and we are vagabonds
we travel without seatbelts on
and live this close to death

(this song sounds the end of a movie. an indie movie about meredith particularly, but also just the end of a good movie. that makes me...understand some things.)

I've got this moody thing going on today.

THANK YOU RACHEL THIS IS AWESOME AND HYSTERIA-INDUCING

Before taking this quiz, please explore the wonderful world of 1974 Weight Watchers recipe cards here, because it *is* totally worth it. And yay for Rachel for sharing it with the world. ;)


You are Fluffy Mackerel Pudding!! You somehow
manage to combine seafood and dessert into your
wonderfully fluffy world. We should all be as
tolerant of New Taste Sensations. And of
big-yolked eggs.


What Weight Watchers recipe card from 1974 are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I made a painting with parts of this piece from the Vagina Monologues today. And so I am posting it because I like it.

MY SHORT SKIRT

My short skirt
is not an invitation
a provocation
an indication
that I want it
or give it
or that I hook.

My short skirt
is not begging for it
it does not want you
to rip it off me
or pull it down.

My short skirt
is not a legal reason
for raping me
although it has been before
it will not hold up
in the new court.

My short skirt, believe it or not
has nothing to do with you.

My short skirt
is about discovering
the power of my lower calves
about cool autumn air traveling
up my inner thighs
about allowing everything I see
or pass or feel to live inside.

My short skirt is not proof
that I am stupid
or undecided
or a malleable little girl.

My short skirt is my defiance
I will not let you make me afraid
My short skirt is not showing off
this is who I am
before you made me cover it
or tone it down.
Get used to it.

My short skirt is happiness
I can feel myself on the ground.
I am here. I am hot.

My short skirt is a liberation
flag in the women's army
I declare these streets, any streets
my vagina's country.

My short skirt
is turquoise water
with swimming colored fish
a summer festival
in the starry dark
a bird calling
a train arriving in a foreign town
my short skirt is a wild spin
a full breath
a tango dip
my short skirt is
initiation
appreciation
excitation.

But mainly my short skirt
and everything under it
is Mine.
Mine.
Mine. -Eve Ensler, Vagina Monologues

I've been reading about Babywise, after hearing about it for the first time.

It is seriously scary.

"After babies reach only 6 months of age, parents are instructed to begin punitive disciplinary measures such as "squeezing or swatting" of the child's hands or "isolation" in the crib for "rebellious" infractions including "foolishness," "malicious defiance" or even playing with food on the highchair tray. Ezzo explains to parents that the use of "pain" and "discomfort" can be essential disciplinary tools. After age 2 and a half, children who have a toileting accident are required to clean themselves up."

Ew. Ew ew ew ew. I can't believe people take this guy seriously, but apparently, this is *popular*.

Commencement address by Jon Stewart

Some people get cool commencement speakers. I'm jealous. I get the funny videos guy from Animal Planet.

This is seriously the coolest library ever. Seattle is lucky. Look at all of these pictures, they will knock your socks off.

I am so jealous. And just think! This must mean that people actually care enough about libraries in Seattle to fund something like this. Golly gee.

Childless Couple Told to Try Having Sex(!!)

Um, just...wow.

Same-sex marriage is legal in MA today. This makes me really happy.

Congratulations to all, and here's some marriage advice that will make you go 'awwww!'

http://www.cokewatch.org/

Some Guy's Failed Chemistry Test = pretty funny

President Bush: Mister Compassion (I linked to the LJ posting of this story because the story itself requires a login)

Short version: Go to www.georgewbush.com

Check out the tabs at the top. Issues, issues issues...Compassion?

Click on the photo gallery in the "Compassion" section. Notice a theme?

There are many, many words to describe this. I'm going with " incredibly patronizing" as a start.

I want this liscence plate.

FOXNews on 'Blogging: The New Cyber Craze!!!"

"Some call blogging a new way of communicating! But what IS it?"

In the spirit of the graduating and everything, I thought this was a good thing to share. :)

(we were talking about our first-grade play, "the little poppyseed cakes")
(14:25:51) mang0fandango: we were so cute and tiny!
(14:25:53) unclejohnnys: we still have that too
(14:25:55) unclejohnnys: i know
(14:26:07) unclejohnnys: little pint-sized college graduates
(14:26:26) mang0fandango: yes! :)
(14:26:56) unclejohnnys: we've always been the same people, just different sizes
(14:27:22) mang0fandango: with slightly varying concepts of the size of the world and things, yeah :)
(14:27:47) unclejohnnys: yeah
(14:27:50) mang0fandango: and haircuts
(14:27:53) unclejohnnys: yeah
(14:27:56) unclejohnnys: and haircuts

I feel more and more like I'm living in a ticking time bomb. Is it too late to start school in Canada?

U.S. ignored abuse pleas, Red Cross says

[ from The Toronto Star ]
May 6, 2004. 06:49 AM
'We were aware of what was going on,' aid organization says

GENEVA (AP) ? The international Red Cross said Thursday that it had repeatedly asked U.S. authorities to take action over prisoner abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison before recent revelations about the way detainees were treated.

"We were aware of what was going on, and based on our findings we have repeatedly requested the U.S. authorities to take corrective action," said Nada Doumani, spokesperson for the International Commitee of the Red Cross, speaking from Amman, Jordan.

The ICRC, which visits prisoners held by coalition authorities in Iraq, had previously refused to comment publicly on conditions at the prison.

And also,
Good Ol' Girl Who Enjoyed Cruelty

"POINTING crudely at the genitals of a naked, hooded Iraqi, the petite brunette with a cigarette hanging from her lips epitomised America's shame over revelations US soldiers routinely tortured inmates at Abu Ghraib jail near Baghdad.

Lynndie England, 21, a rail worker's daughter, comes from a trailer park in Fort Ashby, West Virginia, which locals proudly call "a backwoods world".

She faces a court martial, but at home she is toasted as a hero.

At the dingy Corner Club Saloon they think she has done nothing wrong.

"A lot of people here think they ought to just blow up the whole of Iraq," Colleen Kesner said.

"To the country boys here, if you're a different nationality, a different race, you're sub-human. That's the way girls like Lynndie are raised.

"Tormenting Iraqis, in her mind, would be no different from shooting a turkey. Every season here you're hunting something. Over there, they're hunting Iraqis."

And along those lines...we just heard a FOX News teaser-thing refer to the "abuse" of prisoners by American soldiers.

Nice fucking spin, Fox.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/scottbateman/274799.html

A good, if entirely unfunny, cartoon.

From a link in Neil Gaiman's blog - The Monster Under the Old Church. Just because it struck me as cool. I want to live in a village with a monster story that includes illicit teenage pregnancy and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Y'know?

I know a lot of you have probably seen this, but:

http://www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com/

"It almost goes without saying that there are a few things wrong with this country right now. There is one thing in particular, though, that seems to be the root of all of these problems. I'll give you a hint: it starts with a 'G', and ends with an 'eorge W. Bush'. Did you figure it out? Millions of Americans already have."