Blame the Other Guy

Finally arriving to work after fighting through a heavy fog, I joined the morning coffee-break conversation about the weather and various “safe” workplace topics.

The point was raised (as it always is) that “I don’t worry about bad weather. I’m a pretty good driver. It’s the other drivers that you have to watch out for, though.” A chorus of agreement and nodding heads followed (as they always do) and we moved on to another topic.

I couldn’t help but think of the nonsense of this ideal. If everyone is such a good (or “pretty good”) driver, who are these “other drivers” we have to be so careful around? If everyone is driving with safety in mind, why would we need to “watch out” for anyone?

As a “pretty good” driver myself, I will often shake my head in disapproval when someone cuts me off, slams on their brakes for no apparent reason, or otherwise does something that is most surely not on the safe side. I may even offer them a few choice words. Then, five minutes later, I become that very same driver! Though (perhaps) subconsciously, I somehow become the very person I judged as unsafe, not paying attention, maybe even an ‘idiot,’ or worse.

Believe me, I don’t take this confession lightly. But the point is that I am making it. I’m not a good driver. Not even a “pretty good” driver. And while I still don’t believe I’m an all-out bad driver, I could probably be classified as your ‘average motorist’ who’s seen years pass since taking a driving exam, and could probably benefit from one right about now.

This raises a whole new question about the foolishness of the once-in-a-lifetime driving test. In what other area can you prove your abilities as a teenager and be trusted that those abilities will not change… forever? Say you’re about 50 years of age. You feel like you’re a “pretty good” driver, and maybe you are. Barring any court-ordered “brush-ups,” if you got your permit at age 15, it’s been 35 years since you’ve had any kind of formal scrutiny to the driving prowess you had to prove in your youth.

Not many people would trust a doctor who hadn’t been evaluated in more than three decades. Or an interior decorator who still uses lead paint because “that’s the way I learned.” Why, then, such lax rules for drivers?

Of course, this is all but a rhetorical question, and I don’t see the ‘system’ changing anytime soon. But it is something to think about on your ride home, to the store, or wherever your travels take you. While you — as the “pretty good” driver you are — exercise extreme caution to avoid the other ‘maniacs’ on the road, just realize they’re doing the very same thing to avoid you.

by Paymon West | Assistant Editor | Gaseoustania Tonight

Defensive Living

As I left my home this morning and headed to my car for the short drive to work, I noticed my neighbor had the hood of her van open. She was afraid of being late to work, and needed a jump start. I declined doing her this favor.

It’s not that I’m a bad person, or have some sort of vendetta against her. In fact, I just didn’t want to risk getting shot or stabbed, either by her or by another neighbor who saw an opportunity and decided to make some trouble.

Believe me, I fully realize this sad state of affairs. It is a shame in society that people are so worried about being murdered by one of the many crazed maniacs out there today, that they are unwilling or otherwise unable to offer any assistance.

That said, while I’d like to believe that, if I found someone lying face down at the bottom of the subway stairs, I would try to help, the reality is that I would likely pass them by. Of course, I would call the police, but I would let them deal with the situation. I don’t need to be crouched down by someone who could be feigning an injury, so their buddy can assault and rob me.

I care about people, I do. But I also care about returning home to my family. You might call that mentality being “heartless,” but in the unstable world we live in, I call it being real.

by Abraham “Able Abe” Aenstograafik | Gaseoustania Tonight 

Feel the Burn

I’m so sick of hearing people who ride bikes to work or “walk everywhere” boasting about how they’re “not affected by high gas prices.” It’s a bunch of horsecrap! Anyone who eats, wears clothes or even has a got-dang pizza delivered once in a while is affected in one way or another.

Unless you’re a nudist living in a mud hut, who only eats the nuts and berries you find on the forest floor, you’re going to be screwed out of your hard-earned money just like the rest of us. The only difference is, instead of being screwed directly by the big oil companies, you’re having to fork up extra for bread and cheese, clothing and even some services. And if your mud hut happens to be heated with a kerosene lamp, you’re getting dicked over just like me!

You may be “cutting back” and/or not “feeling the pinch” as much as everyone else with your got-dang hybrid car and your once-a-week grocery trips to save gas, and your precious walking or cycling everywhere, but the sad fact is that your wallet is thinner now than it was even a year ago. Just like mine. Just like your neighbor’s. And I love it. Suck on that for a while.

by Jon Novin | Gaseoustania Tonight

Note: The views and content expressed herein — including some use of language — do not necessarily represent the opinions of Gaseoustania Tonight, nor its editors and publisher.

All Sides: Recess Changes

Overview: Schools across the country have taken to changing the way kids spend recess, including less “free time” and more structured  activities, to encourage physical exercise and group participation.

Leave Them Kids Alone

by Janie Flahnhoegennloegenn

The word ‘recess’ denotes a break in the day’s activities. As we get older, it’s mostly reserved for the courtroom, or necessary bathroom breaks in day-long meetings and seminars. But when I think of recess, it will always bring me back to my youth.

Call it a “simpler time,” call it “freedom,” call it what you will. I look back with fondness on those 30-minute breaks to run around outside, play games with friends, and, yes, sometimes just sit quietly under a shady tree, enjoying the weather. Why should we deprive today’s kids of that choice?

Some schools these days are forcing kids to participate in organized sports games (what is this, gym class?!) or join group activities (it’s not arts n’ crafts, either!) during this time. Others have eliminated recess altogether.

Think about your own schedule. Whether at work, school or home, isn’t it nice to be able to take a little break in the day, during which time you can do whatever you want? Imagine your boss scheduling a “group activity” during your lunch break. Or the college professor saying you can’t go to the movies after class because it’s not “productive” enough. How about the stay-at-home parent having to waive the miniscule ‘breather’ they’re able to steal away, because it’s not involved with team sports?

Kids grow up too fast as it is. Why make these recess rules, and force them to ‘play adult?’

Get Up, Get Active, Meet Friends

by Voulghar Imalessé

Despite the uproar and rumors surrounding this topic, it is unlikely that schools will cut recess out of the day. Sure, there may be some changes, but change is inevitable, and, in this case, just what kids need.

Programs already in place in schools across the nation — and many more proposals to implement similar programs — still give kids a break in the day. They just aim to make that break as productive and conducive to learning (which is why they’re in school in the first place!) as possible.

Let’s face it: today’s kids are fat and lazy. Okay, maybe not all kids, but, statistically, the obesity rate for American children is higher than ever, and with so many distractions (digital and otherwise), motivation levels have dropped… and so have test scores.

Some kids don’t get any other exercise throughout the day than what they would during a scheduled sports game. Other group activities, such as arts, help kids exercise their brains. And what’s wrong with meeting new people? The world is already full of angry loners. I think we’ve met our quota.

Schools that have implemented the “new” recess model aren’t forcing kids into sports, either, as some parents have accused. In fact, the activities usually rotate each week, so if one week everyone is playing soccer, the next week they might be learning about health issues, doing a fun science project, or any number of things that are much better than having a kid sit alone on the curb for half-an-hour, doing nothing.

About All Sides

Gaseoustania Tonight knows there are often more than just two sides to a story. ‘All Sides™’ explores topics from a variety of viewpoints and opinions, to help you reach your own decisions.

“Mildly” Ridiculous

Rather than launching into what could be a lengthy and overly-detailed rant, let me be up front and frank by simply stating this: there is no such thing as being “mildly” racist. If you make racist statements and feel that kind of prejudice in your heart, you are — plain and simple — a member of the bigot club.

I don’t care if you’re “just venting” about your Hispanic neighbor, or raging after a Caucasian cuts you off in traffic. Whether you make a snide comment under your breath about African Americans, or an inaccurate generalization of Asians, you are, in the end, no different than a skinhead, Klansman or Nazi. There is no ‘racism rank,’ no ‘degree of hatred.’

“Well, I wouldn’t say I hate people. I just don’t want those goddam [racial slur] around me. You never know what they could do. It’s best to stay away from them.”

This is an absurd statement but is, sadly, a sentiment you may often hear.

To that end, excuses for the elderly racists amongst us need to stop. Suggesting grandma’s hate-speech should be ignored because “she’s old” is simply unacceptable. We will all be old one day. Should we be granted full access to spew ignorant ramblings just because we’ve passed some predetermined age? And, if so, what is that age? 65? 80? 22? No, this mindset will only lead us to an ever-increasing society of racists, fueled by our ‘excuse’ of advanced age.

An acquaintance once confided in me that he hated a certain race. He felt as though the country was in the midst of a “race war,” and suggested he would do “whatever necessary” to “protect” himself. Of course, the relationship ended at that point, but a part of me will always respect his candor.

I certainly don’t mean I support his position, or advocate his views. But at least he was up front and honest about it. He was a racist. He hated other people based solely on the color of their skin. He made no apologies. In many ways, knowing this was somehow better than having to endure the prejudiced comments and insinuations from others less bold than he was.

I would rather be outright robbed by some punk on the street than have thousands stolen over the years — one dollar at a time — by a dear a friend who thought they were being “harmless.”

by Peter P. Gaseoustania | Gaseoustania Tonight

PeTA Porn Site Will Do More Harm than Good

You may have heard by now that the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) is planning to launch a pornographic website to promote its animal rights message.

PeTA officials say the site will have “tantalizing” photos and videos, which will feature animal rights messages. They say it will help them reach a broader audience.

That may be true, but is it really the audience they want to reach? I’m not going to generalize here about all users of porn, but I have a good feeling they probably are not searching for animal rights “messages.”

To go one step further, I would bet the porn enthusiasts who are hit with these messages will make a point to never return to that site again. They’ll likely also tell their ‘constituents’ (if I can use that term lightly) not to visit, either. I’m not sure if a dozen or so one-time visitors, who likely won’t repeat your “messages,” is worth all the trouble.

I don’t know about you, but if I walk into a fast-food restaurant expecting a cheap meal and, instead, am presented with a seven-course dinner with a triple-digit price tag, I’ll make sure to never return to that establishment again! And I’ll make sure none of my friends do, either.

Aside from that, think of all the PeTA supporters who will be alienated by this campaign. For a group aimed at promoting the “ethical treatment of animals,” why would they stoop to promoting a degrading industry which treats women like they were pieces of meat?!

This website is sure to become a public relations nightmare for PeTA. I have a feeling what seems like such a great idea now will be looked at, in retrospect, with more than a little regret.

by Angelina Estevante; Gaseoustania Tonight

More than a Logo

Recently, a friend and I were discussing what has become quite the heated topic lately: the Volvo logo. The logo features the word ‘Volvo’ framed inside a circle which is ‘topped,’ if you will, with an arrow that points upward and to the right.

Now, Volvo officials will have you believe it stands for iron, strength and any number of things. The general public, however, sees the “male” symbol. It got me to thinking of how powerful imagery really can be.

Take the swastika, for example. This is a centuries old symbol, cherished by religious and cultural groups the world over. An Irish friend once told me she viewed it as four “Ls:” Light, Luck, Love, Life.

Most of us, however, know better than to flash this ‘hooked cross’ today. Even if we do so with the very best of intentions, we know (or at least we should know) that it will foster notions of hate, intolerance and injustice.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to get on my soapbox here. It’s late and I just don’t feel like it.

And anyway, in the end, my chum and I decided to leave the discussion friendly, and move on to other topics. Just something to think about.

by Frank Calling; Gaseoustania Tonight

No Bailout for You!

Swedish auto-maker SAAB has allegedly ‘run out of money,’ and cannot afford to pay its workers. The Swedish government has essentially said SAAB will have to figure its way out of the financial mess by itself- no government bailout is foreseen.

That move is being met with anger by some, primarily in the U.S., who ask if the auto giant is “too big to fail,” and question the Swedish government’s apparent refusal to intervene.

While this is an unfortunate reality for the company, and creates an uncomfortable (to say the least) situation for the 3,700 employees who will be directly affected if SAAB fails- not to mention the thousands employed by SAAB in some fashion or another worldwide- the government is not acting in the wrong with their supposed decision.

The concepts of a ‘bailout’ or that any company can become ‘too big to fail’ are purely American idealism. No company, brand, entity, etc. can be afforded that luxury. No organization, political or otherwise, should be able to rest on the idea that there will be a ‘safety net’ to make up for poor decisions, or that the government will somehow step in and make things all better when faced with bankruptcy- at the hands of taxpaying citizens, no less!

U.S. lawmakers agreed to ‘bailout’ schedules and loan terms for banks, auto-makers and other groups under the guise that the entire economy would fail had this preventative action not been taken. Of course, no one, even those initially opposed to the bailouts, was willing to conduct the experiment in failure, and, as the livelihoods of millions of Americans hung in the balance, probably with good reason.

On the other hand, the expense with which the bailouts were delivered, even after many of these loans have been paid back in full, have taken a toll, monetarily and otherwise, on the American people, and will continue to do so for likely many years to come.

In this regard, perhaps the Swedish government’s supposed lack of intervention as it pertains to a possible SAAB bankruptcy is the best thing it could do for the embattled company and its citizens in general.

Instead of forcing taxpayers to ‘get companies off the hook,’ perhaps this experience will be a good lesson for the auto-giant in their future business ventures, should their company or executives be lucky enough to find themselves in a money-making situation in the future.

You can only rob Peter to pay Paul so many times, before Peter begins to lash out.

by Selenium Washe; Gaseoustania Tonight

Punks & Thugs Take a ‘Time-Out’

Today’s prison systems are more crowded than ever, and it’s because they’re doing things all wrong!

Instead of having jail time for smaller crimes like drug possession and what not, you should, instead, get a ‘time-out’ or some sort of public humiliation like having to wear a sandwich-board or being dropped off downtown in your underwear during rush hour.

Or they could cancel your vacation or something. It would be kind of like community service, but even worse, since they would just take away something that’s important to you, like when you were a kid. Maybe if it’s your first offense, they just take your TV away from you for a few months, or whatever. Bigger or multiple offenses would make you lose, say, your car and license for a year. It would be more based around inconvenience and making you look like an ass than anything else. Now that’s a deterrent!

I still think violent criminals should be behind bars, don’t get me wrong. I just think, since there’s such an issue of overcrowding in prisons, and since your small-time gang-bangers and petty thugs are all about ‘respect,’ instead of locking them up, we should make an example of them, make them lose a bit of their pride, and make them the laughing stock of the whole town! That will put a damper on their ‘big man’ attitude real quick!

If people aren’t ‘getting it,’ or are trying to mess with the system, you could just permanently give their stuff away, say, to a homeless shelter or a thrift shop or something. That way they’d know someone else has their stuff because they couldn’t grow up and function like a normal person! It’s the adult version of having your stuff locked up in the teacher’s desk drawer!

Prison life has been glorified for long enough. It’s time, instead of locking these punks away where they can just be a ‘big man’ for everyone else to see and try to prove themselves somehow, to humiliate them and make them feel like dumb-asses!

It’s worth a try, at least. I’ll bet ‘white-collar crime’ would drop off almost immediately if we bring back the ‘Scarlet Letter’ type public shaming of the old days! Let’s do it!

by Tommy “R” Panagopolis; Gaseoustania Tonight

Note: The views and content expressed herein, including some use of language, do not necessarily represent the opinions of Gaseoustania Tonight.

I’ll Never Know What You Find When You Open Up Your Letterbox Tomorrow

I’m so sick and tired of Hollywood constantly coming out with these “letterbox” movies. And then they don’t even have the decency to make it fit the full screen when the DVD comes out!

Look, people are buying TVs with bigger and bigger screens these days, and the last thing they want is for some big-shot exec to slice half their viewing capacity right off the bat! It’s bunk!

Letterbox adds nothing to a storyline or scene. I know the original idea was to convey a certain emotion, or to make something “artsy,” or whatever, but you guys really need to stop it!

The only thing shooting in ‘letterbox’ fashion does is make everyone look fat, while simultaneously angering the movie-going masses.

I’m not going to sit by and take this anymore. I’m a tax-payer, for God’s sake! I have rights!  

The next movie I see in ‘letterbox,’ I am going to drive to the studio who produced it and give those responsible an ass-beating they’ll never forget. Maybe then they’ll learn, once and for all, to put an end to this horsecrap! I am losing it here!!

by Jon Novin; Gaseoustania Tonight

Note: The views and content expressed herein, including some use of language, do not necessarily represent the opinions of Gaseoustania Tonight.