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Sending a Message to the Kiddies

Posted at 10:24, Tue 21 April 2009 in Silly personal rants

I caught a glimpse of a current affairs program last night. It was about a former childrens show (http://www.hi-5.com.au/swf/home.html) host/member who has decided to change her profile by posing in Ralph magazine (http://ralph.ninemsn.com.au/).

Normally this wouldn't interest me. I consider the Hi-5 show to be a bit of rubbish, much the same as Ralph magazine.

However, during the spot on the current affairs program, some person stated that for this girl to be posing in a mens magazine sends a wrong message to children...this came from Women's Forum Australia spokeperson Melinda Tankard Reist. Her words:

"It's an abuse of her position with tens of thousands of little girls looking up to her"

"The fact she's posed on a cover is particularly problematic because magazines like Ralph are on shop shelves at kiddy eye level."

"There is no escaping the message she is sending to little girls, that posing in a men's magazine in a soft-porn style is something to aspire to."

First up, I am yet to see a child of the demographic that Hi-5 relates to reading Ralph magazine. Secondly, if a child is reading Ralph, then they have far more 'wrong messages' entering their heads than a photo shoot of a former kids show host.
Thirdly, if you are in a newsagent with a toddler, isn't it the parents' responsibility to ensure their 'kiddie' is NOT browsing the soft porn shelves?

And finally, the woman is 34 years old. What right does anyone have to condemn her decision?

In her words:
"After working in children's television for 10 years, and always being pinned into your clothes so no one can see your belly button if you lift your hands up, and always having your cleavage covered, and me being the tomboy of the three girls, it was something I did for myself to remind myself that I am a woman."

I guess there is a dearth of real news about at the moment, else we'd be hearing more about CEO thieves, rather than the career choices of small time stars.

The news piece I've sourced the quotes from is here:
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,25355406-10229,00.html

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WFA

(posted by AngelaJames on Tue 21 April 2009)

Actually a friend of mine works for the Women's Forum of Australia. They are highly conscious of how women are potrayed in the media and have actually done quite a bit of research into the topic. Whilst I do not deny that a 34 year old is big enough, old enough and shall we say wise enough to make her own decisions about her body and how it is potrayed, it's a platform for WFA to talk about their agenda - they're actually a lobby group btw.

I do agree with you that kids defintely shouldn't be exposed to Ralph, but don't forget that recent sociological studies have also shown that almost 90% of 15 year old girls and 100% of 15 year old boys have been exposed to some form of porn, so they definitely get exposure at some point.

Anyhow I'm ranting and will stop.

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Untitled Comment

(posted by gryphonn on Tue 21 April 2009)

Hi Angela
Sorry if I came across as anti-WFA. I was just trying to convey that the statement was a little extreme.
I am a firm believer in the rights of anyone to do as they wish, so long as it doesn't deny other people their rights.
I cannot hold a bias one way or the other as my daughter is a professional adult entertainer who enjoys her work and doesn't feel exploited.
The only time I would object in the case of my blog entry would be if the person in question actively encouraged young kids to enter into the 'porn' profession.
And yes, it is unfortunate that children are exposed to porn. I was at the tender age of 12, by a paedophile.

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An Economic Stimulus Stares You In The Face

Posted at 10:19, Sat 18 April 2009 in Silly personal rants

Here's a thought. If you had a Primary Industry that generated USD113 BILLION Dollars in retails sales yearly, you probably wouldn't have much of an economic crisis...well, it'd be a little less dramatic than the so called crisis we're supposedly in.

For those who are unaware, there is currently a huge push in the United States to legalise and tax Cannabis much the same way as alcoholic beverages are taxed. It's not just the pro-pot organisations either. There are many business groups, politicians and other mobs on board as well. In Australia, we have more smokers per capita than the US. Food for thought.

Here are a few links:

The Hill Blog

QUOTE

According to a 2005 analysis by Harvard University senior lecturer Jeffrey Miron — and endorsed by over 500 distinguished economists — replacing pot prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcohol would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year.

A separate economic analysis, conducted by George Mason University professor Jon Gettman in 2007, estimates that the total amount of tax revenue derived from cannabis could be far higher. According to Gettman, the retail value of the total U.S. marijuana market now stands at a whopping $113 billion per year. Using standard tax percentages obtained from the Office of Management and Budget, he calculates that the diversion of this market from the taxable economy deprives taxpayers of $31.1 billion annually.

For local and state governments, taxing and regulating pot could help reduce growing deficits. For instance, in Oakland, California the City Council gave preliminary approval last week to a proposal to raise the business tax paid by city-licensed medical marijuana dispensary operators. Council members estimate that the new tax will raise anywhere from $400,000 to a “couple million” dollars annually.

END QUOTE

According to the mainstream news, the question is on everybodies lips. Even when it comes to questions at President Obama's first live online meeting:

The Seattle Times

QUOTE

More than 100,000 questions were submitted, with the idea Obama would answer those that were most popular. But after 3.6 million votes were cast, one of the top questions turned out to be a query on whether legalizing marijuana might stimulate the economy by allowing the government to regulate and tax the drug.

END QUOTE

Even Time Magazine is on the band-wagon.

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Legalising pot

(posted by AngelaJames on Tue 21 April 2009)

Health issues aside, the black market for this product already exists, so it hasn't really propped up the economy to date - tax or no tax. Heck a legal market for this exists in the ACT here, and in Holland and they are no less affected by the economic downturn.

Anything that means more government regulation, more civil servants etc is really not good in my books. But most people don't agree with that.

And finally as it is so easy to grow your own as a wide variety of pot smoking Aussies already do (case in point: Nimbin), are they really going to go for the legalised taxed variety? And how would consumers know the difference between the legitimate and black market?

***

Untitled Comment

(posted by gryphonn on Tue 21 April 2009)

I think the figures might be a little inflated. However, even if the gross retail sales of cannabis on the black market were half those quoted, it would be better in some ways to tax and regulate the market (for govts at least).
Personally, I'd like to see some form of decriminalization in terms of growing a few plants in your back yard. More importantly, I'd like to see restrictions in research into medicinal uses of cannabis be eased so that some serious study can be conducted. A regulated medicinal market would be ideal. I won't go into the research conducted so far. There are many a blog that covers that issue, eg:
http://itsmedicinejim.blogspot.com

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He's Nearly Four Now

Posted at 20:54, Tue 7 April 2009 in Benign entries happy happy joy joy

The continuing adventures of Gryphonn and Phoenix.In this episode...

...and here's Jack. Jack turns 4 on the 8th of July. I only know that because it is someone's birthday as well.

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A Small Diversion

Posted at 20:36, Tue 7 April 2009 in Benign entries happy happy joy joy

In some small effort to divert my thoughts away from our current dilemna, I thought I'd play with a recent photo I've taken. I rarely get behind the lens nowadays for a plethora of reasons (excuses?). However, on the rare occasion that I do, I try to do something slightly different.

This is one:

This is Midnight Special

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Untitled Comment

(posted by Tracy on Fri 17 April 2009)

I was going to ask you tonight if you had done any time lapse photography and I get my answer as soon as I check out your blog. Very awesome. I'll be trying some of this as soon as I get my Nikon :o)

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Untitled Comment

(posted by AngelaJames on Tue 21 April 2009)

I like it, it's a great picture!

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Untitled Comment

(posted by gryphonn on Tue 21 April 2009)

Thanks AJ. We had trains going past all night. This was the better of many :)

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NEVER trust someone you shouldn't trust

Posted at 16:50, Mon 6 April 2009 in Silly personal rants

The continuing adventures of Gryphonn and Phoenix.In this episode...

If you make a verbal agreement with someone you are supposed to trust to honour said agreement...DON'T!

You may end up not being able to live up to and honour a promise to your child, because that other someone broke their agreement.

I'll fill you in on this some more in the future, but it involves someone who loves her kids, and someone who is only interested in getting government money and in how much they can fuck-over their ex.

I despise sneaky, greedy cheats.

I am a pissed off pacifist...ARGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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