(no subject)

GayYearbook.com is an interesting site. It consists of nothing but graduation pictures of GLBT (gods, how I hate that acronym! Can't we all just be "Gay"?) students going all the way back to the 30s (though there's only one in the 30s, there are more in the 40s and 50s upward).

It's meant to show today's gay youth that they are not alone, that others have stood where they stand now.

I think that's a neat idea; even though today's gay kids have it a little easier than even my own generation did (and we had it WAY easier than those of the 50s), it isn't easy to come out; they still face discrimination.

The secondary function of the site is that it totally busts the idea that gay kids all have the "gay look". Had I seen those kids in my own yearbook, I'd never have guessed most of them were gay.

Go take a look.

(no subject)

The Republic of Shinzari
"Nemo Ne Impune Lacessit"

UN Category: New York Times Democracy
Civil Rights: Excellent
Economy: Reasonable (An improvement!)
Political Freedoms: Excellent

Location: the South Pacific
The Republic of Shinzari is a small, environmentally stunning nation, notable for its compulsory military service. Its compassionate, intelligent population of 7 million enjoy a sensible mix of personal and economic freedoms, while the political process is open and the people's right to vote held sacrosanct.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it devotes most of its attentions to Social Welfare, with areas such as Law & Order and Commerce receiving almost no funds by comparison. The average income tax rate is 48%, but much higher for the wealthy. A very small private sector is dominated by the Gambling industry.

Meat-eating is frowned upon and the government attempting to revitalize a gutted private sector. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is well under control. Shinzari's national animal is the dragon, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the sovereign.

Ack! Crime was unknown until this morning. Damn. I relaxed some of the more annoying corporate regulations, this is one result. The meat-eating thing wasn't my idea, that came about because I decided to take the middle road and curb the worst abuses of food-animal processing plants.

(no subject)

I'm having problems with particular people. There are things I'd like to say that I cannot, and I hate that.

Things that piss me off, #437:

People who murder the English language.

Look, I get it -- some people just can't spell for whatever reason. Maybe they're dyslexic, maybe they're learning English as a second language, maybe they had a deficient education, maybe they're just stupid. Whatever. For all three groups, there is a solution built into most word processing programs and LJ as well: Spell Check. Use the damned thing, that's what it is there for! But just saying "I cant spel" doesn't excuse your atrocious inability to properly write your own language down.

In foreign languages not your own, errors are slightly more permissible, but only to a point. If you're taking the trouble to learn a new language -- which effort I heartily commend -- you can take the time to learn it properly. Only the various Chinese languages have multiple transliteration systems; Japanese and Russian use a standard form (though I admit Japanese has a variation form that I seldom see used).

Grammar
I'm very lenient on grammatical matters with those who are only just learning English -- many languages have different grammatical structures, and it can be difficult to learn them, especially for, say, Japanese speakers, who come from a much more grammatically straightforward language.

However, native English speakers get very little leeway from me unless they are still in school. Why? Because bad grammar can be fixed.

If you know your grammar is deficient, you have three choices:

1) Go take a class on grammar at the local junior college.
2) Buy a book on grammar and use it.
3) When you don't know something, ask someone who does and then endeavour to remember the answer.

Saying "I suck at grammar, so what?" is equivalent to saying "I know I'm an uneducated doofus, and people will look down at me, and I don't care." Knowing you speak improperly -- whether grammar or pronunciation -- and not trying your best to change that is just laziness.

Am I being elitist? You betcha. Here's why:

1) You are judged by your language. If your use of it is deficient, I guarantee you that's cost you in the past. If you cannot write a coherent sentence, you're not prime material for any job above Janitor, no matter how skilled you are in the meat-and-potatoes of the job.

2) My ears hurt when I hear some of the things Americans around me say. "I seen him last night" is horrible, but nothing beats the sheer unrelenting pain of "Is you ready?"

I'm sure I've pissed off some people. Too bad. Feel free to castigate me, but don't expect me to change. In this I admit I am unrelenting and changeless as a rock.

(no subject)

My back is all frelled up.

It's making me ornery as hell.

(no subject)

Must . . . restrain . . . fist of . . . death!

Note to the Six:

Your problems are not self-contained. When you have problems, they affect all of us whether you've told us of them or not. That's the nature of friendship. To expect the rest of us to not react to your problems in some way more meaningful that "That sucks, sorry" is to be incredibly naive.

That's all. Now go back to your daily ick.

(no subject)

I'll say this one more time for those who don't seem to listen:

There is a difference between occasional typos and consistent, demonstrated inability to spell the simplest of words.