Interview With Laura Jane Grace

I just watched this interview with Laura Jane Grace and it is very eye opening.  It's long but completely worth it.

Trans issues are often overlooked, unfortunately, and as a high profile trans person, Laura can really affect change.

Watch!

Gender Violatons

For my Intro to Women's and Gender Studies Class, I was recently assigned a short paper.

This was the prompt: "Do something that you think constitutes a violation of gender norms. Pay attention to others' reactions. How do you feel? Embarrassed? Proud? Write a short description of your gender violation and yours and others' reactions to it."

I ended up painting my toenails and this was what I wrote about it:

Finally Unfriended That "Friend"

Today, I finally unfriended one of my "friends" from high school on Facebook.  It was long overdue.  Him being a Evangelical Republican and myself being a Jewish Democrat, it was time.

It came about when I shared this photo on Facebook:

<3

He commented, "What constitutes a judgement?"  I had had similar conversations where he defended people saying that it's a slippery slope if marriage equality is fully implemented and disagreeing with me when I say you lose credibility when you compare President Obama to Hitler, in relation to gun control.  Not wanting to deal with it, I clicked away and unfriended him.  Just like that.  It was easy.  And extremely satisfying.

Seriously, CNN?

It's times like these when I wonder if CNN even tries to report on the news anymore...  It sure seems like it. They should leave things like this to Perez Hilton.

Seriously, CNN?

Jon Stewart Does It Again

Once again, Jon Stewart knocks it out of the ballpark by calling out the NFL for its... for lack of a better word... suckiness.

Jon Stewart Calls Out ESPN For Obsessing Over Michael Sam’s Shower Habits

Keep it up, Jon.

Advocate.com: "Op-ed: Hillary is Ready for Us"

Click here for a wonderful article by Allida Black over at Advocate.com.

Hillary has received lots of criticism from the LGBTQA community recently.  But as this article points out, Hillary has, in all reality, done lots for us.

"Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.”

ALS Ice Challenge

Well the newest Facebook craze is the ALS Ice Challenge.  I, your wonderful blogger, was nominated by a peer of mine.

Let me start by saying that this is a good cause and I support anything that fights a disease.  But this Ice Challenge is not something that I am very fond of.  Originally, I was only aware that you either do the Ice Challenge or you donate $100.  Wow.  Pouring ice over yourself.  Aren't you a wonderful person.  Raising awareness?  Yes.  Actually doing something?  No.  This did not sit right with me, so in my video I said I was also donating to a charity of my choice, the Trevor Project.

After I uploaded the video to Facebook, I was messaged by a friend who told me that you were supposed to donate $10 when you did the challenge.  Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of this - including me.  This challenge has been hijacked by social media and is no longer for ALS, but for the person doing the challenge.  Not one of my Facebook friends mentioned anything about donating.  Except for my cousin.  Good on him!

The ALS Ice Challenge is a self absorbed shout into the void. "Hey look at me - I'm supporting a cause."

Rant over now.  Here's an adorbs pic of Hannah Hart to make up for it.

I'm actually jealous of that outfit.  Not going to lie.  

Robin Williams Part 2

Just a link to Buzzfeed:

Hollywood Remembers Robin Williams

He was a remarkable man who impacted so many lives.

Robin Williams

The death of Robin Williams is one that fills me with great sadness.  My brother and sister grew up watching Aladdin and the Genie having adventures together.

Not only was Williams a funny, funny man, but he also was a good person.  So many comedians and funny people are sadly not good people.  Not Williams though.  "Look to the Stars," a website that describes celebrities' philanthropic efforts says "Robin’s charity work has covered the spectrum from health care and human rights, to education, environmental protection, and the arts."  The site also lists  charities that he had supported.

Truly an amazing and extensive list.

In addition, Williams was also a supporter of LGBT rights, according to "Hollowverse," a site that tries to figure out the political leanings of celebrities.

Robin Williams was also an unabashed liberal, being described as "perhaps one of the most liberal actors in Hollywood" by "Hollowverse."  Williams had donated over $150,000 to the Democratic Party and other leftist groups.  He also was a fierce critic of the second George Bush.

Many of William's colleagues and friends took to Twitter to mourn the great comedian, not to mention the rest of the world.  I've never seen Twitter so focused on a topic.  Pretty spectacular.  

But what struck me the most was the amount of people linking to suicide prevention organizations, posting numbers to call, and encouraging people to get help.  Depression is so often overlooked or looked down upon that people don't get help. Of my generation, this is the first famous person/role model that has committed suicide, that I can think of.  Maybe, this topic will finally be discussed and people will be able to get help.  

Here are some links to organizations that can help you if you are in trouble and need someone to talk to.  Share these.  Let know person go without hope.  

Aevidum

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The Trevor Project

"You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is Fierce

Just spent 25 dollars on this.  Completely worth it.

AmazonSmile

I think the folks over at Amazon had a marvelous idea with AmazonSmile. When you make a purchase (and there are, according to Amazon, tens of millions of products that can be bought using AmazonSmile) a portion of the purchase will go to a charity of your choosing. So, today, when I ordered my Clinton/Gore '92 tank top and Stewart/Colbert '16 tank top, a piece of that went to the Trevor Project. As you probably know, the Trevor Project is an organization is "The leading national organization providing crisis & suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth," according to their Twitter bio.  Definitely a cause to support!

Go over to AmazonSmile and support a cause!  

Another CNN Fail

CNN once again fails.  Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer is my new idol.

Israeli Ambassador v Erin Burnett

He makes great points and I think I will start following Mr. Dermer in the news.  He seems like a very intelligent man.

CNN did miss some important facts that were completely relevant to the situation.

Local Rabbi's Excellent Article

This was in my local paper today: Israel at war: Get beyond sound bites

It is a fantastic article written by a Rabbi in my hometown.  Jack Paskoff has been at Congregation Shaarrai Shomayim, the reformed synagogue of Lancaster, for over twenty years.  I've heard him speak several times and I've been very impressed by him.

On CNN

I can't stand CNN*.  For starters, their idea of breaking news is completely ridiculous.  I got a CNN alert on Twitter when George Bush's pet died.  Sad, but not something that I consider breaking news, let alone newsworthy.

I find Jon Stewart's coverage of CNN to be fantastic:

MH370 Coverage

MH370 Coverage - More...

Hillary Clinton Interview Coverage (also some Fox News bashing).

A Compilation

Basically, Jon Stewart is a god. Though, in fact, Jon Stewart and I are not alone in our disdain for CNN.

Buzzfeed has joined in on the fun:

CNN Anchor Uses Horrible Pun

More MH370... Really CNN?

The Tough Questions Are Being Asked

Breaking News?

Even ThoughtCatalog had something to say:

Steubenville Coverage Similarities to Onion Video

I was afraid to search Tumblr for thoughts on CNN, but I did.  Here's two of my favorite posts:

Do They Not Check Things Before They Go On Air?

Heard of Spellcheck?

Actually, just check out this: cnn fail.  It's the tag for "cnn fail" – pretty funny.

And this is just their television presence.  Dare we move on to cnn.com?

For this, I'm simply going to screenshot part of the homepage and dissect it.  It'll be fun!

1. When Chaos... - looks interesting.  Actual news though?  Point to Not News 1
2. Mysterious Crater... - I dare say that this is news! Point to News 1
3. Dad: He molested... - News.  Point to News 2
4. Conan... - I love Conan, but I don't think him trolling grinder counts as news.  Point to Not News 2
5. Small steps... - I guess technically news, but also not really.  Point to On Fence 1
6. Emotional... - This made everyone in my family cry, but not news. Point to Not News 3
7. What Bill said... NEWS! Point to News! 3
8. Prince George... - Technically news, but is is newsworthy?  Point to Not News 4
9. Kanye West...  - Again, news but not newsworthy.  Point to Not News 5
10. Actress...  - Not news.  Point to Not News 6
11. The world's...  - Point to Not News 7
12. Animals prove...  - Cute.  Point to Not News 8
13. Cops: Model left... - I'll call this news.  Point to News 4
14. Tiny Gymnast... - News, but not newsworthy.  I'll find this on E! Point to Not News 9
15. Rover... - News. Point to News 5
16. The one piece... - WHO CARES? Point to Not News 10
17. Guess which Celeb... - Are you trying to piss me off CNN?  Point to Not News 11
18. The week...  I actually like this feature, but I wouldn't count it as news. Point to Not News 12

So, out of 18 possible stories. 12 were not news, 5 were actually newsworthy, and 1 I was on the fence for.   27% of CNN's stories on 7/21 were newsworthy.  That is pathetic.  As much as I hate Fox News, at least they have news.  Biased news, but news nonetheless.  

Well I'm done.  I'm getting mad just thinking about CNN...  Comment with your thoughts on CNN.  Like 'em?  Hate 'em? 

*Full disclosure though – I love Anderson Cooper.

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The Best #GOPocrisy Tweets

Today, #GOPocrisy was trending on Twitter.  Here are some of my favorites:

Republicans will shut down government if Obamacare is funded, but if it's not implemented ASAP, they will sue Obama. #GOPocrisy

— Sarah Reese Jones (@srjones66) July 14, 2014

Give the rich more, or else they'll stop working. Give the poor less, or else they'll stop working. pic.twitter.com/j3kIIZyBye #GOPocrisy

— Stronger Together (@UniteBlue) July 14, 2014

GOP: Pro-life, until birth. pic.twitter.com/rMxZBvmD1f #GOPocrisy

— Zach Green (@140elect) July 14, 2014

#GOPocrisy love the fetus hate the child

— Tony Pratt (@JHazman59) July 13, 2014

83 Americans die each day of gun violence. 0 die of gay marriage, voting without an ID or access to birth control. #GOPocrisy

— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) July 14, 2014

You're not #ProLife if your economic policy is to allow people to starve in order to bring down the deficit. #GOPocrisy

— RVA Blue (@RVABlue) July 14, 2014

Two State Solution

Policy Recommendation: The Two-State Solution

The state of Israel, since its founding, has been at odds with its Arab neighbors.  The issue has only been exacerbated in the last few decades due to the internal crisis between the Palestinians and Israeli Jews.  Many solutions have been tossed around, though one has never been strongly pursued.  The solutions boil down to two: the one-state solution and two-state solution.  While both have drawbacks and advantages, this paper recommends the two-state solution as the desired course of action.  In fact, former Prime Minister and current President Shimon Peres once said, “A solution of two national states - a Jewish state, Israel; an Arab state, Palestine. The Palestinians are our closest neighbors. I believe they may become our closest friends.”  

Operation Protective Edge

Operation Protective Edge

So, first off, the death of innocent civilians is wrong  and does not accomplish anything.  But, the loss of Palestinian life is often the fault of Hamas.

Open Letter to Ted Cruz