The suppressed fact: deaths by U.S. torture – Glenn Greenwald – Salon.com
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Sirota says exactly what I have been thinking
6 JunObama’s trail of broken promises
The prophet of hope now doesn’t even bother with explanations when he reneges on his campaign pledges.
[…] We once respected democracy by at least demanding explanations — however weak — for unfulfilled promises. Then we became a country whose scorched-earth campaigns against flip-flopping desensitized us to reversals. Now, we don’t flinch when our president appears tickled that a few poor souls still expect politicians to fulfill promises and justify broken ones. […]
I am so disappointed in this man that I can’t even express it. I’m glad David Sirota is there to do it for me.
Domestic terrorism
1 JunIn regards to the murder of Dr. George Tiller, apocalypsos responds much better than I could ever hope to do. So go read what she said, and know that I completely agree with her.
Allow me to add that if ever we reach the point where the “War on Terror” has any real meaning, then people like Scott P. Roeder will be treated as terrorists.
ETA: Abortion Doctor Murder Suspect: The Far-Right Connections | Mother Jones
Very interesting analysis of the dangers of Catholic fundamentalism
18 MayNotre Dame’s stand against Catholic fundamentalism | Salon
President Obama goes to the University of Notre Dame this Sunday to deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary degree, the ninth U.S. president to be so honored. The event has stirred up a hornet’s nest of conservative Catholics, with more than 40 bishops objecting, and hundreds of thousands of Catholics signing petitions in protest. In the words of South Bend’s Bishop John M. D’Arcy, the complaint boils down to President Obama’s “long-stated unwillingness to hold human life as sacred.” Notre Dame, the bishop charged, has chosen “prestige over truth.” […]
End the lies, take action
14 MayFrom EndTheLies.org:
Have you noticed that these days, since it’s no longer acceptable to say openly that you’re against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality, extremists are resorting to lies and fear tactics?
The radical right says hate crimes laws will “silence people of faith” and put pastors in jail. Newt Gingrich warned on Fox News that a “gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence…” Pat Boone called pro-equality protesters “sexual jihadists” similar to terrorists. They’ve taken out full-page ads in national papers and blanketed the talk shows.
We can’t let these lies go unanswered, especially now that we have a chance to make real progress on LGBT equality.
EndTheLies.org is a new website showing some of the worst offenders.
I just signed their petition to stand up for truth and equality. Will you take a moment and join me?
[TG] New journal created for Janet Anne
4 MayI’ve decided that Janet needs her own journal, where she can post openly without worrying about using the right filters, or being found out by the wrong persons. To that end, you can find me on Dreamwidth at janetanne, with profile here.
Feel free to drop by and introduce yourself. You can login to DW using your LJ or IJ OpenID for now. When I get some invite codes, I’d welcome any of you to come over here as well. Janet won’t be posting to LJ or IJ much. Just too much hassle with trying to filter content.
BTW: Ernie/Janet is also into BDSM, so just know you may find something about that there as well.
I’m on Dreamwidth
3 MayMy account name is the same on both LJ and dreamwidth. The link to me on DW is http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/ and my profile is located at http://wyldraven.dreamwidth.org/profile. So, if you are on DW as well, feel free to subscribe, and do give me access to read your stuff as well! I probably won’t be posting a lot (you may have noticed I’ve been pretty quiet on LJ lately).
Fleetwood Mac rocked the Toyota Center
3 MayWe had a fabulous time tonight at the Fleetwood Mac concert. Stevie is still magical, to paraphrase Barbara. More later when I can actually think. (I’m tired… zzzz)
Out and about, or “I did it!”
29 AprB and Jesse took me out shopping last night. We started out at Willowbrook Mall. We didn’t buy anything other than some sugar wax from The Body Shop, but we had a lot of fun browsing Lane Bryant, and Macy’s shoe department. Macy’s had some of the most kick-a** heels on clearance. B found several pair she absolutely loved. Of course, even at clearance prices, we really couldn’t afford them. B dared me to try on this one pair of bright red 4 1/2″ heels (yes, they had shoes in my size), expecting me to have trouble in them. I looked like I had worn them my whole life. 🙂
We had dinner at Sakura Japanese in the Food Court, and then left the mall (it closed at 9pm) and went looking for a Starbuck’s to get frappucinos and lemonade tea. We ended up at the Barnes and Nobles near home, and went in around 9:30 pm, thinking they would be open until 11. We had just ordered and settled down when they announced that they would be closing in 15 minutes. They had shortened the store hours because of the economic downturn. We still hung out and were chatting about various things (the baby mammoth, Lucy, Lucy’s baby, etc) until they announced the store was closed.
As we were leaving, one of the other patrons of the Starbuck’s approached us, and said she had overheard us talking about “Lucy’s baby”. She wanted to know more about it, as she hadn’t heard of it before. We exchanged introductions (Yes, I introduced myself as Janet.) She admitted, rather carefully, that she and her husband were “two of the very few Christians these days who believe in evolution.” She was a vet and her husband a geologist, she told us. We continued talking for a few more minutes, and even continued outside in the parking lot. My transgender status never came up. She addressed me as Janet, and we talked just like I wasn’t a freak :). It was a very positive experience, especially for me.
The entire evening everyone treated me as the female I was presenting. According to Jesse and B, there was one clerk in Lane Bryant that seemed to be having a problem with me, but I didn’t notice it personally. The one clerk who did approach us was friendly and helpful. I reminded B when she told me about it that retail clerks are generally commissioned, and if that one didn’t want our business, I had no problem with that. I’d simply take my money where I was welcome. After all, both B and I are likely to shop in plus size stores for the foreseeable future, and the one clerk who was helpful clearly saw that. Oh, and in Macy’s, we were approached by at least 4 clerks while shopping shoes, and not one of them had any problem with me.
I have no illusions about “passing” as a GG (Genetic Girl). I know better than that. But I was comfortable, happy, and really enjoyed the evening. I was more comfortable in my own skin than I have been for longer than I can remember. And I have to call that a win.
An Aging Trans Woman 