I got all riled up watching the CBC news last night. They did this report about how they are now drug testing soldiers before sending them off to Afghanistan. It turns out that 4 percent tested positive for marijuana and were therefore required to stay home. Then they interview some retired general guy who talks about the soldiers who have to do a second tour of duty because of the "soldiers who are unable to resist the allure of illegal drugs." End of story. How's that for balanced? God that chapped my hide. How many soldiers got rip roaring drunk before heading off to the war zone? Weed is detectable for 30 days after consumption, though the effects last 90 minutes tops. It was SO propaganda, it reminded me of this video from 1959 that Serge found on Youtube.
In other news, I'm giving a business writing class this session. We were reviewing the forms of salutations yesterday and as we discussed Mr. and Ms. one of the students asked me how to spell Ms. when it's not abbreviated. I had to laugh because there is no word. Crazy English, we have abbreviations for non-existent words.
22 comments:
No word for Ms. and I've always hated that abbreviation.
While I believe it is a valuable addition to gender equality, I had never really thought about the fact that there is no word that Ms. represents. I believe it is an amalgam of Miss and Missus, enabling women to remain anonymous regarding their marital status, just as men are with Mr. Fair is fair.
I've always been frustrated by the double standard between drinking and marijuana use. I don't use myself, but don't see why it is so vilified.
Actually does not want omit the period after Ms? (unlike Mr. and Mrs.)
I'm not big on Mary Jane. Never tried it. Never will. But from everything I've read or seen, I cannot see any significant difference in danger between someone who repeatedly gets smashed on alcohol and someone who gets buzzed on weed. Actually, I think I'd rather be around the weed guy.
Here is a link to a very well researched and annotated article about the history of marijuana criminalization in the US:
http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2003/12/22/whyIsMarijuanaIllegal.html
I believe Ms pronounced miz is not an abreviation therfore not requiring a period just like Harry S Truman.
Those of us opposed to the war should pass out weed to all the young men so they won't be led off to the slaughter and get caught in the civil war now going on in Iraq.
If I was a stoned homo would that count doubly against me? How much fay would be way...to much? Of just enough?
That's Ms. Stoned Homo to you!
kb
That drug thing is just ridiculous. I thought this was 2007.
They could have at least made the predatory, murderous homosexuals attractive. I mean, it's one thing to say that we are all on the hunt and sick, but it's another to make us look toady.
oh, ugh.
Because Homosexuality and Pedophilia are the same thing...WTF?!?!?!
Did you get a load of Jimmy's mom watering the flowerbed in her heels and lipstick?!
I agree with Ed and Americans should all just start smoking dope and handing it out to the soldiers! Good God, I'm going back to my corner now.
I'm surprised it was only 4%.
That vid just leaves me speechless ... and very sad.
Is Harper trying to score points with Bush?
About the stolen laptop, I just saw on CNBC about LoJack for notebook.
It seems that now Lojack is also available for laptop as well. You can buy their subscription and they will either recover it for you or collaborate with local police to get it.
Maybe you might wants to look into this ;)
I get the moral: don't go places with guys that play basketball in bow ties.
Why would Jimmy get probation? What had he done wrong? But, why does Ralph look like Jack Nicholson?
Should Denny's mother have been watering the garden? Isn't that a man's job?
HUGS....
Yes, you should only trust men of the cloth.
Oh my GOD. That video is unbelievable. I think people back then assumed homosexuals were the same as pedophiles. I am so happy at how far we have come. I know it's far from perfect now, but so much better, no?
Whoa, I never thought before that Ms. actually stood for something. Or the fact that it doesn't.
I believe that any drugs present in a soldier's system should prevent them from going to war. Including alcohol, caffeine, cough medicine, hormones, and neurotransmitters.
"One never knows when the homosexual is about. He may appear normal."
This is pretty damn funny. Like the drug reels I remember watching in Junior high health. you know, how after smoking a joint, the kid thinks he can fly and jumps off the roof to his death?
oh my.
Perhaps it's better watching this stoned.
More weed, less war.
I saw the same story, and agree with your categorization of it.
Tell your students to give up on English ever making sense.
And if I were a soldier I'd do every drug in site to stay home. Yay weed!!
Senator Craig should have heeded the warning, "Public restrooms are often a hangout for homosexuals!"
Who knew?
Post a Comment