Letters to the Editor
PJBabiba
Published Letters: 29 Editor's Choice: 4
-
Delighting in the schadenfreude
[Read the article: Paris isn't free -- and neither are we]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You know, Thursday was not a good day for me.
I'm 24. I had just gotten a new job at a great company. And Thursday, the big guy brings me into his office and tells me, "I'm sorry, but we have to lay you off. We're laying dozens of other people off today, and it was seniority based, and so you have to go."
And then I come home -- after being escorted out the side door of the building by a "counselor" -- and find out that the spoiled little skank with no talent and brains called Paris Hilton HAS BEEN LET OUT OF JAIL. And for what? Mental health reasons? As if no one else in jail is depressed and angry?
I thought then to myself, The world is shit. The world is not right. The world does not care if you're hardworking and smart. You will still be out of a job while this spoiled brat earns millions. And people pay her, watch her shows and idolize her even after the internet has already shown that she is a narcissistic famewhore, a racist and a bad person all around (does no one remember the "firecrotch" incident and how she egged on Brandon Davis?)
So forget those of you who are saying, "Oh, leave the poor girl alone. She's only a silly 26-year-old girl." No, she's not! She's 26 and she should be held accountable for her own actions. And those of you who are wondering why people care so much about this? Well, I guess you can just understand through the example of what I've just been through.
People, the economy is still kind of shitty. The average worker's pay is decreasing or holding steady while corporate profits are lining executives' pockets and not trickling down. Meanwhile, overseas competition is stronger than ever, and a lot of jobs are being outsourced or let go through attrition and layoffs. It's been tough on a lot of people in their 20s just entering the workforce, not to mention older people who are having to deal with increasing lack of job security.
And let's not even forget that there are people in their teens and 20s who are dying overseas in a war that's poorly run at best and unnecessary and disastrous at the worst.
And in a time like this, what does Paris Hilton do? She repeatedly drives drunk and endangers the lives of others, and when the judge finally throws the book at her, she gets out of jail on a bogus "mental health" reason.
Is that not supposed to stir anger and hatred like you've seen on this board?
So yesterday, when she was tossed back into jail to finish serving the rest of the sentence she so justly deserved, you can bet that it brightened my day. It made me a little happier, even though I was still out of a job, to know there is a little justice in the world.
-
Knowing what we know...
[Read the article: Can I have my wedding money now?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The first thing I thought was: Whoa, that must be a lot of money if she's going to pay down debts AND put a down payment on a house.
Second thing I thought: There are too many variables in this situation that we just don't know from reading a letter.
What's the LW's career situation? Why does she need to go back to school at the same time she wants to buy a house? I ask this because I know jobs are hard to come by for creative types. IMHO, it's a bad idea to buy a house before your career has settled. Mobility = opportunity.
What's the mother's situation? The father passed away, so we know that the mother is now surviving on one income -- if even that. Her parents must've been pretty well off if they were able to pay for TWO sizable weddings. But how is the mother's financial situation now? How is her health? Does she need the money more for her old age than the LW needs for grad school?
My gut feeling is that 31 is too old to be asking your parents for money. 31 is on the cusp of that age where you become your parents' caretaker. If it were me in the situation, which is one that doesn't sound desperate by any means, I wouldn't ask my mom for the money.
-
Joss Whedon is awesome!
[Read the article: "Her face was nothing but red"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Unlike this pissing match on Salon right now, Whedon's work for Equality Now will last for longer than a few days. Even better, his fans are with him in his efforts. Firefly fans raised $101,000 this year for the organization. I bet you can't say that about fans of Friends, or fans of Transformers.
To the people who are moaning about Whedon neglecting men who are victims of stoning, or the people who make fun of Whedon for being a geek -- I don't see you doing anything better.
-
A simple solution
[Read the article: My wife is terrible on the cellphone!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How about a. not calling your wife when she's commuting and b. getting her a headset and tell her to use it whenever she commutes?
That way, if you or someone else happen to call in, all she has to do is hit a simple button. That's one gesture compared to the more complex task of finding the phone, flipping it open and then figuring out how to hold it to the ear properly.
But then, there are just some people who are utterly incompatible with technology. Teach your wife to call you. Teach your wife to call 911. Type up instructions for her, laminate it and put it in her wallet. That way, if she does get into trouble, she'll know what to do.
But my god, stop calling her if your blood pressure rises every time! It's not worth it.