I want to draw you attention, first, to the handy sidebar section of my blog titled “Interesting Posts from my Blogroll.” Thanks to the wonders of Google Reader, anytime I see a post I find interesting, I can make it “shared” and it pops up in that sidebar. I tend to share 3-10 posts a day, and I do try not to abuse the system too much, so if you like what I say in general, keep an eye on that sidebar column for other links you might find interesting.
That said, here are a few miscellaneous things I’ve noticed lately that require short comments from me…
Crank calls result in unnecessary elctro-shock therapy. (via Kenneth in the (212))
I took a class in college on queer issues taught by a man who had actually experienced electroshock aversion therapy to “cure” his homosexuality. My younger brother also uses an device (surgically implanted in his brain and chest) to help control his seizures through mild electrical shocks. I won’t say that electroshock therapy is completely without value to society, but isn’t it time to say that using it in the manner this school does is barbaric?
Save rent control in California (via Left in SF)
First we engage the American public in the great pyramid scheme of subprime loans leading to impending crisis where people are on the verge of losing their housing. Now, we’re facing a statewide ballot measure that will mislead Californians into eliminating not only rent control laws, but potentially a vast array of other affordable housing laws. I simply cannot fathom the mindset of anyone who believes that its okay to jeopardize the fundamental needs of the poor and middle classes.
Sometimes the slash just writes itself (via IO9)
I’m actually a little excited to see Cloverfield. I blame it on my uncanny ability to avoid the lame viral marketing campaign for the last several months. Besides, I love writer Drew Goddard from the good old Buffy days when he showed up late in the game and knocked out some of the best episodes of the final season (”Conversations With Dead People”).
I, too, have mentioned how much this place rocks (also via IO9)
It was great to see my favorite bookstore on the planet show up in a new feature from IO9 (Gawker’s Sci-fi blog): bookstore profiles. Borderlands is awesome and I’m overdue for a trip.
San Franciscans can keep their handguns (via Metroblogging SF)
Well, despite the backing of nearly all local officials and a democratic vote of the majority of residents of my fair city, the courts have decided to strike down SF’s attempts to ban private (non-police) handguns, as well as the manufacture, sale and distribution of firearms. Dammit. As someone strongly in favor of gun control, I’m actually not all that upset by the ruling. It’s not because I’m getting soft on gun control or buying in to any of the NRA propoganda, it’s because I love seeing us testing and re-testing the limits and scope of the second amendment, even when it appears that “my side” loses a particular fight.
It’s all about activist judges. This is a clear case of judges deciding that the will of the majority, local biases and prejudices, even a solid argument for the social good are not enough to infringe on what they interpret as the rights of the minority. I love me some ”activist judges.”
See, smart folks like Matt Foreman have argued (regarding same-sex marriage, employment protections for transgender folks, etc.) that it is “profoundly wrong to put basic human rights up for a popular vote.” We should hope, first, that educated elected politicians should represent the best interests of all people and, second, that when they fail the courts can and will step in to protect the rights of the minority from the tyranny of the majority.
I disagree that gun ownership is a “basic human right,” but the principle is the same. Next time I hear a conservative ranting about them darned activist judges (expect a ruling in the CA Supreme Court marriage case by mid-year), I get to point to how the courts often work in favor of conservative causes, too.
All that said, I do hope SF lawmakers keep testing the boundaries of so-called “gun rights.” One of the great things about our legal system is that it’s a living and changing thing. Our understanding of what constitutes a right, what limits and restrictions on those rights are reasonable, and how the public opinion influences those rights are constantly evolving because we craft laws, test them, reject them, alter them, repeal them, and find compromises that satisfy everyone. We won’t find the balance in reasonable firearm regulation with only the NRA speaking out… we need to have San Franciscans testing the limits of the second amendment.
Posted: January 10th, 2008 under links, miscellaneous outrage and/or amusement.
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I got a new phone today. I finally have a big boy phone. After years of using the cheapest phone on my family’s “friends and family” plan, I decided to upgrade. I’ve spent most of the afternoon adding music, picking ringtones, and generally playing with the new toy.