Gay rights are just so NEW we've got to be careful! My commentary on the 6th Circuit's opinion

Oh, I get it now. The 6th Circuit is hesitant to rule in favor of marriage equality because this is a NEW civil liberty. You know, people are always thinking up new ones and we have to be careful to consider the impact of just handing out *new* freedoms to people. Let's not be in a rush. What will the social impacts be? Who should decide? So much to consider! Just like when we let blacks drink from our drinking fountains and go to our schools, we couldn't just RUSH into that without clearly thinking it through. We should let each state take it slowly until they are 100% comfortable with it and have considered the ramifications.

But I'm just paraphrasing! Judge Sutton says it so much better "A State still assessing how this has worked, whether in 2004 or 2014, is not showing irrationality, just a sense of stability and an interest in seeing how the new definition has worked elsewhere. Even today, the only thing anyone knows for sure about the long-term impact of redefining marriage is that they do not know. A Burkean sense of caution does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment, least of all when measured by a timeline less than a dozen years long and when assessed by a system of government designed to foster step-by-step, not sudden winner-take-all, innovations to policy problems."

I found most of the particularly ridiculous portions of the majority decision text simply by searching the document for the word "new." Uses of the word "new" abound such "new constitutional right," "new social questions," "new consensus" "new ways of thinking," and of course "new definition."

Two examples so you see the context:

"When the courts do not let the people resolve new social issues like this one, they perpetuate the idea that the heroes in these change events are judges and lawyers."

"The other is whether the Court will begin to undertake a different form of
change—change in the way we as a country optimize the handling of efforts to address requests for new civil liberties."

SEE! Giving the gays rights was just something someone just thought of practically yesterday! About the same as the iPod came out, right? Let's all just take it easy. Some states may not be ready to give out ALL of the rights to ALL of the gays. We just need to all be patient here.

I'll end with this final quote which is just so f***ing awful I can't even...

"The Supreme Court has never held that legislative classifications based on sexual orientation receive heightened review and indeed has not recognized a new suspect class in more than four decades. There are ample reasons for staying the course. Courts consider four rough factors in deciding whether to treat a legislative classification as suspect and presumptively unconstitutional: whether the group has been historically victimized by governmental discrimination; whether it has a defining characteristic that legitimately bears on the classification; whether it exhibits unchanging characteristics that define it as a discrete group; and whether it is politically powerless."

Everything in quotes here I personally copied and pasted directly from the full text of the 6th Circuit majority opinion, 100% IN context in my belief.

You can read it here http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/14a0275p-06.pdf

My Avatar Review

Of course you already know it's visually AMAZING. Most of the movie takes place in a world that does not exist...wherein everything you see is created digitally. Avatar's accomplishment is that you forget this fact. Everything, from each blade of grass to the skies and views to the faces, eyes, and skin of the characters looks completely real. The main character states, at one point, that Pandora feels more real than his real life with the other humans. As a viewer you are with him on this.

You can read other reviews for what Avatar does incredibly well...I'm going to continue with things that bothered me. James Cameron is a great "idea man" for movies...he envisioned something amazing and created it. However, he is not a great screenwriter. In movies like The Terminator this isn't a big deal. Even "Titanic" was not ruined by his mediocre ability as a writer. It was still a visual treat and (for most people) a touching love story. For me Avatar suffers from some of the same fate as George Lucas's "Star Wars" movies. Big, sweeping vision...captivating ideas...an overall story arc that is compelling but when you get down to the nitty gritty...the details...there is A LOT to nit pick about. Questions that don't get answered, corny dialog and cheesy names for things. Really you couldn't come up with a better planet name than Pandora? And the whole movie is based around the fact that humans NEED a substance called unobtanium..not sure how that is spelled. Really? Why not hard-to-getium? Impossible-ium?

I'll be honest, I'm hard to please when it comes to a good script and quality acting. I think I was about 60% through "Avatar" before the script started to bother me. I was dazzled...engrossed in the world as I should have been. The story was compelling enough that I was happy being taken along for the ride and not questioning the direction it was going.

However, at that point I started to think. I started to notice I was in a screenwriter's grasp and began looking towards the horizon and wondering where we were going between here and the end of the movie. It's at this point that Avatar runs out of tricks and has nowhere to go but the same place a thousand movies before have. Dances With Wolves. Braveheart. Fern Gully. 300. Visually you're on an alien planet but story-wise you're in a movie you've seen many, many times.

I only say this because at a certain point the movie spoils the momentum it builds...as far as the story and emotions go. There is tragedy but you never cry. There is love but you never feel head-over-heels. There is so much POTENTIAL for this...but the magic never *quite* climaxes enough for a good emotional payoff. The battle is incredible, the love story is beautiful. But there is a *connection* that is missing.

Now...the ONLY reason I care, the only reason I'm critiquing here is because for me Avatar is a solid 4 stars. It's incredible and I'd recommend it to anyone. I just feel a little sad that it isn't 5. You can't go back in time before the thousands of hours of animation and polish...but if you could I think this could easily be a 5 star movie...one of best...with a little work on the script. It needs a little more Shakespeare and little less James Cameron.

If you were blown away EMOTIONALLY as well as visually Avatar would be...well...awe-inspiring well after the screen goes dark.

Pity.

Abstract conversation

I'd like an application please.

For what?

Um...guardian angel.

Sorry, we don't do that anymore. I'm afraid you're on your own.

No, no. I don't need one...I'd like to *be* one.

(Silence)

There is nothing stopping you from doing that now. Guard whomever you like.

I've tried! It's not so easy.

What do you need help with?

Well...people are skeptical.

Yes.

They question your motives.

Sure.

It should be easier...it seems... I just want to help.

What do you want specifically? Ask.

I'd like some wings. The long flowing robe. Immortality. And freedom from my own problems so I can focus on those of others. Can't I just fly around loving people or something?

Impossible. You were born human. You will always be so. Problems and mortality are kind of your thing, get it? The point is what you do IN SPITE of your own shortcomings.

I knew you'd say that. Can't we just trade?I'll do your job.

Sure! You be the Universe and I'll be a tree. This is illogical. You are you. I am. This is how it is.

OK. I get it. Just call me home then. I'm lonely. Anxious. Frazzled. Delirious. Emotional! Lost. I'm not cut out for this. You must see that.

No. I do not. You must see what *I* see. You are equipped to meet every challenge you face. You will help soon enough. You will be frightened but I will be with you.

I know... I feel you smiling at me. Supporting me. Leading me along a path that I cannot see. I feel you there. Sometimes. But I can't SEE you. I can't hear you. Are you there?

(Silence)

Sometimes I can't separate my thoughts from yours. Where do I end and you begin? Am I just talking to myself? Assuming what you'd say and filling in the blanks? Just molecules and chemicals. A complex chemical reaction. Is that all it is?

...

I'm sure I was talking to you. I feel you. I know it.

...

Help me be a better person tomorrow.

How about now?

Good idea...

Location:Buck Owens Blvd,Bakersfield,United States

The priorities of children

I have one little hampster cage like this left for sale in my store for $5.

Today this little girl said to me "When I grow up and have my own house I'm going to have a hampster and I'm going to NEED THAT but it's going to be gone."

Obviously she's had the full discussion with her parents. It's only $5! But she can't have a hampster until she grows up. But THEN it's not going to be here. Not fair.

When she left she said "Take care of that for me!" She's probably around 7 years old. The logic of children kills me. And by kills I mean it's really freaking cute.

I remember having a discussion with myself when I was a child. There were so many awesome toys, Toys R Us is FULL of them. But I could never afford any of them. On the flip side ADULTS have tons of money but don't give a crap about playing with toys. This killed me. And by killed I mean made my little soul sad. I sat on my bedroom floor and closed my eyes and chanted to my brain "Don't forget to still like toys when you grow up. Don't forget to still like toys. Don't forget."

I was trying to send a message to my grown-up self. Something I'd receive telepathically, perhaps, at age 22. I'd have a job and a life and one day I'd suddenly run into the toy store and start buying everything in sight. Plastic toys with moving parts. Remote control cars. I can only imagine the stuff MY seven year-old self was thinking of. I can only imagine because now *I* don't give a crap.

I have an iPhone. A laptop. A badass surround sound system. A high definition television.

But I'm going to take a leap of faith and translate for 7 year old me. It's not about the toys. It's about joy. Adults have all of the opportunities but a hampster is a hassle. There is no time to play.

I just want to say...on behalf of seven year old me...and the little girl who wants the hampster... Forget your job and responsibilities. That stuff is temporary and meaningless. Play. Be silly. Be happy. Find your joy. Don't be a douchebag grown-up. Don't forget.

(Me and my sis. Circa...the old days)

My review of "The Dark Knight"

Lots of potential dragged down by a scatterbrained, proposterous script and bland directing. Let's start with the good before I give my take on where it all went wrong.

The visuals are gritty and massive. The cinematography, sound, art direction, and costumes are all superb. Heath Ledger jumps off the screen with his big, dynamic performance. He's thrilling to watch in every scene.

And...the bad. (Spoiler Alert) It's too long. The script is frantic and full of holes, glossing over important plot points and skipping character development and backstory. Things happen quickly and are never really explained. The narrative is schitzofrenic...one plot begins with the mob, money laundering, and The Joker offering to to kill Batman. That plot is never really resolved when in the third act Ledger's character miraculously turns the perfect, heart-of-gold District Attorney into a villain simply by bumping off his girlfriend. I think Christopher Nolan was really aiming high with several "Sophie's Choice" type *who dies?* decisions (the DA's girlfriend and the two boats) but apparantly he hasn't seen the eight or so "Saw" movies that have absolutely drained every ounce of cleverness out of those gimmicks. As a viewer I felt I was constantly waiting for a coherant narrative to emerge...waiting for it to all go somewhere but it never did and there was never any good conflict or resolution...just a lot of cliche moral dilemmas and bad script choices.

Christian Bale's Batman voice was ridiculous. Gary Oldman died and then wasn't dead with no real explaination. The cell phone radar was the stupidest tech idea ever. The Two-Face add-on plot should have been saved for another movie and was precisely where the movie jumped the shark for me.

The worst tragedy of all is the stellar cast gone to waste. Gary Oldman. Morgan Freeman. Aaron Eckhart. Maggie Gyllenhaal. Michael Caine. Christian Bale. All incredible actors who could carry a film on their own. All boring.

Chrisopher Nolan is a brilliant director and a intriguing screenwriter. How he managed to turn out this nonsensical crap, full of bad dialogue and underdeveloped plot, is a mystery to me.

It was worth watching for Heath's performance but it was the only thing worth watching and they failed to build a decent movie around it. Period.

For Sale: Cheap replacement headphones and USB sync cables for iPhone/iPod

If you've ever had to replace your original iPod/iPhone headphones ou know that they are pricey, $30 or more last time I checked. As an alternative I'm selling these generic white earbud headphones which are inexpensive and have very good sound quality for the money. They make a great replacement or extra pair for any Apple device. The built-in microphone allows you to use the headphones as a hands-free headset for iPhone or interface with applications that require a mic on iPod Touch or iPhone. The mic is also a button that can be used to answer calls, pause and resume music, and skip ahead and backwards through songs on your playlist. These features are available on iPhone & iPod touch only but the headphones can be used for any audio device with a 1/4" headphone jack.

My price to you is $7 for each pair.

I also have nice USB Sync Cables for $5.

Buy any 2 items and receive free shipping.

If interested email me at dexter53@earthlink.net or by phone at (661) 823-0198. Accepted forms of payment are cash, check, Visa/Mastercard, and Paypal.

Unncecessary spam warning

Warning! You are engaging in behavior that may be considered annoying or abusive by other users.

Sometimes people get these warnings for simply misusing one of our features.

Which of the following links describes what you were trying to do? Clicking on a link will take you to more information on how to use Facebook's features.

Using Applications
Planning an Event
Sharing your Facebook Group/Event link
Promoting a business, product or service
Chatting with friends

Further misuse of site features may result in a temporary block or your account being permanently disabled.

What to do when someone you live with steals from you (A PSA)

It's time to argue with myself!

After posting yesterday's blog about pawn shops and people's property I was reminded about another side of the issue I didn't consider (this time). And that is the responsibility of the victim to hold the proper party accountable for wrongdoing. This time I was an objective third party but at other times I have been the pawn man in question being blamed and dumped on.

I wrote this piece last fall after being chewed out by a guy who confronted me because he suspected his roommate/girlfriend/I don't want to know exactly what had taken his digital camera and pawned it. He didn't want to make a police report he just wanted the camera and was angry. Of course it is my obligation to assume a pawned item belongs to the ticket holder unless the ownership is disputed. In our society this disputing takes place in a courtroom. I can't say "Oh it's yours? Sure here you go" because I don't and shouldn't have the legal authority to decide who it belongs to. That's why we have cops and lawyers.

Anyhow, this is not directed to trampsmom so please don't be offended...but I figured it might be a good time to repost it and review what I wrote about the subject at a different time.

A Public Service Announcement

Let's say someone you live with takes something that belongs to you. You discover this because the item is missing or you see a pawn ticket or maybe they even flat out tell you about it. This person may be a relative such as your parent or son or daughter. Or they may fall some gray area of friend/family or part-time boyfriend/girlfriend. Whatever.

So this person took something that belongs to you and brought it to me, your friendly neighborhood pawnbroker. I gave them cash for it. You have discovered it and you come into my shop to see about it.

My friend, there are two ways that this can go and only two ways. You will have to choose.

Method A: You make a police report because you are a victim of theft. The authorities will identify your property and authorize me to release it to you. You can pay me to get it back now or wait for the courts to award it to you when the case goes to trial.

Method B: You don't want to involve the authorities! You love the thief too much. Please change your name to doormat. Because you won't make a police report it is not a theft, it's a civil matter between you and your, ahem, loved one. Confront them about it and ask them nicely and maybe they will assist you in getting it back.

If I know you, though, you'll want to choose C.

Method C: Chew out the pawnbroker. Refuse to listen to reason and keep saying things like "but it's mine."

My friend, I know it's hard to believe but this is not my problem or my business. Nothing illegal or improper occurred when your property crossed my desk. It occurred when your housemate took something of yours and brought it out of your house with the intention of exchanging it for money. That's where you need to start.

I understand that the thief may need money to feed their children, or feed their drug habit, or maybe they had a really messed up childhood. I get that. But you can't have it both ways, you've got to make a choice. If you want to LET them steal from you then that's fine. Deal with it from within the confines of your relationship, then. Drag them down here by the ear (the walk of shame) and make them get it out of pawn.

The law does not split hairs. Either the item(s) were theirs to rightfully pawn or they were not.

Me, I'm here just trying to make ends meet to feed my own family. The bad choices made are not my business. Please don't try to make it so.

A conversation about pawn shops, cops, and stolen goods

A friend on twitter had a frustrating experience this week when she saw something that belonged to her at a local hock shop. Here's her recounting of what happened and my response to her. I'm hoping you'll find it interesting or at least a conversation starter. What say you?

From http://twitter.com/trampsmom14

My son stoled the tv while I was asleep.(I work nights, sleep days.) When I woke up and noticed it missing, I blewup,and he admitted he took it, and told me where he sold it. I went straight to pawn shop the next morning, thinking if they knew it was stolen they would give it back, probably for 40$ he was given. No deal. They said they owned it now, legally. I filled out a police report same day and was told by cop to "wait", cops would be in touch. I waited 3 weeks, and called for info. "Genifer" from police records dept emailed me a copy of the police report. It stated the tv was taken and listed the case as "closed". I called genifer back and said " its not closed! I want my tv back!" She stated that I should wait, that the cops would go to the pawn shop and bring the tv there, and I could pick the tv up @ the police station! I thought she either had shit for brains or she thought I did. She then hooked me up w/ a cop that hooked me up w/ a cop named jim white who told me to go ask the pawnbroker, david morin, to sell me my own stolen tv back. After 4 trips to his store I was finally able to meet w/ him and the bottem line is, after he spoke w/ jim white, he agrees he will do me a favor and sell me back my own television for 108.50$ on thursday, the end of the 30 day waiting period. So tomorrow I will attempt to get my tv back again, fot the 5th time. I had difficulty meeting up with david because he was in court all day on monday, dealing w/ same situation, son stealing from parents. David in the same breath said he doesn't deal w/ stolen property, and he"really hates to have his time spent in court all day asit takes away the time I could spend at my business.". So we'll see if I actually get my tv back, and in working order. I also found it interesting that one cop is assigned to work with pawnshop who don't deal in stolen property. But I guess the crux of the whole issue was I didn't want to press charges against my son. He's not dealing with a full deck. He didn't see a problem with taking the tv. But I guaranty the next stolen item will land his ass in lerdo. Once I was able to speak with david morin I found him to be nice,and professional. His staff are all assholes,however, and he should educate them on how to deal with victims of theft who outraged over their situation. (....but that negates the premise that pawnshops don't buy stolen property.) So that's basically the story. Keep in mind its from the victims standpoint. The cops told me "no crime has been committed", and I heartily disagree! (I'll take up no more of your time.)

From: http://twitter.com/mysoulishome

Hmm... That's disappointing on the part of the Wooden Nickel. I'll give you my perspective on that type of situation with a recent happening as an example.

So this kid has been pawning a bunch of tools and instruments and things since February. It turns out he is an employee of a local business owner and stole all of it from him. Most of it is his personal property. He is like family to the guy he stole it from. So he confronted the kid and he admitted it and gave him all the pawn tickets.

Now, I know the items are stolen and if protocol is followed the guy will make a police report and get the stuff back and the kid will be prosecuted. The guy and his wife talk it over and decide against letting the legal system have its way with the kid and me being out all the money. Instead they get the kid to agree to enter a one year teen challenge program and the guy pays me my cost (what I loaned on all the items) and no more.

Now, I could dig my heels in and say "I need to collect interest" or "these are my items" or stay tight lipped and say "make a police report, otherwise there is nothing I can do for you" but *I know these items are stolen* and getting reimbursed for the items TODAY is a good outcome for me. After all, the alternative would be the stuff gets confiscated and for me to get any money I'd have to take the kid to small claims court or wait for the court to sentence him and garner his wages for my cost. It would take years. PLUS you don't want good law abiding citizens (like you) walking around thinking you are a crook. Any good pawnbroker knows these things.

However...the kids working at the Nickel are most likely peons with no potential to reason or cut a deal. Plus they've probably been told and taught by experience to stay tight lipped and advise anyone with a complaint to piss off. You can repeat the mantra over and over "My business is legal and ethical. I don't deal in stolen goods. Plain and simple." and it might well be true but in the real world things get complicated and "put up or shutup" will not work.

My advice to you (or anyone) in this type of situation is don't talk to any employee about it and don't bring it up in the store right in front of everyone (customers and all). You will be brushed off and ignored. Ask to see the manager or owner in private and hopefully they will be level headed. Tell them you don't want his (or her) business to be out the money and you don't want to prosecute your family member and they should be willing to work out a deal with you.

If you try to go the legal route...police report...confiscation...court...be ready to keep the pressure on. It can get very frustrating. The one time in 8 years of business I've had this happen...the property sat on my shelf for two years before the case went to trial and after it concluded an insurance company came to relieve me of the goods.

Hope that makes sense. I'd like to think most pawn people are honest and intelligent.

And I'd like to to think I'm in that category but even I have people out there who think I'm a dickhead and a crook. I can't post anything on the Tehachapi News website without one woman attacking me. She is sore because years ago she bought a couple of generic pearl rings that she thought looked like hers. Myself and the cop involved were not inclined to think they were, but I made her a good deal and tried to put it behind me. Oh well.

My review of Public Enemies

Movie Info

Public Enemies

73% liked it

Synopsis: No one could stop John Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailb...(read more)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Jason Clarke, David Wenham, Christian Stolte,Stephen Dorff

Aaron's Review of Public Enemies

Aaron Mauldin

98 Ratings29 Reviews7 Favorites

9:55pm edit

Johnny Depp was born to play roles like this and he's great of course. As Dillenger he is suave and cocky, you really root for him as a bad guy. The audience responded to his character and really wanted to see him outwit everybody. Unfortunately the film lacks a strong narrative and doesn't really go anywhere. You keep hoping to see some kind of twist or conclusion that is emotionally satisfying or shocking but it disappoints. I won't discourage anyone from seeing it but don't expect too much. It's fun and really drags you into the time period. The gun battles are loud and realistic. The cinematography is largely well done but sometimes tries to get too gritty going into P.O.V. mode shaking and bouncing around (distracting). Oh yeah, and Christian Bale is in it. He does a fine job but what a waste of this story and cast that it isn't a fantastic movie...