A Case for Voluntary Extinction

Port Angeles teen charged in infant's death.

Where is the self-righteous outrage over the fact that this 16-year-old girl was pregnant in the first place?

Do people honestly think that just because a woman becomes pregnant, regardless of her age, mental capacity, or financial status, it automatically imbues her with all the wisdom, compassion, and money required to raise a child?

We desperately need parenting classes taught in school from an early age, that focus on what an enormous responsibility it is to have a child, any support obligations to said child and/or its custodial parent, and how one can truly prepare for it emotionally, mentally, and physically. Comprehensive, fact-based education makes people much more likely to fully consider the consequences of their actions.

I would just like to say...

I hate when my friends start having kids.

It practically guarantees that they will never be fun again.

Interviews

I had an interview on Monday at a local clinic, where my friend/co-worker KN works. It's a part-time weekend position, and although they don't know if they'll be able to give it enough hours to get benefits, it'll be good to have a regular scheduled weekend position to count on when I'm not scheduled much at the hospital. It turns out I know another person who works there, too, who also worked at the clinic where I did my externship. She's in the mammography department. I hope she will put in a good word for me as well...she knows I'm a good tech, after all, and two recommendations from current employees would certainly convince ME to hire someone if I were a manager-type-person. I would like this job very much.

*sigh* Today I had a phone interview for an x-ray/CT position at the VA hospital...in Oklahoma City. It sounds like a fantastic opportunity, and one with absolutely no pediatrics. The starting pay and benefits are fantastic ($45k/year STARTING, with 4 hours each of sick time and vacation accrued every pay period and a raise after 6 months...FUCK YEAH), and working for the gubmint means that I can transfer damn near anywhere I want in the world if I get sick of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. I'm not sure I want to move all that way, though, especially when I'm planning to sit for the Canadian x-ray registry exam in Burnaby May 19th. I've got a good chance at this job though, as they are hiring four people. It's a night shift position with a Saturday to Wednesday schedule. It sounds awesome...but...MOVING SUCKS! And I don't know if they'd offer relocation assistance. *sigh*

Shedding my skin

With the rather alarming news that LiveJournal has axed 13 of its 30 employees without any advance warning or severance pay, I've decided that it might be prudent to archive my LJ and start up another blog over here. I'm a Permanent Account holder at LJ, and I've been very happy with their service in the 5.5 years that I've been with them, but I feel it's time to reinvent my presence on the Internet as I approach my "golden birthday" (I turn 31 on the 31st).