kids. If you are irresponsible, so will your kids. You could argue that parents can't forever be watching kids and I agree. But if your kids respect you, then your constant presence would not even be required. If you have been a good parent then respect alone would make good habits a way of life, rather than a way of forced education. Environmental influences (including parental guidance and care) weigh in a lot on behavioural attributes of an individual.
tinypliny - 09/03/08 19:09
A few days back, in response to my question on when it's right to judge politicians on their family and personal issues, (e:zobar) commented that it's okay when they make it an agenda/selling point for themselves. I agree. Did Palin make an agenda/selling point out of good parenting? Is she not practicing what she is preaching? If yes, then this is a nasty turn of events for her campaign, indeed.
If not, I would say that it's her family and thus it's her business, just as Hoyt's affairs are his business.
While it's not for us to say (or even point fingers), it definitely is high time she shook herself out of this ill-informed reverie and change her stance on sex education - having seen its effects first-hand.
@(e:janelle): I see your point of view. The approach to sex education matters a LOT. Just going through the motions and reciting stuff from a pamphlet or viewing a video has never been and never will be effective. For any education to be effective (Abstinence/safe sex/whatever), good parenting and quality time with kids is an ABSOLUTE necessity. It takes a lot to be an educator. Lip-service just doesn't cut it. :/ You could push out safe-sex education and condoms with the whole state behind you and yet have teenage pregnancies. It all boils down to how much time you are willing to spend with your children and how much of a guidance and role-model you are to your kids. If you don't worry about when they are coming home and what kind of company they keep, then I am afraid no sex-education, however intense, is ever going to help.
A few days back, in response to my question on when it's right to judge politicians on their family and personal issues, (e:zobar) commented that it's okay when they make it an agenda/selling point for themselves. I agree. Did Palin make an agenda/selling point out of good parenting? Is she not practicing what she is preaching? If yes, then this is a nasty turn of events for her campaign, indeed.
If not, I would say that it's her family and thus it's her business, just as Hoyt's affairs are his business.
While it's not for us to say (or even point fingers), it definitely is high time she shook herself out of this ill-informed reverie and change her stance on sex education - having seen its effects first-hand.
@(e:janelle): I see your point of view. The approach to sex education matters a LOT. Just going through the motions and reciting stuff from a pamphlet or viewing a video has never been and never will be effective. For any education to be effective (Abstinence/safe sex/whatever), good parenting and quality time with kids is an ABSOLUTE necessity. It takes a lot to be an educator. Lip-service just doesn't cut it. :/ You could push out safe-sex education and condoms with the whole state behind you and yet have teenage pregnancies. It all boils down to how much time you are willing to spend with your children and how much of a guidance and role-model you are to your kids. If you don't worry about when they are coming home and what kind of company they keep, then I am afraid no sex-education, however intense, is ever going to help.
metalpeter - 09/03/08 18:56
Here is my problem with not teaching kids about sex in school, it is just silly. It is like when you have a kid and they cross the street what do you tell them look both ways. You learn that before you know a green light means go and red means stop. The reason that is taught is because if you teach them to only cross at a light the second a toy or ball goes into the street they won't know what to do so like a kid they chase the ball into the middle of the street and if they are lucky they live and if not then the there buddy gets to watch his friends brains get splatered in the middle of the street. The same thing is true about sex. When that sexy boy or girl likes them and they are willing to go behind the bleachers they are now the kid who brings a Knife to a gunfight. I'm not saying you should say go out and have sex. But when it happens the kids won't know what to do to be safe.
Here is my problem with not teaching kids about sex in school, it is just silly. It is like when you have a kid and they cross the street what do you tell them look both ways. You learn that before you know a green light means go and red means stop. The reason that is taught is because if you teach them to only cross at a light the second a toy or ball goes into the street they won't know what to do so like a kid they chase the ball into the middle of the street and if they are lucky they live and if not then the there buddy gets to watch his friends brains get splatered in the middle of the street. The same thing is true about sex. When that sexy boy or girl likes them and they are willing to go behind the bleachers they are now the kid who brings a Knife to a gunfight. I'm not saying you should say go out and have sex. But when it happens the kids won't know what to do to be safe.
ajay - 09/03/08 18:44
I think "karma" might just edge out "ironic", but it's too close to tell. Maybe we can call it "karmic irony"?
I think "karma" might just edge out "ironic", but it's too close to tell. Maybe we can call it "karmic irony"?
janelle - 09/03/08 12:00
I really don't find it that ironic. I think whether you as a parent encourage abstinence or choose to teach the basics of safe sex, your teenage son or daughter can end up with a pregnancy on their hands. It's just particularly unfortunate for her due to her public life and public stance on abstinence education.
This isn't to say, I support abstinence only education, because I don't. More safe sex education please.
I really don't find it that ironic. I think whether you as a parent encourage abstinence or choose to teach the basics of safe sex, your teenage son or daughter can end up with a pregnancy on their hands. It's just particularly unfortunate for her due to her public life and public stance on abstinence education.
This isn't to say, I support abstinence only education, because I don't. More safe sex education please.
jason - 09/03/08 10:24
Yes, the conservative position on sex ed is untenable. There are times, on both sides, when ideological orthodoxy trumps common sense. What's that southernism? You can hope in one hand and shit in the other, and see which one fills up first.
Yes, the conservative position on sex ed is untenable. There are times, on both sides, when ideological orthodoxy trumps common sense. What's that southernism? You can hope in one hand and shit in the other, and see which one fills up first.
dcoffee - 09/03/08 09:59
Learn about Birth Control in school!! Gasp!! What do you want these kids having sex! My daughter is not having sex before she is married.. oops.
Oh, and if she gets raped she better have that baby too.
Learn about Birth Control in school!! Gasp!! What do you want these kids having sex! My daughter is not having sex before she is married.. oops.
Oh, and if she gets raped she better have that baby too.
aw man, this halloween is SO about the kids...i'm just kinda ignoring all the adult stuff going on around me. kind of a bummer, but so is paying a babysitter...
Parenthood will do that to you. Last year I was a middle-aged guy who just dropped the kids off before arriving at the party. I think the attention to detail got me the good reviews, right on down to the bags under my eyes. I think I was wearing the same costume last night. What are the odds?