In no particular order:

1. The proportion of the human race that makes this guy sick seems pretty large (depending on how he defines some of his terms). I imagine he has constant stomach cramps and/or diarrhea. Perhaps some chronic cold symptoms.
2. I’m fairly impressed that he spelled “effeminate” correctly.
3. I once knew a Jew from that synagogue. She said it wasn’t as exciting as it sounds. Satan didn’t even show up half the time, and hardly ever gave the Torah readings.
4. Anyone who is, literally, the nut of a sport (either the left or the right nut) has probably come to expect this kind of treatment, so their inclusion on this sign seems unnecessary.
5. Is it OK if they’re not on bikes?
6. Ankle biters? Am I missing something? He hates children? Seriously. I don’t get this one, unless there are more people in the world with my particular fetish than I thought.
7. But– but– rebellious women are the hottest ones!
8. Computer freaks? Oh, right, I remember now: “Lo, he who hath the stench of days in his basement, and the pallour of darkness about his countenance, and a working knowledge of programming language, or more than two markup languages, or more than ‘moderate’ user expertise in two operating systems, shall be curséd…”
9. Dig that kid’s gleeful expression. Heh. Nothing pokes holes in your crusade quite like a slacker punk using your righteous wrath for a scrapbook entry.
10. Whew. Good thing he put “racists” up there, or he might have come off as intolerant.

I have a fantasy about asking this guy, with great sincerity, “Why the Pentecostals? Mm hmm. Yes, I see. And the Mormons? Oh, interesting. Of course. Those make sense, I suppose, but why the child molesting homosexuals?”

There was a guy back at Ohio State who’d set up shop on campus with similar tactics, every Spring. I think he was called “Brother Jed” or something equally apocalyptic. He would delight the less-religiously-threatened students by hollering (often with a megaphone or PA system) epithets and curses at individuals, or at the student body in general. We sometimes liked to wait around for him to find scantily-clad young women (it never took long), because he would approach them and yell, “WHOOOOOOORE!” It was sort of his trademark thing.

This was no doubt traumatic for some of the girls, but we were pretty sure others would bait him for entertainment purposes. I recall considering asking him questions in my best super-gay-stereotype voice, but I never did. Oh well.

So I just wrote a few letters of recommendations for graduate school. Traditionally, this involves writing an actual letter, maybe checking items on a form, etc., and mailing (or emailing) these materials to an admissions committee. Increasingly, however, it often involves working through an outsourced third-party company that manages the admission application process. In some ways it makes sense.

But you also hitch your free & open University wagon to a Business, with any attendant stupidity.

So, in order to help my students have a decent shot at grad school, I had to agree to certain somewhat insane and (in my mind) questionably legal terms & conditions (quotations from T&C in footnotes, emphasis mine):

• You agree never to hold them responsible for anything, even if it’s obviously and legally their fault¹
• If you live somewhere that terms like these are illegal, then you can’t ever claim more than $100²
• but if YOU violate any of these terms, there is no limitation on what damages you might pay³
• and you have to agree if you want your student to have a chance at grad school⁴

I’m with Leo Lessig and others who would like to see some backlash against companies denying (or pretending to deny) citizens of their rights in legally-questionable, morally-stupid ways. Stuff like this is part of the poopy sediment settling over the landscape of our societies.

1. …hold ApplyYourself… harmless from and against any indirect damages whatsoever [including… damages resulting from lost data, lost employment or educational opportunity…] … whether based on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory, and whether or not ApplyYourself is cognizant of the possibility of such damages. [↩]
2. If any provision of these Terms of Use is held inapplicable or unenforceable for any reason, ApplyYourself shall be held liable for no more than U.S. $100.00… [↩]
3. …in addition to monetary damages, ApplyYourself shall be entitled to equitable relief upon a breach of these Terms of Use by you. [↩]
4. By clicking ‘I agree’ you acknowledge that you have read and understand the terms and conditions presented herein. Your acknowledgement is required for you to complete the recommendation online. [↩]