kimmy

The Osoyoos Indian Band here in Kim Country is an example of what first nations people can do when they have good leadership... My trip there last year really opened my eyes. My typical experience with first nations people is with the many local panhandlers here in Kim City, who are disproportionately aboriginal. It's quite depressing. -k

Rest assured that "Lieberal" and "Conservatard" are and will always be banned. That's cut and dried. Charles and Michael have decided that "Trudeau Jr" isn't intended maliciously, so they have decided not to take action. I personally disagree, but I don't think it is worth getting upset about. The moderators will not always agree with you about everything. -k

I agree that we would like to avoid this turning into a poop-flinging monkey brawl like the comments section at any major media website. And any egregious offenses will continue to be dealt with with that goal in mind. But this "Trudeau Jr" thing is really not that big a deal. I understand the complaint, but the moderating team has considered the complaint and made their decision, and it's time to move on. I don't believe that decorum can be created simply by enforcing a minimal set of rules. Banning terms like "LIEberals" and "Conservitards" and so-on might help the forum avoid looking like it's been overrun by junior high-school students, but it doesn't get us to decorum on its own. For example, a post like this... ...isn't really violating any rule that I know of, but it's not exactly the kind of discussion we're hoping to build here either. (The above post is hardly the most flagrant example.) One of the complaints I've seen a few times is that some posters have mastered the art of being insulting without breaking any forum rules. What's the answer to that? More rules? More judgment calls from the moderators? Personally my vote would be that members be friendlier to each other, and that they develop thicker skins. -k

I understand what you're saying. I'm sure that none of us here are under the illusion that we're changing the course of human history with our assorted ramblings here. Most of us are here for fun, not because we think this little forum is the place where the battle for the hearts and minds of Canadian voters can be won or lost. To borrow a sports analogy, this is rec-league, not the big-leagues. And I think that like the toolbag who brings a hyper-competitive attitude to a rec-league game, some people need to lighten up and dial it back a little. -k

So the restaurant stood up for the employee, and the jerk-face lost his court case. Sounds like a happy ending! -k

I think that the general feeling of the moderating team is that this is an issue of trivial importance. People are making a mountain of a molehill, clamoring for moderator action for the sake of it. If the moderating team gets involved in this, it will just encourage more people to make more mountains of molehills in the future. The better solution would be if August agree to stop using Trudeau Jr and everyone agree to stop making mountains of molehills. -k

If he just wanted a burger and courteous service he could have gone to Perkins' and saved some money. He went to an upscale restaurant because he wanted to be a big deal for an hour. Going to Perkins for a burger and a Coke is something that our Saturn driving paper shuffler would normally do... But he wanted to live a little for a change. If he goes into a restaurant with a sexy atmosphere and leaves feeling better than he did when he went in, what's wrong with that? Why would you want to take that away from him? If he bought a steak instead of a cheeseburger that is his choice. He's a grown man and can spend his own money however he wishes. He doesn't need the Upright Citizens Brigade to watch over his choices. And I find the comparison to a brothel quite ridiculous. -k

Why would you say that? Do you view things as either asexual or prostitution with nothing in between? Please elaborate. -k

When someone who isn't a real Junior gets called Junior, it's usually used dismissively (much like calling someone who isn't your son "Son.") Implying they're not grown men, more or less. (compare the recent characterization of Marco Rubio ex.1 and ex.2 ). -k

I have been reading rumors that they are vetting Tennessee congresswoman Marsha Blackburn. -k

I have come to believe that people are only using "Trudeau Jr" to get a rise out of other people. And I have come to believe that those people only make a fuss about it because they want to complain about the first people. It all seems tremendously juvenile. Please, August, find some better way of getting the forum all agitated. Perhaps some new Three Paragraphs movie reviews? This was actually quite interesting. Since Pierre Trudeau is also dead, that's a second reason why "Jr" is inaccurate, as you stop being "Jr" when "Sr" passes away. -k

First off, he is not "using a woman's body". He is enjoying her attention. And I think almost everybody likes to enjoy the attention of someone, especially an attractive someone. And no, he's not entitled. But if someone is willing to provide that service, why shouldn't she be allowed to do that? And why shouldn't he be able to accept? I don't think anything unsavory is going on. There are a whole lot worse things he could be doing to boost his beleaguered self-esteem. A man having a drink and enjoying the attention of a fully clothed woman is not something that the Upright Citizens Brigade needs to get their knickers in a knot over, in my opinion. I don't propose that he requires a woman to fawn over him... merely that he enjoys it. Why wouldn't he? Everybody likes to feel like a big deal sometimes. Everybody likes to feel special sometimes. The idea that it's only acceptable if it's done in an asexual way that doesn't offend a crabby woman with a flat-top haircut at the OHRC bunker in Toronto is quite annoying to me. And as far as I'm concerned, if the waitress is happy with her job and the customer is happy to spend his money, then there's absolutely justification for the government to interfere. -k

Gee, it's almost as if different professions have different expectations. Who would have guessed? Perhaps people choose their accountant based on the assumption of professionalism, and the idea that an accountant would attempt to attract business by wearing tassels at work is somewhat at odds with the image of professionalism. The free market has already spoken. BC Chick explained it here: The only reason our hypothetical frumpy waitress wants to work at a casual upscale place instead of a family place is that she knows the waitresses there make a lot more money. If she wants to work in a higher paying environment then she should go the extra mile in terms of her personal appearance, just like the other waitresses there. If she's not comfortable with that, she should stay at Denny's. If I run a "casual upscale" place, why wouldn't I just let the waitresses wear what they like and let the ones who don't get enough tips quit of their own accord? Because my customers are too polite. First off, they're going to leave at least 15% tip even if they weren't happy with their experience, because that's just what kind of guys they are. They're not going to tell me that they were unhappy to be assigned a frumpy slob while other tables were served by attractively dressed women. They're not going to ask for a different waitress. What they'll do instead is take their business elsewhere next time. So the waitress who doesn't care about her personal appearance isn't the one who suffers... the whole business suffers on her behalf, including the other waitresses. If she wants to dress modestly, that's her choice, and she can exercise her choice by working at one of the many restaurants that have modest uniforms or modest dress codes for the staff. -k

If you can find an accountant willing to provide that service, Bob, then I say go for it. -k

Yep it's over. -k

I just wanted to mention that I killed my first spammer on Sunday! Still feeling pretty buzzed about it. I feel like I should get little decals to put on my computer case for each kill. -k

Maybe I can get a client bank card with Nellie McClung on it. Speaking of which, I just received a flyer from the Roycal Canadian Mint, which is issuing commemorative loonies this year. In 1916, women in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta gained the right to vote in provincial elections; these loonies mark the 100th anniversary. The coin depicts an unnamed woman in a hat casting a ballot, while her daughter watches. -k

Bonam got what I was saying, his response about it being a "win", about the guy needing to toughen up, etc, was sarcasm. I feel like the guy should be able to enjoy the experience he was envisioning when he walked into the restaurant. I feel like the restaurant should be able to offer him the experience he was envisioning when he walked into the restaurant. I feel like Donna should go work at a Pizza Hut or an IHOP and stop ruining it for everybody. -k

I am picturing some guy, driving his Saturn home after a crappy day pushing paper at the office... and he decides that just for a change, he wants to stop off at the restaurant that has the sexy waitresses. For just an hour of his life, he wants to feel like a big deal. For just an hour of his life he wants to feel like he's James Bond or Don Draper or something like that. He sits down at the bar, and the sexy bartender mixes him one of the fancy drinks he only ever orders when he comes to places like this. Then the sexy hostess comes over and tells him his table is ready, so he follows her there, and she tells him his server will be with him shortly. And as he's sipping his Manhattan, this two-hundred pound girl wearing wide slacks and a tent-like satin blouse waddles over and asks him if he'd like a menu. He orders the cheapest thing on the menu... probably an overpriced basket of yam fries. He finishes his Manhattan, half of his yam fries, and leaves. Does he come back to that restaurant again? Never. Not even once. Because instead of an escape from the mediocrity of his life, his night out was a symbolic metaphor for it. His night out was as disappointing as his job and his car. In a restaurant full of beautiful waitresses, he gets Diversity Hire Donna. Perhaps he'll visit the competing restaurant next time. Or perhaps he'll just go home with the painful realization that he's destined to fail no matter what he does. Whichever the case, this restaurant won't be seeing him again. -k

I'm really not sure it gets said enough. If you listen to the news you get updates on events on the combat, but it's never mentioned what ISIS is all about. Certainly the information is out there, for people who are willing to read about it. But it's never on the news, perhaps it's not "news" because it's been known for a long time. If you got your information just from listening to the news, you might be under the impression that ISIS is just another army, albeit one that occasionally beheads its enemies and bulldozes statues. Perhaps if we were in neighboring areas, the comment about fear giving them more power would be pertinent, but here in the west where people are wondering whether dropping bombs on these guys is a good use of taxpayer money, I think we should not miss an opportunity to point out what utter sewage ISIS are. -k

I think it was pretty clear that JBG was sarcastically applauding ISIS's "progressive" stance on birth control as a way of drawing attention to the fact that they are keeping captured women as sex slaves. -k

I can't speak to his record on keeping promises, but his record with the truth isn't that great. -k

Perhaps some thought should be given to why the casual upscale waitresses earn more than the waitresses who work in slacks and sensible shoes. If a server doesn't want to put herself out there in terms of her appearance in the way that some do, maybe she shouldn't expect the same financial rewards. I have about as much sympathy for her position as I have for a guy who works at a coffee shop wondering why he makes less money than a guy doing heavy labor. "It's not fair. His job doesn't take any skill. He can't even make smiley-faces with syrup in coffee-foam. Why does he make so much more money than me?" Because he's breaking his back while you're serving coffee in an air-conditioned shop, that's why. And similar with the waitress. If she wants to earn as much money as the upscale waitresses but she doesn't feel like giving up the security of her slacks and cardigan, she's in pretty much the same boat as the coffee guy who wants to get paid like a laborer without actually doing labor. -k

Well, you're wrong. People don't just go to these places because they want food, they go to these places because they want a night out. The service experience is a key component of that. Your clients are no doubt happy to know they're not dealing with a crazy-person when they meet with you, but beyond assuring them of your professionalism your appearance has nothing to do with the services you provide. -k

A dress code isn't a human rights issue. I don't claim to have a specific breakdown on reasons people go to restaurants. I believe in the overall experience. Food, service, atmosphere, ambience, decor, and other things create the overall experience. People go to restaurants for reasons beyond just food. When somebody opens up a restaurant with fluorescent tube lighting, plastic surplus chairs, plain linoleum floors, and servers dressed in asexual grey overalls, I'll be willing to believe otherwise. -k