This makes sense to me

From the NYT forums:

I am already tired of our society’s constant search to find blame.

I have read articles blaming:

1.Professors who did not follow-up enough
2.Writing faculty who did not censure enough
3.Police who followed the wrong lead
4.The university for not calling for a lock down
5.The NRA for promoting gun ownership
6.Counselors who did not force Cho into treatment
7.Universities for being too open and too free
8.Gun dealers for failing to note that Cho had received mental health treatment
9.Women who were harassed but didn’t press charges
10.Parents who did not identify Cho’s unstable behavior.

Come on! Let’s place the blame where it belongs. With the 23 year old MAN (just because he was a student does not make him a kid!) who chose to plan a massacre. He bought the guns and ammo. He lied on the background check form at the gun shop. He sought out his victims. He mailed documents to NBC. He shot each of the victims.

Now is the time for us to take a lesson from our Amish neighbors, who moved on with peace, forgiveness, and integrity.

— Posted by mary

Going Bridal

Great site.

My favorite part is the BrideAudit -- "Don't let your guests stiff you!" According to the BrideAudit, my entitlement factor is severely lacking.

Years ago, my college roommate fired me as one of her bridesmaids. The faults broke down like this:

- I should have told her when she asked me to be a bridesmaid that I couldn't afford it and didn't feel comfortable in the role, instead of waiting until a few months before the wedding to finally buck up and break it to her.
- She should've been gracious about it. She wasn't.

As the child of divorced parents who had a huge wedding, I don't get the emphasis on the ceremony versus the meaning of it all. I probably never will. Fortunately, I'm marrying someone who feels the same.

The Open Book and the struggle to stay in business

Adam and I were coming back from Chico and drove through Sacramento. I remembered that there was a gay and lesbian bookstore (one of the few I knew of) at J and 21st -- but no longer. The Open Book has closed.

From one of the former owners: "We're just not the new thing in town anymore," he added. "Here's what I mean: We live in south Sacramento. As long as we keep the lawn mowed and pay our association dues, nobody cares that we're gay. I guess some of our former customers kind of feel the same way."

Every up has its down. Interesting that greater acceptance means less business -- and, perhaps, a little less excitement.

Juliette

French food in Brooklyn. Williamsburg. Something's gotten us to this moment but all we can do is watch the snow, the cars, the wind. All we can do is laugh. All I can do is eat the rare steak in front of me, wrap my fingers around the wine glass, adjust to the diamond circle that is forever.

Random

Now this guy is a douchebag. Particularly given his own "monkeyfishing" crap.

RIP, Kurt Vonnegut.

Everything old is boring again

Apparently someone I worked on the Daily Nexus with at UCSB is now at the St. Mary's MFA program. Sophie told me that he saw me at a party a while ago and couldn't figure out why I wasn't talking to him.

Supposedly he thought I was angry with him. Fact is, I didn't even recognize him and wouldn't have had much to say if I did. When she told me his name I was like -- oh yeah. I remember him. He was just kind of a dorky poser. A few years ago I googled Yelles' name and came up with some smarmy crap this guy and a bunch of other ex-Nexites were writing. A bunch of white wannabe rappers. The most clever thing about it was the name.

Would Patti's stand for this?

When my '89 Corolla starts feeling poorly, I take her to the excellent Patti's Auto Care in Berkeley. Patti's fair and straight-up and I've never had a problem with her work.

Patti ain't cheap, but she's also fair. I've never tried to argue her out of her money or talk her down in price.

When I look at freelance opportunities, I give it the Patti Test: Would I try to pull this over on Patti?

Something tell me that girlfriend wouldn't go for the ad below. Gee, Patti, do my oil for free and if I like your work, I might just hire you. Right.

need writers for web site

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Reply to: gigs-308870127@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-04-09, 1:46PM PDT


I'm in need of additional writers for my new retail web site. Prefer individuals interested in comics, comic strips, manga, graphic novels, dvds (anime, cartoons, etc) and general pulp culture, to write articles, newsletters or product reviews. Initial contribution will be voluntary but if quality and committement is there it could lead into a paying position.

• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
• Compensation: could lead to a paying position