February 7, 2004

Rape has always been a major reason for keeping women out of combat situations. In the past, military officials feared female soldiers would be captured and assaulted by the enemy for information or revenge. Unfortunately, the American women fighting in Iraq today have a bigger problem with sexual assault inside the ranks.

According to The Denver Post, at least 37 female service members have sought sexual trauma counseling from civilian rape crisis organizations after returning from war duty in Iraq, Kuwait and other overseas stations. These women claim they received poor medical treatment and incomplete criminal investigations by military officials.

What's worse, some of these soldiers were threatened with punishment for reporting the assaults. Others were sent back to their units, to continue working alongside their rapists.

Washington law prohibits a convicted sex offender with a history of abusing minors from living in "close proximity" to a day care center. Makes sense, right?

So why do more than 600 rapists and child molesters live within one block of daycares in this state?

February 6, 2004

Before you buy a new car or trade in a used one, read this enlightening investigative piece from Edmunds.com. A reporter for the site was given an assignment as an undercover car salesman to learn the ins and outs of the business.

You'll be amazed at the tricks these people pull, from inflated numbers to "bugged" offices.

Quietpoly Writers' Magazine has published an interview with moi about The Blog of Death. Enjoy!

February 5, 2004

First, the FCC launches a federal investigation into how Janet Jackson's breast appeared on TV for a single second during the Super Bowl. Watching three hours of violence and rampant commercialism is okay, but the sight of a silver-studded nipple is enough to lead kids into a life of depravity.

Now, a second grader in Pittsburgh has been suspended for telling a classmate he would go to hell for saying, "I swear to God." The language police responded by disciplining the child for violating the school's profanity policy.

These people really need to chill the fuck out.

The next time you're bitching about rush hour traffic, be thankful you're not Stephen Jordan. He commutes 340 miles every day!

February 4, 2004

The highest court in Massachusetts has declared that equal rights under the law apply to everyone, regardless of color, sex, creed, religion or sexual orientation. In an opinion issued today, the court ruled that only full marriage rights for gay couples would comply with the state's constitution.

Civil unions are a joke. Offering them to gay couples as an equal rights solution is like giving blacks a place to sit on the back of the bus. Homosexual couples who wish to make a lifelong commitment should not be relegated to second-class citizens.

Come mid-May, any Massachusetts citizen will be allowed to marry, and that my friends, is a victory for every American who believes in freedom.

"If homosexuality is a disease, let's all call in queer to work: 'Hello. Can't work today, still queer.'"
--Robin Tyler

February 3, 2004

This story just makes my head spin. Jeremy Ortell Kingston, a member of Utah's polygamous Kingston clan, was sentenced on Jan. 26 to a year in prison for taking his 15-year-old cousin -- who was also his aunt -- as his wife.

"Relationships are hard. It's like a full-time job, and we should treat it like one. If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks notice. There should be severance pay, and before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp."
--Bob Ettinger

February 2, 2004

A new Jaded Writings column has been posted. This week, I discuss the War in Iraq.

"I think the problem here is the administration is not doing the things, No. 1, that need to be done to keep this country safe, both here and abroad. And No. 2, the president actually has to be able to do two things at once. This president thinks his presidency is only about the war on terrorism, only about national security. Those things are critical for a commander-in-chief. But as we're going to talk about, I'm sure, going forward, there's a lot the president's not doing, about jobs lost, about a health-care crisis in this country. The president of the United States has to actually be able to walk and chew gum at the same time, has to be able to do two things at the same time."
--John Edwards

February 1, 2004

If you're like me, you couldn't care less about the Super Bowl. Sure you may flip through the channels in hopes of catching one of the expensive commercials that air during the football game, but otherwise the Panthers and the Patriots hold no interest.

So what's a non-sports fan to do? Get the hell out of the house, I say. Visit your local library. Eat an ice cream cone. Take a drive. See a movie. Have a picnic. Walk around your neighborhood. Listen to music. Launch a snowball war with friends. Read a book. Get a massage. Write a poem. Play cards. Make love.

If you absolutely must plant yourself in front of the tube, then check out "Notting Hill" on ABC, "Independence Day" on Fox or catch up on your Tivo and Netflix lists.

"I am not really a writer. I am just someone who is haunted, and I will write the hauntings down."
--Janet Frame

Past Afterthoughts