Tamora Pierce's Blog, page 8
October 13, 2011
the War on Women October 13, 2011
They ... just ... won't ...
STOP.
The push for the Fetal Heartbeat Law.
The last go failed. It's a pretty sure thing it will fail on the national level. So they're pushing it in every state.
Who owns your body? And who will own it next year?
The push for the Fetal Heartbeat Law.
The last go failed. It's a pretty sure thing it will fail on the national level. So they're pushing it in every state.
Who owns your body? And who will own it next year?
October 12, 2011
the War on Women October 12, 2011
I'm not going to say a great deal about these entries, because they make me so angry I'm afraid I'll start to speak in tongues. I used to think the line "the War on Women" was hyperbole, meant to make us sit up, be scared, and send our book money to NOW or NARAL. Today? Today I hear bullets in the shape of vicious legislation flying. Bad people want to strip us of our rights, folks. What's next: women can only work in the home? I
Amendment 26. This is . . . truly frightening. In the Mississippi legislature a movement is afoot to make life a legal construct that begins at--fertilization. This is not a joke. I spent a good chunk of today searching the Intertubes because I was positive it had to be a foolie, in part because I could find no mention of it on the main pages for NOW and NARAL. The whole subject is operating under the radar, which is nervous-making, because the people who support this say they have petitions ready for a lot of other states. Because they say they had 30,000 signatures more than they needed to get this on the fall ballot. Because they say they can use this to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Because it is mid-October and the rest of us are just now hearing about it.
If this passes, no one will be able to get an abortion, ever. It would be murder. Never mind if the cops were able to take your rapist's fingerprints off your eyeballs while he stood right there telling them what he did while his attorney took notes--you don't get to abort that child. If you are dying of complications pre-birth while there's still time, too bad. No abortion for you. Suffer, you daughter of Eve. That's life within you, don't you understand that? Fresh life, as opposed to your sin-addled, wrinkly, stale life. It counts more. You could win a Nobel Prize and three Olympic Gold Medals, and under this law, should it pass, a 6-week-old fetus that can't grasp the meaning of "too hot" is more important.
There are several ways to help down the page in the Daily Kos article: donate to Wake Up Mississippi and/or sign their petition. Contact the National Democratic Party and ask them to do something since the state Democratic Party is actually supporting this crap. Like the Wake Up Mississippi Facebook page, and keep in touch for ways to help. And boost the signal by posting about this on your lj/blog/whatever and e-mailing family and friends. Please do! If this Amendment 26 virus spreads to other states, I know there will be more ways to help.
They're jokingly calling it the "Let Women Die" law. HR (House Resolution) 358 is being debated this week. If passed, it will prevent a woman from getting an abortion at a federally funded hospital if the facility opposes abortions, even if it would save her life. In other words, if a woman is brought into a Catholic hospital that gets federal funds dying from complications due to her pregnancy, the hospital would be able to refuse the abortion, even at the risk of the woman's life. It also plans to forbid any federal funds from going to health plans that cover abortion services. And, it allows funds to go to health organizations that don't block abortion rights (even though abortion is the law of the land). There are links in the article directing you to further discussion and ways to reach out to your congress person and register how you want him/her to vote. This--do I have to say it--is REALLY--important. Our bodies are ours, and the decisions with regard to the fate of our bodies must be ours.
But wait! There's more! The city of Topeka, Kansas decided this week to repeal their ordinance against misdemeanor domestic violence. In other words, partner beaters, feel free. But today, the D.A. said he will review each domestic violence incident on a case-by-case basis, even though he said last month he would no longer pursue such cases. He says he'll do it with less staff, and less resources, and I don't know how this heroic crusader for victims will manage if the cops aren't arresting anyone on misdemeanor charges, but there you have it.
The excuse? No money. I wonder what money the city council makes? What their pensions are?
21 beaters have been released from jail so far. 35 cases have been reported since September and not pursued. This is because the majority of domestic violence victims are women and kids, and they don't count.
edited to add:
Writer Jim Hines has written about Topeka with a lot of additional information in this post and followed up in this post. They well worth reading. end edit
This week sucks, in our nation and at home. I'd like to carve me some reactionary roast and feed it to sharks. No, wait--I like sharks. Maybe lamprey eels. They don't seem that nice.
cross-posted to my fan journal
Amendment 26. This is . . . truly frightening. In the Mississippi legislature a movement is afoot to make life a legal construct that begins at--fertilization. This is not a joke. I spent a good chunk of today searching the Intertubes because I was positive it had to be a foolie, in part because I could find no mention of it on the main pages for NOW and NARAL. The whole subject is operating under the radar, which is nervous-making, because the people who support this say they have petitions ready for a lot of other states. Because they say they had 30,000 signatures more than they needed to get this on the fall ballot. Because they say they can use this to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Because it is mid-October and the rest of us are just now hearing about it.
If this passes, no one will be able to get an abortion, ever. It would be murder. Never mind if the cops were able to take your rapist's fingerprints off your eyeballs while he stood right there telling them what he did while his attorney took notes--you don't get to abort that child. If you are dying of complications pre-birth while there's still time, too bad. No abortion for you. Suffer, you daughter of Eve. That's life within you, don't you understand that? Fresh life, as opposed to your sin-addled, wrinkly, stale life. It counts more. You could win a Nobel Prize and three Olympic Gold Medals, and under this law, should it pass, a 6-week-old fetus that can't grasp the meaning of "too hot" is more important.
There are several ways to help down the page in the Daily Kos article: donate to Wake Up Mississippi and/or sign their petition. Contact the National Democratic Party and ask them to do something since the state Democratic Party is actually supporting this crap. Like the Wake Up Mississippi Facebook page, and keep in touch for ways to help. And boost the signal by posting about this on your lj/blog/whatever and e-mailing family and friends. Please do! If this Amendment 26 virus spreads to other states, I know there will be more ways to help.
They're jokingly calling it the "Let Women Die" law. HR (House Resolution) 358 is being debated this week. If passed, it will prevent a woman from getting an abortion at a federally funded hospital if the facility opposes abortions, even if it would save her life. In other words, if a woman is brought into a Catholic hospital that gets federal funds dying from complications due to her pregnancy, the hospital would be able to refuse the abortion, even at the risk of the woman's life. It also plans to forbid any federal funds from going to health plans that cover abortion services. And, it allows funds to go to health organizations that don't block abortion rights (even though abortion is the law of the land). There are links in the article directing you to further discussion and ways to reach out to your congress person and register how you want him/her to vote. This--do I have to say it--is REALLY--important. Our bodies are ours, and the decisions with regard to the fate of our bodies must be ours.
But wait! There's more! The city of Topeka, Kansas decided this week to repeal their ordinance against misdemeanor domestic violence. In other words, partner beaters, feel free. But today, the D.A. said he will review each domestic violence incident on a case-by-case basis, even though he said last month he would no longer pursue such cases. He says he'll do it with less staff, and less resources, and I don't know how this heroic crusader for victims will manage if the cops aren't arresting anyone on misdemeanor charges, but there you have it.
The excuse? No money. I wonder what money the city council makes? What their pensions are?
21 beaters have been released from jail so far. 35 cases have been reported since September and not pursued. This is because the majority of domestic violence victims are women and kids, and they don't count.
edited to add:
Writer Jim Hines has written about Topeka with a lot of additional information in this post and followed up in this post. They well worth reading. end edit
This week sucks, in our nation and at home. I'd like to carve me some reactionary roast and feed it to sharks. No, wait--I like sharks. Maybe lamprey eels. They don't seem that nice.
cross-posted to my fan journal
the War on Women October 12, 2100
I'm not going to say a great deal about these entries, because they make me so angry I'm afraid I'll start to speak in tongues. I used to think the line "the War on Women" was hyperbole, meant to make us sit up, be scared, and send our book money to NOW or NARAL. Today? Today I hear bullets in the shape of vicious legislation flying. Bad people want to strip us of our rights, folks. What's next: women can only work in the home? I
Amendment 26. This is . . . truly frightening. In the Mississippi legislature a movement is afoot to make life a legal construct that begins at--fertilization. This is not a joke. I spent a good chunk of today searching the Intertubes because I was positive it had to be a foolie, in part because I could find no mention of it on the main pages for NOW and NARAL. The whole subject is operating under the radar, which is nervous-making, because the people who support this say they have petitions ready for a lot of other states. Because they say they had 30,000 signatures more than they needed to get this on the fall ballot. Because they say they can use this to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Because it is mid-October and the rest of us are just now hearing about it.
If this passes, no one will be able to get an abortion, ever. It would be murder. Never mind if the cops were able to take your rapist's fingerprints off your eyeballs while he stood right there telling them what he did while his attorney took notes--you don't get to abort that child. If you are dying of complications pre-birth while there's still time, too bad. No abortion for you. Suffer, you daughter of Eve. That's life within you, don't you understand that? Fresh life, as opposed to your sin-addled, wrinkly, stale life. It counts more. You could win a Nobel Prize and three Olympic Gold Medals, and under this law, should it pass, a 6-week-old fetus that can't grasp the meaning of "too hot" is more important.
There are several ways to help down the page in the Daily Kos article: donate to Wake Up Mississippi and/or sign their petition. Contact the National Democratic Party and ask them to do something since the state Democratic Party is actually supporting this crap. Like the Wake Up Mississippi Facebook page, and keep in touch for ways to help. And boost the signal by posting about this on your lj/blog/whatever and e-mailing family and friends. Please do! If this Amendment 26 virus spreads to other states, I know there will be more ways to help.
They're jokingly calling it the "Let Women Die" law. HR (House Resolution) 358 is being debated this week. If passed, it will prevent a woman from getting an abortion at a federally funded hospital if the facility opposes abortions, even if it would save her life. In other words, if a woman is brought into a Catholic hospital that gets federal funds dying from complications due to her pregnancy, the hospital would be able to refuse the abortion, even at the risk of the woman's life. It also plans to forbid any federal funds from going to health plans that cover abortion services. And, it allows funds to go to health organizations that don't block abortion rights (even though abortion is the law of the land). There are links in the article directing you to further discussion and ways to reach out to your congress person and register how you want him/her to vote. This--do I have to say it--is REALLY--important. Our bodies are ours, and the decisions with regard to the fate of our bodies must be ours.
But wait! There's more! The city of Topeka, Kansas decided this week to repeal their ordinance against misdemeanor domestic violence. In other words, partner beaters, feel free. But today, the D.A. said he will review each domestic violence incident on a case-by-case basis, even though he said last month he would no longer pursue such cases. He says he'll do it with less staff, and less resources, and I don't know how this heroic crusader for victims will manage if the cops aren't arresting anyone on misdemeanor charges, but there you have it.
The excuse? No money. I wonder what money the city council makes? What their pensions are?
21 beaters have been released from jail so far. 35 cases have been reported since September and not pursued. This is because the majority of domestic violence victims are women and kids, and they don't count.
This week sucks, in our nation and at home. I'd like to carve me some reactionary roast and feed it to sharks. No, wait--I like sharks. Maybe lamprey eels. They don't seem that nice.
cross-posted to my fan journal
Amendment 26. This is . . . truly frightening. In the Mississippi legislature a movement is afoot to make life a legal construct that begins at--fertilization. This is not a joke. I spent a good chunk of today searching the Intertubes because I was positive it had to be a foolie, in part because I could find no mention of it on the main pages for NOW and NARAL. The whole subject is operating under the radar, which is nervous-making, because the people who support this say they have petitions ready for a lot of other states. Because they say they had 30,000 signatures more than they needed to get this on the fall ballot. Because they say they can use this to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Because it is mid-October and the rest of us are just now hearing about it.
If this passes, no one will be able to get an abortion, ever. It would be murder. Never mind if the cops were able to take your rapist's fingerprints off your eyeballs while he stood right there telling them what he did while his attorney took notes--you don't get to abort that child. If you are dying of complications pre-birth while there's still time, too bad. No abortion for you. Suffer, you daughter of Eve. That's life within you, don't you understand that? Fresh life, as opposed to your sin-addled, wrinkly, stale life. It counts more. You could win a Nobel Prize and three Olympic Gold Medals, and under this law, should it pass, a 6-week-old fetus that can't grasp the meaning of "too hot" is more important.
There are several ways to help down the page in the Daily Kos article: donate to Wake Up Mississippi and/or sign their petition. Contact the National Democratic Party and ask them to do something since the state Democratic Party is actually supporting this crap. Like the Wake Up Mississippi Facebook page, and keep in touch for ways to help. And boost the signal by posting about this on your lj/blog/whatever and e-mailing family and friends. Please do! If this Amendment 26 virus spreads to other states, I know there will be more ways to help.
They're jokingly calling it the "Let Women Die" law. HR (House Resolution) 358 is being debated this week. If passed, it will prevent a woman from getting an abortion at a federally funded hospital if the facility opposes abortions, even if it would save her life. In other words, if a woman is brought into a Catholic hospital that gets federal funds dying from complications due to her pregnancy, the hospital would be able to refuse the abortion, even at the risk of the woman's life. It also plans to forbid any federal funds from going to health plans that cover abortion services. And, it allows funds to go to health organizations that don't block abortion rights (even though abortion is the law of the land). There are links in the article directing you to further discussion and ways to reach out to your congress person and register how you want him/her to vote. This--do I have to say it--is REALLY--important. Our bodies are ours, and the decisions with regard to the fate of our bodies must be ours.
But wait! There's more! The city of Topeka, Kansas decided this week to repeal their ordinance against misdemeanor domestic violence. In other words, partner beaters, feel free. But today, the D.A. said he will review each domestic violence incident on a case-by-case basis, even though he said last month he would no longer pursue such cases. He says he'll do it with less staff, and less resources, and I don't know how this heroic crusader for victims will manage if the cops aren't arresting anyone on misdemeanor charges, but there you have it.
The excuse? No money. I wonder what money the city council makes? What their pensions are?
21 beaters have been released from jail so far. 35 cases have been reported since September and not pursued. This is because the majority of domestic violence victims are women and kids, and they don't count.
This week sucks, in our nation and at home. I'd like to carve me some reactionary roast and feed it to sharks. No, wait--I like sharks. Maybe lamprey eels. They don't seem that nice.
cross-posted to my fan journal
October 7, 2011
TV show "The Playboy Club" has been canceled
Despite cries of "But it's about female empowerment!" from the producers, no less.
You know, it's kinda hard to figure out the empowerment part when the picture you most often see is of a Bunny squished up against a wall by a menacing guy. It's also hard to believe Hef's oft-put-about boast that the women were perfectly safe and no one was permitted to touch them when the picture you most often see is . . . you catch my drift.
Were they really fooling anyone? Is Hefner even fooling himself?
You know, it's kinda hard to figure out the empowerment part when the picture you most often see is of a Bunny squished up against a wall by a menacing guy. It's also hard to believe Hef's oft-put-about boast that the women were perfectly safe and no one was permitted to touch them when the picture you most often see is . . . you catch my drift.
Were they really fooling anyone? Is Hefner even fooling himself?
Because there are female heroes out there 10/7/11
The Nobel Peace Prize goes to non-violent activists Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian Leymah Gbowee and Tawakul Karman of Yemen.
Mrs. Karman heard of her prize from a protest camp in Yemen, where she's been struggling for women's rights in the violence that has been part of the Arab Spring.
President Sirleaf is the first elected female head of state in Africa and it is claimed she has brought stability to Liberia after its long civil war.
Mrs. Gbowee led women in a march against rape by soldiers and brought them together, regardless of race or ethnic group, to participate in elections.
Congratulations, ladies. I hope many more people come forward to help you in your work.
cross-posted from my fan journal
Mrs. Karman heard of her prize from a protest camp in Yemen, where she's been struggling for women's rights in the violence that has been part of the Arab Spring.
President Sirleaf is the first elected female head of state in Africa and it is claimed she has brought stability to Liberia after its long civil war.
Mrs. Gbowee led women in a march against rape by soldiers and brought them together, regardless of race or ethnic group, to participate in elections.
Congratulations, ladies. I hope many more people come forward to help you in your work.
cross-posted from my fan journal
August 19, 2011
Catching up
I haven't been around the last week because I started an avalanche on my fan journal when I asked what I thought was an innocent question, after seeing the current Newsweek Twilight cover, wondering what Bella and Edward would talk about when the romantic sexual glow wore off. (That thread is currently at 200 posts.) Then I felt I had to explain that my intent was not to trash the Twilight books, but to ask, after all I've heard, what these two had to build a relationship on. More discussion. And then it was again brought to my attention that our math/science girls are having a hard time of it, and I made that an open thread, which is getting a lot of traffic. If you have resources for our science/math/computer/music gang, please post them there!
Since I thought you folks might be tiring of cross posts, I'm simply going to link here.
Lots of woman stuff to discuss and, I admit, lots of cheap jokes at Bella and Edward's expense. But I like the conversation because it's plain readers are thinking about what they read, which is always a good thing.
In the meantime I'm off with two tote bags plus a Nook full of fiction and non-fiction. I've almost read a run of school shooting books dry but not my need to know, which is very frustrating. I still haven't read any of the genre that's as good as Nancy Garden's ENDGAME, though Jodi Picoult's 19 MINUTES is a decent second. I'm looking forward to reading George R.R. Martin's and Cassie Clare's new books while I'm away, as well as two Robert McCammon books I haven't read. And for those who are panicking, I will be working on BATTLE MAGIC!
Back to packing. I need to make sure all the name books I need are in those tote bags!
Since I thought you folks might be tiring of cross posts, I'm simply going to link here.
Lots of woman stuff to discuss and, I admit, lots of cheap jokes at Bella and Edward's expense. But I like the conversation because it's plain readers are thinking about what they read, which is always a good thing.
In the meantime I'm off with two tote bags plus a Nook full of fiction and non-fiction. I've almost read a run of school shooting books dry but not my need to know, which is very frustrating. I still haven't read any of the genre that's as good as Nancy Garden's ENDGAME, though Jodi Picoult's 19 MINUTES is a decent second. I'm looking forward to reading George R.R. Martin's and Cassie Clare's new books while I'm away, as well as two Robert McCammon books I haven't read. And for those who are panicking, I will be working on BATTLE MAGIC!
Back to packing. I need to make sure all the name books I need are in those tote bags!
Vacation!
cross-posted from my fan journal
Yes! For the first time in 25 years (I kid you not), I am going on vacation. No cell phone, no internet, just me and Bruce and Kathy Coville and their cats Mo, Dickens, and Luna, and loons, chipmunks, ospreys, deer, and the odd bear or two!
The circumstances will be hell for Tim the Spouse-creature, who is not a fan of Nature unless it comes with broadband, but heaven for me. I will miss him and our menagerie (now 11 indoors and 2 permanent outdoors transitioning to indoors, not to mention Roly and Scraggle the skunks, Coover the raccoon, and Ghost, Red, Zorro, Stripes, Feather, and the other stray cats and skunks), but 25 years, man, and off to Nature for me!
Ye gods. He's explaining how the car switches to kilometers per hour as Captain Picard on the phone. Got to go.
Back on September 5!
Tammy
Yes! For the first time in 25 years (I kid you not), I am going on vacation. No cell phone, no internet, just me and Bruce and Kathy Coville and their cats Mo, Dickens, and Luna, and loons, chipmunks, ospreys, deer, and the odd bear or two!
The circumstances will be hell for Tim the Spouse-creature, who is not a fan of Nature unless it comes with broadband, but heaven for me. I will miss him and our menagerie (now 11 indoors and 2 permanent outdoors transitioning to indoors, not to mention Roly and Scraggle the skunks, Coover the raccoon, and Ghost, Red, Zorro, Stripes, Feather, and the other stray cats and skunks), but 25 years, man, and off to Nature for me!
Ye gods. He's explaining how the car switches to kilometers per hour as Captain Picard on the phone. Got to go.
Back on September 5!
Tammy
August 11, 2011
When you speak to her, speak politely!
Congratulations to Sensei Keiko Fukuda, at 98 years of age the first woman and the fourth living 10th-degree black belt. She still teaches in California, and she has waited a long time for this. Here's a blog entry with more of her history.
My thanks to![[info]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380451598i/2033940.gif)
auroraceleste
, who brought this to my attention.
Fukuda-san at 90
cross-posted to my fan page
My thanks to
auroraceleste
, who brought this to my attention.
Fukuda-san at 90
cross-posted to my fan page
August 8, 2011
R.I.P. a distinguished woman hero of WWII
Nancy Wake could shoot with the men, run with the men, drink with the men, and if there was any cooking to be done, she made sure the men did it. She was one of the most decorated agents of WWII, named "the White Mouse" by the Gestapo because she was so good at getting away.
Married to a wealthy man who entered the war as an ambulance driver, she began by helping downed British airmen to escape France to Britain, then served as an agent doing radio and resistance work in France. After the war she was awarded the British George medal, three French Croix de Guerre and the French Médaille de la Résistance, and the American Medal of Freedom. The French later made her a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.
She was a hard warrior in a hard time, and she lived to be 98. One more agent from WWII France, St. Peter. She did her time in hell.
cross-posted from my fan journal
Married to a wealthy man who entered the war as an ambulance driver, she began by helping downed British airmen to escape France to Britain, then served as an agent doing radio and resistance work in France. After the war she was awarded the British George medal, three French Croix de Guerre and the French Médaille de la Résistance, and the American Medal of Freedom. The French later made her a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.
She was a hard warrior in a hard time, and she lived to be 98. One more agent from WWII France, St. Peter. She did her time in hell.
cross-posted from my fan journal
August 6, 2011
Because there are female heroes out there
Not toy girls, not sexy stewardesses, not belles or bunnies or Girls Gone Wild, but
Hege Dalen and Toril Hansen, spouses who saved forty kids from the water when the Norwegian shooter Breivik tore into the youth camp. They did so at their own risk, please note--there were bullet holes in their boat. Did the mainstream media cover this? No. It's far more important to cover what entertainment figures had to say than what a pair of lesbians actually did.
They ought to do TV shows about women like this.
edited to add:
Thanks to
devrose
we have this much more informative and thoughtful article from the UK's Guardian, who is also quizzing the lack of coverage about our two heroes!
cross-posted to my fan journal
Hege Dalen and Toril Hansen, spouses who saved forty kids from the water when the Norwegian shooter Breivik tore into the youth camp. They did so at their own risk, please note--there were bullet holes in their boat. Did the mainstream media cover this? No. It's far more important to cover what entertainment figures had to say than what a pair of lesbians actually did.
They ought to do TV shows about women like this.
edited to add:
Thanks to
devrose
we have this much more informative and thoughtful article from the UK's Guardian, who is also quizzing the lack of coverage about our two heroes!
cross-posted to my fan journal
