Political Post

I don't usually post about political issues, because if you do read this (not many do, but hey), then you don't really need to hear about my politics, and instead should be reading about the adventures of my shoes. I know that is what you're really here for. But I had several conversations today about the ridiculous nature of Proposition 8 here in California.

The religious right seems to think that if a same-sex couple marries, it automatically nullifies their own marriage. How amazing is that? Who knew that a same sex couple was so powerful? Seriously, whose business is it if a gay or lesbian couple marry? Is it so abhorrent that all people should have equal rights? The right to comfort their loved one when they are in the hospital, to adopt your significant other's child, to get health benefits--that is a challenge to heterosexual marriage?

If you are against gay marriage, don't marry someone of the same sex.

NO ON PROP 8!! Protect freedom, protect the constitution...support love and respect, not hate and lies.

Half-Blood Prince...DELAYED

I just learned that the 6th Harry Potter movie, Half-Blood Prince, has been delayed. I've read conflicting reasons all over the place; they want a summer release date to assure higher box office and longer run, things are taking longer and it won't be ready, they don't want to release this wholesome family movie at the same time that it's main actor is showing his nude bod on Broadway...I imagine all of these are plausible, but it seems like a lame thing to do, to give a release date, release a teaser trailer and then change the release to nearly 8 months later. HP fans are about as rabid as can be, so it seems like a dumb idea to piss them off, but whatever. So, the countdown banner will remain on this page, until the movie is released or I get tired of it. I guess I will just have to see Half-Blood Prince for my next birthday.

For those of you gaga over vampire movies, the movie version of Twilight will release on HBP's original release date in November.

Thanks for the info, www.mugglenet.com

Bought and Sold by Earthlink

I just cancelled my Earthlink account, after 6+ months of not using it (and now I have DSL and loving it). When I signed up for the Earthlink account 3 years ago, I received an email address, but since I already had a yahoo account, I never used it. I'll repeat that: I NEVER used the Earthlink email account. For anything. Ever.

Can anyone explain to me why this email address that I never used has more than 100 spam messages in the inbox? I never signed into any website, signed up for any program, or ordered any product using this email account, so the only way that it could have been added to any spammer lists is if Earthlink itself sold it. Funny that they were charging me 22 bucks a month for the account when they were making money off this email address that I never used. That is lame.

Update re. Creating a Pro-Drug Environment

I met with the Tobacco Committee yesterday and we discussed the tobacco tents. Apparently folks had to purchase one full price item and then received a big ole' bag of "sample" cans, basically half can sized. The amount that one person received was basically equivalent to 3 whole cans of the stuff. Make of that what you want, but that really worries me.

Creating a Pro-Drug Environment

So, those of you who know me, know that I work in Prevention. I run Friday Night Live, a youth leadership club dedicated to preventing alcohol, tobacco and drugs and their related problems like teen pregnancy and violence. We work on projects that we call "environmental prevention." Essentially, EP projects challenge the cultural norms that drinking/drug use are necessary to having a good time, or somehow essential to our community and cultural celebrations. We have worked on projects aimed at using events like Cinco de Mayo as an excuse to drink. Many alcohol/tobacco companies co-opt these events, which originally have strong cultural meanings (like Cinco de Mayo) and make them the debauchery holidays. They pollute our community landscape, and give youth the impression that drinking/smoking are the only things to do in such situations.

Thus is the case with the Red Bluff Round Up. Our rodeo is a longstanding tradition of tough men and women competing in a tough sport (not my thing, but very popular nonetheless). Somehow, this sport has become synonymous with chewing tobacco and beer. So much so, that the scoreboard is sponsored by a smokeless tobacco company, one of the large sponsors is a beer company, and barriers and barrels, decorations, etc. are covered in these advertisements. Those in attendance cannot get away from the ads. We are essentially telling kids who like rodeo that you can't participate in this sport without these products, creating a community and social norm that it is the thing to use when you watch or compete in rodeo. And we wonder why kids use these substances?

The smokeless tobacco companies go a step further, and during major fairgrounds events like the Round Up, will erect these pop-up tents at nearby convenience stores to give away product coupons. Doesn't sound too bad, right? A coupon that, in order to receive it, you must show proof of age, a coupon which will save you a dollar on a product that you were going to buy anyway, right? Sure, except that the law prohibits the giving away of these products, or the giving of "coupons" for the full amount of the product. The coupons are required to be used one per purchase. But the company folks come in and tell the store owner "they can use multiple coupons for one can" or the like, so folks are getting free product. They also are required by law to post a licensed security guard at the tent to check ID, but rarely do so. They also have their product name emblazoned on their tent, so thousands of passersby get a view of their logo.

These companies also will tell store owners where to place their products for maximum sales, fully ignoring state laws in the process. In California, tobacco products are prohibited from being self service. They must be behind the counter and the clerk must get it for you. The companies will insist that they place them in prohibited locations, sometimes offering incentives to stores that give the product/product ads prime in-store real estate.

I just warn parents to talk to their kids about alcohol and tobacco, to refrain from using these things in front of their kids, and to counter the social norm that alcohol and tobacco use are okay.