Entries from March 2008

Monday, March 31st, 2008

The myth of trafficking

From Brendan O’Neill’s review of Sex at the Margins: Migration, Labour Markets and the Rescue Industry by Laura María Agustín: Most of us recognise the ideological under pinnings of old-style baiting of migrants. When newspaper hacks or populist politicians talk about evil Johnny Foreigners coming here and stealing our jobs or eating our swans, it [...]

Monday, March 31st, 2008

Velvet worm attack

Thursday, March 27th, 2008

Inflatable bulletman suit?

Is anyone aware of a maker of an inflatable Bulletman suit?

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

Strong little kid

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008

California assembly considering “ammo permits”

Today, March 25, the California Assembly Public Safety Committee will consider legislation that would require gun owners to obtain a “permit-to-purchase” before buying handgun ammunition. Here’s the letter I wrote to the Public Safety Committee members, urging opposition: Hi, I’m writing to request that you vote against AB 2062. This bill will, among other things: [...]

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

My first day at the range…

Although I’ve always been a strong 2nd Amendment supporter, it’s mostly been a philosophical position. I’ve never owned a gun (aside from a BB gun I owned when I was 12). My Dad owned a .22 rifle, but never shot it. Since I’ve lived on my own, learning to shoot has always been one of [...]

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

My first toga

Prepping for the John Smart’s toga party last weekend.

Friday, March 21st, 2008

“Ooh, Girl” — An honest R&B song

Via smjayman

Friday, March 21st, 2008

Is xenophobia an evolved response to disease/parasites?

Evolved Disease-Avoidance Mechanisms and Contemporary Xenophobic Attitudes Ethnic outgroups are often blamed for outbreaks of epidemic diseases, and these outbreaks can inspire violently xenophobic reactions to outsiders (Goldhagen, 1996; Markel, 1999; Oldstone, 1998). Foreigners are also associated with semantic concepts that connote disease. This association is evident in xenophobic propaganda, in which ethnic outgroups are [...]

Friday, March 21st, 2008

Immigration official coerces young immigrant for sex

An Agent, a Green Card, and a Demand for Sex “I want sex,” he said on the recording. “One or two times. That’s all. You get your green card. You won’t have to see me anymore.” She reluctantly agreed to a future meeting. But when she tried to leave his car, he demanded oral sex [...]