archenemy

Just b/c you are married to a hot climbing chick doesn't mean everyone else griping about no available hot climbing chicks is crappy. Or maybe it does.

This is the best comment. I agree wholeheartedly. I'd print this out and put it on my fridge!

In an econ class I learned something interesting. We were discussing the impact that donated foodstuffs had on local markets. We studied a small, poor, isolated spot in Africa (I'm afraid I don't remember the name) that was suffering pretty bad poverty and starvation. We sent food. As a result, the food which was on the market in that area was not able to be sold at all b/c free and cheaper donated food was suddenly available. The local market, although already shakey, was now completely destroyed. Folks because totally dependent on the donated food. I was surprised by this result (which seems obvious once someone pointed it out to me), but I realized that donation is not always the answer. And the impacts of donation are not always good. Therefore, I have a hard time thinking that donating money, time, talk to a problem is going to solve it. I agree that children need to be taken care of. But what if we didn't have so many in the first place? What if birth control and voluntary sterilzation were made available to all people who wanted it but couldn't afford it. What if there were a concerted effort to reach out to people and let them know that this option were available to them. What if it were available to them right there in a mobile medical unit? What if it worked in concert with a groundswell of changing attitudes toward procreation and women's rights? What if attitudes about manliness and virility changed? What if this were true all around the world? Would that make a difference on the poverty levels? I don't know. But I know that what we are doing and even much of what we are attempting to do right now is not working. If its not working, stop doing it and try something else. I am sure people who study and work in this area must have already discussed all these things. Why are they not happening? Why don't the rest of us who are not educated about these options or initiatives not hearing about it? I have to wonder.

I find people who are outdoorsy, muscular, and earthy "hot". I like the creases that form around people's eyes from laughing. I like the scars created from climbing on people's hands. I like seeing what a person really looks like after spending a couple of days on a wall. Chicks who look great in makeup and heels, dudes who look great in suits and hair gell generally don't qualify. And those Brazilian volleyball players are just freaks of nature. No one really looks like that--just them. The coolest thing that I have noticed is that for many people, our definition of what is hot or sexy evolves over our lives. It comes to include much more of what makes a person human, including all the marks of a life well-lived, while growing bored with the socially enforced norms of what we're told is hot. Do I sound like an old fart or what?

I stated that I hate people in general. You are not in that category. I also hate sink drain slime, athlete's foot fungus, and fecal bacteria. Those, at least, are a little closer to the mark as far as you're concerned. This reminds me a little bit of the movie Amelie. Funny stuff.

You go girl!!!!! Woot!!!

I think it is important to keep bringing up the idea of poverty in absolute terms. I have seen people living in poverty--I mean sitting in rags in the dirt with flies buzzing poverty--in other countries. It hurts to see. And yes, I am sure it exists here as well. And it is painful to see young kids pandering on the streets (and figuring that their existance is actually a step up from the abusive situation they may have come from). But it is different. And they do have access to healthcare--emergency rooms turn away no one due to ability to pay. Again, I am not trying to trivialize a problem that clearly exists here. But I don't think trying to "Prove" how horrible America is compared to other countries helps anyone more forward with solving this problem.

so are polar bears.

I'll pack my stuff.

Well, you are right about the "short" part.

Don't ever do that again, you idiot. And stop the personal attacks, will ya? Um. No.

True if those items were included the US would come out even worse. Now stop the personal attacks, you're going to make me cry. Sniff. What personal attack? I don't get it. Of course, I misspelled where/wear.

OMG I am so stupid. I am going to go back and edit that. Here is something a little more timely, and just as heartbreaking: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/28/homeless.report.reut/index.html

Now that's cute. A top cock. Dig it!!!

And furthermore, the actual years that the data is taken varies among the countries. I am not saying that povery isn't a huge problem. But this document doesn't seem to be the best evidence to back up that observation.

This explaination: The survey of 18 industrialized nations draws the poverty line at 50% of each country's median income after taxes and welfare benefits have been taken into account. In-kind benefits such as subsidized health care or preschools are not included. Seems to leave a lot out.

Is the poverty measure the same for each country listed?

The bear brought it up with him. No wait, it was photoshopped in.

Mid pages are the next trend.

I don't wear panties. But I do like facts. edited to cover my embarrassment

Not that much has changed, but that was done in 1996

That china ran out of steel

That home Depot ran out of links.

That the anchor got in the way

But she was sooo fat...