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jessica valenti: Elizabeth Smart and Abstinence Only Education →
If anyone is still holding on to the idea that abstinence only education isn’t all that bad, check out this quote from kidnapping and rape victim Elizabeth Smart:
Smart said she “felt so dirty and so filthy” after she was raped by her captor, and she understands why someone wouldn’t run…
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My 9-month pregnant wife trying to get off the couch.
She’s like:
This is me, 100% accurate.
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When Big Engines Meet Tiny Penises
Sitting at a red light behind a brand-new BMW X5 M, totally decked out, amazing machine. The mid-life crisis behind the wheel was blaring bad eighties music loudly enough (“Only the Lonely”…seriously) to hear at least 4 car lengths away. When the light turned green, he did not realize the car was in park and didn’t move for a while. In a stunningly predictable move to overcompensate for his mistake, he punched it and took the turn very sloppily at top speed and then sped away.
Men.
Heh. -
It’s Time, America
No matter who you voted for, I believe this election cycle told us something very important about Americans. Almost every campaign that was run on a basis of “us vs. them” or “exclusionary tactics” lost.
What we are is a country of human beings, male and female, gay and straight…who all deserve to be heard and all deserve the same rights.
What we are is a country that has been shaken to its core by a bunch of rich white guys who have divided us but could not conquer us.
What we are is a country of individuals capable of rational thought, cooperation and empathy for one another. And it’s time to start acting that way.
So put your bitter feelings or your tasteless gloating aside and think to yourself, “United we stand, divided we fall…and we’re still standing.”
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You had me at “Hello, woman, please step into this binder”
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Vote Wisely
You may have noticed that there is an election coming up. It’s not my job to tell you who to vote for, you have to decide for yourself, just like I did…but I want to tell you this: vote with your conscience.
When you cast your ballot, make sure you know why you voted for your candidate…don’t vote for him or her because your dad told you to, or your church told you to, or a bunch of drag queens told you to…not even if your dad’s church dressed up in drag and told you to…OK?
Remember that denying rights is destructive and far more difficult to undo; if you do not believe in abortion but you do believe in same sex marriage, think carefully before you cast your ballot. They may never overturn Roe V. Wade, but they may pass a law preventing loving gay couples from marrying.
Remember the domino effect, any votes we cast today will affect the future generations. Think about the world we are leaving our children: the environment, education, our relationships with our allies, women’s rights, the upcoming bacon shortage (this has nothing to do with the election, but my brother-in-law is in a panic about it).
Do not vote spitefully, do not vote with short-sightedness.
Use common sense.
Read up on your candidates, understand their strong points and their weaknesses…decide what is important to YOU.
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If you like it, put three rings on it.
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Jill vs. Child Support/Department of Revenue
I called today for an update. As you may recall, I was there April 18 to file a case. I was assured it would be set up and start moving within 2 weeks. On June 7 I went back and found out no one had done a damn thing except shuffle empty files with my name on them from desk to desk. I was assured it would be processed within 24 hours and I was given a case number. Today I called, was on hold for 55 minutes, and was then told by the helpful person in Tallahassee that they mailed me a letter on June 13. I asked what sort of letter it was, and she told me it was a financial affidavit I needed to fill out. Why was I not presented with this form the two times I was there? She doesn’t know. How am I supposed to fill it out if I never received it? So, in the state of Florida, you can apply for assistance…but don’t expect assistance. The system is designed to harass and inconvenience the party in need and reward the party who has failed to meet their obligation. This is not about safeguards, because I had copies of the order for child support that was signed by the judge, and they have copies of them, too. No one has filed for a modification of child support, so how much I make and how much I spend on my daughter are not the state’s business. If I am having this much trouble collecting from an ex who works and owes me over $10,000 and I have orders signed by a judge, imagine the poor women who are trying to get assistance from deadbeat dads who have no permanent addresses or stable work. Imagine if I did not have a good job and a supportive family. It’s pretty scary that we are allowing this department to inconvenience the very souls they should be helping.
ETA: 7/19/12 They finally mailed me the letter dated June 13; it was postmarked on July 6. They have sent me information telling me they are now pursuing him for child support so any payments he sends directly to me have to be forwarded to the state…so he has decided to contribute nothing this month. -
Jillyism of the day
Crying doesn’t kill babies; insane mommies who have lost their sense of self and snapped kill babies.
