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Ephiny

Listed below are comments made by Ephiny between Friday, 8th August 2008 and Thursday, 6th August 2009.

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Map of the Week: Can we live without broadband? 2:43pm on 06 Aug 2009 It's a silly comparison, because we're not talking about 'giving up' books, DVDs, just about not buying any new ones for a while. You still have access to all the books, movies, music etc that you've bought previously. Whereas if you give up your broadband connection, then you have no broadband at all.

Also it's more of a commitment. If you 'give up' buying books, but then change your mind about that decision, you can just go out and buy a book as soon as you feel like it. If you terminate your broadband contract (which incidentally may involve a fee) then it's much more of a hassle to get re-connected.
Young and unemployed 4:47pm on 26 Dec 2008 There's not necessarily anything wrong with 'textspeak' or slang in itself - most of us adjust the formality and style of our language depending on the situation and who we're talking to. The important thing is being able to judge a situation and behave or speak or write in the appropriate way. That's the problem with the 'complainers' mentioned in the article. If they didn't realise that at least trying to use proper spelling and grammar might be a good idea when writing to the BBC or a newspaper with a comment for publication, especially if they wanted their thoughts to be taken seriously, the chances are that they have the same approach to writing their resume or a letter to a prospective employer! In which case it's hardly surprising they aren't getting any job offers.
The problem that's hanging around 5:29pm on 30 Nov 2008 I don't agree that 'hanging around' is just what teenagers do. I don't remember doing this as child, and I don't believe I'm that unusual. Most normal children are busy with schoolwork, music, sports, whatever hobbies and interests they have, family meals and activities, socialising with friends at each other's houses, even TV and computer games and the internet, which are perfectly fine activities in moderation. That is, the ones with decent parents who look after their children and take an interest in their lives and put some boundaries around their behaviour - like sensible age-appropriate restrictions on where they're allowed to go and what they can do and with whom, and when they have to be home. The very fact that some teens are allowed or even encouraged to wander the streets all day or night with no structure to their lives and no involvement from their parents and no idea of what else to do with their time implies that something is fundamentally wrong with their home life, that quite likely their home is a chaotic, neglected, even violent, generally unpleasant place to be.

I don't mean to excuse bad behaviour - of course once you reach a certain age you have to start taking responsbility for your own actions, regardless of what an awful job your parents did. But it's also worth remembering that some of these young people don't have anything like the safe, supportive home environment that most of us took for granted.
Do prescription charges make us sick? 10:55am on 02 Oct 2008 " He has a pre-paid prescription, which does save him money, but, when he needs his medication to keep him alive, why should he have to pay for it?"

I'm being devil's advocate, I know, but I could just as well say 'I need food to keep me alive, why should I have to pay for it?'. I agree that medication should be provided free for those who can't pay for it (and it is, prescriptions are free for those on very low income), just as we provide benefits so the poorest people can still feed and clothe themselves. And I do see your point that there's a seemingly unfair disparity where some chronic conditions qualify for free prescriptions and others don't. But there are not unlimited resources available, and the line has to be drawn somewhere.
Missing memory amnesty 09:36am on 17 Sep 2008 I agree it's pointless to blame the individuals concerned - things like this do get lost and stolen, that's just the way of it. But it's madness that they are allowed to transfer and carry around sensitive data in this way, there should be far stricter procedures in place to prevent this, as there are in finance and other corporate settings. Even email is not a particularly good idea from a security point of view. Better to store the information securely on servers, and allow properly controlled remote access via VPN or similar, if staff have a legitimate need to access the information from outside the office.
Once a month 10:12am on 01 Sep 2008 I use the Mooncup (though I also skip some of my periods using the Pill) and really would never consider using disposable products again. Aside from the waste and expense, there's the sweaty chafing from those horrible plastic-y pads, which is a particular problem if you like to be active. Tampons are better, but the string causes some discomfort and irritation. The Mooncup is just so much simpler and more comfortable.

As for the problem of rinsing it out in public bathrooms - remember you don't need to empty it as often as you'd change a tampon, it can be left for up to 12 hours, so on a normal working day you should be able to do it at home. If necessary you can also just empty it, wipe with tissue and reinsert. Always give it a good wash with hot water and soap between periods, of course, or you can sterilise with boiling water if you're really worried about germs.

I don't use the reusable pads, because I prefer 'internal' protection. However I don't see why washing them should be an 'environmental' issue. Unless you have extremely heavy bleeding, you shouldn't need to use a huge number of them. And they can just be rinsed and put in with your normal laundry, I wouldn't think you'd need to put the washing machine on especially for them.
Glitz, glamour and pzazz 12:45pm on 27 Aug 2008 I would imagine the focus on the Democratic candidate is because the article is about the Democratic National Convention, which has just taken place. There is mention of the Republican convention, however it would be difficult for the author to provide much detail about what happened there or what McCain did or said, since it hasn't actually happened yet!

Anyway, the only Obama who actually gets a mention in the article is Michelle Obama.
In the bathroom cabinet 5:23pm on 26 Aug 2008 I think Lush sell deoderant blocks, which come wrapped in paper, though I've never used them so can't say how effective they are. I agree though that most cosmetics and such products are completely unnecessary. I never wear make-up or nail paint or any such thing, not just because of the animal-testing issue, but because I just don't see the point of them. My face and hands look fine as they are, and if anyone thinks otherwise they are free to not look at me. These things are personal decisions, of course, but it's worth occasionally examining some of the things we do out of habit and asking why.
Cheese and ale 6:48pm on 10 Aug 2008 The experiment was to avoid buying any new plastic products or packaging, so using an already-owned computer, for example, has nothing to do with the 'stated aims' of the experiment. You may disagree about whether the experiment is an interesting or useful exercise, but I suggest actually reading the previous posts and understanding exactly what it is and why it's being done before you jump in to comment or criticise.
Bridging the generation gap 10:11am on 08 Aug 2008 I agree, by the time you have an 11 year old child running around the streets at midnight, with his mother unable to stop him or having no idea where he is - something has clearly gone very wrong with the family, that is unlikely to be solved by football coaching and youth clubs. My parents were not over-protective, but I can't begin to imagine going out without my parents' permission at that age, or staying out so late. It wouldn't even have occurred to me to try it. At eighteen, maybe, but not at eleven!

Same with the recent story about the tragic case where 9 and 10 year old boys were 'playing' by jumping on the back of moving trucks, and one unfortunately fell and was killed. These are not wayward teenagers, they're primary-school aged children, and I can't understand them being allowed to wander the streets all day without any adult supervision.

I know parenting is not easy, and I do have sympathy for the young single mothers who clearly don't know what needs to be done to raise a child properly, or are not able to do it alone. They need more help and support, if only for the child's sake, but it has to start earlier if it's to have any real effect.

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