State of the Mahdi

* School (at least, my undergraduate stuff) is finished. All that remains is to walk across the stage Friday, do my Student Loan Exit Counseling crap, and wait for my diploma to arrive.

* Credential program remains in the air. I've applied, now I'm waiting. Seems the SCUSD let a bunch of primary school teachers go, and they're being given first crack at the secondary school positions. As I understand it, if they can get CSET exams passed to show subject matter competency, they'll get the jobs. THEN SCUSD will decide which of us interns they'll interview. I'm a little bitter; it's hard to be the new guy wanting in when there are others ahead of you.

* My second choice program, Project Pipeline, probably has a greater chance of success. Which is ok, though I'd prefer to hit the SCUSD program (which I think will have better pre-service training). Pipeline works with more districts, so there's greater possibility of finding a position, I hope.

* If neither happens, then I'll be finding another job through September while applying to be a sub for SCUSD and a few other districts, then reapply to credential programs next year. I really hope this isn't the route I'm forced to take, but I can do it if need be.

* I'm tired as hell. Still haven't caught up on sleep from last week.

* A reminder: When the sword shatters, take its fragments to a forge.

* Level 27 mages should not go on high-level raids no matter how much their guild begs them to go. If you're not getting killed in three hits, you're standing around with your thumb up your ass as every troll resists your spells. Nice RP, but a lousy experience otherwise.

Childfree: The New Self-apponted Underclass

NOTE: This rant is NOT aimed at all child-free people; but at a subset that pisses me off. If you're not one of them, don't bother taking offense. Or do -- it's a free country -- but don't expect me to care overly much.

In a discussion on customers_suck, one poster told a story of how she was wished "Happy Mother's day" by a customer. She's not a mother, and (more importantly) she's a complete nutjob, so she got all bent out of shape. He tried to backtrack, probably wondering why she was offended, and said "Not that you're old enough to be a mother." Her reply? She lied to him: "I would have been, if I hadn't miscarried."

What. A. Bitch.

Anyway, somewhere in the discussion, someone complained about the "hate" people have for those who are "CF," or "child free." And I about blew my top. For I cannot stand the CF movement. Not "people who don't want kids," but "people who feel the need to join the CF Movement."

See, if you don't want kids? Great. Don't have any. I have several friends who emphatically don't want kids. And I'm glad they see they shouldn't have any.

I submit, however, that there is a vast difference between "not wanting to have kids" and "screaming about being oppressed because of not wanting to have kids," which a lot of CF folks don't get.

In plainer words: Unless you're entering a romantic relationship, it is simply unnecessary to point out to folks that you don't wish to breed. It shouldn't matter. To many CF, however, it matters a great deal. It's similar, in my mind, to Christian Fundamentalists who rail at those who don't share their beliefs, then get upset when told to shut up about it. Or Wiccans who enjoy their lives, except when they feel the need to complain about how the Christians/Republicans/United Nations/Unions/what-have-you are oppressing them.

As for the CF, if they don't want people to have ill will towards them, perhaps they should stop referring to kids as "crotchnuggets," "snotlings," etc. They should stop calling people with kids "bitch" and implying we're destroying their lives with our children. They should stop referring to the desire to have children as "baby rabies." In short, some of these people need to grow up.