The Amethyst Initiative is bogus

Posted on August 19, 2008
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You’ve probably seen the Amethyst Initiative in the news recently. Composed of a bunch of university presidents and chancellors, the group aims to “rethink the legal drinking age,” by which they really mean lower it from 21 to 18. They think it will decrease binge drinking, since underage drinkers drink clandestinely, rather than in “safe, public spaces.”

I looked around their website and read some of their data, and I still don’t understand. How would lowering the age to 18 get rid of binge drinking and drunk driving? It would just increase binge drinking and drunk-driving fatalities all around. On one of their fact sheets (“Debating the Issues”), it reads:

“Between 1970 and 1975, 29 states lowered their minimum drinking ages. Meanwhile, 13 states kept the legal age at 21.” Researchers found a marked increase in alcohol-related teen car crashes in the states with reductions. “Once the 21 age was restored… alcohol-involved highway crashes immediately declined in this group.” [...] However, research suggests that alongside these increases in alcohol-related traffic fatalities amongst 18- to 20-year-olds there was also likely a decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities amongst 21- to 24-year-olds. [...] Firs-time legal drinkers are more likely to get in trouble at whatever age; thus, we need to address the risks and behaviors of first-time legal drinkers — at any age — in a better way.

Be careful any time the “evidence” says “research suggests.” Research does not suggest. Research proves. Suggestions mean you’re trying to make the proof say something it doesn’t really say. This “Choose Responsibility” campaign, which seems to be working in tandem with the Amethyst Initiative, later goes on to say that a higher drinking age just delays the problems that would happen with a lower age. To which I say, Isn’t that a good thing?

Personally, I think there’s a better way to address the issue of binge-drinking than allowing younger people to do it legally. Speaking as a college student, I don’t see how much of a change it would bring to my campus. If you’re underage, it’s incredibly easy to obtain a lot of free alcohol. Incredibly easy. This proposed policy change would only make it even easier, and — even worse — introduce this problem to high school campuses.

Also, I really enjoyed how their website had a rotating slideshow of young people enjoying alcohol. Apparently, we youngsters only drink wine and champagne at delightful little get-togethers. Who knew?

Folio Society

Posted on August 18, 2008
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The Amazon Kindle will never truly catch on because of people like me. I love books. I love touching and holding books, even smelling books. Other people meet their friends at bars on Friday nights; I meet mine in used bookstores to geek out over the Classics section.

I’ve decided that when I’m rich (ha), I’m going to become a member of the Folio Society, which publishes fine editions of books (literature, history, art, gardening, etc). I think to be a member, you have to buy 4 books a year. The books run around $60. Steep, I know, but look at them! Look at their beauty! In my future house with a Beauty and the Beast library, my shelves will be lined with these delightful books.

Liebemarlene Vintage

Posted on August 15, 2008
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The above image is from liebemarlene vintage, my fave new style blog. How does she find such adorable dresses?? Totally makes me want to rifle through every thrift store in San Diego. That’s what I’d be doing right now if (A) I weren’t laid up post-wisdom teeth removal, and (B) the only stores open right now are Barnes & Noble, 7-11, and Longs (which will soon be CVS! Noooo!).

Painting

Posted on August 15, 2008
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My friend Christina gave me and 3 other friends square linen canvases. “Paint them!” she commanded. “What do you want them to look like?” we asked. “Whatever, just paint them!”

So here’s mine. Christina likes to read. She always gives me excellent book recommendations, most recently If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things and Blindness.

HELLO pillows

Posted on August 13, 2008
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I finished a project! I had a burst of creativity today and made my HELLO pillows.

My mom bought this McCall’s pattern and I decided it would be cute if my bed greeted me every time I walked in. Then I began anagramming:

Just for the sake of size, here is E next to the Arrested Development DVDs I just got from the library:

The best part? They’re made from scraps from the quilt I’m making. So they’ll match my bedspread! (Or be camouflaged on it…) Anyway, I plan to make ampersand pillows next, both sans-serif and old-timey…

The UO dress on

Posted on August 13, 2008
Filed Under style | 2 Comments

This is the aforementioned Urban Outfitters dress and how it looks on. Problems it solves:

I’m getting my wis-dumb teeth out tomorrow… I’ll be sure to post something awesome in my post-surgery delirium. Vicodin should do the trick.

(Photo by the always-lovely Becca Dorman.)

MAPLight.org

Posted on August 10, 2008
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I found this amazing site through One Day, One Internship (which is a pretty great site in itself).

MAPLight.org (which stands for Money And Politics) keeps track of laws that are passed and not passed, who voted on them, and how much money was contributed to the legislators by supporting/opposing groups. It’s incredible and a little depressing to see how much cash flows through Congress and how much that influences this country’s laws.

You should watch the intro video and poke around a little. It’s good to learn what makes this country run.

Shopping spree at Urban

Posted on August 9, 2008
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  1. Kimchi Blue Knit Mixed Print Dress
  2. Lux Striped Cardigan
  3. Kimchi Blue Chiffon Floral Print Blouse
  4. BDG Mandarin Button-Up

Mom took me on a birthday shopping “spree-ette” at Urban Outfitters yesterday. I dislike people who wear head-to-toe Urban, but I really like the clothes! They’ve got a chic, current, sort of underground style that you don’t see anywhere else. You could probably find the same style of clothes at the thrift shop, but it wouldn’t fit nearly as well.

I love thrifting, but this is my only issue with it: things rarely fit me well. And as Bradley Bayou taught all of us in his amazing book The Science of Sexy, it’s the fit of your clothes that determines how awesome they look on you. Fit can solve a lot of problems. More on why I love the knit dress later… Je suis fatiguée…

New black flats

Posted on August 5, 2008
Filed Under et cetera | 2 Comments

Flats are a staple in my shoe closet. Okay, so I don’t really have a shoe closet. It’s a shoe closet organizer. A small one. But anyway, behold!

I usually abhor animal prints. This is the “Kobraa” pattern, which reminds me of the reptile version of my former guitar teacher, Khrys. But I like this one. I love it, even. Black flats just look so damn classy!

Living fearlessly

Posted on August 5, 2008
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This is what I got when I googled “living fearlessly”:

keep looking »