May 29, 2009
Four For Friday
Q1 - Free Time: How much time do you have on a daily or weekly basis that you would classify as "free time," and what do you tend to do most during that time?
Q2 - Campus Clubs: Liberty University, the evangelical college founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell (and now run by his son), recently revoked its recognition of the campus' Democratic Party club, saying "we are unable to lend support to a club whose parent organization stands against the moral principles held by" the university. According to an e-mail message the club said it received from the University's VP of Student Affairs on May 15, the club was told to stop using the university's name, holding meetings on campus, or advertising events. Violators, according to published reports, could incur one or more reprimands under the University's conduct code, and anyone who accumulates 30 reprimands is subject to expulsion. Do you feel it's okay for private colleges and universities to restrict free speech / prohibit students from organizing and engaging with one of the nation's two major political parties?
Q3 - Sales Tax Holiday: In recognition of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, the State of Virginia now offers its residents a tax break on the purchase of items considered useful during and after a hurricane. (Background: A sales tax holiday, according to the State of Virginia, is a temporary period during which purchases of certain items are exempt from the sales and use taxes.) Following legislation enacted by the 2007 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, Virginia now has three annual sales tax holidays (in addition to the one mentioned above, there's a School Supplies and Clothing Tax Holiday in August and a Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday in October. Would you be compelled to shop during such a tax holiday, or is a 5%-7% saving just not worth it to you?
Q4 - Summer Blockbusters: Star Trek, Angels and Demons, The Brothers Bloom, Terminator Salvation, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Up, The Hangover, Land of the Lost, My Life in Ruins, Away We Go, Tetro, Imagine That, The Taking of Pelham 123, The Proposal, Year One, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, My Sister's Keeper, Cheri, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Public Enemies, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, All Good Things, G-Force, Funny People, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Julie and Julia, Shorts, When In Rome, The Time Traveler's Wife, Inglourious Basterds, Post Grad, The Boat That Rocked, and All About Steve... which Summer 2009 movies are you most excited about and planning to see?
Posted by Mikal at May 29, 2009 2:18 PM
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1 - After getting home from my awesome ~ commute and have some diner I usually have an hour or two before crashing for the night. Being able to spend it golfing, hiking, or long boarding makes Tyson happy.
2 - I can't understand why someone would willingly want to attend a University that engages in the restriction of free speech and assembly....looking your way zoobies. However, a private U can do whatever they want and the student doesn't have to attend if they choose not to.
3 - Depends on what I want to purchase, if it was needed immediately, the $ involved, etc.
4 - The Taking of Pelham 123 & Inglourious Basterds top my list.
Q1: Free what? oh... free time. What is that exactly? With two businesses and a baby on the way, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of that lately.
Q2: I support the rights of private colleges to adhere to the moral codes that they deem essential. However, I think it's dangerous to generalize and assume that EVERYONE in ANY politial party is necessarily against or for your principles.
Q3: We have a sales tax holiday here in NM, too. Personally, although I am quite a frugally-minded person, I avoid the chaos and mayhem of the stores during this time. It's like the day after Thanksgiving sales (which I'll still brave, but hey, once a year is plenty!).
Q4: Our kids are totally stoked about seeing Up, so that's definitely on our to-do list. Personally, just can't do another Transformers movie. Couldn't believe the raunch injected into the first one. Totally out of place and didn't contribute to the plot whatsoever.
1- I would say I have 6 or so hours a day I put in that category, though I count any optional recreational activities (like the Orem city Ultimate Frisbee league) as free time too. So Frisbee, D&D, video games, movies, books, and date nights all get in the mix.
2- Its a private school, so yes, they have the right to say their name can't be used in conjunction with anything they don't want it to be seen with. I do not think they should be able to stop the students from organizing and engaging with the any group if the students are willing to forgo using the schools name.
3- I do like the no tax idea, but 5-7% isn't compelling to me, especially not on the items that tend to qualify. Big ticket items that are also on sale at the same time... that sounds more interesting, but still very short of compelling.
4- Saw Star Trek already and liked it, want to see Terminator Salvation, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. I'm lukewarm about a couple others.
q1: beats me. depends on the day/week. this week not so much. i spend it: with the fam, mountain biking, reading books & news, watching movies, learning random stuff, talking to friends/neighbors, yada yada.
q2: i think it's okay for a private university to do that - i think it's a silly decision, but if that's what they think they should do then that between the admin and students to work out.
q3: i probably wouldn't go out and buy more, though i would try and "save-up" my purchases to coincide with the holiday.
q4: i've actually never seen a star trek movie, but i would really like to see this one. i'm also looking forward to half-blood prince and angels and demons.
Q1 - I have a decent amount of free time. I usually spend it watching baseball. It's an important part of the day and it's getting to be harder and harder to come by.
Q2 - If you were a democrat, what would possess you to attend Liberty University in the first place!? It's quite an ironic title for their University, I guess Fascism University doesn't have the same ring to it? That being said, just because it's a private institution that doesn't mean it can violate the laws of our nation. They shouldn't be able to tell you what to believe.
Q3 - It's an interesting idea, and I could see it helping out those that are a bit strapped for cash. I personally never go to big sales like that because I'd rather pay full price then have to deal with the crowd.
Q4 - Star Trek was better then I thought it was going to be. But I've lost my drive to go to the theater. It's so much more convenient to just wait for the DVD and netflix it. No sticky floors, no people talking, I can pause for bathroom breaks, my comfy couch and best of all... Beer.
As for the person last week who said I should move to France: I was merely stating that France's people take the power into their own hands like America USED to. America has grown into a scared society that no longer has any power. I think our unbridled American chest thumping needs to stop. We need to take a step back and look at our country and realize that we may not be the best one out there. Our government has been failing (and lying to) us for years. Our health care system is just slightly better then you'd get in a third world country. Our students consistently score lower on tests then other country's do. We've stopped buying our own automobiles and our roads and bridges are falling apart. So yes, France might have higher taxes - but those taxes pay for things that the PEOPLE of the country have chosen are important. They have control, we do not. Are there worse places then America? Of course. But are there better places? Our government doesn't want you to think so - but since when have they known what's best for us? Question authority. That's what our country was built on.
Q1 - Since I don't have kids, I have a lot of free time......but not really. I spend most of my free time finding products to sell on eBay and selling on eBay. I love it. As far as I'm concerned, I'm having fun, and all of my trips are tax deductible since I shop, shop, shop along the way.
Q2 - As far as I'm concerned, if it's a private university, it can do what it wants. If you don't like it, leave. I don't think I would fit in very well, but I wouldn't choose that university either. I have a dream. I would like to run a dorm for promising foster kids. No red tape. My rules or you're out. I know what these kids need in order to be successful. I currently work with these types of kids on a daily basis. If I owned the house etc., I wouldn't want the government coming in and telling me that I had to do things a certain way. I know how the government works. I have a job where I deal with ineffective government programs every day - programs that are supposed to help people but really just promote poverty. Besides, the media is always criticizing the right and never criticizing the left for being intolerant. It's so hypocritical. And by the way, I'm not a Republican. I just think for myself.
Q4 - I don't care either way. I get most of everything except food at yard sales. Way cheaper.
Q4 - I don't go to the movie theater, and I rarely watch movies at home. However, I saw previews for a movie starring the girl from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." It's a chick flick. I'd go see it this summer if a friend asked me to go to the theater.
Q1 - Free Time: I have enough free time that I really don't have any idea how much of it I have. I tend to spend it working.
Q2 - Campus Clubs: Well, it is a private institution, and just like any private institution has the right to not support any group for any reason, so does the university. Last time I checked this was a free country so it is okay for a university to practice its freedoms regardless of what my personal opinion is about what it is they are practicing.
I remember the mini-series The Blue and the Gray in which Patrick Swayze's character -- son of a southern slave owner -- enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Civil War because he wanted to see what the other side was all about. Weird huh?
Q3 - Sales Tax Holiday: If I were buying, say, a starship, Russian submarine, or dictatorial rule of a large nation I might wait until free-tax day to do it. For my normal everyday purchases of cucumbers, moistened butt wipes, and ammunition I'd probably stay home and avoid the crowds of crazy people.
Q4 - Summer Blockbusters: I most looked forward to Star Trek. But I'm quite a trekkie, so no surprise there.
#1 At this time, since I am not working, I have about 10 hours each weekday of free time. Very little free time on weekends since we have 3 granddaughters who play softball and travel all around the Tampa Bay area. During the week, I try to spend about 3 hours a day in the shop making toys for sale on my website. I spend about 3 hours a day online. The rest of the time just slips away.
#2 I assume that those students knew the stance of the university when they signed up. If it were important to those students to be members of the Democrat club, they may need to transfer to a more tolerant (or less aligned) school.
#3 Yes I definitely shop during the tax holidays. The savings is part of the issue; the other part is that people are owed the opportunity to prepare for hurricanes / school / energy savings without the penalty of tax.
#4 Since I have seen only half a dozen movies in the past 25 years, the summer movie season is a non-issue for me.
Q1 - I suppose after my kids are asleep, it's free time, but I do a bit of work then, too. And since I tend to intersperse the work with Imming and general goofing off online, I can't really say how much actual free time I have. I'd say maybe a couple hours a night, depending how tired I am, etc. When I can tear myself off the computer, I like to knit, read, and watch movies sometimes.
Q2 - It IS a private U so they can do what they want, but I am hard pressed to figure out why any self-respecting Democrat would want to attend Liberty U. I used to live near there when I was in my sr year of high school, and the censorship we felt in our public high school because of the church nearby was awful. I don't agree with their policies, but don't think there's much that can be done as it is private.
Q3 - Living in NJ, there is no sales tax on clothes, ever. However, I would definitely take advantage of sales tax holidays on things like clothes and school supplies - it's absolutely amazing how fast costs add up for kids clothes, school supplies, etc and every little % would help. Even shopping sales and reasonably priced discount stores, you still spend a ton of money for not nearly enough clothes - I tend to space out my buying so it doesn't feel as bad.
Q4 - I don't know if we'll see all this summer, but I know my kids want to see: Night at the Museum and Up. I wouldn't mind seeing The Taking of Pelham 123 and The Proposal. I know my son is dying to see Transformers, and probably Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Whether we get to all of them or not remains to be seen. (Highly doubtful, though)
1. After a 2 hour round trip commute and household chores I've got maybe an hour or 2 which I usually spend reading or watching a movie. Not much one can do otherwise when you arrive home after 11:00 pm.
2. Though it's a bit heavy-handed, it's a private school and they can do what they wish. As I see it, The students agree to abide by the rules of the institution when they agree to attend. If they don't like it, they are welcome to transfer out. Though I wonder how many schools accept transfer credits from places like Liberty.
3. For a big-ticket item? Maybe, but it would also depend on how well it matches the ebb and flow of my bank account balance.
4. Harry Potter and Star Trek. Any of the others can wait till they come out on dvd
mine is up!
http://thefishgate.blogspot.com/2009/05/free-time-campus-clubs-sales-tax.html
Q1: 4-5 hours a day, watching movies and some TV, cooking/eating, exercising, gardening (in season), reading, hanging out
Q2: No. Furthermore, trying to censor a popular political body is probably counterproductive to the University's aim. I bet the organization will grow as a result.
Q3: It wouldn't encourage me to purchase anything I didn't already need. I might try to plan my shopping around that tax holiday, but it would only serve to encourage me to put off a purchase or perhaps purchase something a little earlier than I would have otherwise.
Q4: I saw Star Trek, which didn't thrill me. I haven't heard of any upcoming summer movies that make me think "must see." I'll probably be hanging out more and watching fewer movies this summer (see Q1).
1. About 5 hours of free time during the weekdays and most of the weekend. I tend to be Online a lot, read, or work on a hobby. Since it's getting warmer and summer is almost upon us, I'd like to find more fun things to do during my free time.
2. Free speech should not be prohibited at any college or university, no matter who runs it.
3. If I lived in a state where there was a sales tax break, I would take advantage of it. As it is, my state is tax free on clothing and shoes up to $50 for each item, so I generally do not pay sales tax on these things.
4. The Time Travelers Wife. I read the book, so it would be interesting to see how they make it into a movie. The Soloist - even though it's out now.
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