The basic idea is good. If it will fly -- you might say something along the lines of 'my professional ethics( or even training) make it impossible for me to be comfortable when she complains about my co-workers, those in our care, etc etc

Anyway something that makes this a statement about professional behavior , not personal behavior.

Good luck, WindSparrow.

My officemate today was musing on why it's so "trendy" to be an oppressed minority. He says that everyone is claiming to be oppressed.

I think your officemate managed to say something very offensive and meant something completely different. There's a big worry about how treating liberally to anything may translate into losing all standards about what's wrong or right - just think about the veil issue in countries like France and Turkey, or the issue of female circumcision (and for one, I'm basically against any kind of circumcision or body modification that's done to others who can't opposed it or take the call about it). There's a good Charles Taylor article, "The Politics of Recognition", in a reader called Multiculturalism. Suggest it to your officemate, along with a basic class in Ethics and Political Thought. And I'm not really kidding about it. Those are complex issues that needs everyone's attention and awareness, and it can't be done without some education. A lot of people are taking for obvious manners it took hundreds of years to establish. Now that's what I call not knowing what's right or wrong anymore.

Hil, once again, I have no problem come and kick your workmate. Or just talk Hebrew next to him, he'll never know what hit him.

There was a period of windowsill barking (which she didn't know they could reach, so that was news) but this wasn't directed any particular direction, best she could tell.

The common belief in my house is that the dog's barking whenever the Syrian army's changing positions. We may be hundreds of kms away, but he, of course, KNOWS when they're doing it.

Dear God. Today it's became offical: Netanyahu is the PM. Again.

pulls blanket above her head for the next few years

OMG, i haz internet at work. It's a miracle! Let's see how long before i get banned for improper use ;P

OMG, i haz internet at work. It's a miracle! Let's see how long before i get banned for improper use ;P

If that's an actual goal for you, I look forward to hearing how this plays out.

At my work, where there are around 100 people employed, everyone has full internet access...except the helpdesk.

In other words, the one entity in the company who might benefit from full internet access does not have it.

This is because one helpdesk employee downloaded porn at work five years ago.

I feel like I'm in Jr. High.

At my job we do things like deal with HIV/AIDS counseling and training, female genital cutting, and training skilled childbirth assistants and put material relating to all this online. Most internet filters won't work for us. They just make sure there's enough work so people don't have time for porn.

I know, I know. [chirpy voice] There's always time for porn! [/chirpy voice]

I just had a pornography question this week and regularly get them from another professor that writes about child pornography. That prof is very good about letting me tell her I've had enough for the day.

Yay, Bev!

And ooph, Andi-- good luck with dealing with the s/s. I think your plan is definitely a good one-- you've been putting up with this for far too long.

It's very rainy here today again. God knows we need the rain, but the air conditioner's compressor has been broken since Friday and no one's been able to fix it. Hopefully today, since they seem to have located the necessary part. I just hope that the massive amounts of rain and humidity haven't done a number on some of our furniture.

I like beth's suggestion about framing it around professionalism and professional ethics.