5 Things I Don't Get

A little while ago Stephen from Fearless Philosophy for Free Minds tagged me with a little topic where I am supposed to list five things I don't get but my family or friends do. As I have unwantingly taken a little break from blogging, due to continued computer troubles, I'll take this opportunity to get back into the swing of things.

1. Paris Hilton. Guys, I just don't get it. What is so appealing about this ditz? Is it the hope that "hey, here is a celebrity slutty enough even to sleep with me!" Besides being the saddest example of our disfigured celebrity worship, and accomplishing the impossible task of making Brittany Spears look intelligent, she isn't even very attractive. Sure, she's skinny, but her face is nothing to look at. If I want a ditzy, hot, blonde, I'll take Jessica Simpson.

2. Getting drunk. Now, personally I just don't much care for the taste of alcohol. I think most mixed drinks taste better without it. As far as beer goes, I don't know about you, but I can't stand the taste of liquefied burnt crackers, but that's just me. Getting drunk is the real baffling thing though. You drink this stuff in order to make yourself more dumb, on purpose? Just something about spending my night throwing up into a toilet and waking up next to disease infected women that just doesn't appeal to me. I like dealing with reality, not escaping from it. And if you get drunk, you shouldn't be against other drugs, the magnitude may be different but the principle is the same.

3. Horror movies. Come on, when was the last time you saw a horror movie that was actually scary? They have become so camp and predictable that they serve better as comedies nowadays. Aside from that fact, what is the big eniticement to be scared? Nightmares? Paranoia? I think I'll pass.

4. Pets. More specifically lots of pets. I can understand having A dog OR A cat but when you have three dogs, two cats, five birds, some fish and a turtle, you are taking it overboard. Some people have so many pets that they basically enslave themselves to their upkeep. What is the appeal of having so many dependent beings calling on your time? As if raising kids and living your own life wasn't a challenge enough.

5. Popping your collar. Do you enjoy walking around with a sign around your neck that says "I'm a conformist asshole"? I just don't get how people can be so overtly unoriginal. I always thought being a sheep was a bad thing.

Now I'm supposed to pass this on to a few bloggers that haven't yet received it. So I'll challenge Jollybeggar and Matthew.

The Minimum Wage Strikes Back

I went to go see "The hitchhiker Guide To The Galaxy" the other week. As I was purchasing my ticket the girl in the ticket booth politely said "$6.25 please." Being used to only paying $6.00 (the student discount rate) I inquired when this unfortunate change had occurred. The girl promptly replied that the increase had just taken effect. Without provocation she added that they were forced to increase prices in response to the raise in minimum wage which was passed through a citizen initiative last November.

I couldn't have asked for a better example of the true effects of the minimum wage. It's really quite simple. If you are an employer you have two options in the face of a minimum wage increase. 1. You can raise prices in order to compensate for the increase in wages. 2. You can offset the increase in wages by reducing the number of hours worked by the employees. So what are the results of these choices for a person making minimum wage? Either he has to pay more for goods and services which simply negates the effect of the wage increase or he loses his job.

Can someone please give me some good reasons to support the minimum wage. As far as I have heard nothing justifies the abrogation of a person's right to voluntarily enter into contracts.

Fly Higher,
Icarus Goodman