A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
”
–Robert Heinlein
The worst part of this ridiculous ordeal that made me personally uncomfortable was the Farmer’s Market employee who made the absurd request.
He stood right next to this employee, staring at her unconverted body waiting for her to cover it. The lack of respect and creepiness was surreal. It was like he some kind of parental figure making sure that the bad child was doing their work.
Yuck.
Next week – weather permitting – I am going shirtless
Today, I went to the Farmer’s Market as I go every week. And it was a scorcher. Approximately 95 degrees heat.
And one of the sellers to deal with the heat decided to wear a bikini top. Because she didn’t want to become a skeleton prematurely.
And apparently that was indecent.
Seriously.
Indecent.
Not that she was violating some established policy of the Farmer’s Market, but no – apparently some woman complained and the vice cops (in reality some poor Farmer’s Market employee who in spite of the 90 degree heat was wearing a polo-shirt and khaki pants) had to intervene to protect us…
And apparently the key to making it decent was to cover her belly… She took an apron covered her belly and all was well in the world.
Just so we’re clear in Mountain view this is decent:
But show that belly button and you are a harlot and inflaming the passions of men! And women! How dare you!
This is so absurd it deserves repeating.
It’s a hot day, and she wanted to wear a bikini top and the Mountain View Vice Cops responding to the outrage of another female customer demanded that the woman cover her belly up. Yes, you got it. It’s 2015, in Mountain View, possibly the most multicultural progressive part of North America and belly buttons are indecent.
For context, in the 1950’s women on television were not allowed to show their navels.
Where do we go next – outrageous hair colors? Inappropriate ear-rings? Facial hair?
She wasn’t indecent. She wasn’t flaunting anything. She was trying to deal with the heat on a hot day doing an exhausting job.
My reaction as this was unfolding was to offer my shirt. I wanted to see the reaction of the vice cop as I took off my shirt and walked shirtless in a public parking lot … I find cyclists in their tight fitting chamois that can flaunt men’s packages to be more indecent… The absurdity of her wearing my t-shirt to cover her indecent navel while my flabby hairy chest was allowed to flash the world in all its glory would have been … awesome. The poor woman had the same thought and was this close to going along with my absurd plan and then figured that she liked her paycheck and decided that perhaps today was not a good day to strike a blow for feminism.
My moral outrage continued… I called the mountain view farmer’s market at (800) 806-3276 to tell them what I think of their pursuit of 1950’s decency … You should too.
As a final note… If the City of Mountain View confirms that covering the belly button was a pre-existing policy and that the poor employee was simply enforcing the policy then that’s fine. Still absurd but fine. Fine because it wasn’t some random stranger trying to bring us all the way back to this… It was our elected representatives…
Could not make it to Tahoe so I am drinking my sorrows away in this very fine Bordeaux!
At the lion king introducing him to a 20 year old obsession
Reading Game of Thrones and what struck me is the tragedy of how the 7 kingdoms go to war just when they must unite to save the realm and little folk from the winter.
Europe and the west are doing the same. Just when we need to unite to deal with global problems, we are falling apart. Xenophobia is on the rise, the EMU is falling apart and now Schengen is collapsing.
This is not good. Not good at all…
Greek Version:
http://www.usay.gr/article/90232/eikones_sok_mesa_se_konteiner_ekatontades_ellines_ergazomenoi_se_beach.html?category_id=2792
English Version:
http://en.protothema.gr/the-invisible-favela-slums-of-mykonos-yes-they-exist-pics/
If you read the article, the folks who need low-cost employees for bars and hotels have come up with the ingenious plan to put their employees in containers.
If you know anything about Greece and the heat in the country, this sound horrible.
If you wonder what the consequences of long-term unemployment are just check out the article.
This is not good at all.
http://news247.gr/eidiseis/kosmos/diethnis-politiki/h-germania-ethese-ektos-isxuos-th-synthhkh-sengken-kleinei-ta-sunora-pros-aystria.3662054.html
The importance of this moment can not be lost. The closing of the borders between Austria and Germany is an affront to European Unity and the principle of the free movement of labor.
I understand why Germany is doing what they are doing, and I do not begrudge them their determination to secure their borders, and I appreciate their honesty … And I applaud their willingness to take on so many refugees. And they are to be commended and blessed and still this is a worrisome precedent.
What is being attacked through their actions is the EU notion that there are no German or Austrian borders only European. With the re-introduction of border controls, Germany is creating a dangerous precedent. If a calamity in the south of Europe emerges, will they close their borders again?
The unwillingness to internationalize the debt and the complete lack of a European response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria demonstrates is very concerning for the future of the world.
Near serene lakes