MBA inspired question:
 

I'm confused (no real change from every other day). Are you saying that you consciously try to weigh less now because the standard of beauty has changed?

AI qiuestion for those who caught last season
 

I think that at this time last season, Justin was a heavy favorite to win it all, but, like Seabiscuit, Kelly Clarkson had started to put it in gear as we headed into the final turn.

Note: Comparisons between Kelly Clarkson and Seabiscuit are due to their similar come-from-out-of-nowhere strategies, and has nothing, NOTHING to do with Kelly's big butt. Nothing whatsoever.

str8.

MBA inspired question:
 

I think she's right. Before, I wanted, with absolutely no hope of success, to get down to a certain weight. Now, with the new, thinner, paradigm, I futilely want to get down to an even lower weight.

class, democracy and boobs
 

A fun book: Class, by Paul Fussell. Sort of dated now, by kind of a field guide. You would particularly like it.

He says there are nine classes:

Top out-of-sight
Upper
Upper middle
--------
Middle
High proletarian
Mid-proletarian
Low proletarian
--------
Destitute
Bottom out-of-sight

edited to add content

MBA inspired question:
 

This is true. But surgery is much easier today than it was then. Doctors are better at it. It is cheaper and safer. In fact, there are probably less "eating disorder people" now than there was back then because, now, all you have to do is get the fat you don't like sucked right out. Eat what you want. When the fat comes back in a different place, suck it out again.

I think we are inundated with perfect bodies more so now because it is so much easier to have an incredible body. If you're a skinny girl, you are one step away from having a fantastic build. (And just for the record, there are skinny girls who have huge natural tits -- it's rare, but it happens.)

As for your child, stop worrying. She will have all sorts of pressure. Prepare her as best you can, hope she has half a brain in her head and let her be. If she would truly be happy with bigger tits, by then it'll be 1 hour, outpatient surgery.

Why isn't anyone arguing that the availability and relative inexpensiveness of surgery brings people who would have been unhappy all their lives to the "I am beautiful" party? It's sad that it is in people's nature to impose an impossible beauty standard on everyone, but shit. That's life.

TM

Change of Topic, but I'm not sure if it's fashion, politics or sports.
 

I read an interesting article today. Ralph Nader faxed a letter to LeBron James' high school, asking that he use his influence with whichever company he inks a shoe endorsement deal with to eliminate sweatshop labor.

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaind...0993281580.xml

I think the coach deserves some kind of award for helping to keep the kid somewhat grounded over the last year. Even though LeBron seems like a mature kid for 18, I worry that he will have trouble handling the enormous number of people who will be trying to get their hooks in him over the next several years. What would you do at 18 when for the last 10 years, everybody who knew of you has been telling you that you are the shit just because you can put a ball through a hoop? He doesn't exactly have the support system around him that someone like Kobe had at that age.

If it were up to Nader, I'm sure he would also have LeBron insist that the company make its shoes from natural cruelty-free materials like hemp rather than that nasty leather. While I think that the idea of improving working conditions overseas is an admirable goal, it's both stupid and misguided to make this kid the vanguard of the cause. Sometimes people just need to learn to shut the fuck up.

spookyfish

LeBron James
 

If LeBron James seems somewhat grounded, Iraq's government seems somewhat stable today.

LeBron James
 

OK, Timmy. That's why I qualified. ;)

Which makes it all the more unrealistic that he's all the sudden going to start hanging around with pasty-skinned, earnest, turtle-neck-wearing, cello-playing idealists.

Whether you believe it, or even he does, he more often says the right things than not. In other words, it could be worse.

spooky(just gimme the damn rock!)fish

MBA inspired question:
 

People keep telling me to post over here, but all I see is a rehash of what we knew:

1. Paigow is pigheaded and wrong;
2. Everyone else knows it; yet
3. Y'all can't resist responding to her even though you would flee her table and a similar conversation IRL like an Iraqi_refugee, an ingrate, or a non-PC chef if you made the mistake of sitting next to her at dinner.

MBA inspired question:
 

What are you basing that statement on? Cosmetic surgery is no "easier," whatever that means, or "safer" now than it was 25 years ago. Most cosmetic surgeries aren't now nor ever were risky surgeries. If anything, cosmetic surgery may be more risky today, since it used to be done in hospital ORs and the anesthesia was administered by anesthesiologists. Now it is typically done in office based OR suites and the anesthesia is administered by nurse anesthetists.

Depends on what you mean by huge. If you mean D-cups, it is so rare it isn't worth discussing. If you mean C-cups, yes, there are skinny girls with C-cups. Say hello to one of them.

MBA inspired question:
 

OK, I just did, and she looked at me funny. Now what?

MBA inspired question:
 

And apparently Lester is still not over the fact that he can't have me. Some things never change. Except for the fact that we have an ignore feature. Why dont you make yourself useful and say something about reality tv. Does the deaf chick on survivor have a chance> How come nobody talks about her being a hottie? She is pretty. Is it bc she is deaf or is she too old or something?

MBA inspired question:
 

Parents whose genetic code is set to ugly need to stop having kids. That is just plain cruel.

MBA inspired question:
 

Why don't you make yourself useful and address the earlier posts wherein you were beaten like a rented mule?

Either finish what you start or don't open your mouth.

S(3:00... on the playground)D

LeBron James
 

Maybe I wasn't clear -- it seems to me that he couldn't be less grounded if he stood in a bucket of water on the top of a hill in a lightning storm.

But I don't really know, and I hope you're right.

MBA inspired question:
 

I thought she was 24????? How can she be too old to be hot if she's 24? Maybe she needs botox (JOKE).

I like her but she won't win. Who wants to go up against a nice girl who is deaf? Everyone wants to go to the finals with a jerkoff.

MBA inspired question:
 

Hiya, Less.

MBA inspired question:
 

The deaf girl is only 24? Apparently adventure guide is not a great position for the antiaging regime. I think she is prettier than Jenna, which, lets face it, isnt saying much. Seeing as Jenna is a "swimsuit model" I am guessing she has a better bod than Christy who, as an adventure guide probably has a good body. So why arent the boys talkig about her being hot? Is deafness that much of a turnoff? And is Christy gone this week?

I really cannot wait to that arrogant little sexist pig Rob is gone. He really thinks he is the ruler over there. One gets the feeling he might rape Heidi if the moment was right bc he is so angry she isnt into him

MBA inspired question:
 

1. How do you know this? Have you looked into getting cosmetic surgery? Have you had it done? Do you know well anyone who's had it done? I do, and I can assure you, if you go to a reputable surgeon (which costs a lot), its every bit as easy and safe as TM stated earlier. You are correct, however, that if one goes to Dr. Nick Riviera for a $3000 boob job, one will get hacked. Like anything else - you get what you pay for.

2. Don't start a "Yeh, but that means poor women will suffer at the hands of quacks." That's true, but that's not this discussion, so lets not stray from point. We;ve had enough deflecting this week already.

3. If you're not a man and you are skinny and have C-cups, congratulations. You've hit the genetic lottery. That you're not hitched tells me you must have a pretty ugly face.

S(... or that your IRL persona resembles your board persona)D

FB Breasticle Day
 

I missed the first edition because I was out of town for my sister's wedding. Now I have scanner and would be happy to participate as more than just a viewer. And don't worry--they'll be pre-childbearing breasts so as not to frighten anyone. Would you prefer bare, bra'ed, or both?

tm

MBA inspired question:
 

Shit, who made this guy a moderator? Now I cant ignore him (though i can always scroll). I thought moderators were supposed to be neutral, non flaming types?

FB Breasticle Day
 

Not fair. We want them bare, but we want them both.

MBA inspired question:
 

In a woman? I don't know if it makes much of a difference, since they usually give no evidence that they listen to what we men have to say, anyway. ;)

Now, muteness on the other hand, depending on the woman, is sometimes a huge turn-on.

spookyfish

MBA inspired question:
 

No. That's not at all what he said. If you'd like to respond to your made-up interpretation of what he said, post it under a sock and then reply to yourself. Or close your ofice door and argue with yourself, then post a real reply to his actual words.

MBA inspired question:
 

Its 2:30.

You will be in the parking lot.

If you're not, you have no credibility at all.

MBA inspired question:
 

Huh? I said that cosmetic surgery isn't risky. I just disagreed that it is safer now than it used to be. It always was safe. It probably used to be even safer than it is now because it used to be done in hospital-based ORs with MD's administering the anesthesia. Now it is typically done in the plastic surgeon's OR, which may or may not be as safe as a hospital OR, and the anesthesia is administered by a nurse, not a doctor.

With the exception of lipo, the anesthesia is the riskiest part of cosmetic surgery.

And I don't know what TM means by "easier." What does that mean? I don't think it is any easier than it ever was. It never was difficult surgery.

Why would I say that? I have never voiced an opinion one way or the other on cosmetic surgery on this board.

I got lucky in life. My dad is rich and smart and his money and power bought him a beautiful wife. I got his genes for intelligence, used his money to go to the best schools, and got my mother's genes for looks. It is good to be me.[/QUOTE]

MBA inspired question:
 

You will note that I have relented with the flaming from the other day, Paigow, in part because of my newly-acquired mod status. It also got boring. That said, there's nothing in the mod handbook that prohibits calling people out.

MBA inspired question:
 

I could not note that bc you were on my ignore list which means that I was ignoring you.

And speaking of ignoring, is barely the only person who is not ignoring me who is watching survivor? How is this show still in the top three?

MBA inspired question:
 

Right, 'cuz that's what goes on here alot. People actually respond to each other. Honey, this board is one big cluster fuck and you are often the fuckee.

You seem rather touchy about the ugly issue. I know you claim you are a hottie IRL, but hotties aren't touchy about the ugly issue like you are. We feel sorry for the ugly folk.

Dealbreakers
 

I know we've done a poll about deal breakers before -- I saw this letter in Salon and it reminded me to add another dealbreaker to my list:

HELL: The Dealbreaker

A friend of mine set me up with a woman that he barely knew. Since my friend has good taste, I figured it was worth a shot. So I asked her out for a drink. We e-mailed pictures of ourselves so we'd be able to find each other. The picture was cute and matched her real appearance.

The conversation was reasonable and she seemed nice. I was thinking that I would ask her out again to get to know her a little better. As we were walking out to our cars she told me she was a little embarrassed about where she parked. I thought that was odd and tried to imagine how parking could be embarrassing. Did she double park? Did she park in a tow-away zone? Did she park on someone's lawn? So I jokingly asked, "Where did you park, in a handicapped spot?"

And she said yes.

Appalled, I paused for a few seconds, thinking of what to say, and finally spluttered, "Aren't you worried that you'll get a ticket?"

And she said, "No, because I'm using my mom's placard."

Earlier she had told me that her mom had died last year. I was totally shocked, having never met someone who used their dead mother's handicapped placard to park illegally.

I thought maybe it was a joke. But I saw that she had indeed parked her SUV with a placard in a handicapped spot. So I mumbled a good night and left wondering if she was collecting her mother's Social Security checks too.

-- T


salon.com

b(and Survivor was #5 in the Nielson's last week, not top 3)l

MBA inspired question:
 

Sure you were...

I wonder if the viewing public has gotten tired of these shows? How do the ratings compare to past Survivors? I haven't watched any of them, but it strikes me that this one is promoted more heavily (commercials, etc.) than previous survivors. True? False?

Dealbreakers
 

I thought you were going to post the one about the woman who didn't smile in her pictures because she didn't have teeth.

(Embarassed because I have a relative that occasionally uses a dead spouse's handicapped sticker.)

MBA inspired question:
 

Because she can't hear them.

And she's not hot.

TM

MBA inspired question:
 

break this down for me like lorenzo lamas. is she not hot bc she doesnt have a pretty face, she doesnt have a good body, or she just doesnt have that overall hot sex appeal thing?

would you datea deaf chick?

MBA inspired question:
 

It doesn't bother you to say that your dad 'bought' your mom like a common whore (albeit with a better paycheck and benefits)?

class, democracy and boobs
 

Oh yeah I read that. It's where I first encountered the term "prole." I'll second TS's recommendation. It's full of interesting observations, some of which are dubious. I particularly like his notion that the worst dressers are the "bottom out of sight" and "destitute," but followed closely by the "top out-of-sight."

str8 outta proledom

Dealbreakers
 

The actual use of the H/C sticker doesn't bother me too much. What makes it a deal-breaker is that she didn't have enough sense to park in a normal space for the first date. I mean, Christ, let's make a little effort to put your best foot forward. If I found out about the H/C sticker after a month of dating it would make no difference at all.

MBA inspired question:
 

There is nothing that says a moderator cannot flame, and lord knows there is no history of "neutral" mods as far as I have seen it. Neutral in their duties yes, nuetral in who they like or dislike, or how they speak to people when they aren't wearing their moderator hat, no. I don't think I would be able to have many moderators if I expected them to conduct themselves that way.

However, moderators are required not to use their moderator abilities in anything but a neutral fashion, and if it is possible that there can be some confusion as to whether they are speaking as a moderator or speaking as a regular poster, they need to make clear which they are doing.

Alex however is not a moderator on this particular board, he is a moderator on Mid-Atlantic and Fitness. So on the fashionista board he is no different from any other poster. And if he wants to have a good, old fashioned flame war on this board, it is none of my concern.

That said, if I find a moderator is a constant problem on any board, I would have to think seriously about whether to keep said person a moderator.

Alex however has not done anything to give me pause in my decision to make him a moderator on the boards he mods.

It is true you cannot ignore mods though, regardless of the board on which they are participating.

MBA inspired question:
 

You've been watching too much CBS. Which might be explained by their coverage of the NCAA tournament. Or football. Or, god forbid, Touched by an Angel.

MBA inspired question:
 

PJ, listen carefully to me please. Back away from the keyboard. Please. Just back away.