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In The News

Deeky is off today, so you are tied to me again.[Content Note: Injuries violence guns.]A meteor strike has hurt 100s of individuals in Russia. Fortunately, the majority of the injuries are minor also it seems that nobody was wiped out. But HOLY SHIT!The LAPD states they've positively recognized the remains inside a burned cabin because the body of Christopher Dorner, charged with killing four people.Chicago Mayor and grand triangulator Rahm Emanuel is apparently "toying with" a 2016 presidential run. No thanks!Two fifth-grade boys were likely to kill a lady classmate having a semi-automatic gun because she was "rude and annoying." Fortunately, another classmate reported their intend to a college worker. America!Julian Assange has filed documents to operate for office around australia, due to course he's.Steve McCain continues to be a jackass.Indiana school district won't discipline a vile homophobic teacher. Ugh, this condition sometimes. I swear.Towards the fainting couch: Republicans have been in mattress with companies. I am talking about, this can be a large deal, despite the fact that it's completely no surprise.And look for Caffrey the astonishing Cat who will get around on two legs while he consists of awesome!

Dallas Men to Rally Against Domestic Violence

by Jessica Luther, also known as scatx, who can be found at her very own blog, Speaker's Corner within the ATX, and blazing trails of righteous fury on Twitter.[Content Note: Discussion of domestic violence.]Just more than a year ago, Melissa authored a publish known as "Woman's Work," by which she spoken about how exactly misogynist anti-choicers rely on "the effective without any male dissension, which assists their erroneous belief that they're the 'objective' arbiters of womanhood." When straight cis males neglect to fight from the harm completed to all ladies (really, everybody who aren't straight cis males), that silence is taken as tacit condoning through the people doing harm. One thing that feminists and womanists frequently have to say is that things would change more quickly but for the better for everybody if more straight cis males could be vocal competitors to misogyny in most of their forms.I've what's promising about this front.Deep in the middle of my house condition of Texas, you will see an anti-domestic violence rally in Dallas the following month brought through the mayor from the city, Mike Rawlings. Who definitely are attending? The males of Dallas. Rawlings stated the 2009 week he needs 10,000 males to appear towards the rally. Are we able to pause for just one moment and allow that to sink in? 10,000 males.This can be a reaction to a string of high-profile domestic violence killings which have occurred within the city in recent days, such as the terrible situation of the guy who, following a lengthy good reputation for mistreating his wife, monitored her lower within the parking garage from the college where she labored and shot her to dying.Mayor Rawlings, under not much later in a press conference, particularly mentioned the sufferers of domestic violence aren't to blame and when things are likely to change, it's males who require to alter their behavior: "It's our fault. It isn't the women's fault. You want to allow it to be known that any violent act toward a lady won't be tolerated through the males within the city." At that time over time, he introduced he could be beginning a awareness campaign within the city "to alter a mans culture." Also, he demonstrated incredible belief within the males of Dallas and also the team of individuals he designated to guide the campaign saying, "They'll stand beside me in saying enough is sufficient. We'll reinforce that striking women isn't acceptable, and we'll learn to intervene whenever we view it happening."The very first major public event within this new campaign is going to be next month's rally. On Tuesday, Rawlings expressed that certain method to stop violence later on would be to train youthful boys that violence is unacceptable: "I would like fathers to create their sons. There's an intergenerational teaching moment here because, unquestionably, this can be a learned behavior."Has Rawlings been hearing feminists/womanists?For the time being, it's unclear what the next phase within the awareness campaign is going to be but Rawlings is unwavering if this involves who he's pointing the campaign at: "We are causeing this to be a grassroots movement. And we'll go to the city. Previously it has been seen like a women's problem, however it ain't. It's our problem."It's our problem.This really is radical.But: Until my pal Andrea Grimes e-mailed me the storyline from the approaching rally, I never heard just one factor relating to this. Thanks, Mayor Rawlings. Hopefully your energy turns into a model for other city leaders as well as for other males for this country.If you reside in Dallas or somewhere near by and also attend this rally, it'll occur at City Hall Plaza on March 23 at 10 a.m. "Sports athletes including Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr and former Cowboy Troy Aikman intend to attend the rally, in addition to city leaders and religious leaders for example T.D. Jakes and Catholic bishop from the Dallas diocese Kevin Farrell."

Today in Rape Culture

[Content Note: Sexual violence.]Yesterday, Aunt B and Melissa Martin sent me the hyperlink for this piece by Frank Seravalli about professional hockey player Nick Cousins, "a gifted but mouthy diva having a soiled off-ice history." Half way with the story comes this bit, about rape accusations made about Cousins and 2 teammates in August of this past year:Many wondered whether Cousins was snubbed in the Super Series and Team Canada for his alleged off-ice transgressions. Cousins and 2 teammates were arrested on August. 25 for getting intercourse by having an un named lady, recognized to the gamers, against her will. Prosecutors haven't dropped the costs, that are still pending in the court. Cousins attended counseling prior to being reinstated through the Greyhounds.The embarrassing situation gave Cousins, the Greyhounds and also the Flyers a collective black eye. This is an image that he's still attempting to shed."In the professional level, teams require that you be a grownup and behave like one," [Pittsburgh Penguins director of development Ian Laperriere] stated. "He has got a great heart ... Let us be truthful, things like that's been happening forever. You cannot pull off anything now. He can't put themself in individuals situations."He's been in danger with this particular stuff, but hopefully that's all going disappear. A part of my job is telling him he must study from that. You have to be careful what you are doing. Our prospects should try to learn from his situation."So, in summary: Cousins, who allegedly gang-raped an acquaintance, has "a great heart," but simply must develop and become more careful, and hopefully each one of these zany rape accusations will all just "disappearInch so Cousins can return to the intense business to be proficient at sports.I am unsure things i find more contemptible: Laperriere's apologia for any player charged with rape, a criminal offense that they dismisses with "things like that's been happening forever," contributing to that they appears more concerned that Cousins got caught, or Seravelli's description from the assault as "intercourse by having an un named lady, recognized to the gamers, against her will," which prioritizes the implicit rape apologia of "hey, she understood these men, okay?" over the truth that the "intercourse" was nonconsensual.Boys is going to be boys, and women is going to be laying bitches who'll make difficulties for boys with higher hearts.The entire story is all about how Laperriere and Cousins' OHL Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds coach Sheldon Keefe are attempting to get Cousins in check and perform such as the win-machine they are fully aware he is able to be. Cousins, the thing is, has "lots of potential but an undesirable status."And also the story in the whole is really a fucked-up juxtaposition of Laperriere's apologia for Cousins' alleged crime of forcing a lady related to her body what she was fighting off and Laperriere's technique to pressure Cousins to make use of his body to complete what he's fighting off, that is be a disciplined player. I am not drawing an equivalence between being raped and being appropriately challenged individuals situations are not remotely exactly the same. I'm, however, struck because Laperriere's indifference toward Cousins getting used a ladies body for their own reasons (rape) abets Laperriere's ongoing use of Cousins' body for his reasons (winning). Refer to it as trickle-lower exploitation.Through the story, there's all of this expressed hope that Cousins will mature and "study from his mistakes," but rape is all about dehumanization, and Laperriere's indifference to Cousins' character, as lengthy because he are capable of doing, is dehumanizing to both Cousins and the victim. So how exactly does Laperriere aspire to impart the content to Cousins that exploitation is wrong when he's concurrently shrugging off Cousins' exploitation of ladies and taking advantage of Cousins for his hockey prowess regardless of the humanity behind it?Naturally, he does not. He just does not want Cousins to obtain caught.Rapists account for rape. No caveats, no qualifiers. Alone accountable for a rape may be the rapist.Rape doesn't, however, take place in a void. It takes place inside a culture that tolerates rape and apologizes for rapists, especially if they're males whose physiques have to be utilized by other males to create a lot of money. That appears like something we have to discuss, too.Today, Spudsy texted me (with I'm discussing together with his permission): "Mike Tyson is on WGN morning news and they are dealing with him just like a fucking hero. Does nobody remember he's a fucking rapist?"Well. I am sure he's a great heart.[My because of Aunt B for discussing her ideas about "the part where what matters is the fact that Laperriere wants Cousins' body for their own finish. It's apparently not essential that Cousins might not be safe for his community. If Laperriere wants him, other factors" are irrelevant.]

In The News

[Content note: Homophobia]Humping Day Is Here Now!The Illinois Senate will election tomorrow — Valentine's — on whether or not to legalize marriage equality. Fingers entered!The American Family Association does not want gay corpses in Arlington National Graveyard. Wow.A ocean slug that's in a position to remove, re-grow after which re-use its penis has surprised researchers. Clearly.Is that this true? Maybe? Not. Pope Benedict resigned to prevent arrest and also the seizure from the church's wealth.Teen Tournament champion Leonard had the very best Final Risk answer ever. Awesome. Totally awesome.Russian coach places blame gays for Olympic wrestling being axed. Sorry, heteros! (Just kidding, we are not sorry.)NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has captured pics of a shiny, metallic-searching object that bears a passing resemblance to some door handle or perhaps a hood ornament. Neat!

Petition Update

The petition asking the Federal government to prevent while using "spouses, moms, & kids" rhetorical frame that defines women by our associations with other people has become at 1,500+ signatures and counting. Thanks to everybody that has already signed and passed it on! We have still got plenty more teaspooning to complete, but it is been a good start.You will find yet signed (and wish to), you would like discover the petition here.

Gross

[Content Note: Guns.]I am not just one to make use of the term "disrespectful" a great deal, because I'm a fan of irreverence ("I'd never observed."—No One.) and since I believe its deployment is often accustomed to marginalize along class lines. However when I actually do utilize it, it's often regarding work from the Presidency—which is not a lot about anyone occupant around it's about protecting some national dignity. I acknowledge, readily, the US is definitely an imperfect nation, but reverence for that Office from the Presidency is really a indication that don't be surprised much more of ourselves.Individuals who delicately disrespect work from the Presidency have quit on expecting more, or employed by anything better.Improving work from the Presidency does not necessarily mean never demeaning the Leader. It doesn't mean never demeaning the President's choices. It doesn't mean never holding the Leader to account. Real respect really demands all individuals things. Really all this means isn't dealing with the presidency just like a fucking joke, or turning official presidential occasions right into a sideshow.Like I stated, I do not use "disrespectful" a great deal, however this shit is disrespectful:Open music performer and gun right supporter Ted Nugent is going to be Repetition. Steve Stockman's guest Tuesday evening at Leader Obama's Condition from the Union address....Stockman stated inside a Monday news release, "I'm excited to possess a patriot like Ted Nugent joining me in the home Chamber to listen to from Leader Obama."Stockman added from the "Cat Scratch Fever" rocker and ardent gun-privileges supporter, "following the address I am sure Ted may have plenty to state.InchNot to mention Nugent, who's a vile asshole, has already been braying about his intends to barrage the media (who we only hope won't indulge him) together with his special make of shrieking violent rhetoric and propagandist bullshit."We all know the leader may have the condition from the union stacked and jammed with props, children, and sufferers of violent crime, " Nugent stated. "And my buddies wanted me for attending counter that the way in which I actually do: with details, statistics and customary sense and logic along with a celebration of self-apparent facts. So I'll be dealing with the media orgy following a Condition from the Union Address." Nugent stated the media doesn't realize he's a "pressure to become believed with" and for that reason he'll "dominate them." Nugent added he could be open following the event but "remain sincere to work from the presidency and the team event.InchCertain. Sure he'll.The truth is, my problem is not even mainly with Ted Nugent. He's just being Ted Nugent. My problem is actually with Repetition. Steve Stockman, that has so very little respect for that Office from the Presidency, and without doubt for that guy who presently holds it, he would invite a specimen like Nugent towards the Condition from the Union to begin with.The Republican Party ought to be embarrassed with Stockman and embarrassed with itself. Exactly what a contemptible lot.

Quote of the Day

[Content Note: Gun violence.]"There exists a strong agenda approaching for the coming year, however lots of that will be postponed because the Connecticut Effect needs to feel the process."—NRA Lobbyist and former Wisconsin condition senator Bob Welch (R), explaining in the NRA's Wisconsin Condition Convention a few days ago the NRA will "resume its push to weaken the country's gun laws and regulations" just the moment everybody will get within the Newtown school shooting. Rage seethe boil.

Today in Rape Culture

[Content Note: Sexual violence victim-accusing.]Recently, I pointed out the Somalian government had arrested Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, an independent journalist who authored a tale in regards to a lady who was simply raped and alleged that her rapists were government security forces. Ibrahim has been sentenced to 1 year imprisonment in order to the lady "fabricate an incorrect claim." The lady has additionally been sentenced to some year imprisonment, following a midwife carried out "a finger test, an unscientific and degrading practice which has lengthy been discredited since it is not really a credible test."The causes for that convictions are unclear, however the court made an appearance to convict the 2 under Somalia's penal code and recently added charges under Sharia (Islamic) law. The journalist, Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, was sentenced to 1 year for fabricating an incorrect claim – despite the fact that he never released the allegation anywhere – entering the house of another guy without permission, and wrongly accusing a government body of carrying out a criminal offense that damages condition security. The lady seemed to be sentenced to 1 year imprisonment for fabricating a rape situation that damages condition security...."These guilty decisions imply that any Somali who's raped or else mistreated by Somali security forces will think hard about confirming it towards the police, and journalists is going to be careful of even meeting with sufferers of human privileges violations," stated Netsanet Belay, Africa programme director at Amnesty Worldwide. "The federal government should quash the situation and order the immediate discharge of the journalist from prison."Clearly, the implications for challenging human privileges violations when sufferers and journalists and/or advocates are jailed are dire.Within an official statement, the united states Condition Department registered its worry about the situation and known as on "the Somali Government to do something rapidly to safeguard human privileges and strengthen the rule of law." That is type of a muddled statement, for the reason that the rule of law is presently what's undermining human privileges. Still, this really is good:Respect for women's privileges and media freedom are fundamental to making certain the introduction of a powerful, stable, and vibrant democracy in Somalia. Women should have the ability to seek justice for rape along with other gender-based violence without anxiety about retribution, and journalists in Somalia should be liberated to work without having to be exposed to violence and harassment. These prosecutions run counter to protections found in Somalia’s provisional metabolic rate, and send the incorrect message to perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence. We've elevated our concerns directly using the Somali Government and also have advised it to uphold its metabolic rate, including regarding media freedom, women's privileges, and due procedure for law. To make contact with the united states Condition Department and urge these to continue pressing for justice within this situation, visit here. For individuals who'd appreciate an example letter, I'll drop the letter I sent into comments.[Via FMF News.]

Discussion Thread: Elementary School Gym Games

Lately, Kenny Blogginz and that i were remembering the parachute game in elementary school gym class — we are all Underneath the parachute! now we are all Around the parachute! — and just how both of us thought it's unique to the school since the gym teacher had just discovered some old parachute laying around making up strangely strange games by using it, and just how surprised i was to discover it had been A Factor.After that, we reminisced (frequently cringingly, since neither people was exactly a gym class star) concerning the rope climb, and just how nobody ever trained us to shimmy in the rope enjoy it was a natural man's instinct and just how we never understood how to get it done and would certainly dangle at the end limply, lol, contributing to the dreaded dodgeball, and basketball sprints, and jump-rope stations. We chuckled at the number of of those apparently random games that appeared surely to become the items in our gym teachers' (insufficient) imagination were really super common gym class games for American (and frequently not-American, as Iain has confirmed) kids.The only game I recall really liking was four-square, most likely since it was among the only regular elementary gym class games where I'd the smallest proficiency.Anyway! What gym class games remember? Which of them have you like? Which of them have you dread? Have You have fun with a rainbow parachute? DO TELL!

Daily Dose of Cute

Sophie: Snuggly little cuddle-bunny.

Fatsronauts 101

Fatsronauts 101 is really a series by which I address presumptions and stereotypes about body fat people who treat us like a monolith and are utilized to dehumanize and marginalize us. If there's a stereotype you would like me to deal with, message me.[Content Note: Body fat prejudice body regulating.]#18: You are able to identify body fat individuals health problems by searching their way.No.I type of wish to just let it rest at this, ahem, however i feel obliged to notice that even this myth has embedded there another myth—that all body fat people should have health issues. Which: Also no.As well as whenever a body fat person includes a visible health insurance andOror mobility problem, it's, when i have seen many occasions formerly, bad math to axiomatically presume the problem is triggered by body fat. Sometimes they're unrelated. Sometimes, in instances where they're related, putting on weight might have been due to the health insurance andOror mobility problem, instead of the other way round.Whenever you consider a body fat person, all you are able fairly conclude about the subject is they are body fat.Other things is prejudice.-------------------------Formerly:#17: Body fat individuals options will always be determined by their body fat.#16: You're helping body fat people by shaming them.#15: Body fat people hate getting their pictures taken.#14: All body fat individuals are unhealthy.#13: Body fat people looooooooooove Twinkies!#12: Body fat individuals don't like/need to see media representations of themselves.#11: Nobody wants to become body fat.#10: Body fat people need intervene within their lives. #9: Body fat individuals don't understand how they appear.Number8: Body fat individuals don't deserve anything nice.#7: Body fat individuals are permission slips for thin individuals to eat what they need.Number6: Any body fat person eating a salad or working out is attempting to slim down.#5: Body fat is axiomatically ugly.#4: Body fat people eat large numbers of food.#3: Body fat individuals are jolly/mean, and body fat individuals are shy/noisy.#2: I will tell how one eats constantly, due to the way they eat around me.#1: Everybody who's body fat is body fat for the similar reason.

Quote of the Day

"In the last couple of decades, employees lucky enough to have employer-based retirement benefits happen to be moved from defined benefit intends to defined contribution plans. We're now seeing the outcomes of this grand experiment, and they're frightening. Recent and near-retired people, the very first major cohort from the 401(k) era, don't have nearly enough in retirement funds to even compare to maintaining their current life styles. Frankly, that's an positive method of putting it. Allow me to be alarmist as it were, because the truth is the amounts are really alarming. You should be worried that giant amounts of individuals approaching retirement is going to be not able to have their houses or still pay their rent."—Duncan Black, also known as Atrios, inside a must-read column in USA Today.

Headline of the Day

Kevin Drum: Conservatives Shocked to Uncover Health care in the usa is actually Costly.The inevitable consequence of the instinct to task people with finding methods to systemic problems (i.e. bootstraps) is lack of knowledge about how exactly systems work. Systems of oppression, governmental systems, the health care system... It's frequently surprising to progressives how truly mystified a lot of conservatives appear about how exactly Things Work, but it is a carefully cultivated and fastidiously maintained lack of knowledge that abets the idea they become successful solely by themselves merits, yet others fail solely by themselves weak points.And it is why conservatives who struggle blame totally the incorrect organizations for his or her struggles. Individuals who do not understand systems search for scapegoats.

Quote of the Day

"Hillary has changed our understanding—no, our definition—of foreign matters. Diplomacy is no more just the ability of controlling relations along with other nations. The large issues—war and peace, terror, economic stability, etc.—remain, and she or he has handled all of them with firmness and authority, with poise and confidence, with good will, when appropriate. But it's not the praise of diplomats or dictators that'll be her legacy. She worked with plenipotentiaries, but her focus was on people. Foreign matters is not nearly treaties, she trained us, it comes down to the suffering and aspirations of individuals impacted by the treaties, made or unmade. First and foremost, diplomacy should refocus attention around the powerless. Obviously, Hillary wasn't the very first secretary of condition to advocate for human privileges or make use of the publish to boost understanding of abuses or negotiate humanitarian relief or pressure oppressors. But she was the first one to concentrate on empowerment, particularly of ladies and women."—Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist, author, professor, and commentator, on Hillary Clinton's legacy (or at best some of it) as Secretary of Condition.

This is so the worst thing you're going to read all day.

[Content Note: Misogyny gender essentialism heterocentrism.]Normally, I would not even link around the world Internet Daily, home of these newspaper luminaries as Chuck Norris and David "The Lesser" Limbaugh, however this is remarkably terrible even through the WND's peerless garbage standards:Actual screencap of actual headline and clearly perfect stock photo.It is simply an excellent article SORRY TO SPOIL THE SURPRISE OF GREATNESS For You Personally with terrific things like:In spite of your beauty and brilliance, it may be your attitude that's stopping you against getting a husband and keeping him.And:Suzanne Venker in her own hot era, How to find a Husband making Peace With Marriage...problems the sexual revolution and feminist movement from the last 4 decades for convincing women not to require more of the associations. ...But exactly how can women find males who're good husbands, fathers and companies? Don't turn to feminists for that solutions, Venker alerts. ...Venker stated the feminist movement has trained women to prevent requiring males – for anything in existence – from companionship to financial support or perhaps childbearing.And:Venker describes the feminist culture has produced unnecessary marital strife for just one large reason: "Women are bitter. They are defensive they are competitive and they are prepared to pounce... [E]quality is definitely the aim. Women wish to prove they are strong and capable and should not be screwed with. For them, that's energy. But all ladies finish up doing is showing to males how angry they're. And who would like to be around someone who's mad constantly?InchVenker alerts women to prevent attempting to contend with their husbands and also to take away the "boss hat" once they go back home – because marriage is all about love, not competition and aggressiveness."Maybe women think being b-tchy is of interest since that is what they are drawn to. Women love men who aren't sweet. They gravitate toward males who're confident, accomplished, company, filled with themselves. Women are forever passing in the nice guy in support of the jerk. However, you can rarely turn this around. Males do not want a b --tch for any wife. So you shouldn't be one."I am talking about, that's some solid advice immediately. It's almost TOO GOOD, really. If Venker is not careful, she is going to GREAT ADVICE Dr. Phil out of the job, which could be kinda bitchy.Or otherwise? I am unsure whether it technically makes a person a bitch to visit all "boss hat" in public places. Are men that do not desire a bitch for any wife okay with bitches as co-workers and/or professional rivals? Anti-feminisming is difficult. Maybe most of us must resolve to defer to males whatsoever occasions, just just in case.[Via HyperVocal.]

Daily Dose of Cute

Livs.

In The News

[Content note: Gun violence, gun culture, homophobia]Torsdag Nyheter:Standoff drags into its third day like a responsible gun owner holds a boy hostage in the subterranean bunker.Also: A district attorney was gunned lower outdoors a Texas courthouse. One suspect is thought to become sensibly putting on a bullet-proof vest.Girl Energy! "Youthful women are reporting in why AR-15 weapons are their weapon of preference." Fatboy Slim: "Weapon Of Preference"The Andrews Sisters' last making it through member has died. An earthquake of magnitude 6. struck from the coast of Alaska.Marriage equality enemies are afflicted by fundraiser shortfall. Whoops!The gay dog continues to be saved. Yay!Conservatives are starting a Facebook alternative, "without all of the limitations". Neat!

Photo of the Day