Thursday Thirteen

I read Facebook more than I post on it. I have to stop myself from responding most days. It is better to simply move on than engage.

But that doesn't mean I can't respond here, in my spot that's a bit more of my own.

1. On the post where VA Governor Northam signs a bill knocking off the tax off of feminine hygiene products, a man asks who doesn't have access to feminine hygiene products and who can't pay for them? Answer: poor women who have to choose between feeding their kids, or medication, or whatever, and using tampons or folding up a washcloth and hoping nothing bad happens. Until you've had the embarrassment of having blood-soaked pants or having menstrual blood flow down your leg, you, mister, have no say in this matter.

2. To the 1,000+ commenters on a story about vandalism at a Jewish cemetery: have some respect for the dead. Arguing over whether or not the vandalism can be laid at #45s feet because it is "anti-sematic" overlooks the fact that it is vandalism, pure and simple, and a total disrespect for humanity.

3.  To the male commenters denying that the first female winner of the Nobel Prize in Math is actually a woman - what the hell is wrong with you? Are you so insecure that you can't see a woman winning a math prize? Are you that arrogant and so sure of yourselves? Did your mother not teach you that being a judgmental asshole is a sure sign of insecurity and a small penis?

4. To the sarcastic and on-the-spot commenters on a story about the New Zealand ban on semi-automatic assault rifles following a horrible mass shooters - the ones who wonder why that government didn't just offer up "thoughts and prayers" and move on: bravo to you.

5. To the people who think it's perfectly fine to be disrespectful at Auschwitz: How quickly we forget. Reverence is necessary. Thinking is mandatory. Figure it out.

6. Bravo to San Francisco for banning the sale of plastic bottles, although I am the first to raise my hand and say I use them. I recycle them, though. I don't send them to the landfill.

7. On the story about Virginia now having less smokers than the national average: it's about damn time.

8. Applause to this quote:



I am highly amused that this came up as I am offering my own opinion on issues. The irony is not lost on me.

9. To the people questioning if Arkansas will also offer courses on the Quran, the Torah, or other religions if requested after Arkansas passed a bill allowing public schools to teach Christianity: thank you for remembering that we are not a singular religious nation and that we are multi-faceted and separate of church and state serves a real purpose. It's not just a line. To the ones applauding the decision: think!

10. To the people laughing at a study that says Congress would be better if they had pay raises - applause. To the ones saying what we need is an entirely new Congress: agreed!

11. And … once again I'm out of time. I really need to stop waiting until Thursday morning to do this.

12. So I am off because I have an appointment.

13. But there's a list of 13 here. It's just a little incomplete.


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Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 596th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.