Blogaround

Links not related to the antichrist:

1. Talarico (D) Is Just a Letter to Me Now (September 21, via) "On September 9, Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico went on Fox News and publicly walked back his support for trans rights. He hedged—moderated—waffled—caved—folded." Vote for him if you are in Texas. But know that he is not standing up for trans rights the way he should.

2. A Call for Mainline Christians to Reach Out to Evangelicals (September 30) "In my experience, the issue of women being subordinate in evangelicalism is seen by more mainline Christians as merely a doctrinal choice, or a theological difference, rather than as an issue of justice."

This is spot-on. In my experience, there are some churches/ Christian groups that are like "women have to submit, we don't have women pastors, that's what the bible says" and some churches/ Christian groups that are like "well in our church we have women pastors, we don't restrict women, but we understand that different Christians have different opinions on this issue." Like come on, take a stand! Where are the churches that say "restricting women is just WRONG, I don't ****ing care what the bible says"?

3. The Bisexual Problem (August 22, 2-hour-6-minute video, via) "And 'one true love' logic demands that you disavow and de-emphasize all the frogs you loved before. Your current relationship is the only real one, and all your past attractions and relationships were mistakes on the way to finding your soul mate."

This video starts out talking about bisexual representation in media, and how it's difficult to portray bisexual characters because the audience will think the character is "actually" gay or "actually" straight depending on who they end up with. Even review sites which specifically rate the queer representation in movies/tv will look at a story with a bisexual character having relationships with men and women, and say it's "queer baiting" or it's "fake." The resolution of a love triangle becomes "political" rather than just about picking a person.

And then the video moves on to talk about how the entire concept of bisexuality doesn't fit into the gay rights movement which is so focused on "born this way" and "it's not a choice." Bisexuals *do* have a choice, so under this model, it doesn't make sense to fight for bi rights. There are bisexual asylum seekers who aren't able to get asylum because judges think their situation/identity doesn't fit into the guidelines of who qualifies for asylum, even though they genuinely are at risk of violence because of their queerness.

What all of it leads to is, bisexuality just doesn't fit into the "born this way" model, and we need a new model.

4. Disney World solved a problem that could save America billions every year (October 1, via) "Singapore has also spent years building out walkable utility corridors that operate much like the Magic Kingdom’s, transmitting water, data, and energy from the safety of well-organized underground tunnels. Some of Tokyo’s largest districts store their cables and gas lines in huge concrete utility ducts, and many Parisian water lines and fiber optics are kept across the city’s centuries-old sewer system, a catacombs of waste made easily navigable by blue-and-white street signs that correspond to the avenues above. Many university campuses across the US also boast their own sprawling utilidors."

5. Raw Milk Nearly Killed 2 Kids & Authorities Did Nothing (October 1) "Meanwhile, California authorities decided not to pursue criminal charges against her, despite the clear history of Facebook posts and text messages and hospital records that prove she sold tainted milk to be given to children, and continued selling it after being informed of the children’s condition."

6. Review: Portalmania (October 6) "In over a decade of asexual blogging, here is what I know: there are many people who will share personal experiences relating to asexuality, but nearly nobody will share stories of marital rape. Marital rape certainly happens, but the telling of it does not."

(See also, The Great Sex Rescue: Marital Rape)

7. Jim Bakker, the godfather of scamvangelism, is dead at 86 (October 7) "So what’s his legacy? Saying he was a Christian hypocrite would be too easy. He’s someone who realized early on that religion could be used to fleece people—and that television was an excellent way to get his message out to the most ignorant viewers in the country. By constantly scaring them, then offering his products as the only biblical way to respond, he became wealthy."

8. The iconic Arthur Read made his TV debut 30 years ago (October 5) "Arthur" was my favorite show, back in the day.

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Links related to the antichrist:

1. The family of Renee Good files lawsuits over her death during Minneapolis ICE raids (October 1) "'The fact that there's been no accountability, no investigation, no expression of condolence, no change in policy is completely mind-blowing,' Brent Ganger, Good's brother, said. 'We will not wait any longer. The time is absolutely now for accountability, for the deep damage done by ICE and others. We will not be quiet. We will not go away.'"

2. How Desperate To Delete Voters Are Nativist Bigot Republicans? THIS Petty And Desperate. (October 2) "If you are a US citizen living abroad, yes, you are allowed to vote, yes, even if you no longer have a US mailing address, yes, even if you’ve been gone a long time, yes, even if you’re retired and you ain’t comin’ back, and yes, you still have time before the midterms, even in states where you have to mail back your ballot. If you need help — or if you know anyone who lives abroad who you think might, and this includes anybody you know who has a kid studying abroad this semester — then hit up Vote From Abroad and/or their special page just for students."

Wow, very cool to see a big platform like Wonkette talking about how it is for Americans abroad, like me, and plugging the Vote From Abroad website. Yes, if you are a US citizen living abroad, vote!

3. Trump approved the military's 1st firing squad execution since WWII. Why now? (October 7)

4. She got Trump's $500 check for health insurance. To her, it's a 'political stunt' (October 7) "'This reads like electioneering,' says Kathleen Clark, professor of legal and governmental ethics at Washington University law school in St. Louis, Mo. 'This reads as though it's intended to influence votes. That is prohibited by law.'"

5. Afghan wartime allies freed by the U.S. 25 years ago are now fearful and frustrated (September 10) "'What's going to happen if my current status isn't approved? What's going to happen if somebody knocks on the door?' he says, aware that the fear of being pursued has in some ways followed him from Afghanistan to America."

I'm so mad about what's going on with refugees from Afghanistan, the ones who risked their lives to help us fight the Taliban, and now the US is saying, no we don't accept any refugees. Also, the article talks about a mother who was separated from 2 of her kids during the rushed evacuation, and the 2 kids are still in Afghanistan and she hasn't been able to bring them to the US, for 5 years. Don't let those MAGAs ever trick you into believing they care about "family values."

6. KY Gov. Beshear Has Message For Anti-Trans Dems: “We Don’t Throw Anybody Under The Bus.” (September 30)

Also from Erin in the Morning: "Vote NO": Colorado's Top Medical Groups Formally Oppose Anti-Trans Ballot Prop. 135 (October 6) "It is a broad, one-size-fits-all ban that goes far beyond what voters think they’re being asked to approve. It could block necessary care for kids who aren’t transgender, including teens facing testicular or cervical cancer, endometriosis, or intersex conditions."