Mike Beckham on VOX

Farewell for now...

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 22:38:50 +1100

I am leaving VOX (for blogging anyways) this was originally an experiment and only a co-blog. My Official site and main blog www.mikebeckham.net will continue as always and I will use this account for commenting and such so I wont be leaving VOX entirely. It was nice to try out but I like control over my blog and having it on my own server is necessary.

Thanks.

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Sex without marriage? The Government chimes in…

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:30:58 +1100

The federal government’s “no sex without marriage” message isn’t just for kids anymore.

Now the government is targeting unmarried adults up to age 29 as part of its abstinence-only programs, which include millions of dollars in federal money that will be available to the states under revised federal grant guidelines for 2007.

The government says the change is a clarification. But critics say it’s a clear signal of a more directed policy targeting the sexual behavior of adults.

“They’ve stepped over the line of common sense,” said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that supports sex education. “To be preaching abstinence when 90% of people are having sex is in essence to lose touch with reality. It’s an ideological campaign. It has nothing to do with public health.”

Abstinence education programs, which have focused on preteens and teens, teach that abstaining from sex is the only effective or acceptable method to prevent pregnancy or disease. They give no instruction on birth control or safe sex. The National Center for Health Statistics says well over 90% of adults ages 20-29 have had sexual intercourse.

But Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the revision is aimed at 19- to 29-year-olds because more unmarried women in that age group are having children.

Government data released last month show that 998,262 births in 2004 were to unmarried women 19-29, the ages with the most births to unmarried women.

Abstinence message goes beyond teens.

This will work won’t it? For goodness sakes since when is it the governments job to assist adults in sexual decisions. What happened to the separation of church and state? Did that die when the Republicans were elected or did everyone just forget about it? If your religion practices this thats fine and good but when the Government becomes involved they're stepping way over the line.

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QotD: Happy Halloween

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:07:14 +1100

Did you dress up today? See any good costumes?

Stupid kids came round asking for lollies. It is an American Holiday not Australian, most of the kids are way too old to even be doing it. Again its a American thing nothing to do with Australia

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A Lucy Video...

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 22:24:57 +1100

Lucypark_0001

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Copying Success?

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 21:30:22 +1000

Funny, now I have something to write about. I have been paying attention to the This Week in Tech Podcast goings on at the moment and a group of fans created a fan podcast. I co-created a podcast a while back along those same lines (Leoville Townsquare Podcast or LTS Podcast) and now I see that podcast as a grave mistake. Riding off someones success which I believe they and LTS podcast are doing is quite sad. It either means you are a huge fan which is fair enough and/or means you have no creativity to create something of your own. I went on to create many podcasts after LTS including The Ploy which I do to this day with Ben May.

After leaving LTS months and months ago realising what it was and understanding the people who criticised the show were right, riding off the success of others isn’t something to be celebrated. People who do these shows even in good faith and even with consent of people like Leo Laporte need to realise what they are doing and find another outlet and get some creativity otherwise put up with the opinions of others like myself that what they are doing is glorifying a lazy persons attitude to podcasting.

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Vox Hunt: Dangerously Cute

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:25:50 +1000

Show us something dangerously cute.
Submitted by Indy Bunny.

Picture 051

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QotD: All My Computers

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:18:31 +1000

How many computers do you have in your house?
Submitted by Foomper.

Two. One which I am running now with XP Media Centre and another which is my old one with Windows 2000.

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QotD: This Week's Top 25

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 16:04:12 +1000

What are your top 25 most played songs?
Submitted by Cooxie.

.977 The 80's Channel - All you need buddy!

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Just a quick note....

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 18:20:53 +1000

I just posted at my main blog about it's one year anniversary. Please check it out.

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QotD: Halloween Costume Preparations

nobody@vox.com(Mike Beckham) — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 15:58:35 +1000

If you are going to dress up for Halloween, what will you be? Why?
Submitted by Auweea.

First of all I am starting to get pissed off at American only questions it keeps happening. Seeing as we do not REALLY do Halloween in Australia I am hesitant to answer but I guess a Koala just to piss VOX off. I hope they realise not everyone lives in America.

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