This is the argument I've been making for nearly two decades now. The Myths We Tell Ourselves™. In this case, it's that little remembered GOP lunch where they invited the President to speak, hoping to cowl Mr. Obama and crow about their recent upset in Massachusetts. Only it didn't work out that way. Strange, when conservatives have to go up against a real person instead of their straw man, or more often the empty chair, their arguments don't actually hold water. But, hey, we don't have to worry, we'll just change history and say that Mr. Obama is a bad man who crashed the party and pissed in the punch bowl.
This is the party of supposed "intellectual honesty"? Bullshit. It's a collection of piss-ant, unreconstructed bullies. "Oh, no, you didn't punch me in the face, I laid down because I was tired." It's the party that stands behind "Oh no, intelligent Design was never found to be Creationism/Religion in a wrapper. It's true. It's real. We should teach the controversy!" Yeah. Thanks for making us the laughing stock of the educated world. (Seriously, can't wait for the Iowa Caucus Debates and all the people with Rs in front of their names fumbling over themselves to say how they think Evolution is wrong, and Global Warming is a grand conspiracy, hope the air conditioning is working for that last one)
It's also the party that spawned Joe "There's No Way I Could Ever Have Lost" Miller. Well, at least the Alaskans have (for the moment) regained their reputation as just whacked, instead of being bat-shit crazy. Once you finally jettison Sarah (which is the road you've started on, seriously big rebuke that in her home state her hand-picked Senator loses in a historic manner) you can have your "we're just odd" designation back.
Oh, almost forgot, this is also the party that venerates Reagan, while at the same time wanting to put the breaks on the New START treaty.
The more I see in this post election season, the more I'm convinced I've made the right choice by leaving the Republicans.
edit The hits just keep coming, now we have Gov. Rick Perry up at bat. "Perry said, 'we have to have use every aspect of law enforcement that we have, including the military." Um, Gov. Perry? It's called "Posse Comitatus." As a proponent of "limited federal government involvement" I think you would have been familiar with the concept already. Of course, I've forgotten, something must have gotten into the conservative's water supply lately.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Asshole
Dear Bryan Fischer,
With all due respect, go C7 S5 (that's a reference to spinal nerves C7 and S5, your middle finger and rectum respectively).
You, sirah, should reflect on the teachings of the person you think you're exemplifying and re-examine the road you're on. It's the one paved with the best of intentions, BTW. There's a parable about a camel, the eye of a needle, and your chances of making it to the Kingdom of Heaven. You might want to brush up on it. You also might want to brush up on that concept of a new covenant being made. God reformed. Maybe you should also consider doing likewise.
Warmest Regards,
Someone who has more charity in his little finger than you have in your entire soul.
With all due respect, go C7 S5 (that's a reference to spinal nerves C7 and S5, your middle finger and rectum respectively).
You, sirah, should reflect on the teachings of the person you think you're exemplifying and re-examine the road you're on. It's the one paved with the best of intentions, BTW. There's a parable about a camel, the eye of a needle, and your chances of making it to the Kingdom of Heaven. You might want to brush up on it. You also might want to brush up on that concept of a new covenant being made. God reformed. Maybe you should also consider doing likewise.
Warmest Regards,
Someone who has more charity in his little finger than you have in your entire soul.
Story Bone
Idea grokked from here. So this might have been done. Maybe to death.
It's your basic "Nazis find powerful artifact and try to use it to win war." In this case, the Nazis discover Dracula (un-beheaded, as so often happens in these kinds of stories) as they roll through (what became known as) Eastern Europe and revive him to create a troops of Super SS Soldiers. Of course, Dracula has his own agenda. Although he does have a grudge against the English (that whole Harker problem). So very "The Keep" meets "Indiana Jones" wrapped in an undead burrito. Heck, as I think of it, telling the story from Dracul's POV could be very cool. Last he knew he was fighting Harker and von Helsing with the Roma, and now it's 50 years later and there's all these people in uniforms. So, while some of their desires are aligned (invading England), Vlad most certainly has his own prejudices (as a creature of the night, used to hiding and preying at the edges, instead of full frontal Blitzkrieg) and goals. As well as knowing these soldiers will send him back to oblivion once they're done with him.
So, my guess is, yeah, this has to have been done before. Sort of like if the Hellboy experiment didn't happen at the end of the war. But could still be cool.
"He tasted the air. It's perfume was different. He knew it was no longer winter, and he was no longer in Transylvania. The taste of Harker on the air was gone. So to that Van Helsing and disgusting American. His mouth felt metallic, but not the taste of the ghurka Harker had with him. Something older and more like brass. The tang of sulfur and salt peter. He could hear the beating of five hearts nearby. Food. He was terrifically hungry."
It's your basic "Nazis find powerful artifact and try to use it to win war." In this case, the Nazis discover Dracula (un-beheaded, as so often happens in these kinds of stories) as they roll through (what became known as) Eastern Europe and revive him to create a troops of Super SS Soldiers. Of course, Dracula has his own agenda. Although he does have a grudge against the English (that whole Harker problem). So very "The Keep" meets "Indiana Jones" wrapped in an undead burrito. Heck, as I think of it, telling the story from Dracul's POV could be very cool. Last he knew he was fighting Harker and von Helsing with the Roma, and now it's 50 years later and there's all these people in uniforms. So, while some of their desires are aligned (invading England), Vlad most certainly has his own prejudices (as a creature of the night, used to hiding and preying at the edges, instead of full frontal Blitzkrieg) and goals. As well as knowing these soldiers will send him back to oblivion once they're done with him.
So, my guess is, yeah, this has to have been done before. Sort of like if the Hellboy experiment didn't happen at the end of the war. But could still be cool.
"He tasted the air. It's perfume was different. He knew it was no longer winter, and he was no longer in Transylvania. The taste of Harker on the air was gone. So to that Van Helsing and disgusting American. His mouth felt metallic, but not the taste of the ghurka Harker had with him. Something older and more like brass. The tang of sulfur and salt peter. He could hear the beating of five hearts nearby. Food. He was terrifically hungry."
Wednesday is wondering where it put its socks
Things are still crazy. Wish I could get back to writing and making more coherent posts than just links. But I'm also damn far behind in studying and I have a test on Monday. Do you know all the bones and their related joints or sutures? Neither do I.
Hey, you too can be a part of solving the deficit crisis. (that's a link to the NY Times interactive article where you select options and see how they play out). As Eric says on twitter, "Gee whiz, most of the deficit can be reduced by going back to Clinton-era taxes. Who'd'a thunk it?" (link is his solution) That's crazy talk, Eric. Crazy talk.
Catherine talks about why we write. What she said. (With the understanding I'm experiencing the "what happens when I don't write" right now, ugh. It's like I have constipation, but mentally and emotionally).
Shawn gives us some eating tips. At the doctor's appointment last week I had gained back everything I had lost in the past year. For me, 300lbs is my nemesis. I had been as low at 288 (my lowest recorded weight, but now I'm back to 306. Sucks. Sucks. Sucks. Then again, I haven't been able to WiiFit in five months (see earlier threads with just how much I'm doing these days).
And now for the politics.
I guess that whole, "we gotta work faster to help people" thing was all an election verbal fart. Dear Sen. McConnell, you're not getting it. You're first priority should be JOBS (not "make sure Obama is a 1 term president"). And work faster, damnit.
And no, Rep. Rangel, you can say the Ethics Committee process was "unfair" all you want, but the findings are pretty sound given the evidence.
And here I'll just repost a comment I've made elsewhere about the TSA "groping your junk or be irradiated" treatment.
I'll also just point out here that many people in the 50s and 60s are having melanomas develop on their faces (really bad ones, and that's saying something for melanoma) because in their youth, they had a standard treatment for acne. That treatment was low-dose x-rays. Sure, it dried up those pores quickly (required several treatments). And at the time it was "perfectly safe." Feel better now?
Hey, you too can be a part of solving the deficit crisis. (that's a link to the NY Times interactive article where you select options and see how they play out). As Eric says on twitter, "Gee whiz, most of the deficit can be reduced by going back to Clinton-era taxes. Who'd'a thunk it?" (link is his solution) That's crazy talk, Eric. Crazy talk.
Catherine talks about why we write. What she said. (With the understanding I'm experiencing the "what happens when I don't write" right now, ugh. It's like I have constipation, but mentally and emotionally).
Shawn gives us some eating tips. At the doctor's appointment last week I had gained back everything I had lost in the past year. For me, 300lbs is my nemesis. I had been as low at 288 (my lowest recorded weight, but now I'm back to 306. Sucks. Sucks. Sucks. Then again, I haven't been able to WiiFit in five months (see earlier threads with just how much I'm doing these days).
And now for the politics.
I guess that whole, "we gotta work faster to help people" thing was all an election verbal fart. Dear Sen. McConnell, you're not getting it. You're first priority should be JOBS (not "make sure Obama is a 1 term president"). And work faster, damnit.
And no, Rep. Rangel, you can say the Ethics Committee process was "unfair" all you want, but the findings are pretty sound given the evidence.
And here I'll just repost a comment I've made elsewhere about the TSA "groping your junk or be irradiated" treatment.
If we adjust for every “possible” threat, 1) it can’t happen (unless we just go the whole 9 yards and just allow body cavity searches right now, because, really, you can hide a bomb in there - you know where-, and these new procedures won’t detect it) and 2) if I were the terrorist, I would game the system (I don’t need to blow up an airplane to gain my goals, because my goals are to make these rules overbearing to you the populace so you hate your own government). So as a terrorist, what I would do is make attacks that really weren’t intended to succeed, but had the possibility to do so, but the main thrust would be to adjust TSAs rules and screening procedures to make traveling a horrendous experience (like having officers “grab your junk”).
However, I’m solidly a bastard when it comes to cointel. If it were me, I’d increase “chatter” to phantom agents right before Thanksgiving (like this weekend) and Christmas (the two holidays that have the highest rate of air travel). I’d plant ideas in the heads of those likely to be captured to seed the paranoia of the US. But, like I said, I’m solidly a bastard. Good thing our opposition doesn’t have those ideas.
I'll also just point out here that many people in the 50s and 60s are having melanomas develop on their faces (really bad ones, and that's saying something for melanoma) because in their youth, they had a standard treatment for acne. That treatment was low-dose x-rays. Sure, it dried up those pores quickly (required several treatments). And at the time it was "perfectly safe." Feel better now?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Tuesday Linkee-poos (edited)
Edited to add I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning. It smells like... burnt popcorn. Hey, Tea Party, remember that whole "hold them accountable" spiel? Yeah, might want to see to that where it comes to Rep. Bachmann. Of course, there will be two years to beg for forgiveness. Or you can fall for the argument about how "for the righteous, all is pure." Strange how the morals change once someone thinks they're in power. And I'm serious. Or weren't you? end edit
On writing fight scenes. (Grokked from eBear).
And speaking of grokking things from Elizabeth Bear, there's also this. Which I think I need to make a daily mantra.
The production for the animation of Neil Gaiman's The Price. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite of Neil's stories. Starts off relatively light and turns incredibly dark at the end.
Well, I guess I was just too good yesterday. Last night the idiocy exploded all over my nice clean "writing links" apron.
Say, here's one of those new "Don't Need No Stinkin' Government Healthcare" freshman wondering just why the hell he has to wait 28 days before getting into the congressional health system. "'This is the only employer I’ve ever worked for where you don’t get coverage the first day you are employed,' his spokeswoman Anna Nix told POLITICO." Really? Hmm, let me see, at my current employer I was covered after working 16 days AND that's the fastest I was ever covered by my new employer's healthcare. Normally we were looking at 3 to 6 months.
Dear, Andy Harris, please stop being a privileged dickwad. Maybe this time in Congress will actually expose you to some of the real life your fellow citizens have had to endure (and no, don't run the bull about your college debt and residency or I'll tell you about just what other people have to go through, who don't end up making $100,000+ a year). Have fun at your cocktail parties. Don't forget 1 in 5 children go to bed without a proper evening meal while you decide if you want to just make a meal of the hors d'oeuvres or order an actual meal. Don't forget to sign the paperwork for your retirement at full pay. And cut out the "Got Mine, Screw You" mentality.
And, no, I don't think I link to the Tea Party Patriot's memo which sent out the personal cell phone numbers of both incoming freshman (and some who lost their elections) because they felt they were being upstaged by another Freshman event (and then encouraged their members to call and complain if those reps didn't attend the TPP event). Hi, Tea Party, welcome to the crowd. You might want to pay attention to what really happens in government and stop making these mistakes if you want to be a player.
There was also the story about how some of the incoming Freshman were overwhelmed by every thing needed to get done (setting up their offices, hiring staff and doing all the proper reporting). Especially those who "ran their own businesses and were going to Washington to show them how it's done." Um, yeah. Hi, welcome to actually running a business/office. Be glad you get classes in how to do it.
And then there's the ever fun Deficit Commissionreport attempt to control the dialog before the Commission actually makes it's recommendations (read as, "Jumping the Shark"). Just one of many "Don't these people actually pay attention?" moments.
Finally, this person is a serious contender for the 2012 nomination? 1) Transparent (don't be around so you can get anything done, like sign any bills or anything) and 2) Obviously an idiot. Really, Obama should take the month off? No, he should be working his ass off to help turn this economy around. Please, Newt, STFU. Frankly, I'm damn happy this president isn't in the running for the "took more vacation than any president before him" award (aka Reagan and GW Bush).
On writing fight scenes. (Grokked from eBear).
And speaking of grokking things from Elizabeth Bear, there's also this. Which I think I need to make a daily mantra.
The production for the animation of Neil Gaiman's The Price. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite of Neil's stories. Starts off relatively light and turns incredibly dark at the end.
Well, I guess I was just too good yesterday. Last night the idiocy exploded all over my nice clean "writing links" apron.
Say, here's one of those new "Don't Need No Stinkin' Government Healthcare" freshman wondering just why the hell he has to wait 28 days before getting into the congressional health system. "'This is the only employer I’ve ever worked for where you don’t get coverage the first day you are employed,' his spokeswoman Anna Nix told POLITICO." Really? Hmm, let me see, at my current employer I was covered after working 16 days AND that's the fastest I was ever covered by my new employer's healthcare. Normally we were looking at 3 to 6 months.
Dear, Andy Harris, please stop being a privileged dickwad. Maybe this time in Congress will actually expose you to some of the real life your fellow citizens have had to endure (and no, don't run the bull about your college debt and residency or I'll tell you about just what other people have to go through, who don't end up making $100,000+ a year). Have fun at your cocktail parties. Don't forget 1 in 5 children go to bed without a proper evening meal while you decide if you want to just make a meal of the hors d'oeuvres or order an actual meal. Don't forget to sign the paperwork for your retirement at full pay. And cut out the "Got Mine, Screw You" mentality.
And, no, I don't think I link to the Tea Party Patriot's memo which sent out the personal cell phone numbers of both incoming freshman (and some who lost their elections) because they felt they were being upstaged by another Freshman event (and then encouraged their members to call and complain if those reps didn't attend the TPP event). Hi, Tea Party, welcome to the crowd. You might want to pay attention to what really happens in government and stop making these mistakes if you want to be a player.
There was also the story about how some of the incoming Freshman were overwhelmed by every thing needed to get done (setting up their offices, hiring staff and doing all the proper reporting). Especially those who "ran their own businesses and were going to Washington to show them how it's done." Um, yeah. Hi, welcome to actually running a business/office. Be glad you get classes in how to do it.
And then there's the ever fun Deficit Commission
Finally, this person is a serious contender for the 2012 nomination? 1) Transparent (don't be around so you can get anything done, like sign any bills or anything) and 2) Obviously an idiot. Really, Obama should take the month off? No, he should be working his ass off to help turn this economy around. Please, Newt, STFU. Frankly, I'm damn happy this president isn't in the running for the "took more vacation than any president before him" award (aka Reagan and GW Bush).
Monday, November 15, 2010
Four on a Monday
The wonderful Elizabeth Bear on writing a novel. And just as a bonus, here's an interview with her for her stint at the Odyssey Workshop.
Miranda on freeing the Beast and taming the Editor.
Seems like everybody and his brother wants to make money off your writing (while not paying you a dime). Okay, well, Jim Frey will actually pay you a bright and shiny dime, but not much more than that.
And a slightly different take on plagiarism (which seems to be all the rage this fall), Teresa at Making Light talks about Ed Dante's article in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Or, plagiarism for profit, with a dose of privilege thrown in for spice. Hey, there's a way to make money as a writer (you know, if you're willing to sell your soul for a small bird). Considering that even at the community college level kids do this kind of stuff (see the comment
Hey, look, not one political link. Hmm. Something must be up.
Miranda on freeing the Beast and taming the Editor.
Seems like everybody and his brother wants to make money off your writing (while not paying you a dime). Okay, well, Jim Frey will actually pay you a bright and shiny dime, but not much more than that.
And a slightly different take on plagiarism (which seems to be all the rage this fall), Teresa at Making Light talks about Ed Dante's article in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Or, plagiarism for profit, with a dose of privilege thrown in for spice. Hey, there's a way to make money as a writer (you know, if you're willing to sell your soul for a small bird). Considering that even at the community college level kids do this kind of stuff (see the comment
Hey, look, not one political link. Hmm. Something must be up.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Weekend of the lost
Spent yesterday cleaning up the yard and getting it ready for the winter. Of course, today, except for having been mowed, it looks like I could go out there and sweep leaves again. And there are still plenty of leaves on the trees. Spent some time today on a bunch of little chores that had been piling up. Fixed the vacuum cleaner, fixed the dryer, cleaned out the laundry room, cleanup some paperwork, etc.
Did some studying yesterday. I'm sure I'll do more tonight.
And strangely enough, I feel like I haven't done much this weekend.
Did some studying yesterday. I'm sure I'll do more tonight.
And strangely enough, I feel like I haven't done much this weekend.
Friday, November 12, 2010
I listen to preachers, I listen to fools
Well, at the doctor's office yesterday, in six months I had basically gained all the weight I had lost. Bummer.
This weekend looks like a busy one because all the future weekends are busy. So I'll probably be out using the leaf blower, working out the snow blower, doing one last mow of the lawn, going up on the roof to clean off the gutter areas, and generally killing myself while not feeling like I'm progressing.
I'm getting an internal feeling of deep dissatisfaction with not writing. Really want to get moving on these projects that are languishing so I can get to the next thing.
And I know I can. I've been letting myself feel okay with coming home after a 7am to 10pm day and just vegging in front of the TV until I feel tired enough to go to sleep (commuting always gets my systems pumped). So I've identified time I could be writing and am not. Now comes the hard part of getting butt in chair and without the TV in front of me.
Joshua Palmatier talks about making time jumps. I haven't had time to read it all, but it looks good. So this is sort of my own bookmark.
Beautiful Absurdities (on miniature scenes that twist reality, some very dark humor here)
Tell me again about the high ground. Again, the difference between the left and right 1) we don't nominate our crazies to office and 2) we don't play the bully.
And another article on just WTF is going on as we head into a discussion over taxes and cuts. Yes, Mother Jones is biased, but again, refute the argument. The HCR Act reduces the angle of that top line in the chart (for Medicare and Medicaid). Not enough, but better than the Republican plan which would actually increase the growth of M&M spending.
This weekend looks like a busy one because all the future weekends are busy. So I'll probably be out using the leaf blower, working out the snow blower, doing one last mow of the lawn, going up on the roof to clean off the gutter areas, and generally killing myself while not feeling like I'm progressing.
I'm getting an internal feeling of deep dissatisfaction with not writing. Really want to get moving on these projects that are languishing so I can get to the next thing.
And I know I can. I've been letting myself feel okay with coming home after a 7am to 10pm day and just vegging in front of the TV until I feel tired enough to go to sleep (commuting always gets my systems pumped). So I've identified time I could be writing and am not. Now comes the hard part of getting butt in chair and without the TV in front of me.
Joshua Palmatier talks about making time jumps. I haven't had time to read it all, but it looks good. So this is sort of my own bookmark.
Beautiful Absurdities (on miniature scenes that twist reality, some very dark humor here)
Tell me again about the high ground. Again, the difference between the left and right 1) we don't nominate our crazies to office and 2) we don't play the bully.
And another article on just WTF is going on as we head into a discussion over taxes and cuts. Yes, Mother Jones is biased, but again, refute the argument. The HCR Act reduces the angle of that top line in the chart (for Medicare and Medicaid). Not enough, but better than the Republican plan which would actually increase the growth of M&M spending.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Four on a Thursday
Look! Jim Hines just got a fab deal on selling two books. You go, Jim!
The ever famous new shopping bag designs. This is a designer meme. Some of them are quite good, some fall into the "just WTF were you thinking" or "you think this is funny" category, some are of the "you have to hold it just right to get the effect", and some may not be work safe for you (YMMV), all of these might be seen on the street, so your choice.
Reason number one why you should learn your history correctly. So you don't make an ass of yourself. Dear Senator Barton, Davy Crocket was killed at his Alamo. Did you really mean to say you'll be a martyr for your cause? You do know Christian martyrs don't get those 70 virgins, right? (Actually, neither do Muslims, it's a corruption of the Assassin/Hashshashin legend where the Old Man of the Mountain would get his agents high on hashish, show them a "Garden of Earthly Delights" and promise if they did die, they would be rewarded in the afterlife).
Oh, so those were the programs the conservatives wanted to cut. Well then, we're good to go. Sigh.
,br>
The ever famous new shopping bag designs. This is a designer meme. Some of them are quite good, some fall into the "just WTF were you thinking" or "you think this is funny" category, some are of the "you have to hold it just right to get the effect", and some may not be work safe for you (YMMV), all of these might be seen on the street, so your choice.
Reason number one why you should learn your history correctly. So you don't make an ass of yourself. Dear Senator Barton, Davy Crocket was killed at his Alamo. Did you really mean to say you'll be a martyr for your cause? You do know Christian martyrs don't get those 70 virgins, right? (Actually, neither do Muslims, it's a corruption of the Assassin/Hashshashin legend where the Old Man of the Mountain would get his agents high on hashish, show them a "Garden of Earthly Delights" and promise if they did die, they would be rewarded in the afterlife).
Oh, so those were the programs the conservatives wanted to cut. Well then, we're good to go. Sigh.
,br>
On doing the right thing?
I don't have much to add to the whole Amazon defending "The Pedophile's Guide" except to thank Amazon for finally coming to its senses and removing the book (there is some dispute on if it was withdrawn by its publisher/author or dropped from Amazon). Amazon was in the wrong, they weren't defending free speech as "speech" that incites one to commit a crime (directly as compared to "the devil made me do it" argument) is not protected speech. Considering part of the description of the book included a phrase similar to "how to avoid harsh criminal penalties," I think it's fairly lumped in that category.
Also considering Amazon's policy of removing other "offensive" materials for "pornographic content" (read "homosexual" and "kink" books). However, it's not like Amazon doesn't have their own red-light district (look under health and personal care/sexual health… there's more than condoms down there).
But here is the difference (for those who like to shout the "but it's censorship and if we allow that then we'll also allow removing Ulysses" - which Amazon has done with their Kindle store IIRC - or the "but homosexuality was once considered offense…"), a child can not consent (by law). And not just in the matters of sex, they can't consent in many other areas according to the law; sign contracts, engage in business, be hired )although that's now only below 16 in most states), purchase restricted items (porn and sexual content being one such area), join the military, etc. So the sex here isn't consensual by definition (and here is where I differ from some of the current mores of society, I still think that the concept of "Jail Bait" is valid, and that "Romeo and Juliet" laws are very misguided).
This isn't an argument on maturity (as in "but some kids are more mature…"), yes, I know some kids who have more maturity than some people my own age. However, the law/society can't discriminate on that bases, so yes, a magic wand is waved over the head of those who reach majority on the day of their birthdate.
So I go back to the fact that one half of this "relationship" is not consensual. What adults do with/to each other with their free consent is their own business. Work of some literary value is different (say if this book had been written as a "work of fiction" I would be uncomfortable with it, but would have a different conclusion, or I detest his "stories" that he included, but would be willing to argue that yes, they may be protected speech, "may be" being the operative clause here).
Add on top of this the power differential in any such relationship (yes, I know there are one or two in which the younger member of the "couple" is the one driving the relationship, but in the vast, overwhelming sea of the opposite, they don't even come close to a rounder error percentage wise) and you can see just how troublesome this is. No, the other side does not have "a choice" in this. And if you don't understand how co-dependent relationships work, well I say, "Happy you." I recommend the book "Co-dependent No More" to either break out of such a situation or to learn more on how they work.
Therefore these relationships by definition are always 1) predatory, 2) illegal, and 3) statutory rape.
I've removed all items from my wish lists on Amazon. And I was in the process of removing all my "shopping cart on hold" items. I also have enough credit cards that I could drop the Amazon one and not have a problem. Now I'll need to think of how far I want to go to sever my connections to Amazon.
Also considering Amazon's policy of removing other "offensive" materials for "pornographic content" (read "homosexual" and "kink" books). However, it's not like Amazon doesn't have their own red-light district (look under health and personal care/sexual health… there's more than condoms down there).
But here is the difference (for those who like to shout the "but it's censorship and if we allow that then we'll also allow removing Ulysses" - which Amazon has done with their Kindle store IIRC - or the "but homosexuality was once considered offense…"), a child can not consent (by law). And not just in the matters of sex, they can't consent in many other areas according to the law; sign contracts, engage in business, be hired )although that's now only below 16 in most states), purchase restricted items (porn and sexual content being one such area), join the military, etc. So the sex here isn't consensual by definition (and here is where I differ from some of the current mores of society, I still think that the concept of "Jail Bait" is valid, and that "Romeo and Juliet" laws are very misguided).
This isn't an argument on maturity (as in "but some kids are more mature…"), yes, I know some kids who have more maturity than some people my own age. However, the law/society can't discriminate on that bases, so yes, a magic wand is waved over the head of those who reach majority on the day of their birthdate.
So I go back to the fact that one half of this "relationship" is not consensual. What adults do with/to each other with their free consent is their own business. Work of some literary value is different (say if this book had been written as a "work of fiction" I would be uncomfortable with it, but would have a different conclusion, or I detest his "stories" that he included, but would be willing to argue that yes, they may be protected speech, "may be" being the operative clause here).
Add on top of this the power differential in any such relationship (yes, I know there are one or two in which the younger member of the "couple" is the one driving the relationship, but in the vast, overwhelming sea of the opposite, they don't even come close to a rounder error percentage wise) and you can see just how troublesome this is. No, the other side does not have "a choice" in this. And if you don't understand how co-dependent relationships work, well I say, "Happy you." I recommend the book "Co-dependent No More" to either break out of such a situation or to learn more on how they work.
Therefore these relationships by definition are always 1) predatory, 2) illegal, and 3) statutory rape.
I've removed all items from my wish lists on Amazon. And I was in the process of removing all my "shopping cart on hold" items. I also have enough credit cards that I could drop the Amazon one and not have a problem. Now I'll need to think of how far I want to go to sever my connections to Amazon.
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