There has been a lot of controversy lately over the Miss Bimbo virtual game site.
Due to preconceived notions of the word bimbo, most people can probably figure out the concept of the website.
You start out with your own bimbo and some bimbo dollars. Throughout the game you need to clothe and feed your bimbo and play games to earn dollars, IQ and attitude points.
The outrage comes from parents saying the website promotes plastic surgery, unhealthy eating habits and a loose sexual nature, and that the young girls who are accessing the site will be influenced negatively by the game.
Initially, that makes sense.
But, wait a minute. The only way the game could influence your daughter would be if she were accessing the site. The only way she would be accessing the site is if you were not monitoring exactly what your child was doing on the internet - or you were allowing her to get onto the site. In either case, the responsibility lies with the parent not the creator of the game.
It seems like lately, there has been a lot of parents and therapists blaming the media and entertainment industry for what their child is exposed to instead of being a parent and limiting what their child is exposed to.
You can't shelter your children from everything, but you can raise a child that is not immediately swayed by negative items in the media.
Oh and let us not forget, the more everyone protests about this website, the more popular it gets and the more likely your child is going to want to check out what all the fuss is about.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Word Play by DS
A feature blog by Hugo the Chinchilla's grandfather
I’ve never blogged before. Not sure I should be in or even near a blog. The word sounds like some sort of eerie pit filled with nasty germs or whatever but since I am technically (in a very round about way) related to Hugo and am bored out of my skull, I decided to write what has been bothering me over the past few weeks.
About 15-16 days ago I went into the hospital for a procedure. This procedure is what got me thinking of terms used by the medical community and why I feel there should be a change in verbiage.
First, I had several medical “procedures” (they should just call them tests since that is what they really were), which unfortunately I failed.
Oops! No, that isn’t quit right. You can only fail a test not a procedure so the terms used was I had an abnormality show up. Do they think I would feel bad if they said your “test” results showed this or that? I failed the f**ken test! Hell I have failed many tests throughout school. But in today’s politically correct world they say it is demoralizing to tell kids today they failed anything.
(Yep that will get them ready for the real world.)
"Your math test (or do they call them procedures now days in school) came back with abnormal results, but we know you tried hard so we will just keep moving you along."
Well I must have really failed, aka received abnormal results, because it landed me in the hospital for bypass surgery. I was sure any discomfort (this is the word regularly used instead of pain) was from acid reflux which I had developed over the years. I figured I knew my own body. I have a Bachelor of Science degree and this doctor also has a degree but he insisted my diagnosis was wrong. The “abnormal discomfort” I was occasionally feeling was from my heart and not acid reflux.
I decided his college education was probably more attune to my needs so I went along with his findings.
On March 5th I went in for yet another procedure but somehow it seemed a lot bigger then the casual sound of the word procedure.
I have had very little experience with hospitals. The last time I was in one for myself was 56 years ago. Back then someone screwed up a procedure which almost cost me my life at 4 years old. My mind and body has worked for a long time to keep me out of hospitals so unlike so many others, I wasn’t good at translating what all the soft, well meaning terms tossed out really meant as they prepared me for my procedure which had a chance of ending disastrously. Or as they said, "the possibility of some unexpected outcomes associated with the procedure."
When you are wheeled into an operating room and 6-8 people behind masks are wishing you good luck, the tempered wording “this is a somewhat common procedure” seem to have less calming effect then one might hope.
Upon awakening, (if you can call it that) I vaguely remember they told me beforehand to try to stay calm when you come out of recovery. Just because you have 6 hoses and two IVs in your body, it’s normal.
Ok, time to really get at the crux of this blog.
It may be a normal procedure, and normal afterwards to have all that attached to you. It may be normal to hear beeps, alarms and other sounds, but in no way is it “normal” for me to feel this was normal. However, telling me to try to stay calm when you wake up and trust that our staff knows what all these “normal alarms” and tubes do would be slightly more appropriate, but that's just my opinion.
Besides being "normal", I heard a lot of, “You’re doing just great.” This is another term when used way too much, even a guy with just a college degree in marketing knows is a sales pitch for something probably the opposite. The more they told me how great I was doing the more I felt like something was wrong. Besides, I wasn’t doing anything but laying on my back in the intensive care unit. It was really all those machines doing all the work.
To make a long story short, I made it through the procedure ok. Although for a period there was a problem with my heart rhythm staying in sync, but I wasn't informed of that - probably because they have yet to come up with the appropriate "normal" word for your heart's not doing what it's supposed.
By the time all the tubes were finally going to be removed, I'd had five days of becoming an expert on hospital terms and what they really mean. In fact, I commented about this so often that I think that is why the doctors and nurses stopped using them on me.
When the tubes needed to be removed, the doctor told me I would feel some discomfort while they yanked the tube out. I swear that was the exact phrase he used. I asked if the pain (disguised in the word “discomfort”) could be any less if instead of yanking the tube out, perhaps he could glide the tube free or slide it out. I now know what 10 seconds of childbirth is like. I’m not sure if he glided or yanked the tubes, but I gave birth to 2 healthy suction tubes and 2 identical twin feed tubes.
I couldn’t even make a smart ass comment for nearly 10 minutes afterwords but when I did, all I could manage was, “wow”. This is obviously not a hospital term because no one even looked back at me as they were busy disposing of the 5” fire hose they pulled through my ribs and out of my sides. Ok, maybe not that long but they were at least a ½ inch round.
Things began to get better from this point on so they kicked me out of intensive care.
I asked one last question as I was being wheeled out after my "procedure" (I had to be careful to speak their language other wise they might “shove” one of those hoses back into my side where it looks like I have two fresh new belly buttons). In my previous test (oops procedures) they had found abnormalities that indicated I had 3 abnormal blockages, yet when they opened me up I ended up having to have 5 bypasses. My thinking was, if instead of having "procedures looking for abnormalities" I had, had tests that failed they might have known about these extra two blockages ahead of time.
In the step down unit, hospital terms need some adjustments too. I was told every 8 hours or so, how well I was doing. I was way ahead of some of the others who just came down from intensive care.
Well….duh!! They were all 20 to 30 years older than me. I hope I’m recovering faster than the 90 year old guy two doors down even if he has 6 to 8 times the hospital visit experience under his belt. The worst part was as I was beating him in the 100 foot dash around the nurse's station which we did for exercise, it took so much out of me down that final turn I didn’t have the breath left in me to say, “naw na-na-na naw naw.”
One last term which absolutely must be changed. Three times a day I was given a shot in my stomach to prevent any blood clots. That is fine, but when you are wearing only a smock (I hadn't graduated up to being able to wear big boy underwear or pajamas yet) and they raise it up high enough for them to give you a shot, you are more then a little exposed down there. And what did they say with the smock raised? They hold the needle in one hand and say, "okay, a little prick."
That is not the term as a man you want to hear when it's you’re manhood you are sure they are referring to. The poor little guy was good though all the trauma and drugs from this “procedure”. So the fact he might be a little afraid to come out is no reason to call him a little prick.
Ok, so none of this has anything to do with Hugo other than I want to pass on these words of wisdom in case he ever has to go to the vet while I’m still drugged up. (And that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
Monday, March 24, 2008
Las Vegas Taxicab Mystery Solved
We travel fairly frequently to Las Vegas and like most visitors, take cabs or walk everywhere. Because of this, we have a decent amount of knowledge about the quickest ways to get from the airport and to hotels up and down the strip.
The last two times we visited we were in multiple cabs that took us some random route. We had cab drivers insisting the freeway was faster or taking illogical exits and turns to get to our destinations.
In the past, we have always taken Tropicana Boulevard to the strip. Since the airport is just off Tropicana, the trip usually costs between $10-$12. This time with no traffic anywhere, we reached the Monte Carlo with a $22 fare. Some quick route!
Additionally, when we were trying to get from the Monte Carlo to Harrah's we had a cab driver that again was insisting on taking us on the freeway despite our request for the shortest route.
By this time we were more then a little irritated. After years of taking cabs in Vegas, we were definitely getting cab drivers who were deliberately trying to get a larger fare.
The next morning we were enlightened.
The driver we had for our trip down to Caesars not only went the route we requested, but he gave us a lot of really good information. While talking to him, we found out that a couple of the cab companies make their drivers pay 100% of the fuel costs. This is not so unusual, but because the gas prices are now so high, it is well known among the cab drivers that many of them have started taking tourists the long way in order to secure a higher fare.
Despite what your driver tells you, if you are going anywhere along the strip, it is never faster going on the freeway. Your two best options are just taking the strip, or if it is really jammed, taking Paradise down to your destination. Additionally, if you are ever unsure, you can always ask the doorman or taxi attendant which way will be best for you before you get into the cab.
Ironically, we are always really good tippers, so the cab drivers who obviously are trying to work us over rarely get more then a couple dollars tip from us. On the other hand, the drivers who are courteous we have often given as much as double the fare, so they end up making more total then they would have trying to take us the long way. Also, if a driver was smart, they would realize they can make more on multiple short trips since the fares start at about $3.50 just to get into the cabs. For all the time they are wasting going the long way to earn their extra couple of dollars, they could have potentially gotten two fares instead.
Get the word out and hopefully we can end this ridiculous trend to screw over the customer. And if you have a driver who is good to you, please, tip them well.
The last two times we visited we were in multiple cabs that took us some random route. We had cab drivers insisting the freeway was faster or taking illogical exits and turns to get to our destinations.
In the past, we have always taken Tropicana Boulevard to the strip. Since the airport is just off Tropicana, the trip usually costs between $10-$12. This time with no traffic anywhere, we reached the Monte Carlo with a $22 fare. Some quick route!
Additionally, when we were trying to get from the Monte Carlo to Harrah's we had a cab driver that again was insisting on taking us on the freeway despite our request for the shortest route.
By this time we were more then a little irritated. After years of taking cabs in Vegas, we were definitely getting cab drivers who were deliberately trying to get a larger fare.
The next morning we were enlightened.
The driver we had for our trip down to Caesars not only went the route we requested, but he gave us a lot of really good information. While talking to him, we found out that a couple of the cab companies make their drivers pay 100% of the fuel costs. This is not so unusual, but because the gas prices are now so high, it is well known among the cab drivers that many of them have started taking tourists the long way in order to secure a higher fare.
Despite what your driver tells you, if you are going anywhere along the strip, it is never faster going on the freeway. Your two best options are just taking the strip, or if it is really jammed, taking Paradise down to your destination. Additionally, if you are ever unsure, you can always ask the doorman or taxi attendant which way will be best for you before you get into the cab.
Ironically, we are always really good tippers, so the cab drivers who obviously are trying to work us over rarely get more then a couple dollars tip from us. On the other hand, the drivers who are courteous we have often given as much as double the fare, so they end up making more total then they would have trying to take us the long way. Also, if a driver was smart, they would realize they can make more on multiple short trips since the fares start at about $3.50 just to get into the cabs. For all the time they are wasting going the long way to earn their extra couple of dollars, they could have potentially gotten two fares instead.
Get the word out and hopefully we can end this ridiculous trend to screw over the customer. And if you have a driver who is good to you, please, tip them well.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
One Man's Unlucky Day Is Another Man's Luck
I have heard of a lot of proposal mishaps and plans gone array. In fact, when my husband proposed to me the ring bounced off the bridge we were on and into the dry creek bed below. It was at sunset which is a very romantic time to propose, but not such a great time to search for a ring. Luckily we found in a relatively short period of time so our evening was not ruined and it now makes for a good story.
Some proposal ideas, however, should be thought through a bit. Or a little more precaution used. A young man in London had a great idea of proposing to his girlfriend by hiding the ring in a helium balloon.
Balloons seem innocent enough, however, as he left the shop with it, and the ring hidden inside, a gust of wind pulled the balloon from his hand and swept the the ring away.
He spent a few hours trying to chase the ring but eventually lost track of it. As with most balloons that are let go, most likely it is going to end up in the ocean or in some other uninhabited location. Hopefully though, someone honest will find the balloon and ring and return it to this unlucky chap!
Until then, his girlfriend is refusing to speak to him until he gets her a new ring. If she is that angry and stubborn maybe this was God or fate's way of helping him to dodge a bullet!
Some proposal ideas, however, should be thought through a bit. Or a little more precaution used. A young man in London had a great idea of proposing to his girlfriend by hiding the ring in a helium balloon.
Balloons seem innocent enough, however, as he left the shop with it, and the ring hidden inside, a gust of wind pulled the balloon from his hand and swept the the ring away.
He spent a few hours trying to chase the ring but eventually lost track of it. As with most balloons that are let go, most likely it is going to end up in the ocean or in some other uninhabited location. Hopefully though, someone honest will find the balloon and ring and return it to this unlucky chap!
Until then, his girlfriend is refusing to speak to him until he gets her a new ring. If she is that angry and stubborn maybe this was God or fate's way of helping him to dodge a bullet!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Fashionable Government
I know I must be getting old when fashion trends worn by teens seem ridiculous to me.
Looking back, I wore my fair share of now embarrassing fashion trends including jelly shoes, slouchy socks, and ponytails that stood straight up from the top of my head.
Despite that fashion crimes committed when I was younger, it would have seemed intrusive for the government to monitor what we wore.
Apparently, some southern cities, including Riviera Beach in Florida don't agree. They are trying to pass a law that would suspend students for wearing their pants low enough to expose their underwear or flesh.
As much as I would love to see the look go out of style, it seems a little excessive for lawmakers to pass a law over fashion. The responsibility for setting dress code parameters and enforcement should lay with the parents or the schools, not the government.
The argument on the lawmaker's side is that the fad does not have a good origination, but how many people really know where the fad started or what it stood for? Until today, I thought it was just another silly trend started innocently enough.
There are so many other problems and issues that could use the time and resources of government officials that would actually benefit our cities. Not to mention, it seems like a violation of freedom of speech to penalize teenagers for what they are wearing.
State Passes Droppy Pants Law
Looking back, I wore my fair share of now embarrassing fashion trends including jelly shoes, slouchy socks, and ponytails that stood straight up from the top of my head.
Despite that fashion crimes committed when I was younger, it would have seemed intrusive for the government to monitor what we wore.
Apparently, some southern cities, including Riviera Beach in Florida don't agree. They are trying to pass a law that would suspend students for wearing their pants low enough to expose their underwear or flesh.
As much as I would love to see the look go out of style, it seems a little excessive for lawmakers to pass a law over fashion. The responsibility for setting dress code parameters and enforcement should lay with the parents or the schools, not the government.
The argument on the lawmaker's side is that the fad does not have a good origination, but how many people really know where the fad started or what it stood for? Until today, I thought it was just another silly trend started innocently enough.
There are so many other problems and issues that could use the time and resources of government officials that would actually benefit our cities. Not to mention, it seems like a violation of freedom of speech to penalize teenagers for what they are wearing.
State Passes Droppy Pants Law
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Stuck
There's been a lot going on lately.
Mostly days of worrying and praying for a loved one.
In addition, there were few days spent contemplating a difficult decision. I was worried about letting someone down, but at the same time, deep down knew what the right thing was to do.
As a result, my mind feels a little drained these days. This has resulted in a week without any posts. It has also resulted in continued writers block even right now.
I can't quite seem to get myself worked up enough over any of the recent news articles out there. Plus, a lot of my random, creative writing ideas fall flat once I start to put them on paper.
I know it is not for lack of material to write about. It's lack of motivation and inspiration after what the last week has been.
Before you start playing the pity fiddles for me, let me clarify. The days have not been horrible. I have not walked around with a gray cloud hanging over me, and I have had my days of having fun and releasing pent-up energy.
It's been one of those slowly draining times and I think my brain just shut part of itself off.
I could beat myself up about it, but instead I'm giving myself a break. It happens, even to the best writers in the world. I am hoping, perhaps by just getting this random blog written and out there, it will open the gateway to whatever other interesting tidbits are hiding in the recesses of my mind just waiting to come out.
Mostly days of worrying and praying for a loved one.
In addition, there were few days spent contemplating a difficult decision. I was worried about letting someone down, but at the same time, deep down knew what the right thing was to do.
As a result, my mind feels a little drained these days. This has resulted in a week without any posts. It has also resulted in continued writers block even right now.
I can't quite seem to get myself worked up enough over any of the recent news articles out there. Plus, a lot of my random, creative writing ideas fall flat once I start to put them on paper.
I know it is not for lack of material to write about. It's lack of motivation and inspiration after what the last week has been.
Before you start playing the pity fiddles for me, let me clarify. The days have not been horrible. I have not walked around with a gray cloud hanging over me, and I have had my days of having fun and releasing pent-up energy.
It's been one of those slowly draining times and I think my brain just shut part of itself off.
I could beat myself up about it, but instead I'm giving myself a break. It happens, even to the best writers in the world. I am hoping, perhaps by just getting this random blog written and out there, it will open the gateway to whatever other interesting tidbits are hiding in the recesses of my mind just waiting to come out.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Remedy for a Cold Remedy
By now most people know about Airborne's Class Action Settlement for any products purchased between May 1, 2001 to November 29, 2007.
Airborne has set up a website for information about filing your claims. If you have receipts or other proof of purchase, you can get back the price of any items that are included in the settlement. If you don't have proof of purchase, you can still get a settlement check for up to 6 Airborne products ranging in price from $2.75 to $10.50.
Based on other larger corporation settlements, where usually you get $2-$10, this surprised me. It seemed like a lot of faith in the general public to not just say they purchased Airborne products. I wouldn't be surprised if some people were to fill out their form saying they purchased 6 boxes of Airborne Seasonal Formula and wait for their $63 check to come in the mail.
However, these same individuals could be sadly disappointed to find out, their check may never arrive. If you do a little more digging on the website you will find that the settlement has not been approved by the courts yet. That court date is set for mid-June.
It's very possible the courts won't approve the settlement at all, or instead will agree to giving claimants a much smaller percentage of their claim.
Even if the courts approve the settlement, if any appeals are made, no payments will be made until all appeals have been resolved.
Seems like a good way for Airborne to save face. It's good PR to show they are doing their best to rectify the situation. From this side of the fence, it seems like they have a low risk of having to actually pay out the full amounts they are currently offering.
Considering doctors and scientists are still saying we don't have a cure for the common cold, I took Airborne's claims of it's incredible ability with a grain of salt. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - especially when someone is trying to sell you something.
I am not sure what makes a corporation who has lawyers and other supposedly smart advertising professionals misrepresent their product or studies. Especially when it is so easy to throw in a disclaimer.
Then again, I am also not sure what makes consumers believe everything they hear or read instead of looking at the ingredients and investigating for themselves.
Go to the Airborne Settlement website for more information.
Airborne has set up a website for information about filing your claims. If you have receipts or other proof of purchase, you can get back the price of any items that are included in the settlement. If you don't have proof of purchase, you can still get a settlement check for up to 6 Airborne products ranging in price from $2.75 to $10.50.
Based on other larger corporation settlements, where usually you get $2-$10, this surprised me. It seemed like a lot of faith in the general public to not just say they purchased Airborne products. I wouldn't be surprised if some people were to fill out their form saying they purchased 6 boxes of Airborne Seasonal Formula and wait for their $63 check to come in the mail.
However, these same individuals could be sadly disappointed to find out, their check may never arrive. If you do a little more digging on the website you will find that the settlement has not been approved by the courts yet. That court date is set for mid-June.
It's very possible the courts won't approve the settlement at all, or instead will agree to giving claimants a much smaller percentage of their claim.
Even if the courts approve the settlement, if any appeals are made, no payments will be made until all appeals have been resolved.
Seems like a good way for Airborne to save face. It's good PR to show they are doing their best to rectify the situation. From this side of the fence, it seems like they have a low risk of having to actually pay out the full amounts they are currently offering.
Considering doctors and scientists are still saying we don't have a cure for the common cold, I took Airborne's claims of it's incredible ability with a grain of salt. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - especially when someone is trying to sell you something.
I am not sure what makes a corporation who has lawyers and other supposedly smart advertising professionals misrepresent their product or studies. Especially when it is so easy to throw in a disclaimer.
Then again, I am also not sure what makes consumers believe everything they hear or read instead of looking at the ingredients and investigating for themselves.
Go to the Airborne Settlement website for more information.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
