Yuuuuuckkkkkk. Is it really 10 years into the 21st century? Did a black man really get elected president of the United States only now? It amazing how enlightened people truly think they are. How they laugh at the cave man when they barely can see into the trees.
Okay, so I think "Equal Rights for Women" is a joke. First of all, Women shouldn't have equal rights, they should have their own rights and they should have more rights then men. Women produce and raise children, a resource that we all agree is at the top of the importance list, ergo Women should have more rights than men. C
Second of all, educating men to believe in more rights for women is a fine idea but its self-defeating until women themselves can believe it. Back me up guys and answer this question: when a guy takes a stand against society's view that Women are not mere sex objects, what happens? Do women back him up? In general, no. Do bright, confident women want to date that guy? No. They think he is 'nice' but when its time to find a partner, they like a bad boy, a play boy, a guy who will look at them with lechery in their eye. Sadly, that is how it is.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Patent Rights vs Image Rights
When a company develops a technique or process, they file a patent and once approved they have tremendous rights that protect them from other people using the same idea to make money. Recent court rulings have held that it doesn't even matter who comes up with the idea first, or how many other people had the same idea, its whoever gets the patent first.
Apple got a patent on their iPhone which protects them against even very different technologies which still 'look' like an iPhone. I think the iPhone looks a little bit like the communicator in Star Trek except for the missing flip lid, its an obvious visual design but somehow Apple has the patent.
So why are copyrights on images so weak and lax? Why can some stupid photographer snap a couple pictures of a Brazilian teenager and suddenly they are all over the internet, used to create huge profits selling pornography, advertising, phone sex, whatever. Oh yeah, thats right, the photographer maybe paid her a dollar and owns the copyright and so can do what he wants with it. Does that even make sense? Unlike a patent idea (which many people can have the same idea or duplicate the idea), a human's image is pretty unique. So why can it be sold/resold/displayed/redisplayed without any credit going to the person to whom the image belongs. I am not just talking about financial compensation, I am talking about credit of identity. Because once the photographer buys the rights, he somehow is able to rename the image. For example the picture he takes of Sonia in Spain, he is allowed to rebrand as "Naughty Nellie from Nebraska" or "Peeing Penelope from London". He can totally fabricate the origin of the image. He could even say it was a person from outer space.
Its all bullshit. I, for one, have long stopped buying anything on the internet if I am not completely sure about the who the models or actresses are. And most of the time, even if I know them, I will not buy unless I am sure they are running the business. Oh well.
Apple got a patent on their iPhone which protects them against even very different technologies which still 'look' like an iPhone. I think the iPhone looks a little bit like the communicator in Star Trek except for the missing flip lid, its an obvious visual design but somehow Apple has the patent.
So why are copyrights on images so weak and lax? Why can some stupid photographer snap a couple pictures of a Brazilian teenager and suddenly they are all over the internet, used to create huge profits selling pornography, advertising, phone sex, whatever. Oh yeah, thats right, the photographer maybe paid her a dollar and owns the copyright and so can do what he wants with it. Does that even make sense? Unlike a patent idea (which many people can have the same idea or duplicate the idea), a human's image is pretty unique. So why can it be sold/resold/displayed/redisplayed without any credit going to the person to whom the image belongs. I am not just talking about financial compensation, I am talking about credit of identity. Because once the photographer buys the rights, he somehow is able to rename the image. For example the picture he takes of Sonia in Spain, he is allowed to rebrand as "Naughty Nellie from Nebraska" or "Peeing Penelope from London". He can totally fabricate the origin of the image. He could even say it was a person from outer space.
Its all bullshit. I, for one, have long stopped buying anything on the internet if I am not completely sure about the who the models or actresses are. And most of the time, even if I know them, I will not buy unless I am sure they are running the business. Oh well.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Female Psycho Killers - whats bad for the goose, is worse for the gander
Psycho killers are hugely popular in the US. I guess maybe it started with Alfred Hitchcock's 'Psycho' but I think it really took off with the movies 'Seven' and Hannibal Lecter in "Silence of the Lambs". Suddenly there were tons of movies about 'brilliant', 'deranged' sociopaths who play by their own rules and love to engage the police in games of cat and mouse. I think to this day, there is an assumption that mass-murderers are of above-average intelligence though honestly if they are so smart, why do they get caught? Why do people even know they exist? How hard is it to commit a crime with no apparent motive that ties you to the crime? I would think that is the easiest kind of crime to commit.
Anyhow, so we have movies, books (every bestseller is about 'Beautiful, talented Special Agent Kimber is on the trail of a psychotic genius who may be closer than she thinks' - blah and even tv series (Criminal Minds, Dexter,...).
And although these killers are often happy to kill, they are usually especially happy to kill women. Especially 'sluts', 'whores' and 'bitches'. Again, is it especially impressive for a strong man to be able to abduct, control and kill a girl of his choosing? I mean, I dont want to totally dismiss the psychological and intellectual value of examining the mind of a person who has no empathy or feelings for human life. But you know...men aren't all that good at expressing themselves so I think that all this fascination with male serial killers is misplaced, we should be looking at female serial killers. Why aren't there so many? Probably because they don't get caught.
On that note, here is the book I am reading now. I'll update with a review when I'm done:
Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman by Lee and Steffen
Yep, its about a psychotic killer. I'm sure it will be uncomfortable to read but since I have read plenty of books about male killers, I think I should be able to stomach it.
Update/ReviewWell, I was right in that the scenes in this book would make me very uncomfortable, even squeamish. Somehow, even with a piece of fiction, the imagining of the actions almost give it a reality and the reader can almost feel guilty for indulging the fantasy. Such was the case here, especially because the killing/torture are so targeted to the male of the species and so becomes that more personal and frightening. At the same time, I couldn't help be impressed with the knowledge and tactics of the killer. They were much more believable that these sophomoric flicks where the killer virtually teleports into a house, grabs their prey and suddenly has them in the countryside. Ah, the rest of the characters were boring, but the Killer, now that was a character you won't forget.
Anyhow, so we have movies, books (every bestseller is about 'Beautiful, talented Special Agent Kimber is on the trail of a psychotic genius who may be closer than she thinks' - blah and even tv series (Criminal Minds, Dexter,...).
And although these killers are often happy to kill, they are usually especially happy to kill women. Especially 'sluts', 'whores' and 'bitches'. Again, is it especially impressive for a strong man to be able to abduct, control and kill a girl of his choosing? I mean, I dont want to totally dismiss the psychological and intellectual value of examining the mind of a person who has no empathy or feelings for human life. But you know...men aren't all that good at expressing themselves so I think that all this fascination with male serial killers is misplaced, we should be looking at female serial killers. Why aren't there so many? Probably because they don't get caught.
On that note, here is the book I am reading now. I'll update with a review when I'm done:
Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman by Lee and Steffen
Yep, its about a psychotic killer. I'm sure it will be uncomfortable to read but since I have read plenty of books about male killers, I think I should be able to stomach it.
Update/ReviewWell, I was right in that the scenes in this book would make me very uncomfortable, even squeamish. Somehow, even with a piece of fiction, the imagining of the actions almost give it a reality and the reader can almost feel guilty for indulging the fantasy. Such was the case here, especially because the killing/torture are so targeted to the male of the species and so becomes that more personal and frightening. At the same time, I couldn't help be impressed with the knowledge and tactics of the killer. They were much more believable that these sophomoric flicks where the killer virtually teleports into a house, grabs their prey and suddenly has them in the countryside. Ah, the rest of the characters were boring, but the Killer, now that was a character you won't forget.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Annie Le strikes back
Annie Le was the Yale University student who, shortly before her wedding, was assaulted, killed and stuffed in a Yale laboratory crawlspace by a co-worker. They guy went to jail but little comfort that is to the friends and family who miss her.
Today, the family is filing a lawsuit against Yale University accusing them of failing to protect women and tolerating aggressive male behavior.
Okay, I dont know the details but I dont care BRA-FUCKING-VO!!! Its about time we, as a society, stop categorizing violence against women as an isolated tragedy and start looking at it as a cultural phenomena. Sexual and physical violence against women is being allowed and downplayed and in doing so it is encouraged. If society and institutions started to be held accountable for these acts, I'll bet they'll start taking it more seriously.
Today, the family is filing a lawsuit against Yale University accusing them of failing to protect women and tolerating aggressive male behavior.
Okay, I dont know the details but I dont care BRA-FUCKING-VO!!! Its about time we, as a society, stop categorizing violence against women as an isolated tragedy and start looking at it as a cultural phenomena. Sexual and physical violence against women is being allowed and downplayed and in doing so it is encouraged. If society and institutions started to be held accountable for these acts, I'll bet they'll start taking it more seriously.
More on Zahau
I should always trust my instincts! Why do I trust authority even as little as I do? Here is my quote from 9/2/2011 on the Rebecca Zahau case: "Ruling it a suicide without telling us how the hell that happened is a slap in the face and shows an attitude that is far to (sic) common.
Well it gets worse.
Next, right after the authorities declare this a suicide, the boyfriends (ultra-rich) family makes a statement.
Here is the statement from Jonah Schacknai (the boyfriend):
While the investigation is over, the emptiness and sadness in our hearts will remain forever. Max was an extraordinarily loving, happy, talented, and special little boy. He brought joy to everyone who knew him, and we will miss him desperately. Rebecca too was a wonderful and unique person who will always have a special place in my heart. Nothing will ever be the same for our families after these losses, but with today's information providing some much needed answers, we will try to rebuild our lives and honor the memories we carry with us. Thank you for respecting our privacy as we struggle forward.
What is the point of the statement? The investigation is over? We 'struggle forward'? We have 'much needed answers'? Respect our privacy? It sounds like he really wants this to go away. And its not "his privacy" or "our privacy". He does not speak for the girl's family but it looks like he wants to. For a boyfriend, he seems pretty happy to accept that his girlfriend stripped herself nude, tied her hands and legs and then hung herself in the nude.
But there is more. Next, when they release the autopsy results, now we find there were hemorrhages under her scalp, blood on her legs, a t-shirt wrapped around her neck and then stuffed in her mouth AND that a message painted on the door read She saved him can you save her?
Come on. This is all way to fast. Now the poor family has to lobby for the case to be reopened and I dont understand why it was closed so quickly. Does anyone? Did I mention that the boyfriend is a billionaire??
Well it gets worse.
Next, right after the authorities declare this a suicide, the boyfriends (ultra-rich) family makes a statement.
Here is the statement from Jonah Schacknai (the boyfriend):
While the investigation is over, the emptiness and sadness in our hearts will remain forever. Max was an extraordinarily loving, happy, talented, and special little boy. He brought joy to everyone who knew him, and we will miss him desperately. Rebecca too was a wonderful and unique person who will always have a special place in my heart. Nothing will ever be the same for our families after these losses, but with today's information providing some much needed answers, we will try to rebuild our lives and honor the memories we carry with us. Thank you for respecting our privacy as we struggle forward.
What is the point of the statement? The investigation is over? We 'struggle forward'? We have 'much needed answers'? Respect our privacy? It sounds like he really wants this to go away. And its not "his privacy" or "our privacy". He does not speak for the girl's family but it looks like he wants to. For a boyfriend, he seems pretty happy to accept that his girlfriend stripped herself nude, tied her hands and legs and then hung herself in the nude.
But there is more. Next, when they release the autopsy results, now we find there were hemorrhages under her scalp, blood on her legs, a t-shirt wrapped around her neck and then stuffed in her mouth AND that a message painted on the door read She saved him can you save her?
Come on. This is all way to fast. Now the poor family has to lobby for the case to be reopened and I dont understand why it was closed so quickly. Does anyone? Did I mention that the boyfriend is a billionaire??
Friday, September 2, 2011
War on Women
I am no big fan of the CNN show which likes to use that phrase, especially since they are obviously more interested in ratings than really addressing violence against women (not even to mention kidnapping and enslavement - another topic).
But its hard to call it anything else. When you consider that only victims who are beauty queens or cheerleaders have any chance of having their case shown on network news, then the real numbers must be astounding. I always try to keep track of the cases so that I can follow up after the news agencies get distracted, but its really too much.
This month, three young Midwestern coeds have gone missing. No progress.
A second (publicized) US woman goes missing in Aruba and if previous history holds out, they will never find her.
Three incidents of sexual violence against women perpetration by the Philippians Police Department including one case where an office offered a woman a ride home and raped her and returned her the unsafe location he took her from.
And then this recent case in San Diego where a man's son dies under the care of his girlfriend and then soon afterwards they find her nude body hanging. Its just been ruled a suicide even though her hands/feet are bound and she is nude. Her name is Rebecca Zahau. Okay, I guess there must be some good solid reasons why they ruled this a suicide but isn't it a better idea to be very clear about that at the same time. Ruling it a suicide without telling us how the hell that happened is a slap in the face and shows an attitude that is far to common.
But here is a story I do want to follow. Marshall Sheldon (59) of Ohio finds a 17 year old girl trying to steal from a property he is guarding. He demands oral sex in order to let her go. She does the deed and then tells her mom. Police charge him with rape. Good. Now I want to see if he actually does any time.
But its hard to call it anything else. When you consider that only victims who are beauty queens or cheerleaders have any chance of having their case shown on network news, then the real numbers must be astounding. I always try to keep track of the cases so that I can follow up after the news agencies get distracted, but its really too much.
This month, three young Midwestern coeds have gone missing. No progress.
A second (publicized) US woman goes missing in Aruba and if previous history holds out, they will never find her.
Three incidents of sexual violence against women perpetration by the Philippians Police Department including one case where an office offered a woman a ride home and raped her and returned her the unsafe location he took her from.
And then this recent case in San Diego where a man's son dies under the care of his girlfriend and then soon afterwards they find her nude body hanging. Its just been ruled a suicide even though her hands/feet are bound and she is nude. Her name is Rebecca Zahau. Okay, I guess there must be some good solid reasons why they ruled this a suicide but isn't it a better idea to be very clear about that at the same time. Ruling it a suicide without telling us how the hell that happened is a slap in the face and shows an attitude that is far to common.
But here is a story I do want to follow. Marshall Sheldon (59) of Ohio finds a 17 year old girl trying to steal from a property he is guarding. He demands oral sex in order to let her go. She does the deed and then tells her mom. Police charge him with rape. Good. Now I want to see if he actually does any time.
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