Tennessee makes me sadder still

Note: Oh. Hey. Sup? Me? Ehh, fecking pissed still.


Not even a mint chocolate coffee drink could combat my extreme sadness upon reading more fucking dumbness from my state. I mean, TN already makes me incredibly sad as you may know from hearing me talk about it for more than five minutes, and...you know Johnson City is awfully close to like 3 other states I could just run off to.

But things don't change.

Oh, the fucking dumbness from my state:

ACLU wants schools to unblock access to gay Web sites

Knox County's school system is among 107 in Tennessee targeted by the American Civil Liberties Union in a campaign to lift blocks to student access to nonsexual Web sites with information about "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues."

In a letter to officials of the school systems and the Tennessee Schools Cooperative, the ACLU says it will file lawsuits if the school systems do not develop, by April 29, a plan to unblock the "LGBT" filtering category "or any other category that blocks nonsexual Web sites advocating the fair treatment of LGBT people by the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year."

"Students at Knox County and Metro Nashville schools are being denied access to content that is protected speech under the First Amendment as well as the Tennessee state Constitution," said Tricia Herzfeld, staff attorney with the ACLU of Tennessee. "This kind of censorship does nothing but hurt students, whether they're being harassed at school and want to know about their legal rights or are just trying to finish an assignment for a class."

I suppose that falls more under "fucking baffling" than actually fucking dumb. Knox is in east TN in case you were wondering. Like Knoxville get it? Where you hear banjos and shit.

Oh I'm not surprised. I'm more mad at really over zealous school web censoring in general, blocking all sorts of informational sites. By my senior year I could barely use fucking Google in the library. I guess, I was in the library so why don't I look up some books, but I fucking hate high school libraries because they're usually so woefully understocked and disorganized (I fucking worked in ours, I know this shit).

Oh, but I guess that wasn't ignorant enough for you. Never fear, I have more fucking dumbness from my state. If this doesn't have you craving cyanide cookies and bleach tea I don't know what will:


Slavery proposal faces GOP opposition in Tennessee

NASHVILLE - A proposal for the Tennessee General Assembly to express regret for slavery and segregation laws faces a tough hurdle from Republican lawmakers in a House committee today.

Rep. Brenda Gilmore, a Nashville Democrat and main sponsor of the resolution to express "profound regret for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans," ran into hard opposition from several members of the State and Local Government Committee when she spoke before the panel last week.

Republican Rep. Eric Watson, a sheriff's lieutenant in Bradley County, asked Gilmore to expand the resolution to cover all groups that have engaged in enslaving people through history.

"Let's do this for everybody, not just for a certain group of people," he said. "I know you don't want to get accused of profiling, I don't either."

Watson said others were enslaved in the 1800s, too, including Spanish and Chinese people.

Gilmore said she wants to focus on blacks because they were the most predominant group subject to slavery in the South. Six other states - Alabama, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia - have passed similar legislation.

Rep. Eric Swafford, a Pikeville Republican, also took issue with expressing regret specifically toward blacks.

"Once we start talking about an individual group of people, and that we should never forget what they have gone through - I don't think that promotes love and unity," he said. "I think that promotes division."

"THAT'S TOO CONFLICTY OMG OMG OMG GET IT AWAY"

Actually, fuck the both of you. I personally don't want an apology. You're not really sorry, either party.

Auuuughhh it buuuurrrns~ *sips mocha*

More PETA oddness

Well, let's face it, it's probably the LEAST they could do considering racist dog kennels and sea kittens, and I guess it actually kinda worked this time. Maybe PETA does have a plan:


PETA to Pet Shop Boys: Rescue Shelter Boys, perhaps?

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Just because they named their new CD "Yes," does not mean that British electro-pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys, will agree to just about anything.

The band has turned down a request from an animal rights group to rename itself the Rescue Shelter Boys.
The organization, the People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals (PETA), sent a letter to Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe acknowledging that its request, at first blush, might appear "bizarre."

But, by changing its name, the band could raise awareness at every tour stop of the "cramped, filthy conditions" that breeders keep animals in before selling them to pet stores, PETA said in its letter.

Rrriiight.

Excuse me, was you sayin somethin? Uh-uh, you can't tell PETA nuthin. HAH-HAAAH, you can't tell PETA nuthin.

ETSU's great race survey

Blogging from school everyone. Shh, I can't afford to be seen with radicals.

Edit: Fixed formatting. I still think it's stupid.

I just noticed an email from the school...well...just read it:

Mandatory New Federal Ethnicity and Race Information Collection

Changes to federal requirements for collecting ethnicity and race information require ETSU to resurvey all students, faculty, and staff for this information.

Beginning Monday, April 6, 2009, all users (students, faculty, and staff) are required to log in to GoldLink and provide the following information:

1. Ethnic Category



Do you consider yourself to be of Hispanic/Latino/Spanish origin?

· Yes

· No



2. Race Category



Select one or more of the following racial categories to describe yourself.

· White

· Black or African American

· Asian

· American Indian

· Alaskan Native

· Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

Once this information is submitted, users will return to regular GoldLink services and will not be asked for this information again.

Thank you in advance for participating in this required federal survey,

Offices of Human Resources and Enrollment Services

East Tennessee State University



....What?! NO SIR.

That survey is stupid stupid stupid! What the fuck is an "American Indian"? Why do I have to provide info on any Latin@ ancestory? Explain to me the differences between Latino, Hispanic, AND Spanish (LOL)? Why am I black OR african american like I have a choice? Why so few racial categories? Why no European? If I'm Russian am I Asian or White? Why is this information needed?!

After being called a negro by that stupid student census, the government is going to have to come to my dorm room and A) Deliver an apology B) Ask me nicely with cookies and root beer to fill out anything else ever again! I refuse! I am NOT participating in this fuckery!

Catholics, rest of the world to Pope: "Shut the fuck up!"

Oh this just warms my heart. A tip of the hat to this entry on Pam's Houseblend.

In light of Papa Benedicto XVI's embarrassing, dangerous, and inane comments on condoms, and everything ELSE HE'S DONE since his...uh...ascension? it seems all sorts of folks are just crawling out the woodwork all angry-like.

First, France & Germany told the Elder Thing to STFU, now it seems the Shepard's own flock are about to join together in a rousing rendition of "Bring 'Em Out". Okay, maybe not, but that'd be hilarious.

Vatican Insiders declare Pope a "disaster"

The Holy See is struggling to contain international anger over the Pope's claim on his first official visit to Africa that Aids "cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".

The Pope's remarks about condoms, and a recent furore over his lifting of the 20-year excommunication of a British bishop who has questioned the Holocaust, has left him looking isolated and out of touch, prompting calls for a radical shake-up of the way the Holy See delivers its message.

The Pope is isolated and fails to adequately consult his advisers, said a Vatican source with 20 years' knowledge of the Holy See.

Another Vatican insider described Pope Benedict's four-year-old papacy as "a disaster", recalling the pontiff's previous inflammatory remarks on Islam and homosexuality.

"He's out of touch with the real world," the Italian insider said. "On the condom issue, for example, there are priests and bishops in Africa who accept that condoms are a key part of the fight against Aids, and yet the pope adheres to this very conservative line that they encourage promiscuity. The Vatican is far removed from the reality on the ground."

I think I can safely sum that up to "DO NOT WANT". I think this is my favorite piece from the whole thing (the link is mine for the good Papa):

The Holy See claimed that the Pope had no idea that British bishop Richard Williamson had denied the extent of the Holocaust, but critics have pointed out that a simple Google search would have uncovered the maverick's anti-Semitic views.

Yeeep. But don't worry, the Papa's foot soldiers aren't taking this unfair criticism from sensible Catholics lying down, oh no:

We learned this morning that "Vatican insiders" consider Benedict XVI "a disaster". It's true. They do think that. He's a disaster for them, and their determination to turn the Catholic Church into a touchy-feely forum in which uncomfortable teachings and traditions are "modernised" to impress non-Catholics. Until the Williamson affair, the media weren't sufficiently interested in attacking Benedict XVI to be useful. But now, after that own goal... YES!!!

Take the furore over condoms. I don't think the Pope should have strayed into the topic of condoms and Aids, but what he said didn't represent a hardening of the Church's line on this subject. Post-Williamson, however, the liberal media have slipped back into anti-papal default mode, which suits certain "Catholics" just fine.

I just love how it's always the Libruls fault in ANYTHING when shit goes down. And you thought it stopped at politics. Nope! Puppies get run over? Libruls. Your foot falls off? Libruls. Millions dying over seas? Libruls. Can't find the cool side of your pillow? Libruls. LIBRULS!!!111!!AUUGH!

*tissue* Okay. Okay. I'm done now. I think I might just start calling Papa the Rubberband Man, he's always in trouble man.

Sex Doll jackets

Still doing that thinky post...but I hate it when I get weak and browse D-Listed. I find shit like this:

Sex Doll jackets for the discerning...never mind.

I can't save you from that link. You'll just have to click it and join me in cleansing. But before you do, I want you to know that it's exactly what you think it is and probably worse than you can imagine. Those colors don't even freaking WORK let alone reducing women to bits and pieces (uh, nipple clasps is all I can say) for you to wear.

...Did you see those fucking colors? Eeeeuuugh.

To save this from descending into madness, can I say that I've always been creeped out by male & female sex dolls? I don't mind--care, really--if folks use them but I can't...I dunno, get my head around them. I guess it's the same reason I'm not fond of regular dolls except now it's on a whole different level...the...fakeness and disposableness I guess. When I saw my first RealDoll I was totally done for life yo.

Sigh. Today would be a good day to eat breakfast, non?

Dallas school encourages kids to engage in mortal kombat. Like...literally

Bring em out, bring em out!

While being nosy on Pharyngula I came across this comment and...well, the unsweetened tea flew out my nose.

Dallas school accused of staging fights

The Dallas school system was rocked by allegations Thursday that staff members at an inner-city high school made students settle their differences by fighting bare-knuckle brawls inside a steel cage.

The principal and other employees at South Oak Cliff High knew about the cage fights and allowed the practice to continue, according to a 2008 report by school system investigators.

"More than anything, I'm in shock and disbelief — shocked that this could ever occur and shocked that it would be condoned by a professional administrator," said Jerome Garza, a member of the Dallas school board.

Okay. First off...I'm not even going to front today--letting students just duke it in a semi-controlled environment? Not that bad of an idea. My high school was prone to so many gang fights and random outbreaks that we actually did unofficially propose something like that. Sometimes it just gets THAT serious. In our case, the plan was to offer to let the students fight in hopes that they'll chicken out--because in all but the most serious cases, yeah, if there was no crowd or no administrators nearby the fight would eventually just disintegrate.

NOW

THIS STORY

First off...a steel cage? What in the Vince MacMahon hell? Where did they even GET a steel cage? And why was it necessary? I'm going to need to know ALL of that, in that order.

Secondly, uh, something about this school was apparently already shady as hell so I'm really questioning their true motives behind the little steel cage set up--I'm still really needing to know where they got a steel goddamn cage and who approved this.

The allegations came to light during a grade-fixing investigation that eventually cost the high school its 2005 and 2006 state basketball titles. School officials were suspected of altering students' grades so that they could remain eligible to play for South Oak Cliff, a perennial basketball powerhouse in one of the poorer sections of the city.

Hmm...fixing grades for sports? And now we're holding steel fight cages (which apparently served as entertainment for the teachers too, wow) I want to follow this damn money trail because it is wild.

When you see me in the streets shawty you don't know me...

Lastly, okay, no parent in their right mind is going to say "steel cage fights for disruptive students? Cosign!" (or at least I don't think) but hiding this shit from the parents for so long is just all out wrong.

...wait, is there anything about this that's RIGHT? This school gets two thumbs down and a vehement BOO'ing for stupid ass antics and endangering students (yeah it took a while to bring that little fact up didn't it).

Pope tells Africa condoms are wrong?

Before reading this, please put any and all liquids away and close your windows.

Ready?

Alright then:

Because Benedict the 16th just blew my damn mind!

The pontiff, who preaches marital fidelity and abstinence, said the practise only increased the problem.

"A Christian can never remain silent," he said, after being greeted on arrival in Cameroon by President Paul Biya.

The Pope is also due to visit Angola on his week-long trip, where thousands are expected to attend open-air Masses.

Some 22 million people are infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UN figures for 2007.

This amounts to about two-thirds of the global total.

According to Vatican figures, the number of Catholics in Africa has been rising steadily in recent years.

Pope Benedict said on the eve of his trip that he wanted to wrap his arms around the entire continent, with "its painful wounds, its enormous potential and hopes".

HIV/Aids was, argued, "a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem".

Comment: So...in the face of HIV/AIDS prevention...we shouldn't use...protection?

Ohhh....what?

Excellent solution sir. Just like life saving abortions being a more grievous crime that raping a 9 year old girl. Wooooow.

Favorite search terms

I'm clearly supposed to be asleep now, but before I go I'm going to fall in with the search terms meme *sigh* I'm looking at Google's Webmaster's Tools (which is actually pretty handy) and I'm totally baffled at the search terms that apparently bring up my blog.

Note: I will mention, to give you and myself hope, that most of these are from 2 or 3 months ago, on the bright side. Unfortunately, for some unfathomable reason most of these search terms WILL bring up my blog *really sad face* BUT on the other bright side, I'm usually pretty low on the list and these terms don't necessarily represent the TRAFFIC I get from these terms. They're just damn creepy.

So here's a Top 10 that had be absolutely boggled:

10. black boy addictions

I can only guess that this one popped up because I've mentioned the book Black Boy by Richard Wright, and my blog title. None of that excuses...anything.

9. she castrated him

Pretty sure I've actually used that phrase. Still strange. Must investigate further.

8. what is mastur debating

I want to know too, didn't find the answer.

7. wristporn

The great thing is, I've actually used that term, just NOT in the way the persons searching that would expect.

6. "why are women angry"

Dunno that one either.

5. naked black football players showering

I. Have. Never. Used. Any. Of. Those. Words. In. One. Post.

4. infant fuck blog

I KID YOU NOT.

3. lisp and missing teeth drug addict

See number 5 and add an extra hell no.

2. bdsm nipples nailed

Well. I like BDSM. I like nipples. Now where the nails come in, I'm not so sure about.

And number one...my favorite search term that apparently pulls up my blog, EVER, at this moment:

drum roll please.

*drum roll*

*rim shot solo*

1. "www all" kinds of "incest com"

Mmkay.

What?

Washing machines, they liberate the modern woman

You know what I say about the Vatican...can't stop won't stop! Y'all can hate them now!

Vatican says washing machine brought rights to women

The washing machine has had a greater liberating role for women than the pill, the official Vatican daily said in an International Women's Day commentary.

"The washing machine and the emancipation of women: put in the powder, close the lid and relax," said the headline on the article in Osservatore Romano.

"In the 20th cenutry, what contributed most to the emancipation of western women?" questioned the article.

"The debate is still open. Some say it was the pill, others the liberalisation of abortion, or being able to work outside the home. Others go even further: the washing machine," it added.

The long eulogy to the washing machine - for which the first rudimentary models appeared in the 18th century - highlighted "the sublime mystique to being able to 'change the sheets on the beds twice a week instead of once'," quoting the words of late American feminist Betty Friedan.

While the machines were at first unreliable, technology has developed so quickly that now there is "the image of the super woman, smiling, made up and radiant among the appliances of her house", wrote Osservatore.

...Riiiight. Here I was thinking it was the microwavable TV dinner :/ Come on, who wants to back me on that one?

I dunno, I just feel that after basically backing a 9 year old's rape, the church should go sit in a corner and think long and hard about what they've done. Don't worry, an apology will be coming in about 10 decades at least.