As for the woman in the article, my feeling is that she just wanted the chance to wear the white dress, buy an outrageous diamond ring, and go on holiday somewhere that is generally "couples only" (like the Caves resort in Jamaica, sigh). Things that a single girl can't do, even if she can afford them.
@vonskippy Maybe Mr. Good Enough isn't interested? I'm almost 33 and am reasonably attractive (I am overweight, but so are the guys I date), and at this point in my life I'm OK with never finding a permanent partner. I'm happy enough with myself and the freedom I have. That isn't to say that I have never been interested in marriage with a fellow, but the gents don't seem to stick around long enough to find out if marriage is viable. I am, admittedly, on the shy side and don't date much.
@craig - "conspiracy" is a ridculous word to use, and nobody, not even the article writer, is suggesting that there's a conspiracy.
However, it's absolutely true that clothing manufacturers have come to the realization that by fudging the measurements of clothes, they sell more. People get a high when they try something on that supposed to be a size or two smaller than they wear, but actually fits them. Logically, people shouldn't care about a number which is ultimately meaningless, yet psycologically they do care about it. It's the same with weight loss: If a person goes on a fast for 3 days, they won't lose any weight, but the number on the scale will go down, making them feel skinnier. People shouldn't put any stock in that sort of thing, but there's no stopping the subconcious reaction that a person gets.
No, it's not a conspiracy. But it is an attempt by clever retailers to game people into buying product based on dishonesty.
According to the link, she blamed alcohol for the calls. You can't get out of legal punishment due to being "addled" by alcohol. And if she keeps calling the line while drunk, she's using resources needed for actual emergencies. Throwing her in prison for a few days to 'sober up' seems like a good idea to me.
My martial arts instructor has a concealed handgun license, and he calls them "designated good guy licenses", because due to the stringent background check you have to pass, authorities will tend to recognize that you're not a threat (theoretically) if you've passed it. So this law makes a lot of sense to me. It also makes me want to get a concealed handgun license (I'm a Texican).
I'm pleased by the fact that many Miyazaki movies pass this test. Nausicaa, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, Kiki's Delivery Service, Castle in the Sky. All these films by a Japanese filmmaker who is known world-wide but is particularly famous in his home country, where his films routinely break money-making records. Japan, a supposedly male-dominated society.
I think it's idiocy and fear that has Hollywood making these same male-dominated films year after year. Hollywood execs really have no clue that they can cash in on women's interests in entertainment just as easily as they cash in on men's, if they'd take their heads out of their asses.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2901853349013099546#
John K. Summed it up nicely about a year ago; essentially that schools don't teach what they claim to teach:
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/10/michael-moores-capitalism-review.html
However, it's absolutely true that clothing manufacturers have come to the realization that by fudging the measurements of clothes, they sell more. People get a high when they try something on that supposed to be a size or two smaller than they wear, but actually fits them. Logically, people shouldn't care about a number which is ultimately meaningless, yet psycologically they do care about it. It's the same with weight loss: If a person goes on a fast for 3 days, they won't lose any weight, but the number on the scale will go down, making them feel skinnier. People shouldn't put any stock in that sort of thing, but there's no stopping the subconcious reaction that a person gets.
No, it's not a conspiracy. But it is an attempt by clever retailers to game people into buying product based on dishonesty.
I think it's idiocy and fear that has Hollywood making these same male-dominated films year after year. Hollywood execs really have no clue that they can cash in on women's interests in entertainment just as easily as they cash in on men's, if they'd take their heads out of their asses.